Best-selling author, speaker, and mental health advocate Kristina Kuzmic has made herself a household name, speaking to mothers from the trenches of parenthood and women who struggle to be authentic via her viral videos and refreshingly honest books. In the Spiraling Higher Studio, she shares her inspiring journey from poverty and divorce to becoming a successful content creator and author with her message of self-acceptance, resilience, and imperfection.Listen to this episode on YouTube:https://youtu.be/C2yJQDMdxocKristina's life story is truly the stuff of great books - no wonder she is a writer! In this conversation, she shares how she went from broke and defeated to unshakeably grounded and grateful, eventually winning the reality TV competition “Oprah’s Search for the Next TV Star,” despite having just become a suddenly single mother to two kids and eventually learning her oldest son was struggling with serious mental illness.Since working with Oprah, Kristina has branched out on her own, creating videos about juggling all of life’s challenges, and encouraging her audience to prioritize their mental health. She has quickly become a viral sensation with 3 million Facebook followers and over 750,000 Instagram followers.Today, she uses her platform to to encourage people to be REAL. Kristina is the absolute embodiment of AUTHENTIC and is a no BS, honest storyteller who embraces her imperfections and listens to the voice within rather than the noise from the naysayers. We were in absolute awe of her story and feel that this episode truly embodied every single one of our values here at Spiraling Higher, especially curiosity and connection.After listening to this episode, you will feel empowered and more courageous to embody the truth of who you are and live boldly as your soul desires!Timestamps:00:00 Introduction and Background02:02 From Poverty to Success06:27 Embracing Authenticity11:37 The Importance of Being Authentic19:03 Overcoming the Fear of Being Authentic24:48 Self-Security and Abundance26:32 From Assumption to Curiosity29:01 Detaching Value From Child's Experience + Illness30:52 Being a Steady Support System For Yourself37:43 Saying 'No, Thank You' to Negative Thoughts50:27 Embracing Self-Acceptance and Self-Compassion54:16 Letting Go of Control and Embracing the Messy Journey--https://shorturl.at/xx1gbFollow Kristina:https://www.instagram.com/kristinakuzmic/?hl=enGet her newest book "I Can Fix This (And Other Lies I Told Myself While Parenting My Struggling Child):https://amzn.to/3SM9gsWHer other book "Hold On, But Don't Hold Still: Hope and Humor from My Seriously Flawed Life":https://amzn.to/46X4KhbAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Today's guest is....GINA!!! Although we have interviewed so many incredible guests in the Spiraling Higher Studio, we realized we had never actually interviewed each other.Watch this episode on YouTube:https://youtu.be/uj-oJSYSLa4In this conversation, Sam interviews Gina about her journey of seeking validation and the realization that she needed to see and love herself. Gina gets to be radically honest and authentic about the early childhood moments of impact that had drastic effects on her self-worth and the healing process that followed. Gina details the extensive inner journey of meeting with her inner child and emphasizes the importance of relating to the part of oneself that didn't get what it needed to ultimately becoming her own inner parent. Gina also shares how she now defines success versus how she used to find success in comparison.This conversation is the healing balm to anyone who is on a journey of healing with themes of self-dismisal, fear of being seen, and beliefs of unworthiness.Highlights:-Seeking external validation and its inextricable connection to dissatisfaction-How to meet the inner child and help them feel seen-Redefining success is an act of self-loving rebellion-Choosing to be vulnerable as an act of service-How she started her journey of healing her deepest wounds of not feeling worthy or valuable--Join us in November for the Spiraling Higher Retreat in Tulum, Mexico:https://shorturl.at/xx1gbJoin our free community:https://tinyurl.com/SpiralinghighercommunityHeal your money wound & manifest abundance in Sam's newest course 'Abundantly Ever After:’https://simplifyingsam.kartra.com/page/AbundantlyEverAfterJoin Gina's waitlist for coaching: https://tinyurl.com/btewaitlistApply for 1:1 coaching:https://www.simplifyingsam.com/1on1coachingFollow Spiraling Higher:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/spiralinghigherFollow Simplifying Sam:Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@simplifying.samInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/simplifying.samFollow Gina:Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@bournetoelevateInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/bournetoelevateFor all inquiries, email us at:Spiralinghigher@gmail.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Today's guest is....SAM!!! Although we have interviewed so many incredible guests in the Spiraling Higher Studio, we realized we had never actually interviewed each other.Watch this episode on YouTube:https://youtu.be/Ad5Gt9Zt-eQIn this episode, Gina interviews Sam about her personal journey of spiraling through perfectionism and learning to be truly present in her body. They discuss the importance of authenticity, the power of presence, and the process of self-acceptance. With so much gratitude and reverence, Sam gets to share the appreciation for her darkest nights of the soul and gets candid about depression and anxiety. If it were not for these difficult moments, she believes it would not be possible for her to be here today and helping the collective to become more loving ♥️This conversation is going to unlock a deep level of compassionate attention to the parts of you who feel scared to be imperfect or like they are never good enough.Takeaways:-Perfectionism creates a constant goalpost that keeps moving & preventing us from feeling good enough-Being present and in our bodies allows us to truly experience life and feel like we are living-Authenticity is about being honest with ourselves & accepting our nervous system exactly as it is in any given moment-Moving at a slower pace can actually lead to greater productivity and a more sustainable way of living-We are our own source (recognize this and you'll never forget how powerful you are!)--Join us in November for the Spiraling Higher Retreat:https://shorturl.at/xx1gbJoin our free community:https://tinyurl.com/SpiralinghighercommunityHeal your money wound & manifest abundance in Sam's newest course 'Abundantly Ever After:’https://simplifyingsam.kartra.com/page/AbundantlyEverAfterJoin Gina's waitlist for coaching: https://tinyurl.com/btewaitlistApply for 1:1 coaching:https://www.simplifyingsam.com/1on1coachingFollow Spiraling Higher:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/spiralinghigherFollow Simplifying Sam:Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@simplifying.samInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/simplifying.samFollow Gina:Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@bournetoelevateInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/bournetoelevateFor all inquiries, email us at:Spiralinghigher@gmail.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Join Sam and Gina in this greatest hits throwback episode where they break down the trauma and energetics of money.--What really is "money" and how do we attract more of it? More importantly, WHY do we want it in the first place? In this free-flowing conversation, hosts Sam & Gina explore the touchy subject of money and how they went from struggle to peace to attract true abundance. This conversation will help you understand why you either keep losing money or have trouble obtaining it and guide you to understand where your money wounds may be stemming from.By the end of this conversation, you will understand:-What money truly is-How to attract more money-The energetics of money & abundance-Why money exists-How your relationship with money developed (and how to change it!)-How to feel abundant NOW - before the $$$!--If this episode resonates with you and you want to heal your relationship to money forever, creating a life of ease and abundance for yourself...Sam has an exciting announcement!!!For a limited time only, her brand new course 'Abundantly Ever After' is now available for just $33! This never before seen series delves deep into the wound of money and how to heal it. After watching this, you will truly inner-stand the meaning behind, "You are your own bank!" Never again feel like you are a victim to your financial situation or like you have to constantly hustle.In just a couple weeks, the price goes up so click below to get it now for just $33:https://simplifyingsam.kartra.com/page/AbundantlyEverAfter--Apply for 1:1 coaching with Sam:https://www.simplifyingsam.com/1on1coachingApply for 1:1 coaching with Gina:https://tinyurl.com/1on1coachingbteFollow Spiraling Higher:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/spiralinghigherFollow Simplifying Sam:TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@simplifying.samInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/simplifying.samFollow Gina:TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@ginabourneInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/ginabourneFor all inquiries, email us at:Spiralinghigher@gmail.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Join Sam and Gina in this greatest hits throwback episode with New York Times Best Selling author KYLE CEASE! Kyle blew us away in this episode and if you haven't already listened or are new to Kyle, he has a beautiful gift of merging comedy with personal transformation.Before following his soul's calling, Kyle had two #1 Comedy Central specials and was voted #1 on Comedy Central's Stand-Up Showdown. But after getting everything he thought he wanted, he realized his then "dream" career was still a mask for the pain of conditional love. He now dedicates his heart and soul to Evolving Out Loud, which is a growing community with over 400 thousand members worldwide, to helping people heal and learn our highest truth: Unconditional love.In this conversation, Sam and Gina are mindblown that their dream guest is finally on the pod and dive into:-How to feel our emotions without judging-How to follow your desires or mission without getting attached-Why we are so addicted to "doing" rather than "being"-How to love and listen to our inner children-Unlearning the pattern of conditional love-And so much more...You're not going to want to miss this one!--Apply for 1:1 coaching with Sam:https://www.simplifyingsam.com/1on1coachingApply for 1:1 coaching with Gina:https://tinyurl.com/1on1coachingbteFollow Spiraling Higher:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/spiralinghigherFollow Simplifying Sam:TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@simplifying.samInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/simplifying.samFollow Gina:TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@ginabourneInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/ginabourneFor all inquiries, email us at:Spiralinghigher@gmail.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Join Sam and Gina in this greatest hits throwback episode where they candidly talk about what the beginning of your spiritual awakening can often feel like and how to deal with some of the difficult realizations that come of it. They dive into why healing and growth can feel so uncomfortable (but necessary), when to break up with a friend, and how to deepen the relationship you have with yourself.After this conversation, you will have a better of understanding of what it means to "break out of the matrix," how to respond to "What's wrong with me?!" and how to ultimately build self trust - an important ingredient on your path to manifesting anything.--Apply for 1:1 coaching with Sam:https://www.simplifyingsam.com/1on1coachingApply for 1:1 coaching with Gina:https://tinyurl.com/1on1coachingbteFollow Spiraling Higher:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/spiralinghigherFollow Simplifying Sam:TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@simplifying.samInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/simplifying.samFollow Gina:TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@ginabourneInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/ginabourneFor all inquiries, email us at:Spiralinghigher@gmail.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

It's been just over 2 years now of Spiraling Higher and we're reflecting on WHY we got started and how we continue to level up and stay committed on this journey. We took this opportunity to answer some long overdue questions from our community and were able to candidly share our most memorable moments, fave guest highlights, as well of the challenges of producing a podcast, from technical hurdles to navigating personal feelings of unworthiness and the fear of being seen.In this episode, like so many others, we're really pulling back the curtain and showing you how we approach any and all goals - especially this podcast. It's no secret, but we're big fans of the process over the outcome, presence over pressure, and authenticity over perfection.If you felt inspired by this episode yet still feel held back by feelings of not enoughness, self criticism and doubt...you will feel so seen and heard at our upcoming LIVE workshop: Perfectionism to Peace on August 18th at 10AM - 12:30 PM PST.Join us and other Spiralers for an interactive and transformative online experience where we will be diving deep into the wound of perfectionism, how it shows up and holds us back, and ultimately, how to release it to free our creativity and authentic selves.Tickets are available by clicking the link below:https://shorturl.at/sAcVh--After this episode, we're taking a very short break! For the next 3 weeks, we hope you enjoy listening to 3 of our favorite throwback episodes as you wait to tune into some very exciting guests in September (mentioned in this episode!!!)Thank you for honoring our journey and pace; we hope you honor yours too. We love you so much!–—Watch this episode on YouTube:https://youtu.be/nTgCtq93MW8Secure your spot for our LIVE online workshop 'Perfectionism to Peace' on Aug 18th 10AM-12:30PM PST:https://shorturl.at/sAcVhJoin our FREE community: (We host free calls every month!)https://tinyurl.com/SpiralinghighercommunityTry the SUPERHUMAN app free for 6 weeks with code 'SPIRALINGHIGHER':https://www.superhuman.app/register--Apply for 1:1 coaching with Sam:https://www.simplifyingsam.com/1on1coachingApply for 1:1 coaching with Gina:https://tinyurl.com/1on1coachingbteFollow Spiraling Higher:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/spiralinghigherFollow Simplifying Sam:Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@simplifying.samInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/simplifying.samFollow Gina:Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@ginabourneInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/ginabourneFor all inquiries, email us at:Spiralinghigher@gmail.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

We know this title makes it sound like this is going to be a boring episode about accountability...but we think a lot of you will be very surprised to learn what true accountability is AND that you probably don't know how to take accountability at all. What most people know how to do is BLAME themselves for every seemingly wrong or bad situation, which doesn't actually address the behavior or actions in question.Watch this episode on YouTube:https://youtu.be/cNj8sJzA7PgThis episode was deeply inspired by our current and past coaching clients who all share a common pattern of what we call "Turning against yourself." You might be familiar with this. When a mistake is made, a detail is missed, or a someone gets upset...you automatically blame yourself. This sounds like:"I'm such a bad friend""I'm such an idiot""I'm not good enough""I don't even deserve this opportunity""I can't do anything right""I always mess things up""I'm such a terrible mother/wife/friend""I never do anything right"If you suffer from hearing these kind of thoughts on a daily basis, like so many women do, this episode is going to be an eye-opener for you! We teach the perspectives that have freed our clients, and ourselves, from the constant negative stream of self-blame and shame to feel more at peace and in control.And if you enjoy this episode (or honestly this podcast) you will feel so seen and heard at our upcoming LIVE workshop: Perfectionism to Peace on August 18th at 10AM - 12:30 PM PST.Join us and other Spiralers for an interactive and transformative online experience where we will be diving deep into the wound of perfectionism, how it shows up and holds us back, and ultimately, how to release it to free our creativity and authentic selves.Tickets are available by clicking the link below:https://shorturl.at/sAcVh—Watch this episode on YouTube:https://youtu.be/cNj8sJzA7PgSecure your spot for our LIVE online workshop 'Perfectionism to Peace' on Aug 18th 10AM-12:30PM PST:https://shorturl.at/sAcVhJoin our FREE community: (We host free calls every month!)https://tinyurl.com/SpiralinghighercommunityTry the SUPERHUMAN app free for 6 weeks with code 'SPIRALINGHIGHER':https://www.superhuman.app/register--Apply for 1:1 coaching with Sam:https://www.simplifyingsam.com/1on1coachingApply for 1:1 coaching with Gina:https://tinyurl.com/1on1coachingbteFollow Spiraling Higher:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/spiralinghigherFollow Simplifying Sam:Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@simplifying.samInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/simplifying.samFollow Gina:Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@ginabourneInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/ginabourneFor all inquiries, email us at:Spiralinghigher@gmail.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Mental Health activist, writer, and speaker Kate Speer authentically shares her mental health journey from feeling different as a child to being diagnosed with ADHD and later a misdiagnosed bipolar disorder. Feeling unsupported from such a young age by the education system due to limiting criteria for diagnosis as well as the stigmas surrounding mental illness, Kate experienced a myriad of symptoms.*Trigger Warning* : This episode discusses suicide and psychosis. These mentions are authentic to the storyteller.After experiencing 15 years of disabling mental illness, chronic psychotic breaks, enumerable psychiatric hospitalizations, and a suicide attempt, Kate was told by doctors that the only way she would survive was to live in a long-term, locked psychiatric ward. Kate, stubborn to her core and no stranger to defying the expectations of her care team, told them to go to hell.She refused to give up. She met with doctor after doctor, and even after being told that she needed residential care by all of them, she kept searching. In one last-ditch effort to not end up in a ward, she met with a trauma therapist known for his intense behavioral methodologies who told her that she was about to work the hardest she ever had in her life to overcome her patterns. Kate didn’t think twice about it. She committed to the work and began the recovery of a lifetime. She worked relentlessly using disciplined exposure therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy to tackle her OCD, Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, and PTSD. Day after day, Kate leaned into the discomfort of her fear and though terrified, she continued to do exactly what the doctor prescribed anyway.Despite everything Kate has faced, she is one of the strongest, kind, accepting humans we have ever known. Her journey with mental illness has helped her emphasize the importance of self-acceptance and contributes to her desire in creating a world where people can hold space for both pain and joy. One of our favorite parts of this conversation is how openly and radically she encourages embracing the messiness of life and rejecting the pressure to present a polished image, giving us an opportunity to share our collective thoughts on the negativity of social media.Now, nine years later, she is happy (ish!), married, and has transitioned into public mental health work after her five-year tenure as the CEO of The Dogist, where she scaled the company’s audience to five million subscribers. She is currently working with Harvard to scale public health campaigns that help today’s youth while finalizing her very first memoir. Her hope for the future is to use social media for good instead of the bottom line and scale academic-creator collaborations that reach young people online where they get their information. This is just the beginning of that work and though she is unsure of where exactly it will take her, one thing’s for sure – even though her doctors were convinced that she would only survive in a locked ward, she proved them spectacularly wrong.If you have ever struggled with mental health, this conversation contains the most madly inspiring, radically humbling, and honest message for you at this time: Healing is absolutely possible, but it won't be perfect and it will happen little by little. You got this.Timestamps:03:11 Self-Acceptance and Dark Nights of the Soul09:44 Stigma and Mental Illness14:20 Acknowledging The Problem and Being the Solution23:06 Embracing the Messiness of Life23:33 Changing Our Relationship with Anxiety26:18 Embracing the Messy Process of Growth28:38 Befriending Our Bodies31:06 Finding Joy in the Little Things34:51 The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health38:27 The Power of Focusing on the Process43:34 The Power of Small Steps and Celebrating Victories53:16 Separating Identity from Diagnosis54:23 The Danger of Over-Pathologizing Human Emotions59:49 Healing Through Storytelling and Finding One's People–Watch this episode on YouTube:https://youtu.be/AU6fJj3rvToJoin our FREE community: (We host free calls every month!)https://tinyurl.com/SpiralinghighercommunityTry the SUPERHUMAN app free for 6 weeks with code 'SPIRALINGHIGHER':https://www.superhuman.app/register–Apply for 1:1 coaching with Sam:https://www.simplifyingsam.com/1on1coachingApply for 1:1 coaching with Gina:https://tinyurl.com/1on1coachingbteFollow Spiraling Higher:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/spiralinghigherFollow Simplifying Sam:Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@simplifying.samInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/simplifying.samFollow Gina:Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@ginabourneInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/ginabourneFor all inquiries, email us at:Spiralinghigher@gmail.com–Follow Kate: https://www.instagram.com/kate_speer/Listen to Kate's TEDTALK: https://www.ted.com/talks/katie_speer_fisher_how_embracing_fear_and_vulnerability_saved_my_life?subtitle=en&trigger=0sKate's Substack: https://katespeer.substack.com/Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

As mindset coaches, we hear A LOT of limiting beliefs and narratives that have been picked up throughout one's life as a result of conditioning and past life experiences. Having coached hundreds of people between the two of us, we thought it would be helpful to share the MOST common limiting beliefs we help our clients work through.Watch this episode on YouTube:https://youtu.be/eqx11cX_gfYTogether, we explore the belief that success requires hustle and sacrifice, the idea of being ready before taking action, and the tendency to blame oneself for past actions. We also chat about the ignorance of the present moment (and why that happens), valuing one's own experiences and perspectives, and accepting what has happened in order to move forward.If you are a human being living in a capitalist country, it would be almost impossible for you to have not picked up at least one of the mentioned beliefs! The good news is that these thoughts were learned, and therefore, can be superseded by new thoughts that are more supportive and aligned with the life you desire to live.If you've been feeling like you are hitting a wall on your journey, listening to this episode will help you identify the belief(s) that's standing in the way.Highlights:- How the belief that one has to work hard & suffer to have a good life and scarcity are linked- How the belief that one has to show up a certain way to make an impact or be accepted actually hinders your desire for connection and acceptance- The fearful illusion of "falling behind"- Re-defining "success"- Why waiting to be "ready" never works- Shifting away from punishment into acceptanceTimestamps:00:00 Introduction: Common Limiting Beliefs02:48 The Scarcity of the 'Good Life' and the Need to Work Hard11:18 Authenticity and Acceptance: Breaking the Cycle of Self-Rejection29:27 Rest: Embracing the Importance of You (the source!)35:00 Redefining Success: Creating Your Own Definition37:24 Taking Action Without Being 'Ready'45:11 Accepting What Has Happened56:54 Moving from Punishment to Acceptance–Doors are open for METAMORPHOSIS - Gina's 12 Week Group Coaching Mastermind for Asian Creative Entrepreneurs! Click here to learn more and apply - we start at the end of July 2024: https://ginabourne.lpages.co/metamorphosis/Join our FREE community: (We host free calls every month!)https://tinyurl.com/SpiralinghighercommunityTry the SUPERHUMAN app free for 6 weeks with code 'SPIRALINGHIGHER':https://www.superhuman.app/register–Apply for 1:1 coaching with Sam:https://www.simplifyingsam.com/1on1coachingApply for 1:1 coaching with Gina:https://tinyurl.com/1on1coachingbteFollow Spiraling Higher:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/spiralinghigherFollow Simplifying Sam:Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@simplifying.samInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/simplifying.samFollow Gina:Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@ginabourneInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/ginabourneFor all inquiries, email us at:Spiralinghigher@gmail.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands