Heroine

Katie Dill, Head of User Experience Design at Airbnb, grew up with a creative background that was far from typical. So how did she land her dream job at a company centered around creating unique experiences for their users? Katie shares all about her journey, which often required her to step outside her comfort zone, and how she found her niche.
Learn specific ingredients designers have that are useful to leaders, how she handles growing pains and tough feedback, and her wisdom on the relationship between luck and creating opportunities.

Show Notes:
-Katie’s outdoorsy upbringing as a talented problem-solver and trouble-maker. [4:30]
-How she discovered her niche and figured out how to make a career out of it (despite feeling out of her element). [10:58]
-On her transformative trip to Italy, where she learned how much there is to gain by going outside your comfort zone. Plus, how to talk yourself out of talking yourself out of things. [15:58]
-Creating opportunity vs. Luck (and the relationship between them). [20:17]
-The different types of designers at Airbnb, Katie’s own creative vision as a designer, and how being creative makes her a better leader. [24:48]
-Do women have a secret superpower they need to unlock? Katie, Maria, and Linda discuss. [29:19]
-Dealing with transition: How Katie used positive self-talk, self-reliance, and self-confidence to adapt. [34:43]
-Her biggest career challenges. [41:44]
-How Katie handles growing pains and critical feedback (including the toughest pieces of feedback she’s ever received). [46:35]

References: Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg
Music: Lucia Lilikoi at lucia.bandcamp.com

Continuing the series on the blocks to creative confidence, host Maria Molfino reveals the fifth block: Comparison.
Comparison is an ugly face of the inner critic, and a huge de-motivator. Learn what comparison feeds on, how it can warp your standards for success, and what you can do to keep it in check.

Show Notes:
-Download the free Creative Confidence Playbook at Mariamolfino.com/free-playbook
-Music by Lucia Lilikoi at lucia.bandcamp.com

In this episode, host Maria Molfino takes on two inspirational women in one go: Elle Luna, a SF based artist and author, and Susie Herrick, a licensed therapist with over 20 years experience and author of an upcoming memoir, Aphrodite Emerges (to be released in the Fall).

They tackle some big themes, the biggest being inner misogyny. Hear about their journeys and the challenges they faced, how to know when you’re following expectations vs. your deeper calling, the expansive power of dreaming bigger, and their upcoming workshop Aphrodite Emerges: Activate the Goddess Within (now open for enrollment at www.aphroditeemerges.com).

Show Notes:
-On Susie’s spiritual upbringing, and her earliest realizations of negative self-talk and the conflicting expectations within women in our society. [3:54]
-Considering our ‘should’s: Where they come from, what they’re like for women, and how they imprison us. Plus, the powerful one-liner Elle read about Susie that caused them to meet. [8:36]
-The insanely busy, exhausted, dried up, and deeply dissatisfied state Elle was in before turning things around. [11:46]
-How do you cross over from discontent and inner dissonance to other side? Susie shares her own experience. [13:33]
-Elle reads from their book, Aphrodite Emerges, about destroying ego and accepting new callings for life. [18:55]
-On the conflict women face in a “balanced” work culture and the kinesthetic experience of ‘should’ and ‘must’. [23:46]
-Culturally inherited misogyny: The oldest prejudice. [27:03]
-Coming to terms with the social emotions of blame and shame. Plus, how Susie’s relationship with her father strengthened after opening up to him about some buried issues. [32:23]
-Elle and Susie talk about their upcoming workshop in August, Aphrodite Emerges: A Journey to Unleash the Godess Within. [39:58]

References:
Aphrodite Emerges retreat info at http://www.aphroditeemerges.com
The Crossroads of Should and Must by Elle Luna
Misogyny: The World’s Oldest Prejudice by Jack Holland

Sponsor:
UENO http://ueno.co

Music: Lucia Lilikoi lucia.bandcamp.com

We’re taking a little break from the blocks to creative confidence series to honor an important one-year anniversary. In this episode, host Majo Molfino shares her recent interview with SOULS of Society creator Dijon Bowden, in which she opens up for the first time about her three-day vision quest in the desert that she embarked upon one year ago today.

Get to know Heroine’s founder and host through her own journey, one that challenged her on every level, as well as the immense preparation it required and the heart-opening moments that made it all worth it. Brace yourselves, this one’s intense.

Show Notes:
-Episode intro: Honoring an important one-year anniversary in the life of Heroine's host, Majo Molfino. [0:00]
-On writing her novel and how it inspired her to go on a vision quest. [2:35]
-The tradition of vision quests, and the discipline and preparation required. [9:10]
-Some of the major insights Majo gained. [14:20]
-What it was like being on a mountain in the desert with no food or water. [17:35]
-On working with a Medicine Woman to prepare, and the predominant emotions she felt during the quest. [21:13]
-Coming down the mountain: Meaningful metaphors around water (and being thirsty!), and not being recognized by her parents. [25:41]
-How the experience sowed many seeds that will continue to sprout for a long time, plus Majo pre- and post- vision quest. [34:41]
-Majo shares some immediate life changes following the event, as well as a few poems she wrote about her experience. [41:20]

References: SOULS of Society at www.soulsofsociety.com

Music: Lucia Lilikoi at lucia.bandcamp.com

CEO & co-founder of The Noun Project, Sofya Polyakov inspires us through her heroine's journey, which includes immigrating to the U.S. from Russia, working insane hours, holding meetings out of her car, and having the courage to embrace the unknown by starting a company for the first time. She also shares her perspectives on key issues that commonly block us from reaching our full potential as creative leaders.

Show Notes:
- Growing up stubborn and independent in communist St. Petersburg. [10:00]
- Sofya’s teenage years, immigrating to the U.S., and the importance of being adaptable. [14:57]
- On staying motivated, searching out people who challenge you, and the inspiration behind The Noun Project. [19:07]
- How Sofya had the courage to launch a startup without a lot of experience and her perspective on what leadership really is. [23:19]
- Challenges getting started on The Noun Project. [28:40]
- The big turning point: How Sofya rose to the challenge and played every card she had when it was all on the line. [35:40]
- On perfectionism, the fear of failure, and the qualities that allow you to give your all when you’re ready to give up. [40:50]
- The trap of comparison: Feeling intimidated but putting yourself out there anyway. [46:26]
- Sofya’s views on balancing business and being a mom, and the type of CEO she strives to be. [52:04]
- How she has built a culture of trust within her team, and the two qualities she considers most valuable in new employees. [57:04]

References:
- http://thenounproject.com

Sponsor:
- http://ueno.co

How's your relationship with pleasure? Host Maria Molfino talks about the tendency to feel guilty about pleasure and where that guilt comes from. Learn why it's so important to slow down and access pleasure in your day-to-day.

Show Notes:
-Download the free Creative Confidence Playbook at Mariamolfino.com/free-playbook.
-Music by Lucia Lilikoi, lucia.bandcamp.com

Do you have a creative passion you never imagined could pay the bills? Host Maria Molfino introduces us to tech photographer Helena Price. Recently named Silicon Valley’s most wanted photographer, this heroine rekindled a lifelong passion and made it her career. Find out what it takes to make the leap into becoming a full-time creative, and learn some surprising ingredients that can help in the process.

Show Notes:
-Young Helena: Her background, being perceived as the “smart kid”, and dealing with feelings of isolation. [1:23]
-Helena talks about her first exposure to photography and what it was like growing up in a creatively-stifled hometown culture. [6:45]
-On college (and skipping class), falling in love with the tech scene, and touring with music bands. [10:57]
-Some of the challenges Helena faced and how she survived on her own. [15:58]
-What it took to be taken seriously and become a success early in her career. [21:49]
-How photography came back into the picture (to stay). [25:59]
-From getting her first job to drowning in work offers, plus Helena’s theory on how to make sure everything works out. [30:22]
-Grit. Can women learn to have more of it? [34:00]
-What she’s working on now: Her first, personal project that’s showing people a side of tech they haven’t seen before. [39:12]
-Helena’s amazing advice to women wanting more creative expression in their lives. [43:22]

References:
Techies by Helena Price: www.techiesproject.com

Music:
Lucia Lilikoi: lucia.bandcamp.com

Find Heroine at:
Heroine.fm
Twitter.com/heroine.fm
Instagram.com/heroine.fm
Facebook.com/heroine.fm

Is your tendency towards perfectionism blocking your creative confidence? Writer and coach Maria Molfino reveals the root of perfectionism's dark side and shares how you can decrease its power over your life.

Show Notes:
-Download the free Creative Confidence Playbook at mariamolfino.com/free-playbook

References:
-The Gap by Ira Glass
-Big Magic by Liz Gilbert

Music:
-Lucia Lilikoi lucia.bandcamp.com

How did Marian Goodell go from studying photography and creative writing to becoming the CEO of Burning Man, one of the biggest sociocultural experiments of our time? The link is fascinating, especially for those who are both creative and analytical and who aren’t following a straight and predictable path. Find out how Marian deals with criticism (i.e., she is too impatient and her tone is too "demanding") and how she filters feedback.

Show Notes:
-Marian as a little girl: Learning self-acceptance, how to embrace differences, and enjoying the perks of being a fiery redhead. [2:34]
-The role of Marian’s family in shaping her to become a strong, confident woman. [8:47]
-On attending an all-girls college, running for student body, and the first time she decided to be a leader. [13:16]
-“My role as a CEO is very much that of a storyteller”: How Marian’s creative, analytical side made her the right woman for the job. [16:37]
-On being a “cat herder” and what that means to her as a leader, and other leadership qualities. [21:47]
-Why Marian cares about providing opportunities, giving people the benefit of the doubt, and sharing differing perspectives. [27:04]
-Stories of her father and his participation in Burning Man 2008 (a year before he passed away). [30:32]
-Marian and Maria discuss failure and the fear of rejection, the importance of creative confidence, and the challenges (and benefits) of collaboration. [35:14]
-On feminism and fathers, and finding the balance between feminine and masculine leadership traits. [40:30]
-Looking beyond gender: Taking a hard look at qualities like patience, aggression, compassion. [47:26]
-How Marian filters and utilizes criticism/feedback. [52:38]
-Have you ever felt like an imposter? The inner critic vs empowering voice. [57:44]
-Burning Man: Marian’s vision for the project’s future, her favorite principles (Leave No Trace and Radical Self-Expression), and being poised in the world as a catalyst for social change. [1:01:53]

References:
Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg
Burning Man at burningman.org

Music:
Lucia Lilikoi at lucia.bandcamp.com

Find Heroine on:
Heroine.fm
Twitter.com/heroinefm
Instagram.com/heroine.fm
Facebook.com/heroine.fm

Host Maria Molfino shares how a fixed mindset – believing things about yourself cannot change – is blocking your creative confidence.

- Creative confidence playbook: mariamolfino.com/free-playbook