"Japan doesn't use ceremonial grade"

In this episode, I address the worldwide matcha shortage. I

• What is matcha?

• Defining the crisis in terms of demand and supply

• Where did "ceremonial" grade match come from?

• What qualifies matcha as matcha

• How you can be more discerning as a buyer

• Tea regions, production and types in Japan including sencha, gyokuro, and hojicha

Relevant episodes:

Episode 5 Recommendations for First-Time Travelers to Japan

Episode 4 Female Solo Travel in Japan

Episode 18 Top Tips for High-Season Travel in Japan

Resouces:

Hojicha Co where I buy hojicha powder

Want to be carry-on only, grab this complimentary guide

Are you a WOC who wants a sacred space to connect, be supported, and make your travel dreams come true? Join our community https://www.pueblayorkinc.com/womens-travel-community

Work with Sequoia

• Mexico
• Japan
• 
  

Follow Puebla York on on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pueblayorkinc/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode I share why I chose to spend two weeks this summer traveling solo in Oaxaca, Mexico and the reflections and lessons of this trip.

• What prompted me to decide to travel this summer in my life and business
• Why Oaxaca?
• Why I chose to support Indigenous and woman-owned businesses
• Visiting the Oaxacan coast

Resources mentioned in this episode:

What is water stress? https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/water-stress-global-problem-thats-getting-worse

Coolcation blog post https://www.pueblayorkinc.com/blog/why-taking-a-coolcation-is-a-conscious-travel-decision

Zapotec Travel https://zapotectravel.com/

Want to be part of #TeamCarryOn, grab this complimentary guide to packing lighter

Are you a WOC who wants a sacred space to connect, be supported, and make your travel dreams come true? Join us in Her Global Haven https://www.pueblayorkinc.com/womens-travel-community

Work with Sequoia

• Mexico
• Japan

Contact Sequoia

See my Oaxaca highlights https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/18069858167068943/

DM me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pueblayorkinc/

My YoutTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@sequoiaarmstrong575

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I briefly go over the challenges faces cities such as Barcelona and Mexico City. Both have had protests against tourism and while the situation is nuanced and complex is comes down to, especially in the case of Mexico City, a few things:

•Little governance or restriction for vacation rentals like AirBnB

•Pandemic era digital nomads or remote works choosing to live in Mexico which has less restrictions

•Higher rent in CDMX (Mexico City) due to American and European residents working remotely

•Increased numbers of visitors who often stay in the same neighborhoods

•Living without a visa, not learning Spanish, and/or connecting with the community

Learn more

Mexico City https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/07/world/americas/mexico-city-protests-rent-prices-tourists.html

Barcelona https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/06/15/new-demonstrations-in-spain-against-overtourism

Want to be carry-on only, grab this complimentary guide

Are you a WOC who wants a sacred space to connect, be supported, and make your travel dreams come true? Join this community https://www.pueblayorkinc.com/womens-travel-community

Work with Sequoia

• Mexico
• Japan

Contact Sequoia

Follow my travels https://www.instagram.com/pueblayorkinc/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's quick solo episode, I share:

•What Solo Summer means

•Why I'm traveling to Oaxaca, Mexico

Want to pack lighter? Grab this complimentary guide

Want to be in a travel community with like-minded WOC? Join our community https://www.pueblayorkinc.com/womens-travel-community

Work with Sequoia

• Mexico
• Japan

Contact Sequoia

Follow my travels https://www.instagram.com/pueblayorkinc/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I share why, when, and where women might travel to in Mexico.

I talk about my experiences and recommendations, including:

-Why I chose Mexico for my travel business

-Why I feel connected to the country

-Where to go and why I love pueblos mágicos

-Times of year to visit and the beauty of slow travel

-How to travel more consciously while in Mexico

Episode Referenced

Episode 17: Women's Safety, Travel, and Understanding Men with Alison Armstrong

Episodes That May Also Interest You

Episode 7: Choose Quality Over Quantity

Episode 3: Why You Should Travel Solo

Join this travel community for mindful women of color

Work with Sequoia

Mexico

Follow my travels on Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I have a conversation with my mother about her travel experience throughout her life and our mother-daughter trips:

We speak about:

•Her first trip outside of her home country

•What she doesn't enjoy about flying

• How slow travel makes her feel

• Where she enjoys traveling to

• Her travel dreams

Join the waitlist for an online travel community for mindful women of color launching soon. This is for women of color who want to learn, connect, and transform their travel experiences in the next year.

https://www.pueblayorkinc.com/join-community

Want to pack lighter? Grab this complimentary guide

Work with Sequoia

• Mexico
• Japan

Contact Sequoia

Follow my travels https://www.instagram.com/pueblayorkinc/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I guested on Keila Aldea's podcast, She Can Heal, earlier this year, where I talked about my story and how the travel business came. Keila and I get more in-depth about solo travel for women.

• My background and how I started a travel business
• What conscious travel is
• Solo travel for women and where to start if it's new for you
• Empowering women of color to travel -including solo travel

Join the waitlist for an online travel community for mindful women of color that launches late May. For WOC who want to learn, connect, and transform their travel in the next year.

https://www.pueblayorkinc.com/join-community

Want to pack lighter? Grab this complimentary guide

Work with Sequoia

• Mexico
• Japan

Follow my travels https://www.instagram.com/pueblayorkinc/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I get more personal and share my experiences with romance while traveling. The episode topic is inspired by and is a reaction to episode 17 with Alison Armstrong.

• Takeaways from the episode with Alison, as well as expanding on doing Alison's work myself, and machismo
• Being outside of your comfort zone
• Factors that women have to be aware of for safety
• Self-development and awareness
• Past romances during my travels
• Romances that turned to friendships
• Get curious about people's culture, history, and language

“Yeah, so just be aware of chemistry everywhere, but especially when you're traveling, because there's the enticement of the difference." Alison Armstrong

Episode referenced:

Episode 17: Women's Safety, Travel, and Understanding Men with Alison Armstrong

Resources:

Alison Armstrong Chemistry and Connection on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/alisonarmstrongvideos (Scroll down for all 6)

The mental health benefits of travel

https://www.abundancetherapycenter.com/blog/the-mental-health-benefits-of-traveling

Travel community launching soon:

Join the waitlist for an online travel community for mindful women of color that launches late May. For WOC who want to learn, connect, and transform your travel in the next year.

https://www.pueblayorkinc.com/join-community

Work with Sequoia

• Mexico
• Japan

Say hello on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pueblayorkinc/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this brief episode, I share my top tips for planning a trip to Japan during high season. Spring is incredibly popular, but this will apply to any holidays in Japan as well.

• Hotels
• Trains
• Where to go

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Episodes you might also enjoy:

Episode 4 Female Solo Travel in Japan

Episode 5 Recommendations for First-Time Travelers To Japan

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In the Phoenix area and want to connect with like-minded women and support a local restaurant? Join me as I host this dinner on Saturday, April 26th https://www.pueblayorkinc.com/store/p/womens-dinner-phoenix

Want to pack lighter? Grab this complimentary guide

If you're planning a trip to Japan, you may consider getting a JR Rail pass for train travels

Work with Sequoia

• Mexico
• Japan

Say hello on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pueblayorkinc/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I have an insightful conversation with Alison Armstrong about women's safety as it relates to travel, and how understanding men can impact this.

Alison Armstrong’s exploration of human behavior began in 1991, with her decision to study men: “To find out how I was bringing out the worst in them. And hopefully, how to bring out the best.” Her success in understanding men naturally led to studying women’s behavior and making vital connections between the two.

As her work evolved over decades, Alison now illuminates human characteristics that precede and express themselves regardless of gender, age, and upbringing. She distinguishes normal human instincts that compel both men and women to behave in ways that contradict and undermine our own purposes, goals, values, needs, and relationships.

Besides fulfilling the need to understand “Why” people behave as they do, Alison offers practical,partnership-based alternatives. Through her seminars, books, online programs, and media contributions, she has been giving millions of people access to more fulfilling lives, loving relationships, stronger families andproductive organizations.

Alison is a sought-after speaker and thought leader amongst people who desire to live empowered lives. Her philosophy and approach are referenced and taught by other authors, speakers, business consultants, and therapists.

Timestamps:

5:10 What if men are responding to women?

6:56 Connection related to safety and travel

8:35 Emasculating men

14:13 What happens when it stops

16:20 Teaching women and writing The Queen's Code

23:15 Distinguishing safety between men and women

27:27 Safety through connectivity vs. productivity

31:31 Ways to act while traveling

33:44 Men don't realize their strength

36:10 Survival and hormones

38:32 Our part in safety

40:02 Receptivity, holding boundaries, and flight-fight-freeze responses

44:56 Testerone vs. Estrogen and how it affects the brain

48:50 Spectrum of diffused awareness and single-focused

52:00 Reframing machismo

54:35 Beware of chemistry

Resources:

Free Sample of Understanding Women

Thrive Your Life -- FREE

https://www.alisonarmstrong.com/products/thrive-life.html Add product to cart, choose "FOR ME" at checkout, and enter promo code Sequoia2025. Expires April 30th.

Chemistry and Connection on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/alisonarmstrongvideos (Scroll down for all 6)

Connect with Alison:

Website

YouTube

Facebook

Instagram

___

Contact Sequoia

Connect with/ Sequoia on Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.