Hi everyone! ✨ It’s the first epi of 2021!!! We made it. This week’s episode is about things I’m leaving behind in 2020 and things I’m bringing in 2021. I start off by reflecting, A LOT, then I go into the 3 things I don’t want to bring into my life this year and 3 things I hope to bring.

What are you leaving and bringing for yourself? What boundaries did you set for yourself this year? What does success and happiness look like for you this year? So many questions!!! I don’t think this year will be too different in the sense of “normalcy” but, I do think that it’ll be different because we’re going in with different attitudes and expectations. Happy new year!

If you're interested in doing free CBT therapy with Mind Beacon here's their website: https://platform.mindbeacon.io/ 

Thank you so much to my friend Josh for letting me use his beats. Find him on SoundCloud as Owa! 👀 https://m.soundcloud.com/owa-ever. Stay updated with me on https://linktr.ee/SpeakUpErika! 🌸

Hi friends! Can't believe we made it to the last episode of 2020. In this final solo episode, I chat about two words that really stuck with me this year and that's privilege and gratitude. I talk about taking hugs and travelling for granted, the importance of acknowledging the two and also how gratitude doesn't equal happiness. 

Thank you for listening, supporting and to my guests for letting me share their story through my platform. Can't wait to bring you more content in 2021. 

Thank you so much to my friend Josh for letting me use his beats. Find him on SoundCloud as Owa! 👀https://m.soundcloud.com/owa-ever. Stay updated with me on https://linktr.ee/SpeakUpErika! 🌸

Hi friends! In this week’s episode, we have Part 2 for Post Grad Sad ft. Mango. In this episode we chat about creating a positive environment for a better headspace, building healthy relationships and causes for depressive episodes. 

**Disclaimer: We understand that other people experience sadness and depression in different ways, and this is just our own personal experience. We don’t want to undermine or devalue other’s experience with this topic. **   

Loved doing this episode so much! Thank you Mango for sharing your realness and vulnerability with us – appreciate you so much.

Thank you so much to my friend Josh for letting me use his beats. Find him on SoundCloud as Owa! 👀https://m.soundcloud.com/owa-ever. Stay updated with me on https://linktr.ee/SpeakUpErika! 🌸

Hi friends! In this week’s episode, I chat with my friend Mango about post grad sad. We chat about what it was like carrying negative emotions through graduation, learning how to put ourselves first and understanding what it’s like to be a creative and entrepreneur in post grad.

**Disclaimer: We understand that other people experience sadness and depression in different ways, and this is just our own personal experience. We don’t want to undermine or devalue other’s experience with this topic. **

Loved doing this episode so much! Thank you Mango for sharing your realness and vulnerability with us – appreciate you so much. Catch us next week for a Part 2 on Post Grad Sad. 

Thank you so much to my friend Josh for letting me use his beats. Find him on SoundCloud as Owa! 👀https://m.soundcloud.com/owa-ever. Stay updated with me on https://linktr.ee/SpeakUpErika! 🌸

Hi friends! In this episode I had the pleasure of chatting with Glo about music and therapy. We chat about how music has influenced her life, her own mental health journey and how therapy has helped her.  

Thanks so much Glo for your insightful thoughts and being vulnerable with us. Feel free to follow her and her future projects on Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/gloholzapfel/   

Apologies for the change in sounds around 18:30 as the microphone cut out but I hope you still find value in this episode 💛  

Glo's book recommendation:  "The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel van der Kolk M.D. https://www.amazon.ca/Body-Keeps-Scor...

Thank you so much to my friend Josh for letting me use his beats. Find him on SoundCloud as Owa! 👀 https://m.soundcloud.com/owa-ever. Stay updated with me on https://linktr.ee/SpeakUpErika! 🌸

Hi friends! In this episode, I had the privilege of chatting with Christina about their journey with cross-dressing, how to stay optimistic in tough situations and advice on being comfortable in your own skin. 

Thank you so much Christina for sharing about who you are with us and your radiating positivity. You can stay updated with Christina on Instagram @queenchristinaxo. 

Thank you so much to my friend Josh for letting me use his beats. Find him on SoundCloud as Owa! 👀 https://m.soundcloud.com/owa-ever. Stay updated with us on https://linktr.ee/SpeakUpErika! 🌸

Hi friends! We back! In this episode, I chat about sadness.

*trigger warning*

I chat about my own experience with suicidal thoughts, grieving over the loss of someone and learning how to cope with these emotions. We associate being sad and crying with a lot of negativity, but I think sometimes it’s okay to be sad and acknowledge how you’re feeling.

So, if you’ve ever felt this way, I feel you, I hear you, I see you. I hope this episode helps you in some way. This episode is dedicated to my friend Sylvia. We were supposed to do an episode together, and although that won’t happen, I feel like this is our episode.

Stay safe and well and take care of yourselves.

If you need help please don't be afraid to reach out.

Below are some resources for crisis lines for suicide, depression, and support:

GTA: 416-408-HELP (4357)

Peel: 905-459-7777

CAMH: https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/crisis-resources

Thank you so much to my friend Josh for letting me use his beats. Find him on SoundCloud as Owa! 👀https://m.soundcloud.com/owa-ever. Stay updated with us on https://linktr.ee/SpeakUpErika! 🌸

Hi friends! In this episode, I had the pleasure and honour of chatting with Jen from Jenuine Taste! We chat about overworking and social media, what's it's like working from home and growing a social media business. Jen shares her insights of how to disconnect from online and take time for ourselves to heal. She also tells us how @jenuinetaste began and her values as a content creator supporting the Vietnamese community. 

Thank you so much Jen for taking the time to be a guest on the podcast! Stay updated with her personal IG @jenniferdao (https://www.instagram.com/jenniferdao/) or her foodie IG @jenuinetaste (https://www.instagram.com/jenuinetaste/). 

Thank you so much to my friend Josh for letting me use his beats. Find him on SoundCloud as Owa! 👀 (https://m.soundcloud.com/owa-ever). Stay updated with us on https://linktr.ee/SpeakUpErika! 🌸

*apologies for the unclear audio near the second half. I hope you still find value and entertainment in this episode. working on more quality and clearer episodes in the future.*

Hi friends! In this week's episode I speak about my own personal experience with my self-image from growing up with facial hair, acne, and my struggle with fitting with the beauty standard of Filipino and Western culture.

This episode was difficult to record because I acknowledged and accepted that I didn’t love myself growing up. Also, I realized how much our child traumas effect how we perceive ourselves up until now, as adults.

Here’s the article mentioned in the podcast from Business Insider about “11 Scientific Reasons Why Attractive People Are More Successful in Life”

https://www.businessinsider.com/beautiful-people-make-more-money-2014-11

I appreciate all of you for listening to the podcast and for your continuous support. Sometimes, I have second thoughts with the content I produce because of how vulnerable I feel in these solo episodes but, I thank you so much for taking the time to listen.

Thank you so much to my friend Josh for letting me use his beats. Find him on SoundCloud as Owa! 👀 https://m.soundcloud.com/owa-ever. Stay updated with us on https://linktr.ee/SpeakUpErika! 🌸

Hi friends! In this week’s episode, the lovely Leia and I chat about therapy! Leia shares with us her experience with group therapy, her journey with mental health, and shares her perspective about mindfulness.

Thank you so much Leia for speaking up, for being vulnerable, and for sharing with us 💛 Leia has a sustainable fashion business called @_loveandlei (https://www.instagram.com/_loveandlei/), feel free to check out her fashionable pieces and save the environment at the same time!

You matter, your life is valuable, you are loved. Thank you for being you and for being alive. 

If you need help please don't be afraid to reach out. 

Below are some resources for crisis lines for suicide, depression, and support: 

GTA: 416-408-HELP (4357)

Peel: 905-459-7777

CAMH: https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/crisis-resources