Embracing Independence & Community: Lessons from Celia Cruz🎙️ New Season Highlight
In this episode, Abi Perez explores independence, creativity, spirituality, women’s empowerment, and the power of community—while honoring one of her biggest inspirations: Celia Cruz.
From psychology and mythology to music, art, and ancestral traditions, this episode asks a simple question:
What happens when women begin creating a life that belongs to them?
Independence isn't only about money. It's also about having choices, developing your talents, protecting your time, learning new skills, and building a support system.
You don't have to be perfect to create. You just have to start.
Abi shares some of the authors and thinkers influencing this new season:
Jean Shinoda Bolen, M.D. — Goddesses in Everywoman
Exploring female psychology through goddess archetypes, personality patterns, creativity, relationships, and self-discovery.
James Allen — philosophy, thought, character, and personal development.
B.F. Skinner — behavioral psychology and the relationship between behavior, habits, and conditioning.
Ram Dass — spirituality, consciousness, and navigating difficult experiences.
Mel Robbins — motivation, mindset, action, and recognizing opportunities.
The goal isn't to follow one author, religion, or philosophy blindly.
It's to learn, question, reflect, and decide what helps you grow.
A major theme of the episode is exploring women through mythology and archetypes.
Inspired by Bolen's work, Abi discusses archetypes including:
Artemis • Athena • Demeter • Aphrodite
The bigger question:
Which parts of yourself are you cultivating—and which parts are you ready to outgrow?
Abi also explores Greek and Egyptian mythology, Yoruba/Ifá traditions, shamanism, Indigenous ancestral traditions, Hermeticism, Buddhism, meditation, nature spirituality, theology, witchcraft, and goddess traditions.
Celia Cruz represents much more than music in this conversation.
For Abi, she symbolizes joy, femininity, confidence, cultural connection, independence, and the ability to keep celebrating life.
The episode celebrates women who build their own paths instead of waiting for permission.
Independence doesn't mean doing everything alone.
Abi emphasizes the importance of women creating communities where people can:
Strong women don't have to compete with each other. We can build together.
Another recurring theme is finding accessible ways to reconnect with yourself.
Meditation, music, nature, movement, reflection, creativity, and spiritual practices can create moments of peace and perspective.
The message isn't that these replace professional support when it's needed—but that small practices can help us pause, reflect, and reconnect.
This season is about:
Women.
Art.
Independence.
Culture.
Creativity.
Mythology.
Spirituality.
Books.
Music.
Community.
Healing.
NEW SEASON. NEW MAGIC. ✨
What happens when you start rebuilding your life through art, books, music, creativity, culture and community?
That's where I'm starting this season.
And we're going deeper into mythology, goddess archetypes, meditation, nature, ancestral traditions, spirituality, creativity and women's empowerment.
I'm not here to tell you what to believe.
I'm here to learn out loud.
Because sometimes healing begins when we become curious again.
🎙️ Friends of Friends of Friends
Hosted by Abi Perez
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