The Amani Experience Podcast

Jeannette Ceja talks to us about how she knew at age 12 she wanted to be a travel writer, some of her most memorable interviews and why travel in a mindset. Enjoy!

Show Notes:

10:47 - Jeannette was a Chips Quinn Scholar.

12:04 - "Other people can see your potential before you can ... "

16:12 - Jeannette had a dream about moving to Rome that came true.

22:17 - How Jeannette got a job offer to work in Australia.

23:42 - Where was Jeannette's favorite place to live?

25:56 - "You have to believe in yourself ..."

30:58 - What was it like growing up in a household that had both an abundance & scarcity money mindset.

42:29 - "If you don't learn the lesson, you get a different teacher for the same lesson ..."

43:54 - What is Jeannette's self-love practice.

49:19 - "Travel is a mindset ..."

53:47 - "An overnight success is eight years of hard work ... "

57:10 - Who were Jeannette's most memorable interviews.

77:10 - "Love Yourself ..."

How to reach Jeannette: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Book Recommendations:

Abundance Now by Lisa Nichols & Janet Switzer

How to Give Ted Talks by Jeremey Donovan

Dawn discusses lessons learned from her mom, why she loves the country of Morocco and how her self-confidence has grown through travel. Enjoy the show!

Show Notes:

7:55 - Dawn discusses her return to retail and being a buyer.

10:31 - Dawn first started making jewelry for herself.

16:15 - The story behind how Dawn added hats to her business and sold out immediately.

19:15 - "Always stay positive and trust the process"

21:26 - "I have complete creative freedom"

23:35 - How Dawn selected Morocco as the country to visit.

24:30 - Lessons Dawn learned from her mom.

28:17 - Thoughts on growing authentic relationships.

33:00 - Why quitting her job at the boutique was very traumatic.

36:30 - A message to her mentor Leslie.

37:15 - "Be fearless and take risks ..."

39:01 - Self-confidence was the one lesson in life that took her the longest to learn.

39:55 - How travel has helped Dawn's self-confidence.

42:16 - Where the name Bone by Dawn came from.

How to reach Dawn: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Book Recommendations:

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

#Girlboss by Sophia Amoruso

The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck by Mark Manson

Podcast Recommendations:

How I Built This by Guy Raz

The School of Greatness by Lewis Howes

Anna Braff discusses how to track a vintage object's authenticity, pricing strategies, and how she nurtures her creativity. Enjoy the show!

Show Notes:

6:15 - Why Anna has a love for power tools.

8:37 - We have an "Elle Woods" reference. (Legally Blonde)

17:02 - How Anna nurtures her creativity.

18:45 - A Hebrew naming ceremony launched her business.

21:45 - Where the name Provenance Rentals came from.

24:10 - How do you track an object's authenticity.

29:28 - Thoughts on pricing and learning strategies regarding pricing.

35:11 - Why getting sued scares Anna.

35:50 - "Keep being persistent ..."

45:46 - What her mom and sister mean to her.

47:57 - "Trying to find the right person for you is so difficult and yet also very amazing."

49:02 - "Listen to who you truly are and it will come eventually if you nurture that ..."

50:35 - How did Anna shift from quoting pricing and details via email/text to getting on the phone with all of her clients.

56:30 - "Don't Think ...Just Do ..."

How to reach Anna: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest

Book Recommendations:

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Colette Brandenburg talks to us about grit, consistency, her "The Artist's Way" practice, and deciding to read more in this episode. Enjoy the show!

Show Notes:

7:42 - How did Colette learn how to belly dance?

10:53 - Why Colette still loves "The Nutcracker".

13:30 - Colette's experience with the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater.

19:21 - "When I am working on my business, I am working on my art."

23:01 - Lessons learned from starting 'The Federation'.

28:40 - How Colette draws inspiration on a regular basis.

30:12 - What is "The Artist Way" and how does Colette follow the practice?

34:30 - Why artists should not look at past artistic practices to determine the business strategies of the future.

40:10 - "The Cane Breaker"

42:24 - "Grit and consistency"

49:38 - "I would read more ..."

53:42 - Reading a non-fiction book first thing in the morning has helped Colette grow.

How to reach Colette: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest

Book Recommendations:

Raising the Bar and Closing the Gap: Whatever It Takes by Richard Dufour

The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron

Grit by Angela Duckworth

The Golden Rules: Finding Work Class Excellence in Your Life And Work by Bob Bowman and Charles Butler

Smarter Better Faster by Charles Duhigg

Get Clients Now by C.J. Hayden

The award-winning author and screenwriter Peter Nelson discusses why you must be malleable for what you are doing, how happiness isn't a place that you can arrive to but rather a verb and why you just need to consistently "chop the wood." Enjoy!

Show Notes:

5:01 - The story behind Peter's famous high-school award-winning essay.

7:15 - The fateful evening when Peter discovered that you can get paid to write sitcoms.

11:12 - "Leave-behinds" for pitches.

13:43 - Peter's favorite sitcoms.

19:28 - "You always have to keep writing ..."

25:39 - "Be malleable for what you are doing ..."

27:48 - "I am lazy, but lucky ..."

32:22 - Peter's thoughts on the evolution of TV & Film.

35:07 - "Chop the wood ..."

38:30 - "Share your ideas with people ..."

47:26 - Wise advice from a librarian.

56:07 - "Don't care so much about what others will think ..."

60:23 - "Happiness isn't a place you can arrive to, but rather a verb."

64:44 - "Never throw anything away ..."

How to reach Peter: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Book Recommendations (Affiliate Links included):

Zen & The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson

Half Magic by N.M. Bodecker

Extras:

Swingers Movie Trailer

Buying the Cow Movie Trailer

Katie discusses how her award-winning diving career prepared her for her current career, how she has been able to get through fear throughout her life and why you should "follow your dreams because they know the way!" Enjoy!

Show Notes:

6:28 - Katie's award-winning career as a diver at Northeastern University.

11:05 - How her diving career prepared her for her current career.

17:08 - Katie's practice of writing her diving goals in a notebook.

19:09 - "I'm in the perfect flow"

20:25 - The first leap that Katie took in her life.

25:04 - "When you work hard, the universe will meet you halfway."

28:17 - "Yoga Instructor, Wellness Consultant, and Dream Inspirer"

31:50 - "My body was a monster that was attacking me ..."

36:02 - Katie's struggles with competition in the yoga industry and social media.

42:09 - "I had to get to forgiveness, very quickly."

49:16 - Why saying "No" is very hard for Katie. ("Saying yes to myself instead of no to others has helped me.")

50:56 - "Trust" ... and the tattoo story.

54:08 - "Follow your dreams, they know the way ... "

56:39 - How Katie grew the destination retreat portion of her business.

63:58 - How has Katie been so courageous throughout her life.

66:48 - "Feel the fear and do it anyway..."

How to reach Katie: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Linkedin

Book Recommendations (Affiliate Links Included):

Spirit Junkie by Gabrielle Bernstein

Broken Open by Elizabeth Lesser

StrengthFinders 2.0 by Tom Rath

Journey of Souls by Dr. Michael Newton

You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero

Nicole Leone discusses how experiencing burnout cause her to pivot in her business, knowing your value and not "listening to the little voices in your head" in this episode. Enjoy!

Show Notes:

5:23 - How Nicole ended up at Brooks Institute

9:07 - "I wanted to be in control of my own life."

10:01 - Knowing your value.

11:15 - "You Can't Do This Alone ..."

15:33 - "Don't Listen To The Little Voices"

18:04 - How Nicole stays balanced.

27:01 - How being burned out caused Nicole to pivot in her business.

29:34 - The future of photography and video in Nicole's eyes.

34:35 - Nicole discusses how to properly view age in her field.

39:00 - "If people don't see it, they won't know who you are."

45:19 - "Fire yourself, but only for a few hours."

How to reach Nicole: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

Book Recommendations:

Tools of the Titans by Tim Ferriss

The Book of Joy by the Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu and Douglas Abrams

In this episode, Sam talks about why it is hard to make female main character driven films, writers that inspire her and "don't let your head stop your heart." Enjoy!

Show Notes:

7:40 - How Samantha developed "In Memory of Me"

9:25 - Why it is hard to make a female main character driven film.

10:22 - The inspiration behind the movie "7 on 10"

14:46 - How Sam has found a strong tribe.

17:29 - Brenda from General Hospital.

19:40 - Writers that inspire Samantha.

23:46 - "haters can come in many guises ..."

26:40 - Seeing life as competition is hard.

28:50 - Why her dad was the most influential person for her growing up.

32:00 - "Don't let your head stop your heart"

37:14 - Key Change (the play).

How to reach Samantha: Website | Twitter | Facebook

Book Recommendations:

The Secret History - Donna Tartt

Pillars of the Earth - Ken Follett

"In Memory of Me" (Full Movie Link)

"7 On 10" Trailer

Chris Pardal talks to us about why "you are never ready", how his love for romantic movies was born and why Dr. Sybil Johnson told him that "he has to take the right risks". Enjoy the show!

Show Notes:

5:18 - When did Chris realize he wanted to be a dancer and actor.

7:45 - Chris' hip-hop favorites.

11:36 - How Chris met Dr. Sybil Johnson.

15:40 - "You have to take the right risks ..."

19:10 - "There has to be a certain level of discomfort."

29:16 - "We go into it for the wrong reasons."

30:59 - How Chris' love for romantic movies was developed.

38:20 - Who is Chris' favorite American actor?

42:40 - How bullying led to Chris being expelled from high school.

47:31 - What caused Chris to end up in the hospital and get his stomach pumped twice.

56:10 - Mike Tyson.

68:24 - "you are never ready ..."

How to reach Chris: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Book Recommendations (Affiliate Links included):

War of Art - Steven Pressfield

Fine on Acting: A Vision of The Craft - Howard Fine

Corbin Nash Movie Trailer

In this episode, Kelly talks to us about meeting Stan Lee, how failure gives you an opportunity to shine and why kindness will get you everywhere. Enjoy!

Show Notes:

5:25 - How did Kelly end up in Los Angeles.

9:18 - What happened when Kelly had the chance to work with Stan Lee.

11:13 - Thoughts on the evolution of TV & Film

16:40 - Most memorable projects.

18:45 - What sets apart the most successful people she has worked with.

22:58 - "Failure Gives You An Opportunity to Shine"

25:21 - How Kelly handles her critics.

29:28 - "Don't Worry"

30:57 - Reese Witherspoon & Jeff Goldblum

32:30 - "When one door closes, your publicist opens another ..."

35:12 - The Price Is Right Story

39:34 - "Kindness will get you everywhere"

How to reach Kelly: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Parked on Amazon Prime Video (Season 1 is out now!)

Kelly Wilson and her "Ukranian" accent

Tribe & Glory

Book Recommendations: (Affiliate Links included)

​​​​​​​Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling (All Seven Books)

Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart