LadyIsh

Breaking up is hard to do. Like Covid has been hard but breakups, come in a CLOSE second-ish place.

We've all been there. Getting out of bed is a chore. Living is a chore. Social media is an inevitable demon and THANK GOD they got rid of that "following" tab on IG where I've admittedly burned countless hours creeping on every like, comment and morsel of intel I could decipher on who my ex-type-thing of the month would be sleeping with next. Breaking up ultimately makes you stronger after time, but those first few hours, days, months can truly wear you out emotionally and physically. On the plus side, that break-up bod is usually something months of dieting and years of a happy relationship, cannot bring you. Silver linings, right?

A few months ago I sat down with Renew Breakup Bootcamp founder Amy Chan in a NYC apartment (what feels like a LIFETIME AGO now!) to hear her experience. From leaving a high-positioned NYC marketing gig to start her own business and program after experiencing her own life-shattering breakup, to confronting her own insecurities to break through -- she paved her own path. Sometimes a shock to the system shows us exactly what we want out of life and she took the leap to self-love and help others reclaim their fire and spirit after their own life-altering breakups. A must listen for anyone mending a bruised heart or looking to start their own business, it all requires passion, sacrifice, persistence and resilience.

Amy recently wrote a book as well "Breakup Bootcamp: The Science of Rewiring Your Heart" - get a copy HERE.

Learn more about Renew Breakup Bootcamp

Doing the right thing, is hard. Leveraging your power for good once success hits, is even harder. It's a moral challenge many people who are fortunate enough to meet success are faced with. I’ve always found it my personal duty to do the right thing and champion the rights of those around me who have faced adversity, need a voice to amplify their pain through injustice and be a mouthpiece for those who don’t want to be put directly in the line of fire but desire change. A bit of humility and grace goes a long way as you gain opportunity and it's always great to meet other people who value the sanctity of using your power, to do better for the entirely of humanity. Very very rare.

Cue in Veronica Pome'e. I met Veronica when I was living in Los Angeles in 2017 and we were both coerced to be on a think-tank panel at a community event in the strip-mall portion of the fashion district of Downtown LA. In what can only be described as part-evangelical affirmation, part community business event and one of the most motley mixes of attendees for the subject matter -- we were both thrown into a situation we made the best of. Veronica was a presence off the bat - strikingly beautiful but admirably very deep and poetic, I was stoked to meet another woman a pacific islander status who was into community organizing and doing good deeds. It was a rare find and she certainly stood out. In one of the most random situations of my adult life, I found a connection with someone who seemed legit and destined for big things to come. Side note - this was the occasion where I realized I needed to say NO to way more. Not everything is for you and just because someone asks you to do something, you do not have to oblige them and fear looking rude. SAY NO.

After moving back to NYC soon after, I stumbled across Veronica's picture on Sports Illustrated and had to double take. As the first Tongan model in Sports Illustrated, she literally made history and showed body representation in a traditionally white-male-fantasy driven heritage publication that was notorious for casting skinny models. Veronica took NYC by storm appearing on runways for NYFW, a multitude of commercial campaigns and generally helping to shake up prior perceptions of what a supermodel could look and be like. She is an IRL super woman and hearing about the work she has been doing for the Tongan people and foresight she's grasped through her activism pursuits was truly inspiring.

In a time where humility and humanness is something we REALLY need, this interview shows that no matter what one may see on the outside, the inner beauty and intention make the person. One of my favorite interviews to date, I cannot wait to see what she does in 1 year, 5 years, 10 years - there is no doubt she will be successful, respected and always bring compassion to the table.

Check Veronica Pome'e out on her SITE and IG.

“Unprecedented times.”

“We will get through this together.”

“You don't need to be close, to be connected."

3 short phrases I could do without hearing post-COVID for many, many years. Let’s face it - no one really expected to have to spend so many days, minutes, seconds…moments, in the house with their SO or kids. During a time where seriousness and hyper lunacy collide, all we can do it poke a little fun at each other (whilst masked or responsibly cloaked) and celebrate the ups and downs.

Over the past 2 months I moved from Jersey City to Denver, started a new job and shacked up with my husband-to-be Jack in a new apartment by the forced hand of COVID, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There are no lines between night and day, weekends and weekdays. We’re all living in one long, unrelenting day that we dream of ending but like…it’s not ending. For any couple living together, you’re forced into treasured time to discover all the banal BS you politely avoided when you were functional. We’ve had our days. Some really funny, sweet and reminiscent of why we fell in love. Other days, I want to strangle him slowly. Not to death DUH, but just like to the level of IDK, lessons learned. I’m sure the feeling is semi-mutual and I am respectful of those feelings because, they legit. We’re all just doing what we can and guess what - that is fucking OK!

I found it hard to jump right into interviews when COVID hit. In fact, I felt kinda paralyzed. How could I carry on like the world wasn’t facing one of its more revolutionary moments? It’s been hard, annoyingly hard to see past where we are now. But the bottom line is this, all any of us can give this situation is hope. Hope is a beautiful thing and god-willing some day soon we’ll all be sitting in a park, together.

For now, take a seat on mine and Jack’s couch, let’s talk about how fucked this situation is and get a good laugh in. If you’re going a little nuts during this time, let’s go down that road together.

Stay safe out there, xo

FOLLOW JACK 

I'm a firm believer of "you're born with it" or you're not. When I sat down with bi-lingual NYC multimedia journalist Victoria Leandra, it became 100% clear that she was BORN with the fire inside to unearth important stories. From her humble upbringing in Puerto Rico, to landing a life-changing gig at VICE, she's been shaking up the journalism game and has worked arduously every step of the way. 

Hear Victoria's story of optimism, embracing her true calling and how she creates impactful journalism that nods to her roots, in episode 3 of LADYISH.

VICTORIA LEANDRA ON THE INTERNET:

IG + TWITTER

When Nicla DiCosmo, former co-owner of Gypsy Warrior which was a wildly successful digital retailer which flourished to several brick and mortar shops, started the biz after college with a good friend she has no clue where it would lead. The road to success however, was already paved for her thrusting her quickly at a young age, into the world of entrepreneurship and building a lifestyle brand. She was always on and going 100 miles a minute to keep it going.

However, things are never quite as they seem and under the surface she was slowly confronting her own demons. She was forced to tackle sudden heartbreak as many things in her life began to seemingly unravel. She took charge by quitting liquor and intoxicants, embracing the spiritual change that was taking place and finding her true path, to heal.

Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the moment (a moment could be a week, a year or ten) and don't think about what is next in life or what our TRUE path actually is. Nicla's story is genuine and one we can all relate to. Her mantra is to "follow your curiosity" wherever that will lead you! Curiosity does a spirit good. 

Learn more about Nicla on IG and her WEBSITE.

Back, just in time for the shit show of 2020 :)

Season 2 is here with a wide variety of lady perspectives, both guests and insightful co-hosts, dissecting the core concept of RESPONSIBILITY. It's not just a given, it's earned and maintained and we all approach responsibility with a different energy at various times in life.  What does it all mean? WE GON FIND OUT BABY.

On this episode, I dive into getting though this HIGHLY stressful time of year and preserving our mental health. The powder keg of close proximity, coupled with liquor and loose opinions, can create potentially tumultuous situations. I dive into what it takes to consider our mental health first, preserve our wallets in a time where money is being spewed out and finding the love in a ll situations. Also, 2020...let's plot in the remainder of 2019 to make the next year as clear and self-reflective as we can. Map out a 3 month plan for what is to come, once you've conquered those the following 9 months are a piece of cake! 

Subscribe and follow LADYISH on INSTAGRAM

The first season, is always tough. You plan, plot, interview, work on it and eventually, it ends and people either love it or hate it. The arts, are...embarrassing as a friend once told me. Either way, here we are at the end and I can't thank you enough for listening. 

My goal with this podcast was always to unearth the stories and narratives from a diverse group of creative women. To talk about the stories that don't always get surfaced to the top. As cool as it is to chat with successful CEO's, the reality is many of us ladies are living respectably inspiring lives without sitting at the top of the castle. Hopefully, mission accomplished and next season I'm ready to cut my teeth on so much more because we're going to get political AF on the road to 2020.

The final episode of Season 1 is with Atlantic designer and artist Quinn Ryan who creates "doodles" as she calls them (she's humble, they are witty as fuck) for the IG account @RIDINGINCABSWITHBOYS

Quinn offers up some very practical advice on how to build a creative social account for the love of, getting your account some traction and what fuels her cartoons. We also discuss why it's absolutely OK to have a day job and why she chooses to keep her account as a fun pursuit instead of her main biz. Get some inspo from this badass babe + learn more about HER by creeping her IG

Follow LADYISH on INSTAGRAM

BRB, FALL 2019.

Have you ever day-dreamed of leaving what you are doing today to pursue your passion fearlessly? What would it take to push you over the edge?

On this episode I chat with a lady who is living that dream, actress and body positivity advocate RaVal Davis. A former music executive, turned full-time actress, she was working the 9-5 grind until a rare opportunity to break out came her way. RaVal focused on the fire that drove her artistically and by diving head-first into auditioning and fine-tuning her craft, she has been able to build a new career path. We sit down to discuss the inherent hardships along the way, what helped to inspire her to keep going and the real ways that you book a job as an actress. 

[Spoiler alert: Perseverance required.] 

I rant a bit about my newfound hatred for social media, cruising The Real Real for that perfect red Gucci Bag and other Things I Won't Accept In My 30's.  My new mantra is visualize and put it out to the universe, you never know what will come back.

Visit RaVal Davis on the internet IG / WEBSITE

A wise man one said the only thing certain in life is death + taxes. HE WAS RIGHT.

It's been a crazy month for me and I wanted to dive into the end of tax season and what that means for us good 'ol hard working Americans in 2019. With Trump's tax cuts coming into play, were we REALLY feeling our pockets swell with more funds or just another PR play? Me, not so much...for you, i'd be curious :)

Also, RIP Nipsey Hussle. A first for me professionally and I talk about the impact of death of a loved one and how it should shift our perspective.

Listen, subscribe, let's talk! 

CAN WE BE FRIENDS ON INSTAGRAM? HMU!