The Voncast Show

In this conversation, Amy shares her experience traveling in Japan. They discuss topics such as Lunar New Year, preparing for the trip, essential items to bring, useful phrases, different types of travelers, flying business class, food in Japan, convenience stores, useful Japanese phrases, visiting the Alphonse Mucha Museum, animal cafes, cannabis culture in Japan, and tattoo culture in Japan. In this conversation, Amy shares her experience at the medicinal baths in Japan and the cultural norms surrounding public baths and hot springs. She also discusses the challenges of finding tattoo-friendly hot springs and the importance of being aware of dress codes and cosplay etiquette in Japan. Amy highlights the modesty and social consciousness in Japanese culture and the perceptions of foreigners. She also explores the significance of shorts as a symbol of immaturity in Japanese society and the importance of observing cultural details.

Takeaways

• Public baths and hot springs are popular in Japan, but there are differences between the two. Hot springs are more common in rural areas, while public baths are found in cities and are more modernized.
• Finding tattoo-friendly hot springs can be challenging in Japan due to the cultural association of tattoos with criminality. It is important to be aware of and respect the cultural norms surrounding tattoos.
• Cosplay as a fashion statement is not widely accepted in Japan, and wearing shorts as an adult is seen as immature. It is important to be mindful of dress codes and cultural expectations when visiting Japan.
• Japanese culture emphasizes modesty and social consciousness. Being considerate of others and observing cultural details can help foster positive relationships and interactions.
• Foreigners may be perceived differently in Japan, and it is important to be respectful and aware of cultural norms to avoid misunderstandings or negative experiences.

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction and Lunar New Year
(02:00) Preparing for the Trip
(03:12) Essentials to Bring
(04:21) Useful Phrases
(06:12) Traveler Types
(08:42) Flying Business Class
(11:36) Food in Japan
(16:42) Convenience Stores
(17:40) Useful Japanese Phrases
(23:56) Alphonse Mucha Museum
(28:19) Animal Cafes
(37:54) Cannabis Culture in Japan
(42:35) Tattoo Culture in Japan
(51:09) Cosplay and Dress Code in Japan
(53:38) Modesty and Social Consciousness
(54:04)Perceptions of Foreigners
(57:29) Observing Cultural Details

In this episode, Von provides personal updates on staying clean and sober & tapering off antidepressants. Vonalso discuss es exercising impulse control and the upcoming release of a single “Hella Tired”. Von shares his experience using the Threads app (shout out SoberThreads Community) and reflects on past social media engagement.
The main topic of the episode is relapse dreams, where Von explains their personal experiences and why these dreams occur. Von provides tips for dealing with relapse dreams, including acknowledging that they are not real, using them as a reminder of why he got sober, and talking to someone they trust about it. The episode concludes with a discussion on journaling and self-disclosure.

Takeaways

• Staying clean and sober requires ongoing effort and commitment.
• Relapse dreams are common in the early stages of recovery and can be intense and disorienting.
• Relapse dreams serve as a reminder of the negative consequences of using drugs or alcohol.
• Talking to someone you trust about relapse dreams can provide relief and support in your recovery journey.

Sources:
https://thriveworks.com/blog/what-are-relapse-dreams/ https://www.thewalkercenter.org/blog-posts/what-are-relapse-dreams-3-things-you-should-know https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/your-personal-renaissance/201906/why-talking-about-our-problems-makes-us-feel-better

Follow Me on Social Media:
Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevoncastshow/
Music Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shibavon/ T
iktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wowshibavon

On today’s episode, Von chats with returning friend & guest Nora Rahimian about Interdependence: its meaning & impact on our lives, the pros & cons of social media for creatives, how social media can be addictive & finding hope despite what is going on in the world.


Takeaways:

• Interdependence is the idea we are not separate from each other
  
  
• Social Media & Self Care: set boundaries, block &mute accounts that don’t serve you.
  
  
• As a creative, make the art you want instead of chasing trends.
  
  
• Have a human interaction next time you go on social media.
  
  
• Social Media is addicting by design.
  
  
• We need to learn how to sit with the discomfort of what’s going on in the world vs. trying to always feel better

Timestamp:

What is Interdepenence? (1:32)

Is there such thing as self-made? (7:51)

What should artists/ creatives focus on (12:41)

Keeping the “Social” in Social Media (21:03)

How Social Media negatively impacts our mental health (23:48)

Finding Hope (32:20)

Nora Links: Nora Linktree

Follow Me on Social Media:
Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevoncastshow/
Music Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shibavon/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wowshibavon

In this episode, Von reflects on his experiences and lessons learned in 2023. He discusses the importance of patience and acceptance, as well as the realization that he can manage life without using drugs. Von also shares his gratitude for his progress in recovery and sets goals for the new year, including staying clean and releasing an album. He emphasizes the positive changes that can come from sobriety and encourages listeners to consider their own relationship with drugs and alcohol. Von talks about when does sobriety get easier, the benefits of sobriety, and why sobriety is so hard. Von concludes by expressing his intention to continue podcasting and exploring solo episodes.

Takeaways:
- Patience and acceptance are important lessons to learn in recovery and in life.
- Managing life without using drugs or alcohol is possible and can lead to personal growth.
- Being grateful for progress and reflecting on accomplishments can provide motivation and inspiration.
- Setting goals, such as staying clean and pursuing creative projects, can contribute to a fulfilling and meaningful life.

Chapters
(00:00) Introduction and Update
(03:08) Lessons Learned in 2023: Patience and Acceptance
(09:21) Managing Life without Using
(14:20) Dealing with Difficult Situations
(18:23) Feeling Thankful and Reflecting on Progress
(22:23) Moving Forward and Setting Goals
(30:15) The Importance of Staying Clean
(37:31) Other Goals for the New Year
(41:25) Recognizing Negative Thought Patterns
(46:18) Conclusion and Future Plans

Follow Me on Social Media:
Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevoncastshow/
Music Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shibavon/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wowshibavon

Happy Friday everyone, hope ya’ll had a good holiday weekend with your loved ones. Today I have friend/ therapist Vanessa Nguyen back on the show. On her previous episode she said she would be going on a plant medicine retreat. On this episode Vanessa recalls her trip down to Tulum, her experience taking plant medicine guided by shamans. Vanessa talks about taking mushrooms & DMT: which caused her to confront fears, past trauma, the passing of her father while also being able to let go in an intense yet beautiful and transformative way. We also talk about the power of surrender & the need to let go of control in areas of our lives we have no control over and more. Thank you for sharing your journey with us Vanessa!

Timestamp:

The experience: (1:22)

\What plant medicine can offer: (12:06)

The mushroom journey: (14:02)

The DMT experience: (18:09)

A different sense of “dying”: (24:48)

Letting go of Control: (32:47)

Precautions to consider before going on plant medicine journey: (46:27)

Happy Friday everyone! Joining me is Jule Kim to talk about things we wish we knew when we were younger: Mental Health edition. We start the episode talking about Trader Joe’s Tiramisu, In-N-Out and go into what we were like in our early-mid 20’s. We talk about giving yourself grace when making mistakes, accepting yourself for who you are and asking for help. We will cover more on Part 2. Hope everyone has a fun & safe holiday weekend! Reached a milestone with podcasting today: this marks the 200th podcast episode. Thank you for being part of the show / tuning in it means a lot!



Timestamp:
How we remember ourselves in our early- mid 20’s: (9:49)

Is your myspace still up? (13:26)

Accepting yourself for who you are (31:01)

Giving yourself grace (32:52)

Asking for help (54:00)

Jule Kim Links

Happy Friday everyone! Hope y’all are doing well today. Today I got therapist Brian Nguyen on the show to talk about a topic that’s near and dear to me: ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). This episode is a general discussion about ADHD and our personal experiences revolving around it. Brian and I both have ADHD and we talk about being diagnosed, and how we manage our ADHD. Brian breaks down ADHD, how it impacts executive functions (and what they are), ADHD and substance abuse, misdiagnoses in mental health & more. Thanks for the engaging convo Brian!

Timestamp:
Explaining ADHD: (3:29)
Symptoms of ADHD: (7:05)
Starting tasks are challenging: (23:50)
How we cope with ADHD: (47:45)
Mental Health is in a weird spot: (1:21:53)

Psychology Today: Brian Nguyen
Brian Nguyen IG

Happy Friday y’all and hope everyones doing well. Today I have realtor Lynh To on the show. To be honest I know little to nothing about buying/selling property and the process that goes into it, so I wanted to get Lynh on the show to share some basics with those topics. Lynh talks about why she decided to become a relator, what it takes to become a realtor, the difference between a realtor & real estate agent, & a “haunted” house story. Lynh also breaks down what a realtor does, red flags to look out for with realtors/ real estate agents & more! Thanks for this fun and informative chat Lynh!

Timestamp:
Why Lynh decided to become a realtor: (3:02)
Difference between a realtor and a real estate agent: (8:38)
“Haunted” house story: (12:56)
What a realtor does: (17:45)
What does “the housing market is good/bad” mean? (28:46)
Misconceptions about owning a home: (42:22)

Ohayo Gozaimasu! Happy Friday everyone today’s returning guest is food content creator Obieats on the show to share with us his recent trip to Japan. Obi spent spent ten days in Tokyo & Osaka. Obi talks about the culture and politeness in Japan, going to the famous Tsujiki Fish Market, Shibuya Crossing, his Go Kart Experience, Edomakasen boat lunch and Doutonburi. Obi breaks down the Japanese pride in the quality of their food- from convenient stores to restaurants, spending Halloween in Shibuya, taking the bullet train, suggestions for first timers traveling to Japan and more!

Obieats Links

Timestamp:

Subway experiences (8:28)

People being very curteous (11:31)

Tsujiki Fish Market (22:00)

Sushi talk (25:24)

Go Kart experience (29:52)

Shibuya (38:41)

Osaka (44:31)

Today I have creative consultant Nora Rahimian- in the same room recording this episode! We have previously tried to record this episode a couple times via phone but it didn't work out due to audio technical difficulties. 2 years later we made it work and recorded this episode at Hype Studios LA. On this episode Nora talks about her upbringing & what lead her to manage a rapper in Liberia, consultation work & Culture Fix. We also had discussions on Self Sabotage, Perfectionism, Social Media, the impact of negative dialogue in our head & why I have over 31,000 unread emails and more! Thank you Nora for helping me out along with many others on their journey as entrepreneurs / creatives.
Nora Rahimian:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/norarahimian/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/norarahimian
https://linktr.ee/norarahimian