I am so excited to be back in the studio recording this week! I took time off of the podcast to work on finding my WHY for creating Conscious Conversations and what it really means to chase your dreams. After 2 bunion surgeries, lots of meditating, reading and listening I am back today to share everything I have learned! In this episode you will hear some insights, new perspectives and tools that will hopefully help you find your WHY and how to overcome fear, doubt and insecurities when it comes to chasing your dreams. This is coming from a woman in her late twenties still trying to figure it all out! I hope you enjoy this episode, it is a raw unfiltered perspective from my experience with some laughs thrown in. Love you all! Go do something impactful today!

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Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Chandi McCright, joins Yelina this week on Conscious Conversations for a down to earth, inspiring and intentional conversation. Chandi is going into her 6th year as a DCC, was Pro Bowl Cheerleader last year and has served as a captain for the past few years on the team. This past season Chandi opened up about her own experience with domestic violence for My Cause My Boots and has been sharing more and more about her own personal journey in the hopes to inspire others to share their truths and begin their healing. In this episode we dive deep into Chandi's unfortunate sexual assault incident in college that left her embarrassed and full of shame, her domestic violence relationship that led to a three year trial with a disappointing ending but ultimately how she finally found her voice and the courage to begin to speak up about these once taboo topics. The episode wraps up with some behind the scenes info on the Netflix docuseries America's Sweethearts, Chandi's experience with the CMT show, her relationship with Judy and Kelli and what her life has been like being adopted! A true conscious conversation full of personal reflection, growth and positivity. Enjoy!

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Join Yelina and her former teammate from Dolphins Cheer Jenny Smith Duke for this down to earth, honest conversation. Former beauty pageant contestant and aspiring Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader, Jenny was on the road to achieve fame and followers beginning in her early teens. She hoped the attention and spotlight would bring her the joy, happiness and fulfillment she was seeking and it wasn't until motherhood that she had her awakening. In this episode Yelina and Jenny talk about the effects of being a part of the social media boom generation, the pressure to be "perfect" all of the time to feel accepted and validated by the world plus why she struggled to be authentic at times. This conversation provides an insight into NFL cheerleading, the world of beauty pageants and how Jenny finally found her purpose and happiness. Get ready to feel inspired and uplifted. Enjoy! 

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Join Yelina and author Grace Patterson this week on Conscious Conversations to discuss key moments in Grace’s memoir Am I perfect yet?: Finding fullness in my authentic self. Grace was a former professional cheerleader and college dancer who struggled with bulimia, anorexia and the desire to reach physical perfection up into her early 20s. But that’s not all, Grace shares how she broke out of trying to be everything the world wanted her to be and how she finally followed her heart to pursue writing and acting which ultimately led to her finding her truest happiness. Her journey began at age 9 influenced by a friend to start counting calories and running with jackets in the summer heat. To then participating in an 8th grade science project gone wrong, to facing intense body checks by her dance and cheer coaches and overall struggling with low self esteem and self worth. Grace’s journey isn’t pretty but it’s a beautiful reminder that if we face our struggles head there is the hope that we can break free and step into the joyful life we were always meant to live.

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Join Yelina in the studio today for her first ever solo podcast! Yelina opens up about some of her own secrets she kept for years... imagine a confessional but with light at the end of the tunnel! She talks about how speaking your truth, sharing your most shameful moments with a friend or a therapist or with your journal can be the most liberating and freeing experience. From her childhood, to her college years, to an unfortunate event that happened with a coworker, Yelina doesn't hold back from sharing her most vulnerable and shameful moments in the hopes you don’t feel so alone! Moral of today’s episode is learn from Yelina and her mistakes. The sooner you start to feel your feelings and open up the quicker life will become more beautiful and joyful.  

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Yelina sits down with Cristina Williams, her former teammate from her middle school and high school dance teams to discuss some sensitive topics around body image, eating disorders, college dance team auditions and self confidence. Cristina shares her journey of learning about eating disorders on Tumblr in the 8th grade and her on going battle to reach the “perfect” body throughout high school and college. Struggling with self confidence and insecurities Cristina believed if she could just “look the part” then she would finally standout as a dancer. Her journey doesn’t stop there, Cristina opens up about the college dance team audition that left her in tears. Her weight and appearance being the only topic of conversation during her interview process in front of a panel full of women. After quitting dance for a few years she made her way back to the sport her senior year, the dance team being under new leadership and she was finally able to have the experience she had always wanted dancing for her University. Cristina has now started a mentorship program for dancers to help them navigate the ups and downs of the dance world. Grace & Grit Academy was founded to help dancers enjoy what they do, find self acceptance and help ease life’s biggest transitions.

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This week on Conscious Conversations Yelina and Lauren continue their conversation talking all things Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders, overcoming self doubt and self hate plus SO much more. Part 2 of Lauren’s episode highlights how to find purpose outside of just “making the team”, how to find purpose after you give that uniform back and retire from the NFL and why mental health has played such a big part in her life and inspired her to create Outlast Audio, her own resource that aims to help individuals who might be struggling within themselves. Lauren is a beautiful example of someone that has overcome so much adversity and is now using her own story to create a positive impact on the world.

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On this week’s episode of Conscious Conversations Yelina sits down with former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader and Miami Dolphins Cheerleader, Lauren Leonard. Lauren opens up about her struggles with mental health beginning in high school. Her struggles worsened after freezing at her college dance team auditions and not making it into the school of her dreams. This led her down a path full of drinking and partying and living a life she did not recognize. After feeling alone and hurting she cried out for help and began her journey to transform her life and find herself. In this part 1 episode of her story we talk all about her younger years and personal journey, the beginning stages of her NFL career and a few funny cheerleading moments! Enjoy. :)

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Former sorority president from Kappa Alpha Theta at Florida State University, Scarlett Singh joins Yelina this week to discuss her 3 year journey of being alcohol free. Scarlett dives head first into what inspired her to make this life changing decision. From struggling with anxiety, debilitating hangovers, fear of judgment from friends and potential new partners, Scarlett opens up about how she overcame her fear of not fitting in to discovering her best self from saying goodbye to alcohol. In this episode Yelina and Scarlett talk all things therapy, mocktails, dating while being sober and how to still have fun while not drinking anymore. If you are sober curious or just looking for a refreshing and inspiring journey of a young woman in her late twenties who found freedom and happiness then this episode is for you. :)

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This week Yelina sits down with Miami Dolphin Cheerleader legend Etta Priest. Etta opens up about her journey with body dysmorphia while on the team, her crash dieting and how she eventually overcame her struggles of body image. Etta was a captain 3 out of the 4 years she was on the team and opens up about her mindset to always appear perfect no matter what, why she never let herself be vulnerable and the lessons she took away from her experience as a professional dancer. From DMs about sugar daddies to weigh ins at practice to eating less than 1000 calories a day, Etta does not hold back when it comes to sharing her story. Now a high school cheer coach, Etta opens up about how she runs her team and ultimately inspires her girls to be all that they can be. 5678 let’s go!

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