Welcome to Choose Courage Inc. — where we skip the boring intros and jump straight into reimagining business and workplace experiences with we-ain’t-afraid-to-go-there conversations. 

In this episode Vivianne Castillo, Founder and CEO of ⁠⁠HmntyCntrd⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠moonpaws⁠, sits down with Grammy award-winning opera singer and creative powerhouse, Cierra Byrd, Mezzo, for an honest conversation about artistry, resilience, and the pursuit of authenticity in an industry that often demands conformity.

Cierra takes us into the world of opera — where artistry meets discipline, collaboration meets individuality, and a single role can take years to master. Together Vivianne and Cierra navigate through vulnerable conversations on the challenges of rejection and the importance of therapy in navigating self-worth beyond external validation, while also unpacking themes of scarcity mindset, belonging and the cost of being a trailblazer in any industry. 

In this episode we cover:

• The long-game of artistry: Why some opera singers prepare for roles years before performing them
• The intersection of creativity, identity, and survival in historically exclusive industries
• Rejection as redirection: reframing career setbacks as opportunities for growth
• The emotional and financial cost of “making it” in creative and corporate spaces
• How therapy and faith helped Cierra redefine success on her own terms
• The tension between being seen vs. actually doing the work in corporate and artistic industries
• Why honoring your own rhythm matters more than fitting into an industry mold

From gatekeeping in creative industries to learning when to pivot instead of proving your worth, this conversation is a masterclass in staying grounded in your purpose — you won’t want to miss this.

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Choose Courage Inc. is a ⁠⁠HmntyCntrd⁠⁠ brand sponsored by ⁠⁠CountrPT⁠⁠.

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Cierra Byrd, Mezzo is a professional opera singer and alumna of The Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Development Program. With a voice that captivates and a deep reverence for the craft, she approaches opera as an art of honor, storytelling, and truth. Known for her resilience and integrity, she navigates the industry with a commitment to excellence, authenticity, and continuous growth. 

She believes in a holistic approach to singing that nurtures both the voice and the artist behind it. Grounded in faith and an unshakable sense of purpose, she seeks not just to perform but to uplift, inspire, and leave a lasting impact through her work. 

Welcome to Choose Courage Inc. — where we skip the boring intros and jump straight into reimagining business and workplace experiences with we-ain’t-afraid-to-go-there conversations. And for this episode we’re going to skip the sugarcoating and get real about the messy, uncertain, and liberating journey of rethinking work and creativity.

Vivianne Castillo, Founder and CEO of ⁠⁠HmntyCntrd⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠moonpaws⁠, sits down with Lauren Celenza, software designer, writer, and interview journalist, to dive deep into the power of community, creativity, and reimagining the future of work and life. From festivals to entrepreneurship, from reclaiming imagination to questioning the way we use our time, this conversation is an invitation to step out of the mundane and into something more alive.

Expect an unfiltered conversation about:

• The courage to reclaim agency in a world that discourages imagination
• Why festivals, not conferences, might be the future of innovation
• How the passing of time is the only certainty — and why that should push you toward change
• How small steps, not perfect plans, build the foundation for bold moves
• Why creativity isn't a luxury but a necessity for meaningful connection

If you’ve ever felt the pull toward something bigger but found yourself hesitating, consider this your sign to start. The future isn’t waiting for perfection — it’s built by those willing to take the first step.

Hit play and let’s get into it.

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---

Choose Courage Inc. is a ⁠⁠HmntyCntrd⁠⁠ brand sponsored by ⁠⁠CountrPT⁠⁠.

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Lauren Celenza is a design lead, writer, and moderator based in Seattle, with work featured in Fast Company, Forbes, NBC News, and In These Times.

As a designer, Lauren has led transformative product launches with Google Maps, Code for America, Samsara, and The World Resources Institute—building AI and 0-to-1 technology that has made millions of addresses, routes, and businesses visible for the first time in Google Maps history, secured over $90 million in tax refunds for U.S. taxpayers, enhanced frontline worker safety, and increased global funding for land restoration. She has also taught design at universities worldwide, engaging with students from over 40 countries.

As a writer, Lauren explores tech’s impact on society through Tech Without Losing Your Soul, a newsletter and interview series examining technology’s role in burnout, loneliness, and the possibilities of a more balanced digital life. She also moderates and interviews speakers at UNFINISHED Festival, a global event celebrating art, design, and democracy.

Get in touch: [email protected]

See Lauren’s work: ⁠laurencelenza.com⁠

Read & subscribe: ⁠laurencelenza.substack.com

Welcome to Choose Courage Inc. — where we skip the boring intros and jump straight into reimagining business and workplace experiences with we-ain’t-afraid-to-go-there conversations. And for this episode we’re going to skip the sugarcoating and get real about the messy, uncertain, and liberating journey of rethinking work and creativity.

Vivianne Castillo, Founder and CEO of ⁠HmntyCntrd⁠ and ⁠moonpaws, sits down with Lauren Celenza, software designer, writer, and interview journalist, to explore why so many of us feel stuck in systems that drain us—and what it really takes to build a life and career that align with who we actually are.

Join them for an unfiltered conversation about:

+ Breaking free from work that drains you — and why staying stuck isn’t the only option

+ Creativity vs. capitalism and what happens when your work starts to feel like a cage

+ Balancing financial security with creative freedom—without sacrificing yourself

+ Discipline as liberation and why structure is the key to creative freedom

+ Moving on from trauma bonding and how to build connections that go beyond shared suffering

+ Using creativity as a tool for movement, clarity, and reinvention

+ Why your next leap inspires others to bet on themselves too

If you’ve ever felt the tension between stability and what you actually want, this episode will challenge you to rethink what’s possible.

Let’s get it.

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Click here to join our newsletter and be the first to know about podcasts, coaching opportunities, special offers and other freebies designed to help you make real personal and professional change.

---

Choose Courage Inc. is a ⁠⁠HmntyCntrd⁠⁠ brand sponsored by ⁠⁠CountrPT⁠⁠.

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Lauren Celenza is a design lead, writer, and moderator based in Seattle, with work featured in Fast Company, Forbes, NBC News, and In These Times.

As a designer, Lauren has led transformative product launches with Google Maps, Code for America, Samsara, and The World Resources Institute—building AI and 0-to-1 technology that has made millions of addresses, routes, and businesses visible for the first time in Google Maps history, secured over $90 million in tax refunds for U.S. taxpayers, enhanced frontline worker safety, and increased global funding for land restoration. She has also taught design at universities worldwide, engaging with students from over 40 countries.

As a writer, Lauren explores tech’s impact on society through Tech Without Losing Your Soul, a newsletter and interview series examining technology’s role in burnout, loneliness, and the possibilities of a more balanced digital life. She also moderates and interviews speakers at UNFINISHED Festival, a global event celebrating art, design, and democracy.

Get in touch: [email protected]

See Lauren’s work: laurencelenza.com

Read & subscribe: laurencelenza.substack.com

Welcome to Choose Courage Inc. — where we skip the boring intros and jump straight into reimagining business and workplace experiences with we-ain’t-afraid-to-go-there conversations with Vivianne Castillo, Founder and CEO of ⁠⁠⁠HmntyCntrd⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠moonpaws.

This is a special, bonus episode that we created just for you and is a live recording on one of my favorite topics: The Discipline of Hope. 

We're often asked about our work ethic — but how's your hope ethic? What's possible when we see hope as something we need to practice everyday?

In this live-recorded talk that’s followed by a live Q&A/discussion, Vivianne Castillo shares how we can approach hope as a discipline during times of grief and uncertainty. 

She's later joined by Partner and Facilitator at HmntyCntrd Alba Villamil and together they think through the intentional decisions we can make in how we relate to the world around us, and, most importantly, how we can choose courage over comfort when it feels like all is lost.

 In this bonus episode, we touch on topics like:

+ How can we differentiate hope from toxic positivity or false optimism?

+ What’s the difference between helplessness and powerlessness — and why does knowing the difference matter?

+ How do we navigate profound grief and anger?

+ What can we do to protect our peace and boundaries?

If you’re looking for relief, if you feel like your nervous system going thru it or if you’re just looking for a way forward in a difficult seasons, then this conversation is for you.

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Download the slides and rituals/activities at TheDisciplineOfHope.com

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Click ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ to join our newsletter and be the first to know about podcasts, coaching opportunities, special offers and other freebies designed to help you make real personal and professional change.

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Choose Courage Inc. is a ⁠⁠HmntyCntrd⁠⁠ brand sponsored by ⁠⁠CountrPT⁠⁠.

Welcome to Choose Courage Inc. — where we skip the boring intros and jump straight into reimagining business and workplace experiences with we-ain’t-afraid-to-go-there conversations. In this episode, Vivianne Castillo, Founder and CEO of ⁠⁠HmntyCntrd⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠moonpaws⁠⁠, and Dan Mall, Founder of⁠Design System University⁠ and two other incredible companies, for a candid and vulnerable discussion. 

They talk about the challenges of defining success on your own terms, how to stay true to your values even when it costs you and how to push past fear when you’re at a crossroads. In this episode, they cover:

• The power of rejecting clients who don’t align with your values and why that can be the key to preserving your peace
• How to move beyond external feedback and the myths of “success” we’re all chasing
• The importance of making space for clarity by challenging fear
• How multi-passionate people can stop shrinking and start embracing their full complexity
• What happens when you face the reality of your own suffering (and why leaning into it creates profound growth)
• A game-changing perspective on “enough” and why rethinking money and success is the ultimate form of freedom

It’s time to make bold decisions and change your story. Hit play and let’s go.

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Click ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ to join our newsletter and be the first to know about podcasts, coaching opportunities, special offers and other freebies designed to help you make real personal and professional change.

---

Choose Courage Inc. is a ⁠⁠HmntyCntrd⁠⁠ brand sponsored by ⁠⁠CountrPT⁠⁠.

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DAN MALL is a husband, dad, teacher, creative director, designer, founder, and entrepreneur from Philly. He helps designers get their flowers by teaching them about the business of design, leadership, systems, process, and craft. Dan runs Design System University to create, collect, and curate curriculum, content, and community to help enterprise teams design at scale. He also co-founded Great Job!, a platform that helps parents and caregivers design their own handbook for raising amazing kids. Previously, Dan ran design system consultancy SuperFriendly for over a decade. Dan writes weekly on site danmall.com and his weekly newsletter, and publishes bite-size tips and tricks to on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

Welcome to Choose Courage Inc. — where we skip the boring intros and jump straight into reimagining business and workplace experiences with we-ain’t-afraid-to-go-there conversations. 

In this episode, Vivianne Castillo, Founder and CEO of ⁠HmntyCntrd⁠ and ⁠moonpaws⁠, and Dan Mall, Founder of Design System University and two other incredible companies, get real about the messy, uncertain and transformative journey of entrepreneurship. 

They question everything you're told about success, comfort and playing by the rules, showing you that sometimes the most courageous thing you can do is break all the expectations.

Join them for an unfiltered conversation about:

⦿ The courage it takes to leap into entrepreneurship, even when you're scared

⦿ Redefining security in a world of corporate unpredictability

⦿ Embracing uncertainty as a constant, not a threat

⦿ The power of surrounding yourself with the right people and cultivating trust

⦿ How trauma can shape your entrepreneurial journey and how to make it work for you

⦿ Why rejecting conventional wisdom may be the key to growth

Ready to choose courage over comfort? Hit play and let’s get into it.

---

Click ⁠here⁠ to join our newsletter and be the first to know about podcasts, coaching opportunities, special offers and other freebies designed to help you make real personal and professional change.

---

Choose Courage Inc. is a ⁠HmntyCntrd⁠ brand sponsored by ⁠CountrPT⁠.

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DAN MALL is a husband, dad, teacher, creative director, designer, founder, and entrepreneur from Philly. He helps designers get their flowers by teaching them about the business of design, leadership, systems, process, and craft. Dan runs Design System University to create, collect, and curate curriculum, content, and community to help enterprise teams design at scale. He also co-founded Great Job!, a platform that helps parents and caregivers design their own handbook for raising amazing kids. Previously, Dan ran design system consultancy SuperFriendly for over a decade. Dan writes weekly on site danmall.com and his weekly newsletter, and publishes bite-size tips and tricks to on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

Welcome to Choose Courage Inc. — where we skip the boring intros and jump straight into reimagining business and workplace experiences with we-ain’t-afraid-to-go-there conversations.

In this episode, Vivianne Castillo, Founder and CEO of⁠⁠ HmntyCntrd⁠⁠ and⁠⁠moonpaws⁠⁠, and Ash Coleman Hynie, Founder and CEO of⁠⁠CountrPT⁠⁠, talk about the uncomfortable, the unspoken, and the unapologetic realities of money, power, and persistence. No fluff. No clichés. Just straight talk and real strategies. 

They cover topics like: 

• Why fundraising feels personal — and how to stop making it that way
• The silent treatment: when friends ghost your investment ask
• The biggest lies we’ve been told about money, power, and success
• Why not all money is good money — and when to say no
• The unspoken power moves that separate struggling entrepreneurs from thriving ones
• How shifting your mindset can open doors (and bank accounts)

Whether you’re a founder navigating your first raise, an entrepreneur shifting your money mindset, or just someone tired of the same old "hustle harder" advice, this is for you.

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Click⁠⁠ here⁠⁠ to join our newsletter and be the first to know about podcasts, coaching opportunities, special offers and other freebies designed to help you make real personal and professional change.

---

Choose Courage Inc. is a ⁠⁠HmntyCntrd⁠⁠ brand sponsored by⁠⁠CountrPT⁠.

Welcome to Choose Courage Inc. — where we skip the boring intros and jump straight into reimagining business and workplace experiences with we-ain’t-afraid-to-go-there conversations.

In this episode, Vivianne Castillo, Founder and CEO of ⁠HmntyCntrd⁠ and ⁠moonpaws⁠, and Ash Coleman Hynie, Founder and CEO of ⁠CountrPT⁠, have a raw and honest conversation across several topics:

• The limits of external feedback and why not all advice is meant for you
• How to break free from corporate constraints and define success on your terms
• The role of fear: how it keeps us small and how to push past it
• Why multi-passionate people need to stop shrinking and embrace their complexity
• How gaslighting warps our sense of self and the ways we neglect ourselves because of it
• The surprising way thinking about death can bring more clarity and courage to your life

Ready to choose courage over comfort? Hit play and let’s dive in.

---

Click ⁠here⁠ to join our newsletter and be the first to know about podcasts, coaching opportunities, special offers and other freebies designed to help you make real personal and professional change.

---

Choose Courage Inc. is a ⁠HmntyCntrd⁠ brand sponsored by ⁠CountrPT⁠.

Welcome to Choose Courage Inc. — where we skip the boring intros and jump straight into reimagining business and workplace experiences with we-ain’t-afraid-to-go-there conversations.

In this episode, Vivianne Castillo, Founder and CEO of HmntyCntrd and moonpaws, joins Ash Coleman Hynie, Founder and CEO of CountrPT, for an unfiltered, deeply honest dialogue about what it really takes to thrive as an entrepreneur. Together, they explore the challenges of setting boundaries, healing from corporate trauma, and rejecting one-size-fits-all entrepreneurial blueprints.

From redefining rest and resisting hustle culture to navigating guilt and embracing creativity, Vivianne and Ash deliver the kind of wisdom that hits close to home. They’ll challenge you to rethink the way you approach work, leadership, and success—all while staying true to yourself.

This isn’t your average business podcast. It’s a call to action for anyone ready to break the mold, set their own rules, and lead with courage and conviction.

Ready to reimagine your path? Hit play and let’s dive in.

---

Click here to join our newsletter and be the first to know about podcasts, coaching opportunities, special offers and other freebies designed to help you make real personal and professional change.

---

Choose Courage Inc. is a HmntyCntrd brand sponsored by CountrPT⁠.