Bare Naked Bravery: Post-Traumatic Courage for Entrepreneurs with Unfinished Business

Carrie Akre has over 25 years experience in the music world. She is the lead singer of the bands Hammerbox, Goodness, the VIPs, The Rockfords (with Mike McCready of Pearl Jam), and she's also a solo artist. She has been signed to independent and major labels such as CZ, A&M, Atlantic, Epic and Immortal Records. After experiencing the highs and lows of the music industry Carrie co-founded her own independent record label with fellow band member of Goodness. She release her first solo debut, HOME on this label. Later, Carrie then went on to release solo works under her own label, My Way Records. She has taught classes at Seattle's Experience Music Project (super cool), Rain City Rock Girls (SO cool), and across other independent venues.

In today's episode she and I discuss what it's like to break up with the band, how hard it is being the boss, and the importance of community when you're starting something new. Oh, and we attempt to bust up the myth of the musical snowflake fantasy.

I know Carrie believes we all have a right to be brave and creative and come to the table. I also know she's really good at starting stuff, so today we're gonna talk a little bit about that too.

Brave Take-Aways
---
Okay, so beyond the Bare Naked Bravery Adult Coloring Book, your Brave Take-Away from today's show is...

We'd love to hear all about your favorite parts of today's Bare Naked Bravery. You can find Carrie Akre and myself on facebook, twitter, instagram, and more. Go ahead and tag us so we can cheer you on and see what you're up to.

LINKS FOR SHOW NOTES
----
How I Unexpectedly Made Money As A Musician: Or Pasta Thrown At Walls Huffington Post article by musician Holly Muñoz

Documentary: The Other One: The Long, Strange Trip of Bob Weir (available on Netflix)

Documentary: Metallica, Some Kind of Monster
- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387412/
- https://youtu.be/LFX6IA_4hH8

Book: Steven Pressfield's *War of Art*

MORE FROM CARRIE AKRE
----
https://soundcloud.com/carrie-m-akre/
https://twitter.com/carriemakre
https://www.facebook.com/carrie.akre
https://www.instagram.com/carriemakre/

Keep in Touch
-----

So that's our show this week! Thank you for listening. Again, we've put all the links in the show notes for today's episode. Be sure to visit us online for all of that. Just visit barenakedbravery.com

And if you enjoyed listening to this episode as much as we enjoyed making it for you, please. Give us a review and rate the show in your iTunes desktop app or on your podcast app on your phone. Seriously, it helps us out a lot more than it is a hassle for you. All this bravery deserves to be spread as far and wide as possible. *You're* a part of all that!

Credits
---
If you're diggin' the music in today's episode, that's because it's brought to you by my friends at Music Box Licensing, a premier creative music agency dedicated to finding and crafting unique soundtracks.

To find out more about all the artists, musicians, and other sponsors of the show, please visit barenakedbravery.com/sponsors

I'm looking forward to being with you next week. We have some great things in store for you!

Until then I have one message for you. It's this: Be yourself. Be vulnerable. Be brave. Because the world needs more of your Bare Naked Bravery.

Leave a Review! Here's how...
---
We would LOVE it if you’d leave a podcast rating or review on iTunes. We also know it can be kind of tricky to figure out. Here are a few step by step instructions on how to leave an iTunes rating or review for a podcast from your iPhone or iPad.
1. Launch Apple’s Podcast app.
2. Tap the Search tab & Enter the name of the podcast you want to rate or review.
3. Tap the blue Search key at the bottom right.
4. Tap the album art for the podcast.
5. Tap the Reviews tab & Tap "Write a Review" at the bottom.
6. Enter your iTunes password to login.
7. Tap the Stars to leave a rating.
8. Enter title text and content to leave a review & Tap Send.

In today's episode we talk with Zach Varnell who has been recording since he was 13 years old. I have had the joy and pleasure of working with Zach in some previous music projects. He's worked with everything from a 2-track reel-to-reel in his parents basement in Denver to places like London Bridge and Bear Creek Studios in Seattle, WA.

My personal favorite studio: a 19th century English mansion in Renton, WA owned by Howard Leese the guitarist of the band Heart and Bad Company. Zach and 2 other friends transformed this gorgeous place into a destination boutique studio appropriately called "The Castle."

Zach's worked with bands like Pink Martini, Brandi Carlile, Damien Jurado, Pickwick, Allen Stone, John Vanderslice, The Head and the Heart, and Drew Grow.

In 2013, Zach helped to start Lively, a music technology company recording live concerts and became the VP of audio engineering and show production. Zach then joined CreativeLive as the head of curriculum for their music and audio channel.

All that is fascinating but today we get to talk about something brand new. Zach Varnell is part of a team of heroes who are starting a high school - and not just any high school. It might be the coolest high school I've ever heard of - and that says a lot - because Tacoma, WA (where I currently live) already has the beloved Tacoma School of the Arts. In 2016 Zach got back into education as the co-director of a brand new innovative public high school called IDEA, an acronym representing the school's innovative curriculum which centers around industrial design, engineering and the arts.

When we've got big dreams, taking the next step towards that dream can be anything but easy. However, Zach's experience in the music industry and in education has built a strength in him (and therefore his students too.) He's really great at breaking down really big ideas into small tangible steps.

Take a listen to today's episode to get a glimpse at this process.

Keep in Touch with Zach Varnell
-----
IDEA school: http://www.ideatacoma.org
Website : http://www.zachv.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/zachvarnell
Instagram: http://instagram.com/zvarnell

Keep in Touch with Emily Ann Peterson
----
Website: http://emilyannpeterson.com
Instagram: http://instagram.com/emilyannpete
Facebook: http://facebook.com/emilyannpeterson
Twitter: http://twitter.com/emilyapeterson
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/emilyannpeterson

Credits
---
If you're diggin' the music in today's episode, that's because it's brought to you by my friends at Music Box Licensing, a premier creative music agency dedicated to finding and crafting unique soundtracks.

To find out more about all the artists, musicians, and other sponsors of the show, please visit barenakedbravery.com/sponsors

I'm looking forward to being with you next week. We have some great things in store for you!

Until then I have one message for you. It's this: Be yourself. Be vulnerable. Be brave. Because the world needs more of your Bare Naked Bravery.

Leave a Review! Here's how...
---
We would LOVE it if you’d leave a podcast rating or review on iTunes. We also know it can be kind of tricky to figure out. Here are a few step by step instructions on how to leave an iTunes rating or review for a podcast from your iPhone or iPad.

1. Launch Apple’s Podcast app.
2. Tap the Search tab & Enter the name of the podcast you want to rate or review.
3. Tap the blue Search key at the bottom right.
4. Tap the album art for the podcast.
5. Tap the Reviews tab & Tap "Write a Review" at the bottom.
6. Enter your iTunes password to login.
7. Tap the Stars to leave a rating.
8. Enter title text and content to leave a review & Tap Send.

Dr. Chris Friesen, (Ph.D.) is a psychologist who, like me (and probably you too) has always been fascinated by what makes people successful. He is a licensed clinical, forensic, and neuro psychologist but now primarily helps professional, national, Olympic, and up-and-coming elite athletes, as well as other high achieving professionals, entrepreneurs, executives, academics, and creatives. He helps them *all* achieve their personal and professional potential. Currently he's the director of Friesen Sport & Performance Psychology, a contributor for Success.com, and also author of *ACHIEVE: Find Out Who You Are, What You Really Want, And How To Make It Happen.*

However.... In today's episode we kick things off by talking about the darker side of success, what failure teaches us, and how to be brave when we're having those "bathroom floor moments."

I'm really looking forward to hearing all about his personal and professional point of view on *all* of this and more. Dr. Friesen, Thank you for joining us today!

So let's jump right on into the Bare Naked Bravery. Okay, I'm just curious what your answer might be to this question... What do your "bathroom floor moments" look like?

Brave Take-Aways
---
Okay, so beyond the Bare Naked Bravery Adult Coloring Book, your Brave Take-Away for today's show is a packet that Dr. Friesen have put together which includes his Personality Rating Tools and Values Survey Tools and a list of some of the specific things that make people so successful.

On that Brave Take-Away and in the show notes, you'll be able to find a link to his book. and If you like to listen to your books, his book is also available in audiobook format on iTunes or by signing up for an account at Audible. Go to BareNakedBravery.com/audible to get started right now.

Dr. Friesen's book, *Achieve* is available here: http://amzn.to/2ahAK5d

Yerkes-Dodson Law: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yerkes%E2%80%93Dodson_law

Keep in Touch with Dr. Chris Friesen
-----
Website: http://friesenperformance.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FriesenPerformance
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FriesenPerform

Keep in Touch with Emily Ann Peterson
----
Website: http://emilyannpeterson.com
Instagram: http://instagram.com/emilyannpete
Facebook: http://facebook.com/emilyannpeterson
Twitter: http://twitter.com/emilyapeterson
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/emilyannpeterson

Thank you for listening today. Dr. Friesen and I are both on instagram, facebook, youtube, and more. and we've put all the links in the show notes for today's episode. So, be sure to visit us online for all of that. Just visit barenakedbravery.com and do a quick little search for the episode.

And if you enjoyed listening to this episode as much as we enjoyed making it for you, please. Give us a review and rate the show in your iTunes desktop app or on your podcast app on your phone. Seriously, it helps us out a lot more than it is a hassle for you. All this bravery deserves to be spread as far and wide as possible. *You're* a part of all that!

Speaking of things you're a part of...
---
Bare Naked Bravery has an adult coloring book!

and It features designs from 10 talented visual artists of all kinds, from all over the world! This means you can make the art from a fellow Bare Naked Bravery listener come to life while you listen to the show. We'd all love for you to post your finished pages on Instagram so we can all admire the many shades of your bravery. Download the whole thing for free or purchase the paperback version by visiting barenakedbravery.com/color

Not only that, but everyone involved in making this coloring book wants YOU to vote for 4 of your favorite brave charities to receive the proceeds from the coloring book! How cool is that? Again, just visit barenakedbravery.com/color for more information.

Credits
---
If you're diggin' the music in today's episode, that's because it's brought to you by my friends at Music Box Licensing, a premier creative music agency dedicated to finding and crafting unique soundtracks.

To find out more about all the artists, musicians, and other sponsors of the show, please visit barenakedbravery.com/sponsors

I'm looking forward to being with you next week. We have some great things in store for you!

Until then I have one message for you. It's this: Be yourself. Be vulnerable. Be brave. Because the world needs more of your Bare Naked Bravery.

In today's episode we talk with Emily Rose who is a bestselling author and breakup coach. I know her through a couple author groups I'm a part of and invited her today because I'm no fool. Breaking up is hard to do. And a lot of bravery is required for it.

Emily Rose's mission is to help people to not wake up on their death and ask, “What did I just do with my life?” Asking the question, "What am I doing with my life?" in the present tense is what breakups are all about. and it doesn't matter what or who you're breaking up with.

I'm looking forward to asking her opinion about all this and so much more. and hopefully getting some helpful advice for how to have bravery in the midst of breakups.

Let's jump on in!

LISTENER QUESTIONS
-----
*Amber*: How do you reconcile leaving someone who you know is no longer serving your higher good when you know that leaving them will completely derail their life?

*Brittany*: How do you move on when you know the relationship is over but still feel emotionally attached to the person?

*Andrew*: What's the best way to breakup with someone? with a job? with a friend group?

BRAVE TAKE-AWAYS

---
Okay, so beyond the Bare Naked Bravery Adult Coloring Book, your Brave Take-Away from today's show with Emily Rose is...

**8 Ingredients for Brave Breakups** (Download it here: http://emilyannpeterson.com/episode/emily-rose-breakups-makeups-003)

I've put all of those onto a printable notecard sized download for you to put on your refrigerator or mirror, for those times when you need a little extra bravery during a season of breaking up.

Also in that download you'll get a link to sign up for a free 30-minute power call with Emily Rose AND a link to download her audiobook and workbook for "Break Your Bad Love Habits" too!

We'd love to hear all about your favorite parts of today's Bare Naked Bravery. You can find Emily Rose and myself on facebook, twitter, instagram, and more. Go ahead and tag us so we can cheer you on and see what you're up to.

Keep in Touch
-----

https://www.facebook.com/EmilyRoseCoaching
https://twitter.com/emilyrosecoach
https://www.instagram.com/emilyrosecoaching/

So that's our show this week! Thank you for listening. Again, we've put all the links in the show notes for today's episode. Be sure to visit us online for all of that. Just visit barenakedbravery.com

And if you enjoyed listening to this episode as much as we enjoyed making it for you, please. Give us a review and rate the show in your iTunes desktop app or on your podcast app on your phone. Seriously, it helps us out a lot more than it is a hassle for you. All this bravery deserves to be spread as far and wide as possible. *You're* a part of all that!

Speaking of things you're a part of...
---
Bare Naked Bravery has an adult coloring book!

and It features designs from 10 talented visual artists of all kinds, from all over the world! This means you can make the art from a fellow Bare Naked Bravery listener come to life while you listen to the show. We'd all love for you to post your finished pages on Instagram so we can all admire the many shades of your bravery. Download the whole thing for free or purchase the paperback version by visiting barenakedbravery.com/color

Not only that, but everyone involved in making this coloring book wants YOU to vote for 4 of your favorite brave charities to receive the proceeds from the coloring book! How cool is that? Again, just visit barenakedbravery.com/color for more information.

Credits
---
If you're diggin' the music in today's episode, that's because it's brought to you by my friends at Music Box Licensing, a premier creative music agency dedicated to finding and crafting unique soundtracks.

To find out more about all the artists, musicians, and other sponsors of the show, please visit barenakedbravery.com/sponsors

I'm looking forward to being with you next week. We have some great things in store for you!

Until then I have one message for you. It's this: Be yourself. Be vulnerable. Be brave. Because the world needs more of your Bare Naked Bravery.

Leave a Review! Here's how...
---
We would LOVE it if you’d leave a podcast rating or review on iTunes. We also know it can be kind of tricky to figure out. Here are a few step by step instructions on how to leave an iTunes rating or review for a podcast from your iPhone or iPad.

1. Launch Apple’s Podcast app.
2. Tap the Search tab & Enter the name of the podcast you want to rate or review.
3. Tap the blue Search key at the bottom right.
4. Tap the album art for the podcast.
5. Tap the Reviews tab & Tap "Write a Review" at the bottom.
6. Enter your iTunes password to login.
7. Tap the Stars to leave a rating.
8. Enter title text and content to leave a review & Tap Send.

In today's episode we get to talk with Siolo Thompson. If you haven't heard of her yet, then I am so stoked to introduce you to her. She and I know each other through the music/art scene in here Seattle, WA.

Siolo is a self taught visual artist and also the creator of the gorgeous Linestrider Tarot Deck (http://amzn.to/29WfvlJ) and Scrying Ink Tarot Deck. She also illustrated the book, *The Better Bombshell* (http://amzn.to/2aw5Bcc) where writers and artists redefine the female role model.

I've so enjoyed talking with Siolo about creative entrepreneurship in the past, that I couldn't resist inviting her to join us today. She's a total powerhouse when it comes to knowing how to value her contributions and art in an analytical and straightforward way, which as you'll soon learn... it's something I adore seeing in my peers because I know it to be one of the greatest factors in being brave.

A lot of folks who know Siolo Thompson as a visual artist don't know how she got her start in the work of visual art, or at least I didn't when I first met her. This is where we jump into today's brave conversation...

Tweetables
---
- "Just because you've invested a lot of money into something doesn't mean you have to do it forever." @siolothompson
- No. 5,367 Reason for #BareNakedBravery: "You will never be younger than you are now." @siolothompson
- "You don't have to preach loud to be heard." - @siolothompson

Brave Take-Aways
---
Isn't she just fantastic? After I pressed "stop" on the record button, we ended up laughing about how hard it is for our respective tribes to put us in boxes, because we're in so many of them! We both agreed that the phrase "creative entrepreneur" pretty much sums it up nicely without too much restriction.

Okay, so beyond the Bare Naked Bravery Adult Coloring Book, your Brave Take-Away from today's show is *super* special. Siolo has created a special surprise for the Bare Naked Bravery listeners. It's gorgeous and you'll definitely want to get it as soon as possible. Just go to the show notes for this episode where you can download it and make your own brave magic happen.

Keep in Touch with Siolo Thompson
-----
website: http://siolothompson.com
website: http://bayandwillow.com
instagram: http:/instagram.com/siolothompson

Keep in Touch with Emily Ann Peterson
----
Website: http://emilyannpeterson.com
Instagram: http://instagram.com/emilyannpete
Facebook: http://facebook.com/emilyannpeterson
Twitter: http://twitter.com/emilyapeterson
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/emilyannpeterson

Siolo Thompson and I are both on instagram and facebook. And if you're curious about her ventures both personal and tribe-related, we've put all her links in the show notes for today's episode.

And if you enjoyed listening to this episode as much as we enjoyed making it for you, please. Give us a review and rate the show in your iTunes desktop app or on your podcast app on your phone. Seriously, it helps us out a lot more than it is a hassle for you. All this bravery deserves to be spread as far and wide as possible. *You're* a part of all that!

Credits
---
If you're diggin' the music in today's episode, that's because it's brought to you by my friends at Music Box Licensing, a premier creative music agency dedicated to finding and crafting unique soundtracks.

To find out more about all the artists, musicians, and other sponsors of the show, please visit barenakedbravery.com/sponsors

I'm looking forward to being with you next week. We have some great things in store for you!

Until then I have one message for you. It's this: Be yourself. Be vulnerable. Be brave. Because the world needs more of your Bare Naked Bravery.

Leave a Review! Here's how...
---
We would LOVE it if you’d leave a podcast rating or review on iTunes. We also know it can be kind of tricky to figure out. Here are a few step by step instructions on how to leave an iTunes rating or review for a podcast from your iPhone or iPad.

1. Launch Apple’s Podcast app.
2. Tap the Search tab & Enter the name of the podcast you want to rate or review.
3. Tap the blue Search key at the bottom right.
4. Tap the album art for the podcast.
5. Tap the Reviews tab & Tap "Write a Review" at the bottom.
6. Enter your iTunes password to login.
7. Tap the Stars to leave a rating.
8. Enter title text and content to leave a review & Tap Send.

In today's episode of Bare Naked Bravery we talk with Naomi Wachira, an artist of formidable talent and heart. I have always been struck by her life's story as one of the most dynamic displays of courage I could possibly summon up from my imagination. Naomi grew up in Kenya, left for the US at the ripe age of 19, and managed to become a successful singer/songwriter AND a single mom to a beautiful girl.

Seattle Music Insider raves her performances as "marked by her strong stage presence, storytelling and enduring smile." I wholeheartedly agree. Naomi's musical voice is a melding of rich sources from her childhood in Kenya, her Northwest home, and American inspirations like Tracy Chapman and South African activist Miriam Makeba. Her music & songwriting brings together harmonies that speak across continents and cultures. Today we get to talk with her while she's in the midst of recording her sophomore album "Song of Lament."

We also talk about maintaining your innocence, calling back to yourself, citizenship, grief, songwriting, motherhood, and creative solutions for getting up when all you want to do is give up

Brave Take-Aways
---
I just love her. so. much!

So today's Brave Take-Aways come in the form of 3 questions. I want you to just mull them over for yourself this week. See what you come up with :
- What are *your* reminders to remember who you really are?
- How do *you* call yourself back to the present?
- How often do *you* allow yourself to give up and get back up?

If you're game to share your answers, do it! I'd love to hear all about it. You can find Naomi Wachira and myself on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and more. Go ahead and tag us so we can cheer you on and see what you're up to.

Keep in Touch With Naomi Wachira
-----
http://www.naomiwachira.com
http://facebook.com/imanafricangirl
http://twitter.com/imanafricangirl
http://instagram.com/imanafricangirl

Keep in Touch with Emily Ann Peterson
----
http://emilyannpeterson.com
http://instagram.com/emilyannpete
http://facebook.com/emilyannpeterson
http://twitter.com/emilyapeterson

Thank you for listening. Again, we've put all the links in the show notes for today's episode. Be sure to visit us online for all of that. Just visit barenakedbravery.com and do a quick search for Naomi Wachira.

And if you enjoyed listening to this episode as much as we enjoyed making it for you, please. Give us a review and rate the show in your iTunes desktop app or on your podcast app on your phone. Seriously, it helps us out a lot more than it is a hassle for you. All this bravery deserves to be spread as far and wide as possible. *You're* a part of all that!

Bare Naked Bravery has an adult coloring book!

---

and It features over 20 designs from talented visual artists of all kinds, from all over the world! This means you can make art from a fellow Bare Naked Bravery listener come to life while you listen to the show. We'd all love for you to post your finished pages on Instagram so we can all admire the many shades of your bravery. Download the whole thing for free or purchase the paperback version by visiting barenakedbravery.com/color

Not only that, but everyone involved in making this coloring book wants YOU to vote for 4 of your favorite brave charities to receive the proceeds from the coloring book! How cool is that? Again, just visit barenakedbravery.com/color for more information.

Credits
---
If you're diggin' the music in today's episode, that's because it's brought to you by my friends at Music Box Licensing, a premier creative music agency dedicated to finding and crafting unique soundtracks.

To find out more about all the artists, musicians, and other sponsors of the show, please visit barenakedbravery.com/sponsors

I'm looking forward to being with you next week. We have some great things in store for you!

Until then I have one message for you. It's this: Be yourself. Be vulnerable. Be brave. Because the world needs more of your Bare Naked Bravery.

Leave a Review! Here's how...
---
We would LOVE it if you’d leave a podcast rating or review on iTunes. We also know it can be kind of tricky to figure out. Here are a few step by step instructions on how to leave an iTunes rating or review for a podcast from your iPhone or iPad.

1. Launch Apple’s Podcast app.
2. Tap the Search tab & Enter the name of the podcast you want to rate or review.
3. Tap the blue Search key at the bottom right.
4. Tap the album art for the podcast.
5. Tap the Reviews tab & Tap "Write a Review" at the bottom.
6. Enter your iTunes password to login.
7. Tap the Stars to leave a rating.
8. Enter title text and content to leave a review & Tap Send.