The Brave Table with Dr. Neeta Bhushan

Hey Brave Table fam, thanks for joining me for this week’s episode with the absolutely incredible Dr. Mariza Snyder.  Dr. Mariza is a functional practitioner, hormone expert, author (of 8 best-selling books!), wife & mama, wellness advocate, and host of the podcast, Essentially You with Dr. Mariza. She has been featured on Dr. Oz, Oprah Magazine, Fox News Health, and MindBodyGreen. After healing from her battles with chronic illness, fatigue, and basically a full-body meltdown, Dr. Mariza has dedicated her life’s work to helping others—especially women—balance their hormones and empower them with holistic solutions.  Tune in to hear her incredible life story (like emancipating herself as a teenager, how she battled her limiting beliefs to find success, and how she healed from her childhood traumas) plus her tips to improve your well-being and level up your health.  What you’ll get out of this episode…  - Why your hormones go out of whack during pregnancy (and how to have some grace with your miraculous body!) - What your menstrual cycle can tell you about your health - The two keys to balancing your hormones and why balancing your hormones is one of the best things you can do for your health - The importance of nutrition, the best types of foods to eat, and the supplements you need to thrive - Why you need to slow down and rest, especially as type A, overachieving women  - How to overcome your limiting beliefs and challenge your thoughts - The number one reason why so many women burn out and sacrifice their health As a little girl, Dr. Mariza’s mantra was “you gotta survive”. Raised in a hectic household by a single mom, her stress response system was constantly lit up, responding to the craziness and chaos that surrounded her. At only 12 years old, Dr. Mariza had her brave AF moment when she moved in with her father and stepmother and started working towards emancipating herself from her mom (yes, at TWELVE years old!) But eventually, Dr. Mariza's hustle caught up with her in the form of fatigue, thyroid issues, Hashimoto's—basically, everything in her body was off. Doctors kept giving her solutions like birth control and Xanax (to which she said "hell no!"), and she kept falling flat on her face. So, tapping into her unstoppable drive, she did all the research herself and uncovered she could cure herself of these diseases through good hormone health. Dr. Mariza realized this whole situation was so much bigger than just her—it spoke to the entire way women are treated in the healthcare industry and why so many women end up with the same issues she did: from constantly feeling like we have to prove our worth, whether to our parents, to those we take care of, or to ourselves—coming back full circle to how life was with her mom.  So, Dr. Mariza ditched the biochemistry lab to dedicate herself to what she does today: help women balance their hormones through holistic health solutions and live healthy & abundant lives.  If you enjoyed this episode, make sure you check out… - Dr. Mariza’s website at https://www.drmariza.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/drmariza/  - Grab a copy of her latest book, The Essential Oils Menopause Solution here ​​https://join.drmariza.com/menopausebook/ - Listen to her podcast https://www.drmariza.com/podcast/  - Learn more about The Dutch Test https://dutchtest.com/  Before you go, I want to make sure you know about my Burnout Kit. So many of you have told me you're feeling run down and need something to help you get out of your slump. Dr. Mariza’s story is actually a perfect example of what can happen to our health when we let our burnout get out of hand. So, I have just the tool for you! These journal prompts are FREE and will help you get to the root cause of your burnout so you can start to take the action steps to get back to your usual, energized, and vibrant self! Grab your free copy today at https://globalgrit.co/burnoutkit. Thanks for being here, and see you next time!

Hey, Brave Table fam! We have an exciting episode for you this week with my Filipino soul brother, Erwin Valencia. Erwin is a wellness and high-performance expert (currently working as the Wellness Lead for the New York Knicks!), a coach and mentor, and the founder of Gratitude Gang—an NFT collective—as well as the Grasshopper Project—a non-profit mentorship program dedicated to inspiring future masters in the world of movement. Yes, he definitely wears many different hats! But the common throughline with Erwin in all these endeavors (and the thing I admire him for the most) is his superpower when it comes to creating and nurturing communities and building long-lasting, meaningful friendships & relationships.  In this episode, he tells us how he does it and why it’s vital to your overall happiness and success.  What you’ll get out of this episode…  - Why relationship-building should always prioritize quality over quantity - Advice for people who struggle with cultivating friendships and relationships - How to be intentional about meeting new people and the friendships you build - Ways to authentically and fully show up for your people - Starting friendships from the heart and pure intention to keep them thriving - Looking at your family traditions and values as a guidepost for how you connect with others - How nurturing and valuing your friendships and relationships sets you up for success in life - Stories about Erwin’s global adventures and the people he’s encountered along the way (and how he keeps in touch with them—sometimes even decades later) Erwin’s love of all things exploration and celebration are deeply rooted in his childhood, growing up in a compound in the Philippines, where community meant everything. He would go to his grandmother’s house every day for breakfast—fostering the importance of connection from a young age—and read her encyclopedias, inspiring him to one day leave the Philippines and explore the world. It was also in these formative years Erwin discovered his love for dance. Us Filipinos are always throwing a party (and know how to do them right!), putting on shows during gatherings, and entertaining a crowd.  The common thread Erwin found among his passions was people. He loved meeting new people, supporting them, and making them feel loved. From a curious and loving Filipino boy to the global icon he is today, Erwin attributes the success and joy he's experienced on his journey to one simple thing: being surrounded by the right people and taking care of them—no matter how busy life gets.  The past few years have been a challenging time for many in relationships. Lockdowns and border closures had us cut off from people we love, and we have let many relationships go by the wayside. So I want you to ask yourself: when it comes to the friendships and people you value, are you properly taking care of those relationships? If not you’re not sure, Erwin has some advice to share as a master of community and a super nurturer, and the good news is—it doesn’t have to be fancy or complicated or a big deal! We are all craving connection right now, and we can find it if we start to take the time to look for it. Tune in to hear his powerful stories of the people he’s met along the journey, how he makes sure he shows up for his people, and why long-lasting, healthy relationships are something we all need to prioritize.  If you liked this episode, make sure you also check out…  - Erwin’s Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/erwinbvalencia/  - This article that shares more about Erwin’s story https://www.esquiremag.ph/long-reads/features/filipino-in-the-nba-erwin-valencia-a2588-20220421-lfrm3  ​​ - More on cultivating and nurturing friendships https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cultivating-deep-friendships-connection-as-a/id1608226580?i=1000558134246  - Creating healthy boundaries in your relationships and how to properly close them, and not ghost https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ghosting-setting-boundaries-what-does-it-really-say/id1608226580?i=1000558858100 Before you go, I want to make sure you know about my Burnout Kit. So many of you have told me you're feeling run down and need something to help you get out of your slump. Well, I have just the tool for you. These journal prompts are FREE and will help you get to the root cause of your burnout so you can start to take the action steps to get back to your usual, energized, and vibrant self! Grab your free copy today at https://globalgrit.co/burnoutkit. Thanks for being here, and see you next time!

Hey fam, welcome back for another episode of The Brave Table! Today’s guest is Jovanka Ciares, a best-selling author, wellness expert, integrative herbalist, nutrition educator, and coach. Jovanka’s here to talk about optimizing your health through your ancestry and Mother Nature, how you can be brave in making better choices for yourself or when speaking to loved ones about improving their health, and to give us the scoop on her latest book, Reclaiming Wellness: Ancient Wisdom for Your Healthy, Happy, and Beautiful Life.  What you’ll get out of this episode…  - What is herbalism and why it’s the easiest thing you can do to reclaim your health - How to find balance in your health instead of taking an all or nothing approach - What herbs, fungi, and adaptogens you can take to have more energy  - What do when you feel defeated by your diagnosis and when Western medicine has failed you  - What it means to reclaim your ancestry and what your elders can teach you about your health and diet - How to have tough conversations with family members and loved ones when you’re concerned about their health and what steps you can take to help them  - What is the “Reduce and Replace” method, and how to use it to foster better habits I met Jovanka at Burning Man right after I sold my practice, and she was exiting a big-time career as an exec in the entertainment industry. We realized we had so much in common: we were both ending our first marriages, we were total type A queens learning how to loosen the reigns on our perfectionism, and we were both on the path of searching for something that felt more aligned with this next stage of our evolution.  For Jovanka, that journey started with completely burning out. Born in Puerto Rico, she moved to New York for work, where she quickly climbed the corporate ladder. However, the long days and fast pace had her body falling apart, and she experienced a host of unpleasant and “incurable” conditions like IBS, fibroids, and ulcers. Refusing to believe there was no way to feel better, she traveled around the world to learn about ancient medicines and healing practices—like Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Western herbalism—and used them to heal herself of all her disorders.  Jovanka realized the healing modalities she was discovering were nothing new; they were passed down from our ancestors and became lost in our hyper-externalized, materialized, and medicalized society. As a woman of color, she felt she needed to be a voice for these medicines (many of which originated among communities of color) and encourage people to reclaim their ancestry and their birthright to good health.  Her latest book, Reclaiming Wellness: Ancient Wisdom for Your Healthy, Happy, and Beautiful Life, explores today's most effective wellness practices—and their multicultural sources—in a way that makes health accessible to all. It includes practical ways to incorporate plant-based whole foods into even the most hectic routines, gentle movements you can make that are centered around self-love rather than exercise, mindfulness techniques, and more. Jovanka gives us a taste of some of the most successful tips from her book in this episode, so tune in! While you listen, I’d love for you to contemplate how you can incorporate healthy changes into your own life to optimize your wellbeing. Can you be brave enough to challenge some of our ideas and beliefs about health in Western medicine and try another way? Even if it’s as simple as trying a new herb or meditation. Or, if you feel like you’ve got your health on lock, maybe you can muster up the courage to share this information with a loved one whose health has you concerned and spread some new knowledge into their life that could help them out?  If you liked this episode, then be sure to check out…  - Check out Jovanka's website https://www.jovankaciares.com/ and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jovankaciares  - Grab a copy of her book Reclaiming Wellness: Ancient Wisdom for Your Healthy, Happy, and Beautiful Life on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Reclaiming-Wellness-Ancient-Healthy-Beautiful/dp/1608687848  - Learn about animal medicine with Alyson Charles https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alyson-charles-awakening-your-inner-wisdom-as-the/id1608226580?i=1000552682079 - Using your passion to build a career as a woman of color https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/payal-kadakia-being-brave-in-building-your-lifepass/id1608226580?i=1000553155461  Before you go, I want to make sure you know about my Burnout Kit. So many of you have told me you're feeling run down and need something to help you get out of your slump. Well, I have just the tool for you! These journal prompts are FREE and will help you get to the root cause of your burnout so you can start to take the action steps to get back to your usual, energized, and vibrant self! Grab your free copy today at https://globalgrit.co/burnoutkit. Thanks for being here, and see you next time!

Welcome back, Brave Table fam, for today's episode with Selena Soo. Selena is a Public Relations boss woman whose superpower is turning authors, coaches, and experts into leaders of their industry. She's helped her clients and students get featured in places like The Oprah Magazine, Forbes, and Inc., plus land interviews on popular podcasts and national TV. Born in Hong Kong to the first Asian man accepted into Oxford University, an Ivy League Graduate, and the CEO of multi-7-figure businesses, Selena is as high-achieving as they come, with plenty of stories and successes to share.  But in this conversation, Selena shares her bravest story yet; it's the story of how a bright, educated, accomplished woman found herself in an abusive relationship, why this happens, how to get out of it, and the lessons on the other side.  What you’ll get out of this episode… - Learning to let go of being in control and taking responsibility for everything as a high-achieving woman or CEO of a business - How to recognize emotional abuse early on: what are the warning signs and red flags to look for - Undoing the conditioning of saving face and keeping up appearances, particularly in Asian cultures - Understanding the complexity of abusive relationships and how to identify when it might be happening to you - Why it’s so important to give your pain a voice and share your story - Why you should value internal growth and development over external achievements and rewards - How to rise above when things start to fall apart, despite having a picture-perfect life on the outside - How to stop people-pleasing and take your power back   In 2017, Selena felt on top of the world. Her business was flourishing with no stop in sight, she was celebrating with friends, and she met the person she thought would be her Prince Charming.  Initially, Selena wasn’t interested, but the guy persisted: ”love bombing” her with grand gestures, flower bouquets, gift cards, you name it. He was determined to win her over. Finally, Selena gave in and let the relationship evolve into something romantic. How could she not, right? Here this man was devoting all his attention to her, making her the top priority in his life. But eventually, the dynamic started to shift.  He became increasingly interested in her business and her money, even going as far as to gaslight her into believing that her team didn’t have her best interests so she would let them all go. He was manipulative and emotionally abusive, and the situation eventually reached a breaking point where she found the courage to leave.  However, as it so often happens in toxic relationships, they got back together after he promised to change, isolating herself even further by moving to Florida with him. Then, one day when she finally received her long-awaited Green Card—a day that should have been joyful and full of celebration but instead was full of tears and anxiety—she decided it was over, packed her bags, and left—for good.  Today, Selena has been reflecting on her experience with coaches and healers, discovering how to make healthier choices, seeing where she gives her power away and learning that life will keep giving you tests until you’ve learned your lessons. But most importantly, despite it all, Selena is still ready for love.  Having been through my own abusive relationship, I relate so much to Selena’s story and how disorienting it can feel to find ourselves in this kind of situation, despite being so savvy in other areas of our lives. She shows us the power and importance of sharing our stories—even when we look like we’re leading a life of glitz and glamour but falling apart on the inside. Our stories can change people’s lives and save people’s lives, and we release our shame and pain when we give it a voice and realize we’re not alone.  If you liked this episode, be sure to check out… - Selena’s website at https://www.selenasoo.com/ and find her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/selena_soo/  - Read her article, I was in an emotionally abusive relationship, even as a smart and successful woman, here https://selenasoo.medium.com/i-was-in-an-emotionally-abusive-relationship-even-as-a-smart-and-successful-woman-8804ffe58cc9  - More about healing from abusive relationships from my divorce https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-it-means-to-be-brave/id1608226580?i=1000551021321 - How to know when a relationship is toxic and when to end it with Amber Valdez https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/amber-valdez-how-to-be-brave-in-toxic-relationships/id1608226580?i=1000556399717  Thanks for being here. See you next time!

Thanks for tuning into another episode of The Brave Table with today’s guest, Daniela Woerner.  Daniela is the CEO of Addo Aesthetics, where she coaches spa owners and aestheticians on marketing tactics and retail sales strategy. She’s also the host of the Spa Marketing Made Easy podcast, a mama of 2, and a military wife to her husband, Kyle.  In this conversation, Daniela bravely cracks open her heart to share the story of losing her dad suddenly, starting fresh in Hawaii, meeting her first husband, going through a divorce, and how she found love once again. What you’ll get out of this episode…   - How to use grief as a way to reinvent yourself and how to hold space for others who might be grieving differently than you - Being brave in deeply listening to your intuition and surrendering to everything life brings your way - Having the bravery to honor and accept every season of life you enter - Finding the gifts in each person who enters your life, even when their presence is not meant to be forever - Reframing the concept of divorce as an accomplishment and a lesson, rather than a failure - How to take life one moment at a time and stay radically present - Learning how to trust divine timing and that you’ll always be in the right place, at the right time - Knowing yourself, being in tune with your needs, and why it’s crucial to be clear on what you want  - How to know when it’s time to leave a relationship Daniela was a senior in high school when she got a spiritual gut instinct that her father would soon pass away, despite him being only 44 years old. Two days later, she came home from school and heard ambulance sirens in the distance and knew they were heading for her house.  What followed was a time of deep grieving for Daniela and her family, who all processed her father’s passing differently. She was supposed to go away to college in the fall but had to abandon her plans to stay in town for a court case regarding the medical malpractice that resulted in her father’s death.  Her family eventually came back together and decided they needed a fresh start. So, they left the mainland US for a new chapter in Hawaii, where they could focus on healing the pain they experienced from such a sudden loss.  In Hawaii, Daniela met her first husband, Alessio, who provided her with just what she needed in that season: joy, fun, and laughter. After 9 years of marriage, they realized they wanted different things and parted ways with utmost love and admiration for one another.  Daniela decided to leave Maui and felt she was supposed to be in either New York, Boston, or Washington DC (without ever having lived in any of these cities)! Another spiritual download, btw! In a serendipitous meeting, she found her now-husband Kyle, who had also lived in Hawaii and was now based in Boston (again, her intuition nailed it).  Today, Daniela and Kyle have two kids, she has a thriving business, and she knows she is exactly where she's meant to be. Daniela's story is a lesson in how there are no mistakes in life; everything that happens to you is a part of your divine plan. The more you can ebb and flow with the challenges and lessons the universe offers and have unwavering trust, the more things will work out—and often better than you could have ever imagined.  Whatever season you're in right now, remember that it's just that—a season. Every day is a new day, and something new and beautiful is waiting to unfold.  If you liked this episode, make sure you check out…  - Daniela’s website https://www.addoaesthetics.com/ and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/addoaesthetics/ - More on knowing when it’s time to end a relationship with Amber Valdez https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/amber-valdez-how-to-be-brave-in-toxic-relationships/id1608226580?i=1000556399717  - Navigating grief with Kelsey Chittick https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kelsey-chittick-navigating-through-grief-sex-and-comedy/id1608226580?i=1000557901976  - My own story of navigating grief, loss, and healing generational trauma https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/healing-generational-trauma-breaking-free-from-asian/id1608226580?i=1000553426419  Thanks for being here, and see you next time at The Brave Table!

Welcome back, Brave Table fam, this time for a different kind of episode! I’m switching seats and pulling up a chair to The Brave Table with the man behind the magic, podcast producer extraordinaire, Chris Van Loan.  Together, we reflect on what we’ve learned from our guests and the conversations we’ve had, what the next evolution of being brave looks like, and how to bring more courage, fearlessness, and bravery into your everyday life.  What you’ll get out of this episode…   - Being brave enough to open yourself up to criticism and being misunderstood - Tips on creating a personal brand that is true to you, even when that means being vulnerable - How to have compassion for your friends and family who don’t support your growth and evolution and expect you to stay the same  - Dealing with being afraid of what other people will think and working through the backlash - My experience as a Brown woman in the personal growth community and opening the door for more diversity in this space - Who you are versus who you are in relation to satisfying other people’s happiness, knowing what you like and don’t like, and what your non-negotiables are - Finding your zone of genius and being the expert of your life  - The future of spirituality and the importance of creating communities - Feeling grief over the things you’ve let go of, and how to integrate any fears and shadows that have been coming up for you  It feels like just yesterday Chris and I had a pipe dream of starting a podcast, and now here we are, 28 episodes in and only just getting started! Chris has such a wise and sweet nature about him, and as the one who has been behind the lens and held a vision for this show for so long, it felt right to put him in front of the camera to shed his light and wisdom on the journey so far, plus hold ME accountable for the very thing I’m bringing others here to do: to be brave.  Yup. I’m here to be present with this show’s namesake, walk my talk, and stretch and expand alongside all of you, realizing that I am still very much on my own journey with bravery and what it really means to meet my edge. Having hard conversations, when I don’t always agree with the ideas or things being shared, but finding within myself ways to honor and respect them and give people a soapbox to stand on to speak their truth, has definitely been my bravest journey to date.  In this episode, I get into what got me to this point. My childhood days of wanting to be like Oprah and interview people, and longing for more representation of Brown women in this space. Being a recovering perfectionist and how to let go of the image you once had of yourself (which, more often than not, is an image that others project upon you).  And—a big shout out to those of you who also grew up in an immigrant home; you especially know how scary it can be to stray off the path your parents laid out for you. For all the Black & Brown sheep of their family, know that I'm here, walking hand-in-hand with you on this journey. Some things to ponder as you listen to this episode—where have you been pushed to your edge lately and had to be braver? If you can’t come up with an answer, are you ready to find something—a conversation, an experience, an idea—that could take you there?  If you liked this episode, here are others for you to check out..  - What it means to be brave https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-it-means-to-be-brave/id1608226580?i=1000551021321  - If you’re struggling with your family on your journey of being brave, check out Healing Generational Trauma & Breaking Free From Asian Immigrant Parentshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/healing-generational-trauma-breaking-free-from-asian/id1608226580?i=1000553426419  - Learning how to have tough conversations with people https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ghosting-setting-boundaries-what-does-it-really-say/id1608226580?i=1000558858100 

Hey fam, we’re back today for another fiercely brave conversation—this time with the divine Davana May. Davana is a Radical Birth Keeper, the co-founder of Sacred Sisters Circle, and a fully embodied queen whose purpose is to share her innate wisdom of the sacred feminine and help women reclaim their birth.  What you’ll learn out of this episode…  - Following your intuition, reclaiming your power, and rewilding womanhood - How to learn from your difficult experiences and use them as an opportunity to choose differently next time - Things they don’t tell you about pregnancy and birth in the Western medical system - Reconciling the both/and—the positive and the negative—of the experiences we choose - Surrendering to the unknown and moving through your fears with death to experience bliss in the present moment - What is freebirthing and radical birth keeping, and how do they differ from conventional views on birth - How to fully trust the body to do the things it naturally knows how to do  - Trauma in birth and ways to heal from it A mama of two, Davana has two wildly captivating birth stories that could not be more different from each other. With her first son, Cairo, she went through the conventional medical system—all the tests, ultrasounds, and even put under anesthesia for a C-section. While grateful for the safe arrival of her little boy, Davana couldn’t help but feel like the birth was stolen from her: the sacred and ancestral wisdom of birthing embedded in her soul was lost to the trauma she experienced. When Davana found herself pregnant again in 2020, she decided, this time, she would do everything differently. While she did open herself up to the possibility of going a more conventional route, she landed on no hospital visits, no tests, no ultrasounds, no midwife, and to opt for a free birth instead. Working with her Radical Birth Keeper, Isabella, Davana fully and completely surrendered to her body and the natural process during her prenatal journey. In 2021, Davana went into labor during the craziest storm that Austin had ever seen in 40 years, locking down the city and further adding to her need to let go of control. Despite her fears that surfaced regarding a stillbirth, her own health and wellbeing, and external circumstances like the weather, Davana put her complete trust in her birth and her body. She welcomed her son, Nature, at home—without water, without electricity, without any medical assistance—and in total bliss.  As you listen, I invite you to think about what you currently believe about birthing your greatest fears even if you don’t have children, since as women we are birthing new projects, book babies, businesses- and the fears that arise through the portal of the ‘birth’.  Is reclaiming birth, freebirthing, and surrendering to a natural process something you would be open to, or at least, open-minded about? Or even if you haven’t don’t plan on experiencing birth, where in your life could you let go and trust your intuition and power? Resources for topics discussed in this episode, and more like it…  - Find Davana on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/divinedavana/  -  Learn more about the Freebirth Society https://www.freebirthsociety.com/  - Reclaiming your feminine essence through pleasure with Regena Thomasauer https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/regena-thomasauer-reclaiming-yourself-living-a-life/id1608226580?i=1000557540243  - Another powerful story about freebirthing with Shayoon https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shayoon-trusting-love-healing-and-creating-your-own/id1608226580?i=1000557080386  - My birth story and surrendering to my fears https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grit-grace-in-surrendering-to-life-moments/id1608226580?i=1000551016211  Thanks for being here, and see you next time at The Brave Table!

Hey, Brave Table fam! Today we’re getting into a topic that has come up a lot not only in the communities I’m a part of but given the world we’re living in, is something all of us have likely done or experienced at some point: ghosting.    I’m going to talk about why we do it, why we need to stop doing it, and how ghosting actually has to do with how you create and set boundaries in your life. Let’s get into it.  What you’ll get out of this episode:  - A deep dive into ghosting, how we got here, and how we can do better - What happens when you don’t effectively communicate and steps for practicing how to have difficult conversations. - How ghosting shows you the lessons you need to learn and how they’ll keep coming back to you if you don’t end the karmic cycles - How to create agreements with others and containers for issues you need to discuss - What are emotional regulation practices and a few of my favorites for you to try out - What ghosting says about your greatest fears and how it might show you that you’re people-pleasing and burning yourself out - Ghosting and dating: how ghosting can hold you back from finding your person Do you realize that, only a decade ago, phone calls or face-to-face conversations were our main ways of communicating with each other? Isn’t that wild to think that now, as we’re living in a world where Zoom calls or corresponding via text and email are the norm?  While technology has been great for helping us be more efficient, it’s also led to the phenomenon of ghosting, where we just stop replying to the people we don’t want to deal with. The worst part is—that this has become standard behavior. Whether it's in business or dating or in everyday situations you refuse to face, we’ve normalized treating our fellow humans like something we can delete, just like we do a text or email.  But just because we’ve dipped out doesn’t mean the karmic link is over. When you don’t close the loop on the things you’ve engaged with energetically, you’re bound to keep having to face the same lesson over and over. So, why do we ghost, and how do we stop?  I want to peel back the layers on this. As someone who has both been ghosted and guilty of doing it, too, I’ve learned that it ultimately comes down to setting your boundaries. Yup. When you don’t place boundaries with those around you and clearly state what is a YES and what is a NO, you end up burning yourself out OR inviting situations into your life that you don’t want and don’t know how to properly handle.  This is something I had to experience for myself following my self-marriage in Bali, where I said I would say yes to every date that came my way, only to find myself getting nowhere fast because I wasn’t properly managing my energy.  Ensuring you’re confident and competent in sharing your boundaries is something I prioritize teaching in my coaching and courses. Learning how to get a handle on your boundaries and having those tough conversations that you try to avoid provides a massive opportunity for growth.  Are you ready to step up to the challenge and take one small step today to close the chapter on someone you’ve ghosted? I’ll help guide you on how to be brave and take the first step to get through it.  Things I talk about in this episode and other episodes like it…  - Listen to my episode with Alyson Charles here https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alyson-charles-awakening-your-inner-wisdom-as-the/id1608226580?i=1000552682079  - And check Alyson’s book, Animal Power, here https://www.alysoncharles.com/animalpower  - Dating and learning how to establish boundaries with Vasavi Kumar https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vasavi-kumar-how-to-be-more-of-yourself/id1608226580?i=1000555690092  - More on what it means to be brave and have difficult conversations with people https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-it-means-to-be-brave/id1608226580?i=1000551021321  Thank you so much for being here, and see you next time!

Hi Brave Table fam, thanks for tuning into another episode. Today I’m chatting with the queen of dreaming big and encouraging others to do the same, Emily Williams.  Emily is the Founder of I Heart My Life—a media, education, and lifestyle company dedicated to helping women love every aspect of their lives. She is also ​​a Money Mindset Expert, Success Coach, CEO, author, speaker, podcast host, and, as her clients say, a fairy godmother of making dreams come true. What you’ll get out of this episode…  - How to train yourself to be happy and rewire your thoughts - Moving through the highs and lows of life, even after you’ve accomplished your biggest goals - Listening to your heart and reinventing yourself when it’s telling you to take a different path - Why following your vision is more important than following the money - Learning that your intuition is your most powerful tool  - Why you need to create a daily gratitude practice and how to get started - What you can learn about yourself through your dating experiences - How to keep pursuing your passion and build your business, even when you face rejection - Turning your jealousy into clarity surrounding what you want out of life Emily’s journey began when she decided to make a U-turn and tell her mom she wasn’t going to attend the prestigious Northwestern University. So, they turned around and drove back to her hometown in Ohio, where Emily would work a minimum wage job for two years before taking a huge leap.  She didn’t fully understand why, but Emily’s heart was telling her to move to London and write a book (which she did! It hasn’t been published, but it’s all about the world of online dating and how it led her to do her husband, James. Since then she’s published a different book, which you’ll find linked below).  With four suitcases in tow, off she went to start a new life in a city where she didn’t know anyone and didn’t even have enough money to take a cab. While she was excited about her adventure, Emily soon realized that she still didn’t feel fully satisfied in her quest nor that she had found her purpose. She threw herself into her self-development and started working with a coach who shared a simple phrase that would change everything for her: “You don’t have to believe everything your mind is telling you.” This prompted Emily to develop a gratitude practice to reframe her thinking, starting with things as small as her morning coffee. She realized that when she was focused on what she didn’t have and didn’t want to happen in her life, she ended up manifesting more of the same. By flipping the script and gaining mastery over her mindset, she was able to launch a seven-figure coaching business and a media company aimed at lifting women up and helping them to fulfill their desires—just like she was able to.  Emily’s story proves that when you stick with your vision and stay focused on your wins, success will follow. I hope this episode inspires you to start feeling grateful for what you have in your life—even the smallest of things—and using them as a catalyst to launch you into your bigger, juicier ambitions.  If you enjoyed this episode, make sure you check out… - Emily’s website at and find her on Instagram @emilywilliams and @iheartmylife. -Grab a copy of Emily’s book, I Heart My Life. - Check out this episode with Regena Thomasauer, aka Mamagena, the woman inspiring Emily during this season of her life. - More on pursuing your purpose with Sahara Rose.  - Building conventional wealth and more on money mindset with Codie Sanchez. - Being brave in reinventing yourself. Thanks for listening, and I hope you loved this episode. See you next time!

Hello, Brave Table fam, and welcome back. This week I’m riding solo to talk about something so many of you have asked me about: friendships. How to build them, nurture them, and, when it’s time, how to let them go to pursue ones that are aligned with your next evolution.  What you’ll get out of this episode…. - How to a create community aligned with your goals and shared experiences - Why it’s so important to prioritize friendships and sisterhood, even when life gets busy - Evolving your friendships to reflect the season you’re in  - The value of finding friends who you can learn from and transform together - Discovering what lights you up and gets you curious so you can find others who share your passions  - Moving from friendships focused on status & the superficial to something deeper - If you want to go deep and your friends don’t, why you need to upgrade your tribe, and how to do it  - How to do a ‘friend inventory’: determining what you need out of your friendships and what you have to offer - Ways to put yourself out there to meet new people and find your tribe  - Accepting when friendships end and letting go with grace  When you’re a bosswoman or a bossmama, or just focused on your children or career, sometimes friendships take a back seat. And, if you’re the introvert in the room, I can totally see how friendships get pushed to the side so you can cozy up on the couch and read books instead. But they are our LIFE FORCE. They are what keep us going! And the further we get on this journey of life, the harder it can become to meet—and keep—strong friendships with people who are as committed to growth, self-development, and emotional wellbeing as you are.  When I was still running my dentistry practice, many of my friendships were pretty surface-level. They usually revolved around the latest gossip, and mutual victimized complaining (yanno, the kind: “You had that happen to you? Well, I had it way worse!) Yep, and I know I’m not alone. As women, we love to sulk and share how bad our lives are to find shared connections and belong!  It wasn’t until I sold my business and started on my research journey around the globe, meeting friends from different walks of life—from different retreats/events/places—and landing in places like Kuala Lumpur & Bali that I found my friendships 100% radically shifted. Finally, I was meeting humans with the same life missions, depth, and spiritual journeys in an incredible community of expats and change-makers who matched the path I was on.  Through this shared experience, I noticed how much deeper I was able to connect with others than I had been in the past—and how much more quickly, too. But it required putting myself out there, seeking experiences where I knew I would find like-minded and like-hearted individuals, and accepting that it was time to evolve out of some old friendships that were no longer serving me.  And now, as a mama, what I need out of friendships has changed again. So lately, I’ve been doing what I called a friend inventory, and as you listen, I invite you to do the same. What do you need out of a friendship right now? What aspects of your friendships are no longer serving you? How can you create shared experiences with others, and how will you put yourself out there to have those experiences? Our friendships need to grow with us, not hold us back. If you find yourself in a new season with how you relate to your friends, this episode will guide you through how to nurture the relationships you value or recognize that you need to upgrade your tribe. If you loved this episode, make sure you also check out… - More about women supporting other women and finding your people with Miki Agrawal. - Becoming more of yourself so you can attract the right people into your life with Vasavi Kumar. - Pursuing your life purpose and finding your people at the Dharma Coaching Institute. Thank you so much for being here, and see you next time!