Empowered Human Academy

Chloe Shovein is a women’s health coach who thoughtfully supports her clients to operate from self-love and confidence, rather than guilt and shame. With a background in sociology, Chloe brings an understanding of systems and advocates for a holistic wellness approach built to last. Chloe is a bright and multi-faceted light in the realm of wellness, focusing on empowering her clients to author their own goals so they’re rooted in what they want, rather than in the harmful standards propagated by diet culture.

Throughout this conversation we discuss behavioral change, vulnerability, pursuing health from a place of self-love rather than self-hate, and the shift from external validation to internal acceptance. We also explore the benefits of outsourcing the things that don’t light you up so you can optimize your energy for what does. Chloe is an inspiring example of what it means to stand in your magic, and how living from a deep, true place of confidence invites others to do the same. We really enjoyed this conversation and are excited to share it with you.

Lola Wright is a Holy Disruptor and Guide—weaving together the mystical and material to help people listen for their own internal wisdom. She hosts a podcast called Find Your Fierce & Loving which we highly recommend (and linked below). For many years Lola also served as the CEO of Bodhi Center, an organization committed to personal transformation, collective awakening, conscious activism, and community building. The common thread woven through all of her work is the belief that when one of us lives more freely, humanity itself becomes more free.

This conversation took so many fun twists and turns, some being spiritual partnership, aliveness, paradox, delusion of the ego, and how we can choose to create more breathing room between stimulus and response. We learned so much from Lola’s insights—she’s a force of love in the world and we’re grateful for her light. This conversation energized us and we hope it might do the same for you.

Alicia Kiewitt is a magic-maker to her core. She’s beloved by everyone who knows her—and it won’t take you long to understand why. As a thoughtful curator and designer of social spaces, she’s deeply gifted at creating environments that foster soul connection. As a trained spiritual director, she companions people as they explore, notice, and get to know their interior lives. With a deeply held belief that all of life is spiritual, she holds space for others to gather mind and body into a place of deep listening and quiet.

In many ways, this is a conversation about presence. As a self-described Enneagram 9, Alicia lets us in on her journey of learning to allow herself to experience life from her own lens and feeling her own strength. We discuss staying awake to life, noticing the beauty in others as well as in yourself, the risk of desire, and living from a mindset of abundance rather than scarcity.

Alicia is actively engaged in being awake to life—her generous and playful spirit has been a safe place for us to land over and over again. There are so many gems of insight throughout this conversation and we’re really excited to share it with you.

This week’s guest is our personal trainer and dear friend, Nate Bacott. With a background in both Human Development and Positive Coaching Psychology, Nate brings a refreshing and nuanced perspective to the world of fitness. His coaching clients range from Olympic and Crossfit athletes to young kids. Whoever the client, he thoughtfully listens to their individual goals and circumstances in order to help them discover their own power to sustain them for the long game. We’re clients of Nate’s, ourselves, and Nate has been an integral part of helping us build healthy workout rhythms into our days—which have added up to a happier, more grounded life over time.

Throughout this conversation we explore the idea of sustainable fitness, how to give yourself time and space to anchor to the moment, and what it means to walk yourself into the answers you already know. We loved getting to unpack Nate’s philosophy on life, emotions, and wellness. He shows up with his full self—you can feel that.

Today’s guest is our dear friend of many, many years—Erin Holden. Erin currently lives in Chicago and works as a nurse in the intensive care unit, so in other words—a hero. Our deepest gratitude to all the frontline workers—your care, dedication, and sacrifice does not go unnoticed here.

Identifying as an Enneagram 7, Erin has often been on the road chasing exciting opportunities and living in different places. But lately she’s found herself exploring what it means to find freedom in being anchored in one place. Throughout this episode we explore what it means to advocate for your own mental health, how commitment can be an opportunity for self-discovery, and how to attract your kindred community by living in your authentic truth. Erin lives with her eyes wide open, with a cultivated sense of self-awareness and curiosity. We deeply enjoyed and were touched by this open-hearted conversion, and are stoked to share it with you.

Our guest today is talented photographer and self-described deep feeler, Megan Kantor. Megan and her husband Nate run their own wedding photography business, Cedar & Pines, and we are major fans of their work. While Megan is typically on the road traveling for weddings, due to the pandemic she’s been settling into a slower pace, putting down roots, and finding new rhythms at their new home in Joshua Tree.

Throughout this conversation we explore discovering contentment, what it means to trust yourself, and mindfully limiting external stimulation so you can begin to create work that feels different and unique to you. In a lot of ways, this conversation is about existing in that liminal space before you know what you’re going to create next. It’s an exploration of how to stay in tune with yourself as you create a life that feels interesting to you. We loved this window into Megan’s life that feels especially resonant and timely as we’re all navigating this uncharted moment in time together.

Our guest this week is the generous, thoughtful, and endlessly creative Michael Forsberg. Having spent time in both the corporate and non-profit worlds, Michael's ambition to amplify social impact is the unchanging undercurrent of his work. Now as an Associate Director at a brand strategy firm, Michael helps his clients unlock hidden potential by listening, learning, and remixing research-based findings into fresh ideas. He’s also hiked Mount Kilimanjaro and run five ultra-marathons to help raise money for clean water.

We cover a lot of ground in this episode—the nature of identity, cognitive biases, beliefs about money, being true to your values, and how living in Los Angeles has shifted and expanded his thinking. Michael gave us a generous snapshot of what he’s processing at this stage of his life and we loved every minute.

Harriet Roberts is shaking up the world of fitness by finding motivation from a deep, soul place and rooting her identity in something much larger than any title. A talented and hard-working CrossFit athlete, Harriet has competed at the CrossFit games—the ultimate achievement in the CrossFit world. Alongside her passion for fitness, Harriet is also invested in teaching CrossFit to teenagers and caring for people living with disabilities.

Throughout this conversation we discuss vulnerability as the starting place of connection, the relationship between freedom and discipline, solidifying your identity beyond externals, and being open to finding inspiration in unexpected places. We truly loved unpacking Harriet’s mindset to better understand how she keeps fueling her passion— especially in the face of challenges.

Jennifer Peters is an innovator, creator, restaurant owner, and the creative force behind one of our favorite restaurants of all time—Just BE Kitchen. As the only Whole30-certified restaurant headquartered in Colorado, it’s truly a gem and we easily order it multiple times a week.

Throughout this conversation we discuss how the universe always has our back even when we don’t realize it. We explore how taking action can help keep you in touch with your power, how to set intentions from the starting point of how you want to feel, and how to attract what you are by being the one that you’re waiting for.

Jennifer is an inspiring example of moving through life with intention while also being flexible enough to adjust when things take an unexpected turn. We’ve felt connected to Jennifer for a long time through her nourishing food, and it was such a joy experiencing her energy in real time through this conversation.

Hailey Thomas is a mindset coach for entrepreneurs, a podcast host, and one of our dear friends. She helps her clients move through mental blocks, get clear about where they’re going, and reimagine what’s possible.

Throughout this conversation we discuss becoming aware of your internal feedback loops, developing supportive mental tools, and identifying healthy and sustainable motivators that work for you. Hailey is a deep well of curiosity, ambition, playfulness, and perseverance—she’s such a badass. We learn so much from her and can’t wait for you to be inspired by her expansive heart.