The Designed Life

This is the first of a few new kickoff episodes marking a new chapter of the Design Life Podcast! Beginning with this episode, I'm shedding some of the how-to vibes and incorporating more of the messy, magical world of personal storytelling.

You can find me here (nervously but willingly) exploring what it means to grow through discomfort — from the high-stakes (buying a home with my partner) to the deeply personal (saying goodbye to my family’s home in Mexico) to the deceptively small (dragging myself to yoga or daring to initiate a vulnerable convo instead of stewing in silent resentment).

I'm talking about stretching in all its forms — the impulsive childhood leaps, the adult-style calculated risks, and the daily "ugh-I-don’t-wanna-but-I-know-it’s-good-for-me" moments.

Consider this your official invite to stretch with me — edges, feelings, and all!

Mentioned:

TDL Ep 012: Creating Home

Prevention as a Practice Substack

This month is when we finally feel like we have the energy, the motivation and the get-up-and-go energy we've been aching for this year. If it feels like your year is just now starting - don't worry, the starts are on your side!

On May 12th we have a Full Moon in Scorpio emboldening us to own more of ourselves by way of our healing and regenerative practices.

And then on May 27th we have a New Moon in Gemini that is begging us to embrace new narratives that help us take up more space and make room for all of ourselves.

It's a power packed month, friends, and it's asking you to step into a more whole version of yourself to share with the world.

Time stamps:

2:45 Full Moon in Scorpio 22°, May 12th

11:30 New Moon in Gemini 6°, May 27th

This episode is a production of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hollis M.M.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and is hosted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hollis M.M.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Find me @hollis.mm on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music by Oleksii Holubiev

In this episode I have the great pleasure of reconnecting with my old friend and sister, Alicia "Ace" Easter. Ace is a yoga teacher, storyteller, and joy-seeker who drops so much wisdom about healing, legacy, grief, and the pursuit of truth through this whole conversation.

She shares how losing her mother at 19 sparked a lifelong commitment to living fully and with intention — and helping others do the same. She opens up about what it means to build a legacy rooted in presence, honesty, and joy. And together we explore our shared histories with yoga, her journey into plant medicine and ancestral healing, how much we both loved With Love Meghan, and the importance of honoring your life as if it were a sacred ritual.

You can find more info about Ace and her offerings below:

Ace's website

Honoring All Mothers Retreat

Ace's Instagram

Ace's Substack

Time Stamps:

5:30 For folks who are listening, ACE and I go way back

6:40 I'm constantly on a mission to have peace and joy be a part of my life

16:10 I think that my entire life Hollis has been a series of, 'This just feels right, like I'm supposed to do this.'

23:06 OK, so now I'm all alone. So what are we going to do about that?

25:41 What do you want to carry? How do you want to affect people?

32:59  There's space to be honest, there's space to be real, and we can also be in pursuit of joy at the same time

37:22 Our trauma is guiding a lot of our lives. It guides a lot of our decision making, right. It guides a lot of what we say yes to, and a lot of what we say no to.

38:08 When you do the work you give yourself the deliciousness of truth. 

40:38 So much the time leveling up means going deeper.

42:43 I felt like I died and came back to life.

45:42 It's really easy for us to downplay things. But everything you do is a big deal because you're a big deal.

51:17  It invites me to live my entire life as if it's a ceremony

1:00:57  But knowing that this is a deposit into something for my future self, the legacy of what I will leave. 

1:02:11  I was ready to hold space for other people who were like me, who might be experiencing that sort of sadness and sorrow and mourning

01:08:33  Not every woman on this earth gets to be exposed to the types of women that we get to work with. And it is such a gift.

01:16:08  Stay brave in your pursuit of joy, friends!

This month is all about connection, beauty, social cohesion, creating beautiful lives for ourselves and others, and living pleasurably within our values.

This month's lunations are all about Venus - both the New and Full Moon's are ruled by the planet of love and connection - so it's a month I'm really excited about.

On Sunday, April 13th the Full Moon in Libra 23° encourages us to let go of old ideas around social cohesion, and letting go of people-pleasing tendencies.

Then on Sunday, April 27th the New Moon in Taurus 7° asks us to set strong intentions around pleasure, play, and generally feeling really supported and anchored in our bodies.

Listen for more ways to integrate and work with this energy, and prompts for deeper integration.

Time stamps:

3:20 Full Moon in Libra 23°on April 13th

15:30 New Moon in Taurus 7°on April 27th

This episode is a production of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hollis M.M.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and is hosted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hollis M.M.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Find me @hollis.mm on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music by Oleksii Holubiev

There is a surprising liberation that comes from limitation.

Whether it’s working with fewer resources, embracing minimalism, or setting intentional boundaries, scarcity often sparks creativity, resourcefulness, and a deeper appreciation for what we already have. In this episode I examine how constraints can actually make life feel richer and more expansive. I also discuss how modern overabundance affects our well-being, the power of presence, and how small self-imposed restrictions can lead to greater clarity, freedom, and fulfillment.

Embrace a little less – experience a whole lot more.

Referenced:

• Jack Kerouac – ⁠On the Road⁠
• Mark Manson – ⁠The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**⁠
• Studies on the ⁠Four-Day Workweek⁠
• ⁠Purl Soho⁠
• ⁠Alone⁠
• ⁠The Art of Frugal Hedonism⁠
• ⁠Dry January⁠

Time stamps:

1:56 What does it mean to work within constraints?

2:54 Creativity thrives within constraints

6:15 The freedom that comes through discipline

11:39 Reducing decision fatigue

18:13 Scarcity sparks resourcefulness

20:38 The overabundance of modern life - we crave simplicity

25:31 The psychological and emotional impacts of having “too much”

27:22 Heightening sensory awareness and presence

33:14 The power of saying “no”

37:56 The history of restriction in spirituality

42:37 The power balance within “freedom of speech”

44:05 Freedom to consume without limits will ****infringe on others’ well-being – including the planet we all live on

This month we're diving into themes that are coming back from the past while also stepping into an entirely new view of our present and the future.

The Virgo Full Moon Lunar Eclipse at the south node occurs on March 14th is the first in this new series, and it asks us to let go of perfectionism while also challenging our usual rules around detail. This one might feel messy, but socially unifying in the mess if we let it.

The Aries New Moon Solar Eclipse at the north node occurs March 29th and is the last of series that began on April, 19th of 2023 and was continued on April 8th of 2024. This is the final chapter in a story about your sense of identity, motivation, courage and drive.

If you read this description and had no idea what any of the astro-language means – don't worry! In the episode I break down what this all means in real, practical terms.

Listen in, and let me know what you think!

Time stamps:

7:57 Virgo Full Moon Lunar Eclipse, March 14th

23:23 Aries New Moon Solar Eclipse, March 29th

This episode is a production of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hollis M.M.⁠⁠⁠⁠ and is hosted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hollis M.M.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Find me @hollis.mm on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music by Oleksii Holubiev

Long time friend, co-collaborator, and all around inspiration, Iliana Contos joins me for a fruitful and heartfelt conversation exploring the intersection of creativity, presence, and authenticity – all as powerful healing forces. Illy shares her journey from acting to art therapy, working with vulnerable communities, and learning to embrace creativity without perfectionism. We discuss the power of presence — whether in a yoga class, a prison, or a creative space — and how art-making can regulate the nervous system and foster deep self-discovery.

We also touch on the challenges of navigating social media as a creative tool, the difference between creating and editing, and how perfectionism is rooted in control and fear. Illy specifically highlights transformative practices like The Artist’s Way and Morning Pages, emphasizing that creativity is not just for artists but a universal human language.

Lastly, at the end of our conversation we share a brief announcement for our upcoming workshop seriesArt & Astrology: Building Intimacy with Self Through Creativity – inspired by the upcoming Venus retrograde cycle.

For the folks looking to reclaim their creativity, quiet their inner critic, or deepen their connection to self, this conversation offers insights and inspiration for embracing the unknown with curiosity and openness.

Mentioned:

Elizabeth Gilbert'sBig Magic

Julia Cameron'sThe Artist's Way

Time stamps:

3:04 Who is Iliana Contos?

7:22 The power of a name

10:10 Iliana's journey into art therapy

20:31 Authenticity and belief in one’s work creating meaningful connections

23:29 Teaching and showing up as you are, rather than pretending to be perfect

29:07 Creativity in the age of social media

36:41 The difference between creating and editing

42:23 Perfectionism being rooted in control, while creativity thriving in the unknown

49:33 Who are you as an artist?

57:20 The Art & Astrology workshop

59:07 Creativity was our first language

1:05:35 The powerful self-revelation that comes with spontaneity and journeying into the unknown.

This month is all about exploring and expanding your sense of identity—tuning into what truly lives within your heart and releasing the old boundaries and stories that no longer serve your connection to yourself and others.

The Full Moon at 24º Leo on February 12th shines a spotlight on your core identity, inviting you to step more boldly into your leadership and authenticity.

Later, the New Moon at 9º Pisces on February 27th opens up expansive, boundary-breaking energy, supporting you as you release outdated systems and step into a freer, more aligned version of yourself.

Join me for prompts, reflections, and practices to help you navigate this month’s transformative lunations with clarity, intention, and courage.

Time stamps:

1:35 Full Moon at 24º Leo, February 12th

12:30 New Moon at 9º Pisces, February 27th

This episode is a production of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hollis M.M.⁠⁠⁠ and is hosted by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hollis M.M.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Find me @hollis.mm on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music by Oleksii Holubiev

Nina is an energetics-led business coach with an incredibly diverse background that speaks to her love of life and the bravery that accompanies her curiosity.

She brings to the table years of experience in marketing and sales, social work and psychology, as well as yoga and meditation - all of which she harnesses in her holistic approach to business and business coaching.

Nina and I talk the importance of addressing the whole person in every kind of coaching, integrating somatic work for total embodiment, and the value of the lens of human design when exploring your own energetics as a business owner.

She's a clear advocate for non-linear, intuitive approaches to business, teaching, and creating, and is an incredible demonstration of how to follow your intuition and also how to hold space for others.

You can find Nina @youralignedspace and youralignedspace.com

Time stamps:

2:59 Who is Nina Chin?

7:11 Nina's background in psychology and social work

10:08 The importance of taking into account the whole person

12:40 Energetics of business building and ownership

16:56 Integrating yoga, movement and somatics into all of your work

20:00 Nina's journey into yoga and human design

33:20 The power of validation through these ancient systems

35:30 The process of supporting clients to sink into their embodiment

48:05 The permission to create without linearity

53:00 Practically using human design and astrology with teams

56:36 Holding space for others in the midst of their healing

1:02:52 Moving to Majorca

1:08:34 Craving intimate spaces

1:10:02 Nina's next steps

Happy New Year, friends! 🌟 I'm posting this episode at the very start of 2025 to encourage you, not just to think about what you want to create in this next year, but to also remember the importance of rest as a part of your journey.

In today’s episode, we’re exploring the seven types of rest—mental, physical, emotional, social, sensory, creative, and spiritual — and why true rejuvenation is about more than just sleep.

I share ways for you to recognize when you need rest for each type, as well as simple, practical ways to give yourself the rest you need.

Additionally, we'll explore how to honor your unique pace and tend to every part of yourself as you navigate your year ahead.

Tune in to learn how rest is not just recovery — it’s resistance, renewal, and the foundation for creativity and growth.

Time stamps:

00:00 Welcome 2025!

8:07 Mental Rest

12:24 Physical Rest

18:23 Emotional Rest

31:03 Social Rest

38:04 Sensory Rest

45:41 Creative Rest

53:13 Spiritual Rest

57:56 Summary of all 7 types

1:02 Trusting your our pace and timing