Diana Argueta is an artist and activist who has found a way to blend passion and purpose as a creative entrepreneur. She uses her art to raise awareness and uses her sales to support improving the lives of elephants.

In this interview, we explore the creativity that can come from constraints, the self-doubt of starting over, and mindset shifts that can help.

BIO
Diana Argueta is a Guatemalan entrepreneur and vegan lifestyle blogger based in Lusaka.

While living in Nepal, Diana saw the cruel treatment of captive elephants. Through art and awareness, The Elephant Soul became her way to tell their story and raise funds to help them. Ten percent of her proceeds support elephant welfare programs through Elephant Aid International.

She holds a Master’s degree in international politics and law, and she recently graduated as a vegan lifestyle coach and educator from Main Street Academy in New York. When she is not creating, Di loves baking and watching home décor shows.

Find out more about The Elephant Soul on Diana's website www.theelephantsoul.com

See Diana's beautiful work at instagram.com/the.elephant.soul

Support the work of Save The Asian Elephants advocacy group to protect them from exploitation and cruelty. Visit https://stae.org to learn more and consider making a donation to https://stae.org/donate/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit availableworldwide.substack.com

Leslie DeGrande is a trainer and yoga therapist, which is a long way from her initial training in Museum Studies.

In this interview, she shares how a series of closed doors on her career path led her to do something she loves: help people reduce their pain, get unstuck (physically & emotionally), and move with more freedom.

LESLIE'S BIO
Leslie DeGrande blends the scientific and holistic into a Goldilocks "just-right" approach to help women in their 40s and 50s age well.

A NASM-certified personal trainer, yoga therapist, and core confidence specialist, Leslie wants her clients to work with their bodies instead of ignoring or punishing them so that they feel strong, capable, and confident as they move through the years ahead.

Leslie works online, and her therapeutic background allows her to support clients with underlying health conditions and/or persistent pain.

Find out more at https://www.lesliedegrande.com/

You can also follow Leslie's work at
https://www.facebook.com/lesliedegrandeyoga/
https://www.instagram.com/lesliedegrande/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC9Qkrqe8ef8h0S_htS2lhg [free videos!]

*Special offer*
Essential Core Foundations

This fall, Leslie is offering a 6-week Core Foundations Program that will teach you how to find and train your core. The program is designed to be manageable yet challenging.

You'll start with the basics and systematically build into core-specific and whole-body exercises. Leslie will teach you how to layer difficulty, and potentially add some speed and impact as well.

By the end of the course, you will feel stronger, feel looser, and know how to use your core well.

Sign up for her mailing list at https://www.lesliedegrande.com to be the first to hear about the fall launch!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit availableworldwide.substack.com

In this episode, I talk with William Martin, the foreign-born spouse of a US Foreign Service member about balancing two careers by trading off whose career is prioritized at each post, the ups and downs of work as a US Personal Services Contractor, the perils of not writing your own story, and how he has unintentionally come to live the American Dream.
William Martin is an experienced political-economist specialized in challenging humanitarian contexts, a career compatible with the foreign service life! The last 15 years, he has been part of organizations at different levels of responsibility in responding to crises : a Central African NGO, a French microfinance organization, the major American NGOs, and the world’s largest humanitarian donor. William holds a Master’s degree from the Sorbonne’s Institute for Economic and Social Studies where he met his wife. Together, they have two children with who they love discovering the world with.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit availableworldwide.substack.com

Briana Wooten is a first-time EFM, among many other roles. As she finishes her first tour, we reflect on the wild ride of trying on new roles and embracing opportunities.

Briana shows us how to balance work and creativity while offering ourselves the "space and grace" to grow in the process.

BIO
Briana Wooten considers herself a jack of many trades. Briana currently works as a Staff Aide Assistant at the U.S. Embassy in Berlin, a role she took on in September 2021 after serving as one of the Assistant Community Liaisons at the Embassy. When she's not working or traveling, Briana also has a small baking business - Oh, Crumbs!

Prior to moving to Berlin as an EFM, Briana spent several years working in the field of social work with a focus on teenagers in foster care. Briana earned her BSW at James Madison University and her MSW at Virginia Commonwealth University.

She is passionate about permanency and normalcy for children and teenagers in foster care and has advocated for a more holistic approach to foster care, particularly pertaining to biological family members.

Briana has enjoyed jobs where she has been able to work with youth on a direct level as well as address systematic issues at a larger scope and looks forward to whatever is next on her path.

Follow Briana on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/ohcrumbshomemade/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit availableworldwide.substack.com

Kent is an international educator, business owner and the author of Teaching Overseas

In this episode, we talk about:

how to get international school jobs,
the joys and trials of changing schools and jobs with each post,
how the people make all the difference.
This episode is for all who wonder how you move on from your current level of success and find something new.

How does Kent describe himself?

I knew I wanted to teach U.S. history when taking a class called America Since 1945 in my high school outside of Chicago. After earning degrees in History and Secondary Social Studies Education from Miami University I began teaching in North Carolina. Another dream of mine came to fruition when I joined the Peace Corps in 2003. I served in El Sauce, Nicaragua. That’s when I learned about International Teaching. I ended my service a few months early so I could teach at the American Nicaraguan School in Managua, the capital.

Since then, I’ve lived in seven countries, taught at the American school in each one, married the love of my life, had two children, one dog, earned a Master’s and Ph.D., written a book on teaching overseas, completed an Ironman Triathlon, and visited over 50 countries around the world.

I really wanted to get back to teaching U.S. History while overseas. I decided to start working on a way to use my experience as an educator to provide U.S. History courses to Americans living outside the United States. This turned into U.S. History for Expats.

Links

US History for Expats
2016 Edition of Teaching Overseas, new edition to be released later in 2022

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit availableworldwide.substack.com

Crystaline is a storyteller and media creatrix who believes in the transformative power of stories. In this episode, we talk about how stories shape our reality, how moving back to DC gave her the "kick in the butt" she needed to rewrite her own narrative, and how even slightly reframing the stories we tell ourselves can lead to tremendous changes in our actions and outlook. She also shares helpful advice on how to avoid the "EFM death spiral" after arriving at a new post.

Join Crystaline's next Story Circle on April 29, 2022: https://www.crystalinerandazzo.com/story-circle-info

BIO
Crystaline Randazzo empowers social impact women to catalyze change by helping them excavate and distill their stories, build brand awareness, and convert their ideal clients. She’s a master storyteller, media creatrix, and a story guide to other change-making entrepreneurs who are learning to speak their truth.

Crystaline has devoted the last 12+ years to collecting, filming, writing, and photographing compelling stories from Haiti, Zambia, Rwanda, Nepal, and South Africa. She believes that story excavation can be a healing practice that helps women understand the origin of their mission and communicate their higher purpose in the world.

Her approach to sharing human stories for specific audiences has supported organizations like She's the First, BlinkNow, GirlHub, UNICEF, CRS, and Fast Company share compelling stories and media campaigns that are relatable and inspire action.

Crystaline's custom program trains women to harness the power of their stories by creating authentic connection with themselves and others. She supports her clients in creating a concise archive of stories that can be used across their lives and their businesses to inspire others to join them in their missions and purchase their products and services.

Crystaline stands for women looking to make a difference in the world, make more money, and become the powerful heroine of their own life stories. She envisions is a world where women reject the narratives of who we think we're supposed to be and embrace ourselves with kindness and compassion so we can become more of who we always have been–healed and wholly ourselves.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit availableworldwide.substack.com

Our latest episode reflects on how an EFM lifestyle can give you the freedom to pivot your journey, and how there is nothing "small" about any kind of small business or portable career. After weathering the challenges of the first few years of life as an EFM, Mustafa has a delightfully optimistic view on what those years taught him about life and business. What was my take home from this conversation?

Don't be ashamed to be proud of what you are good at, and make money doing it!


Mustafa is a communications and technology professional with over 16 years of experience in leadership roles focused on content creation, leading innovative media and technology interventions for programs supported by various US Government, non-profits, and private sector clients which include Stanford University, the ACLU, Vitalant, UNIDOS, Arizona State University, UNC-Chapel Hill, Last Mile Health, The Brooking Institute, The World Bank, UNICEF, USAID, and the US State Department.

Mustafa is well sought out for his experience in developing effective media content on a range of issues which include: gender equity, education, and health in diverse and challenging contexts such as Pakistan, DR Congo, Lebanon, Ghana, Swaziland, Syria, Kenya, and the United States.

At 26, Mustafa was the youngest head of department at the University of Lahore in Pakistan where he founded the School of Creative Arts. Mustafa also founded the first media technology park of Pakistan at the University called the Creative Village, with a vision to train the media professionals of tomorrow on real-world commercial projects. Mustafa is an Atlantic Fellow at George Washington University and has a Masters (MSc) in Media and Communications from the London School of Economics. Mustafa is a proud father of his 5-year-old daughter Breenie.

Find his business at:

www.frontiersanimation.com

Watch the LA Film Festival awardee Super Vaccine Vato mentioned in this episode at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayt8GOe83BY&t=2s

and like and follow the Creative Frontiers YouTube Channel at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw1r97hVJ9p9WwA7JYQNKMw

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit availableworldwide.substack.com

Dominique Narciso is a Certified High-Performance Coach, Author of "Live Your New Story: Discover Your Best Self and Live Your Best Life," Speaker, and Host of The Positive Success Show.
Join us as we discuss writing a new script for your life and giving yourself permission to live it!
**
Ready to level up your life or career?
Sign-up for a complimentary 60 minute 1:1 Strategy Session with Dom @ www.calendly.com/dominiquenarciso

For more coaching and training on high performance, success, and leadership, you can sign up for Dom's Weekly Newsletter @ http://domnarciso.mykajabi.com/grow

Finally, you can connect with Dom on YouTube and her Social Media Channels below:

Subscribe to the YouTube Channel: The Positive Success Show
Linked-In: Dominique Narciso
Connect on Facebook: @theDomnarciso
Connect on Instagram: @domnarciso

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit availableworldwide.substack.com

Not all businesses are solo gigs. what does it mean to create a team and take on the responsibility for paying the salary of several people? In this episode, I talk with Melissa Mathews about collegiality, gathering good talent and creating a great team. She also discusses what works and what doesn't work when your business is mostly in the US, but your physical location is 7 to 10 hours ahead.


Melissa Mathews is the Founder and CEO of Spring Green Communications.

Melissa has worked in communications for over 20 years, advising business leaders and entrepreneurs. Her expertise lies in executive communications and speechwriting, and she is passionate about helping clients tell their unique story.

Before establishing what was previously known as The Mathews Group in 2010, Melissa earned her communications credentials at CNN and NASA.

Today, Melissa is proud to direct Spring Green Communications, a leader in the virtual agency model. She guides a team of remote staff and advises Fortune 50 clients, small businesses, and non-profits on corporate communications strategy. Melissa is also a passionate advocate for virtual and flexible work opportunities.

Melissa is married to a U.S. diplomat and has three kids and a Louisiana-born mutt. She has lived in the U.K., Japan, Guatemala, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan.

Find Spring Green Communications at: https://wearespringgreen.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit availableworldwide.substack.com

In this episode, I talk with Leah Evans about the Around the World 5K, an annual charity run that brings together members of the Foreign Service family to support a variety of great organizations under the principle that "We have no rules." This amazing community feels like a family of support for runners and non-runners alike. Leah also talks about the ups and downs of business ownership, mentions a few great people you should get to know better and motivates even non-runner me to see how many 5Ks I can walk in April.


Leah Evans lives in Guatemala City with her Foreign Service husband, four energetic children, and well-traveled dog. Her family has also lived in Tbilisi, Quito, Kyiv, Asuncion, Mexico City, and Washington, D.C.

She spends her time writing curriculum and working with clients through her education business American-History-in-a-Box. She can also be found practicing yoga, reading books, and coordinating the Around the World Virtual 5k.

As icing on the cake, she is on the design team for the first Foreign Service focused virtual school, Hemispheres Academy. She finds living the expatriate life to be exciting, challenging, and endlessly humbling.

Learn more about Leah's small business supporting Foreign Service Children at: www.afterschoolplans.com

Join the Around the World 5K Virtual community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/aroundtheworld5k

And sign up to be part of this year's Run/Walk at: http://aroundtheworld5k.com/

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit availableworldwide.substack.com