Episode 4: Learning to Surrender with Megan Reynolds
In this episode of Couragemakers, Megan Reynolds talk about the link between bravery and honesty, the opportunities that open when we leave our planned path, our shared experiences of dealing with OCD and how you can embrace your flawed but perfect life.
Listen on your browser now:
ABOUT
Megan Reynolds is a 24 year-old entrepreneur who attempts to balance her jewelry business, Flawed Perfection Jewelry, with being a personal stylist and part-time nanny. She was born, raised, and currently resides in San Diego County, California. She is constantly inspired by her beautiful surroundings. When she’s not making jewelry or being a clothing stylist, she’s listening to podcasts, chatting with her online friends, watching plenty of good t.v. shows, or enjoying time with all her family that lives nearby.
Website | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest | Facebook
TOPICS
- The opportunities that open when we leave our planned path
- Creating a bullshit filter and the importance of saying no
- How heartbreak has led Megan to a completely different path with new experiences
RESOURCES
- Freedom House New Mexico
- The Malala Fund
- #Girlboss – Sophie Amoruso
- The Purpose Economy – Aaron Hurst
- Yes Please – Amy Poehler
- I am Malala – Malala Yousafzai
- “Sometimes the Universe takes away what you think you want to make room for what you actually deserve.” — Charles J. Orlando via eHarmony Australia
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 5: Life is a Slinky with Fab Giovanetti
In this episode we talk about, compassion and self awareness, the lessons Fab Giovanetti learned from a really difficult 6 months, the need to give ourselves time to feel shit, and the myth that we can go from zero to 100, or zero to Taylor Swift.
Listen on your browser now:
ABOUT
Fab is an Italian cheeky lil monkey who moved to the UK looking to fulfil her never-ending cravings for avocado. Certified Health Coach, and business mentor with over five years of experience in PR, marketing and copywriting, she is the founder of the Health Bloggers Community: platform, events, awards and magazine for people passionate about health and writing.
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Podcast | Website
TOPICS
- Creating a safe space for communities to grow online
- Recognising the stories we tell ourselves
- Learning to strengthen the ‘asking for help’ muscle
- Fab’s recent experience in the dating world and what it’s taught her about life
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 6: Storytelling & Writing It Out with Torie Jochims
In this episode of Couragemakers, Torie Jochims really dives into the power of storytelling, dealing with perfectionism and how important it is to work on your relationship with yourself.
Listen on your browser now:
ABOUT
Torie is the over-caffeinated wordsmith at the helm of Wild Spark Creative. She’s passionate about helping small business owners and creative entrepreneurs create content that ignites their brand and authentically connects with their ideal audience. She’s a believer in people. She’s also a hiker, a mountain climber, a runner, a makeup enthusiast and a lover of craft beer and good desserts.
TOPICS
- Using writing as a way of dealing with the shit life throws at you
- Torie’s journey from co-creating a video production company, to starting her own business Wild Spark Creative
- Learning to open up to people and working on your perfectionism
- Working on your relationship with yourself
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 7: Conviction, Feminism & Owning a Business with Jessica Humphreys
During our conversation on today’s Couragemakers, Jessica Humphreys shares her journey of entering the world of feminism and sexual politics and how she came to start her own business with several employees.
Listen on your browser now:
ABOUT
Jessica is a self-described feminist and sex positivist living in Melbourne, Australia. Jessica owns a digital communications agency, Social Concepts, and is a social commentator who enjoys debating over copious amounts of herbal tea.
TOPICS
- Jessica’s journey of starting her own business
- The struggles that come with being Type A and learning to take time away from work
- How your perception of work changes when you work for yourself and do what you love.
- The importance of standing up for what you believe in, even if you’re the only one saying it
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 8: Moving Beyond Comfort with Anabel Roque Rodríguez
During our conversation Anabel Rogue Rodriguez shares her journey to becoming a freelance curator and art historian, The Comfort Zone list – a snail mail project she started with her friend to move beyond fear, how storytelling has to be a two way process and how Anabel has started to trust herself and honour her decisions, past and present.
Listen on your browser now:
ABOUT
Anabel Roque Rodríguez is an independent curator and art historian. She works in the field of contemporary art with a focus on the relation of art and the social, the financial crisis in the Mediterranean, community based art practices and feminism.. She believes that the private is political and we can all make a change through our everyday choices. Her projects deal frequently with empowerment tools and how to create safe spaces where a dialogue can happen and we talk about that in today’s episode.
Website | Tinyletter | Twitter
TOPICS
- The Comfort Zone List – a weekly list writing practice Anabel shares with a friend to support each other to move beyond their comfort zone
- Annabel’s tips for anyone who wants to become more visible, and for anyone who wants to work on owning their own story.
- The art of storytelling, and the challenges of listening to people’s stories in an academic context
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 9: Following Your Passions & Multipotentiality with Joanna James-LynN
During today’s conversation, Joanna James-Lynn shares her journey into the world of lifestyle design, her experience of having depression and how this has impacted many choices she made,
Listen on your browser now:
ABOUT
Joanna James-Lynn is a virtual assistant, podcaster, blogger, and writer. She’s fascinated by personality, identity, and the individual’s experience – themes she explores in her podcast, Introspectology, on her blog, and in the books she writes. (She considers herself a multipotentialite and in a former life she was a linguist. She has degrees in German, French, and Slovenian, and has lived in Germany, Luxembourg, Slovenia, and in a car. She now lives in Oxfordshire with her wife.)
Website | Introspectology Podcast | Twitter
TOPICS
- Joanna’s journey into multipotentiality and how her experiences with depression have led her to design a life that suits her
- Learning to like yourself
- The art of following your interests and seeing what happens
- Giving yourself permission to follow your hobbies for fun’s sake
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 10: Self Love & Punk Parenting with Raewyn Sangari
During this episode, we really dive into Raewyn Sangari’s own self love journey, the motivation behind starting the Warrior Queen Movement and how alternative parenting (punk parenting) has made a difference to her life. Raewyn shares her struggles with anxiety and has great advice for anyone who wants to start their own self love journey.
Listen on your browser now:
ABOUT
Raewyn is the founder of Be a Warrior Queen, a movement empowering women to embrace self-love. She’s also a new wife and mother to a baby girl, learning to navigate these new waters while maintaining her sense of self. The Warrior Queen Movement began in 2006 among Raewyn’s group of friends. Always having a passion for writing and feminism, Raewyn’s posts empower and inspire.
Website | Free Self Love E-Course | Twitter | We Are Warrior Queens Facebook Group
TOPICS
- The inspiration and motivation behind the Be A Warrior Queen Movement
- Raewyn’s definition of self care
- Raewyn’s decision to move home from college
- Making an alternative magazine for friends in high school
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 11: Going Against the Grain with Mei Leong
In this episode, Mei Leong shares how leaving a career in teaching allowed her to tap into her creativity and how going against the grain helped her to value herself a lot more.
Listen on your browser now:
TOPICS
- How leaving a career in teaching helped Mei to lean into her untapped creativity
- How inspiration plays a massive part in Mei’s life
- The boldness and gumption it took Mei to go against the grain and leave her teacher training programme
- Mei’s inspiration wall
- How creativity, courage and making the world a better place runs through Mei’s life.
RESOURCES
- Noughts & Crosses – Mallory Blackman
- Elizabeth Gilbert
- Eat, Pray, Love and Big Magic – Elizabeth Gilbert
- Impractical Dreaming Facebook Group
- Being Boss Facebook Group
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 12: Leaning into Discomfort with Jennifer Sterling
For this week’s episode, I talked to the lovely Jennifer Sterling. Jennifer Sterling is an Emotional Eating Coach. She helps women stop eating their feelings and release the physical, mental and emotional weight that’s keeping them from feeling their absolute best.
Listen on your browser now:
ABOUT
Jennifer Sterling is an Emotional Eating Coach. She helps women stop eating their feelings and release the physical, mental and emotional weight that’s keeping them from feeling their absolute best.
Outside of her business, Jennifer is a mom who enjoys dancing and baking. She can often be found in her kitchen doing both simultaneously.
TOPICS
- How your body is always in a state of unconditional love and how to reconnect to your body
- Why taking care of ourselves is really important not only for ourselves but for the people we look to serve
- How compassion and working on yourself can change the world and how we behave towards each other
- Leaning into discomfort and Jennifer’s advice on how to deal with discomfort
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 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.