The Brave Table with Dr. Neeta Bhushan

Hey Brave Table fam, welcome back for another juicy episode. Today’s guest is Amber Rae. Amber is an author, artist, and global voice for self-discovery. She was a pioneer in bringing mental health and emotional wellness topics to social media, turning relatable sucky human moments into beautiful and viral art pieces. Amber has been a speaker at TED, Microsoft, and Kate Spade, written multiple best-selling books, and spearheaded life accelerator programs and tools to awaken your sense of wonder. In today’s episode, she talks about how her trauma launched her on a creative path to healing. She also shares powerful reminders on having grace with ourselves when we find ourselves in those ‘gray’ areas of life—the moments in between what’s waiting to be birthed through us artistically. Plus, simple actions you can take today to take your creative genius to the next level and let all your juicy goodness out! As you listen to Amber’s story, I invite you to think about your own. What’s the story you’re telling about your life, and do you own it? How are you using what you’ve been through in your life—the ups and especially the downs—to frame the narrative you tell about yourself, apply meaning to your experiences, and leverage your struggles for your evolution?  - Practices to get you out of your head and into creative flow and ease - Learning how to settle into your discomfort - Using your frustration and challenges as inspiration for your art - Creating art through relatable human moments - How to listen and pay attention to what’s coming up within you and waiting to be expressed - Going through a divorce, dealing with other people’s projections, and finding love again  - How to work through the feeling of shame  - Discerning society’s beliefs from your own - Channeling what wants to come through you and sharing your truth - Reframing how you apply meaning to the things that have happened to you  If you liked this episode, make sure you check out…  - Visit Amber’s website at https://www.amberrae.com/ and find her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/heyamberrae/ - Grab a copy of her newest book, The Answers Are Within You: 108 Keys to Unlock Your Mind, Body & Soul https://www.amberrae.com/answersarewithinyou - The book that inspired Amber, The Artist’s Way https://www.amazon.com/Artists-Way-25th-Anniversary/dp/0143129252/ref=asc_df_0143129252/?tag=googleshopc0c-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309622281255&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10742615981615074709&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9001025&hvtargid=pla-434177314053&psc=1  - More on awakening your inner artist with Garrain Jones https://podcasts.apple.com/mx/podcast/garrain-jones-how-to-awaken-the-artist-within/id1608226580?i=1000564809879  - Check out my episode on Embracing the Duality of our Emotions and Normalizing Emotional Health https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/solocast-embracing-the-duality-of-our/id1608226580?i=1000565132212  Also thank you SO so much for your reviews. When you submit a 5-star review, I'll send you my free 5-day Emotional Mastery course! Take a screenshot and send it to support@globalgrit.co. Appreciate you, and keep being brave!

Hey fam, grab a seat at The Brave Table with me today as I talk about emotional health and feeling all our feels, even when they contradict each other.  The topic of this episode was inspired by the 20th anniversary of my father’s death, which got me thinking about all the extremes of emotions that we go through following loss and how the best thing we can do for our healing process is to be present with it all, for better or for worse.  We’ll get into navigating grief, building resilience, and how to find the magic in the sucky human moments we’ll inevitably experience in this life.   What you’ll get out of this episode…  - Processing your feelings when going through loss - The duality of confronting your hardships while also trying to move on - Normalizing grief and what you can say to someone who is experiencing it - What it means to ‘swamp your emotions’ and how to do it - The importance of healing generational trauma  - Teaching children how to cope with their emotions and advice on how to do it - How to come back from challenging times and heal  - Finding the joy in chaos; the magic in the unbearableIf you love this episode, here are more resources to check out… - Navigating Through Grief, Sex, And Comedy with Kelsey Chittick https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kelsey-chittick-navigating-through-grief-sex-and-comedy/id1608226580?i=1000557901976  - Daniela Woerner: Navigating Divorce, Grief, Loss, & Motherhood https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daniela-woerner-navigating-divorce-grief-loss-motherhood/id1608226580?i=1000559966091  - Regena Thomasauer: Reclaiming Yourself & Living a Life of Pleasure https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/regena-thomasauer-reclaiming-yourself-living-a-life/id1608226580?i=1000557540243  - Healing Generational Trauma & Breaking Free From Asian Immigrant Parents https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/healing-generational-trauma-breaking-free-from-asian/id1608226580?i=1000553426419  - Social emotional development toys from Generation Mindful  https://genmindful.com/ - Watch the movie Inside out https://www.disneyplus.com/movies/inside-out/uzQ2ycVDi2IE 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 to The Brave Table. Today’s guest is Garrain Jones, a powerhouse coach, author, podcast host, and all-around defier of all odds. His incredible personal journey is one you don’t want to miss—from top of his game in the modeling & entertainment world to prison and homeless and in debt to ultimate freedom and multiple 7-figure businesses. Tune in to hear how he changed his mindset to change his life, manifest all of his deepest desires, and experience unshakable joy. What you’ll get out of this episode…. - Why it's so important to do the things that you loved and brought you joy as your child (and how they can help you in your manifestation) - The power of your community and the impact and influence they have on your life - Small shifts you can make that will lead to massive change and growth - The six words that can change your life forever - Three simple tips for completely transforming your life - What it truly means to be free - How to rewrite your story, create your reality, and call in your desires - What is your inner artist, and how to unleash it - Finding everything you need within you, not through external validation - Actionable advice for anyone who is struggling or going through a hard time Only a decade ago, Garrain was 32 years old with 200,000 dollars of debt to his name, a mother who was dying in the hospital, a daughter who disowned him, and a broken heart from recently being dumped by an ex. Not to mention, he had spent two years in prison and lived in his car. You could say—he was at his rock bottom.  You maybe wouldn’t have guessed it, though; he looked like he was thriving—landing big-time modeling gigs and features in music videos (a powerful reminder that what people present on the outside isn’t always a reflection of what’s going on behind the scenes). But, he didn’t love himself, and as he puts it, he was “but the closest thing to death in flesh form.” Then, a chance encounter with a stranger changed his life. At a gas station, another man who was down on his luck asked Garrain for some money, to which he said to the guy asking that he likely had more money than he did. The stranger replied: “Change your mindset, change your life.” At that moment, Garrain decided he wanted to break free from the prison he had created within himself, take back his power—and full responsibility for his life.  He started making small shifts to create unconscious habits and did the opposite of everything he had been doing before: he started to eat clean, exercise, revisit the things he loved as a child, and align himself with the right people. As a result, everything changed—he found his soulmate, stepped into his role as a father, and launched several successful businesses, but most importantly, he now teaches and empowers others to do the same by awakening what he refers to as the inner artist within.  As you listen, I’d love for you to contemplate the small ways to find more freedom and joy in your life TODAY, no matter your current circumstance. What’s one small step you can take to turn it all around?  If you loved this episode, be sure you check out… - Garrain’s website at https://www.garrainjones.com/ (and be sure to check out his retreat! https://www.garrainjones.com/awaken-artist-retreat-june-2022 - Find him on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/garrain.jones/  - Grab a copy of his book https://www.amazon.com/Change-Your-Mindset-Life-Transformation/dp/1734155507   - More on the power of a strong community and long-lasting friendships with Edwin Valencia https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/erwin-valencia-the-power-of-connection-in/id1608226580?i=1000562182397  - Listen to my solocast on cultivating the right friendships https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cultivating-deep-friendships-connection-as-a/id1608226580?i=1000558134246  - More on the magic of changing your mindset with Emily Williams https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/emily-williams-the-money-mindset-you-need-for-real-success/id1608226580?i=1000558608535  Also thank you SO so much for your reviews. When you submit a 5-star review, I'll send you my free 5-day Emotional Mastery course! Take a screenshot and send it to support@globalgrit.co. Appreciate you, and keep being brave!

Hello Brave Table fam, and welcome back for another juicy episode with Marine Selenee. Marine is a Miami-based Family Constellations facilitator, author, and speaker, and today, she’s going to talk with us about family lineage and its impact on your life. We’re going to dive into all things ancestral, looking at how your story is shaped by the stories in your family’s past, examining the inner child and what he/she/they need to overcome their traumas, and how to take full responsibility for your healing so you can heal the generations to come.  What you’ll get out of this episode…  - What are your Family Constellations, and what they can tell you about how your life - What is inner child work, and how you can start to do it - How to take an honest look at whether you’re taking responsibility for your life, or if you’re blaming others - How you transfer your family traumas to your partners - What is generational trauma and what’s possible when you heal your family lineage - How healing your relationship with your mom can make you more abundant, and with your dad, more confident - Advice for getting started on healing your generational trauma  - Exercises to revisit your childhood memories Growing up in France, Marine didn’t know much about her family history beyond what was in front of her. Her father, in particular, was emotionally shut down. His past was a mystery—he didn’t know his own father, his roots, or his family—he felt like he didn’t know where he belonged. And, he ended up playing out the same pattern that HIS father did when he abandoned Marine and her family, first emotionally—and eventually physically when he disappeared from her life.  Marine shares how examining your Family Constellations helps you make sense of all the relationships in your life. People often go to her and ask “What’s wrong with me?” But she asks in return—What if this is all so much bigger than just YOU, and just you’re just one piece of a greater story? And now, you have the chance to rewrite it. That’s when you can start to speak your truth, and that’s when you heal.  If you loved this episode, make sure you check out…  - Marine’s Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/familyconstellationsnewyork and her Instagram at ​​https://www.instagram.com/marineselenee; you can send her a DM if you want to connect and work with her  - Get your FREE chapter of her book on her website https://www.marineselenee.com/book/ or buy it on Amazon ​​https://www.amazon.com/Connected-Fates-Separate-Destinies-Constellations/dp/140196205X  - Listen to this episode on healing generational trauma https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/healing-generational-trauma-breaking-free-from-asian/id1608226580?i=1000553426419  Also thank you SO so much for your reviews. Every one of them helps. Submit a 5-star review and I'll send you my FREE 5-day Emotional Mastery course! Take a screenshot and send it to support@globalgrit.co. Thanks for being here, and see you next time!

Welcome back, Brave Table fam, for this week’s episode with Alex Mendeluk. Alex is the Co-Founder of SpirtHoods (you probably recognize him from being on Shark Tank!) and the Co-Founder of The LightForce Center with his wife, Shayoon. He’s also a dad of two boys, a former actor (shout out to Frat Boy #1 in Twilight!), and a firm believer that you can heal anything and that by doing so, you help to heal the world.  What you’ll get out of this episode… - How healing yourself has a karmic effect on both past and present generations - Experiencing ups and downs on your path and how to trust it all  - Why the only way forward toward a better world is to go within - How it’s possible to fully heal yourself and how to start the journey - Attracting your life partner and understanding relationship dynamics through energy - Navigating inter-racial and intercultural relationships  - What happens in relationships when you’re evolving and your partner isn’t  - What to ask yourself when your relationships are stalling your growth - Why you deserve to heal, and why it’s more critical now than ever Alex’s spiritual journey started at a young age. He looked up to his older brother, who taught him about meditation, Qigong, and Martial Arts, opening the door to the mind-body-spirit connection. When his family left Los Angeles to live on a farm in Oregon, his connection to Spirit deepened, and he found that being in nature is where he felt closest to God (that was until he met his partner, Shayoon).  After a stint at art school, Alex was encouraged to become an actor, so he returned to LA, embarking on a sort of Hero’s Journey that took him back to his roots. However, the awakening he had undergone in Oregon took a turn as he found himself going to auditions and not landing anything, sleeping on a foam mattress on the floor of his friend’s apartment, and feeling down and out—and experiencing depression for the first time in his life.  Then, on a serendipitous weekend at Coachella, Alex saw Shayoon (his now wife) and knew instantly she was destiny. He was there selling SpirtHoods—faux-fur festival fashion that would go on to see overnight success—and spotted her dancing in a field. What had started as a forbidden love grew into a deep partnership that took his spiritual awakening to a whole other level. With Shayoon by his side and the newfound realizations that came with their meeting, Alex knew their mission was to usher in deep healing for the world. They took the various modalities they’d learned from their own healing journeys—like Quantum Healing Hypnosis Technique and Emotional Freedom Techniques—to create The LightForce Healing Center, where they’ve helped thousands of people overcome issues—mental, emotional, and physical, from anxiety disorders to chronic pain and more.  Alex drops so many insightful takeaways in this episode about love, relationships, and how to heal, but one of the most powerful is that when you heal yourself, you also help heal those around you. Healing has a ripple effect, and the best thing we can do for ourselves (AND for others) is to embark on that self-healing journey, learn radical self-love, and be our fully embodied selves. That’s how we find our purpose and make the world a more loving and peaceful place.  If you loved this episode…  - Follow Alex on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mendeluk/  - The LightForce Center at https://thelightforcecenter.com/redpill and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thelightforcecenter/ - Check out the book that inspired Alex that he talks about in this episode, The Three Waves of Volunteers & the New Earth by Dolores Cannon https://www.amazon.com/Three-Waves-Volunteers-New-Earth/dp/1886940150  - Listen to The Brave Table episode with his wife, Shayoon https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shayoon-trusting-love-healing-and-creating-your-own/id1608226580?i=1000557080386  - Check out this episode on healing generational trauma https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/healing-generational-trauma-breaking-free-from-asian/id1608226580?i=1000553426419  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 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!