Balance Shared

Introduction to Episode

Colin Thompson has learned how to live a life by design. Hailing from double immigrants to creating a birthday ritual that leaves him energized for 364 days out of the year, he shares his story from coaching to diversity, and so much more.

Podcast Episode Summary

My guest today is Colin Thompson. Colin is a life coach who lives in China with his wife and young son. Colin discovered it was more effective to walk with people then motivate them one inspiring speech at a time. In this episode, he shares his journey as a son of double immigrants, where we can find inspiration, his lived experience of how various cultures have interacted with him, and his love/hate birthday ritual.

Quotables

“If you want to live a life of abundance, help more people live in abundance.”

How to be an ally:

Recommended Resources

To learn more about Colin and get in touch with him, visit www.oligye.com.

For more information about Michelle, Balance Shared, events, and projects, please visit www.michellelasley.com.

Introduction to Episode

Becky Jarvis, creator of Curvy Chic Closet, and I sat down and discussed Body Positivity. Becky has been working to make plus-sized clothing accessible to moms and other plus-sized individuals for over ten years. In this episode, we discuss her journey from just providing a sale to changing the world of body positivity.

Podcast Episode Summary

Becky Jarvis didn’t initially set out to make body positivity and inclusivity what she focuses on. She started with making affordable plus-sized clothing accessible. Her journey of building the largest plus-sized consignment event, located in the Pacific Northwest, opened up an amazing need for full-inclusivity and diversity in fashion. We discussed the disparities in how fashion is represented from magazines to brick and mortar stores, and lightly mentioned the silent disease of eating disorders.

It was an absolute pleasure to hear Becky’s story of how she became a sort of accidental spokesperson for body positivity. The next Curvy Chick Closet event begins October 1, 2020.

Quotables

Recommended Resources

For more information about Michelle, Balance Shared, events, and projects, please visit www.michellelasley.com.

Introduction to Episode

Did you ever consider that there is a shadow side to attraction? In this episode, Laura and I discuss what the law of attraction is, a brief history, and some cautionary tales of when it is time to look outside of the law for spiritual guidance.

Podcast Episode Summary

The Law of Attraction is used in a lot of empathic, coaching circles to boost the manifestation of those who ascribe to it. In this episode, we discuss the shadow side, and many other laws that are at play.

An unfortunate part of the shadow side of misusing the law of attraction is when it is weaponized to make the person not, perhaps, manifesting “enough”, feel shame towards their actions or inactions. An unfortunate side affect is that the state of being unhappy has become unacceptable.

Quotables

Recommended Resources

For more information about Michelle, Balance Shared, events, and projects, please visit www.michellelasley.com.

Introduction to Episode

I sat down with Danielle Bettmann, of Wholeheartedly, to discuss what it takes to parent, and as a byproduct of our times, what it takes to parent in COVID. She advocates for wholehearted parenting, a way where we look at our needs and then serve our kids.

Podcast Episode Summary

Danielle is rich with information, tips, strategies, and a great understanding of what kids and parents both need to be able live successful lives under normal pressure, and especially under global pandemic pressure. In this episode, we discuss her vision for a new world (where core needs for kids are met in their first 7 years), many (many) tips and things to look for in parenting, and a recognition that parenting is the hardest job in the world.

Quotables

“We don’t know what we don’t know until we know it.”

“[I want to see a world where] we meet [the] core needs [of kids in their] first seven years.”

(On discussing how our world could change.) “Every $1 invested in the first seven years of life, pays out seven times.”

“Parenting is the hardest job in the world.”

“If we are doing the hardest job in the world, we need all the training and preparation.”

Recommended Resources

For more information about Michelle, Balance Shared, events, and projects, please visit www.michellelasley.com.

Introduction to Episode

Have you had a candid conversation recently? Do you have a safe space to go when you need to have those candid conversations? Shawanda Randolph is the director and founder of DeeCilla Center in Arizona, and she’s found holding space for candid conversations is a key to healing our world. DeeCilla, a small community based nonprofit, offers a sanctuary for people who are building a new life, leaving abuse. Their transitional program teaches participants how to stand and live, giving them the necessary tools to rebuild on solid ground.

Podcast Episode Summary

During this global pandemic, we know that it’s difficult for people who are suffering from abuse, they don’t have the breaks from the abuse they used to, and they might not have the space to call for help.

In some ways, this global pandemic is showing us where we can offer support to the people we care about. Shawanda and I discussed signs of abuse, misconceptions of what abuse is and who it affects, and different ways we can work to build a more healed world.

Signs for abuse

Support for DeeCilla

DeeCilla is creating a place of refuge for people all over the country. Arizona is actually a spot where a lot of people move to, so it proves a little easier to blend in and start over in a safe space outside of the potential norms of abusive situations.

Quotables

Recommended Resources

For more information about Michelle, Balance Shared, events, and projects, please visit www.michellelasley.com.

Introduction to Episode

On the Rise Solutions is a testimony to how we Rise Up when adversity calls. In this interview, Michelle and Jessica discuss super powers, the importance of pivoting and reinventing yourself, and lessons learned when life throws you serious curveballs.

Podcast Episode Summary

In this episode, Jessica shares how she rebranded from the Superwoman Project to On the Rise Solutions. The conversation ebbs and flows through strategy, honoring the grieving process in change, and several clear strategic steps on how to rebrand, how to navigate change, and more.

Quotables

“I was meant to do work that was bigger.”

Recommended Resources

StrengthsFinder 2.0: https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/strengthsfinder.aspx

Unlock your 34 strengths: https://store.gallup.com/p/en-us/10003/cliftonstrengths-34

When Jessica and I completed this interview in May 2020, her work was still focused on her coaching job. Since, as with many during this global pandemic, she has paused her coaching work and accepted a position, as Chief Communications Officer, for Days for Girls, an international nonprofit that truly focuses on lifting girls up. Learn more about Days for Girls here: https://www.daysforgirls.org.

For more information on the Summit https://ontherisesummit.com

Jessica’s podcast, the Imperfect Feminist: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-imperfect-feminist/id1506668771

Learn more about Jessica’s work as On the Rise Solutions: https://ontherisesolutions.com

For more information about Michelle, Balance Shared, events, and projects, please visit www.michellelasley.com.

One of my first interviews of Season 1 was with Maree Bento, who has designed many tarot decks and oracle cards, tools for your own divination practice. We have a lovely conversation about art history, what paganism is not, and so much more.

We revisit my January conversation with Theresa Pridemore. Theresa works her magick by helping those who teach and use the weird and the woo in their business to tell their stories. Those of us who align with the weird and the woo sometimes have different challenges than your typical business. Theresa digs into what she's found and some tips on how to manage. 

Lety, another great mom who owns her own business, is in my circle of support. And, she too, said, "Yes," when I asked her to share her PR wisdom. Take a listen and find a top 3-5 tips for why and how you need PR for your work.

Cheryl was the one who said, "You should do a podcast!" In that line of support, she graciously agreed to be my first interviewee. Cheryl has worked from home the last few years starting as a virtual assistant and morphing into an SEO specialist. She loves learning about the systems that support OUR businesses. Take a listen.