Today I sit down with Allie Silver, Founder and Director of Free Radical Productions, a music management and consulting company. She’s also the Director of Programming and Community at Koti Wellness, a contrast therapy and community space in Mexico City. After growing up in Connecticut and studying at Northwestern in Chicago, she ended up working at a music label and starting her own artist management company in Buenos Aires.

We dive into her experiences tour managing vs. artist managing, becoming obsessed with creative production and moving to Germany to study it, what bookers for festivals are looking for, how she ended up in Mexico, how she coaches musical artists, does band therapy & focuses on artist wellness, and the importance of figuring out what type of lifestyle you actually want.

Resources & sites mentioned in this episode:

• ZZK Records, the record label Allie worked for in Buenos Aires

• Argentinian electro-cumbia artist Chancha Vía Circuito

• Fusion Festival in Lärz, Germany

• Argentine ska-alt rock group Los Fabulosos Cadillacs

• The World Music Expo, this year being held in Gran Canaria, Spain from October 21-25

• DakhaBrakha, a Ukrainian folk music quartet

• Moncaya, a folk-electronic artist based in Mexico City

• La Yegros, an Argentinian singer-songwriter Allie managed

• Aja Monet, an American poet, writer, and lyricist Allie has worked with

• JAW Family, an independent booking agency based in Berlin

• Fémina, an Argentine folk and fusion trio that Allie managed

• Jimetta Rose & The Voices of Creation, a choir from LA that blends gospel music with spiritual jazz, funk, and soul

• Koti Wellness, a wellness & contrast therapy center in CDMX (use code COLIBRI for a discount)

• Free Radical Productions, Allie’s music management company

• XochiBeats, an afternoon musical event on the trajineras in Xochimilco, CDMX

• Food Consultant, Speaker, Mentor & DJ Charles Michel

• Arca Tierra, a traditional chinampa or farm on the canals of Xochimilco

• Check out Allie’s Instagram and her website
  

Today I speak with my friend and professional piñata maker, Juan Pablo Lascurain! Juan Pablo started out as an architect, but realized he wasn’t creatively fulfilled within architecture’s confines, so he took all the models he was already making out of cardboard and paper and turned them into art.

We discuss how piñatas are the main characters of the party—associated with joy, celebration, and memories—how the pandemic changed the trajectory of his career, imposter syndrome, accidental walking meditations, how he started his art studio Mugak, his approach to collaborations with clients, letting go of control when it comes to making art, and more.

Resources & sites mentioned in this episode:

• Find Juan Pablo on Instagram

• Mugak, Juan Pablo’s art studio

• The picture of the bread I photographed in San Miguel de Allende 😂

• Ballista, a space for collectible design, functional art & radical home goods in CDMX where Juan Pablo’s San Miguel de Allende collection will be showcased

• See some amazing photographs of San Miguel de Allende and more on Juan Pablo’s partner Leandro Bulzzano’s Instagram here

• Museo Jumex in Mexico City

• Montserrat Piña Benetts’ Sea Glass series of glycerin soaps

Corrections to this episode:

• In English “artista plástico" translates primarily to visual or fine artist.

This week on the podcast I host my friend and Ayurvedic chef Anastasia “Nastia” Volodchenko. She shares how the classroom to office pipeline was not for her, so after studying fashion marketing & branding in the UK, she had an early life crisis and left London to work on boats around the world for seven years.

Nastia also tells us how she would make potions as a kid in Cyprus and hide them in jars in her closet, and how that concoction instinct—alongside her own health journey dealing with endometriosis and PCOS and having her son—would lead her to study Ayurveda and food as medicine. We dive into how Ayurveda takes the mind, body, and spirit into account in order to heal it, Nastia’s experience working at an Ayurvedic hospital, what a panchakarma treatment is 💩, an explication of the doshas, and a recipe for date sugar!

Resources & sites mentioned in this episode:

• The Diary of a CEO episode I mention about cancer as a metabolic disease

• Nastia’s Instagram account, Integrated Ayurveda

This week I chat with my friend Anna-Rose, gelato master and owner of Amorcita Gelato in Mexico City. We talk about how Anna-Rose went from being a geography teacher in the UK to a gelato-shop owner in Mexico—including all of the red tape of opening a brick-and-mortar business in a foreign country.

We also dive into her time at Gelato University (its real name) in Italy, how community has meant everything to her as she opened and continues to grow her business, what it was like developing a supply chain in Mexico, how she’s had to change her gelato recipes across countries depending on local ingredients, some of the core values of her business, and her advice for those wanting to open a brick and mortar shop.

Resources & sites mentioned in this episode:

• If you’re in CDMX, go to Amorcita Gelato!

• Follow Amorcita on Instagram.

• Learn more about Gelato University here.

• A brief history of vanilla.

• Find Anna-Rose on Instagram.

• Read the New York Times article Anna-Rose & Amorcita are featured in, “For These Women, the American Dream Is in Mexico City”

• If you’re a foreigner living in CDMX, please consider contributing to Gringo Tax, a CDMX Solidarity Fund.

Corrections to this episode:

• I have had a haircut between recording and publishing this episode. LOL 😂

• Cempesuchil translates to marigold, not carnation! 🏵️

In this solo episode I dive into the concept of yogic entrepreneurship: What is it? How was this idea birthed? How does it differ from regular entrepreneurship? How does one practice it? This idea came to me a few days ago so I wanted to share it with y’all as soon as possible. 

Do you see yourself in me as I wrestle with this idea? How would you feel about practicing it in your own life? How would birthing your passion project, new business, writing your book, or finally trying that thing that keeps calling you look different if you did? Please let me know if this concept speaks to you in the comments, and feel free to DM me on Instagram if you’d like to discuss further!

Resources & sites mentioned in this episode:

• Crea Content Marketing, my first baby business.

• The 6-Fig Freelance Writer, my self-paced digital course for those wanting to start a freelance writing business.

• The Pennebaker Protocol: Scientific findings on the power of writing to heal.

• Learn more about Sadhviji here.

• You can get the Bhagavad Gita here (I highly recommend it!).

• Learn more about Andrea Gibson here (RIP you sweet soul).

• My Instagram where you can write to me!

This week I sit down with my friend Blue, founder of Shibari Mexico. We talk about how her involvement in the BDSM community led to a niche interest in Shibari, and how that passion turned into a professional calling. We also dig into the importance of building community—especially around our niche interests—why references are crucial, and how building a business around our passions can lead to doing more admin work and less of what we actually love (in Blue’s case, tying).

We discuss coming out as a freak, the moment you decide to go all in and commit to your new business, the privilege of exploring our sexuality, imposter syndrome, the power of seeing clients grow & learn, educating others about common misconceptions about Shibari, how to prioritize your business vs. personal life, being the best in your lane, and how the kink community is a great place to learn how to set boundaries and use your voice.

Resources & sites mentioned in this episode:

• Blue’s website where you can find all of her events, products, and more!

• Learn more about what a munch is here.

• Blue’s Instagram and Shibari Mexico’s Instagram.

Today we’re talking about God! And the difference between Eastern and Western religions! And capitalism! And patriarchy! Really non-loaded topics TBH. LOL. Join me for a quick solo episode where I do my best to put my worldview into words.

Another thing I failed to mention in this episode that I’d like to add: Having God be external also means needing intermediaries in order to reach/connect with the Divine—enter priests, bishops, pastors, rabbis, etc. While—yes—there are “gurus” and spiritual leaders in the East, the way you can tell someone is a real guru (meaning they’re truly on the path trying to achieve moksha or enlightenment) is when they say, “Go inside. Do the work. Listen to yourself,” not that their way is the only way, or to look for the path outside of oneself.

Resources & sites mentioned in this episode:

• More information on the Maha Kumbh Mela

• The Matrix (I probably did not need to link to this lol)

• Learn more about Sadhviji

• The study that states 47% of the time our mind is wandering (and a wandering mind is not a happy one)

• Learn more about tapas here

• Here’s my guruji’s Instagram if you want to check him out!

Correction to this episode:

• 20 rupees is equivalent to 20 USD cents, 500 rupees is equivalent to USD $5.35

On today’s episode, I talk with my friend Daphne Leger, a changeability expert, keynote speaker, and author of Future Proof (for which I was her editor!). We cover how she went from France, to the US, to India, to Canada—all during her childhood—leading to the realization that her ability to adapt to new environments was something she could teach others.

We also dive into battling with self doubt and imposter syndrome, detaching from the outcome, going at your own pace, how the decision to be an entrepreneur is a values-based one, giving ourselves grace & patience, and creating boundaries for ourselves. When it comes to dealing with change, we discuss people’s initial reactions, the change equation, change therapy, chosen vs. imposed change, and what you can do to become more adaptable!

Resources & sites mentioned in this episode:

• Future Proof, Daphne’s book that I edited! (Available in English & Spanish)

• My appearance on my client Maurice’s podcast, Try Life On

• The episode with Tasha where we talk about decision fatigue

• Atma Yoga & Energy Center in Mexico City

• Daphne’s LinkedIn and her Instagram

In this episode I sit down with my friend, Founder, CEO, and global leader in sustainable food, agriculture & water systems, Udi Lazimy. We jump into his journey from his multicultural upbringing in Madison, Wisconsin, to becoming enamored with the wildness of the western US, his activism being awakened in the national parks of Montana, working with indigenous communities in Alaska, to his first job at a national forest organization in Colorado, exploring the world of agriculture in Seattle, taking a 2-year meditation, yoga, and cycling hiatus in Mexico and Europe, getting a Green MBA & entering the tech world in San Francisco, and finally started his own consulting business & FUDI Protein, which he operates from Mexico City.

Udi has worked in forest and public land conservation, sustainability, food advocacy, and has even been called the Indiana Jones of plants. Listen to hear how he plans to replace as much of the unsustainable protein market as possible, as well as how he ended up performing reiki on Woody Harrelson in the woods.

Resources & sites mentioned in this episode:

• Green Corps: The training program for environmental organizing Udi joined after college.

• American Lands Alliance: The national forest activism organization where Udi got his first job.

• Eat Just: The food tech company formerly known as Hampton Creek focused on developing sustainable, plant-based alternatives to animal products where Udi worked as Head Of Sustainability & Sourcing.

• Regrained: Udi’s friend’s food upcycling technology and ingredient platform, which includes Upcycled Food Lab, where he creates food products from spent barley.

• FUDI Protein & FUDI Impact Partners: Udi’s website where you can find all his different businesses and see the video of the mung bean protein that looks just like eggs!

• The Wefunder campaign where you can invest in Udi’s new company.

• Udi’s Instagram where you can follow along with all of the cool stuff he’s doing. 😎

Today I embark on a 30-day book writing challenge. Last year, one of my goals was to finish my book(s) of poetry. Spoiler alert: That didn’t happen. So I decided to challenge myself to 30 days of working on my book non-stop. Then I thought, what if others wanted to join me? That’s when the idea for First Pages Week was born, a book writing challenge where you write alongside me and we keep each other accountable.

In this episode I also explain WTF a book doula is, how I’ve created my process after helping people write over 20 books, discuss how I work with clients (the same steps I take you through in the challenge), why I see storytelling and book writing as cultural legacy, and how to reconnect with your voice so that you don’t have to rely on AI (because who wants that to be their legacy?). I also take you through a visualization exercise to help provide clarity on the story you’re being called to tell.

Resources & sites mentioned in this episode:

• First Pages Week: A book writing challenge that will allow the book that lives inside your head rent-free to finally see the light of day.

• My Instagram where you can follow along my 30-day journey.

• My Voice Journey episode where I dive more into how important our connection to our voice is.