In this episode of Heart + Head Work, Rocky Donati and Tessa Arneson sit down with Dr. Sidni Shorter—President & CEO of the Utah Black Chamber—for a conversation that quickly moves beyond leadership and into identity, self-worth, authenticity, service, grief, and the lifelong work of becoming who we already are.

Together, they explore how childhood experiences shape our beliefs about love, achievement, and belonging, why so many of us spend years seeking validation outside ourselves, and what begins to change when we stop performing and start living from our own inner knowing.

Along the way they discuss leadership, faith, intuition, grief, ancestry, boundaries, service, and the courage it takes to choose yourself—not instead of others, but so you can offer your whole self to the people you love.

This conversation is both deeply personal and universally human—a reminder that perhaps our greatest work isn't becoming someone new, but remembering who we've been all along.

Together, we unpack:
- What creates genuine presence
- The hidden belief: "If I'm excellent, then I'm loved."
- Authenticity versus performance
- Leadership rooted in service
- Learning to trust your own inner voice
- Why validation can quietly shape our lives
- Grief, healing, and giving ourselves grace
- Boundaries without guilt
- Finding your own path instead of someone else's
- Building a life from authenticity rather than expectation

Sometimes the most meaningful transformations don't happen because we become someone different—they happen because we finally stop hiding who we already are.

Resources Mentioned

Utah Black Chamber
https://utahblackchamber.com

Learn more about the Utah Black Chamber, upcoming events, business resources, and opportunities to support entrepreneurs and communities across Utah.

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In this episode of Heart + Head Work, Rocky and Tessa sit down with Angela H. Brown—publisher of SLUG Magazine and Executive Director of Craft Lake City—for a conversation about leadership, creativity, vulnerability, and living a life with nothing left unsaid.

Angela shares the philosophy that has quietly guided her life: "I want to die on empty." It's an invitation to use your gifts, pursue your curiosity, and fully embrace the experiences that shape who you become.

Together, they explore what it means to travel through the world with wonder, raise children with a broader perspective, and lead with authenticity instead of perfection. The conversation also moves into the courage it takes to tell our stories, the importance of transparency around mental health, and why sharing our experiences—whether immediately or years later—can become a powerful act of healing.

At its heart, this episode is about living fully, embracing vulnerability, and recognizing that our stories have the power to connect us long after we've lived them.

Together, we unpack:
- What it means to "die on empty"
- Building a life rooted in curiosity and meaningful experiences
- Raising children with empathy, perspective, and adventure
- Leadership through authenticity rather than perfection
- The courage to share the parts of ourselves we've hidden
- Mental health, transparency, and breaking generational silence
- Why vulnerability creates connection
- How creativity and community can change culture
- The impact of supporting artists and local makers

This episode is thoughtful, inspiring, and deeply human—an invitation to live more fully, tell your story when you're ready, and leave nothing meaningful unexplored.

Resources Mentioned

The Avoided Conversation Audit
https://stan.store/mavencommunity/p/the-avoided-conversation-audit

The Round Table Group Coaching 
https://angelahbrown.com

SLUG Magazine
https://www.slugmag.com

Craft Lake City
https://craftlakecity.com

Learn more about Craft Lake City's annual DIY Festival, artist programs, workshops, and opportunities to support local creatives.

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In this episode of Heart + Head Work, Rocky and Tessa turn the tables and invite Maven podcast producer Lo Titensor and her daughter Denali into the conversation.

What begins as a playful discussion about joy quickly unfolds into something much deeper—a conversation about intuition, self-trust, healing, motherhood, and the moments that crack us open to become more fully ourselves.

Lo shares a personal story about navigating postpartum depression, losing touch with herself, and unexpectedly finding a path back to joy. Together, she and Denali explore how the choices we make to reconnect with ourselves ripple outward into our families, relationships, and communities.

Throughout the conversation, they reflect on following intuition, embracing the things that make us feel most alive, and learning to trust the quiet inner voice that often knows the way before our minds do.

At its heart, this episode is about remembering who you are—and discovering that when you choose yourself, everyone around you benefits too.

Together, we unpack:
- Why joy can be a powerful compass for life
- The "soul-cracking" moments that change us
- Trusting intuition even when it feels scary
- Postpartum depression, healing, and self-discovery
- The ripple effect of choosing yourself
- Motherhood, identity, and personal growth
- Following the things that make you feel alive
- Why self-trust is one of the greatest gifts we can pass on
- The lessons children learn from watching us live authentically

This episode is joyful, tender, and deeply human—an invitation to follow the butterflies, trust yourself, and remember that the path back to yourself is often the path forward.

Connect with us!

💬 Join the conversation in our private network on BFF 
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✨ And if this episode moved you, sharing it with a friend helps more women find us.

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In this episode of Heart + Head Work, Rocky and Tessa explore one of the most universal human experiences: the feeling of being alone, not belonging, or somehow being too much—or not enough.

Through personal stories and honest reflection, they unpack the childhood moments that shaped their identities, the protective patterns they developed to stay safe, and the ways those same patterns can follow us into adulthood.

Rocky shares a formative experience of grief, anger, and loneliness that led her to use anger as protection, while Tessa reflects on a childhood moment that taught her to shrink herself and question her own voice. Together, they explore how our earliest experiences can shape the stories we tell ourselves—and how healing begins when we learn to relate to those parts of ourselves differently.

This conversation also touches on parts work, self-compassion, belonging, and the practice of becoming a friend to yourself rather than looking outside of yourself for worth, validation, or connection.

Together, we unpack:
- Why so many of us feel alone, unseen, or disconnected
- The childhood experiences that shape our sense of belonging
- Being told you're "too much" or "not enough"
- Anger as protection and the role it plays in adulthood
- The ways we learn to shrink ourselves to fit in
- Parts work, inner children, and self-compassion
- Developing a relationship with your higher self
- Learning to find belonging within yourself
- Why healing often begins with curiosity instead of judgment

This episode is tender, reflective, and deeply human—an invitation to explore the stories you've inherited about yourself and what becomes possible when you meet them with compassion.

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💬 Join the conversation in our private network on BFF 
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✨ And if this episode moved you, sharing it with a friend helps more women find us.

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In this episode of Heart + Head Work, Rocky and Tessa sit down with Laura Hurtado, Executive Director of the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, for a conversation about art, identity, leadership, and what it means to consciously author your own life.

Laura shares her journey through the worlds of contemporary art, curation, and cultural leadership—and how art has become a lens through which she understands change, community, and human expression. What unfolds is a thoughtful conversation about self-authorship, breaking inherited narratives, and learning to create a life that reflects who you actually are.

Together, they explore the role of museums and art in shaping culture, why discomfort and transition are often necessary parts of growth, and how creativity can help us imagine entirely new futures.

This conversation moves fluidly between philosophy, leadership, vulnerability, and personal transformation—grounded in the belief that art is not separate from life, but one of the ways we make meaning from it.

Together, we unpack:
- What contemporary art can teach us about identity and change
- The idea of “self authorship” and rewriting inherited narratives
- Why discomfort and transition are often part of growth
- How museums can become spaces for dialogue and belonging
- Building a future rooted in intention instead of expectation
- Leadership, creativity, and staying connected to purpose
- Why art matters in moments of cultural tension and transformation
- Learning to see yourself as more than your role or title

This episode is reflective, expansive, and deeply grounding—an invitation to think differently about art, identity, and the stories we choose to live by.

Where to find Laura Hurtado
Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (UMOCA)
https://umoca.org

Follow along
Instagram: @utahmoca

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In this episode of Heart + Head Work, Rocky and Tessa sit down with Lavanya—entrepreneur, community leader, and founder of multiple purpose-driven ventures—to explore what it really means to build a life rooted in identity, impact, and intention.

Lavanya shares her journey from growing up within traditional cultural expectations to carving her own path in a completely new environment. What unfolds is a story not just about entrepreneurship, but about courage—choosing to step outside inherited narratives and redefine success on your own terms.

Through her work in hospitality and nonprofit spaces, Lavanya has created more than businesses—she’s created opportunities. Spaces where women can learn, grow, and step into their own sense of agency and worth.

This conversation moves from personal story to collective impact, offering a grounded and deeply human look at what happens when we stop chasing external definitions of success and begin listening to something more internal.

Together, we unpack:
- Growing up within traditional cultural expectations and rewriting your path
- The subtle ways systems shape identity and opportunity
- Building businesses that center impact over profit
- Creating opportunities for women through community and skill-building
- Redefining success beyond titles, money, and external validation
- The role of small business in solving real-world problems
- Listening to your body and honoring moments of necessary change
- Why identity is bigger than anything you build

Where to find Lavanya:
https://www.lavanyamahate.com
Follow along
Instagram: @the_power_of_ownership

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In this episode of Heart + Head Work, Rocky and Tessa sit down for a deeply personal and honest conversation about abortion, motherhood, and the complexity of choice.

What begins as a reflection on a recent guest conversation opens into something much more intimate—Tessa shares her own experience with pregnancy loss and abortion, and the emotional, physical, and psychological realities that followed.

Together, they explore what it means to make decisions in moments of uncertainty, the weight of grief, and the anger that can arise when choice is taken away. This conversation moves between the deeply personal and the collective, touching on systems, language, and the importance of compassion in moments that are anything but simple.

At its core, this episode is about autonomy, healing, and the right to navigate our own lives and bodies with dignity.

Together, we explore:
- The lived experience of abortion and pregnancy loss
- Grief, anger, and the emotional aftermath of difficult decisions
- What it means to make a choice in moments of uncertainty
- The impact of language and systems on personal experience
- Why autonomy matters in both motherhood and identity
- How we hold space for ourselves and others through complex experiences

Resources mentioned in this episode:
https://utabortionfund.org

Disclaimer:
This conversation reflects personal experiences and perspectives. Topics discussed may be sensitive for some listeners. We encourage you to take care of yourself while listening and to seek support if needed.

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In this episode of Heart + Head Work, we sit down with Ali, a journalist and community voice deeply embedded in the flow of information, culture, and change.

Together, we explore what it means to stay engaged in a world that feels overwhelming—how to care deeply without burning out, and how to move from reactive outrage into something more grounded, sustained, and meaningful.

Ali offers a powerful reframe: the difference between anger and outrage—and why one may be essential for long-term change, while the other keeps us stuck in cycles of reaction.

This conversation moves from the personal to the collective, touching on media, responsibility, and the deeper systems shaping our lives. At the center of it all is a question many of us are quietly holding:

How do we stay in the work—without losing ourselves?

Together, we unpack:
- The difference between anger and outrage—and why it matters
- How outrage cycles can exhaust and distract us
- What it means to cultivate sustainable emotional engagement
- The idea that our “social contract” may be breaking down
- Media consumption, information overload, and staying informed without burnout
- Finding your role in the midst of complex societal issues
- Why long-term change requires steadiness, not spikes
- How community care and small actions still matter

Resources mentioned in this episode
Utah Abortion Fund
A community-based organization providing financial support and access to abortion care in Utah.

Hotline + support access:
https://utabortionfund.org/

You can also support their work through monthly or one-time donations, helping ensure continued access to care for those who need it.

Find Ali Vallarta at https://saltlake.citycast.fm/

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In this episode of Heart + Head Work, we sit down with Blake Spalding and Jen Castle, executive chefs and founders of the iconic Hell’s Backbone Grill in Boulder, Utah.

For more than 25 years, Blake and Jen have built far more than a restaurant—they’ve built a community rooted in hospitality, advocacy, and a deep commitment to the land and people around them. Their work has become a powerful example of how business can be used as a platform for values, courage, and collective care.

What began as a shared love of food and partnership grew into a restaurant that feeds both the body and the spirit. Along the way, Blake and Jen have used their voices to advocate for environmental protection, community well-being, and the idea that success isn’t measured by profit alone.

In this conversation, they share stories of building a values-driven business, navigating activism as business owners, and redefining what it means to lead with integrity in a complicated world.

Together, we unpack:

- The story behind Hell’s Backbone Grill and how Blake and Jen built their partnership
- Using business as a platform for advocacy and environmental protection
- The courage it takes to use your voice—even when it’s uncomfortable
- Navigating criticism, community pressure, and standing by your values
- How food and hospitality can become a space for connection and healing
- Redefining success beyond money, status, or traditional metrics
- Why small businesses can be powerful centers of culture and change

This episode is thoughtful, bold, and deeply human—an exploration of what happens when people choose to lead with integrity, speak up for what matters, and build something that nourishes far beyond the plate.

Where to find Hell’s Backbone Grill:

Hell’s Backbone Grill
https://www.hellsbackbonegrill.com

Follow Blake & Jen
Instagram: @hellsbackbonegrill

Disclaimer
This conversation reflects personal experiences and perspectives. Every business, community, and leadership journey is unique. We encourage listeners to reflect on what resonates and explore their own path toward meaningful work and impact.

Connect with us!

Continue the conversation with us inside the Maven Network, our private space on BFF:
https://links.geneva.com/invite/af6ecd07-9070-43b7-9629-7aaa166aa131

Follow us on Instagram
@mavenslc

More at → https://www.mavenslc.com

Connect with us!

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In this episode of Heart + Head Work, we explore what it means to advocate — not just in big public moments, but in the quieter, everyday ways we use our voice to influence change.

Rocky Donati and Tessa Arneson sit down with business leader and advocate Natalie Caddis and communications strategist Jenna Smith for a conversation about leadership, storytelling, and the surprising ways small moments of courage can ripple outward.

Through personal stories and lived experience, Natalie shares what it was like to step into leadership of her family’s manufacturing company during a time of uncertainty — navigating real financial pressure while learning how resilience, creativity, and persistence can reshape what’s possible. Jenna brings a communications lens to the conversation, offering insight into how stories, relationships, and follow-up can open unexpected doors — even leading to moments that feel almost impossible.

Together, this episode explores the ways advocacy shows up in business, leadership, and daily life. From navigating crises to pitching ideas, connecting with media, and building relationships that matter, the conversation reveals how influence is often built through consistency, curiosity, and the willingness to keep showing up.

Rather than presenting advocacy as something reserved for activists or public figures, this episode reframes it as a practice — something we can all cultivate in our work, communities, and relationships.

Together, we unpack:
- What advocacy really looks like in everyday leadership
- How storytelling can shape influence and open unexpected opportunities
- The role of persistence and follow-up in building meaningful connections
- Why relationships often matter more than credentials or authority
- How moments of pressure can reveal the leaders we’re becoming
- The small actions that can create surprising ripple effects

This episode is an invitation to reflect on the ways your own voice — and your willingness to use it — might shape the conversations, opportunities, and communities around you.

Connect with us

Continue the conversation with us inside the Maven Network, our private space on BFF

Follow us on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/mavenslc

More at → https://www.mavenslc.com

✨ And if this episode moved you, sharing it with a friend helps more women find us.

Connect with us!

💬 Join the conversation in our private network on BFF 
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✨ And if this episode moved you, sharing it with a friend helps more women find us.

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