Find Your Magic

This episode was previously released in January of 2022; I'm re-releasing it as part of this month's "Best Of" series for anyone who didn't get a chance to enjoy it the first time around!

I bet I'm not alone when I say I'm a little sick of the word 'burnout' right now (one could even say I was BURNT OUT hearing the word!) HOWEVER! After personally experiencing burnout in a big way this December, I wanted to talk with an expert about what burnout actually is, how we can heal from it, and how we can prevent it in the first place.

This led me to today's guest, Nikole Stanfield, owner of “My Intuition Coach.” She specializes in helping entrepreneurs, freelancers, and anyone in business for themselves, identify, prevent, or treat burnout by listening to your intuition and living with intention.

The greatest thing about this episode is that Nikole drops amazing, valuable, and actional ways to form new habits that will heal you from that feeling of burnout!

When Nikole was looking for help with her own mental health struggle, she couldn't find anyone specializing in burnout for entrepreneurs. This caused her to walk away from her business (and sadly lose money), in order to completely reset.

Entrepreneurial culture is commonly known for a culture of constant hustle. Working hard, making money, wanting more money, and basically feeling like you are on a hustle “treadmill”... Nikole recommends the first step to avoid burnout is just starting just with taking your lunch. Start with small changes. She also shares tips on how to say no! Sometimes we all need the reminder that “no.” is a complete sentence.

Also can I just say she dropped this MAGIC BOMB of a playlist in this episode so we hunted it down to include it here for you!

STUDY AT HOGWARTS - Pomodoro | ASMR + Music Breaks | Study with me Harry Potter Peaceful Relaxing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzaPLc9TuRE

Connect with Nikole Stanfield:

Website: www.MyIntuitionCoach.co

Connect with Kelsey:

Kelsey’s Website: http://www.kelseyformost.com

Kelsey’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsey.writes/

This episode was originally released in October of 2021 and I'm re-releasing it for the New Year because it's SO good & I don't want new listeneres to miss out!

Feeling burnt out? If you're looking for more balance, this episode with my good friend Kate Kordsmeier is for you. Kate has done an INCREDIBLE job building a multi-six-figure business with blogging and passive income so she can open up time and space to be with her family. She now teaches other entrepreneurs how to do the same!

There are so many roles we fill every day; mother, daughter, employee, business owner, team leader, but all those roles can leave us feeling depleted if we don't balance it out with self-care. Kate walks the walk, she is unapologetic about wanting to be financially successful with her business, while also prioritizing her mental health.

One thing we really dig into is the myth of "work-life balance"...Work is a PART of life. It's only when you look at your life as a holistic picture that is constantly ebbing and flowing that you can surrender to the flow and build a life AND business that are fulfilling. A life you are happy to show up for every day. 

We also talk about mom guilt, and why some mothers are not starting their businesses because they feel guilty about taking time away from their family- something I really want to learn more about so I can support this community better (even though I don't yet have kids myself).

Kate is a writer, educator, and creative entrepreneur. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband, Matt, their two kiddos, Jackson and Gemma, and 3 fur babies, Scout, Boo, and Finch (yes, like the book!). Kate left her flourishing journalism career (her byline has appeared in over 125 magazines) to start a holistic wellness blog, Root + Revel, which became a multi-six-figure business! She took what she learned and now teaches other heart-centered online entrepreneurs to create a purposeful and profitable online business.

I hope you love listening to this episode as much as I loved having it! Just a friendly reminder, SEO, blogging, writing, and creating passive incomes are all learnable skills, and my DMs and Kate’s DMs are open! Do not be afraid to create the content because you are scared of doing it “wrong”. As Kate said, action is the only way to get clarity! 

Connect with Kate: Kate’s website: https://katekordsmeier.com/

Connect with Kelsey: http://www.kelseyformost.com

http://www.instagram.com/kelsey.writes

This episode was originally released in August of 2021 and I'm re-releasing it in the New Year because it's too good to miss! Feeling lost about what the next chapter of your life should be? Or maybe you’re feeling stuck in your business, your relationship, or another area of your life where you’re thinking, “I don’t really know what to do next, I just know SOMETHING’s gotta give.” This is the chat for you... In this episode (originally released August 2021) I’m speaking with Megan Seamans, an International Life Coach, Human Design expert, speaker, author, and world traveler. For the past 5 years, Megan has supported women to tap into their magic & confidently get in the driver’s seat of their own life. She’s amazing at helping you figure out who you *actually* are and what you’re naturally good at so you can move forward into the next chapter with ease, joy, and purpose! In our chat, Megan explains what human design is and how it was introduced to her at the perfect time...She lost her older brother around the same time she was starting to study human design and describes how reading his chart was an incredibly healing moment in her grief journey. After living through that loss, Megan realized how important it is to do the things she actually enjoyed in life, and not just the things people expected of her. We dig deep (and have lots of fun and laughs!) talking about how to find your purpose, get out of your comfort zones, and make room for self-care while grieving a loss (of a person, job, situation, or identity). Megan & I also talk about how magical words are. The words we speak about ourselves tell a story, so using the right words changes the story for the better! “Where do I feel stuck right now and where is the story standing in the way?” - Megan Seamans Read this whole thing? WOWZER, BOWZER! Gold star for you! Before you go would you mind leaving us a positive review on Apple Podcasts? It TRULY makes a huge difference for us. Get out there and find your magic, bb. XO, Kelsey Connect with Megan: Megan’s Human Design Link: https://www.meganseamans.com/purposebydesign Megan’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meganseamans/ Megan's recommendation for Human Design info: https://www.jovianarchive.com/ Connect with Kelsey: Kelsey’s Website: http://www.kelseyformost.com Kelsey’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelsey.writes/ Kelsey’s Courses: https://kelseyformost.com/courses

My un-edited verbal vomit reflections, lessons, and inspiration from 2023 - and where I want to go in 2024.

1. Mental health is HEALTH.

2. The body really does keep the score. I'm sharing my test results that prove it.

3. Simple practices that re-connect you to nature and your humanity can work MIRACLES in your brain and body.

4. Change doesn't have to be huge or hard.

5. I learned how to stay present during conflict (instead of fawning or disassociating), and for the first time in my life, allowed myself to experience anger (in a healthy way).

6. You can't change a pattern until you're aware of it.

7. Community accelerates healing (Ask me about Al-Anon).

8. Test your business ideas before you launch them.

9. When in doubt, return to your "zone of genius".

10. If you find you're doing too many things or work feels unmanageable, it may be time to "prune".

11. Everything in my life right now is here because I CHOSE it, not because I "ended up" with it, and that is the BEST feeling in the world.

12. Why I've never felt more beautiful in my life

13. Surround yourself with people who SEE you and VALUE you AS YOU ARE.

*Bonus; rest is worth more than gold...which is why in January I'll be re-releasing some fan favorite episodes you may have missed! Back to new episodes in February 2024!

Today's guest is my kindred spirit, screenwriter, actor, director, producer - and TRUE multi-hyphenate! - Anna Chazelle. We're exploring how she found her way to unexpected genres, skillsets, and art forms that TRULY made her come alive.

Anna is a filmmaker, actor, and screenwriter represented by WME, who specializes in horror storytelling. She got started doing theater in New York and has since transitioned into being a multi-hyphenate who specializes in science fiction and the macabre.

During the pandemic, Anna leaned into what lit her creative fire (rather than continuing to do what The Industry told her she "should" be doing). She explored her deeper, truer self through writing and directing projects that were on the Macabre side, rather than staying in her "Disney Princess Adjecent" lane. And boy howdy did her career (and mental health!) benefit from that decision.

Anna is currently developing a feature that explores the origins of the Greek legend MEDUSA with Fangoria, and is writing an unannounced horror film for Netflix.

NOTE: This was recorded before any final resolution or ratification of new SAG contracts on Nov 29th. We do discuss both the writer's strike of earlier this year and the (as of the time of recording) ongoing actor's strike. All opinions shared about both strikes are our own and are not meant to be taken as advice on how to vote. LEGAL STUFF, Y'ALL. IT'S REAL.

CONNECT WITH ANNA:

https://www.instagram.com/annachazelle/

CONNECT WITH KELSEY:

https://www.instagram.com/kelsey.writes/

Disclaimer for this episode, y'all: Social media is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it can be an INCREDIBLE marketing tool (and let's face it, we all need to have SOME kind of social media presence in today's world if we're runnng a business). But social media- or rather the risk of comparison and burnout that come with it - can strain our mental health. Take care of yourselves and take any social media growth advice with a grain of salt and a heap of self-awareness re: what works for you, k?

And, now, may I introduce you to today's guests: Lexi & Miranda, The Mompreneur Marketers! They started as total beginners in the digital marketing business in July 2023 (so like, yesterday). In just 3 months, they scaled their business to over 100K, all with digital products like courses and online tools. And they're here to share exactly how they do on today's pod episode.

We're talking about the power of digital products and how (paired with super structured social media marketing strategies), you can scale your business in a (surprisingly) short period of time. 

CONNECT AND LEARN FROM THE MARKETING MOMPRENEURS:

1. Social Media Marketing Course: https://stan.store/sidehustlingmama/p/get-started-with-the-masterclass-lwyzp

2. Digital Product Success Kit:
https://stan.store/sidehustlingmama/p/digital-product-success-kit-amk2r

3. Overall Stan store to check out all services/offers:
https://stan.store/sidehustlingmama

CONNECT WITH KELSEY:

http://www.kelseyformsot.com

http://www.instagram.com/kelsey.writes

You're WELCOME, Magic Makers. Today, my guest Ashley "bird" Williams is here to talk about all the left brain stuff that I hate....it also happens to be the stuff that makes or breaks a business. If you don't have a solid business plan, if you don't know your numbers (budget, expenses, gross profits, net profits, etc), if you aren't planning for tax season, they you 100% will not be able to create a profitable business, let ALONE a SUSTAINABLE one with staying power! Which is EXACTLY what we're going to talk about today: making sure you do the LEFT brain stuff so you have the freedome to create the RIGHT brain stuff. Ashley “Bird” Williams helps entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses by developing strategic systems to turn dreams that sit into ventures that soar. Through her online course, Prove It Plan, Ashley teaches her 5-part framework for developing a strategic business plan. In her first business, The League, a warehouse gym in Houston, Texas, Ashley heads business operations and strategic planning for the growing fitness community. The League is now expanding its footprint through franchising opportunities. Ashley began her career on Wall Street as an Investment Banking Analyst, executing equity transactions for global clients. She graduated with a Finance and International Business degree from the University of Texas at Austin, where she met her amazing husband. Ashley has three adorable children, Terry, Trenton and Rhys. She loves gathering friends in her home and connecting people, as well as being involved in her church and community. CONNECT WITH ASHLEY BIRD: birdwilliams.com https://www.instagram.com/heybirdwilliams/ CONNECT with KELSEY: http://www.kelseyformost.com http://www.instagram.com/kelsey.writes

Even if you live somewhere that doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving, you can still do this simple gratitude exercise: Naming and appreciating the smaller "everyday" things that often get overlooked when they run RIGHT or are healthy.

Things like:

- Your car

- Your favorite piece of clothing

- Your internet connection

- Your dog/cat/pet

- Your phone

- Your memberships/courses you already own

- Your kitchen appliances...

Follow along - and bring a journal! - as I use the following gratitude prompt: 

"What am I doing with what I've GOT?... Instead of crying over what I don't have and wishing my life were different: What am I doing with what I've already GOT? The more gratitude I have for my resources, the more they will grow. Here are things I'm grateful for (that I sometimes take for granted)."

One thing that would make me really grateful? Leave a review for this podcast!

I know you've heard that a hundred times, but it really REALLY is true: when you leave a review, it ACTUALLY helps the people making them! It tells the Podcast Gods that this is a podcast worth listening to and helps others discover it. It costs ya nothing but 30 seconds of your time and it MAKES MY WEEK when I read new reviews!

Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate! Connect with me on Instagram at:

http://www.instagram.com/kelsey.writes

When you protect your time and energy and truly devote yourself to honing your gifts, MAGIC. HAPPENS.

My guest today is Steven Gaultney - a playwright, dramaturg, and teacher based in Brooklyn. His most recent work, Bright Light Burning, will premiere next month at COP28, the annual UN Climate Conference, held this year in Dubai! (Skip to the end of the notes to see how you can donate to the cause and help end climate change!)

In this episode, we're talking about the leap of faith Steven took to quit a "prestigious" job at a theater company that, while in the field he wanted to be in, didn't allow as much time as he'd have liked for actually WRITING plays.

Now, he looks at "work for money" as a COMPLETELY different thing than "his life's work". Doing this can relieve SO much pressure, allowing us space and freedom to create rather than just "produce".

Steven is currently the resident playwright and dramaturg for the Theatre of Others. His work has also been developed by Chautauqua Theatre Company and Theatre for a New Audience. He holds an MFA from Columbia University and a BA from Davidson College (where we met!).

Here's how to donate to Theatre of Others and help send them to Dubai for the COP28 conference!

It's not you, mama - it's the SYSTEM. You do NOT have to be a mom to get a ton out of this incredible conversation with author and recovery coach, Celeste Yvonne.

We're talking about the mental load of motherhood, the patriarchy, priviledge, the slippery slope of "mommy wine culture", and numbing our burnout with unhealthy coping mechanisms.

We're ALSO talking about tools to help us heal, and the magic of sober living (and I'm not just talking about alcohol). This might just be my favorite episode to date.

ABOUT CELESTE: Celeste Yvonne is a writer and certified recovery coach (IAPRC). Her essays on parenting, the mental load of motherhood, mommy wine culture, and sobriety resonates with mothers everywhere and has been featured in the Washington Post, Good Morning America, Today Show, and Refinery 29, among others.

Over five years sober and a founding host of the Sober Mom Squad, Celeste advocates for mothers who struggle with addiction and mental health. In her newest book, "It's Not About the Wine," Celeste pulls back the veil on what's really plaguing mothers, offers tangible tips for how to lighten your mental load, and paves a path forward for twenty-first-century parents.

https://www.celesteyvonne.com/

https://www.instagram.com/theultimatemomchallenge/

https://linktr.ee/theultimatemomchallenge