Heroine

Are you a fixer who loves taking responsibility and caring for others, but feel like you have too much on your plate? You’re not alone. Today’s episode features Tiffany Dufu, Chief Leadership Officer at Levo League and author of the new book Drop the Ball – a must-read for all of us trying to do everything ourselves and struggling to embrace imperfection.

Tiffany’s gems of wisdom include the value of delegating with joy, a concept she calls “strategic chaos”, and the three attributes to look for in a partner before you build a life with them. She also talks about motherhood as the last frontier of dropping the ball.

Show Notes:
-Tiffany growing up: An imaginative “good girl” who experienced early on a sense of injustice that sparked a feminist spirit. [5:25]
-Trying to be valued and liked in her teenage years, plus the benefit of experiencing failure at a young age. [9:59]
-College years, realizing she had more options than she’d been shooting for, and how she got into the nonprofit world. [15:11]
-On the specialness of millennials and the powerful meaning behind the title of her book. [20:33]
-How Tiffany and her husband fell into default mode when it came to the division of domestic labor – and what they did when that didn’t work. [25:10]
-How to delegate tasks in a meaningful way and other essential tips for busy women. [31:39]
-Learning to live with chaos: An incredibly amusing story that resulted in restored balance at home. [36:49]
-Exploring our social conditioning as women, and how to stay focused on what matters most. [42:40]
-Tiffany shares why motherhood is the final frontier in “dropping the ball”, plus the three attributes any partner of yours should have. [45:30]
-On our relationships with our mothers, having a greater sense of service, and Tiffany’s final thoughts. [51:52]

References:
Check out Tiffany’s website and find her new book, available now, at http://tiffanydufu.com/

Episode Sponsors:
UENO – https://ueno.co/careers
Adobe Creative Residency – http://adobe.com/go/creativeresidency

Music by Lucia Lilikoi – lucia.bandcamp.com

Design is powerful magic – It can help solve some of the world’s most urgent, critical problems. Patrice Martin is co-founder of IDEO.org, an organization that works to improve the lives of people in poor and vulnerable communities through design.

Patrice shares about her past struggles to be taken seriously as a petite woman, what she’s observed as a difference in creative confidence between men and women, and some of the incredible projects her team is focused on. Her conversation with Majo is living proof that design, when done well, can change the world.

Show Notes:
-Patrice shares a funny childhood story about persistence that anticipated one of her strongest personality traits as an adult. [5:05]
-High school years: Finding her identity in art. [7:36]
-Thinking of technology as a medium to create experiences, plus other formative experiences during college. [10:56]
-Patrice’s experience at IDEO – applying a design lens to complicated questions and issues. [17:55]
-Her transition to IDEO.org, the organization she co-founded that focuses on social impact and poverty. [21:46]
-What she’s learned as a leader, how to set up an environment where people thrive, and her spot-on insights on the difference in creative confidence between men and women. [26:30]
-Designing for good: Some of the exciting projects Patrice and her team are focused on. [34:01]
-On the importance of being part of a community of mothers who are figuring out the work-life balance together. [43:35]
-Patrice’s final words of wisdom and advice. [52:47]

References:
http://www.ideo.org/

Episode Sponsors:
Adobe Creative Residency – http://adobe.com/go/creativeresidency
InVision – https://www.invisionapp.com/company

Music by Lucia Lilikoi – lucia.bandcamp.com

This interview had our host in tears. In today’s episode, Majo speaks with Paralympic Gold Medalist Alana Nichols. Playing sports was like a safe haven for Alana, whose family life wasn’t always ideal. But at 17, she broke her back in a snowboarding accident that left her unable to walk again. As a lifelong athlete, this was devastating.

Alana grappled with denial, depression, and isolation in college, until a magical moment turned everything around. Her story is about the power of practice, discipline, grit, and faith. And she shares powerful insights on gratitude – seeing what we have instead of what we don’t have.

Show Notes:
-Growing up as a confident, active tomboy who found her identity in sports at a young age. [4:13]
-On always being a risk-taker and her dreams of playing Olympic Softball. [8:46]
-Coming into her identity as a young teen, dealing with social pressures, and missing the presence of a mother who wasn’t able to be there for her. [13:48]
-Playing sports in high school, being approached by colleges offering scholarships, and the accident that brought everything to a halt. [17:04]
-Reflecting on that critical moment in her journey when everything changed, and her initial denial of it all. [22:18]
-The hard transition Alana faced upon returning home after rehab. [30:05]
-How taking a chance shortcut led to Alana’s magical moment when she was at her lowest point. [35:25]
-Mourning her loss with grace, moving forward, and developing a new dream. [38:47]
-Alana’s journey to the Paralympics and beyond, her insights on risk-taking, and final words of wisdom. [45:23]

References:
http://www.alanajanenichols.com/

Episode Sponsors:
InVision – https://www.invisionapp.com/company
Adobe Creative Residency – http://adobe.com/go/creativeresidency

Music by Lucia Lilikoi – lucia.bandcamp.com

In today’s episode, we speak with with writer, speaker, and soul-blogger Justine Musk, who has long been exploring the heroine’s journey in her work. She’s bold, honest, raw, and her story is an uncanny fit of the heroine’s arc.

Justine found her true voice and power as a creative leader after rising up from her own personal underworld. She shares how we can look to myths for guidance and offers advice for putting yourself out there. Her insights on our relationship to emotions, what she calls “non-predatory” power and leadership, and why saying 'no' is so important as a woman will blow you away.

Show Notes:
-Justine’s early years: A small town, bookish girl who couldn’t wait to grow up. Early influences, teenage awkwardness, and learning to stand up for herself. [4:30]
-Coming into her own in her college years, wondering where she belonged, plus her awareness of the disconnect between how people were perceiving her and how she perceived herself. [9:14]
-The story of goddess Persephone and why Justine connects so strongly with her. [12:52]
-The benefit in connecting to myth, “post-traumatic growth”, and Justine’s insights on dealing with pain. [18:33]
-How Justine emerged stronger and more empowered after descending to her lowest point. [22:43]
-Justine’s advice for putting yourself out there, plus why it’s important for women to be unconventional. [27:02]
-Taking a closer look at feminine authority and leadership, and the power of saying ‘no’. [32:23]
-On women’s relationship to emotions and feelings (especially in the workplace). [35:54]
-Justine shares her excitement for an issue she’s exploring and what she’s working on now. [39:05]

References:
Check out Justine's blog at http://justinemusk.com/

Episode Sponsors:
UENO – https://ueno.co/careers
Adobe Creative Residency – http://adobe.com/go/creativeresidency

Music by Lucia Lilikoi – lucia.bandcamp.com

Ever get the feeling that it’s too late to do what you love? In this episode, even our host admits to feeling that way sometimes, thinking it’s “too late” because she's already thirty. But thirty is around the magical time that artist and illustrator Lisa Congdon had her artistic revival. After working many years in education, she felt like a part of her wasn’t being fed. On a fluke she took an art class with her brother, and the experience changed her life.

Lisa is best known for her colorful abstract paintings, intricate line drawings, pattern design and hand lettering, as well as her work as an author. She and Majo cover some topics Lisa hasn’t shared on a podcast before, including the unsexy parts of her work and challenges she still grapples with, and discuss why some women can be so afraid to step into their creative power.

Show Notes:
-Lisa’s early years: A young girl eager to please and figure out her place, her awkward teenage years, and the layers of self-doubt and insecurity she had to shed. [4:34]
-“Is this really what I want to be doing?” Lisa’s insights on her early career and the creative outlet she sought to feel “fed”. [10:58]
-The fluke that triggered her creativity and path to becoming an artist. [15:02]
-On deserving to be a creative, exploring loneliness, and opening oneself up to the world. [18:34]
-Some of the internal challenges Lisa faced, including thinking of herself as a victim. [24:41]
-Lisa’s advice to Majo on coming out of the creative closet. [28:46]
-What defines an artist? Plus, conflicting thoughts on sharing your work via social media. [33:33]
-The unsexy parts of Lisa’s world as an artist. [37:24]
-Still “in process”: Lisa shares things she’s never discussed on a podcast before, including her plans to connect her work with activism and some of the vulnerabilities she grapples with. [42:51]

References:
More on Lisa at http://lisacongdon.com/

Episode Sponsors:
UENO – https://ueno.co/careers
Adobe Creative Residency – http://adobe.com/go/creativeresidency

Music by Lucia Lilikoi – lucia.bandcamp.com

Starring in this bonus episode is returning guest, Elle Luna. Majo hosts a Q&A with the author and artist, who drops deep, timely wisdom that will help you reflect for the new year.

Elle shares her profound perspective on the difference between 'should' and 'must', and why it's so important to be aware of our 'should's as women. She is an activator and a catalyst who will get your heart stirring and your mind bubbling with ideas.

References:
The Crossroads of Should and Must by Elle Luna
Learn more about Elle at http://elleluna.com/

Music by Lucia Lilikoi – lucia.bandcamp.com

A quick update from Majo during the break — including a preview into next year's interview lineup.

Happy Holidays!

In this bonus episode, Majo hosts a Q&A with musician and environmental activist Ayla Nereo. Ayla is an incredible soul with an uncanny ability to listen to her surroundings and channel the inspiration she hears into musical form.

Ayla shares insights on some meaningful topics, like the importance of listening, being vulnerable, and how we all possess a unique puzzle piece to the bigger picture of our world. Her advice is timely and will inspire you to speak up and share your own creative gifts.

References:
Learn more about Ayla at http://aylanereo.com/

Music by Lucia Lilikoi – lucia.bandcamp.com

How many fifteen-year-olds do you know have a mid-life crisis and stop to ask themselves, What really matters in life? Jesse Genet was one of them, and today she’s the Designer, Founder, and CEO of Lumi, a company that lets you easily brand your own packaging. Her journey to entrepreneurship started in high school – she basically petitioned herself out of her senior year and drove across the country to L.A. with nothing but a dream and her 1969 Lincoln convertible.

Jesse is a perfect example of a perpetual learner, constantly putting herself in uncomfortable situations in order to grow. She offers great counterintuitive advice to women who are seeking to be more creative and take more risks, and as a bonus, she’s straight up hilarious.

Show Notes:
-Jesse Genet growing up – a serious girl who wanted to be taken seriously. [3:32]
-Going through life phases early and fast, plus the turning point for her creativity. [7:32]
-How Jesse deftly figured out a way to leave high school early, and other evidence of an independent spirit. [13:24]
-On the benefits of being flexible, and choosing to view life with an opportunistic lens. [19:12]
-“I always wanted to level up.” On constantly putting herself in uncomfortable situations in order to learn and grow. [21:34]
-From a low year of being lonely and poor to creating a new path for herself. [27:21]
-The ups and downs of being a CEO, plus Jesse’s insights on developing new skills. [34:18]
-Jesse shares about her inner critic and offers advice to other women who want to be creative leaders and take more risks. [39:55]

References:
More on Jesse at http://jessegenet.com/
Lumi website – https://www.lumi.com/

Episode Sponsors:
UENO – ueno.co/careers
InVision – invisionapp.com/company

Music by Lucia Lilikoi – lucia.bandcamp.com

You are human. You make mistakes. You aren’t perfect and you certainly aren’t a machine. We all know this, and yet so many of us hold ourselves to idealized standards of very disciplined people with high willpower. In a perfect world, maybe we’d actually be like that. But the truth is that even after you design your ritual and test it out, eventually it will morph, lessen, or decay altogether. This is completely natural.

We have to design for the maintenance of our rituals as much as the creation of them. In this flash wisdom episode, host Majo talks to us about the importance of self-compassion and shares three things that have helped her develop a “reset” mindset when rituals fall to the wayside.

Show Notes:
-Check out and pre-order the new ebook: The Magical Effects of Morning and Evening Rituals, shipping on December 8 – plenty of time to order as a Christmas gift! Find it at mariamolfino.com/rituals and use the code “heroine” to get $10 off.

-Music by Lucia Lilikoi at lucia.bandcamp.com

References:
-You can read through the steps & resources outlined in this episode and the others in this series at mariamolfino.com/blog. Scroll down to the Rituals category.

-If you’re a woman in the SFBA interested in joining my women’s group, let me know at mariamolfino.com/group.

Some of the incredible supporters of Heroine – Check them out!
-Brigit Kang (http://beauteparler.com/): Brigit is a SF-based designer with a great eye for beauty who is now focusing on weddings.

-Coleen Baik (http://coleenbaik.com/): Coleen is an independent designer and artist who has worked with legends like Gloria Steinham and whose art has explored the heroine’s journey.

-Daniel Steinbock (http://danielsteinbock.com/): Daniel is an incredible musician and philosopher with a beautiful mind. His album, The Blade, is to die for.

-Greyson MacAlpine (http://greysonmacalpine.dribbble.com/): Greyson a very supportive product designer at UENO, our lead sponsor who you know is always looking to hire designers at https://ueno.co/.

-Kelsey Janda (http://kelseyjanda.com/): Kelsey is a very talented designer in the Midwest whom I recently bonded with. Her work is very cool and interesting, so for the designers listening, check out her work.

-Mamie Rheingold (http://beta.onuniverse.com/): Mamie is an amazing legend who is developing the coolest app called Universe that allows you to unleash your creativity and basically make whatever you want with an app.

-Meredith Rom (http://www.risingwomenleaders.com/): Meredith has her own podcast called Rising Women Leaders. If you’re into feminine spirituality, you’ll want to check her out.

-Laura Porcelli (http://lauraporcelli.com/): Laura is my aunt and a very talented artist. She’s freaking dope and so is her work.

-Rhiannon Griego (http://www.ghostdancercollection.com/): Rhiannon is a soul-sister and a really incredible textile artist. She makes woven garments, beaded jewelry...I wore a pair of her earrings to my wedding. Her love for beauty and for our planet is really felt in her work.