The Nuance Diaries

Click below after you watch/listen!

https://www.alexajuanitajordan.com/myshop/p/holidaysurvivalkit

At the party, you’ll get the gift of…

➕ PRACTICAL TOOLS for navigating the holiday season with more intentionality and authenticity

➕ COMMUNITY; intimate group discussions centering the challenges of the holiday season through an authentic lens

Topics include but are not limited to…

Dealing with family members you don’t get along with 

Loneliness 

Navigating grief 

Toxic positivity and 24/7 holiday cheer

BOUNDARIES! 

Balancing a busy calendar full of holiday-centric events 

Fixating on creating the "perfect" holiday

➕ MORE COMMUNITY; access to our exclusive holiday survival kit group available to all workshop participants, for sharing tips and commiserating!

➕ ALLLL OF MY CUSTOM RECOMMENDATIONS; access to my personalized holiday survival kit — which I’ll continue adding to over the holiday season!

Sections include but are not limited to…

Podcasts

TV Shows and Movies

Books

Tools for Hard Conversations

➕ DOWNLOADABLE GUIDE with step-by-step, easy to follow instructions for how to make your very own holiday survival kit!

➕ WORKSHOP RECORDING and access to all resources, tools, and takeaways shared!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenuancediaries.substack.com/subscribe

Click here to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

With over a decade of experience in print and digital media, Kevin McSpadden is a seasoned journalist adept at crafting engaging and informative stories. Kevin’s background as a writer, copyeditor, and production manager has instilled in him the value of teamwork, attention to detail, and a commitment to fair reporting.

Kevin has navigated diverse environments—from dynamic digital startups to established newspaper brands—and successfully built a thriving freelancing career along the way.

Kevin is the founding writer of A6 - Where the world happens here on Substack.“A6 aims to bring nuance to the way we think about the world and was born out of a simple premise: The way we consume news amplifies the most important stories but buries smaller updates that help us understand what is happening in the world.”

Click here to check out takeaways, quotes, and links over at the blog.

And while you're there - learn more about Authenticity Office Hours, where we have group discussions chatting about topics like these! I'll be announcing our November sessions next week!

Have you checked out New Yorker Goes West? I’m writing all about my new chapter in California, as a lifelong New Yorker.

This is not your average travel blog. This is a raw, unflinching, intimate look into what it’s like to leave the life you’ve always known behind and begin a new one, miles away.

Will I share great recommendations for fish tacos? Of course.

Will it all be sunshine and palm trees and smiles and Instagrammable selfies? Nope.

But yeah, there is quite a bit of sunshine. And palm trees. I’m a fan.

Head to https://newyorkergoeswest.substack.com to check it out.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenuancediaries.substack.com/subscribe

Click here to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Melissa is an Accredited Financial Counselor® & Coach who walks alongside purpose-driven entrepreneurs in getting comfy with money, both in their business and personal lives. Her finance journey truly began once she realized that life after college couldn’t be forged on student loans and credit cards. She’s experienced various versions of self-employment for 16+ years, so her zone of genius is understanding the flow of money from the moment it enters the business to when it leaves the personal checking account. She's a full-time RVer with her husband, and their free time is spent on the lake or checking out the latest restaurant.

Click here to check out takeaways, quotes, and links over at the blog. There are a LOT of great links and resources for this one!

And while you're there - learn more about Authenticity Office Hours, where we have group discussions chatting about topics like these! Next one coming up on 10/22 where we're talking about Authenticity and, you guessed it, MONEY! (Link above!)

Have you checked out New Yorker Goes West? I’m writing all about my new chapter in California, as a lifelong New Yorker.

This is not your average travel blog. This is a raw, unflinching, intimate look into what it’s like to leave the life you’ve always known behind and begin a new one, miles away.

Will I share great recommendations for fish tacos? Of course.

Will it all be sunshine and palm trees and smiles and Instagrammable selfies? Nope.

But yeah, there is quite a bit of sunshine. And palm trees. I’m a fan.

Head to https://newyorkergoeswest.substack.com to check it out.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenuancediaries.substack.com/subscribe

Have you checked out New Yorker Goes West? I’m writing all about my new chapter in California, as a lifelong New Yorker.

This is not your average travel blog. This is a raw, unflinching, intimate look into what it’s like to leave the life you’ve always known behind and begin a new one, miles away.

Will I share great recommendations for fish tacos? Of course.

Will it all be sunshine and palm trees and smiles and Instagrammable selfies? Nope.

But yeah, there is quite a bit of sunshine. And palm trees. I’m a fan.

Head to https://newyorkergoeswest.substack.com to check it out.

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Click here to check out takeaways, quotes, and links over at the blog.

And while you're there - learn more about Authenticity Office Hours, where we have group discussions chatting about topics like these! Next one coming up on 10/15 where we're talking about Authenticity and TRAVEL. (Link above!)

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenuancediaries.substack.com/subscribe

TW: mention of abuse, not explicit.

I think we learn a lot about ourselves when we find ourselves in that place where we would do anything to push our pain down, and numb it all away. We learn a lot when we don’t numb it away.

* We learn that we’re capable of feeling a lot and surviving

* The truth bubbles up; both our biggest fears and truths arise.

* We get to know who we really are. Who our real, authenticic selves are.

Check out New Yorker Goes West if you haven't already!

And click here and buy me a virtual coffee. Lord knows I could use the caffeine!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wildcozyfree.substack.com/subscribe

Have you checked out New Yorker Goes West? I’m writing all about my new chapter in California, as a lifelong New Yorker.

This is not your average travel blog. This is a raw, unflinching, intimate look into what it’s like to leave the life you’ve always known behind and begin a new one, miles away.

Will I share great recommendations for fish tacos? Of course.

Will I tell you about my favorite comfort shows? Absolutely.

Will it all be sunshine and palm trees and smiles and Instagrammable selfies? Nope.

But yeah, there is quite a bit of sunshine. And palm trees. I’m a fan.

Head to https://newyorkergoeswest.substack.com to check it out.

___________________________________________________________________________

"Mika is a mother of four from New Zealand who finds joy in family, good food, and being by the water. After nearly a decade as an in-house graphic designer, she made a bold leap in 2023, leaving the corporate world to embrace the unknown. Through her Substack, musings by mika, she shares her journey of redefining success. Along the way, Mika began offering practical tips to help fellow writers thrive on Substack. Known for her warm, open-hearted writing, Mika has created a supportive community where writers find connection, growth, and inspiration."

Coming off of last night’s incredible conversation about authenticity and community, I couldn’t be more excited to introduce you to Mika, or as I like to call her ‘the substack muse’ (a title she humbly refutes, but others agree with!)

Mika has created the definition of an authentic community, through her raw vulnerability. She hosts an incredible thread called “Find Your Tribe” that you absolutely have to check out.

I’m also totally honored to say that this was Mika’s very first interview in this forum! You totally would never guess that though, she’s a pro :)

Click here to check out takeaways, quotes, and links over at the blog.

And while you're there - learn more about Authenticity Office Hours, where we have group discussions chatting about topics like these!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenuancediaries.substack.com/subscribe

Have you checked out New Yorker Goes West? I’m writing all about my new chapter in California, as a lifelong New Yorker.

This is not your typical travel blog. Or your typical cross-country adventure.

What does “typical” really even mean?

This is a raw, unflinching, intimate look into what it’s like to leave the life you’ve always known behind and begin a new one, miles away.

Will I share great recommendations for fish tacos? Of course.

Will I tell you about my favorite comfort shows? Absolutely.

Will it all be sunshine and palm trees and smiles and Instagrammable selfies? Nope.

But yeah, there is quite a bit of sunshine. And palm trees. I’m a fan.

”Kelsey Abbott is a Certified Professional Coach, Certified Performance Coach, Human Design Guide, Writer and Instigator of Joy who helps her clients and readers become the wonderful weirdos their souls want them to be. Kelsey loves animals, bright colors, contagious laughter and bounce houses. She races triathlon for Team USA, loves being in nature and is a proud dog mom to Zumi and Tashi.”

On Kelsey’s website, she says, “I’m here to be sparkly AF.

I’m here to tell you that she is 100% doing just that.

Kelsey’s energy is boundless and palpable. She is constantly pursuing more and more alignment in her life. She is also deeply committed to helping others do the same - as you’ll learn doing this incredible conversation.

We bonded over hating our former jobs in cubicles, having windy career/life journeys, diving into life coaching unexpectedly, and so much more.

She’s such an incredibly generous and empowering person, and I loved getting to spend some time in her presence. Incredibly grateful to get to know her, and to now call her a friend.

This conversation genuinely has something for everyone.

If you’re an athlete, a scientist, a life coach, a sports coach, or none of the above.

If you’re a fan of positive psychology, sports psychology, or human design, or if you’ve never heard of other of any of those things.

If you’re curious about how all of these different topics have intertwined in Kelsey’s journey.

If you want to learn about self-sabotage, giving yourself permission, being more authentic, and doing the things that light you up.

If you just want a dose of inspiration, curiosity, and empowerment.

This one is for you.

PS - scroll down to get your free human design chart on Kelsey’s website. As you’ll hear in this conversation - mine was very validating and helped *a lot* of things click for me!

TAKEAWAYS

* Write for one person, that one reaction, that one email that says ‘because of you, I…” Your story can help someone else create their own.

* Knowing our Human Design can help us peel back the layers of who we’ve been told to be so that we can start living the way we were meant to. It’s largely about rediscovering who we are.

* Your Human Design combines astrology, the chakra system, the Kabbalah tree of life, and the I Ching.

* So much of life is about remembering who you are and coming back to being that person.

* Happiness is a muscle, and following your curiosity can be a practice.

QUOTES

* “I get to do it this way? Is that legal?”

* “You’ve gotta give up the good to go for the great. And also…how good is that thing really? Do you really love it, or is it just convenient?”

* “Some people know exactly what they want. Some people will never know exactly, so the universe always surprises and delights us.”

* “I’m really grateful that as a teenager I learned, that just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean you have to do it. What if we all learned that at 16 and not 40?”

* “My biggest gift is being super intuitive.”

* “Manifesting Generators are warrior buddhas wise and powerful; we’re the ones who can sit still and move constantly.”

* “Authenticity means living in alignment with my soul blueprint.”

* “You have all the answers for you and I have all the answers for me.”

* “I didn’t try to write the story based on my first 100 meters.”

LINKS

Kelsey’s Website

Get Your Free Human Design Chart

See you next week, when I’ll be sharing my conversation with Mika - who is one of the mutual Substack friends that brought Kelsey and me together!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenuancediaries.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome back to the What Authenticity Means to Me series, where I talk to people I admire about what authenticity means to them! (You can also listen anywhere you get your podcasts.)

Wild Cozy Free is a community for like-minded souls committed to being their authentic, vulnerable, messy selves. I post a personal essay or conversation from this ongoing series every week, and publish additional work for paid subscribers.

Check out my reintroduction post from my one year substack anniversary, to learn more about me and the origins of this blog!

In a snapshot, I’m a writer and coach, who has also been an actor, associate producer, fourth-grade teacher, temp receptionist, development associate, and much more.

I help people create lives that feel as good as they look. I’m curious about the business of being human; all of the nuanced details, emotions, and attributes that make up who we are.

I’m currently offering discounted individual sessions to celebrate 100 hours of coaching! I’m close to receiving my ACC credential and it feels so surreal! Check out the details in the post here.

______________________________

My bestie of almost a *decade* is on the podcast and I couldn’t be more excited!

Sonia Goldberg (she/they) is a performer, writer, educator, and a proud Chicago native, here to stay. Recent acting credits include American Psycho the Musical (Kokandy Productions), Pippin (Music Theater Works), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Oak Park Festival Theatre), and Princess Winnifred in Once Upon a Mattress at Theo, for which they received a Jeff Award Nomination for Best Performer in a Principal Role. Sonia has also collaborated with Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Chicago Children’s Theatre, Northlight Theatre, First Floor Theater, Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, and many more.

As a writer, her TYA choose-your-own-adventure play Think Fast, Jordan Chase! was developed through Filament Theatre’s SPARK program in 2021, which led to its World Premiere in 2023. Sonia was recently chosen as a finalist for Definition Theatre’s New Play Commission, Amplify (Series 4). 

She works in the education department at Court Theatre, and is a company member with Playmakers Lab.

They’ve studied at Butler University, LAMDA, and The Moscow Art Theatre School. Sonia is represented by Grossman & Jack Talent. www.soniagoldberg.com, IG: @soniagoldberg

You can catch Sonia starring in Into The Woods as The Baker’s Wife - grab your tickets here!

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This was so much fun. I learned so much more about Sonia through this conversation - and it’s such a privilege to get to know someone on an even deeper level, after years and years of friendship.

We dive into our friendship origin story, the times she’s made me cry (on stage!), authenticity in the world of performing, being genuinely happy and healthily envious of your friends, and so much more.

I’m particularly glad that we got to talk about the nuance of envy vs. jealousy, as Brené discusses in Atlas of the Heart! Jealousy essentially means, ‘I want what you have and I don’t want you to have it.’ It often comes up in friendships of three or more. Envy means, ‘I want what you have, but I want you to have it too.’ Like when you see a picture of someone on the Amalfi Coast and wish that you too were drinking Aperol Spritz by the water. You’re only jealous of that friend, if you think that you should be in Italy and they shouldn’t.

Oh and by the way, Sonia is the friend I’m always talking about when I talk about why I became a life coach and how my friend’s mom was so pivotal in the beginning of that journey. Sonia is that friend! Linda is her mom! The porch is Sonia’s childhood porch!

Safe to say, my life would be very different without Sonia in it. It brings me so much joy to introduce her to the Wild Cozy Free community. As the critics say…

“My reasons must be clear- if you see this show, you will fall in love with a girl named Sonia!

-Broadway World, On Sonia’s Performance in Once Upon a Mattress (‘22)

If you listen to this podcast, you’ll fall in love with a girl named Sonia. And your life will be all the better for it.

Some Quotes

“If you know what you’re talking about, the audience will know what you’re talking about. Trust yourself, and trust them.”

“I’m obsessed with criticism…for the most part, I’ve had educators and tutors who have seen how close I am to something and went ‘Ooh how do I get you there!”

“Whenever I’m up for any part at all, I know that I’m going to be myself. And if they want my interpretation or my essence in that role, they know where to find me! But as they’re surveying their options and picking the colors for the painting they’re going to make, if they don’t pick my beautiful vibrant color, that does not detract from what I’m bringing to the table.”

“I’m capable of softness in this body, in this identity, and in this intention.”

Some Links

Sonia's Website

Sonia’s Instagram

Ticket Link for Into the Woods (You might see a familiar face in the audience depending on what performance you go to! It’s me. I’m the familiar face.)

Sonia’s Representation

Part 2 coming soon for paid subscribers of all levels! Consider upgrading your membership to gain access to this episode, extended versions of past What Authenticity Means to Me episodes and more. (Just click here - https://wildcozyfree.substack.com)

Wondering why I offer paid subscriptions? Wrote a whole post about that - and interestingly, I think it’s my second most read overall! It's available at the website above :)

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenuancediaries.substack.com/subscribe

I decided to become a life coach out of nowhere while sitting on my friend’s parents’ back porch in Chicago.

My friend Sonia’s mom (shout out to Linda!) was telling me about her unexpected journey into fitness coaching. (She’s a lawyer as well!) She told me how much this new career had added to her life.

And then out of nowhere, I heard myself say,

“I’m thinking about looking into life coaching.”

“You would be so great at that,” Linda replied.

Fast forward a year and many, many. clients later...

I’ve now created the same safe space that Linda created for me, for so many people. A past client literally called me last week to tell me that they quit their job and are headed abroad to follow their dream of teaching at wellness retreats around the world. How amazing is that?!?! I can’t describe what it feels like to be a small part of that incredible journey.

I’m ten hours away from ONE HUNDRED hours of coaching - and I want to celebrate by offering *ten* hour-long single coaching sessions at the discounted price of $250.

Individual coaching sessions might be perfect for you if…

* you’re considering making a big change

* you’re trying to make a big decision and need some clarity

* you’re unsure of your next steps and want to figure out  the next right thing for you

* you’re thinking about pursuing a longer coaching engagement, and want to tip your toe in the water

Each session, Alexa centered active listening which allowed me to engage with spacious thinking. She did this amidst balancing the coaching structure with her own creativity. But perhaps the most meaningful: She asks powerful yet simple questions that lead to deep self-inquiry; she is looking to get to the crux of who you are and what you want from this life. Focusing on both minute practices/changes and big-picture ideas, Alexa helped me see how what I didn’t realize I wanted dances with the present moment. These sessions were practical yet imaginative.

Questions? DM me at @alexajordanjoaching or reach out at [email protected]

Catch up on the What Authenticity Means to Me series interviews + read/listen to the unabridged essay where I talk about why I love coaching so much here (written/recorded like an hour after I finished my certification last summer, the memories!)

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenuancediaries.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome back to the What Authenticity Means to Me series, where I talk to people I admit about what authenticity means to them! (You can also listen anywhere you get your podcasts.)

Wild Cozy Free is a community for like-minded souls committed to being their authentic, vulnerable, messy selves. I post a personal essay or conversation from this ongoing series every week, and publish additional work for paid subscribers.

Check out my reintroduction post from my one year substack anniversary, to learn more about me and the origins of this blog!

In a snapshot, I’m a writer and coach, who has also been an actor, associate producer, fourth-grade teacher, temp receptionist, development associate, and much more.

I help people create lives that feel as good as they look. I’m curious about the business of being human; all of the nuanced details, emotions, and attributes that make up who we are.

There’s nobody quite like me. And nobody quite like you.

I’m so excited to introduce you to today’s guest, Jake!

Jake Pardee, ACC is a certified coach, trainer, and facilitator who supports people to connect with the contributions in their heart so that they radiate courage and generosity. Through 1:1 coaching, his Quarter-Life Coaching Group, and his workshops, Jake empowers people to get clear on what’s most important to them, uncover their unique wisdom, and consistently take action that aligns with their vision. Jake is a Licensed Academy Trainer through the Academy for Coaching Excellence where he completed his coach training. His approach combines powerful principles from ancient wisdom teachings with the latest in neuroscience in ways that are both pragmatic and transformational. Before coaching, Jake got his BA in Sociology at Vassar College and worked in non-profits, restaurants, construction, and recruiting. His greatest joys are basketball, parks, and sandwiches. He currently lives, plays basketball, and eats sandwiches in Philadelphia, PA. 

Jake and I went to Vassar together, and we were actually in the same freshman writing seminar! We had many mutual friends, but never actually connected one on one. (To be fair, that seminar was at 9:00 AM. Brutal.)

Similar to my conversation last week with Torrie, it was really fun to catch up with someone I knew during a very different chapter of my life. Another fun bonus, we are both now coaches! It was particularly fun to talk about the connection between theater and coaching, and also just to nerd out about theater.

Some Favorite Quotes From This Conversation:

“Being a part of a collective with a shared vision was so exciting to me… the presence that it demands, there was an adrenaline that came with the heightened presence of performance and the feeling of being an important part of a well-functioning hole, that I have since seen exists in other places. So that itch has been scratched in some ways. I think that’s a dot I connected later on.”

“You can’t coach someone past a point that you yourself have not gone past.”

“Taking action aligned with who you are and what’s important to you, is how you demonstrate authenticity. It’s how your heart wants to be acting and 99 times out of 100, it’s good for the world.”

“We discover what is authentic not by looking for it, but by experiencing it.”

“The flip side of how good it feels to do things that are authentic is the toll that it takes to continue not doing them.”

“You can’t make someone willing. I can show up in a way that makes it as easy as possible for them to be willing. But I can’t control whether or not they do.”

Resources We Discuss:

adrienne maree brown's Emergent Strategy

Academy for Coaching Excellence Foundations 1: Mastering Your Life 

Where to Find Jake:

Website | Instagram

Part 2 coming over the weekend, for paid subscribers!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thenuancediaries.substack.com/subscribe