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Alicia—aka Big New Energy—is a Bay Area storyteller, single mom, and content creator who somehow makes history nerdy, small businesses, and quiet streets feel cinematic. She’s helped local shops hit their best sales in years, turned hidden corners of Richmond into destinations, and built a community off the strength of her voice and curiosity.

In this episode, we dive into how she got here: growing up bullied, wrestling with self-doubt, and deciding, at some point, to stop letting other people’s opinions drive her life. We talk about having kids who were never supposed to walk or talk—and grow up speaking Mandarin. We unpack the “I don’t give a f*ck” mindset, navigating online hate, and the very real fear of putting your face (and heart) on camera.

Alicia walks us through her content process—from explore days with her kids to late-night scripting and editing—and how she’s slowly turning that work into a business and future as a social media manager and consultant. This is a conversation about resilience, creativity, community, and giving yourself permission to be seen.

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Thanks for hanging in the pond, my ducks 🐤

Where we keep it honest, casual conversations about serious sh*t, and somehow still find a way to laugh through it.

If you felt something, send it to someone you love… or someone who might need a little push.

Follow along:
https://www.instagram.com/duckingrealitea/

And go out there and find your joy, even if it’s a little chaotic.

Stay curious, stay joyful…
you’re deeply loved, my ducks.