In this episode of Coffee Break, we discuss the complex and often unspoken realms of grief, identity, and the transitions that shape our lives. Join us as our hosts reunite with longtime friend and guest, Susanna Spiccia, to explore her personal journey through grieving life's changes, from professional shifts to personal relationships. Susanna shares how acknowledging pain, embracing curiosity, and intentionally seeking discomfort have all contributed to her resilience and personal growth.

From heartfelt conversations about the impact of modern technology on our mental health to the significance of slowing down and living in the moment, this episode offers profound insights into the narratives we carry and the ways in which we can rewrite them. Whether you're navigating your own transitions or seeking to understand the quieter grief that accompanies change, this conversation will resonate and inspire you.

Chapters:

00:00 Start

03:53 Exploring the Concept of Grief

06:53 Navigating Personal Narratives and Emotional Awareness

12:14 Balancing Empathy and Personal Boundaries

13:17 The Impact of Technology on Emotional Well-being

18:24 Struggles with Identity and Professional Transitions

24:14 Finding Balance and Embracing Change

29:35 The Healing Power of Art and Movement

30:45 Living Authentically and Letting Go of Labels

42:17 The Continuous Journey of Grief and Self-Discovery

44:09 Embracing and Releasing Heaviness

45:23 Connecting with Kids

48:50 Navigating Disorientation and New Experiences

55:04 Singleness and Self-Discovery

01:02:30 The Power of Skipping and Creative Expression

01:11:57 Grieving Friendships and Seeking Healing

01:25:58 Exploring Collective Growth and Human Similarities

01:26:58 Navigating Conflict and Connection in the Digital Age

01:27:33 The Impact of Technology on Human Interaction

01:29:56 The Role of Water and Interconnectedness

01:34:37 The Burden of Societal Expectations and Materialism

01:37:10 The Influence of Social Media on Creativity and Grief

01:51:02 Balancing Feminine and Masculine Energies

02:06:08 The Journey of Self-Discovery and Realignment

02:10:09 Final Encouragements

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Enjoy.

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Just as the musical artist Pitbull so poignantly sang about his origins, "I was born in a flame," so was Susanna Spiccia. An Italian-American originally from Florida, raised mostly in Georgia, Susanna moves through life with unmistakable intensity—visible in her purposeful stride and expressive eyebrows. Her gift lies in helping humans believe in our innate creativity, trusting in our revolutionary ability to transform…transform…transform. ⇐ (periods are just tiny portal black hole openings to change)

In 2014, she founded the nonprofit RE:IMAGINE/ATL to give young people space to connect from different backgrounds and storytell together. Go Kids, Go!

These days, Susanna spends her time with the people she loves—drawing, working, skipping, sauna-ing, and dreaming up ways to partner with nature’s intelligence to help herself & humanity to remember the magic that we truly are.

In today's episode, we sit down with Dr. Tahilia Rebello, neuroscientist, VP of mental health research and advocacy organization: One Mind, and Assistant Professor in Psychiatry at Columbia University.

Tahilia shares her journey navigating mental health from not only a personal but also a community and global perspective.

We explore:

• How early-life experiences and the environments we grow up in shape the personal narratives we carry into adulthood

• How early-life experiences play a role in shaping our emotional blueprint and why early relational experiences matter so much for long-term mental health

• Why change, especially deep emotional change, can be challenging without the right support structures

• Tools to identify and "rewrite" the unhealthy stories we tell ourselves and design psychologically safe spaces in our lives

• Why urban planning, climate justice, and community are critical to mental health.

This conversation was incredibly powerful and a must-listen for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of how to best care for themselves, others, and our communities.

Enjoy.

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Chapters:

00:00 Start

04:04 How Early Life Shapes Our Core Narratives

13:57 Epigenetics: Inheriting Stories Biologically

18:48 A "Tourist" Identity

24:02 Digital Age & Narrative Formation

31:07 Challenging and Rewriting Our Stories

47:22 Psychological Safety: Key to Healthy Development

57:31 Systems Thinking: Mental Health Beyond the Individual

01:06:31 One Mind’s Ecosystem Approach

01:28:31 Cross-Cultural Insights

01:40:50 Hope and Future Vision

Derrick Washington—Atlanta-based kickboxing coach, trainer, and founder of 301 Fitness, shares how addiction, shame, and isolation eroded his body, relationships, and spirit—and most importantly, how fitness became a path back to himself.

We explore:

• The illusion of "fine" and why physical strength means nothing when we’re spiritually hollow, and how to recognize the disconnect

• How community, not willpower alone, is the antidote to hiding

• How to reclaim movement not for aesthetics, but as a dialogue between body, faith, and forgiveness

• The use of words as medicine and why intentional language rebuilds integrity from within

This episode is for anyone who has ever armored themselves with achievement, numbed pain with productivity, or felt like a stranger in their own skin.

Enjoy.

00:00:00 Start

00:01:26 Meet Derrick Washington

00:03:58 Fitness Origin Story

00:07:01 Spiritual Bankruptcy

00:13:23 Addiction & Rock Bottom

00:15:22 Rehab Revelation

00:19:26 Daughter's Diagnosis

00:25:51 Purpose Reborn

00:30:34 Atlanta Awakening

00:32:30 Coaching Through Empathy

00:45:01 The Non-Negotiable: Community

00:47:32 Words as Medicine

00:49:16 Fitness Misconceptions

00:51:18 Mind-Body Presence

01:01:04 Embracing Discomfort

01:02:50 Final Wisdom: You're Not Alone

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Derrick Washington has dedicated his life to making fitness more accessible and enjoyable for others. As the Lead Trainer at Roundhouse Kickboxing based in Atlanta, Georgia, he offers personalized coaching that includes tailored workout plans, nutritional guidance, and ongoing support to help people achieve their fitness goals.

Derrick empowers individuals to harness their inner strength and resilience through higher high energy workouts that combine strength training, cardio and martial arts techniques.

What happens when your body forces you to stop—after years of pushing, producing, and performing? In this episode, we sit down with Jaide Garcia, a multi-Emmy award-winning field producer for CNN, who shares what burnout really looks like when you are so deeply tied to your work.

We explore:

• How stress and unprocessed trauma manifest in the body

• The turning point that changed everything in Jaide’s career and life

• The false comfort of hustle culture and the fear of slowing down

• What it means to reclaim agency, joy, and alignment

• The journey of feeling again—after years of emotional numbness

• Redefining success and self-worth beyond performance

This episode is for anyone navigating burnout, questioning their career path, or feeling the slow unraveling of a life lived too fast for too long.

Enjoy.

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Multi-Emmy Award winning field producer for CNN, with 10+ years of covering international and domestic breaking news. A fast-paced, solutions based journalist who is learning the hard way about the benefits of slowing down and living mindfully. Jaide is exploring the next chapter of her life with more openness and gratitude than ever before. 

Welcome to Season 4 of Coffee Break. In this opening episode, Fatima, Grace, and Liz reflect on how the podcast has changed them and how they are staying present and grounded during uncertainty.

Stay tuned for our guest episodes on grief, healing, and the stories we tell ourselves.

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In this episode, we sit down with Rutu Chaudhuri, a renowned yoga teacher with over 20 years of experience, the founder of the Dharma Project, and owner of All Life is Yoga studio in Atlanta, Georgia. Rutu shares her life journey from moving to the United States at a young age, navigating multiple cultural identities, and ultimately finding her place and purpose through yoga and mindfulness.

We explore her life coming from an immigrant family, navigating familial expectations, and how she utilized yoga to find home within herself and overcome personal challenges. Rutu also discusses the founding of the Dharma Project, a nonprofit bringing yoga and mindfulness to marginalized communities, and her recent decision to step away from the organization.

Whether you're on a journey of understanding your purpose, learning how to heal from trauma, or seeking courage to pursue something new in your life, this episode is for you.

Enjoy.

Chapters

00:00 Start

01:54 Growing Up Indian American

05:10 Navigating Cultural Identity

10:08 Finding Community and Hip Hop

15:53 Rediscovering Yoga

21:30 Teaching Yoga and Family Reactions

40:46 The Dharma Project

46:09 The Concept of Dharma

48:24 The Intersection of Purpose and Service

49:42 Transitioning from the Dharma Project

50:32 Challenges and Achievements in Nonprofit Work

55:01 The Decision to Step Down

57:46 Embracing New Creative Pursuits

59:53 Navigating Transition

01:06:21 The Girl with the Om Tattoo

01:20:06 Future Aspirations

01:30:43 Closing Thoughts

Watch on YouTube

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Rutu Chaudhari is an Atlanta-based writer, actor, and yoga teacher dedicated to fostering inclusivity in wellness. She is the CEO of All Life is Yoga studio and director of Atlanta’s premier Yoga Teacher Certification Program, having trained 150+ instructors since 2008. Rutu began practicing yoga in 1998 and has over 4,000 hours of certifications in alignment-based yoga, meditation, yoga therapeutics, nutrition and lifestyle coaching

In 2016, she founded the Dharma Project, a nonprofit providing trauma-informed yoga and mindfulness to underserved communities, including incarcerated individuals, first responders, and educators. Under her leadership, the organization earned the United Way’s SPARK Prize, a Civic Innovation Fellowship, and recognition as Georgia’s first yoga vocational program for incarcerated populations.

Named Atlanta’s “Best Yoga Teacher” by Creative Loafing and a Hambidge Creative Arts Center writing fellow, Rutu holds a BA in English Literature from Georgia State University. Off the mat, she enjoys music, cooking, and retreats to the woods.

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In this episode, the Coffee Break hosts welcome a dynamic mother-daughter duo, Kotch and Chalita Natakuatong, who share their inspiring journey from Thailand to the modeling industry in America.

Chalita, a fashion model who has worked with renowned brands like Fenty Beauty and Skims, describes her early start, the challenges she faced, and how her mother's unwavering support helped navigate the risks and pressures of the industry. Kotch, Chalita's mother, recounts her own immigration story from Thailand, the cultural shocks, and the sacrifices that shaped her and her family.

This episode sheds light on the complexities of the modeling world, and is filled with anecdotes about family, the significance of maintaining boundaries, and the importance of having a solid support system. We discuss cultural differences in parenting, balancing career aspirations while prioritizing family values, and overcoming health challenges.

We were deeply inspired by Kotch and Chalita's unique and loving mother-daughter relationship. This episode changed the way we look at parenting and the balance between career and family.

Enjoy.

Chapters

00:00 Start

01:03 Introduction

02:11 From Thailand to the US

02:46 Adjusting to Life in America

06:27 Family Dynamics and Relationships

08:11 Chalita's Modeling Career Begins

11:33 Challenges and Triumphs in Modeling

18:03 Navigating the Modeling Industry

20:18 Maintaining Boundaries and Well-being

26:39 The Importance of a Supportive Agency

38:54 Letting Go of Big Clients

40:10 Rejection and Building Resilience

43:18 A Turning Point

45:38 The Token Asian Model Experience

51:29 Modeling and Social Media

56:59 A Unique Mother-Daughter Relationship

01:04:29 Big Wins and Future Aspirations

01:11:25 Final Thoughts

Watch on YouTube

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Modeling since the age of 14, Chalita has modeled for Kim Kardashians clothing line, She is one of the faces for Fenty Beauty, modeled for Sherri Hill, Florence by Mills Millie Bobby Brown’s fashion line, to name just a few. She is currently represented by the Ursula Wiedmann Agency, and she is a self-made content creator who has amassed over 32K followers on TikTok.

Immigrating from Thailand at just 16-years-old, Kotch was in search of new opportunities. A loving mother, she has worked tirelessly to provide for her family, instilling in them the values of hard work, compassion, and perseverance. Kotch continues to inspire those around her with her strength and determination.

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How do you break free from cultural expectations and write your own story? Hmong-American artist Page Yang shares how dance, film, and storytelling helped her reclaim her identity, heal generational wounds, and build community.

Page Yang is a Hmong-American artist, dancer, and filmmaker dedicated to storytelling, representation, and community empowerment. Her work has been featured on national stages, including the Equality International Film Festival and the Night Walker Sessions Tour, and she has collaborated with artists like Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, and 21 Savage. In 2022, she made her directorial debut with Home, a documentary highlighting the voices of artists and trailblazers from her hometown of Sacramento.

Throughout this episode, we cover:

• How dance became a tool for self-discovery and healing.

• The challenges of balancing cultural identity with personal dreams.

• Why representation in the arts is more important than ever.

• The impact of storytelling on breaking generational cycles.

• How she learned to embrace vulnerability and build authentic connections.

Passionate about making the arts accessible, Page has worked with organizations like the Rose Family Creative Empowerment Center and the National Black Arts Festival, where she currently serves as Operations Manager in Atlanta.

Page’s perspective on art, identity, and community reminds us that we have the power to re-image our own stories. All it takes is a small act of courage.

Enjoy.

Marquelle Young is an award-winning director, producer, and writer based in Atlanta, Georgia. She is an actress, Meisner Teacher, and the Founder and CEO of Small Onion Studios, a full service production company.

This conversation explores Marquelle’s journey from the stage to behind the camera, her use of the Meisner Technique to unlock authenticity, and her mission to amplify marginalized voices through storytelling. She shares her thoughts on empathy as a catalyst for change, the stigma around mental health in the Black community, and the importance of honoring your inner voice.

We love how Marquelle is incredibly passionate and willing to be vulnerable. Her stories made us feel inspired as we go through our own journeys of self-discovery. Enjoy.

Show notes

Watch the full conversation on YouTube

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Chapters:

00:00 Start

01:23 Welcome to Season Three of Coffee Break

04:27 Introducing Marquelle Young

06:38 Marquelle's Journey into the Arts

13:10 Listening to Your Inner Voice

18:53 Self-Care and Personal Growth

28:32 Small Onion Studios: Purposeful Storytelling

35:03 'Tell Me' and Black Male Representation

41:39 Mental Health and The Black Community

47:06 Meisner Technique and Its Impact

56:30 Creating a Positive Environment on Set

01:02:42 Personal and Creative Aspirations

01:08:12 Final Thoughts and Reflections

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What happens when you take the time to honor your emotions, embrace vulnerability, and step boldly into your purpose?

In this heartfelt Season 2 finale, the hosts of Coffee Break—Fatima, Liz, and Grace—reflect on the transformative lessons they’ve learned from their guests and their own lives this season. Together, they explore the power of holding space for both joy and pain, the importance of finding purpose, and the courage it takes to build authentic connections.

Throughout the episode, the hosts dive into themes like:

• Redefining your purpose in different life seasons

• Creating intentional communities and cultivating relationships

• The mental strength it takes to hold space for both joy and pain

• Lessons from their guests about resilience, healing, and living authentically

This episode isn’t just a reflection on Season 2—it’s an invitation to explore your own journey, connect with your emotions, and embrace the messy beauty of life.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Embracing Emotions

01:01 Reflecting on the Season's Guests

05:24 Living in Your Purpose

08:22 Recognizing and Honoring Your Gifts

12:34 Navigating Personal and Professional Growth

20:01 Takeaways and Looking Forward

27:51 Closing Remarks and Gratitude

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If you'd like to support the podcast, please follow and subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review letting us know. Sharing the show with friends is also incredibly helpful.

Today's show was edited by our co-host Grace Chung.