Soul on the Rise

In this episode, I talk about why keeping the bar high prevents us from following our curiosities, how to embrace a beginner's mind, and the catalyzing effects I felt after putting myself out there in a new art form. I hope it helps you follow the pull(s) in your life. Enjoy!

Today's solo riff expands on a moment I had a moment this morning. It's about the reality that no one gives you permission to become who want to be. You can one day simply decide you are something and take action each and every day until the imposter syndrome's little voice is no longer relevant. It's about the fact that new beliefs feed new actions and new actions feed a new life. And once all of that starts flowing, you're no longer waiting to become something. You never had to wait. You always were it, and you always are. 

We create the doors. We open them, and we decide when to walk through them. And stepping past those thresholds and meeting all the incredible people who are doing the same is a joy I want everyone to experience. 

This solo riff is specifically designed for moments you feel anxious, fearful, or overwhelmed with mental chatter. I share a couple of brief exercises that help ground me back in myself during mentally challenging times in hopes it helps you do the same. 

If it helps, I'd love to hear from so drop me a line on Instagram at writeon_kim and if you feel moved to, share this episode with a friend who may find it useful. Have a beautiful week!

In this week's artist interlude, we get the pleasure of hearing poetry and prose from last week's incredible guest, writer and somatic therapist, Mackenzie Studebaker (she/they). Mackenzie talks about how writing helped them navigate the turbulent times of losing their brother and mother and shares two beautiful pieces that I have no doubt will move you. You can learn more about Mackenzie at www.mackenziestudebaker.com. 

If you're a writer, poet, or musician and want to share your art with our podcast community, reach out at writeon_kim on Instagram or writingbykim@gmail.com. 

Today we're bringing you part two of my chat with Boundaries and Empowerment Coach, Jess Escobedo! This time we're talking about when and why to let go of a connection, ways to help you create space for your next chapter, simple tips to express physical boundaries in the early stages of dating, and why it's important to have a full life that's true to you once you nestle into a long-term love. 

You can connect with Jess on Instagram @wholesomehoodrat for more tips, workshops and 1:1 coaching opportunities. 

After a brief Euro travel-induced hiatus, we're back and better than ever with Boundaries and Empowerment Coach, Jess Escobedo! In part 1 of this two-part episode, we're talking about a topic we all love and sometimes loathe - dating. You'll hear about our experiences as women in our 30s-40s navigating the love arena, answer questions from our community, and more importantly share tips for how to give yourself a little more love and support when traversing matters of the heart. In just a few days I'll drop part 2, so stay tuned!

In part two of heart ruminations, I'm digging into a concept from Ram Dass that minorly rocked my socks. Then we're going to marinate on a question I was recently asked: what if instead of searching for your soul mate, you cultivated your soul life? Grab your tea. Slip on a comfy sweater. Let's talk love, baby.

In this solo riff, I’m talking about love and how the qualities we love or despise in others can be an incredibly useful tool for helping us rise into our most full selves. At the end, I offer up an exercise that's helped me see others and myself a bit more clearly in case it helps you do the same. Enjoy!

In this artist interlude you'll hear from multi-instrument musician, Shahya Khodadadeh, who shares how he first got started in music over a decade ago and how it's since helped him grow, heal and through his latest album, create a time capsule of friendships. His first album, Milk the Universe, is available on Spotify is full of chill-hop tracks that will enhance any long drive, bike ride, or moment in life. Enjoy!

Have you ever wanted to make a change in your life? Maybe you want to be more physically active without pain. Maybe you want to create a less stressful life or to pursue a new dream or career. Whatever the vision may be, Mark shares how small steps can create big change by walking us through a multi-step framework he learned from internationally renowned holistic health and personal development expert, Paul Chek. This easy to incorporate checklist helps you not only reach your goals but also change your life - one choice at a time.

With nearly two decades of experience in this space, Mark is a wealth of knowledge and worth checking out. I’ve learned so much about the body, functional movement, and holistic ways to repair health problems from him. He offers 1:1 coaching, guided wilderness experiences, and is hosting an incredible dance retreat at the end of June on a gorgeous farm property in Northern California that you don't want to miss. You learn more about him @soulmvmntcoaching on Instagram and get more info on his dance, music, farm to table retreat at soulmovementretreat.com.

Enjoy the episode and if you like what you heard, share it with a friend! Have a beautiful week, fam.

In today’s episode, we’re diving into the concept of ‘Doing It Scared.’ So often fear gets in the way of us taking steps toward things we’re drawn to yet require getting outside of our comfort zone. Be it taking yourself out for a solo dinner, trying a new activity, or maybe something that requires a wider wingspan like going a trip solo, starting a new job or business.

In this solo riff, I’ll be sharing tangible tips and exercises for how I incrementally build up confidence and work with fear before taking big leaps, particularly when traveling internationally solo. I hope this helps you in some way and if you enjoyed something you heard, don’t be a stranger. Let me know by sharing it or messaging via social media.

This week you’re getting a taste of a style of episode I’m calling, Artist Interludes. This is when we feature a poet, writer, or musician who discusses how their art has helped them better understand or connect with a facet of their life or themselves. Then, we’ll get to hear that poem, piece, or song - something I hope will not only help you see a snippet of the world through a poetic lens, but also bring more art into your life without having to leave your living room.

Today, you’ll be listening to a poem I wrote last week called “In Margins as Wide as Seas.” In this episode, I share the backstory to the poem and how it’s helping me lean into a new chapter and iteration of self.

I hope you enjoy the poem and stay tuned for next week’s episode where I’ll be talking about “Doing It Scared.”

As always, if you like what you hear, share it with a friend and thanks for being here.

In Margins as Wide as Seas

If there were no instructions
No words left on a tattered envelope
sent from generation to generation
to your front door
loaded with the best of intentions
but things that were never yours.

If there was only a single word
on a single page
with margins as wide as seas
What would you fill all that space with?
What wild ideas could you raise the sail,
catch the wind of a new reality?
What bottled waterfalls
would break open into rivers?
Carve a path not even gamma waves could’ve dreamt up

If the shoulds didn’t matter
Because they never truly did
How much further would that 2 am idea high tide to
When you realize there’s no need to contain what always changes,
never meant to sit stagnant
couldn’t possibly be grasped
slips through fingertips, impossible to mold

Because the only contract we signed at first light
was that the uncomfortable reality that
We are winding roads in two-legged form.
We are Spread your arms across continents
but stay within the aisle of cautionary tales.
We are caterpillars with partial caccoons
constantly assuming we’ve reached butterfly.
But maybe alchemy is simpler than we realize.

Because there’s something inside that’s here before
a lightness in a step when its led by the soul
And stays up late, whispering at night
Whispers when the mind drifts to vastness, less fear in sight
Accept the star to sun iteration, it often says
the endless ripening
internal tug trailing

Maybe this time just surrender to softness,
it questions, it begs.
Just for this next one,
let it flow.
Drop all that resistance, honey
because this is where your story is meant to go.

Jess Escobedo is a Boundaries and Empowerment Coach who helps people identify their needs and wants and how to communicate them in all aspects of their life. In this episode we talk about the basics of boundaries, how to start small, and give you a range of example of how this looks in practice - whether it's with yourself, at work, with family, in dating or on the street with strangers.

You can explore more of Jess's work on Instagram @wholesomehoodrat where she offers 1:1 coaching, workshops and more.

In this introductory episode, you'll hear what inspired me to start this podcast, what type of content you can expect to hear, and how I hope it'll help you as a listener rise into a little more of you, a little more of the time. 

Stay tuned for our first interview episode coming up next with Boundaries and Empowerment Coach, Jess Escobedo.