Episode 13: Self Validation & Emotional Constipation with Jenny Ambrose
During our conversation on this week’s Couragemakers, Jenny Ambrose gets really open and vulnerable about her own journey – of feeling like she doesn’t fit in anywhere, difficult family relationships, her experience of art school and ultimately getting to a place of self validation and acceptance.
Listen on your browser now:
ABOUT
Jenny is a creative heavyweight and self confessed powerhouse. When she’s not working on her business Purée Fantastico, a one stop creative shop focusing on all manners of design, creative thought, and strategic bravery, Jenny can be found tending to her four needy animals, goofing around with her husband and watching re-runs of RuPaul.
TOPICS
- Jenny’s journey from growing up as a curious, creative child to running her own business and learning to accept herself
- How what you create evolves as you do and the link between creativity and silliness.
- How Jenny structures her day to allow for spontaneity
- The links between not creating and emotional constipation
RESOURCES
ABOUT MEG &
THAT HUMMINGBIRD LIFE
When I'm not recording episodes, writing bullshit-free Sunday pep Talks to my wonderful Couragemakers community or working 1:1 with clients, I'm usually covered in paint and thinking of imaginative ways of hide my would-be dog from my landlord.
I’m Meg and I’m the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I’m an INFJ creative and multipassionate who has a bit of a notebook and post-it note obsession, loves foot-stomping country music and likes her hot chocolate with way too much chocolate.
I started Couragemakers because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum.
RELATED EPISODES:
Episode 15: Carving Your Path with Suzanne Hoare
In this episode of Couragemakers, Suzanne Hoare shares her journey from her career in law to having her own business, how finding out what she didn’t want helped her create a life she loves, and how she paved her own path and created her own rules.
Listen on your browser now:
ABOUT
Suzanne (who likes it when people call her Suz) is a recovering lawyer and the founder and chief creative copywriter of PepperJar, the place where small business owners and entrepreneurs go to escape the ‘epidemic of generic’ and stand out online with personality-infused words.
As much as she loves her work, she loves play too, and can often be found enjoying any of the following: snuggling on the sofa, wandering by the sea, thinking up witty tweets, sweating on the netball court, getting lost in a book, listening to Stevie Nicks, watching a cracking boxset, eating pretty much anything edible, relaxing in a bubble bath, dancing like a crazy fool in her lounge, and her favourite of all, laughing until she cries.
PepperJar | Facebook | Twitter |
TOPICS
- Suz shares her unexpected journey of moving from being a miserable lawyer to owning her own copywriting business
- How trying new things and taking yourself out of your comfort zone can spark new ideas
- Suz’’s advice for people to give themselves permission to follow their own path
- We challenge the myth that work can’t be fun
RESOURCES
ABOUT MEG &
THAT HUMMINGBIRD LIFE
When I'm not recording episodes, writing bullshit-free Sunday pep Talks to my wonderful Couragemakers community or working 1:1 with clients, I'm usually covered in paint and thinking of imaginative ways of hide my would-be dog from my landlord.
I’m Meg and I’m the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I’m an INFJ creative and multipassionate who has a bit of a notebook and post-it note obsession, loves foot-stomping country music and likes her hot chocolate with way too much chocolate.
I started Couragemakers because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum.
RELATED EPISODES:
Episode 14: Choosing Joy with Ashten Giardine
In this episode of Couragemakers, Ashten Giardine really dive into the idea of choosing joy in the everyday little things, how grief and hard times can profoundly affect us and how learning to ask for help can change your life.
Listen on your browser now:
ABOUT
Ashten is the founder of Just Go Left: a lifestyle blog and a love letter to living her best life.
She founded Just Go Left, not just because she not-so-secretly wants to be Oprah, but because she believes through the ups and downs of life we are given the choice to “go left” when things don’t go right.
Ashten is an introverted extrovert with a penchant for sarcasm, and sass, who thinks most problems can be solved with a cup of coffee. Ashten lives in Southern California with her boyfriend Kyle and their dog, Gatsby.
Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin
TOPICS
- Warner’s story – how Ashten’s life and outlook on life was completely transformed after her dog Warner was diagnosed with PLN (a genetic incurable disease) and how the experience completely changed her
- Thriving in difficult situations
- How we are entitled to come out of pain, grief and hardship however we want to
- Ashten’s practical tips for learning to ask for help and how it can change your life
- Enjoying the chapter you’re on and finding joy in the everyday
RESOURCES
ABOUT MEG &
THAT HUMMINGBIRD LIFE
When I'm not recording episodes, writing bullshit-free Sunday pep Talks to my wonderful Couragemakers community or working 1:1 with clients, I'm usually covered in paint and thinking of imaginative ways of hide my would-be dog from my landlord.
I’m Meg and I’m the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I’m an INFJ creative and multipassionate who has a bit of a notebook and post-it note obsession, loves foot-stomping country music and likes her hot chocolate with way too much chocolate.
I started Couragemakers because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum.
RELATED EPISODES:
Episode 16: Sustaining Your Passions & Putting Your Life Online with Michelle Anneliese
During our conversation on this week’s Couragemakers, Michelle Anneliese really dive into some great discussions about passions and how to sustain them, starting projects to get us through hard times and how to refill your creative cup.
Listen on your browser now:
ABOUT
Michelle is a writer, speaker, geek, mental health advocate, and overachiever. She currently runs two blogs: Look Through My Lens and A Geek Girl’s Guide.
TOPICS
- What keeps Michelle inspired and how she organises her creative content
- Michelle’s amazing decision making process based around resouces, time, inspiration, and energy
- What Michelle does to get her through a bad day and how blogging has helped her through hard times
- What it’s like when the people you know in your real life find out about what you do online
RESOURCES
ABOUT MEG &
THAT HUMMINGBIRD LIFE
When I'm not recording episodes, writing bullshit-free Sunday pep Talks to my wonderful Couragemakers community or working 1:1 with clients, I'm usually covered in paint and thinking of imaginative ways of hide my would-be dog from my landlord.
I’m Meg and I’m the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I’m an INFJ creative and multipassionate who has a bit of a notebook and post-it note obsession, loves foot-stomping country music and likes her hot chocolate with way too much chocolate.
I started Couragemakers because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum.
RELATED EPISODES:
Episode 17: Taking a Chance on Yourself with Krista Rae
In this episode of Couragemakers, Krista Rae shares how how she went from starting a craft blog and having a side hustle to being able to quit her job and focus on her business full time. She also shares how she found a supportive community online, and also the not so glamorous side of side hustles and working for yourself.
Listen on your browser now:
ABOUT
Krista is a blog strategist and WordPress developer who helps female creatives elevate their business, increase conversions, and boost engagement through crafting strategic blogs. She uses personalized, goal-driven strategies to set her clients apart from the competition and highlight their unique offerings. Learn more over on her blog! Krista is happiest spending time with her husband, family, and friends…especially if she can mix a little work in there too
Website | Twitter | Pinterest | Bloglovin’
TOPICS
- Krista shares how how she went from starting a craft blog and having a side hustle to being able to quit her job and focus on her business full time
- The different ways we can handle fear
- The not so glamourous side of having a side hustle and working for yourself
- The links between becoming an entrepreneur and mental health issues
RESOURCES
- Kory Woodard – korywoodard.com
ABOUT MEG &
THAT HUMMINGBIRD LIFE
When I'm not recording episodes, writing bullshit-free Sunday pep Talks to my wonderful Couragemakers community or working 1:1 with clients, I'm usually covered in paint and thinking of imaginative ways of hide my would-be dog from my landlord.
I’m Meg and I’m the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I’m an INFJ creative and multipassionate who has a bit of a notebook and post-it note obsession, loves foot-stomping country music and likes her hot chocolate with way too much chocolate.
I started Couragemakers because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum.
RELATED EPISODES:
Episode 18: Self Care & Rule Breaking with Amanda Sewell
In this episode of Couragemakers, Amanda Sewell really challenge this notion that self care is selfish, talk really honestly about the impossibility of meeting other people’s and society’s expectations and how boundaries are so important in order to live a life that works for you.
Listen on your browser now:
ABOUT
Amanda Sewell is a wellness junkie, coach and rule breaker. She believes that everything in life comes down to radical self responsibility. That we are more than our appearance, “trying to get skinny” or “be more consistent “. We all have needs that at times go unmet and result in us trying to constantly regain control (ie diets, emotional eating, feeling like a victim). She loves working with women who want to move past always stressed about their weight and start living.
TOPICS
- How health doesn’t look the same for everybody. It’s about looking for the unique clues your body gives you
- How we let ourselves be treated and how we enforce that with people around us
- How Amanda uses boundaries to maintain her self care in her business
- Amanda’s advice for anyone stuck in comparison paralysis
ABOUT MEG &
THAT HUMMINGBIRD LIFE
When I'm not recording episodes, writing bullshit-free Sunday pep Talks to my wonderful Couragemakers community or working 1:1 with clients, I'm usually covered in paint and thinking of imaginative ways of hide my would-be dog from my landlord.
I’m Meg and I’m the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I’m an INFJ creative and multipassionate who has a bit of a notebook and post-it note obsession, loves foot-stomping country music and likes her hot chocolate with way too much chocolate.
I started Couragemakers because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum.
RELATED EPISODES:
Episode 19: Self Reflection & Being Unapologetic with Maria Northcott
During this week’s conversation, Maria Northcott shares her journey into the world of creative business, her world beliefs including why she doesn’t believe in competition and how we can all take the time to ask ourselves what feeds us, what feeds the world and how we want to spend our energy.
Listen on your browser now:
ABOUT
Native New Englander. Former schoolteacher. Sought-after wedding officiant. Of all the labels that describe Maria Northcott, however, the one you’ll hear most often is “creator of community.” It’s not just weddings that are Maria’s passion — it’s the people at the heart of those weddings. Whether it’s couples planning their wedding or the professionals who serve them, Maria thrives on building relationships and making connections. In 2015, she quit her full-time job to free her heart and soul to do exactly that. Not only is Maria in demand as an officiant by couples across the country, but she’s also the founder of the Maine Wedding Network, fostering a sense of collaboration and support among professional wedding vendors throughout Maine. Whether it’s by the woodstove in her midcoast Maine cottage or at one of the many weddings she officiates each year, Maria exudes a warmth that draws people in, makes them feel comfortable, and sends them back into the world with a brighter spark in their eye.
A Sweet Start | Maine Wedding Network | Twitter |
TOPICS
- The sacrifices you have to make to follow your dreams
- Why self reflection is so important and how you can use it to really grow get the answers you need to get to the next step
- How everything you do leads you to what you are meant to do
- Uncovering the reality of the ‘quit your job and do what you love myth’
RESOURCES
ABOUT MEG &
THAT HUMMINGBIRD LIFE
When I'm not recording episodes, writing bullshit-free Sunday pep Talks to my wonderful Couragemakers community or working 1:1 with clients, I'm usually covered in paint and thinking of imaginative ways of hide my would-be dog from my landlord.
I’m Meg and I’m the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I’m an INFJ creative and multipassionate who has a bit of a notebook and post-it note obsession, loves foot-stomping country music and likes her hot chocolate with way too much chocolate.
I started Couragemakers because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum.
RELATED EPISODES:
Episode 20: Being a Self Love Junkie with Jennifer Seale
In this episode, Jen really vulnerably her journey of growing up feeling insecure and how she made the decision to start learning how to love herself.
Listen on your browser now:
ABOUT
Jennifer Seale is a certified Holistic Health Practitioner (health and wellness coach), licensed Spiritual Practitioner, blogger, truth-seeker, and lover of life. She guides those who want to love themselves, heal their relationship between food and body, and live their best life possible! She shares a passion of overall wellness through holistic health, food, creativity, mindfulness, spirituality, and most importantly…balance!
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram
TOPICS
- How Jen’s life fell apart in one week and Jen’s decision to start learning to love herself
- What keeps Jen inspired and her go to things when you’re having a shitty time
- How healing and change occurs when you treat yourself with kindness and respect
- How fear is good for you
RESOURCES
- The Office
- House of Cards
- Scandal
- Orange is the New Black
- The Royal Tenenbaums
- It Was Me All Along – Andy Mitchell
- Gabrielle Bernstein
- Mary Ann Williamson
- Seven Thousand Ways to Listen – Mark Nepo
- The Four Agreements – Don Miguel Ruiz
- Friday Five Favourites – The Happy Healthy Balance
- Big Magic – Elizabeth Gilbert
ABOUT MEG &
THAT HUMMINGBIRD LIFE
When I'm not recording episodes, writing bullshit-free Sunday pep Talks to my wonderful Couragemakers community or working 1:1 with clients, I'm usually covered in paint and thinking of imaginative ways of hide my would-be dog from my landlord.
I’m Meg and I’m the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I’m an INFJ creative and multipassionate who has a bit of a notebook and post-it note obsession, loves foot-stomping country music and likes her hot chocolate with way too much chocolate.
I started Couragemakers because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum.
RELATED EPISODES:
Episode 21: Creativity, Integrity & Pity Parties with Maria Gil Ulldemolins
In this episode we really dive into Maria Gil Ulldemolins’ journey of studying the visual arts in Swaziland at a young age to owning her own studio, her belief that life is like google maps and it finds a way of redirecting you to where you should be and how we all need to stop hating ourselves for hating ourselves when we’re in a shitty place.
Listen on your browser now:
ABOUT
Maria is a Spanish artist living and working in Brussels, Belgium. Maria’s creative practice is a very process-oriented and heavily influenced by her experiences with meditation. Broad themes explored include embracing mistakes, letting go, flow, compassion, control, variations and time.
Before committing to her painting practice, she worked in innovation. Maria is trained in Product Design, Art History and Art Theory.
TOPICS
- Maria’s story of studying in Swaziland at a young age and how this helped her find herself as a person and as an artist
- Debunking myths of easy six figure incomes online and how we’re all supposed to be grateful for any employment opportunities
- How Maria is inspired by making accidents happen and her advice on how to take a similar approach with your creativity
- How Maria doesn’t believe in faking it until you make it
- How we all need to stop hating ourselves for hating ourselves.
RESOURCES
ABOUT MEG &
THAT HUMMINGBIRD LIFE
When I'm not recording episodes, writing bullshit-free Sunday pep Talks to my wonderful Couragemakers community or working 1:1 with clients, I'm usually covered in paint and thinking of imaginative ways of hide my would-be dog from my landlord.
I’m Meg and I’m the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I’m an INFJ creative and multipassionate who has a bit of a notebook and post-it note obsession, loves foot-stomping country music and likes her hot chocolate with way too much chocolate.
I started Couragemakers because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum.
RELATED EPISODES:
Episode 22: Being a Creative Introvert with Cat Rose
In this episode of Couragemakers, Cat Rose really dives into the link between being a creative and being an introvert, the turmoil introverts face and Cat shares some great advice about how to set goals as a multi-passionate person.
Listen on your browser now:
ABOUT
Cat Rose is on a mission to help other creatives get over their fears of self-promotion and get their work seen and shared. She offers 1-to-1 coaching and founded the League of Creative Introverts: a safe community for creatives to share their work openly, learn from others and get all the support they need on their creative journey.
TOPICS
- The turmoil creative introverts face
- How being an introvert and a multi-passionate plays a part of Cat’s business
- Dealing with rejection as a creative
- How Cat has found social media helps her connect to like minded people
RESOURCES
ABOUT MEG &
THAT HUMMINGBIRD LIFE
When I'm not recording episodes, writing bullshit-free Sunday pep Talks to my wonderful Couragemakers community or working 1:1 with clients, I'm usually covered in paint and thinking of imaginative ways of hide my would-be dog from my landlord.
I’m Meg and I’m the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I’m an INFJ creative and multipassionate who has a bit of a notebook and post-it note obsession, loves foot-stomping country music and likes her hot chocolate with way too much chocolate.
I started Couragemakers because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum.
RELATED EPISODES:
Episode 24: Inventing Your Own Reality with Victoria Klein
In this episode of Couragemakers, VK shares the long journey of how she became an entrepreneur, and how her life has changed since she stopped doing what she felt she had to do and started to invent her own definition of success.
Listen on your browser now:
ABOUT
Victoria Klein (VK) is a former Virtual Assistant-turned-Online Business Manager + Burnout Busting Mentor for entrepreneurs who are ready to take their online business up 3 notches while also sleeping 8 hours a night.
Through her no B.S. Behind the Boss Mask podcast, dedicated OBM support, + 1:1 mentoring, she’s here to show you how to organize + upgrade your business so you earn more + work less — while making it all feel like the world’s first calorie-free dessert.
And when she’s not getting her ambitious clients out of their inboxes, you can find her indulging in adult coloring books, in-depth conversations, + dark chocolate anything.
Meet your virtual business Yoda + get ready to book that vacation you damn well earned at VKtheVA.com.
Website | Behind The Boss Mask| Twitter | Instagram | Facebook| Pinterest
TOPICS
- VK’s long journey of being an entrepreneur by the way of being an actress, model, yoga teacher (alongside many other fascinating jobs)
- VK’s advice to people dealing with failure
- The importance of celebrating everything all the steps along the way
- How no matter how small your actions, you can have a difference on the world
RESOURCES
ABOUT MEG &
THAT HUMMINGBIRD LIFE
When I'm not recording episodes, writing bullshit-free Sunday pep Talks to my wonderful Couragemakers community or working 1:1 with clients, I'm usually covered in paint and thinking of imaginative ways of hide my would-be dog from my landlord.
I’m Meg and I’m the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I’m an INFJ creative and multipassionate who has a bit of a notebook and post-it note obsession, loves foot-stomping country music and likes her hot chocolate with way too much chocolate.
I started Couragemakers because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum.
RELATED EPISODES:
Episode 23: Living without Regrets with Angela J. Ford
In this episode we really dive into how Angela wanted to do something fun and meaningful with her life and her desire to make a difference.
Listen on your browser now:
ABOUT
Angela J. Ford is a Digital Marketing Strategist, passionate about helping multi-passionate creatives spend more time doing work they love. She also is a fantasy author, entertaining young and old alike with fantasy adventures and non-stop action.
Website | Four Worlds Series | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
TOPICS
- Angela’s journey from writing novels from the age of 12 and being in a band with her sisters, to working as a digital marketing strategist and being a fantasy author
- Dealing with realists when working towards your dreams
- Making time for creativity and Angela’s journey to start working for herself
- Angela’s advice for people starting a new project but feel paralysed in wondering about other people’s reactions
- How reading as a child gave Angela a broader view of life and different perspectives
RESOURCES
ABOUT MEG &
THAT HUMMINGBIRD LIFE
When I'm not recording episodes, writing bullshit-free Sunday pep Talks to my wonderful Couragemakers community or working 1:1 with clients, I'm usually covered in paint and thinking of imaginative ways of hide my would-be dog from my landlord.
I’m Meg and I’m the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I’m an INFJ creative and multipassionate who has a bit of a notebook and post-it note obsession, loves foot-stomping country music and likes her hot chocolate with way too much chocolate.
I started Couragemakers because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum.