29 Mar 2022
Empowerment, Podcast, Vegan Fitness, Vegan Lifestyle
Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Leave a comment

Time to Celebrate! (EP 100: The Vegan Life Coach Podcast)

Celebrating the closing of Season 1 with 100 episodes under our belts!

LISTEN/WATCH

Subscribe: Apple Podcast | Stitcher | Spotify |  YouTube

*Links mentioned in the episode are at the bottom of this page.

Celebrating the closing of Season 1 with 100 episodes under our belts!
Grateful to you, Empowered Vegan Lifers, for being a part of our lives through this podcast and our programming.
In this episode, Stephanie and I share the lessons of our podcasting journey, what inspired us to create 100 episodes, and intriguing answers to the questions: which episode is the MOST…
🎙️💫 Entertaining
🎙️💫 Valuable in terms of the self-coaching tools we teach
🎙️💫 Spiritually awakening
🎙️💫 Practical for the transitioning vegan
🎙️💫 Informative on the topic of nutrition
🎙️💫 Heartwarming for animal lovers
🎙️💫 Most inspiring for embodying every aspect of the vegan lifestyle
And there’s more! Stay tuned to the end for a special celebratory gift from us to you!
P.S. Make sure you’re on our email list and a part of our E.V.L. group on Facebook. So you get updates on things we’re doing like the Burpees & Greens Challenge we’re doing altogether, live, in April.
P.P.S. If you haven’t yet, please leave us a star rating and review… Even though we’re taking a break, the show remains published. Having positive reviews will continue to help us and help you to spread our message of empowerment, authenticity, and compassion. I know it feels like a pain in the booty, and it’s easy to say; I promise I’ll get to it later. And we all know that later often becomes never, right?
[EVL FACEBOOK GROUP LINK]

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Gift:
30-Day Ultimate SFV Guide

CONNECT WITH US!

Subscribe to Ella’s Soul-Aligned Sunday Newsletter HERE.

Take the NEW FREE Self-Assessment to explore your relationship with food, exercise, and your body, and receive valuable, personalized insights and resources from Ella herself!

Check out Ella’s website HERE and learn about current coaching opportunities HERE.

Hogs & Kisses Farm Sanctuary Website

01 Mar 2022
Empowerment, Podcast, Vegan Fitness, Vegan Lifestyle
Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Leave a comment

Leveling Up to Solutionary Veganism (EP 99: The Vegan Life Coach Podcast)

To be truly solutionary, a solution must significantly and strategically address the underlying causes of the problem. It must do so without causing harm to people, animals, or the environment.

LISTEN/WATCH

Subscribe: Apple Podcast | Stitcher | Spotify |  YouTube

*Links mentioned in the episode are at the bottom of this page.

Solutionary vegans level up by:
↗️ questioning the “true price” of their actions by asking, “what are the impacts of my everyday choices on other humans, non-human animals, and the planet?”
↗️ diving deep for accurate information (truth)
↗️ (inclusive) building coalitions by supporting and amplifying the many important, beautiful, diverse voices for change.
↗️ Prioritizing high-impact strategies that revolutionize systems
…so that we can effectively advocate for ALL beings.
In this special episode, Jennifer and I dive deep into our soon-to-be-launched “Solutionary Vegan LEVEL-UP podcast.” Here we explore the inspiring range of strategies used by animal protectors, environmental activists, and social justice warriors to LEVEL-UP the playing field for all Earth’s inhabitants. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Find out how working with Stephanie and me, and the tools we teach in Vegan Life Coach Academy made a difference in Jennifer’s personal growth and ultimately led to Solutionary Vegan Project.
Listen, learn, and enjoy!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

SolutionaryVegan.org
https://www.facebook.com/solutionaryvegan
https://instagram.com/solutionaryvegan
Survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdw2yRKBjfqEhiinv0Ok1e_V-UH6sini0OtW_FqZ52b9DXsmw/viewform?usp=sf_link 

CONNECT WITH US!

Interested in working with us? Email [email protected]

Check out our new FREE Master Class!

Take Our New Going Vegan Quiz HERE!  

Grab the valuable gift we have for you HERE.

Have a question you’d like us to answer, or feedback you’d like to give us (we love hearing from you!)? Leave us a voice (or written) message HERE.

Interested in receiving a free coaching session to air on an upcoming episode? Apply HERE.

Hogs & Kisses Farm Sanctuary Website

22 Feb 2022
Empowerment, Podcast, Vegan Fitness, Vegan Lifestyle
Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Leave a comment

The Art and Science of Journaling (EP 98: The Vegan Life Coach Podcast)

Here’s a little trivia question for you…  What do Albert Einstein, Lady Gaga, Leonardo DiVinci, and Frida Khalo have in common?  They all benefited from a daily journaling practice. The fact is, I could fill this episode with a long list of recognizable people spanning centuries and in all walks of life who have implemented journaling into their daily routines.

LISTEN/WATCH

Subscribe: Apple Podcast | Stitcher | Spotify |  YouTube

*Links mentioned in the episode are at the bottom of this page.

This powerful tool is something we often require for our clients.  The scientific research to support journaling is extensive and compelling.  It is a key strategy for personal development for a variety of reasons.  Here’s what the research says:
  1.  According to a study conducted at Harvard, implementing a practice of journaling can increase productivity.  The reason behind this is that an experience itself is not where learning and growth occur. It is, rather, reflecting on the experience that actually produces the learning and growth.
  2. Another study conducted at Cambridge University found journaling improves overall well-being after traumatic and stressful events. Participants were asked to write about such events for 15–20 minutes resulted in improvements in both physical and psychological health.
  3. Other studies have found that journaling decreases emotional distress, improves sleep, helps us cope more effectively with daily stress, decreases intrusive and avoidant thoughts, and improves communication skills.
Clearly, journaling is one of the most effective acts of self-care. It allows us to make sense of the many inputs—emotional, external, psychological–that otherwise overwhelm us or cause us to shut down or lean into unhelpful distractions as a way to avoid.  We can bring our problems and destructive thoughts and leave them in our journals.
On the flip side, our journals allow us to reflect on our joys and all that we are grateful for.  It provides a place for us to record our inspiration, aspirations, and ideas.   We can write for our future selves.
Entrepreneur Derek Sievers says of his journaling practice, “We so often make big decisions in life based on predictions of how we think we’ll feel in the future, or what we’ll want. Your past self is your best indicator of how you actually felt in similar situations. So it helps to have an accurate picture of your past. You can’t trust distant memories, but you can trust your daily diary. It’s the best indicator to your future self (and maybe descendants) of what was really going on in your life at this time. If you’re feeling you don’t have the time or it’s not interesting enough, remember: You’re doing this for your future self. Future you will want to look back at this time in your life, and find out what you were actually doing, day-to-day, and how you really felt back then. It will help you make better decisions.”
So, let’s talk about how you can implement and keep this powerful tool as part of your self-care ritual. This is really the Art of journaling and takes the science and turns it into something that works for you.
Something we often hear from our clients is that journaling is just intimidating.  They don’t know how to start, and staring at the blank page is so uncomfortable. Other times, we’ve found that clients have let an established journaling habit go a bit stale.   So… here are some strategies to help you get started and keep it going.
  1. If you hear no other tip from me today about journaling, hear this one:  Forget all the rules about journaling and just do what works for you.  There is no ideal time of day except what is ideal for you.  Format doesn’t matter except what matters to you. How much time and space should you devote?  You guessed it…whatever works for you.  The point is, there is no right or wrong way to journal.  How you journal is much less important than why you are doing it: To get something off your chest. To have quiet time with your thoughts. To clarify those thoughts. To separate the harmful from the insightful. To prepare for the day ahead and review the day that passed. To practice gratitude in a tangible way.  And your WHY is personal and unique to you. So, I’ll say it again for the people in the back:   There’s no right way or wrong way.
2. Start small.  There’s no reason to set your sights on filling page after page of your journal each night.  Your journaling practice can start with one line a day or even three minutes each morning.  You could begin by simply listing three things you are most grateful for each night or a list of two priorities for the next day.  By starting small, you won’t say no.  It will be a task you will find exceedingly simple that you would feel silly not doing it, so you’ll do it.  For example, you might start with one line per day for a week.  You can write anything in that one line–something you’re excited about, how you are feeling, an event that took place, a mindset you want to attack, an idea you had, or an affirmation you want to implement.  However, you decided to start, start so small that skipping it would be preposterous.  You’ll know when you are ready for more depth and further commitment to this practice.
3. Journals can take many forms, and you may want to try a few.  You can do a bullet-style journal or a place to put your sketches along with a few words.  You might use your journal in the morning as a way to help you organize your priorities at night or in the evening to simply free yourself of the thoughts that are still cluttering your mind.  If you need some further ideas on formats, I suggest using YouTube.  Type in Journaling Formats, and you will find a wealth of specific ideas just for formats to use.
4. If you are having difficulty, try prompts or a guided journal.  We‘ve provided you with a list of prompts in the show notes.  Some of the topics are in-depth, some are light and silly.  You can use any format that you are comfortable with.  You might also find a guided journal is what you are looking for.  You can find guided journals that focus on one specific topic, like wellness, anxiety, self-discovery, building habits, and the list goes on and on.  One that I recommend that has a variety of formats is “Zen As F*ck” by Monica Sweeny. It is funny and a great way to help yourself not take life too seriously by letting go and embracing your inner rock star.  Of course, as you can guess by the title, it also embraces swearing just a bit, too.  I also recommend Start Where You Are by Meera Lee Patel. It’s full of inspirational quotes and prompts aimed at helping you be more mindful, reflect on your inner-most thoughts, and find joy in the small things. Prompts and guided journals aren’t just for those starting out in a journaling practice.  These can also renew your journaling experience providing a way to dive deeper and explore yourself a little more and in new ways through this powerful tool.
Give yourself this powerful gift of self-care. Marcus Aurelius (Aw-REE-lee-ius), Roman Emperor and prolific journaler wrote in one of his journals,  “People look for retreats for themselves in the country, by the coast, or in the hills “There is nowhere that a person can find a more peaceful and trouble-free retreat than in his own mind…So constantly give yourself this retreat, and renew yourself.”

The Daily Dosing of Self-Coaching Segment begins at 13:55.

CONNECT WITH US!

Interested in working with us? Email [email protected]

Check out our new FREE Master Class!

Take Our New Going Vegan Quiz HERE!  

Grab the valuable gift we have for you HERE.

Have a question you’d like us to answer, or feedback you’d like to give us (we love hearing from you!)? Leave us a voice (or written) message HERE.

Interested in receiving a free coaching session to air on an upcoming episode? Apply HERE.

Hogs & Kisses Farm Sanctuary Website

15 Feb 2022
Empowerment, Podcast, Vegan Fitness, Vegan Lifestyle
Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Leave a comment

Fun Time Q&A (EP 97: The Vegan Life Coach Podcast)

We haven’t done a Q&A in a while, so we thought it would be fun to do one for you!

LISTEN/WATCH

Subscribe: Apple Podcast | Stitcher | Spotify |  YouTube

*Links mentioned in the episode are at the bottom of this page.

In this episode, Stephanie and I answered some of the great questions that have been coming in by email, on Instagram, and through the Facebook group.
Q&A begins at 17:54.
We covered everything from making affordable vegan meals/snacks, to top recommended documentaries for new vegans and vegan-curious, to an intriguing discussion about new vegan “meats” like Impossible Burger or Beyond Chicken at popular fast-food chains, and so much more!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

CONNECT WITH US!

Interested in working with us? Email [email protected]

Check out our new FREE Master Class!

Take Our New Going Vegan Quiz HERE!  

Grab the valuable gift we have for you HERE.

Have a question you’d like us to answer, or feedback you’d like to give us (we love hearing from you!)? Leave us a voice (or written) message HERE.

Interested in receiving a free coaching session to air on an upcoming episode? Apply HERE.

Hogs & Kisses Farm Sanctuary Website

08 Feb 2022
Empowerment, Podcast, Vegan Fitness, Vegan Lifestyle
Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Leave a comment

Own Your Impact (EP 96: The Vegan Life Coach Podcast)

“Mom, it’s just too big for one person. How can anyone make any changes that matter? Why try to persuade anyone to do anything when it just won’t matter?”

LISTEN/WATCH

Subscribe: Apple Podcast | Stitcher | Spotify |  YouTube

*Links mentioned in the episode are at the bottom of this page.

The Daily Dosing of Self-Coaching Segment begins at 7:11.
Transcript (Stephanie):
Indulge me a little.  I love being a mom, and frankly, I can’t be humble when it comes to my kids.  If you’ve been a long-time listener, you know my youngest, Eva.  She’s 11 and quite possibly the most fabulous human being on the face of the planet.  She recently took on a project for her language arts and science classes.  The assignment was to write a persuasive essay on a topic in science that they felt strongly about and then create a presentation from that essay to give to her fellow students as well as her teachers.  The topic she chose was climate change.  Could this mom be any prouder?
After writing her essay, she asked for help with her presentation.  And I have to tell you, she was more than a little defeated.  She said, “Mom, it’s just too big for one person.  How can anyone make any changes that matter?  Why try to persuade anyone to do anything when it just won’t matter?”
And you know what?  I could relate.  I know you feel me when I look at the world’s biggest issues and wonder how I can even make any sort of headway…any sort of lasting impact when I am just one person.  The word insurmountable comes to mind.
But right behind those thoughts came three words:  Own Your Impact.
A guided meditation I return to often is presented by Davidji on Insight Timer.  And the message is always clear to me.  I am never powerless.  Though I may be one, I am not immune to the responsibility of doing what I can where I can.  I am the author, director, lead character of my own life, and with every breath, I have an impact on my world. If it’s to be, it’s up to me. And it is important that I own that impact.
In talking with our clients and others in the vegan community, I know the world often seems so heavy.  But, what I also know is that we have far more ability to make a difference than we believe we do.  Small, consistent steps have a lasting impact, even if they may not be noticeable to us when we take them.  You see, we have a tendency to discount our actions as not being enough to make a difference.  And in discounting our actions, we often throw ourselves into that destructive pattern of all or nothing thinking which paralyzes us from taking further action.  Can you relate?
But time and time again, history proves us wrong.  Let’s go back to the global issue of climate change, for example.  Why is climate change a global discussion with companies, governments, and communities making widespread green initiatives priorities?  Because Al Gore won a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in bring about awareness?  Because Leonardo DiCaprio made an Oscar’s speech heard around the world?  Partially.  However, these efforts would have been rendered meaningless if it hadn’t been for the individuals who for decades have led the grassroots efforts of activism.  Thousands of community members around the world chose to own their impact…do what they could, where they were, with what they had…to bring about change.  Their small, consistent efforts collectively, lead to global awareness and movement.  And yet, none of these individuals likely saw the fruits of their impact.  These ordinary people who we will likely never see or celebrate created the foundations for immense shifts in our thinking, awareness, and actions about the environment on a global scale. And for every changemaker on the world’s stage, there are millions of individuals who make a difference just by making simple acts of conscience in their everyday lives.
And this is done by owning your impact.  By being ever mindful of those small, consistent actions that you make daily as a matter of personal ethics and conscience you contribute to the world’s good.  You own your impact with every choice you make.  As vegans and vegan curious, we own our impact at every meal we choose through compassion and sustainability.  We own our impact with every conversation we have regarding our choice to live in compassion for all beings.
As citizens of our communities and of our world, we are responsible to own our impact.  So let’s take this to a practical place.   How do you own your impact?  How does this work?
First, throw out your perfectionism and all-or-nothing thinking.  If the world needs you, and it does, you cannot get be bothered with irrational goals of perfection, becoming paralyzed by feeling that if you can’t solve the problem in its entirety, you cannot do anything about it at all.  Perfectionism leads to ineffectiveness.  Check out episodes 45 and 53 to dive in deeper here on taking care of perfectionism and all-or-nothing thinking.  Great strategies there, if you find yourself paralyzed by these.
Second, choose speaking up rather than staying silent.  Find your voice. This is so much more than just vocalizing your position.  Your voice is your courage, determination, and authenticity.  If you are having trouble connecting to that, start by asking yourself three questions:  1.  How do you want to show up in the world?  Really design what you want that to look like.  2.  What is my deeper WHY?  Connecting to that deeper why provides purpose. ; 3.  What is holding me back from using my voice?  This is what is keeping you from using your voice and owning your impact.
Next, see your daily living as an extension of your purpose.  It is the small, consistent choices that create our impact.  We own that by living in line with what we value most.  Every word you say has the potential to cause a connection.  Every meal you eat allows you another opportunity to live compassionately.  Remember, you are the author, director, and hero of your own story.  By taking that responsibility and living with intention, you are owning your impact.
Finally, choose to do something that will make your impact real and visible to you.  Volunteer at an animal sanctuary.  Join a climate change activist group and engage.  Teach your children about your values.  Buy with purpose by choosing products that are vegan, sustainable, and cruelty-free.  Donate your money to organizations whose mission aligns with yours. By getting involved, you are seeing your impact in ways that allows you to be connected to the change, thereby creating further desire to continue.
The truth is, everything we do impacts the world around us in some way. It may be directly or indirectly. Either way, not claiming ownership or responsibility doesn’t negate the impact. It only amplifies the risk of having a negative one. Therefore we must take ownership of our significance in the lives of others and the world around us.  You are powerful.  Beyond your imagination, you have meaning and purpose that no one else can give the world.  Own your impact.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

CONNECT WITH US!

Interested in working with us? Email [email protected]

Check out our new FREE Master Class!

Take Our New Going Vegan Quiz HERE!  

Grab the valuable gift we have for you HERE.

Have a question you’d like us to answer, or feedback you’d like to give us (we love hearing from you!)? Leave us a voice (or written) message HERE.

Interested in receiving a free coaching session to air on an upcoming episode? Apply HERE.

Hogs & Kisses Farm Sanctuary Website

01 Feb 2022
Empowerment, Podcast, Vegan Fitness, Vegan Lifestyle
Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Leave a comment

Getting Off The Train to Nowhere: Dealing Effectively with Anxiety (EP 95: The Vegan Life Coach Podcast)

In this special episode, after an update on Ella’s exploration of cold exposure and the vegan dating scene, you’ll discover powerful strategies to help you engage with the root cause of anxiety.

LISTEN/WATCH

Subscribe: Apple Podcast | Stitcher | Spotify |  YouTube

*Links mentioned in the episode are at the bottom of this page.

Anxiety has been a relatively constant destination for much of my life.  It is as familiar to me as my hometown or any neighborhood I’ve ever lived in.  That fact is that as uncomfortable as excessive worry is, there have been periods in my life when it was actually more comfortable to be in an anxiety loop than to be out of one.  And if I was out of one, I would be worried about not being in one because that would somehow mean that I had missed something…I was late to the worry party…I was forgetting a key thing to worry about…I had missed the anxiety train.
I’m guessing there’s a number of you laughing right now.  First because, when said out loud, it sounds ridiculous.  But, second…because this shoe fits you, too.  You can relate to the endless hours or days of energy spent in useless cycles of anxiety, trying to be prepared for any and all outcomes.  You see, us worriers, we keep the world together with the power of our anxiety alone.  We have prepared for every single unlikely event by thinking our way into a frenzied state so that everyone around us can be calm, cool, and collected.  Don’t worry world!  We are doing it for you!
But let’s break this down a bit more seriously by looking at the thought processes that keep us locked in this train to nowhere.  Our brains get stuck when something isn’t quite tracking.  We have to come back to that incongruity over and over again because our brains like things to make sense.  When we engage in thoughts that produce anxiety, that is a signal that things don’t meet the logic test that our brains are built for; therefore we keep coming back to the spot where it doesn’t make sense in light of our experience of the world.
Most of our anxious thoughts come in the language of “What if…?”  We lean into the sense that something is wrong when the reality is that we are only posing the question to ourselves of “What if…?”  What if’s have no basis in the present and therefore, no basis in the objective reality.  What if’s are based in the future.  We are placing our minds in a future state trying to prepare for events that are not actually taking place.  We are trying to control the uncontrollable.  The truth of what if’s is that those gloomy scenarios and outcomes that we find ourselves trying to prepare for mostly never actually become reality.  BUT  the effects of this rumination DO become reality by taking their toll on our bodies and minds.
There are a number of physical ways that we can be completely hijacked by our anxious feelings and sensations within our bodies.  Headaches, digestive problems, shaking, nausea, tightness in the chest, difficulty breathing, tightness and aches in the muscles, fatigue, brain fog…these are all physical manifestations of anxiety.  Anxiety triggers our sympathetic nervous system, flooding our bodies with powerful hormones which are supposed to be reserved for actual, in the present threats to our safety. Further, we can engage in unhealthy coping behaviors to deal with this anxiety that leads to other physical problems such as turning to unhealthy substances or overconsumption.  I don’t know about you, but I used to think a few brownies was essential fuel for my fight or flight response.  Oh Not So!
Anxiety, by its very nature, can be all-consuming.  We become overwhelmed with a sense of dread. We can be too locked into that loop that thinking rationally seems nearly impossible.
BUT…there can come those moments of clarity when we come to it.  We can control the destination and step out of the anxiety train.  We realize that though we may not be able to control every thought that pops in our heads, we can control our responses to those thoughts. In this way, we finally come to the proverbial fork in the road.  This is where we can choose to employ some strategies to bring relief and congruence.  We can get unstuck and get on to more productive thoughts that have a basis in the present.
Of course, one strategy that we teach our clients, and we’ve presented on our podcast is our self-empowerment coaching system.  This is a system that helps build a framework for challenging those thoughts.  I would encourage you to go back to those episodes and lean into that powerful tool.
But, sometimes you need some tools before you can get to the logic.  The first one I will suggest is breathing.  Simple, easy, you’re doing it anyway, so focus in.  This works because breathing is always in the now.  It removes us from the future state. Focus on the in and out of the breath by breathing slowly and deeply.  This can have immediate and major effects because it is actually calming and slowing down all of our entire systems.  By calming the physical effects of anxiety, it allows us the space to then engage with the root cause of the anxiety…our thoughts.
I would suggest doing this by using a self-inquiry method.  This is from the work of Byron Katie.  I highly recommend her book, Loving What Is.  And it is just a checklist of questions to ask yourself to challenge the accuracy of your anxious thoughts:
  1. Is it true?
  2. Can you absolutely know it is true?
  3. What happens if you believe this thought?
  4. Who would you be without this thought?
This checklist allows us to challenge whether or not our anxieties are based on facts and reality.  It then asks us to reflect on the harmful effects of choosing to believe the anxious thoughts.  Finally, it invites us to analyze how much better we’d feel without the anxiety…who we would be able to be if all the energy we are using in engaging in the anxious anxiety loop were placed somewhere else.
Challenging the thought brings us the benefit of breaking free from the thought.  It becomes so easy to think that our anxious thought is what is really going on in the world.  But the problem is that that thought is only what we THINK is going on in the world.  Yes…there are real-life issues, but when our thinking is clear.  When we are present.  We are actually better equipped to manage real-life, real-time issues rather than being locked in those made-up scenarios in our heads.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

CONNECT WITH US!

Subscribe to Ella’s Soul-Aligned Sunday Newsletter HERE.

Take the NEW FREE Self-Assessment to explore your relationship with food, exercise, and your body, and receive valuable, personalized insights and resources from Ella herself!

Learn about current coaching opportunities HERE.

Check out Ella’s website HERE.

25 Jan 2022
Empowerment, Podcast, Vegan Fitness, Vegan Lifestyle
Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Leave a comment

Intentional Joy (EP 94: The Vegan Life Coach Podcast)

Following a talk about Ella’s recent experience (intense!) surviving an ice bath, Stephanie dives into a spectacular training on cultivating intentional joy…

LISTEN/WATCH

Subscribe: Apple Podcast | Stitcher | Spotify |  YouTube

*Links mentioned in the episode are at the bottom of this page.

Stephanie:
In a recent article, Reese Witherspoon posted some daily life improvements that she’s incorporating this year, including 1) Start the day with a big glass of water; 2)  Get 10 minutes of outdoor light; 3) Read for 60 min without destruction; 4) In bed by 10 getting 8 hours of sleep at night.
Ina Garten responded saying, “That sounds great but I’m probably not doing any of these things, LOL. My formula is easier to follow. 1) Drink more large Cosmos; 2) Stay up late watching addictive streaming series; 3) Stay in bed in the morning playing Soduko; 4) Spend more time with the people I love.  I do what I can in a pandemic.”
Of course, both lists are great.  But I think they come with two very different purposes.  The first from a place of self-improvement.  And the second from a place of genuinely sneaking in intentional bits of joy.
I think a lot of time we tend to look at ways to make our days happier by simply inverting what makes us unhappy.  We spend time trying to minimize the impact of unhappiness.  Essentially, we ask ourselves how can I prevent myself from becoming unhappy?  That seems a little shortsighted when you consider how that type of negativity impacts us daily.  Yes, we can build resilience and coping mechanisms to deal with that impact, but that’s not quite the same as being intentional about cultivating moments of joy, is it?
Joy is an experience of intensely positive feeling, usually characterized by a mixture of excitement and connection. (Dr. Nick Wgnall, a clinical psychologist who has a great podcast called Minds and Mics.)
Let’s pull this apart a bit.  Using this definition, Joy is an acute, relatively short-lived experience.  We experience moments of joy. Secondly, joy is intensely positive. It is above our baseline…above our normal state of happiness or daily living. It is experienced as a burst of intense positivity.
Looking further, joy is usually characterized by a mixture of excitement and connection.  Excitement can be experienced as passion, curiosity, stimulation, awe; while connection could be friendship or love between people or a sense of belonging with the world, nature, the universe, or even simply yourself.
So, by using this definition, we can provide ourselves a framework for intentionally building moments of joy into our daily life.  I would love to be able to give you a step-by-step strategy for this, but the truth is, being intentional about creating joy will require you to do a lot of introspection.  Joy is such a personal experience.  So, instead, let me provide you with a framework so that you can begin to point yourself in a direction to cultivate these moments for yourself.
Ask yourself some questions and take some notes on your answers:
What are my most authentic preferences in life? What do I really want?
This is an important question because so often what we decide we want is actually influenced by what others around us want or what we think we should want.  Do you enjoy playing softball or is that something your parents thought was a good activity and you’ve continued it into adulthood?  Do you like to hike or is it something that your spouse loves?  Not to say you can’t choose activities for other reasons, but we are talking about cultivating joyful moments for you so they must be authentically what you want and value.  If you find that you are often doing things that don’t come from a place of authenticity, maybe it’s time to shake things up!
Second Question:  What circumstances will allow me to experience my authentic preferences?
Oftentimes, the potential for joy in our most authentic preferences is dependent on the right circumstances.  Therefore, we must set ourselves up for these circumstances.  Be thoughtful about the people, situations, and environments in our lives and how they impact us when cultivating moments of joy.  If you enjoy that first cup of coffee alone in a still house, don’t wake up last minute and settle for convenience store coffee on your morning commute.  If you love to play Pickleball, don’t play with people who are hyper-competitive and will not allow you to simply enjoy the game.  Choose your circumstances along with your preferences for those moments of joy!
Finally:  What changes can I make in my life so that I spend more time in conducive circumstances enjoying my authentic preferences?
This might be the most challenging…bringing it all together.  But, here’s the real hope here!  Don’t get trapped into all or nothing thinking.  Inviting more joy into your life does not mean you need to turn your current life upside down. Find where you can make small changes to invite these moments in.
For example, say that your passion is playing jazz piano; however, you haven’t made time for that in many years.  The impact of the joyful moments that playing jazz piano will not diminish just because you cannot devote your entire life to playing.  Instead, finding ways to enjoy playing jazz piano in increments will increase your joyful experience by adding those moments to your life. Maybe that means spending 30 minutes at the piano every evening after dinner rather than watching tv.  Maybe that includes signing up for a jazz workshop on the weekend rather than taking the family camping trip you only kind of enjoy.
So, while I don’t have an entire strategy for you, I do have this urging.  After asking yourself these questions, try something.  Sneak that snuggle in with your sweet pup.  Blow off your latest book you “should” read for an indulgent novel.  Forget the yard work and go have brunch with your bestie every Sunday morning.  Build these rituals of joy into the framework of your life and see the impact they have on the quality of your living.

CONNECT WITH US!

Interested in working with us? Email [email protected]

Check out our new FREE Master Class!

Take Our New Going Vegan Quiz HERE!  

Grab the valuable gift we have for you HERE.

Have a question you’d like us to answer, or feedback you’d like to give us (we love hearing from you!)? Leave us a voice (or written) message HERE.

Interested in receiving a free coaching session to air on an upcoming episode? Apply HERE.

Hogs & Kisses Farm Sanctuary Website

18 Jan 2022
Empowerment, Podcast, Vegan Fitness, Vegan Lifestyle
Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Leave a comment

Sean Russell is Making SoFlo a Global Hotspot for Veganism (EP 93: The Vegan Life Coach Podcast)

I had the pleasure of hangin’ with SoFlo Vegan Founder Sean Russell for this inspirational episode.

LISTEN/WATCH

Subscribe: Apple Podcast | Stitcher | Spotify |  YouTube

*Links mentioned in the episode are at the bottom of this page.

A dynamic entrepreneur with a knack for building communities, Sean Russell is a multifaceted professional with a vast background in technology, education, journalism, entertainment, and vegan advocacy. His track record as a vocal leader and storyteller includes 25 years of combined experience in public education and multimedia communications.
Sean’s career in education began at Broward County Public Schools where he served in various roles throughout his 16-year stint, including as a teacher, counselor, technology specialist, and administrator. During his tenure, he developed and managed the county’s first school-operated summer camp program and went on to serve as the district webmaster, coordinating marketing and communication initiatives for the sixth-largest school district in the country.
Pursuing his lifelong dream of entrepreneurship and boasting more than 10,000 hours of experience producing websites, graphics, podcasts, videos, live events, and managing organizations, Sean founded Lesaruss Media in 2007. His first broadcast venture under the Lesaruss flag, Anime 3000, produced six different podcast series focused on anime and manga, airing over 2,000 episodes and garnering one million downloads. He later co-founded music channel TopSpot USA, for which he managed and interviewed more than 300 artists including Neyo, Tyga, Pete Wentz, Fat Joe, and Jeffree Star. Other projects included work with premier entertainment brands such as Nickelodeon, Live Nation, Def Jam, Sony, and Nintendo.
Furthering his work in community advocacy and pioneering a hub for plant-based living in South Florida, Sean managed marketing and event production for FATVillage and the MASS District – Fort Lauderdale’s budding neighborhoods for culture, arts, and technology – as well as for Animal Hero Kids, a local nonprofit educating kids on animal welfare.
In 2017, Sean launched SoFlo Vegans, a multichannel platform and community with the mission of making South Florida a global hotspot for veganism. In this capacity, Sean has built a network of more than 250 partners and a reach of over 100,000 people each month. As a result, SoFlo Vegans has helped to propel vegan businesses across the region and has been a key player in producing and supporting over 200 events including Seed Food & Wine Festival, Vegan Block Party, and Heal the Planet Day.
Sean is a sought-after media voice, inspirational speaker, and guest lecturer. His featured appearances include profiles and contributions in outlets such as NBC News, Crunchyroll, Miami New Times, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, VegWorld Magazine, and more. Recently Sean appeared as a contestant on the hit ABC game show, The Hustler.
Currently, Sean serves as the CEO of Lesaruss Media, merging his expertise in community building, marketing, events, and media production to deliver results for clients in the verticals of veganism, education, and entertainment.
Sean is a graduate of Florida International University, where he majored in television production and minored in education.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

CONNECT WITH US!

Interested in working with us? Email [email protected]

Check out our new FREE Master Class!

Take Our New Going Vegan Quiz HERE!  

Grab the valuable gift we have for you HERE.

Have a question you’d like us to answer, or feedback you’d like to give us (we love hearing from you!)? Leave us a voice (or written) message HERE.

Interested in receiving a free coaching session to air on an upcoming episode? Apply HERE.

Hogs & Kisses Farm Sanctuary Website

11 Jan 2022
Empowerment, Podcast, Vegan Fitness, Vegan Lifestyle
Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Leave a comment

Jazzin’ It Up with Celebrity Chef Laura Theodore (EP 92: The Vegan Life Coach Podcast)

LAURA THEODORE is a nationally recognized television personality, podcast radio host, celebrity

PBS vegan chef, renowned jazz singer, and award-winning cookbook author… Talk about multi-talented!

LISTEN/WATCH

Subscribe: Apple Podcast | Stitcher | Spotify |  YouTube

*Links mentioned in the episode are at the bottom of this page.

In addition to learning about Laura’s fascinating personal and professional journey, get ready to be inspired to do a pantry make-over with Laura’s fantastic tricks and tips for making cooking simple, easy, and even fun!

Laura’s ninth season of her hit show, Jazzy Vegetarian, and her newest cookbook, Easy Vegan Home Cooking are game-changers for those who want to veganize mainstream meals that everyone (vegans and omnivores alike) will salivate over.

Enjoy!

More About Laura:

Laura is co-creator of the highly successful Jazzy Vegetarian (vegan and delicious!) cooking series on national public television. The show presently airs four times weekly on the nationally syndicated Create Channel. She is the host of the globally available Jazzy Vegetarian Podcast and the Laura Theodore Podcast.

Laura is the author of six vegan cookbooks, including Vegan for Everyone, (which won a bronze medal at the 2021 IPPY Awards) Laura Theodore’s Vegan-Ease, Jazzy Vegetarian Classics, Jazzy Vegetarian, and Deliciously Vegan, (which won silver medals at the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards, Midwest Book Awards, and the Living Now Book Awards.) Her highly anticipated new book, Easy Vegan Home Cooking, will be released on February 8th, 2022 by Hatherleigh Press and
distributed by Penguin Random House.

Laura and Jazzy Vegetarian are recipients of the Taste Award for Best Health and Fitness Television Program and inducted into the Taste Hall of Fame.

Laura has been on the cover of three prestigious magazines; American Vegan, Jazzin’, and La Fashionista Compassionista. She has made guest appearances on The Talk on CBS, Insider/Entertainment Tonight and WCBS News Radio Health Report and has been featured in the New York Times, New York Daily News, Mother Earth Living, VegNews, Family Circle, Readers Digest and PBS Food, among other highly respected news, food, music and lifestyle-related journals.

As a globally recognized award-winning jazz singer and songwriter, Laura has recorded six solo CDs, including her award-winning disc, Tonight’s the Night, which received a Musician Magazine Award. Her CD release with the late, great master guitarist Joe Beck entitled Golden Earrings, (on the Whaling City Sound label) was on the GRAMMY® list in the category of “Best Jazz Vocal Album.” Laura has toured throughout the country, performing at numerous major events, such as Night of 100 Stars, Fire and Ice Ball, and The American Film Awards.

On the acting side of things, Laura has appeared in over sixty plays and musicals including Off-Broadway for two years in the hit show Beehive, which earned her a coveted Backstage Bistro Award. She was honored with the Denver Critics Drama Circle Award as “Best Actress in a Musical,” for her starring role as Janis Joplin in the world premier production of Love, Janis.

With her love for good food, compassion for animals and enthusiasm for great music, multi-talented personality, Laura Theodore truly is the Jazzy Vegetarian.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

CONNECT WITH US!

Interested in working with us? Email [email protected]

Check out our new FREE Master Class!

Take Our New Going Vegan Quiz HERE!  

Grab the valuable gift we have for you HERE.

Have a question you’d like us to answer, or feedback you’d like to give us (we love hearing from you!)? Leave us a voice (or written) message HERE.

Interested in receiving a free coaching session to air on an upcoming episode? Apply HERE.

Hogs & Kisses Farm Sanctuary Website

04 Jan 2022
Empowerment, Podcast, Vegan Fitness, Vegan Lifestyle
Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Leave a comment

The Minimalist Vegan(s) Michael and Maša Ofei (EP 91: The Vegan Life Coach Podcast)

I had a FASCINATING conversation with the creators of The Minimalist Vegan and HeartFul Table Michael and Maša Ofei.

LISTEN/WATCH

Subscribe: Apple Podcast | Stitcher | Spotify |  YouTube

*Links mentioned in the episode are at the bottom of this page.

This is a perfect first episode for the New Year since many of us are thinking about decluttering and creating a fresh start for 2022.
You may just get the inspiration you need to let go of some stuff… I sure was! I went through my closet and immediately collected a huge bag full of clothes to donate! Spring cleaning is coming early this year 😉
More About Our Guests…
Maša and Michael Ofei, a married couple from Australia, are the creators behind The Minimalist Vegan and their newest venture HeartFul Table.
Through their websites, podcast, and YouTube channel, they’re on a mission to inspire millions of people to live with less stuff and more compassion. Prioritizing what you love most in life and minimizing the rest. They publish content about minimalism, veganism, sustainable living, and delicious plant-based recipes.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

CONNECT WITH US!

Interested in working with us? Email [email protected]

Check out our new FREE Master Class!

Take Our New Going Vegan Quiz HERE!  

Grab the valuable gift we have for you HERE.

Have a question you’d like us to answer, or feedback you’d like to give us (we love hearing from you!)? Leave us a voice (or written) message HERE.

Interested in receiving a free coaching session to air on an upcoming episode? Apply HERE.

Hogs & Kisses Farm Sanctuary Website