Heroine

Do you ever rely on your intuition when you’re at a crossroads? Today’s guest has trusted in this power for most of her life, and it’s led her to where she is today. Joy Harjo is a poet, musician, and author, and an inspiring female figure among Native American artists and the broader poetry community.

More about this episode: majomolfino.com/blog/2018/1/28/poetry-listening-with-joy-harjo

Joy hit a major crossroads while taking her pre-med courses, where she had to decide whether to follow the more conventional path or commit herself to what she truly felt connected to. You’ll love her profound insights on the importance of listening and following your “inner knowing”, along with her tips for self-renewal and honoring your creative side.

Show Notes:
-What Joy was like as a little girl, how she coped with the unique challenges within her family, and the important relationship she built with her ancestors. [2:20]
-After music was literally taken away from her, the chance to attend an American Indian art school “saved her life”. [8:54]
-On the challenges Joy faced as a young wife and mother, and her process of building a better life for herself. [12:30]
-How she reconnected with art and started writing while attending medical school. [15:53]
-“I know beyond knowing that this is the path I’m supposed to take.” How Joy found the courage to follow poetry. [21:06]
-On connecting to your intuition (or “the knowing”), listening to the voices of your ancestors and your own spirit, and resisting the conventional path. [24:04]
-How Joy stays fluid while creating/performing across a range of artistic mediums. [29:30]
-Joy’s tips for paying attention to your creative impulses and making time for them. [32:50]
-Joy shares about the importance of learning to listen, changing your beliefs to open up what’s possible, and picking up the saxophone at forty. [36:38]
-“Perhaps the world ends here.” Joy closes by reading one of her gorgeous poems. [40:29]

References:
Majo's website – majomolfino.com
Joy's website – joyharjo.com

Music by Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs – carolynpennypackerriggs.com

Want to support women's voices? Go to patreon.com/heroinefm & become a bigger part of the Heroine community. Check out our rewards for supporters.

A quick announcement about our holiday schedule so you know what to expect the rest of the season. As we take this short break, we invite you to explore our database of 70+ incredible, empowering interviews.

Wishing you all a beautiful and happy Thanksgiving next week!

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Support the show & sign up for rewards at https://www.patreon.com/heroinefm

Erin Benzakein is one of the nation’s leading farmer-florists and the founder of Floret Farms. Her recent book, Cut Flower Garden published by Chronicle Books, will teach you how to grow and cut your own seasonal blooms.

More about this episode: majomolfino.com/blog/2018/1/28/creative-analytical-with-erin-benzakein

In this episode, Erin shares what she’s learned about the importance of leveraging rules and structure, while making space for creativity and beauty. She is a great example of balancing feminine and masculine traits, following your intuition, and listening to the whispers of your inner voice. As a bonus, you’ll also learn about the magic of flowers.

Show Notes:
-On being an anxious and curious little girl, her love for growing things from an early age, and her dream of her own “little plot of land”. [2:17]
-Dropping out of high school as an angry teen who couldn’t see a future for herself. [6:59]
-Starting a family at a young age, always taking the path less traveled, and her lifelong struggle of listening to her inner voice. [11:31]
-How a book inspired Erin to leave the city and start living her dream, and the beautiful partnership she has with her husband. [14:30]
-Erin’s biggest challenges starting out. [18:33]
-When things really started to click, and the fears Erin had to push up against along the way. [21:36]
-How not liking to feel “held back” has fueled her love for learning and figuring things out on her own. [28:34]
-“It’s okay to fail”: Erin’s insights on failure as a prerequisite for success. [31:51]
-On the balance between the feminine/creative side and the masculine/business side. [34:14]
-The importance of making space for creativity to grow and thrive, the magic of flowers, and what Erin has reclaimed for herself on her journey. [38:51]

References:
Majo's website – majomolfino.com
Learn more about Erin and Floret Farms – www.floretflowers.com
Get her book, Cut Flower Garden – chroniclebooks.com/titles/floret-farm-s-cut-flower-garden.html

Music by Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs – carolynpennypackerriggs.com

Want to support women's voices? Go to patreon.com/heroinefm & become a bigger part of the Heroine community. Check out our rewards for supporters.

Jen Sincero is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of You Are a Badass, and most recently, You Are a Badass at Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth. After being fed up with merely scraping by for years, Jen decided to focus on figuring money out. She took a leap of faith that led her down the path to fully embracing money and wealth, and her latest book uncovers the mental blocks she had to overcome to let the money flow.

More about this episode: majomolfino.com/blog/2018/1/28/you-are-a-badass-with-jen-sincero

In this episode, you’ll learn how to detach from the icky stigma of wanting more money, seeing it instead as the energetic exchange between people that it really is. Jen also shares her insights on the association between self-promotion and shame, especially among women. Her open, no-nonsense approach will motivate and inspire you to feel excited about whatever it is you have going on.

Show Notes:
-How being challenged by a second grade teacher who set firm boundaries was exactly the kind of attention Jen needed as a little girl. [2:40]
-Jen in her twenties: college years, landing a dream job, being ignored in a male-dominated environment, starting a rock band – all while being unsure of what she was doing with her life. [3:38]
-Falling in love with her drummer, writing her first book, and constantly reinventing herself. [8:03]
-Jen’s lowest point of being broke and still clueless about what she was doing with her life, her first big break, and the power of being excited about what you’re doing. [11:22]
-Powerful insights on the association between self-promotion and shame (especially for women). [16:10]
-On exploring her sexuality while on her first book tour, writing a sex column, and helping people get over shame. [24:39]
-Tired of scraping by, Jen decided to devote her time and focus on figuring out money by reading self-help books, going to seminars, and taking a big leap of faith. [29:32]
-On the energy behind money, our attitudes toward our day jobs, and Jen’s insights on making compromises. [36:29]
-Still unsure of what she was doing with her life in her forties, Jen “just kept doing the next right thing.” [42:40]
-Looking back on the success of her books, You Are A Badass and others, and Jen’s final words of wisdom. [44:57]

References:
Majo's website – majomolfino.com
Jen's website – jensincero.com

Music by Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs – carolynpennypackerriggs.com

Want to support women's voices? Go to patreon.com/heroinefm & become a bigger part of the Heroine community. Check out our rewards for supporters.

Today’s episode features Academy Award Winning film director, Brenda Chapman. She was the head of story for The Lion King, co-director of The Prince of Egypt, and the writer and co-director of Disney-Pixar’s Brave.

More about this episode: majomolfino.com/blog/2018/1/28/trusting-your-vision-with-brenda-chapman

In this episode, you’ll learn about Brenda’s own heroine journey, how she began directing when she didn’t feel completely ready for it, and her resilience as one of the few women in animation. As an expert storyteller, she also helps us see how we can learn from characters and their flaws, and what they can teach us about our own lives. Share in the wisdom of a true feminist and gifted creative who trusted her vision and kept fighting for what she believed in.

Show Notes:
-Growing up in a small town in the midwest, Brenda spent most of her time escaping into the world of reading, drawing, and making up stories. [2:50]
-How she fell in love with storytelling while studying animation at CalArts. [6:18]
-How she got Disney’s attention, her defining moments there, and the circumstance that made her privately ashamed for years. [8:25]
-Being one of a few female directors: How she stepped into her leadership, some of the amazing films she’s worked on, and leaving Disney for Dreamworks. [13:45]
-The inspiration behind the story of Brave, a love story between mother and daughter. [18:05]
-Working at Pixar, and how her biggest challenge made her a stronger artist, director, and creator. [26:24]
-How the support of her colleagues helped Brenda through a dark time, and the surprising opportunities that poured in. [31:39]
-How the heroine’s journey differs from the hero’s, and Brenda’s insights on the importance of using external metaphors to shine a light on internal obstacles. [34:47]
-The flaw Brenda had to overcome/embrace on her own heroine’s journey, and her final words of wisdom. [39:07]

References:
Majo's website – majomolfino.com
Brenda's website – brenda-chapman.com

Music by Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs – carolynpennypackerriggs.com

Want to support women's voices? Go to patreon.com/heroinefm & become a bigger part of the Heroine community. Check out our rewards for supporters.

Isabel Allende is a woman who fearlessly enters the imaginal realm and trusts where her instincts take her. The most widely read Spanish-speaking author in the world, her books have sold over 65 million copies worldwide. She received the Medal of Freedom from Obama and carried an Olympic flag with Sophia Loren. But that’s not all that makes her incredible.

More about this episode: majomolfino.com/blog/2018/1/28/truth-story-with-isabel-allende

Isabel understands struggle, pain, and what it means to fight, and she passionately serves women and girls around the world through her foundation and work. In this episode, Isabel explains what really makes a heroine, sharing the darkest moments on her own heroine’s journey, and offers profound insights on feminine energy and how it can change the world.

Show Notes:
-Isabel’s somber and isolated childhood: Growing up in Chile after her father abandoned them, the death of her grandmother, and finding solace in reading and storytelling. [2:59]
-How love and feminism saved her from her angry teenage years, disgusted by authority and male chauvinism. [5:12]
-On having to flee Chile for Venezuela, Isabel’s insights on immigrants and refugees, and having “too much imagination” to be a journalist. [7:33]
-Why Isabel sees stories as truer than truth, and how her twenties and thirties provided the necessary raw material for her writing. [11:08]
-A passionate rebel heart – Isabel explains the key quality her female characters have, plus the survival stories of real women she’s witnessed through her organization. [14:02]
-On sisterhood and female community, and the difference between the hero’s and heroine’s journey [17:03]
-Isabel’s “dissent”: The darkest phase of her heroine’s journey, and her wisdom on trials making the heroine. [26:27]
-The high price Isabel has paid for feminism, and how feminine energy can change the world. [31:57]
-How Isabel has seen women and feminism change, and why you should never try to avoid pain. [36:08]

References:
Majo's website – majomolfino.com
Isabel's website – isabelallende.com

Check out the incredible work being done through The Isabel Allende Foundation – isabelallende.org

Music by Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs – carolynpennypackerriggs.com

Want to support women's voices? Go to patreon.com/heroinefm & become a bigger part of the Heroine community. Check out our rewards for supporters.

Today’s episode features author, speaker, and creative evangelist Denise Jacobs. She’s spoken at Creative Mornings, Adaptive Path, TEDx, and more, and is the author of Banish Your Inner Critic, which dives into some of the most important subjects for creative women leaders today.

More about this episode: majomolfino.com/blog/2018/1/28/creative-flow-with-denise-jacobs

In this episode, Denise breaks down creativity’s two opposing forces: creative flow and the inner critic. She shares her insights on how women are socialized to take on more than we need to, offers some of the most practical tips for producing and maintaining a state of creative flow, and provides an array of tools for managing your inner critic.

Show Notes:
-Denise’s self-consciousness about being extremely tall as a little girl, and how she found solace in reading stacks of books and developing a sense of humor. [1:36]
-On being told by a teacher that she was a perfectionist (which she later realized was not a compliment), and becoming aware of her inner critic. [5:45]
-The aha moment Denise had after swirling in self-doubt and fear while working on her last book. [9:38]
-The teaching experience that helped her realize her passion for speaking to people and her gift for being on stage. [14:27]
-Diving into her book: How creative flow and the inner critic interact, and practical tips for recognizing and dealing with the latter. [16:03]
-How to train your inner critic and recognize when it’s showing up in subtle ways. [22:52]
-On dealing with overwhelm, reframing situations in ways that empower us, and the importance of To-Don’t lists. [28:27]
-On being aware of our comparison triggers in the age of social media, how women are socialized to take on more than they need to, and Denise’s final words of wisdom. [34:57]

References:
Majo's website – majomolfino.com
Denise's website – denisejacobs.com

Find her book, Banish Your Inner Critic – innercriticbook.com

Music by Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs – carolynpennypackerriggs.com

Want to support women's voices? Go to patreon.com/heroinefm & become a bigger part of the Heroine community. Check out our rewards for supporters.

Purpose is something we all seek on the heroine’s journey, especially at breaking points when we may wonder where our lives are headed and what really matters. This is the central theme in today’s episode with Ruby Warrington, author of Material Girl, Mystical World and founder of The Numinous, a wonderful online resource that helps bridge the gap between mystical and mainstream.

More about this episode: majomolfino.com/blog/2018/1/28/whats-your-purpose-with-ruby-warrington

Ruby covers the definition of dharma (or “purpose”) and how we find our own, as well as how to strip away the layers of conditioning that can leave us feeling stuck. In sharing her journey of coming out of the spiritual closet and finding her dharma, Ruby also provides practical advice for enhancing our personal and professional lives.

Show Notes:
-Ruby as a girl: A talkative child who was enamored with the idea of expressing herself through words. [2:10]
-Finding independence after high school, dreaming of working in fashion during her college years, and her first job at a print magazine. [6:29]
-On landing her dream job and everything she thought she’d always wanted, and the stress, confusion, and anger that quickly followed in the form of an existential crisis. [9:44]
-The critical point in Ruby’s journey that reshaped her future: taking up a new passion project after much self-reflection. [13:26]
-On the imbalance that comes when we neglect our sense of mystery and wonder, Ruby’s vision for The Numinous, and how the universe intervened on her behalf. [18:45]
-Establishing herself as a freelance journalist, turning points on the path to achieving her vision, and coming out of the spiritual closet. [22:48]
-Diving into Ruby’s book, Material Girl Mystical World, and the concept of dharma. [25:40]
-Spiritual tools and techniques that help strip away layers of conditioning to reveal our true purpose. [29:54]
-Bonus story: Ruby gets personal and emotional about her hair – a metaphor around connecting to the inner, divine feminine. [35:55]

References:
Majo's website – majomolfino.com
Ruby's website – rubywarrington.com

Check out The Numinous & find Ruby’s book, Material Girl, Mystical World – the-numinous.com/material-girl-mystical-world-book

Music by Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs – carolynpennypackerriggs.com

Have questions about this episode? What are some of your challenges? Leave a message or send a text to 513-HEROINE.

Submit an iTunes review for the show and then email us that you’ve done it at [email protected] – receive a free audio training on personal branding & how to reach out to women you admire in return!

Want to support women's voices? Go to patreon.com/heroinefm & become a bigger part of the Heroine community. Check out our rewards for supporters.

Margaret Stewart has spent her career focusing on designing user experiences that change the world in fundamental ways. As the VP of Product Design at Facebook, and formerly at YouTube and Google, Margaret sees design as creativity in the service of others.

More about this episode: majomolfino.com/blog/2018/1/28/smart-leaps-with-margaret-stewart

In this episode, Margaret opens up about her biggest challenges as a woman leader, breaking down some of the notions that tend to hold us back. Along with her inspiring managerial style, she shares insights on the tricky emotions of ambition and guilt, and her recipe for smart leaps of faith and taking risks that pay off.

Show Notes:
-Margaret shares about growing up as the youngest of 9 kids; an early maker and performer who often wondered what her role in life would be. [2:20]
-On the bold move she made after college, her first jobs in the early days of the internet, and the pattern that emerged for her around risk-taking. [6:34]]
-How women are socialized to be more cautious, and Margaret’s experience and wisdom in getting over that. [11:43]
-Margaret breaks down some of the big risks and leaps of faith she took, plus her thoughts on the value of naivety. [16:35]
-On ambition and guilt, dealing with negative critique, and Margaret’s biggest challenge. [20:56]
-Majo and Margaret discuss: Feminine qualities in the workplace, and Margaret’s inspiring management and leadership style. [26:46]
-What Margaret has reclaimed for herself on her heroine’s journey. [32:28]

References:
Majo's website – majomolfino.com
Learn more about Margaret – medium.com/@mags

Rebecca Garza-Bortman's podcast Advice from Mom – advicefrom.mom

Music by Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs – carolynpennypackerriggs.com

Submit an iTunes review for the show and then email us that you’ve done it at [email protected] – receive a free audio training on personal branding & how to reach out to women you admire in return!

Want to support women's voices? Go to patreon.com/heroinefm & become a bigger part of the Heroine community. Check out our rewards for supporters.

Elena Brower is an internationally recognized author, yoga teacher, and speaker. She wrote The Art of Attention, and most recently, Practice You, a gorgeous journal for self-reflection. Elena has contributed to The Huffington Post and MindBodyGreen, and has been featured in Yoga Journal and The New York Times. She’s a true pioneer in the world of yoga.

More about this episode: majomolfino.com/blog/2018/1/28/self-care-leadership-with-elena-brower

In this episode, Elena shares about her journey and approaches deep, introspective truths as she and host Majo discuss the power of meditation and journaling. Elena offers her unique insights on the energy behind money, and years of wisdom on why self-care is so important.

Show Notes:
-Elena growing up – a gawky, intuitive girl who would look in the mirror and ask, Who are you? [2:42]
-Her teenage years, what she studied at Cornell, first jobs, and living in Italy. [6:38]
-Finding her calling, getting started with yoga, and Elena’s insights on teaching. [11:37]
-On husting as a yoga teacher and opening her own studio. [14:39]
-What Elena learned from running her own businesses, and how she found a way to make the money she needed to fund the life she wanted. [17:52]
-On fear of success, sharing energy, and the unique perspective that makes her a good teacher. [26:04]
-Elena’s tough-love wisdom on self-care and creating time for yourself. [29:37]
-On her new book, Practice You – Elena shares some of her profound, introspective writing prompts. [31:38]
-The powerful effects of journaling and meditation, and Elena’s final words of wisdom. [36:43]

References:
Majo's website – majomolfino.com
Elena's website – elenabrower.com

Get her book, Practice You – practiceyou.com

Music by Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs – carolynpennypackerriggs.com

Submit an iTunes review for the show and then email us that you’ve done it at [email protected] – receive a free audio training on personal branding & how to reach out to women you admire in return!

Want to support women's voices? Go to patreon.com/heroinefm & become a bigger part of the Heroine community. Check out our rewards for supporters.