THE CITY CONFESSIONS

This episode features New York State licensed Acupuncturist, Lana Stacy. Board certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), Lana has a passion for developing meaningful relationships with each of her patients and creating a safe space for them to heal, grow, and evolve into the best versions of themselves. At the crux of all of her treatments is a profound understanding of the connection between the mind and body. Lana specializes in pain management and have received advanced training in trigger point therapy. 

She also has experience with internal medicine, including migraines, digestive disorders, menstrual issues, and chronic urinary tract infections. As a long-term patron of therapy herself, she has a special interest in working with mental health and those in recovery, especially anxiety, trauma, eating disorders, and addiction. For these internal conditions, she focuses primarily on the styles of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Five Element, Japanese, and Korean techniques in order to fully tap into and treat the "Shen" (the spirit).

In this episode, we talk about how Lana discovered acupuncture and what moment drove her to decide to pursue this as her calling and career. Lana also explains the difference between western and eastern medicine and why she incorporates Chinese medicine and approaches to healing in her practice. She currently works at WTHN, which is an acupuncture studio in NYC (which is how we met because she is my acupuncturist!) and discussed how the studio aligns with her own values of the power of healing and prevention. 

As someone who used to be a workaholic, Lana recalls how she would burn out by working constantly and running around in NYC. Since the pandemic and her loss, she has learned the beauty of slow living and advocates for all us to practice that. She is now appreciating all the magic surrounding NYC and is also working on her side hustle which are house calls for acupuncture sessions.

You can find Lana in the below platforms:

https://www.lanastacyacupuncture.com/

Welcome to Season 5 of The City Confessions! Before we get started with today's guest, this episode opens up with a quick introduction from your host Mariann Yip about what she's up to and what you can expect from this season moving forward. Instead of doing a solo episode as the introduction episode of the new season, we are joined by Reagan Petrehn, who is a a filmmaker, food and bev expert, and serial entrepreneur.

Before co-founding his first business –1900 Barker– at 21, he spent several years consulting with and training professionals across multiple disciplines within the coffee industry across the US, Mainland China and Hong Kong –then the fastest growing market for coffee globally. He has since consulted with dozens of coffee and food startups to create unique programming across various cultures and locales.

Today, 1900 Barker is recognized as a cutting edge and trend setting institution, despite its rural location in the Midwest, and has been nominated every consecutive year since opening for the James Beard award –a massive honor across the food and beverage industry.

In 2018, Reagan became a founding member at Felix Roasting Company in NYC. In addition to acting as Brand Manager and developing the guest experience, He created the unique (and often viral) food and beverage program that makes Felix stand out among foodies and coffee aficionados everywhere, and oversaw the meteoric rise in engagement from the press, tourists, and local New Yorkers.

Currently, Reagan is refocusing his energies into his creative studio, Kind Studio, with an aim to develop meaningful stories through film. He hopes to utilize his background in hospitality to help hurting food & bev businesses get a leg up during and after Covid.

Outside of his many professional pursuits, Reagan is an avid surfer, a distance runner, and is always looking for an excuse to play in the kitchen.

In this episode, Reagan talks about how he met his partner of Felix Roasting Company, which is a stunning cafe in NYC. He opens up about how the design concept and birth idea came into fruition and the struggles of trying to maintain afloat as the company struggled with COVID last year. However, as someone who is constantly working on a million projects, Raegan and his partner was actually able to open a new location in August of 2020 in Soho. 

As a natural entrepreneur, Raegan explains how he got his motivation and confidence to start his string of businesses, especially in a city like New York. He acknowledges that he does experience impostor syndrome as is still trying to figure out how to redefine what success and happiness looks like to him. Raegan is also a talented photographer and is now actively pursuing that creative outlet. He closes this episode with a confession that you guys definitely won't expect so have a full listen to see what that is!

Feel free to connect with Raegan on his below channels and follow along his journey to see all the amazing things he has in the works:

https://www.instagram.com/reagan.petrehn

https://www.instagram.com/felixroastingco/

https://www.instagram.com/1900barker/

This episode is a solo one featuring yours truly. I close out season 4 of The City confessions and give a quick recap of 2020. I talk about what this year has taught me, what lessons I've learned from therapy and the importance of setting boundaries. I also reveal a confession relating to the realities of my podcast earnings as well as insight and sneak peak to what you can expect from me in 2021. 

I express my sincere gratitude to all my listeners and send you off with positive vibes and motivation as we welcome the new year. You can support The City Confessions by subscribing to the podcast, sharing it to a friend/ social platforms and you can also donate by clicking the SUPPORT button at https://anchor.fm/thecityconfessions. 

You can follow my personal page on Instagram @mariann_yip and the podcast page @thecityconfessions and listen to all four seasons of The City Confessions here. Any questions, comments or concerns can be directed to [email protected] and stay tuned for Season 5 of The City Confessions, which will be airing on January 5, 2021! 

Today we are joined by olympic high jumper, Priscilla Loomis.  She is from Queens, New York, so shout out to Queens and it’s great to talk with another native New Yorker!  Priscilla Frederick Loomis is a 31-year-old Professional Track and Field High Jumper representing the country of Antigua and Barbuda. She was born in Queens, NY and moved to South Jersey with her mother at a young age. Priscilla received an athletic scholarship to St. John’s University in Queens, NY where she majored in Communications with a focus in Television & Film, combining both her passions of Sport and Entertainment.

While at St. John’s, Priscilla became the High Jump School record holder, 7x NCAA Competitor, Big East Champion and 4x MVP. In 2012, she qualified for the USA Olympic Trials, placing 7th. After taking one year off (2013), Priscilla attained dual citizenship for the country of Antigua & Barbuda, which she acquired in early 2014. Winning Nationals, setting the countries High Jump Record, becoming the North American Central American Caribbean Games High Jump Silver medalist & Competing at the Commonwealth Games, 2014 began her Track and Field career with a bang.

In 2015 & 2016, Priscilla began to shine, becoming the Pan American Games Silver medalist, setting a new country High Jump record & becoming National Female Athlete of the Year,  while finishing both seasons competing at the 2015 Outdoor World Championships in Beijing, China and 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

Priscilla is now in training for the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo. While on this journey, she has been inducted into her High Schools Hall of Fame as well as the South Jersey Hall of Fame. She owns FLAWLESS Cleaning Service, Home Cleaning & Organization business, hosts private fitness training and is an Inspirational Speaker.

While being a professional athlete, Priscilla feels passionate about inspiring those chasing their dreams. She wants to be a symbol and a role model for anyone battling adversities and road blocks while in pursuit to a major goal. Priscilla’s journey has been very different than most and she wants to share her life story with those seeking motivation.

In the future, she wants to continue her pursuit of acting while auditioning for Marvel and Disney films, as well as being a positive representation of hard work and dedication to the younger generation.

In this episode, Priscilla walks us through her journey of becoming an athlete, but opens up about the realities that many people aren't aware of in the sports industry. Priscilla is raw, honest and very transparent about her financial burdens, constant struggle with balancing a healthy mindset as well as dealing with pressure from the outside world. As a resilient athlete, Priscilla gives advice and tips on how to overcome challenges, dark places and phases that we sometimes face, and reminds us all that we all will get through our hurdles and we are warriors. She also gives her definition of what success and happiness means and looks like to her so make sure you guys sit back as this episode is beyond powerful and inspiring!

Feel free to connect with Priscilla on her social platforms below:

Instagram @priscilla_frederick 

Website: www.PriscillaLoomis.com

Youtube: Priscilla Loomis

If you have any questions, comments or feedback regarding this episode, email [email protected]. 

This episode features Nicque Marina, a singer/songwriter, actress, tik tok content creator (with 625.2KFollowers+) and former army veteran. Nicque Marina was born in Houston, now based in NYC. This Air Force veteran rose to notoriety by producing comedy skits based on anime, particularly My My Hero Academia. She has since branched out to several fandoms including the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Harry Potter, Hamilton, and Avatar the Last Airbender. In July of 2020 she was a host at Anime Expo and currently has plans for a music project to be released by her label in early 2021.

In this episode of The City Confessions, Nicque opens up about a personal and traumatic experience when she was in the air force and talks about her struggles with PTSD as she suffered from emotional and mental abuse. Nicque's braveness in sharing her story about dealing with clinical depression on a daily basis is an example of her strength and resilience. Despite her dark past, Nicque has been able to rise from it and has turned to her passion for self expression and comedy as an escape and release. You can find Nicque in her social channels and links below:

Website

Today’s episode features Emily Getz, an abstract expressionist from Bushwick, New York.  Emily’s path into the world of art was quite unexpected. As a result of Covid, Emily lost her creative job in the Fashion Industry and found painting as a way to deal with the daily stress, anxiety and worries that we as humans all face. Channeling her energy into this new creative medium, Emily’s acrylic and oil pastel paintings focus on movement, texture, space and color. Offering us a glimmer of hope, a sliver of sunlight, a visual of a daydream, the aim of her paintings is to bring joy, color, and hope into the lives of others.

After showcasing her work on Instagram, she began to gain attention and traffic to her work. When a friend reached out to buy a piece, she realized that people might want to buy her work, so she decided to research ways on how to market herself as an artist. In this episode, Emily talks about the struggles, realities and fears of selling her work, the beauty of finding her passion during Covid, her art process and approach and what art means to her. You can see Emily’s artwork on her Instagram and feel free to support her journey and business by sharing her work to your friends, family and on social! You can also email [email protected] if you have any questions regarding this episode.

Today we are joined by the awesome Judge Khanna, the co-founder and creative force behind SpiltMilk Eyewear, a luxury eyewear brand based in NYC. Upon graduating from Parsons, Khanna built a luxury womenswear collection, dressing prestigious and elite New York woman.  During his tenure as a womenswear designer, Khanna felt there was an opportunity to create a bigger splash in the luxury accessory space. Thus, SpiltMilk was born and continues to disrupt the ever-changing fashion world.

SpiltMilk brings humor to the luxury eyewear market through thought provoking, flawless designs and fearless self-expression. Inspiration is drawn globally with each frame meticulously sourced and handcrafted in Japan. Using a combination of malleable titanium and stainless steel, the foundation is built on inclusivity and being comfortable in your skin. SpiltMilk has carved an impressive niche in the market by battling the status quo with boldness, standing behind the values of authenticity, influence, and authority. The eyewear is not just a product, but a platform for hope and change, encouraging that gender equality should be evoked through the freedom of fashion. In February, SpiltMilk was recognized by the top of the industry when the seven eyewear designers of the CFDA and Vision Expo named SpiltMilk the winner of the 2020 talent search. SpiltMilk was also inducted into Goldhouse, a nonprofit collective of diverse leaders that empower Asian entrepreneurs. Now found across 30 stores worldwide, from IT in Hong Kong, to Selfridges in London, the brand has been sported on international superstars such as RuPaul’s Drag Race judge, Michelle Visage and actresses Jamie Chung & Jessica Alba. The name came from the phrase, “don’t cry over spilt milk,” to live in the moment and not get stuck in the past.

In this episode, we talk about how he started his brand and how he built a global team. We also talk about the struggles and lessons he's learned along the way as a designer and entrepreneur. Khanna also opens up about the difficulties he's facing with operating a business during the pandemic and tactics on how he's dealing with stress. As a New Yorker, Khanna has a hustler mentality and regardless of the state of the world, he is optimistic and driven to take his brand to new heights. Feel free to support Khanna on his eyewear brand https://www.spiltmilkeyewear.com/ and make sure to follow his company on his social links below:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/spiltmilk-eyewear

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spiltmilkeyewear/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spiltmilkeyewear

Tiktok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJ9c2hpt/

Should you have any questions regarding this episode, feel free to email [email protected].

In this episode, we are joined by Dayna and Brian Lee, the power couple behind Arts and Food NYC Blog and Instagram where they share their journey as millennial producers and avid foodies navigating their way through the Big Apple. They are also the founders of AF Creative Media, which is a tony award winning production company. With a focus on developing new work, their mission is to bring new audiences to the theatre through innovative and imaginative storytelling. Broadway: Moulin Rouge, Company, Angels in America (Tony Award for Best Revival of A Play). Off-Broadway: People, Places and Things. They are currently developing several new projects for the stage including: Nowhere Boy (with Robyn Goodman/Josh Fiedler/Aged in Wood) based on the 2009 film about John Lennon’s adolescence, Mandela (in partnership with the Mandela Family) based on the life of Nelson Mandela, The Provider written by the Executive Producer of Showtime’s Billions, Adam R. Perlman, the Broadway premiere of Cheryl West’s Jar The Floor and several more. They are currently developing Broad Influence which aims to bring new audiences to the theatre through targeted influencer marketing.

Originally from Toronto, Dayna and Brian Lee recount their real love story of how they met and how they fell in love. As husband and wife who live and work together as content creators and broadway producers, they open up about the lessons they've learned from their relationship and how they are growing and evolving together. We talk about their past stand out experiences with NYC, the power of social media and the positive outcomes from the platform, the definition of success and happiness and Thanksgiving tips to help you get through this upcoming holiday. You can follow their journey on their Instagram @artsandfood_nyc and feel free to also check out their blog https://www.artsandfoodnyc.com/ for recipes and restaurant reviews and their production company www.afcreativemedia.com. If you have any questions regarding this episode, please email [email protected] and if you'd like to show your support for this podcast directly, you can contribute by selecting support on https://anchor.fm/thecityconfessions. 

Today's guest is Carolyn Yachanin, the founder of Copina Co, which is a wellness company that offers drinkable collage boost blends that are vegan, delicious, and great for your body, hair and skin.  Copina Co. was born out of Carolyn's personal experience with healing cystic acne scars and gut health issues through holistic medicine. In this episode, Carolyn explains why she started her own business and why her company's core belief is that you’re at your most beautiful when you feel good and are happy in your own skin. As an entrepreneur who just launched her company in February 2020, Carolyn understands that growing a business is a journey. We explore topics in depth including her relationship with stress, her willingness to put herself in uncomfortable situations, her definition of success and happiness and much more! You can find Carolyn on Instagram @carolynyachanin and be sure to follow @copinaco and please support her business at https://copinaco.com.  Feel free to direct any questions regarding this episode to [email protected].