Marcy Bialeschki’s journey from a dream deferred to a reality embraced is a testament to the power of resilience, reinvention, and relentless pursuit of one's passions. Like many creatives, Marcy once found herself sidelining her big dreams, but when the right idea for her novel Deception & Consequences sparked, she couldn't ignore it. With determination and an "all-in" attitude, Marcy not only completed her novel but also turned it into a thriving business. Her story reminds us that it's never too late to chase our dreams, and that sometimes, the most challenging roads lead to the most rewarding destinations.

How did you manage to transition from putting off your creative passions to actively pursuing them?

Writing a book and getting published was always my big dream and always on my mind, but until my idea for Deception & Consequences came along, I never really had a good enough idea for a novel. I always wrote articles and some stories, but never a book. When bits and pieces of my storyline kept coming in my head, I asked a couple of friends if I was crazy for thinking about taking on such a project, and they encouraged me. Even though the timing was not ideal because I was committed to teaching one more year, I started writing in May and had Deception finished in August. Once I began putting words on the page, I could not stop. I decided before I began that I was going 'all in' because this was my dream and somehow the opportunity presented itself. I couldn't pass it up because it may never come around again. Once I had Deception & Consequences finished and published, I knew it was a good book. I just didn't know how hard it was to promote a good book and get it off the ground. I didn't realize that my big dream of getting published was only the beginning. There was so much more road ahead of me. And when I realized this, I  also realized that I owed it to myself to continue. I knew that I was my own best investment, so I made the decision right then to invest in myself emotionally, personally, and financially. That's when I started the business to help fund and promote my books and to help get my name out there. I learned pretty quickly that books are big business. Writing one was only the tip of the iceberg. 

What personal experiences have influenced your writing and business ventures?

Everything I aspire to do is connected to the way I was raised. My dad was a mindset master. He was a coach and a teacher, and he knew the power of positive thinking and confidence. I was raised on the saying, 'you are who you think you are.'  My determination and confidence have been key elements in my success so far, and those traits come from him. When I wanted to write and publish a book, my motivation and confidence came from him, and it's my positive mindset that has jump-started every aspect of my business.

What advice would you give to women who are hesitant to pursue their creative projects or business ideas?

First of all, they have to want it bad enough to stay vigilant when people question them, when they hit roadblocks, when they fail, when they get told no. If they want their big dream the way I did, none of that stuff will matter. 

They also don't have to explain anything to the people who don't believe in them. I'm constantly telling myself that one day everyone who didn't 'get me' will realize what I've done. Until then, I have to stay the course and know that all of my hard work will pay off. So, I guess my advice is to trust your gut. If you want, and you're willing to work for it, and you don't give a damn what others think or say--- then nothing should stop you from going after what you want.

How did you deal with criticism or setbacks in your work?

It depends on the nature of the setback. What I mean is if it's something within my control, I take a hard look and find out what isn't working. Sometimes what I plan and spend a lot of time on is a colossal flop, and I'm not going to lie, that kind of failure hits hard. And at first, I wasn't always willing to admit the plan was flawed, but I learned that I can't get hung up with the failure aspect. I have to take a look and see what needs to be fixed for the next time. For instance, right now my website sales are pretty much non-existent. I made some poor choices, and I'm cutting my losses and moving on. I'm taking my time to get everything fixed the right way. But sometimes things happen that are outside my control. For example, when I pass a manuscript off to my publisher, it's out of my hands. If it doesn't meet all the interior deadlines to be released on time, it's out of my control. There's no sense getting mad or upset. It's been difficult, but I've learned to fix what I can and rely on others to do their part. But if it's out of my control--- I have to let it go and turn my attention and energy to issues I can impact.

How do you maintain balance between your personal life and the demands of your creative projects?

I am horrible at being idle. I'm in constant motion, and since starting this journey, that motion has been dedicated to writing, promoting, and selling books and related merchandise.There are no weekends or vacations. Everything I do, I hook it back to something that will affect my business. We go shopping in a new town-- I get leads on where I can sell. We go out to eat-- I'm telling waitresses and bartenders all about my book and getting content for social media. My husband can't even remember a time when I didn't make an outing about promoting and selling. Now, I don't advocate this life because it's exhausting, and it can be challenging for others who have to live in your wake, but I'm just geared this way...remember my "father story"? I know I need a balance, or I might burnout, but right now, I'm full-steam ahead trying to get my books in as many hands as possible.

What are some of the most rewarding aspects of your work with Tastefully Sexy and your book series?

There's nothing better than someone telling me they loved my book and can't wait for the next one in the series to come out. I also love when people comment that my writing style is unique and my voice doesn't sound like any other author. In fact, I took on the name Tastefully Sexy because one of my friends told me how much she loved my book because--- you guessed it, it was "tastefully sexy." My awards and professional reviews are also points of pride. Deception & Consequences went #1 on Ingram in its genre just 15 days post publication. It won the Titan Literary Award, the Publisher's Award, and all 6 Readers' Favorite reviews I received were 5-star. And I have to say that after hustling down magazines and podcasters hoping for some exposure, it's oh-so wonderful to open up my email and see someone pursuing me--- asking me for my time and my words. Best compliment ever.

Can you describe a significant struggle you encountered while building Tastefully Sexy and how you addressed it?

I remember going to a selling event with a bunch of other authors, and they were all doing quite well, but in my booth...crickets. I stood there for several hours with my emotions swinging wildly from feeling sorry for myself to being pissed and back again hitting all the 'feels' in between. Once I calmed down, I decided that maybe this outing was not about sales, but I wasn't going to let it be a wasted day. I started interacting with the authors, getting to know them, and swapping ideas. That's when I met Joe, and we exchanged social media contacts. I left that day not knowing exactly how Joe and my decision to vacate the pity pool would help me until weeks later. That's when I saw Joe's post on Instagram doing a spot on the news. I messaged him and got some contact information and two weeks later I was doing my own spot on the 'In the Know' segment on Channel 25 in Peoria, IL. That exposure boosted my sales tremendously, and it's all because I made a contact. Now I understand that business is not always about sales. Business is about people--- making contacts, helping and getting help. My day at the event with no sales was not wasted time. I have learned that when things don't work, I need to change my goal. The results may not be what I originally intended, and then again--- they may be better.

IG: @marcybialeschki
FB: https://www.facebook.com/marcybialeschki/

Fin Rose Aborizk’s journey through poetry is a testament to the power of transformation and self-discovery. Her collections, "At the Beginning of Yesterday" and "On the Ever-Lovely Morrow," are more than just words on a page; they are reflections of a soul navigating the ever-changing tides of life. From embracing the past to finding peace in the present, Fin's poetry invites readers to feel deeply, grow authentically, and find solace in the shared human experience. Through her words, she reminds us all that healing is a journey, and it’s okay to let the waves of life carry us to new shores.

1. What inspired you to create your poetry collections, "On the Ever-Lovely Morrow" and "At the Beginning of Yesterday"?

With At the Beginning of Yesterday, it was written at a very transformational point in my life, where everything around me was changing. With On the Ever-Lovely Morrow, I felt that I still had more to say and that there was another piece to the feelings involved with Yesterday. I think they tie into each other and complement each other in a really unexpected way. 

At the Beginning of Yesterday focuses on themes of the past and present. I best describe it as accepting the past for what it was, trying to remain present, and looking forward to the future the best way that you can because the future is scary and no one knows what’s going to happen tomorrow. 

On the Ever-Lovely Morrow focuses on today and tomorrow, it focuses on how everything comes in waves. When we think we’ve moved past something, like an ocean wave, we will get swept back and reminded of it from time to time. This collection is about feeling through it all while trying to navigate life and all of its mysteries. 

You’ll notice that At the Beginning of Yesterday and On the Ever-Lovely Morrow have two different author names. That is intentional. I am previously published as Tiffiny Rose Allen. With Yesterday, I wrote about breaking down the obstacles that were in my past, and in Ever-Lovely, I am stepping forward into another version of myself. In doing so, I honored my roots, honored my past, and also chose a new future for myself. To figure out why and how, well, you’ll have to read the books for those answers! 

2. Can you share a personal story that influenced your writing in "On the Ever-Lovely Morrow"?

It takes a lot to come home to who you truly are. Reinventing yourself and expressing yourself differently from how you did before will always come as a shock to some, but I believe it’s important to do what you need to do for yourself. I have undergone a lot of unlearning over the past few years, and none of that came easily. 

Ever-Lovely was a way for me to make peace with myself, to not beat myself up over feeling and re-feeling different situations in my mind. I came to terms with a lot of things in regards to my own identity as a woman, as a person. It was really hard for me to not keep putting myself into the box that society had set up for me. Eventually, time makes you look at yourself with candor, and whatever is reflected back is either a person that we’ve worked hard to become or the person that we settled ourselves to be. There are a few lines in this collection that I think of fairly often, and they are from a poem titled ‘The Process of Growing’ which goes: 

“I’m not writing my words to try and show you that I’m a good person. I am just writing my words to show you that I am, in fact, just a person.” 

3. What does the process of healing look like for you, and how do you convey that in your work?

I would have to say that writing, before anything else, has been my process of healing. Writing has been the thing that I have always been able to come back to. It is how I have processed my emotions and dealt with any and all of the situations that have presented themselves within my life. Healing, for me, as I state in On the Ever-Lovely Morrow, is something that will always come in waves. We just have to feel them through, and let them flow through us. 

4. What were some of the biggest obstacles you faced while creating your poetry collections?

I first started taking my poetry seriously when I decided to self-publish my first collection back in 2017. I found that, when you tell people that you’ve decided to self-publish, a lot of the time, they will not take you seriously, and they will doubt you. On top of that, a lot of doubts came from myself as well. I didn’t know what I was doing at first, I had to learn as I went through each step, and I find even now, I am always learning more about the process continuously. 

I felt in some situations that I ‘needed’ to dull myself down and not talk about my art and my poetry because of either a lack of encouragement, good ol’ imposter syndrome, or just feeling like perhaps I wasn’t good enough to fully share and talk about my work. When I would try to get my work showcased or shelved somewhere I would also face lots of rejection. No one likes rejection. But, instead of giving up and keeping myself small and digestible for everyone and everything around me, I kept going. Soon, my confidence got stronger and stronger, and now, thankfully, I have a lovely community of writers, both near and far, and I will talk about poetry all day everyday to anybody! 

I would say the biggest lesson I learned in all of that, is if you keep getting rejected, or people seem to not want to hear you speak about what brings you joy, then maybe it’s time to evaluate who you’re surrounded by. I believe that rejection is redirection, and I think it’s important to keep getting told ‘no’ so that you can keep moving forward until you find that right fit, until you find that ‘yes.’ If I didn’t start out in self-publishing, I wouldn’t have found so many amazing authors, some that I am lucky enough to call friends, and I would not have found my publisher, or worked with so many amazing publications and projects. So, my best advice? Keep going. 

5. In what ways has your mental health journey influenced your writing?

In every single possible way. 

6. How do you balance the emotional intensity of your poetry with your own well-being?

That is a great question. I am a deeply sensitive person at heart. I like to think that helps me with my writing. It also makes it hard to not shake away all of those emotions that I exude within my poems, when the poem veers into a heavier subject. It takes time to find a good balance, but I like to think that in most cases, I am able to leave certain feelings at the page, because I’m not keeping them in my mind anymore. It’s dispersed, it’s out of my mind and placed somewhere else. It is transformed into something softer. 

7. What advice would you give to other women who are struggling with their mental health?

I would say, feel it through. Just feel it. You’re never, ever alone. There is always someone, somewhere. You are loved more than you could ever know. There is always someone that you can talk to. Whether it’s family, friend, phone call to a hotline, it doesn’t matter. There is someone there for you for help. There is no shame in asking for help. Whatever you might be going through, please don’t give up. 

8. How do you find the strength to share such personal and vulnerable stories through your poetry?

If I can help someone feel less alone through sharing my own words and experiences with others, then that’s all there is to it. 

9. What has been the most rewarding part of sharing your work with others?

Oh gosh, well, firstly, meeting readers. Having conversations with them. Hearing their stories, sharing in a human experience. Connection through poetry has been absolutely life changing for me. 

10. How do you hope your poetry will impact those who read it?

I hope my words can be a place of comfort, of recognition. I hope someone reads my words and can find a glimmer of themselves, a reflection of something they might be going through. The number one reason I write is to show people that they are not alone in whatever it is that they are going through. There is love that exists, there are pages that feel your pain, there is a place that you can lay everything down and feel everything that you need to feel. For me, that is in my writing, for someone else, that could be from reading it. 

11. What advice would you give to aspiring poets who want to share their personal stories?

You deserve to share your words. There is space for you. 

12. What’s next for you in your creative journey? Any new projects or themes you’re exploring? 

Currently, I’m working on the second volume of the Dreams In Hiding anthology. The first one came to fruition in 2022, and now the second one should be ready this fall or winter. I am very fortunate to work with so many writers and creatives on this project and I’m really looking forward to sharing it. 

I really enjoy making zines and crafting, and I also really enjoy singing. I’m still a little shy but my confidence with that is something that I’ve been working on. I have one song out, that I released in the summer of 2022, that was a companion to the anniversary edition of my first poetry book. Maybe in the near future there will be some more music inspired things. I post about my projects on my Instagram @Dreamsinhiding.writing so follow along for more updates from me. 

And my writing? Well, I’ve always got something brewing. Right now, I’m allowing On the Ever-Lovely Morrow to have its time in the spotlight and to have the space it needs to breathe and to be shared. 

About the author: 

Fin Rose Aborizk is an author, poet, spoken word artist, and creator of many artforms. She began writing at an early age and entered the publishing world in 2017, where Dreams In Hiding Writing was born. With multiple poetry collections, a short story collection, and an anthology of her own curation, Fin goes wherever creativity guides her. In 2023, At the Beginning of Yesterday was released and its companion collection On the Ever-Lovely Morrow followed in 2024. 

Fin has showcased her books and offers custom poetry all around the State of Florida and out of State. She currently resides in North Central Florida, carries a copy of Rumi’s poetry wherever she goes, and is always daydreaming about their next tattoo. 

Website: https://dreamsinhidingwriting.wordpress.com/
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Will you lay with me when the world goes sour.

Will you lay with me when I have nothing left to give, as my petals fall revealing the end of my blooming season.

Will you lay with me when the only thing left to touch are my thorns.

Will you lay with me when winter comes and I am shaken with the beginning of my end.

Will you lay with me when the sun refuses to show his face.

Will you lay with me in the wintering when I'm shadowed by my own haze, wilted in grief at my release.

Will you lay with me as the waves beckon my body from where you have sunken in the sand.

Will you still love me in my dying days.

In a world where many of us are chasing the dream of a fulfilling career, Camille Prairie's journey is a testament to the power of listening to your inner voice and embracing change. From an aspiring doctor to the founder of Camille Prairie Copywriting and Creative Solutions, LLC, Camille's path is a story of resilience, self-discovery, and a relentless pursuit of passion. She transformed her life from the structured world of medicine to the dynamic and creative field of freelance writing, all while maintaining a deep connection to her roots in patient care and biology. Camille’s journey is an inspiring reminder that success isn't just about following a set path—it's about creating your own.

1. Can you share more about the journey that led you from aspiring doctor to founding Camille Prairie Copywriting and Creative Solutions, LLC?

So in 2021, I finished a one year post-graduate program that was very intensive. It was meant to mimic what the first year of medical school would be like. I finished with great grades and an offer from a medical school where I was living at the time(Philadelphia), contingent on me taking one more MCAT. I finished my second semester of this program very excited I was finally doing it. I was finally going to be a doctor, all of this hard work had paid off. And I found I didn't want to go to med school. I didn't want to spend the next few years of my life the way I had just spent the last one. So I moved home, to North Carolina. Shortly afterward, I met my now husband, and in our first year together, just job-hopped. I had a degree in Biology and a Pg.Cert and I tried out community gardening and research in a lab and became bored, quickly. It wasn't that I didn't like the work itself(although I did hate how mindless it was working at LabCorp), I just hated doing the same thing every day.

By the time I started freelancing full time in 2022, I had actually been freelance writing part time for 3 years. I started in 2019 when I was living in Argentina. I was a junior in college there on an unpaid cooperative education opportunity and I was running out of money so I picked up freelance writing gigs. And once I returned to the states, I kept freelancing whenever I could throughout my senior year of college and grad school. I worked and volunteered as an EMT, and shifts were a perfect time to do these assignments since there was down time. So 3 years after I was writing freelance pieces on my phone or on my computer in Buenos Aires, I started doing it full time. It took about six months to land a client that felt "real". Before, I had worked for content mills or used other 3rd party platforms to land clients, and I wasn't very well paid. Once I got my first client, I just kept getting clients, and since I started, I've picked up more work than I've lost. Clients from the healthcare industry started to gravitate toward me because of my background, so that's what I focus on now, but it's not what I do exclusively. I wanted to grow, so I incorporated my LLC in January and currently work with 2 contractors.

2. What inspired you to shift from a potential career in medicine to freelance writing and eventually starting your own business?

I think I answered this in #1, but the "inspiration" I would say was a desire to have autonomy over my time, live life on my own terms, be more rested and live a balanced life, and do something that excites me without burning out.

3. How does your background in Biology and patient care influence your approach to copywriting, particularly for healthcare and medical clients?

My background in Biology is honestly really helpful. While I don't write a lot of technical documents (I'm trying to find the time to upskill, but I just don't have it right now), I do write a lot about health and wellness, as well as pharmaceuticals, and I'm often in the same room when more complex topics are being discussed. Experience writing and reading primary journal articles and learning about extremely minute, specific biological processes is a huge asset. I can think critically, read critically, and have that skill of translating complex topics into easier to understand language. And having a patient care background helps tremendously, at least personally. I loved patient care, so knowing that I'm indirectly helping patients when I help some of my clients is extremely rewarding. Additionally, being able to get into my clients' heads and understand the challenges they face as care providers in this healthcare system helps me connect with them. 

4. Can you describe a specific moment or experience that made you realize writing was your true passion?

I've always loved to write. That was my first big career dream when I was 6 or 7. I just never thought it could happen, and I didn't understand it could look like this. Probably the first time I picked up a book or had my own journal as a kid.

5. What were the initial challenges you faced when transitioning from a traditional career to freelance writing, and how did you overcome them?

Transitioning to full-time freelance writing presented a lot of challenges: fear of failure, self-doubt, overwhelm(everyone offers so much advice and you don't know whose to take or what to do first), struggles getting clients, difficulty determining what rates were fair. Those were the main ones. I still struggle with self-doubt at times. I still struggle with what to focus on - there's never enough time in the day for everything. But self-doubt was probably the biggest obstacle.

6. Self-doubt and fear can be significant obstacles for many creatives. How do you manage these feelings, and what strategies have you found effective in building your confidence?

I manage self-doubt and fear by reframing the "what if I fail" fear. Instead of looking at something as failure, I look at everything as a learning experience. I think about how lucky I am to be alive and having a human experience. I think about how amazing it is that I've made it this far. I remind myself of all that I've done so far, how far I've come, and how I would have reacted this time last year if I told myself I'd be where I am now. 

7. In the early stages of your business, what were some of the key challenges you encountered regarding finding clients and managing your finances?

The biggest challenge I encountered finding clients was... finding them. I know that sounds overly simplistic, but when you're first starting out, you have a much smaller network, so referrals aren't as likely. Most people start finding clients through cold outreach or pitching on platforms like Upwork or applying to contract gigs against incredible competition. Finding clients is always a numbers game, but in the beginning, it's really a numbers game.

You have to be willing to put yourself out there, day after day. My experience has been that the longer I've done this, the bigger my network has gotten, and the more business I get through referrals. Additionally, the more resources I know about. But in the beginning, you don't have the money to pay for a premium version of a newsletter with daily freelance jobs. You probably don't know that newsletter exists. I, personally, just pitched, and pitched, and pitched, and worked for low-paying jobs, until I finally got a break. And then everything took off. The biggest challenge in finding clients was the finding itself and being patient enough. Not giving up. I was lucky to have financial support when I started doing this - my husband encourage me to go for it - but the biggest financial challenge is that you aren't making money for a while, or you aren't making a lot of money, so it's hard to invest in your business.

8. You mentioned considering email marketing as a potential strategy. What other marketing approaches have you found successful or challenging in growing your business?

My most successful marketing approaches have been cold outreach and social media marketing. Cold outreach is really hit or miss; social media has really allowed me to build an incredible network. I'm currently working on amping up my own SEO and hopefully email marketing down the line!

9. How do you balance the creative aspects of writing with the practicalities of running a business?

It's hard. I find it helpful to make my desk a place I like to be. I minimize distractions. I make however much coffee I want if that keeps me motivated. I work in chunks. I take breaks. I try really hard not to switch between writing a piece and doing something else for the business.

10. Can you discuss how mental health has impacted your journey as an entrepreneur, and how you maintain your well-being amidst the challenges?

One of the reasons I started my own business was to be more mentally healthy and peaceful. I was so burned out throughout college and graduate school and never really learned how to just ... stop. Entrepreneurship has taught me that there is only so much I can control. Knowing that has really helped me let go of a lot and live in the present moment. I also use meditation, yoga, and frequent exercise to maintain my health and sense of peace and I set boundaries around work time and rest time. It's hard, sometimes, but I'm really proud of how much progress I've made even this year! I also take six weeks off a year, roughly, so I schedule vacations far in advance and plan work around those to avoid burnout.

11. What advice would you give to other women who are contemplating starting their own creative or freelance business?

Go for it. Find support. Do your research first. Make sure you have money saved up. Know it will be hard. Plan your workdays so you don't over work yourself.

12. How do you stay motivated and inspired, especially during times when self-doubt creeps in?

I remember how far I've come and I remember that tomorrow will be better. And I usually stop working and take a nap if I'm really feeling down.

13. What role do meaningful connections with clients and their audiences play in your work, and how do you foster these connections?

Creating meaningful connections is really the heart of everything I do. I love connecting with people, and I center that through the way I work with my clients and the way I connect with people - whether it's having a quick chat with a colleague or offering advice to a newer business owner. I'm really interested in what each individual client and colleague of mine is struggling with - or loving - right now and how I can help them or support them with my work. I foster these connections through consistent interactions and communication.

14. Can you share a particularly rewarding experience or project that has reaffirmed your decision to pursue a career in writing?

Sure! Two come to mind: I worked with a client in the gender equity in medicine space recently. I loved the project because it was my first with a nonprofit, and it felt really good to write for a company doing so much good to advance equity among physicians, and more broadly, in healthcare. The second in a client of mine who just gave me a glowing review when I asked her for mid-project feedback. She said she really saw the value of the SEO work we had done together and it felt so good to know she saw the effects of our work and felt positively about how she had invested in her business. I'm honored people choose to work with me, so I hope everyone has that feeling of, "what a great investment this was!"

15. Looking ahead, what are your future goals for Camille Prairie Copywriting and Creative Solutions, LLC, and how do you plan to achieve them?

I'd like to continue to grow in the healthcare space, particularly doing healthcare copywriting, content marketing, and SEO. I'd love to work with more clients, grow the business a bit, and work with mission-driven companies and organizations. I'll be doing a lot of outreach and marketing to reach those clients and also taking care of myself to sustain future growth!

IG: @camilleprairie_creativeco
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/camille-prairie/

Robin Alvarez's journey from trauma to triumph is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. What began as a simple writing exercise in a memoir class blossomed into a profound exploration of her own life story—a journey of reclaiming her voice after years of feeling silenced. Through the cathartic process of rewriting her experiences, Robin transformed pain into power, showing us that healing is possible, even after the darkest moments. Her story reminds us that we all have the strength within to confront our past, rewrite our narratives, and emerge stronger on the other side.

What initially inspired you to rewrite your story?

Initially, the rewrite of this story was merely a writing exercise in a creative memoir writing class. But as I retold a near-death experience of surfing during a hurricane, my professor pushed me to explore why I would go out into such a dangerous situation. This drove me to reflect on all the things I was struggling with at that moment in my life when, as a seventeen-year-old, I felt isolated from my family and friends and trapped in an abusive relationship. Months after that class ended, the story was still resonating in my heart. I realized I had a lot to say about feeling voiceless and reclaiming my sense of self as I was still healing over a decade later. I had to write that story and doing it as a Little Mermaid retelling, in which my main character feels like she has to give up her voice to escape, gave me such a great frame to show what someone would give up to escape, and what they might discover when they give up parts of themselves.

Can you share a specific detail about your journey of rewriting your story that was a turning point for you?

First drafts can be super rough because writers are still exploring what they want to say and how they want to say it. There were many moments, when working through that first draft, when I had a lot of questions about how I’d gotten into such a scary situation. I’d blamed myself for years for so much of it. In searching for those answers, doing the research, I realized there were so many things that weren’t my fault. Reasons I’d internalized and just accepted the blame for were suddenly being looked at with a new lens. In those moments, I felt my decade-old wounds healing instead of just being covered up. 

Did you experience any mental health challenges while reliving your trauma? How did you cope with them?

Absolutely. I felt anger and fear renewed while reliving the trauma. I was more irritable around everyone, and I didn’t like myself very much. At times in my writing, it felt like a mistake to relive it. Then there were moments where it felt important to me and maybe for others who would hear this story. Coping meant talking things out with my family and friends. That wasn’t something I did when I was going through the trauma because I felt silenced. Even after the traumatic events happened, I stayed quiet because I thought it would be easier to move on. Just getting to speak about these terrible things and feel safe to do that because I have family and friends I trust helped me realize I’m not where I used to be. I’m in a better place because I’d chosen good people to be around, and they chose me too.

What advice would you give to women who might be hesitant to revisit past traumas?

Take your time. Healing is a personal journey and it should happen at your own pace. It’s also okay to take breaks if you start to feel overwhelmed and come back when you’re ready.

Beyond the challenges, what were some of the most rewarding aspects of rewriting your story?

One of the most rewarding aspects of rewriting my story was feeling like I finally had a voice. That I would be talked over and that the space was mine to explore. Rewriting the story gave me back my power.

How has rewriting your story impacted your mental and emotional well-being?

While rewriting it, there were moments when I didn’t feel strong or well. There were also times I felt stronger and healthier than I’d ever been. Now that it’s over, my mental and emotional well-being are better than they ever have been. But I think that has a lot to do with looking for answers to questions I didn’t know I had before. There was closure for that part of myself I’d hated, when I should have loved my past self more. She really needed it.  

Did you have any support system in place while rewriting your story? If so, how did they help you?

I always have a support system in place because I’m still always healing. I lean on my family and friends in a way I didn’t before with communication. I talk things out with them even if those pesky feelings don’t feel important. Sometimes, just saying things aloud gives me perspective, but it also strengthens my bonds with them.

Do you feel a sense of empowerment or liberation after rewriting your story?

Writing When Oceans Rise was a deeply personal journey that allowed me to confront and transform my own experiences with abuse into a narrative that resonated with me while also, hopefully, empowering others. It gave me the chance to explore my emotions and experiences that were both healing and freeing. I found a renewed sense of agency over my story.

How can women identify and challenge negative self-beliefs that may be holding them back?

I’m not a professional, so I can only speak to what works for me and hope that it might resonate. Something that works for me is journaling. Specifically, I participate in an activity where I write continuously for three pages as if it is my stream of consciousness. I let myself express all of the negative thoughts, feelings, and emotions. I also let myself express positive thoughts if they are part of that stream of consciousness. I don’t edit myself or slow down to think. This helps me get out all the useless noise that wants to play over and over in my head. It gives me perspective on things I might not want to face and lets me vent.

What does "strength" mean to you in the context of overcoming challenges?

Strength is a deeply personal journey that exists on a spectrum and is different for everyone. For me, sometimes strength was just getting up in the morning. As the years went by, strength was the ability to say what I wanted and needed and to know I wasn’t asking for too much. Now strength is my ability to speak on these issues, even when it still makes me feel weak.

Besides writing, are there other creative outlets that you find helpful for processing difficult experiences?

I love learning new things. I like to tell people my real hobby is having hobbies because I’m more interested in learning a new skill like woodworking and knitting, and then moving on to the next thing I can get my hands on. The process of learning a new skill helps me block out negative thoughts when processing difficult experiences because my brain is actively focused. When I already know how to do a hobby, the intrusive thoughts become too loud.

What is the most important message you want to share with other women who are facing similar struggles?

You are not alone and your voice matters. Be kind to yourself because this journey isn’t easy, and know that every step forward, no matter how small, is a testament to your resilience.

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Mel Davis's journey through mental health challenges is a testament to resilience, self-advocacy, and the power of self-expression. Diagnosed with bipolar 1 disorder and having faced anxiety and depression throughout her life, Mel has navigated the complexities of the healthcare system as a Black woman, encountering both setbacks and triumphs. Her story is one of overcoming misdiagnosis, finding healing through dance and spirituality, and using her experiences to inspire others. Through honesty, vulnerability, and a deep commitment to self-care, Mel has not only reclaimed her wellness but has also become a beacon of hope and empowerment for those facing similar struggles.

1.Can you share more about your experience with the healthcare system and how it impacted your mental health journey?

I've been clinically diagnosed with bipolar 1 disorder, but I’ve struggled with general anxiety and depressive episodes throughout my adolescent life. I’ve always wanted to be in a space where I could heal my mental health appropriately with the use of doctors and medication, but I’ve learned that as a black woman often there's stereotypes regarding this type of mental health diagnosis that comes from both my community and the doctors that serve me. In 2021 I was hospitalized for my mental health because of a severe depressive episode and a psychotic break of some sort. While in the hospital, I was telling the doctors what I was experiencing in terms of my symptoms and they decided to go based off of  the different types of notions which led to, practice and management of care. I was given the inappropriate doses of medication in a very small amount of time which led to variances of PTSD. 

2. How did you initially find out about your misdiagnosis, and what steps did you take to address it? 

I am someone who is very intuitive and someone says I am spiritually gifted of some sort, but that’s very controversial in the medical field so when getting to know me or diagnosing me in someway, there were sort of checkboxes for the things that someone would consider schizophrenic, but I am not schizophrenic. I just happen to have a different sense of self and a different sense of reality but at the same time I am aware of what is real and what isn’t, whereas most people with schizophrenia aren’t able to decipher such.

3. In what ways did new medication contribute to your healing process? 

I got a new care team and my care team listened to me and they listened to my therapist and the history that I shared with her and they recognize that I was not schizophrenic as the hospital suggested and I got on a mood stabilizer, which was a medication designated for bipolar disorder, and with this medication, I was able to counteract some of the PTSD from the malpractice of medication and mismanagement of care, with the diagnosis of schizophrenia. However, that was not the only thing that got me through the experience which was very tumultuous and challenging.

4. How did dance play a role in your recovery and self-expression?  

While having PTSD and experiencing false schizophrenia symptoms there were a lot of racing thoughts and a lot of things happening through my mind at times that didn’t make sense to me. I was in certain circumstances and I needed to be in constant movement in order to work through what I was thinking.  I have been dancing since I was younger, and I had taken a break from dancing because of life and motherhood and then I decided to turn on some music one day to sort of calm my mind and I decided to do that more often brought me a sense of safety and security. It was different types of music at first, and then I just allowed my body to naturally move itself through the noise in my mind through the anxiety from the past and I was able to consciously wake myself up with the use of songs

5. Can you describe how you incorporated spiritual wellness into your healing journey? 

I am someone who believes in journaling and meditation, but my form of meditation isn’t in the way that people think.  Meditation is just a standstill for me like I don’t sit in a lotus position and meditate. I often will sit in a quiet place and just taking the atmosphere and just sort of calm my mind and calm my thoughts with breathing in and out without sitting cross-legged. Also I'm someone who Likes to reflect a lot based on how I’m feeling, and I also took a lot of baths which included different herbs known to heal anxiety like chamomile and herbs like hyssop were incorporated into my process of sort of centering myself in a spiritual way

6. What specific challenges did you face while advocating for yourself in the healthcare system? 

I was physically going through withdraws from the medication that they gave me. My body was in constant awareness and shock because I was given too much medication in a small amount of time.  One day I was physically erratic, however, my mind was almost sleepy. It was an out of body experience, and I felt like something wasn’t right, and I went to the emergency room, then I mentioned to them that I had been hospitalized, but I was rational, even though my body was telling me to be irrational, so that was a challenge because recognizing something is wrong with you while going through it is not easy, but I stood my ground. I stood up for myself and I was honest what was going on with me and from there doctors actually said to me, "thank you for advocating for yourself" and that led to me having a team of doctors.

7. How did you maintain your motivation and resilience during the most difficult times? 

My son motivates me to keep going even in my time of breaking down and losing myself. I always wondered what would he say about his mother one day when he’s older. Would he say his mother was strong or would he say that she was resilient? I look at him every day and his opinion of me keeps me motivated and keeps me focused and keeps me wanting to be better than I was previously or yesterday.

8. What were some pivotal moments or realizations that helped you move forward in your story? 

I recognized that I needed to be realistic with myself. I needed to tell myself the truth. I needed to say you have something going on because of things that you’ve been through, but it is not this. recognizing how I’ve dealt with my mental state in the past was what kept me grounded when something else was going on that was not the same. I was able to recognize moments of breakdowns before. I'd ask myself, how did I get through this before and from that moment of recognition I was able to push forward and learn that I’m not where I was anymore and learned that I’m moving towards something better.

9. How did you find and integrate support systems or communities during your recovery?

I have one personal support system and it’s my older sister who’s been a constant uplifting agent in person in my life however, I created my own community during my recovery time. I create dance videos on TikTok and Instagram that discuss body positivity and self-love through the worst part of yourself.  recognize that showcasing and documenting my worst parts of myself and pushing through them and loving myself, no matter what happened was something that I needed for myself but also that other people needed.In other words, I host a community of positive energy through movement and spiritual alignment which helps encourage others to show up for themselves no matter what’s going on personally or outside of them.


10. What role did self-advocacy play in your healing process, and how did you develop this skill? 

Self advocacy is something that I never knew I was doing. I come from a very big family and many of us are taught to be straightforward and honest about what we believe in and that also comes from within self. There weren’t many people to stand up for me in my life so I stood up for myself. My mother stood up for herself. She went through many things, and she continued to push forward and she continued to honor herself, and I saw a woman get up every day, no matter how difficult it was, and tell her kids to keep going. She would tell us to show up and  try so I did that.

11.How did you navigate and manage the PTSD you experienced as a result of your misdiagnosis?

I At first it was difficult to manage PTSD.  I was very scared. I didn’t know what was going on. I didn’t recognize it at first and then while dancing to Beyoncé’s "freedom" I felt like I wasn’t free. I felt like something was holding me back so I wrote it down all my feelings in my journal and I told myself that I wasn’t going to be afraid and I was gonna keep pushing until i felt free.

12. What advice would you give to others who feel overwhelmed by their mental health challenges? 

I would advise everyone facing mental health challenges to first start and acknowledge that something is going on. It’s really hard to hold yourself accountable, especially when something is out of your control for the most part and acknowledging that there’s this hardship that you're facing is the first step. Also, while understanding that it can be overwhelming if you ignore it. In this case, I do not think ignorance is bliss. I think that there’s bliss on the other side of healing and the first step of healing is recognizing that there’s something wrong with your health that you could need help with.

13. How has your experience influenced your perspective on mental health and wellness? 

I’ve learned that no matter what a clinical diagnosis says about me, I’m my own person.  While there may be things that can hold me back or take longer for me to do I can still do it. I have more willpower and strength.  It is really difficult to stay strong but understanding that I am more than a diagnosis changed my view on mental health and mental wellness.

14. What are some practical steps women can take to ensure they are advocating effectively for themselves?  

I believe that women should speak up more often, and we should honor ourselves for our personal strength.  We have to support others but how we support ourselves and how we pour into ourselves is what can help us understand when there’s something taking us away from who we are authentically. 

I think as women, we should understand that we're beautiful and is not just because of how we look, but it’s because of who we are.  

15. How do you envision using your story to support and inspire others who are facing similar struggles? 

I hope that with my honesty and vulnerability that others will find strength to think for themselves. I hope to encourage others to motivate themselves to be true to what they know within. I hope that this story can inspire someone to stand up and take a stance against a really big healthcare system that sometimes isn’t always right and sometimes they get it wrong. I hope that with the story, the healthcare system gets right.

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Lashun Williams, an inspiring author with a deep passion for storytelling, has returned to the literary world with a new and exciting sea-themed romance series. After a decade-long hiatus, she has reignited her creative spark, embracing the power of her unique writing voice. Her journey back to writing is marked by resilience, self-discovery, and a renewed dedication to her craft. In this interview, Lashun shares the inspiration behind her current project, "Starlight," her love for whimsical characters and supernatural elements, and the challenges she has faced along the way. Her story is a testament to the importance of perseverance, self-belief, and the profound impact of following one's creative passions.

1. Can you tell us more about the inspiration behind your current project, "Starlight"?

Starlight is the unofficial title of book one of my adult sea-themed romance series that follows a 26-year-old heroine as she leaps into the seas of deception and woe by joining a mysterious captain and his crew as they defeat The Black Trinity, three notorious ghostly pirates that terrorize land dwellers. The idea came to me while I rewatched Pirates of the Caribbean 1, and I simply refused not to write the story.

2. How did "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "Crimson Peak" influence your storytelling approach?

As much as I love the PotC movies, I felt like something was missing. I wanted to read an adult story with more action and whimsical characters, a tale that provided comedy with a serious undertone. So, the adventure, comedy, and beauty of the sea life is there along with the magical, supernatural elements of the series, however Crimson Peak’s influence is highlighted through The Black Trinity. I love odd stories that twist your mind, and these three vicious captains are just that.

3. What drew you to the sea-themed love story genre, and how did you make it your own?

Wonderful question! Similar to Eirwen, the female protagonist, I always loved and feared the sea. Stories of Poseidon and his power always struck my fancy, but my research regarding other deities, mainly Mami Wata and orishas Oshun and Yemaya, revealed the ocean and its creatures are far more powerful and mystifying than I believed. Truthfully, I wanted to incorporate that in this story. As much as this is a romance, there are more points here than just romance.

4. After a decade-long literary absence, what motivated you to start writing again?

Honestly, I never stopped writing. It always lived and breathed somewhere in my life, though the influx of life requirements and ailments in personal relationships and my own confidence made storytelling more complicated.

What truly sparked my literary drive was finding my writer’s DNA. February 2023, I took a course by writer Rachel Giesel called The Writer’s DNA. This course single-handedly changed my entire perspective of writing, genres and tropes, and it helped me identify the type of writer I am. Not “the writer I want to be” but the “writer I am.”

I can’t stress enough how important it is for a writer to know themselves. Yes, writers find themselves along the way, but what ignited my flame and set this productive course was accepting the full nature of my writing and asking myself these questions: Who am I writing for? Do I have an audience, and if so, what do they like to read? How invested into this am I? What type of stories do I want to write?

I asked myself more questions than that, but after identifying this, I said “Yes” to myself all year. Because of this, 2023 turned out to be my most successful literary year to date.

5. What challenges did you face when returning to writing after such a long break?

Social media! Platforms were easy to use, mostly, but my eyes couldn’t handle the constant scrolling – I have the soul of a 60-year-old. Also, my biggest challenge was realizing how independent writing was for me. I used to envision myself in writing groups, joining writer’s circles, connecting and networking like writers and authors recommend. Although I also recommend joining groups and communities, that’s not the type of writer I am. I’m rather a solitary woman now, and my craft is profoundly important to me. It’s challenging not sharing my work as much as I used to, but I’m growing accustomed to the silence.

6. How has your personal journey shaped your writing and the themes you explore?

I can tell I’ve greatly matured as a woman, haha. My first published series, Element Princess, should have been considered YA due to the ages of the main characters (16-19), but I hardly knew about the publishing world at the time and my mother, my manager at the time, had no idea what she was doing. It ended up in the wrong genre, the publishing house I chose barely helped with marketing and distribution, and truthfully, I was too stressed and in my own world to realize I just published two books (both the same year in 2013).

Because of these many trials, and the years’ worth of experiences within the last decade, I decided to dive deeper into myself and enrich my storytelling. Starlight has mature themes like trauma, betrayal, and the inner machinations of the human soul, which are topics you read about but, I believe, are not fully dove into.

I’ve become a stronger woman than I ever thought I’d be, and the trials of myself, and humanity really, are definitely shown through my stories.

7. What role does mental health play in your creative process?

I need silence when I write. Granted, I have music playing, but it’s movies and show soundtracks, or a writing session is playing on YouTube so I can focus, but my environment needs to be relatively calm for me to be in the zone. I’m quite an aesthetic woman, so I also need candles, my water bottle, my drink of the day, home décor, cups of pens, journals, Funkos, and anything else that inspires me.

From 2021 – 2023, I noticed a decline of my friend groups. This space allowed me to focus on my goals and aspirations without giving all of my energy and attention to these connections. Honestly, the reprieve helped my mental health and my literary life.

8. Have you incorporated any personal struggles into the characters or plotlines of "Starlight"?

So far, not really. I don’t intentionally insert myself or my experiences into my characters. They have stories to tell so I will write them. While editing, I’ll notice subtle nuances then laugh, but I’m not the self-inserting type of writer.

9. How do you balance the demands of writing with maintaining your mental health?

I’m a sucker for metaphors. My stories are on The Stove. So far, I’ve got all eight burners going, but one or two of them are on higher settings. I pay attention to the one with the hottest flame while the others either simmer out (the stove gauges control themselves) or it burns enough for me to notice. Starlight was one of those stories with a medium/high heat until I finished book one. I’m currently working through book 2.

Writing is my life. I made several posts about this on my personal blog, Heart of Writing (https://substack.com/@heartofwriting?utm_source=user-menu). I need to write more than anything, so it’s not hard for me to find time and get it done. It’s all about desire and inspiration. Sometimes, life requires my attention and energy more. That doesn’t mean the stories aren’t rolling through my head.

10. What advice would you give to other women who are struggling to return to their creative passions?

Remember your why. It might have changed since you first started, and it might be the same but different. Throughout my life, I told people exactly who I am and what I’m about: Writing is my life. So, in 2023, I asked myself, “If it’s [writing] my life, why am I not acting like it?” Writing is also a powerful honor to me, and it deserves to be respected as such. Writing is a skill and form of communication, but storytelling is an artform that requires patience, skill, and humility.

Consider how important writing and your stories are to you then determine how far you’re willing to go for this art. Are you going to publish? Do you write for you? Need your ideas posted in a blog? Decide what you want to do and where you want to go. No stress. There will always be blogs, magazines, and publishing houses. Just make sure you love what you manifested.

11. Can you share a moment where you felt particularly empowered during your writing journey?

There’s something incredibly satisfying for me when I see my manuscript’s wordcount rise. Not every single word will make the final cut, but I know I’ve got a solid idea when my manuscript jumps from 5,000 words to 15k in a single month. As the number grows and the story brings itself together, the high of my achievement fuels me to the finish line.

The first manuscript I completed in a decade was an autumn, age-gap romance unrelated to Starlight. I finished it in 4 months and won NaNoWriMo because of it. I’m still enormously proud of myself for finishing. I showed myself “I still got it.” Ultimately, I just had to silence the world.

12. What do you hope readers take away from your work, especially "Starlight"?

I’d love for my readers to finish my books and hold them to their chests with a smile. If I can see my fans hugging their copies, especially the signed ones, I just might cry (I probably will). In the plethora of amazing authors and stories, I want to be a renowned author that’s known for her immaculate storytelling and impactful themes. And I want readers to experience this, too.

13. How do you stay motivated and inspired, especially on difficult days?

I leave my stories alone on difficult days. I remember that at the end of the day, I’m still a woman. The stories will finish one day. The audience will get responses one day. If that day isn’t “today” then it simply isn’t today. Visits to Starbucks or my bestie’s house enrich me as well, especially since she avidly makes homemade meals – I’m spoiled, I tell you.

14. Are there any female authors or creators who have inspired you?

I will throw my money at Bea Northwick for being such an amazing person and storyteller. In 2023, I found her on Instagram and immediately added her book, The Cruel Dark, to my TBR list. She is one of my fantasy romance literary queens.

My other queen is Logan Karlie, whom I’ve met at a book signing – I’m still geeking. Everyone who knows me knows I love darker themes, encrypting artwork of shadows, skeletons, and ghostly, haunted people, and Logan’s debut novel, Dream by the Shadows, has exactly what I need and more.

I’m also thoroughly inspired by animes like InuYasha, Fushigi Yuugi, Kamisama Kiss, and so many others.

15. What would you say to women who doubt their ability to pursue their creative dreams?

I always think it’s best to consult your older self. Sometimes, I ask, “What would 60-year-old Lashun do?” or “How would she feel if I did/didn’t do ____?” Usually, I get an answer rather quickly. For sure, 60-year-old Lashun would be pissed if I stopped writing, so I keep going and adapt with the times.

When you’re down and out, I also recommend connecting with authors who’ve either done what you’ve done or are as serious as you. Most of the writer friends I had in the past weren’t serious about their ambitions, and this caused a lot of unnecessary strife. Find out who’s as motivated as you, as ambitious as you, or someone who’s willing to support you through your literary journey. Not everyone will respect that fire in you, so make sure you leave room for air, and allow yourself to burn.

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Heidy De La Cruz is a passionate storyteller and podcast host dedicated to amplifying the voices of immigrants. Through her podcast, The American Dream in The Eyes of Immigrants, she has created a platform for sharing the diverse and powerful experiences of immigrants in the United States. Inspired by her own family's immigration journey and a deep curiosity about others' stories, Heidy launched her podcast to bring these often-overlooked narratives to light. Her journey, filled with personal challenges and triumphs, serves as an inspiration to others, proving that with determination and a clear purpose, anyone can create something impactful and meaningful.

1. What inspired you to start The American Dream in The Eyes of Immigrants Podcast?

I wanted to start a podcast in 2019, but then I was finishing my Master's degree program and didn't have the extra time. In 2020, I was dealing with mental health during the pandemic; in 2021, I was pregnant with my son; and finally, in 2022, during my maternity leave, I started researching how to launch a podcast. I wanted the podcast to be interview-style because I've always been intrigued by people's stories. So, when I was brainstorming ideas of what kind of stories to share, I came across an article about an immigrant from Kenya. She explained how each culture shock she experienced in the US diminished her confidence. After reading her story, I thought to myself how immigrant stories aren't shared often; we don't hear about what happens once they come to the US. So I asked my husband about his story when he came to the US since he was only nine years old - I asked him what he remembered. As he was telling me his story, a light bulb went off, and I realized that's what I want my podcast to be about - sharing immigrant stories.

2. Can you share a bit about your family’s immigration story and how it influenced the podcast?

- My parents came to the US in the 90s from the Dominican Republic. They first lived in New York, where I was born, but they moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, shortly after. Back in the 90s, there wasn't a big Dominican community in Grand Rapids, but as time passed, more Dominicans immigrated there. 

My dad eventually remarried to my stepmom, who also came from the DR in the early 2000s. As a child of immigrants, I remember translating for my dad often, helping them study for their citizenship test and interview, and listening to their stories of living back home in the DR. Because of my experience, I started interviewing children of immigrants in addition to immigrants themselves. 

3. How has your husband’s immigration experience shaped the direction of your podcast?

- I did a special interview with my husband and his two siblings. I interviewed them all together because listening to them talk about their experience made me realize they all had slightly different memories of when they came. His oldest brother was 14, his sister was 10, and he was 9 when they moved, so perspectives differed. This was the second interview I had done with siblings together and I'd love to do more. 

4. What have been some of the most memorable or impactful episodes you’ve recorded so far?

- The most impactful episodes I've published are those who are/were DACA recipients. Some of them have been able to receive their citizenship status and even become immigration attorney - so now they help others who were in their shoes. These are the most impactful stories for me because them coming to the US was a choice that was made for them by their parents and yet, they have to suffer the consequences of their parent's actions. Still, it's a choice their parents felt was correct- to provide their kids with a better life. 

5. What challenges have you faced while running the podcast on your own?

- The challenge of having to do everything on my own, from booking guests to editing, to production, to marketing afterward. It can be a lot sometimes and sometimes I feel like skipping steps or cutting corners, but then I remember why I started or I'll receive a message about how great an episode was and I am reminded why I'm doing this. 

Also, technology doesn't always work the way it's supposed to, so I have to figure out the solution on my own, unlike if I had a team, I could delegate to talk it through with someone else. 

6. How do you manage the feeling of guilt related to being ahead in your episode release schedule?

- The guilt was getting bad when I was over a year ahead, but as I was talking to my husband about it, he shared this perspective - that what I'm sharing is timeless content - meaning it's not going to change whether I share the story one week from now or two years from now because it's their immigration journey. That helped me with my guilt and the fact that when I tell guests when their episode will air (which is months in advance), they are pleasantly surprised my podcast has so many episodes lined up. I mean, there are millions of immigrants and children of immigrants in this country, so hopefully, I'll always have content, LOL. 

7. How has creating and maintaining the podcast impacted your mental health?

- It actually has been good for my mental health - whenever I finish recording an episode, I feel so inspired! And I'm reminded again why I'm doing this and how so many people have lived such an incredible life! People's stories are truly moving - I am a firm believer that storytelling changes the world. 

8. What strategies do you use to balance podcasting with other aspects of your life?

- Staying on schedule. I burned out at the beginning of my journey, which is why episodes are released every other Tuesday. It gives me space to take a break between episodes. And I have specific days when I record episodes and edit them. 

9. Have you encountered any unexpected rewards or benefits from running the podcast?

- Yes! A few, I've had opportunities to be on other podcasts, speaking opportunities, host webinars, internships with other podcasters, and network opportunities. I also had the opportunity to be in a movie with my daughter because of my podcast, which was a very cool experience. I've interviewed authors and received advance copies of their books before they were published. 

10. What advice would you give to other women looking to start their own creative projects or podcasts?

- My advice always is to reach out to someone who's doing what you want to do to ask questions. Don't do it alone, you don't have to do it alone, there are so many people willing to help you on your journey, all you have to do is ask - which may be the hardest part. 

11. How do you handle moments of self-doubt or burnout in your podcasting journey?

- Whenever I'm dealing with self-doubt God always sends me a message of encouragement through someone. It never fails! It's always the little boost I need to keep going. And when I do receive those messages I take a screenshot and save them for the days I need a little reminder of why I'm doing what I'm doing. 

12. In what ways has your perspective on the American Dream evolved since starting this podcast?

- I've realized that everyone has their own American Dream. Some are similar and others are different but the great thing about this country is that everyone has a chance to achieve their own American Dream. 

13. Can you describe a time when sharing a particular story on your podcast had a significant impact on you or your listeners?

- I cried during the recording of an episode. Unfortunately, when it was time to publish (again, since it's always been months in advance), the guest decided to pull the episode, so it was never published.

14. What role does community play in your podcasting journey, and how do you engage with your audience?

- I am currently building a community around my podcast and I did this by moving my podcast newsletter to Substack - which is build exactly for that, for community. Listeners can comment on posts and interact with me and other listeners. It's been a slow start but I'm looking forward to how it grows years from now. 

15. Looking ahead, what are your goals or hopes for the future of the podcast?

- I have a few plans for my podcast. One - I'd love to include a food portion for the episodes so guests can share the traditional dishes of their country. Two - I'd love to write a book about the history of immigration in the US and how it has impacted immigrants. 

Three - I'd love to do a podcast tour one day. Four - I'd love to share a documentary of immigrant stories.

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In this engaging interview, Gabriela De La Torre opens up about her unique journey as a poet, sharing how dreams and multilingualism inspire her work. Gabriela’s creative path, marked by vulnerability and passion, reflects a deep connection to her emotions and experiences. From overcoming fears of judgment to embracing her multifaceted identity as a writer, Gabriela’s story is a testament to the power of self-discovery and artistic expression. Her journey is not only a source of inspiration but also a reminder that true creativity flourishes when we dare to be ourselves and embrace our inner worlds.

1. Can you tell us more about the role your dreams play in your poetry?

Yes! So I sometimes like to write about the things I see in my dreams, especially if they’re exceptionally weird or for one reason or another lingering in the back of my head long after I’ve had them. My poem, 8:30 this morning…,was one such piece for example. It was inspired by a dream I had about a wedding, of which the most vivid component I can recall is the overwhelming display of smiles from the guests and the bride and groom. To me they were clearly forced, or otherwise ingenuine. So when I woke up that morning at 8:30, I decided to turn my dream into a cute little story about a bunch of blithering idiots coming together to celebrate the “love” between an unfaithful woman and a sad man weeping over the horrible decision he just made. It was my way of depicting what I have perceived to be the reality of many relationships throughout my life, which is that they are mostly for show. Just two people going through the motions, pretending they’re happy and that everything is great while everyone witnessing it is completely unaware of the act before them.

And that’s just one example of the process that I go through to transform a dream into a poem. I have many other pieces that began as dreams, some more weird than others. The one I have just shared is probably the most tame out of all of them. So yeah, that’s how I use my dreams to write poetry.

2. How does writing in multiple languages influence your creative process?

I definitely take a different approach when I’m not writing in my native language (English). And because Spanish and Portuguese are my second and third languages respectively, I’m limited to what I have picked up from books, movies, independent study, and conversations with native speakers. I don’t view this as a negative though. Whenever I want to write something in either of these languages I usually choose one word or phrase that I want to write the poem around and I stick to the words that I already know. For example, when I wrote Hoy decido /Today I have decided I specifically chose to write the poem around the verb “veranear” which means “to spend the summer”. However, I only wanted to use the “yo” form of the verb in the future tense (“veranearé”, meaning “I will spend the summer”) because I really liked the way it sounded out loud and how it looked on paper. And that’s kind of what my creative process entails when I’m writing in another language.

3. What inspired you to start writing poetry in English, Spanish, and Portuguese?

My dreams did. I originally had no intention to write in other languages until I had a dream where this shaman-looking guy came to me and told me I had an evil female presence in my life, and that I could only get rid of her by reading two scripts that he then presented to me at that moment. The first one was in Spanish so I easily read through it. The second was kind of like Spanish, but it had these unfamiliar phonetics and every time I tried to say them my voice would fail to produce sound. So this shaman just watched me struggle for a little bit until I eventually told him that I didn’t know the language to which he responded, “Well then you’re gonna learn it”. When I woke up I only remembered the first line of the second script, “Oh Maravilhosa”, and when I typed it into the Google translator it told me it was Portuguese.

After that I began introducing myself to the language by reading Portuguese poetry with English translations and watching grammar videos on YouTube. I wondered if anyone had written something beginning with “Oh Maravilhosa" so I searched the internet but found nothing of the sort. Eventually I thought to myself, “hmm I should write it then”. Then months later the poem just came to me the night of September 6, 2023 and I submitted it to this magazine for publication and of course titled it Oh Maravilhosa /Oh Wonderful… . At that point I also began writing poems in Spanish and posting them on my Instagram stories along with my Portuguese pieces.

And that’s how I started writing poetry in those three languages.

4. Can you share a moment when you first realized you could be a creative person?

Yeah that realization hit me when I picked up my pen for the first time in my life in the early months of 2022, not to write an academic piece, but because I had ideas for creative works that I wanted to release into the world.

5. What was the turning point for you in overcoming the belief that you couldn’t be creative?

Love.

I know it sounds cheesy, but I think there’s something to be said about the role that genuine admiration and appreciation for another human being plays in the process of making art. When I finally allowed myself to feel those emotions about another person (because I had previously not done that), that was when I started coming up with things to write about. Then as all the ideas flooded in, I found it easier to produce multiple quality pieces that I could be proud of. I even got to the point of writing a poem a day for multiple days straight (for the gram), sometimes in less than five minutes and in two languages other than my native. Never in the twenty-four years before I started writing did I think I would be capable of any of that, and the turning point that led me to discover this side of myself came from finding vulnerability. So yeah, I basically had to learn to open up to my emotions in order to overcome the belief that I could not be creative.

6. What was the most challenging part of putting your art out into the world for the first time?

The most challenging part was overcoming the fear of judgment, which was a bit strange for me because I’m not usually one to give much thought to the opinions of others. Art was different though. I was mostly afraid of being made fun of for showing emotion in my writing, or being seen as silly for the topics I chose to talk about. And when I started publishing in Spanish and Portuguese I was afraid that people would pick at the grammar and criticize me for trying to write in languages that I had not grown up speaking on a regular basis. However, as I became more confident in my abilities and consistently focused on what I as the artist thought about my own work, the less I cared what others potentially had to say about it.

Letting go of those anxieties was undoubtedly one of the most challenging aspects of this experience, but also one of the most unnecessary because of how many people enjoyed my poems and didn’t say any of the horrible things that I created in my head.

And even if they did now I wouldn’t give a damn because I like my style of writing and that’s the only opinion that matters 🙂

7. How has overcoming the fear of judgment impacted your writing process?

It has given me more freedom to say what I really want to say. Since overcoming that fear I’ve used poetry to roast ex-boyfriends, glorify my body hair, discuss a little bit of my philosophical views on topics such as self-love and speaking up for oneself, and to gush over a man. Yeah so that’s what that has done for me in the writing process (hehe). Now that I no longer fear judgment l feel very comfortable writing about things that I definitely would have never approached before. 

8. Can you describe a particular poem or piece of work that was especially meaningful to you?

There are two that come to mind. The first is Meet me on the High Mountain, which is the very first poem I wrote and published. And it’s actually in this magazine. I wrote it about someone for whom I had intense feelings many years ago but did absolutely nothing about due to fear of embarrassment and rejection (as I know pretty much everyone can relate to). It’s particularly meaningful to me because it represents one of the very first moments that I did not allow fear to prevent me from expressing vulnerability and sharing it with the public.

The second is a Spanish poem with an English translation that I shared on my Instagram (and it’s in my highlights). In it, I describe my favorite love story being the one between the sky and the ocean (though I said the heavens and the sea in the actual poem) and how they came together despite the obstacles between them. It was my way of depicting how anything is possible no matter what you think is preventing you from having what you desire.

9. What advice would you give to other women who are struggling to embrace their creativity?

My advice would be to focus on yourself for a while. I know everyone says that, but here’s what I mean when I say it:

Get to know yourself; the type of person you are and that which you’d like to become. Tune into your body and how it reacts to the world. Do certain people, places, or things make you uncomfortable in any way? If they do, recognize it and learn to say no to them without shame because they will drain you. Likewise, learn what lifts your spirit and brings you joy. Maybe that’s a person, artistic endeavor, or place that captures your attention. Whatever it is, pursue it and see where it takes you. As you learn what it is that nourishes your soul, that’s when your creative side will appear.

10. How do you envision the future of your poetry and your personal growth as a writer?

I see myself becoming increasingly unhinged in my poetry as I get older and embody the essence of IDGAF. Then I’ll write more explicit, absurd, and dark material with humor and sarcasm but still include a dash of rainbows and sunshine here and there.

I’d also think it’d be pretty cool to transfer my skills over to creating a full-fledged novel that will one day become a movie.

IG: @gab.aah

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Vivian Dang's journey into poetry was unexpected but deeply transformative. What began as a private journaling exercise to process the emotions of a brief but intense romantic encounter soon blossomed into a powerful collection of poems. Through her work, In the Space Between, Vivian candidly explores the raw, unfiltered emotions of love, loss, and self-discovery. Her decision to share these vulnerable pieces with the world not only marked the beginning of her self-publishing journey but also served as a beacon of empowerment for others. Vivian’s story is a testament to the healing power of writing and the courage it takes to embrace vulnerability, both in life and in art.

What inspired you to write "in the space between" and share your personal experiences through poetry?

It was actually an accident. 

I was deep in my emotions over a brief romantic encounter that ended, so I decided to journal - something I hadn’t done in years. I pulled out a dollar store notebook and started writing. The words and emotions that emerged were raw, unfiltered thoughts and emotions that I wanted to say to this particular person. It was meant to be texts that I wanted to send to them, but knew I never would. 

As I continued to journal, the words that emerged sounded poetic. It was so cathartic, so I began composing poems about that experience.

I never intended to post these poems publicly - they were always meant to be private, a creative outlet to process my emotions. But that brief encounter taught me to take a chance and be vulnerable… so I decided to share my emotions publicly on my Instagram account. 

When my friends saw my poems on Instagram, they encouraged me to write a poetry book. I laughed it off but after a while, I realized that this could be a foray into one of my passion projects - publishing a book. At the time, I had composed over 30 poems so I decided to take the plunge and self-publish through Amazon.

Can you share more about the romantic encounter that served as the foundation for your book?

It started with a coffee date and resulted in an unexpected, whirlwind romance. I developed strong feelings for this person and when it ended, I was left with a landslide of emotions that I didn’t know how to process. 

We lived in different cities, so there was hesitation on my end to pursue it beyond the coffee date. I decided to take a chance and never expected to actually like this person, let alone spend all my solo travel time with him. When I decided to continue seeing him, I felt a sense of freedom that I’d never felt with dating. I realized how incredibly rewarding it can be to let yourself go and be vulnerable.

The day I was leaving, we both discussed trying to date long-distance. Clearly, it didn’t work - and this became the basis of my book.

How do the four seasons symbolize the different phases of a romantic relationship in your poems?

“He made me feel like it was summer in autumn” - this was a phrase that came up repeatedly on our first date. It was an unusually warm autumn day and there was something so magical in the air. For me, the summer aspect was very vivid in my mind and I wanted to capture that feeling. It was actually the first poem that I wrote called “eternal summer” and it embodied the carefree feeling I felt when I was with him.

When it ended a few weeks after I returned home, I was hit with a wave of grief and sadness. I noticed how happy and infatuated I was while we were together and the stark contrast in my poems when we decided to end things.

It made me reflect on the stages of a romantic relationship and using the four seasons to symbolize it - summer, the excitement//honeymoon stage; autumn, the sadness when a relationship ends; winter, the anger and bitterness that hits when you finally process your emotions; then the arrival of spring, where you feel hopeful again. It’s very much cyclical. 

This didn’t come together until I finished writing my poems and somehow, it just tied everything together. The poems illustrated my journey of romance through modern dating, the insecurities that I uncovered about myself and how I process these complex emotions when a relationship ends - and when it begins again.

What was the most challenging aspect of writing such a deeply personal and vulnerable collection of poems?

An attack on my self-worth. The people you date, your relationships… they’re all a mirror to your deepest insecurities. There was a sense of pride I felt in revealing just how hurt I felt when he ended things with me. It sounds silly, but I’ve learned how easy it is to be your worst critic.

The rejection and hurt I felt opened up a floodgate of emotions I didn’t really want to face or admit about my self-worth - it impacted the way I saw myself and my own internal belief system about love and dating. I remember thinking to myself, “am I unlovable?”. 

It all emerged as a rude awakening as I continued to write these poems. But I appreciate that it also helped me confront these insecurities and challenge my unhealthy thoughts about myself.

How has the process of writing and publishing this book impacted your mental health?

Imposter syndrome emerged and this book almost didn’t happen, because I compared myself to other well-known poets. I actually talked myself out of publishing the book many times before I finally went through with it. 

I felt insecure publishing poems about a guy I was hung up on and told myself, “who would actually want to read this? Would people even buy the book?” 

At first, it was really difficult. But I’m grateful for how cathartic and healing this process has been. Aside from the sadness I felt at the time, it also forced me to face a lot of my insecurities head-on.

How has modern dating influenced your perspective on love, and how is that reflected in your poetry?

With dating apps specifically, I became increasingly cynical and pessimistic about love. I gave up many times and went on what my girlfriends call, a “heart sabbatical” during the 10 years I was on/off the apps. There’s tons of articles lately around gamification, horrible algorithms and corporate greed with dating apps. I’m not surprised. 

It feels dehumanizing to post photos of yourself in an attempt to “sell” yourself to a potential match. And when you don’t get any quality matches or realize they wasted your time, you look inward and choose to blame yourself instead. 

For women, in particular, we’re so hard on ourselves because of double standards and unrealistic societal and cultural expectations - the way we’re supposed to speak, how we act (which is never needy or desperate). So the mounting pressure becomes even more stressful, when we have to sift through who is actually genuine about a long-term commitment, and who’s only in it for a quickie (pun intended).

I was exhausted and frustrated by all of this and falling victim to societal expectations of women to just “be cool” or “act unbothered.” 

So I told myself, why not just be brutally honest in my poetry? I challenged myself to be unapologetically raw and not edit my emotions - after all, why should I?  

I wrote “desperation” to capture the vulnerable emotions I felt after being rejected by this person. When I published this poem through paid advertising on Instagram, I was shocked to see the number of men (85.5%!) compared to women that the poem ended up reaching. I guess it resonated more with men.

What advice would you give to others who are hesitant to share their personal stories or emotions in their creative work?

I would encourage others to lean into that discomfort. It’s obviously scary and anxiety-inducing, but there’s something so empowering and healing about sharing your personal stories and emotions. You may not realize it, but there’s actually a lot of people out there - strangers, acquaintances, friends - who feel seen and validated when they come across a story or poem that captures exactly what they’re going through.

I’m always surprised when people comment on my posts or message me to let me know that they resonated with a particular poem I wrote. The undeniable power of writing is its ability to connect anyone and everyone - regardless of who they are.

How do you stay inspired and continue to find new material for your poetry?

When men disappoint me - just kidding. I try not to place pressure on myself to constantly churn out content and remind myself that I can write simply when I feel like it. 

After publishing “in the space between”, I was on a creative high and felt a bit of pressure to write all the time. I actually met someone in November and we were in a relationship for a few months - that’s when I found it a bit challenging to write poems. Mostly because I was incredibly happy! It made me realize that I write my best when I’m sad or angry (or both). So the pressure started to build.

When we broke up, I realized that I’m often inspired by big emotions. Or when I need to get something off my chest. Lately, it’s been about societal pressures in your 30’s and not reaching so-called milestones, as well as single shame. 

What does vulnerability mean to you, and how has it shaped your work?

Vulnerability means being your true, unapologetic self and letting someone see you for you are - and allowing them to either accept you or walk away. Which makes it super scary. 

I’ve always thought I was vulnerable in dating and relationship. I learned, through my romantic encounter, that I’ve actually hid my emotions, for fear of being seen as “too much” - too needy, too emotional, too desperate. When I had my romantic encounter, I was myself - and it felt different and empowering.

“in the space between” forced me to do just that. It’s the first time I’ve been honest about my emotions towards someone - and allowed people in my life to see this side of me. I wanted people to understand exactly who Vivian is and not waver because I’m afraid of being judged.

How do you hope "in the space between" will resonate with readers, particularly women?

I hope it empowers readers to be vulnerable - not just in relationships, but with themselves because that’s where it starts. 

Most importantly, I hope my poems encourage women to feel seen and know that it’s always okay to feel complex emotions.  As women, we’re always dismissed for being “too emotional” or “hormonal” and overlooked for being, well, human. And I’m so exhausted by this. We should honour and uplift each other in our shared experiences.

Patriarchy is a huge factor in the gender roles that (cis-gender) women are confined to and I want to challenge these sexist double standards, by being unapologetically honest in my emotions. 

I have emotions, we all have emotions - so what? Isn’t that what makes us human?

What has been the most rewarding part of your self-publishing journey so far?

Having the opportunity to publish my first-ever book and not worry about it being edited in a certain way. Publishing can be so daunting, especially when you’re just starting out, so I’m incredibly grateful for how accessible Amazon made my self-publishing journey.

I remember having mentors growing up who encouraged me to write and recognized that I had a talent for it. You have a strong career in writing and we know you’ll do great things with it, they’d tell me. I never thought much of this until the last few years. I’m forever grateful to these mentors for always pushing me to write.

Self-publishing truly made my dream come true. Something I never thought would be possible.

How do you balance the demands of self-publishing with maintaining your well-being?

I initially placed a lot of pressure on myself to write a new poem everyday or every week. I quickly became stressed and found myself obsessed with how many people saw my poetry, liked it or shared it. The impact on my well-being simply wasn’t worth it. 

I realized this pressure came from external factors and the desire to gain followers as a way to validate that I was a great poet. I’ve reminded myself since publishing “in the space between”, that this is my personal journey and I can write whenever I want to. 

I’ve also asked myself, “who and what am I doing this for?” If I’m doing it for popularity and fame, I’m doing it for the wrong reasons. I write because it’s my passion - not for other people. 

What advice would you offer to other women who are considering self-publishing their own work?

To do it! It’s a low barrier and accessible way to get your writing out there, without having to be represented by a publishing agency. You can control how you want to market your book and having this flexibility has been one of the best experiences for me. 

The great part about self-publishing through Amazon is that you can edit and customize how your Amazon listing looks like. It’s a wonderful learning experience and it gives you a taste of whether you want to continue publishing more books.

Overall, it’s such a great way to see your name publicly and professionally printed in a book. It’s definitely a milestone worth celebrating!

Order Vivian's debut poetry book on Amazon today.
IG: @vivianisviv
Substack: https://viviantdang.substack.com/

Teash, the vibrant voice behind the Tea With Teash Podcast, is a shining example of resilience, authenticity, and the power of self-expression. With a natural gift for connecting with others, Teash has channeled her empathy, charisma, and life experiences into a platform that uplifts and inspires. Her journey from aspiring journalist to healthcare professional, and now to podcast host, is a testament to her determination to share her wisdom and support others through their own struggles. Through her podcast, Teash creates a space for real conversations, offering encouragement and a sense of community to listeners around the world. Whether she's discussing the trials of grief, the importance of mental health, or celebrating the achievements of other creatives, Teash's message is clear: keep shining, keep pushing forward, and never underestimate the power of your voice.

Can you share the inspiration behind starting the Tea With Teash Podcast?

The inspiration behind starting my Podcast was simple, I have always been an Empathetic, Outgoing, Charismatic person and was always a Talker. I wanted to major in Journalism in College but took the Healthcare route. I always had a lot to say and with a big heart but much personality so after years of deliberating with myself, I felt it was time to create my own Podcast.

How did your personal experiences shape the vision for your podcast?

Life has molded me into a tough but still soft Woman. Just going through life experiences with Friends, Relationships, Health and here recently the death of my Mother which was January 25, 2024, I really felt like it was time for me to release all of my lessons, blessings and insight about a lot of things onto the World. One of the additional things that shaped my vision was just being a Brown Girl that wanted to make an impact in my community, outside of my community and for my culture around the World. Opening the door for other Creatives to express themselves and share their greatness that deserved more notice and exposure as well, pretty much like myself.

 

What motivates you to provide support and inspiration through your podcast?

Being Human. Understanding that everyone who is living and breathing are going through something, whether Happy, Sad, Good or Bad and they have a story. I want to be that person that says “We aren’t giving up today, Your doing amazing!” “Keep pushing forward, I see you!” A lot of us are unseen gems and my person is to make sure we are all shining!

Can you describe a pivotal moment that significantly influenced the direction of your podcast?

The moment was when I woke up and said “I’m gonna do it!” All these ideas and thoughts are coming out of my head starting today! And this decision came over me October of 2023.

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced while trying to reach a wider audience?

I think that authenticity is less and less appreciated and a lot of people want you to be commercialized and some made up person that doesn’t speak truthfully but just want you to talk about what everyone else is talking about and even look like everyone else on social media to get likes, follows and subscribers. Everyone has a tribe and mine is out there, they will find me because I’m me and they love that!

How have you navigated these challenges and what strategies have you found most effective?

I still give “Me” but just give it a little enhancement. Like, I really push my personal envelope of greatness by giving all of my personality without holding back, making sure that my support hits even harder for those that are looking for it. Breaking out of my shell and going outside the box is where I’m at.

In what ways has the podcast impacted your own mental health and well-being?

It’s become therapy for me. I’ve been able to reach other people with my episode topics and when I’m out hosting shows. I’m very down to Earth and real so what you see is what you get from me! I’ve been able to express my daily thoughts and I get amazing feedback from those that need to hear what I’m saying because they are either also facing those same challenges and lows or the same highs. 

How do you maintain a balance between your personal life and the demands of running the podcast?

It can be tricky. Because I want so many opportunities and exposure, I try to go hard to make sure I’m staying tapped in daily to promote my content and make many connections for my Live (Tea Talks) Shows with my Guests, but I have cut some of the days that I used to do the most, no more Sundays. I give that day to my Family, period!

Have you faced any significant struggles related to mental health while working on your podcast?

How have you managed them? Absolutely! I have days where I’m overwhelmed and think about going on a long hiatus because keep in ind, I’m grieving along with just doing “Live”, so when I feel like that, I take a deep breath, mediate, talk to God and my Mother (spiritually), and if I need a break I acknowledge that. I replenish my mental and get back to it when I’m ready. 

Can you share a story or experience from the podcast that has deeply resonated with you?

What resonates with me is the most recent Pre Show Gold Carpet Interviews  that I recently did for an R&B event here in Kansas City. I had people tell me they follow me and love my show which I heard before as this wasn’t my first time outside at an event interviewing, but this was the biggest event I did so far. I was so happy and really felt like I was made to do this. It was like I already knew it but this put an official stamp on my purpose and artistry. I am a Creator by nature and I’m going way up!

What advice would you offer to other women looking to start their own podcast or creative project?

Oh gods was, I would say do it! Do your research on how to get started, get everything you need, make connections, don’t be afraid, STAY CONSISTENT, and believe in yourself because everyone won’t. If you have a gift, you know it and push it out!

How do you stay motivated and inspired, especially during difficult times?

I have a very supportive Husband, Friends, Sons and people all around me who love me so they make sure I keep at it. I also take a break to get my creative juices flowing because I do reach points where I’m in a drought for topics and things so I take a break and refresh. 

Are there any specific guests or topics that have been particularly impactful for you or your listeners?

Yes, I have had a Licensed Therapist friend, Maria Draugh-Bush who came on not too long ago and she discussed Mental Health & Grieving which I have some friends and know of some others who have lost their Parent recently so I know that show was very therapeutic and inspirational. I also had one of my Cousins, Ree of Fitree Fitness who is very big in the fitness community come on and we talked about Health & Wellness which was needed because there are a lot of sufferers with health ailments who struggle with eating properly, obesity, the lack or desire to exercise and stay active on a daily basis and even have the mental capacity to believe that they can be be better. I have had quite a few inspirational Guests thus far but those just name a couple that are near and dear to me.

What role do you believe mental health plays in the creative process, and how do you address it on your podcast?

It’s everything! Mental Health defines everything, your capabilities. Whatever space Im in, I express it and let my audience know. My episodes reflect that and it always reaches whomever may listen to it. It’s that intuition of knowing that someone is going to need to hear what I’m saying, someone needs that therapy. I’m always transparent and as open as possible on every show in which nothing that I say is made up, they are real life experiences past and present. 

Looking ahead, what are your goals for the Tea With Teash Podcast and how do you plan to achieve them?

My plans for Tea With Teash Podcast is to grow authentically. I want to be able to do so much more with my platform such as Host bigger events that Empower others, encourage others to take flight in their own lives and do whatever others say they can’t! I want to make connections with other Creators and just keep giving my personality and love to everybody that meets me

IG: @teashs_tea_shoppe and @tea_with_teash_podcast
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In a world where time seems both elusive and all-encompassing, Ciara Jewel Gibaldi has embarked on a profound journey with her clothing brand, "So-called Time." Inspired by a childhood epiphany about the uncontrollable yet inevitable passage of time, Ciara's brand reflects a deep-seated understanding of life's fleeting moments and the growth they bring. Through her unique vision, she seeks to remind us of our place in the universe and the importance of embracing each moment. In this interview, Ciara shares her insights on how time has shaped her creative process, the challenges she's faced, and the impactful message she hopes to convey through her work.

1. What inspired you to explore the concept of time in your project, "So-called Time"?

My name is Ciara Jewel Gibaldi, and I launched my clothing brand "So-called Time" in February of 2024. The inspiration behind exploring the concept of time came from a realization I had as early as second grade. I understood that time is out of our control, yet we are bound by it. This simple yet profound realization—that we continue to grow no matter what—stayed with me. Time's impact on our lives is undeniable, whether we realize it or not, and I wanted my brand to reflect that. I aim to remind people of the mysteries of the universe and how they are a part of it.

2. Can you share more about the profound realization you had in second grade and how it influenced your work?

In second grade, I had a moment of clarity where I realized that time was something I couldn’t control, but it would keep moving forward, and so would I. It was a bittersweet moment, almost like I was reminiscing in the present. This realization deeply influenced my work because it made me aware of the fleeting nature of time and the importance of being present. This idea became the foundation for "So-called Time," where I wanted to express how every second matters and that we should embrace our journey through time.

3. How do you perceive the relationship between time and personal growth, and how is this reflected in your project?

Time and personal growth are intertwined—time propels us forward, and through it, we evolve. In my brand, "So-called Time," I wanted to capture this relationship. The brand speaks to the idea that as time passes, we grow, learn, and change, and that’s something to be celebrated. Each piece in my collection reflects the idea of embracing life's moments, both big and small, and understanding that they all contribute to our growth.

4. What challenges did you face while conceptualizing and developing "So-called Time," and how did you overcome them?

One of the biggest challenges I faced was financial. Starting a brand on my own, without a team, was daunting. I dream of having a small team of 4 or 5 people, but until that becomes a reality, it's a challenge to manage everything on my own. Despite these challenges, I stayed committed because I knew this was my path. The necessary growth is part of the journey, and I embraced it, knowing that building a strong foundation is the key to future success.

5. How has your personal journey and understanding of time evolved over the years?

My personal journey has been hectic, but it’s been driven by a strong sense of purpose. I’ve always worked hard, transitioning from wanting to be a celebrity stylist—where I even got a foot in the door—to realizing that my true calling was to be my own boss. My understanding of time has evolved in the sense that I now see it as both a challenge and an opportunity. I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished so far with "So-called Time," and I know that as I continue to build the foundation, things will start to unfold more quickly.

6. Can you discuss any specific struggles you encountered while working on your project, and how you navigated them?

One significant struggle was finding the right balance between making the brand story scientifically accurate and speaking freely from the heart. I’m not a physics expert, but I wanted to incorporate elements of philosophy and physics into my brand’s narrative. This led to moments of self-doubt, especially when trying to blend these complex ideas. However, I overcame this by focusing on the core message of the brand and trusting that my unique perspective would resonate with others.

7. What impact do you hope "So-called Time" will have on your audience, particularly in terms of their understanding of time and existence?

I hope that "So-called Time" impacts my audience by reminding them that every second counts. I want people to feel connected to the universe and to understand that their lives matter. Through my brand, I aim to inspire others to embrace their journey, knowing that each moment has significance. I want them to feel that they are part of something bigger, and that awareness of time can lead to a more fulfilled existence.

8. How do you manage the emotional and mental challenges that come with delving into such profound and abstract concepts?

Managing the emotional and mental challenges requires grounding myself in my purpose. I remind myself of my "why"—the deep connection I feel to the universe and my desire to share that with others. Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I focus on being present in my life and on what grounds me. This helps me stay centered and allows the work to flow more naturally.

9. Can you share any moments of self-doubt or mental health struggles you experienced during this creative process and how you addressed them?

There were many moments of self-doubt, especially when trying to ensure the brand story was both meaningful and scientifically accurate. However, I didn’t let the doubt consume me. I kept reminding myself that doubt can creep into any project, but it’s the strong "why" behind the work that keeps you going. My connection to the project’s purpose was stronger than any self-doubt, and that’s what kept me moving forward.

10. What strategies or practices have you found helpful in maintaining your mental well-being while working on such a complex project?

The most important strategy for me has been staying grounded and connected to my "why." By focusing on my passion and purpose, I’m able to push through the challenges. Taking care of myself—physically, mentally, and emotionally—has also been crucial. When I prioritize my well-being, the work comes more easily, and I’m able to tackle the complexities of the project with a clear mind.

11. How do you balance the philosophical and creative aspects of your work with your personal life?

Balancing the philosophical and creative aspects of my work with my personal life requires intentional effort. I make sure to take time for myself and to stay present in my life. This balance is essential because it allows me to approach my work with fresh energy and creativity. I believe that when you take care of yourself first, the work follows naturally.

12. What advice would you give to other women who are exploring deep or abstract themes in their creative projects?

My advice is to embrace your passion—it’s there for a reason. When exploring deep and abstract themes, stay present in your life and focus on what grounds you. Put yourself first, and the work will come more easily. Don’t be afraid to delve into complex ideas, but always stay connected to your "why." It’s that connection that will guide you through the challenges and help you create something meaningful.

13. How do you handle feedback or criticism about your work, especially when dealing with such personal and complex themes?

I handle feedback by staying open-minded and viewing it as an opportunity for growth. I know that not everyone will connect with my work in the same way, and that’s okay. Constructive criticism helps me refine my ideas and improve my work. At the same time, I stay true to my vision and remind myself of the reasons I started this journey in the first place.

14. What role does self-reflection play in your creative process, and how has it shaped your work on "So-called Time"?

Self-reflection is a vital part of my creative process. It allows me to connect with my thoughts and emotions, which are central to the brand's message. Through self-reflection, I’ve been able to create a brand that is both personal and impactful. It’s a continuous process that keeps me aligned with the core values of "So-called Time."

15. What message or advice would you offer to women who are grappling with their own personal challenges and seeking to express their experiences through creative endeavors?

My advice to women is to trust in their journey and to embrace their challenges as part of their story. Your experiences make your creative voice unique, so don’t be afraid to express your truth, even if it feels vulnerable. Stay connected to your passion and your "why," and let that guide you through the process. Remember, your creative expression is a gift to the world, and it has the power to inspire and connect with others.

IG: @ciaraajewel, @socalledtime and @mothertimepod

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ciara jewel (@ciaraajewel) • Instagram photos and videos

Tiktok: @ciarajewel

@ciarajewel

Youtube: @ciarajewel and @mothertimepodcast
Websites: https://www.ciarajewel.com/ and https://socalledtime.com/

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Catherine Cabrera’s journey to founding Inner Strength Counseling & Coaching is a testament to resilience and transformation. Born out of one of the most challenging periods of her life, Catherine turned her personal pain into a powerful platform to help others heal. After enduring a deeply abusive relationship, she refused to be defined by her struggles. Instead, she channeled her experiences into a mission to support women facing trauma and mental health challenges. Her story is a reminder that even in our darkest moments, there is the potential for growth and the strength to rebuild a life filled with purpose and empowerment.

What inspired you to start Inner Strength Counseling & Coaching, and how did you begin this
journey?

Inner Strength Counseling & Coaching was created after what was one of the most difficult times
of my life. I began my career as a therapist in 2020; however, in 2022, I went through the
catastrophic ending of what I later learned was not only an emotionally abusive relationship, but
also a relationship with a narcissist. Through this long, drawn-out breakup, I hit rock bottom - I
had lost myself in that relationship and had no idea who I was without it. But when things were
finally over, I refused to view myself as a victim. While I’ve had the displeasure of experiencing
multiple toxic and abusive relationships, this one was my wake-up call.

The same week the relationship finally ended, I took a chance on myself and began my own
virtual private practice. With my experience as motivation, I shifted my clinical focus to helping
other women overcome their trauma, anxiety, and related mental health challenges. I believe
leaning into a person’s strengths, interests, and personality traits can help them process their
experiences in a way that’s unique to them, as well as build confidence, self-compassion, and
self-trust - all of which are diminished through narcissistic, abusive, and toxic relationships.

What are some of the most common struggles your clients face, and how do you support them
through these challenges?

Over the years, I’ve noticed a couple of themes regarding the challenges clients are facing,
namely people-pleasing, perfectionism, questioning their identity outside of relationships, and
difficulty showing up for themselves (self-compassion, boundary setting, etc.). My approach to
helping support them begins with acknowledging their strengths, hobbies, and goals. From there,
we explore their relationship with themselves, including the impact of past traumas, underlying
beliefs, and norms they grew up with. The first goal of our work is to help them build a sense of
trust with themselves and gain a better understanding of what their emotions are trying to tell
them. Once they become more acquainted with how their emotional mind is operating, we’re able
to work through emotion regulation and showing up for themselves. In doing this, self-trust is
built and fostered, making room for self-compassion and behaviors that support this, all of which
help build confidence along the way.

How do you manage your own mental health while helping others navigate their struggles?

It can be tough to manage my own mental health while helping my clients through theirs;
however, through years of practice, I’m now able to enforce boundaries with myself to keep work
and personal challenges separate. In some cases, my work and personal lives mix (I’m human
after all!), so when that happens, I make sure to prioritize myself when I have free time, while
focusing on the client in front of me when I’m in a session with them. Some of my favorite
self-care strategies include setting aside time each morning to go to the gym - weightlifting is one
of my favorite hobbies - and sticking to my routine, both in my personal and professional lives.
By doing this, it helps me ensure I have time to care for myself while I’m holding space for my
clients each day.

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve encountered in your career as a counselor and
coach, and how have you overcome them?

The biggest challenges I’ve faced in my career haven't been related to the clinical side, but to the
impacts of restrictions that come with being a Resident (working toward obtaining licensure). In
Virginia, there are some limitations Residents face that make the licensing process more difficult.
For example, generally speaking, Residents are not allowed to panel with insurance companies,
and clients who wish to utilize their out-of-network benefits may not be able to because insurance
companies often view Residents as “less legit” than a licensed therapist. With this in mind, it can
limit the Resident’s ability to build a caseload.

Simultaneously, Residents are required to receive supervision throughout the duration of their
Residency and, for many, this means paying for supervision and a pay split. So you add these
things together - paying for required supervision, pay splits with a supervisor/employer, and often
not being able to utilize typical routes of increasing their caseload - it makes for a very financially
straining 2-6 years of Residency, without including student loans from the required Master’s
degree. While it’s not a challenge unique to me, it’s a systemic issue that makes it difficult for
early-career therapists to build themselves and their careers up, often resulting in Residents not
getting licensed and changing careers.

How do you stay motivated and inspired in your work, especially during difficult times?

Naturally, motivation is going to ebb and flow. When things get difficult, I try to focus on the big
picture - this moment or situation may be challenging, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to get
through. At the same time, I also allow myself to feel the impact of the difficulty (anxiety, anger,
sadness, etc.). I’ve found allowing myself to sit with my emotional experience helps me think
more clearly and remain in line with my personal values and beliefs. Letting the emotions come
and go freely gives me the opportunity to process them however I may need to, thus shortening
the duration and decreasing the intensity of the emotions themselves.

How do you approach the healing process for someone dealing with deep-seated trauma or
anxiety?

The healing process is going to be individualized and unique to the person and their experience.
However, the bare bones of my approach remain - I inform clients that the healing process will
take time, patience, and hard work. We move at their pace, but I also gently challenge them in
accordance with their goals. When healing from trauma and anxiety, there’s typically an element
of mistrust with the self - questioning your own judgment, feeling unsafe in your own body, the
underlying fear that everyone is going to hurt you in the way you’ve been hurt before - making
the initial phase of healing to process wounds and the ongoing impact, building self-trust, and
learning how to experience emotions safely. This is done gradually both in and outside of
sessions. From there, the healing process becomes more unique and dependent on the person’s
experiences.

What strategies do you recommend for women who are struggling with self-doubt or feeling
overwhelmed in their personal or professional lives?

For women who are struggling with self-doubt or overwhelm, I encourage you to take a
non-judgemental personal inventory to explore the ‘why’. Without applying judgment, reflect on
why you doubt yourself, why you’re feeling overwhelmed, etc. and with that information, you
can better cater to what you feel you’re missing. This could be you’re feeling unheard or
invalidated. Maybe others question you or you’ve regretted previous choices. Or even you don’t
feel emotionally safe enough to delegate tasks to others, so you instead take everything on
yourself. Whatever the reasons, by taking time to reflect and giving yourself the space for
self-exploration, you can make changes to meet unmet needs, communicate to others, or seek
professional support to help you process and move forward according to your goals/desires.

How do you ensure that your practice remains empathetic and client-centered?

With my practice being a single-provider operation, it’s easier to ensure the practice is runned in
line with my values and beliefs, including empathy and remaining client-focused. Personally, my
demeanor is naturally empathetic and focused on helping others, as it’s part of what led me to my
career as a therapist. At the same time, I feel providing empathy and caring for myself is part of
what allows me to remain focused on clients. For example, sometimes I need to take a sick day or
raise rates when the economy is making it difficult to sustain my current practices and policies,
but in showing up and caring for myself in these ways, it helps me show up authentically with
clients and help support them to the best of my ability without facing burnout.

What advice would you give to someone considering a career in counseling or coaching?

My main piece of advice to anyone considering a career in counseling is to go to therapy yourself.
Personally, this has helped me better empathize with new clients, especially those who have never
been to therapy before. It’s a vulnerable and intimidating experience, and unless you’ve been
there yourself, it can be difficult to understand the level of vulnerability and constructive
discomfort your clients face in the therapeutic space.

How do you envision the future of mental health and coaching, and what role do you hope to
play in it?

When looking at the big picture, my hope is that seeking therapy and mental health support will
continue to be discussed openly and become less taboo over time. I realize I can’t do that all on
my own - it’s a systemic operation; however, my goal is to be a point of support and a beacon for
those who are struggling and want better for themselves. My desire is to help clients rediscover
the strength they possess and take the journey with them to create the life they desire. Hearing the
pride and excitement in a client’s voice when they overcome a challenge or acknowledge their
progress is the most rewarding piece of my job, and it’s an honor for my clients to trust me and
allow me into their lives.

What message or piece of advice would you offer to other women who are trying to build a life
they love while facing their own challenges?

My main advice would be to think of the life you envision as your North Star. There’s always
going to be obstacles and challenges in life, but each decision we make can help us move toward
or away from that life. Once I started viewing decisions and challenges in this way, it helped me
shift to focusing on the process rather than only the outcome. Give yourself time to be sad, angry,
anxious, etc., but remember why you’re working toward that life and make adjustments as
needed. The challenges can be painful and difficult to handle, but sometimes, they can also help
you shift and move toward your vision.

IG and Threads: @catherinecabrera.isc

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Catherine | Therapist • Intuitive Anxiety & Self-Love Coach (@catherinecabrera.isc) • Instagram photos and videos

W: www.innerstrengthcounselingllc.net 

Kristen Kubik, the powerhouse behind Business Unfiltered, LLC, is a woman on a mission to make the business world more inclusive, authentic, and accessible. With two degrees in business, including one in marketing, and years of consulting experience, Kristen took a leap of faith in 2017 to go full-time with her business. What started as a necessity to pay off divorce bills quickly transformed into a passionate endeavor to challenge the status quo in the business world. Kristen's journey is not just about building a business; it's about creating a space where authenticity reigns, and no one is left behind. Through her work, Kristen empowers others to embrace their true selves and amplifies voices that have long been silenced. Her story is one of resilience, courage, and an unwavering commitment to social justice, making her a beacon of inspiration for women everywhere

What inspired you to start Business Unfiltered, LLC, and how does it align with your personal values?

I have two degrees in business, one being in marketing; and I had done consulting work for a couple of years on various projects. I went full-time in my business in 2017 to pay my divorce bills; and, it was a terrifying choice. Business Unfiltered entered the chat because I couldn’t stand when people said that you should act a certain way as a business owner or that your content should look or feel a certain way. Why couldn’t someone just speak as them especially if their audience resonated? So, it’s always been “your business, unfiltered” because that’s how it should be. I’ve always been known as an open book, whether it was about trauma I’ve been through or experiences I’ve dealt with, so it resonated with me as well as my clients.

Can you share the story behind your decision to focus on inclusivity and accessibility in your business?

I kept seeing gaps in the same places. The same people were often feeling left out or excluded. It led me down a rabbit hole of why they were consistently excluded from marketing as a whole, which turned into a lot of research based decisions. It made me realize that there were whole sections of markets that were never tapped into because they were just… forgotten about. And how awful is that? To just forget about people as a whole or deem their voices not as important as others? It was really eye opening.

What challenges did you face in creating a business centered on amplifying voices historically excluded by white supremacy?

I had to get over my fears of a) saying the wrong thing and b) sitting in the discomfort of the things I read, researched, and had or joined conversations about. The fear of saying the wrong thing really held me back from speaking for a long time, but the fear of even sitting in the discomfort of the things I was actually looking at was a whole other subject because it made me realize how easy it was to just swipe away or look away or turn things off.

How has your personal journey influenced your approach to inclusivity and accessibility in your consulting work?

I grew up in a very conservative Evangelical family in Alabama. It was easy if you kept your head down and didn’t ask a lot of questions. When you did, it was easy to be met with a lot of, “we don’t talk about that” or “they don’t look like us.” Naturally, it made me question a lot of things. When I was younger, my mom had always told me she wanted me to get out of the state; and when I did, I understood why. It was a whole new world that was extremely different than where I came from. I live in the Baltimore area now, and it’s such a cool melting pot of different vibes and cultures (and foods!!) that I still learn something new all the time, even after over a decade.

How do you address and manage the emotional and mental challenges that come with working in areas focused on social justice and inclusivity?

I have a therapist on call… just kidding, sort of. In reality, I do have a therapist (and she’s amazing); but, I have to make sure I take time for joy - whatever that looks like for me. I also did something interesting though this journey by accident and cut out alcohol and made my physical health much more of a priority. I started really looking at how foods and intentional movement were affecting the way I felt, especially while having so many heavy conversations, and it made a massive difference in how I naturally shifted things.

What advice would you give to other women who want to start businesses focused on social justice and inclusivity but are concerned about potential challenges?

You have to be willing to always be learning. There are no exceptions. I am queer, but I am also white. Intersectionality has to be at the top of any sort of content I create, especially if I’m looking to educate or even listen to other’s experiences around a subject.

How do you stay motivated and focused on your mission despite the obstacles you face in your field?

I’m always looking at the big picture, which is to help people. If I’ve made a difference in anyone’s lives, then I’ve done what I’ve set out to do and that makes me happy.

What are some common misconceptions about working in inclusivity and accessibility that you’ve encountered?

That marketing that is inclusive and accessible has to be boring. I swear, it doesn’t! I’m one of the least boring people you’ll ever meet. Marketing gets to be fun. It’s why I love it so much. AND we get to include everyone.

How do you balance your personal life with the demanding work of running a business focused on social justice?

Most people read; I play video games. I love getting lost in a good story. You just have to find your joy… whatever that looks like. I have a hard “clock in” and “clock out” time, most of the time. I also don’t hesitate to do things like turn off my notifications, especially on the weekends, because I deserve time to myself to recharge. I can’t pour from an empty cup; and my mission only works just as well as I do.

What message or piece of advice would you offer to women who are passionate about creating positive change but feel overwhelmed by the challenges?

You don’t have to dive in all at once. The small changes start with us first. I didn’t start doing this work completely head first. I started small by reading a book or a blog or watching TikToks; and that led me to diving in further with heavier reading and researching. Eventually, I went to grad school for my Masters in Legal Studies in Public Policy to better understand how exactly things affect all of us. Then, I could educate a lot more. It’s a process, and that process gets to start with a single step: listening.

IG: @kristenunfiltered

TikTok: @kristenunfiltered 

@kristenunfiltered

Website: https://businessunfilteredllc.com

Nikki Beatnik is a trailblazing DJ, producer, and the powerhouse behind Mums That Rave a community and event series that’s redefining what it means to be a mother in the entertainment industry. From spinning at exclusive parties worldwide to creating a safe, inclusive space for moms to let loose and connect, Nikki’s journey is a testament to resilience, creativity, and the power of following your passion. In this interview, she shares how her experiences as a DJ and mother inspired her to create Mums That Rave, her strategies for balancing career and motherhood, and the importance of challenging stereotypes in the music industry. Nikki's story is a reminder that with determination and a love for what you do, you can break barriers and create something truly impactful.

What Motivated you to start Mums That Rave and how did your experience as a DJ Producer influence this project?

I have been a DJ since I was a teenager, throwing raves and day parties and then became successful in London in my early 20's as a DJ. Since then I have spun all over the world, in 70 countries on 6 continents, parties for celebs like Beyonce & Jay Z, JLo, Guiseppe Zanotti, Ronnie Wood from The Rolling Stones and events like the British Fashion Awards and F1 as well as countless festivals since around 2003. I was also travelling to spin in Ibiza, Dubai and then I started tour DJing and putting together shows for artists like Kelis as well as songwriting and producing records, so my career has been long and full of many very high high's and also many crazy escapades. I kinda put off being a Mum as it never felt like the right time, right relationship and also women in music are told that their careers are more or less over if you have kids, something that is slowly changing with more representation, but is still facts for most self employed Mums in the industry.

I DJ'd and toured right up until 4 days before I went into labour so I figured I would just have my son, pop him out and be back in the club the following week. However I had a nightmare birth, lost 4 pints of blood, almost died and had an emergency C- section under a general anaesthetic and was unable to walk on my own for 6 weeks. It was a traumatic start to motherhood and then add in the pressure and shock of not being able to make money for the first time ever or being able to just go do my gigs was so real but I also had a lot of time in bed to be on social media. I looked for my "Mum tribe" as a new Mum but I couldn't see much representation of Mums like me. I was always saying to Kelis "I wanna do something for Mums, I just don't know what" so I had in mind a youtube channel or something along those lines, then one day at one of my other London parties (Iwent back to club DJing as soon as I could walk again in my big c- section pants, pumping breast milk before I went to work) I had a conversation with another Mum about doing a day party for Mums and long story long. Mums That Rave was born and shortly after the first Rave happened during the dsy at the Iconic Ministry of Sound in London. My mission statement is "If You Cant See it, be it" that is what I have always done in my career, so now it's for the other Mamas too. 

Can you share a personal story about motherhood and your career and how it inspired the creation of Mums That Rave ? 

I was out on 2 tours the whole time I was pregnant and I just thought oh this is fine I will just keep working and keep DJing the same once I have the baby, however my husband is an actor and was away for huge amounts of time for the past 10 years so much of the day to day childcare and mental load was on me plus still trying to run a business and keep up with my counterpart DJ's who didn't have kids. I also wasn't ready for the fact that quite a few of the brands I would regularly DJ for just stopped using me once I was a Mum. It could be coincidence but I have heard similar stories from other Mum DJ's and radio presenters. I wasn't really ready for that to happen. I went from being the higher wage earner in the family to stay at home Mum / Dj which was a very weird transition. SO now with Mums That Rave we always kick off each event with a panel chat from Mums in Music, TV, the Arts, Business, Fashion, beauty, sports all giving their own experiences and tips on how to navigate motherhood in all stages from newborn to menopause. The very first Mums That Rave was an extension of my experience throwing parties and running club nights forever in London but with the panel and now almost 50,000 Mums from all over the world following, it has become so much more than just the average party. My career as a pioneering female dj starting in the 90's and the misogyny I faced running clubs and touring has all inspired the safe space I wanted Mums That Rave to be

How did you overcome the prejudice and discrimination you encountered in your career, particularly being a mother? 

I don't actually know if we ever overcome it. I have personally taken all the knock backs and negative experiences and kept going. No idea why or how really when I look at some of the crazy insane situations I have been in. As a woman in music you are definitely labelled as difficult, loud, bossy or a bitch and dont book more jobs with brands or tours if you are very vocal and stand up for yourself. I would say you have to be ready to walk away from any job at any time if you are in danger or its peak anxiety. Also I would say that working in music as a DJ and producer (women are still only around 4% of producers) is the roughest most unprotected unregulated part of the music industry. I have dealt with physical violence in clubs, assaults - sometimes by other male djs, sexual assaults, being spat on, you name it and then on tours, being talked down to constantly by tech guys, mansplained to and men taking credit for my work as well as being the only woman quite often, its the wild west and I have not see it get much better in the 3 decades I have been a DJ and their is no union or regulations. There is more visibility of female DJs but nothing is really getting that much better. For Mums, multiply all of this x 100 and add in ageism and the fact that women DJs generally are pressured to look a very specific way now as DJ's - it's a bit of a hot mess and something the men don't really experience. I know lots of Mums who give up because it's just too hard hustling, being out out networking, I myself find it bloody impossible too with my partner away filming. It is definitely made almost impossible for Mamas to continue.I know it is hard for Mamas in general working and Mum'ing so I am very conscious about posting about Mums all the time on the Mums That Rave socials and also having only Mums on our panel talks. 

What role does mental health play in your life and career and how do you maintain a balance amidst the challenges 

I feel like mental health has become a big thing in the last few years, more people talking about it and social media has helped with that. It made me realise there were absolutely zero provisions for us in music and as DJ's and it was literally sink or swim. Still no one gives a toss how DJs or artists are really, you must just get on stage and do the thing and that's that. I also realised that me not being a people pleaser has served me well over the years as I was always that person who would o an irish exit if I was tired after a dj set, I never took and drugs which made me a party pooper in some music circles and I had no problem sticking up for myself if pushed or saying no to people or things that didn't feel right. I now realise that it did make my progress slower but it also saved me from so many dodgy situations.

I can't lie, I do get anxiety if I know I am rolling to a club or event on my own just because of past dangerous situations I would always do a recce first, figure out where Im parking, or getting picked up, how safe I will be, so that can be stressful and I have recently spoken to other women DJs who said they also suffered from anxiety in clubs. It's just not set up for women to be honest. WHen I look back on me and my friends, all women running parties in the 90's and some of the stuff that happened, I can laugh now but it's a wonder we are all still OK! So mental health is incredibly important, I safeguard mine by a lot of silence and alone time when I am not working and also I post about it a lot on the Mums That Rave instagram and talk about it often with panelists as Mums mental health is fragile !! We have so much mental load at any given time, it's a lot for anyone. Talking about it helps and I think the happier Mum is, the happier the kids so for me raving and doing my job still and smashing it, is integral to my mental health. When I am on stage im like "Oh YEAH THIS is who I am" 

Can you describe a memorable moment from one of your parties or panel talks that stood out to you? 

Oh my goodness, I've thrown 19 Mums That Rave day raves since 2019 so there are so many moments. When the whole MTR Crew sang me Happy Birthday and brought me out a cake, that was so lovely for me personally as I try not to make it about me, it's about the panel and the ravers but to know they care about me too, is amazing. Last year I had my good friend Terri Walker who is a legendary r&b singer come and perform at one of the parties. She's not a Mumand she had never been to Mums That Rave. She was standing in the dj booth with me about to perform our record together and she looked out at the crowd of Mamas, I dropped some Drum & Bass and the whole place went crazy and she teared up off the energy of hundreds of Mums all smiling dancing, jumping around, she looked over a t me and I teared up too and had goosebumps as the energy was just off the charts and she said "Oh My Gosh Nikki, THIS IS AMAZING" and I replied "I Know right"? That is the Mums That Rave effect. There is something special about a room full of Mums raving on a Saturday afternoon, all supporting each other and going hard. It is magic. 

How do you handle the pressure of breaking stereotypes and changing the narratives around Mum life and career aspirations? 

I handle it by blocking and deleting the miserable C U Next Tuesdays who come on our instagram, tik tik, facebook trying to bring the vibe down or saying negative things about Mums being out. It seems to annoy men in particular but there are also some judgey women too. I always think to myself 'It's fine babe, just keep scrolling it's not for you', but people love to be keyboard warriors so the block buttons come in handy. Then I also relentlessly post positive upbeat fun stuff daily on our pages to challenge the stereotypes and also lots of videos of our parties with Myns raving like there is no tomorrow. I truly believe that Mums need this space, a very safe space to dress up, or come in your jeans and fav trainers, dance, meet other Mums who love a big tune (we play everything from hip hop classics to house, dancehall and drum and bass) and just forget all the responsibilities for a few hours between 2-6pm on a Saturday afternoon. I have been told by our Mums that they go home so elated and it makes them happy for months after. Mums of all ages too, you could be a Mum at 20 and then what? You aren't supposed to have fun any more? I am not having this narrative. I also believe that dancing, raving and music is spiritual and good for mental health. Mums That Rave is really just a metaphor for all the things we are told, as Mums that we shouldn't be doing any more and 2 fingers up to it! 

What impact have you seen Mums That Rave have on the community of women you work with? 

I've seen amazing things happen, from Mums saying they literally changed their lives from the day after, cutting their hair, getting a new look, applying for that job they didn't think they could- and starting it, to tears on our panel and from our audiences and so much joy, to dozens of messages daily in my DM's saying that MTR is their fav page to Mums starting new businesses and being invited on podcasts & radio shows by other panelists. It is actually its own mini economy now and an amazing place for Mums to network in a non cheesy way. I feel very proud that so many opportunities for Mums have been created, that has always been my goal, to put other women on. 

How do you stay motivated and inspired while managing both your career and your role as a mother? 

I have no choice mainly 🙂 I tend to sleep on any problems and if I have had a disappointing day, which happens often when you are self employed, I sleep on it and next day I am ready to fix whatever obstacles there are. I also think about how lucky I am to be my own boss when many women before me and even now can't be and the freedom to execute all my creative ideas and see them come to life. That is quite special. I also love love love being a Mum, best thing I have ever done so I am grateful every day for it. 

What advice would you give to other women who face similar challenges in balancing their career ambitions with motherhood?

If you have something you really want to do, an idea, something you want to change, just start and before you are ready, you can learn as you go. You can also pivot and reinvent yourself at any time. Don't listen to other people's definitions of you. YOU define yourself and do not listen to society's preconceptions of motherhood or age or what women should be doing at what stage, its all bull$hit, you will never be this young again so just frikking start. Being a Mum means you have a very extensive skill set you can apply to many things, be proud of that and small steps every day and consistency is key! I also need to take my own advice lol ! 

How do you create a sense of community and inclusivity at your events and within your online platform? 

It starts with me and my vibe. I want Mums That Rave to show all types of Mums, all ages, all backgrounds and not just one box for motherhood. I want it to be genuinely friendly and welcoming so I am genuinely friendly and welcoming. At the start of each MTR I personally say hi to as many Mus as possible, especially the solo racvers, of which we have many, to make Mamas feel at home. The fact we start with a panel talk just breaks the ice and gives Mamas a platform to chat so that everyone feels included and can empathise with panelists, I also do really funny quick fire questions for the crowd and panel which creates a vibe. Online I try to post something for everyone but along the lines of raving and motherhood, dancing, dressing up, I have a very strong identity for the brand that is my vision so I stick to that and always always with a sense of humour. I love laughing. Also I try to keep it all very positive and not mean, just a "piss take" as we say in the UK. My #1 goal is for any Mum from any walk of life, to feel welcome and see themselves on our pages and on the panels and most importantly- on the dancefloor.

Can You share any strategies or practices that have helped you manage stress and maintain your well being. 

Number 1 is a dog. Dogs make everything 100% better and getting out walking with my dogs has always made me feel good, better. Learn what your own stress triggers are and avoid them, if you can and start saying no to things that you don't want to do. Also for me, I realised the busier I am with work and gigs the happier I am as a Mum, so I like to be in a club or in Cannes Djing in a full outfit one day and then back on the school run the next so balance is key and having your own goals and things you love outside of Mum life. 

What are some misconceptions about being a mother in the entertainment industry that you would like to address? 

It used to really piss me off that the only representation of Mums in entertainment were Mums that would announce their pregnancy then go missing for months then pop up a size tiny like nothing ever happened. The only Mums I remember seeing pregnant and visible was Neneh Cherry, back in the day, pregnant and dressed fly- not in the usual  pregnancy wear but the same fly clothes she would wear when she wasn't pregnant, looking amazing. I feel like Rihanna took that baton and ran with it. She is doing great things for women in music in general breaking stereotypes and being loud and unapologetic. Also, you cannot do it all, so pick and choose wisely things where you earn your peas but you aren't running yourself ragged. 

How do you envision the future of Mums That Rave and its impact on the entertainment industries? 

I would love Mums That Rave to get bigger and bigger, with loads more Mamas worldwide, to tour the parties in the US Australia, Europe and beyond bringin the whole vibe of the party and panel and for us to be so big and represent so loudly that the industry has to take notice of us and all Mums. 

What future goals do you have for yourself and for Mums That Rave and how do you plan to achieve them? 

For myself as a DJ producer and songwriter I would love to tour my own artists and shows more, as I have spent years music directing other artist shows and I feel like I have a great catalogue of music to do that now, it's also a super dope show. FOr Mums That Rave I want to build more content, I have a lot of ideas, a podcast and touring and at some point I am gonna need help with a team around me as it is a lot for one Mum doing all the school runs and after school activities but I am on it, so watch this space... 

IG: @djnikkibeatnik and @mumsthatrave

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W: www.mumsthatrave.com

She was a love poem stuck in a chrysalis, waiting for the perfect deep, unconditional love that her naked soul truly desires. She wanted to be a sonnet that when read could make someone fall into the most intimate, splendid romance, like wearing winter clothes; covering and warming up the body of your cold bone. Holding an intention of being a thought that is beautiful only if it is naked beneath language, she dreams of a poetry that happens when nothing else can. They say that the souls of poets cannot keep quiet because, when they were alive, they never wrote the poems they wanted to. But “She” is a rebel, have always been; who wants nothing but to write down her raw emotions in the most heartbreakingly beautiful way that even her pain gets envied by people that read her.

She believes in being a poet in all moments of life because being a poet means being human to her, filled with time and again with a heart-aching wonder. Holding a pen as light in that dark hidden passage, she is making a pathway through ink to show her readers the dance of her life which is covered with the dust of silence, grief, struggles, heartbreaks, memories, fights and dead stilettos of past fossils. She is a poetess turning silence into eloquence, weaving a smiling lie, a whirlwind, easy to enter, but hard to escape; a love poem- the most dangerous weapon.

Meet Asmaa, the founder of Asmaa Consultancy and the "You're Not Alone" community. With a passion for coaching and empowering women, she embarked on a journey to bring positive change to her community. Through her dedication and perseverance, she has created a supportive space where women can connect, learn, and grow together. Join us as we delve into Asmaa's inspiring story and the impact of her work on the lives of women around her.

1. What inspired you to start Asmaa Consultancy and the “You’re Not Alone” community? 
   
   I started Asmaa Consultancy when I decided I wanted to be a coach for my community. At that time Coaching wasn't well known back in 2018 and having a local coach that understood the society, the culture and tradition wasnt existent. I have just finished at that time my coaching training program, which I entered merely because I just wanted to become better as a person, not with an intention of becoming a coach, but finished the program with a major decision of actually wanting to become a coach and take on that path that was less travelled. It was a hard decision to make because I was paving the way and being a trailblazer for a new concept in society and change always comes with its setbacks.
   
   But the more I believed I can actually help people live their lives with purpose and reach their goals, the more I kept going. As for the "Youre Not Alone" community it began after my coaching training where I was truly craving having deep meaningful conversations with like minded women, where we can lift each other, connect, learn and grow. I wanted to attract like minded women like me to become a force for empowerment and change for a better society because I truly believe change happens when women lead. Women have been leaders forever, mainly leading from the back not being in the spotlight, but it is time to create that change and let women lead loud and clear, no matter what their role is in life. Whether they are a full time mother, an executive, a business owner, each with their role can unlock their potential, reach their goals and become the role models of the coming generations."
   
   
2. Can you share a personal story that highlights the impact of “You’re Not Alone” on women’s lives? 
   
   There are so many success stories behind building such a  powerful community. In January 2024 we celebrated our 5 year anniversary of this amazing community and it was such a blessing to see this idea prosper into a wave of change for women. Some of the key successes of our members have been the following: One member was able to find her voice again and passion to pick her business back up and succeed in it.
   
   She was having trouble juggling all the different roles she played in life being an employee, a mother and a business owner which made her feel overwhelmed. With the support of the community and our gatherings, she was able to prioritize herself again and find her voice within all the different roles she plays, and she reconnected with her love for her business that made her take decisions that supported her business to prosper.
   
   We have also had another member that was going through a difficult time regarding her health, which we weren't aware of at the beginning, but I began to see her come to the sessions more often and on a regular basis, until one day at the end of one of the sessions she came up to me and gave me one of the biggest hugs and told me "you have no idea how much of an impact you have had with my healing journey, thank you for holding this space for us to grow, learn and have a shoulder to lean on, it's been a game changer and has gotten me through one of the toughest times i've been through". That just made me feel so grateful for building such a community and a message for me to keep going because this community is truly changing the lives of these women! That is why I do what I do and why I decided to continue with the community as well as give more to my coaching business. 
   
   
3. What challenges did you face as a young woman in the coaching industry, and how did you overcome them? 
   
   It's been a whirlwind of a  journey at the beginning being a local Coach in Qatar. Society at that time didn't even know what coaching is and how coaching can support people to become better versions of themselves. I was one of the first coaches to go publicly as a figure on social media to talk about coaching and share what coaching can do for you. First of all being a woman in society coming to speak about something new already had its challenges, but also being a young woman added to that challenge even more.
   
   But I was up for that challenge. I remember when I decided to go publicly with my profession and start my personal brand of coaching on social media, my mother sat with me and we had a one on one conversation.She told me that you know this will not be an easy battle to go with, and that people always resist change at the beginning, so are you prepared to deal with all that you will face? Do you feel like you are ready? And when I responded with a clear yes, she told me to go ahead and that she will have my back no matter what. We live in a society that fears what others say about them, and for my mother she fears what others might say about me that can ruin my reputation, especially coming from a very small conservative society (Qatari National are just 300,000 in population, so truly everyone knows everyone).. But that became the fuel that kept me going even with all the setbacks. I was told that I was ruining women's minds by giving them the power of their voices, I was called different names, I was told to stop doing what I'm doing, and the more I got pushbacks, the more I kept pushing.
   
   Now I'm at a point where all the people that were pushing back are cheering for me and applauding for me. I guess that's the nature of all changemakers, and that is a badge of honor I will always wear and be proud of!
   
   
4. How did your own experiences influence the creation of “You’re Not Alone”? 
   
   I think the road to becoming a coach made me want to create such a community even more, because I knew that I wasn't the only one feeling the way I did when it came to finding and creating meaningful conversations that help us grow and prosper,and also become a platform of women I can support through coaching. I was sick of the shallow conversations and the gossip that I faced on my weekly gatherings with people around me, and that's what sparked the need to start such a community. And the first step into attracting what you want is becoming it, and at that moment taking that step helped attract like minded women that have been an integral part of my journey.
   
   
5. What are some key lessons you’ve learned from leading a women’s community? 
   
   Some of the valuable lessons I have learned is that you will never please everyone and that's ok, because the ones who can click with your vision will continue to become advocates of the community. Because of that we have become the most growing community in Qatar because of the continuous efforts I put into making it the best experience for the members. Another lesson is to be authentically me when it comes to choosing the themes and topics to discuss, because these are what resonate most with the members. A third lesson would be to truly know the value you bring to the table, and that does come with its cost, never be afraid to ask what you deserve. And the most important lesson will be to always have fun!
   
   
   
6. Can you discuss a particular moment when you felt most fulfilled in your work? 
   
   I remember in the beginning of my coaching journey I started my podcast "The Sky's the limit" I was uploading the episodes on Soundcloud and iPodcast, and I remember getting in my DMs one person that has sent me over 10 voice notes, which I usually don't open until they write what they need support in, but I was curious what they have sent. I opened the voice messages and it was from a follower that has been a fan of my podcast. I remember her sharing her story with me. She was a visually impaired lady that was going through a lot, and she was sharing how my podcast has helped her and made her feel seen and heard. It was a thank you note to me, and I will never forget that moment where I burst into tears thinking about the impact I'm creating and the change I'm making even if I don't see it in front of me, it's really changing people's lives. That was when I knew that I actually made it and have been able to cross borders and touch women's lives around the world.
   
   
7. How has your mental health journey shaped your approach to coaching and community-building? 
   
   I'm not gonna lie going through such a journey isn't easy, and sometimes feel so lonely doing it on your own and paving the way. But what truly kept me sane is having my own coach as well as relying on increasing my happy hormones through exercise and disconnecting once in a while. I am an ambivert so as much as I seem like a social butterfly I still need my alone time to re-energize to pick myself back up and continue. These are essential to continue on such a journey.
   
   
8. What advice would you give to women who are struggling to connect with their purpose? 
   
   I love this question! I would truly advice women to take the time for themselves to understand their true purpose in their life, because that then becomes the compass they rely on for their life. To know your purpose you can do this short exercise that can help you articulate your purpose and put it in a sentence. I have attached the exercise in a document that can be shared with the readers.
   
   
9. How do you maintain a balance between your roles as a coach, community leader, and writer? 
   
   I am a full time employee, a coach, a community leader, a businesswoman and a writer. Its a lot of roles that I play, im a born multipotentialite and love everything that I do. But I play all these roles because Im building the life I want for myself. Im grateful to have such a supportive family that helps me and is there for me, and an amazing group of friends and accountability partners. Having the right people around you is so crucial when your building yourself, you need people who help lift you up and not pull you down.
   
   
10. What strategies do you use to promote and grow your community in a challenging environment? 
    
    I think for me its always about not being afraid to speak about your accomplishments. Sometimes we women tend to believe that our work speaks for itself, but if we dont go out there and speak about it, no one will know about the work and impact your creating. Another important thing it to collaborate and parter up with other communities or allies that can benefit from the community you have. That data base or that pool of amazing women can become the strength you bring to the table, which supports you in the long run. I have had organizations and universities get in contact in terms of collaborating because of the impact this community has on our society. And the most important element is being in it for the long run. You need to learn to be patient to see the impact and to become the success you aim for.
    
    
11. How do you handle self-doubt and stay motivated in your work? 
    
    I was a person that would rely on motivation before. But when running a community and a business as well, it's about discipline more than motivation. Discipline is getting up and doing the work even when you feel like you're not motivated to do it. It's all about the small steps. And as a recovered perfectionist I learned to be satisfied by 70-80% of the work, it doesn't have to be 100% all the time and that's ok. Having accountability partners as well is such a game changer. I have two of the most amazing friends and business women whom we meet on a weekly basis (one is based in Qatar and one based in  the US ) and we hold ourselves accountable for the work we do within our service based businesses as well as our lives- Shout out to Dr. Hanan and Dr. Rana, my dear friends and accountability partners.
    
    
12. What are some common issues women face that you address through your coaching and community? 
    
    I think the most common is women reconnecting with themselves after they have been lost with the different roles they play in their lives, from daughters to mothers, wives, employees and businesswomen. Other topics are navigating their voices in a patriarichal society, as well as dealing with the good girl syndrome as well as imposter syndrome.
    
    
13. Can you share any success stories from your coaching practice or community that have particularly touched you? 
    
    I had once a coaching client that had a narcassistic partner in life and didnt know how to deal them and how it has impacted her life drastically. Throughout her coaching journey, she learned how to be confident in her shoes and learned how to trust herself again, especially after dealing with a narcassistic her whole life. With coaching she learned how to navigate her own emotions, build her confidence and learned how to set her personal boundaries. She was a totally different person at the end of the sessions. And till this day we are in contact as she gets in contact to celebrate her wins in what shes achieving and she has blossomed so beautifully in her own skin! 
    
    
14. What advice do you have for other women looking to start their own community or coaching practice? 
    
    The word that I always tell other people in the same industry is "Just Do it". We are sometimes so afraid to start because of our fear of failure or other peoples judgmenets, but we will never learn until we start. I would also recommend to hire either a coach or a mentor in the industry that will help support your journey. And the third is to fall in love with failure, make failures your best friend because they give the most valuable lessons for you to grow.

IG: @coach_asmaaa 

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Community IG: @yna_community

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LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/asma-s-alkuwari
W: www.coachasmaaa.com

Meet Ashley Lucas, the creative mind behind Sook & Hook, a unique business inspired by the charm of coastal life and the beauty of sea glass. With a heart full of passion and a deep connection to the natural world, Ashley has turned her love for the ocean into a thriving venture that blends art, wellness, and environmental consciousness. From her unforgettable sea glass designs to her thoughtful approach to mental health, Ashley’s journey is a testament to the power of following your dreams and finding joy in the little things. Dive into her story and discover how she's making waves in both the art world and her community.

1. Can you share the story behind the name "Sook & Hook" and how it relates to your journey?

My son used to call the squirrels in our garden 'sooks' because he couldn't pronounce the word squirrel. We had two squirrels in particular that visited us every day, and we named them Sook & Hook. When I was looking for a name for my business I thought it was perfect because it sounded coastal, and was so unique - surely no one would have the same name. I wanted my business to stand out and be unique - just like sea glass is.

2. What are some of the most memorable pieces or collections you've created with sea glass?

My holiday designs are my best sellers, in addition to my cocktail collection. I have made more tiny sea glass espresso martinis and Christmas trees than I could ever count! My personal favorite design at the moment is my 'hydrangea' piece which incorporates a watercolor print of hydrangeas with sea glass leaves. 

3. What role does mental health play in your life as a business owner, and how do you take care of yourself?

I work on this aspect of my business constantly. When you work alone, your world becomes very isolating and it's hard to get a real perspective on things. When we moved to the shore, I noticed all these crystal shops in our neighborhood. I was curious and started using crystals to generate peace, meditation and happiness in my workspace. I place crystals and natural elements all over my work space and living area and just the presence of shells, sea glass, driftwood and stones all around me grounds me and helps me decompress.

I also noticed I wasn't socializing nearly enough in our small town, so when we moved recently I made it a priority to join art and business groups, and to schedule appointments with friends every week. It has really helped me to take care of myself a bit more!

4. What advice would you give to other women considering starting their own small business or creative project?

I honestly think - it's always the right time to just start that business or creative project you want to. So many of us, especially women, wait for permission from someone else. If you have a very clear vision, and the passion and energy to pull it off - don't let anything hold you back!

5. Can you share any upcoming projects or goals for Sook & Hook that you're excited about?

I am working on a secret project that I can't disclose yet that is very exciting and will hopefully inspire lots of little ones! 

A goal of mine is to partner with more ocean organizations now and in the future to promote ocean health and plastic pollution awareness. 

6. How do you use social media and your YouTube channel to connect with your audience and grow your business?

I recently went full force into my YouTube content creation, and I’ve been loving the chance to create content on all the topics that make me excited about life! I went to NYU for Film School back in the day, so there is part of me that naturally enjoys editing and putting short stories together. I use my YouTube channel to strengthen awareness around my brand name Sook & Hook, and I love offering content that teaches something to the public - whether that be sea glass tips or identifying shore birds.

IG: @sookandhook

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FB: https://www.facebook.com/SookandHookStore/
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W: www.sookandhook.com

In every great love story, the journey isn’t just about finding love but learning how to nurture and sustain it through the ups and downs. Melissa Whitney’s journey with her husband inspired her to pen "In the Hello and in the Goodbye," a heartfelt story rooted in the real-life experiences of building a relationship that stands the test of time. Through the lens of a neurotypical woman and an autistic man, Melissa explores the complexities of love, acceptance, and the joy of embracing one another’s differences. Her story serves as a testament to the strength of communication, the power of forgiveness, and the beauty of loving fully, even when it’s hard.

1. What inspired you to write "In the Hello and in the Goodbye," and how did your relationship with your husband influence the story?
   
   Every relationship has their struggles. During the first year of marriage with my husband, we almost didn’t make it. It was the hardest six months of our fifteen-year-long relationship. With focus on developing strong communication and strengthening our foundation, we built a stronger relationship. In 2021, two years after that struggly part of our marriage, I reflected on how far we’ve come and had the idea to use that time to tell a story grounded in forgiveness, healing, and what it takes to built a healthy relationship. A lot of romance is about people coming together and I wanted to tell a story about what it takes to not just fall in love, but how to keep it.
   
   
2. Can you describe how the portrayal of a Neurotypical woman and an autistic man in your book reflects real-life emotions and experiences?
   
   My husband is an autistic man and I’m a neurotypical woman. Though, he likes to joke that there is nothing typical about me. Like any couples our lived experiences shades that way we approach things and/or communicate. However our neuro-differences adds a layer to that common experience for many couples. We process and approach things differently, even if we’re on the same page. However, at the end of the day our relationship is grounded in acceptance of this. It doesn’t mean he doesn’t’ get frustrated with me or vice versa. I wanted to show that dynamic in a inter-abled relationship. You can accept and love someone as they are, but still be frustrated with aspects. Both Evie and Colm demonstrate the challenges, but also the joy of an inter-abled relationship. I loved writing this story both to offer this dynamic  in the crafting of stories with disabled characters, but, also, to selfishly see my relationship reflected in romance. Though, if full disclosure my husband and I aren’t in an inter-abled relationship like Evie and Colm in the book. I am a legally blind woman and he’s an autistic man, so that is a different layer in our real life relationship between a physically disabled woman and a neurodivergent man versus the fictional depiction of Evie and Colm.
   
   
3. What challenges did you face while writing a story that combines both fiction and real emotional depth?
   
   Like any author I needed to ensure this remained Evie and Colm’s story versus Melissa and Liam’s story. As authors, even if fiction, we sprinkle in pieces of ourselves and our beliefs, but we need to ensure that we don’t encrorch on the narrative. As well, I tapped into some deep emotions for this book. Emotions that, while long dealt with, were delve into to infuse them into the story. I wanted to ensure the emotion was in the page rather than just words on it. I needed to practice different techniques to tap into those emotins but not go back to that place. Especially, with the more challenging part of the book where Evie and Colm truly struggled. When writing those parts, I took breaks and spent time with my husband going  on lots of walks or dates to reinforce our connection. There were also lots of discussions about how far we’ve come to celebrate that journey as I was revisiting the pain of that time for the book. Also, I needed to allow myself to always listen to Evie and Colm. While much of Melissa and Liam are twined in t heir story, it isn’t our story. I needed to remember that and listen to my characters.
   
   
4. How did you handle any emotional challenges or personal struggles while writing this book?
   
   Self care is so important. While writing this book, I focused on ways to take care of me and my relationship. My husband and I scheduled date nights. We love a good walk, so we’d go on lots of them at area parks or grab a latte from one of our favorite local coffeeshops in downtown Fullerton and walk around. I also blocked time to hit the gym, reads books I love, or spend time with friends. Also, we have two pugs so they are always a part of my emotional well-being.
   
   
5. What was the most rewarding aspect of writing "In the Hello and in the Goodbye"?
   
   Just writing the story and completing it. It was the second book I wrote, even though it’s my debut. It was always suppose to be my debut, but I wasn’t fully ready to write this story yet, so I wrote something else. A dear friend told me to “Just write it already” and it was the swift kick in the butt I needed. The day I wrote “The End” was one of the most gratifying moments of my life.
   
   
6. Can you share a moment or experience during the writing process that had a significant impact on you?
   
   Writing the scene where Colm discloses his autism was a powerful one to write. For many with autism they often mask. My husband had for years. For so many people on the spectrum parents, teachers, and society-at-large want to make them “fit” and this pushes so many to hide. Until that moment, Colm hid a part of himself. In that moment he freed himself to be authentically himself, allowing him to truly love Evie and be truly loved in return. It was a powerful moment to write and witness my character’s story. In that moment, Colm found where he belonged – with Evie – and she with him. To be seen and loved as you are is a powerful experience. To have stories with disabled characters that are embraced as they are, and the narrative is not about them changing or how love made them “better” is an act of protest. As a disabled woman married to an autistic man, this was a joyfully emotional experience to write.
   
   
7. How do you balance your mental health with the demands of writing and promoting your book?
   
   This is a constant struggle. I work full time and write. Over the last two years, I’ve worked to strike a balance. Part of my strategy is to establish a clear plan for each day. I dedicated at least and hour a day to write or edit. I ensure that I have time blocked to workout, go for walks, chat with friends, and spend time with my husband and pugs. It’s a constant dance and there are many wrong steps, but I keep dancing.
   
   
8. What advice would you give to other women who are working on their own creative projects or pursuing writing?
   
   First, build community. Nobody does anything alone. As solitary as writing is, it’s not a solo sport. We need others. They offer support, guidance, levity, and, sometimes, needed real talk. Whatever your passion is find others in that field and connect. My author friends are my go-to. Those group chats are unhinged, but the best part of my day! Second, stop telling yourself “No”. We can point at all the many reasons why not; my career, my family, my health, my lack of time…etc. Those are valid, but they are still excuses that we use to tell ourselves no. The moment you tell yourself no to your nos, it frees you to the possibility of actually doing it. I’m telling myself no to my nos every day and it’s one hundred perfect the best thing I’ve ever done.
   
   
9. How do you stay motivated and inspired when facing obstacles in your creative journey?
   
   As I said, community is important. My author friends keep me motivated. Not just their support, but seeing the amazing things they do inspire me to keep at it. Also, my husband is my biggest cheerleader. He never les me give up on myself.
   
   
10. What role does your personal life play in shaping your writing and creative process?
    
    I pull from my lived experience into the work that I am doing. These aren’t all Melissa’s stories with different character names, but aspect of my thoughts, beliefs, and experiences woven into the story to add context or authenticity. These are always my characters’ stories and they take me down different paths or make choices, I’ not make. Still my personal life is drawn on for different elements or guide me in the stories I choose to tell.
    
    
11. Are there any specific strategies or practices you use to maintain your mental well-being while working on emotionally charged content?
    
    Besides some of the things I’ve already mentioned I do a few other things such as play silly/happy music to sing along with to shift my headspace after emotionally draining scenes, play with my pugs, watch a funny movie with my husband, or go do something kind for myself. Anything to help shift me away from that headspace. There is a bit of lather, rinse, and repeat of this throughout the writing process.
    
    
12. Can you talk about a particular struggle you faced in your writing career and how you overcame it?
    
    While the bookish space is changing, there is a still a bias against marginalized stories. Many readers and publishers have specific ideas about stories written by and with marginalized characters as being “sad” stories. As a disabled author that writes disability and mental health rep in their work, I’ve heard this at writing conferences and within other bookish spaces. There is still work to do to open hearts and eyes to the complexity of marginalized stories. There is joy, beauty, pain, sadness, laughter, sexiness, and all the things in our stories.
    
    
13. How do you handle feedback and criticism about your work, especially when it’s deeply personal?
    
    I’ve been blessed thus far with readers that have embraced my stories. The feedback in the writing process from read and critique partners, BETA readers, editors, and ARC readers were overall thoughtful and helpful. Prior to publication, I’m able to digest constructive feedback in a way to help me make it the best possible story for readers. Still, I do have to remind myself that they are not critiquing Melissa but my work and that's okay. They are here to help. Once the book released, I stepped away from the review space for my work. That is for readers, not me. My husband does read them to offer any overall themes; both good or constructive, which is a great strategy to help me digest things in a way that supports my mental health.
    
    
14. What lessons have you learned through writing and sharing your story that could benefit other aspiring authors?
    
    So much! A lot has already been discussed, but there a just a few. First, stop calling yourself aspiring. Get rid of that word. It unintentionally holds you back from doing the thing. Break those shackles that hold you back and jump in to do it. Second, build your writing community. This is so helpful in keeping you focused and having the support you deserve as an author. Third, set aside time daily to write. Writing is a muscle and it needs to be exercised. Just an hour a day is all you need to help your muscles strong. Those are the top three I’d encourage other authors to do from the get go.
    
    
15. How do you envision the future of your writing career and your role as an author?
    
    Bright! There are still so many stories inside me waiting to be told. My hope is that I will have the ability to keep doing that. To continue to grow as an author. Listen, everyone would want to be the next Kennedy Ryan, Emily Henry, or Tia Williams but I am realistic in my expectations. As long as I’m able to keep writing my stories that explore disability and mental health in a thoughtful way to support positive representation, then my author’s journey will be basked in sunshine.

Threads: @melissa_whitneyauthor
W: www.melissawhitneywrites.com

In the heart of every journey lies a moment of profound realization—a moment when the pieces of one's past come together in a way that can no longer be ignored. For Ginelle Testa, this moment arrived during a challenge she had undertaken for the third year in a row: NaNoWriMo. What began as a collection of stories soon revealed itself as a powerful narrative capable of connecting with others on a deep, transformative level. With the courage to share her experiences, Ginelle stepped into the role of a storyteller, embracing vulnerability and honesty as tools for healing—not just for herself but for those who would find solace in her words. Her journey is one of self-forgiveness, community, and the unyielding belief that our stories have the power to change lives. Through her writing, Ginelle reminds us that in the act of sharing our truth, we open doors for others to see themselves more clearly and to find the strength to forge their own paths toward healing.

What was the moment that made you decide to share your personal journey with the world?

I was doing the NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) challenge for the third year in a row—writing 50,000 words in the month of November. I realized I had this patchwork of stories that may be able to be stitched together. I had experience telling my story in 12-step rooms and knew the power of what a story shared did. It has the opportunity to open someone's eyes, make them feel less alone/make them feel seen, and help them take steps to improve their life. So, I decided in November of 2019 I would create a book.

How did you cope with the fear or anxiety of revealing your past through your book?

I became a women's dating writer in 2016, sharing deeply personal stories of failure and triumph in my dating, relationships, and sex life. Around the same time, I began sharing body-positive content on Instagram. These two practices encouraged me to be open and honest about my truths, regardless of pushback and trolls (and boy, did they come). I started to gain confidence in my own power and story, so it was a natural next step to share a book-length story. 

Can you describe a specific instance where learning to forgive yourself made a significant difference in your recovery?

Yes, there's an instance in my book where someone says "no" to me in a sexual situation and I push anyway. I felt deep, deep shame and guilt about this for a long time. I thought I was a bad person who should be canceled and never forgiven. Through the process of writing and recovering in 12-step, I learned that I was a sick person getting well, not a bad person getting good. Since I've been able to forgive myself for it, I've been able to share it. And my hope is that others can forgive themselves, too. 

How has your journey of self-forgiveness impacted your personal relationships?

The journey of self-forgiveness has deeply impacted my personal relationships. Because I'm gentler with myself, I'm gentler with others. I used to have expectations for myself and others that were blown out of proportion and deeply difficult to attain. Since I've right-sized those expectations, my relationships are smoother. For example, I don't expect my partners to read my mind, whereas I used to in the past. Instead, I communicate when something is up.  

What role did community support play in your recovery and decision to share your story?

Community was everything in my recovery and continues to be. Like I shared earlier, the rooms of 12-step prepared me to share my story to a wider audience because I saw the impact.

How did you find and build your support network during your journey?

Community is part of everything I do. I did 12-step for a long time. Now, I have multiple writing groups, I'm in a cornhole league, yoga community, and I have a group of friends I depend on. I am resourceful, seeking communities that can give me what I need at any given time and that I can contribute to. I am always seeking spaces I feel safe and welcome in.

What are some practical steps you recommend for others looking to find a supportive community?

Look to your hobbies, interests, and personality traits. Maybe you can find a sports league that interests you, like ultimate frisbee, an arts and crafts group, or an ADHD group. I find these through the app Meetup. It's a perfect place to find both in-person and online niche support groups or meetups. Some other advice would be to be bold and put yourself out there. It's scary to step into a new group, but most groups welcome you with open arms. The last piece of advice would be don't try to do life alone. There are spaces for you. 

How did your experiences with addiction influence your approach to writing and storytelling?

In 12-step, you practice immense openness. You share vulnerably and raw, and that's exactly how my writing is. I hold nothing back, I show the good and the bad to paint a full picture of my humanity. 

Can you talk about any particular challenges you faced while working on your personal essays?

Sometimes I want to write about an experience that happened in the last three years, but I'm too close to it. I struggle to reflect clearly and pull the meaning from it. The more recent the memory, the less experience I have thinking about it. I combat this by journaling then writing crap and editing.  

How has your journey shaped your views on body positivity and self-acceptance?

In addition to addiction issues, I've struggled with eating disorders my whole life. In the years up to getting sober, I started to discover body positivity. When I got sober, I dove headfirst in. I found a community called Bawdy Love, which no longer exists, but it helped me learn that my body was fundamentally good in any state and that I can take healthy actions at any weight to be my definition of healthy. Self-acceptance and love are pillars of who I am now. I work at them every single day to be a better me, partner, worker, friend, human.

What advice would you give to someone struggling with self-forgiveness and coming to terms with their past?

Talk about it. Discuss it with a therapist, a friend, a mentor. Make sure these are safe people. I got through my trauma by letting it out. This doesn't mean trauma dumping on anyone who will listen, but rather an intentional working through everything that happened so you can begin to let go.

How do you stay motivated and focused on your writing projects amidst personal challenges?

It feels silly to harp on it, but COMMUNITY. I go to 1-3 writing groups a week that provide me with a space to write and be accountable to my writing. I show up to my group every Saturday morning at 10 am and write whether I want to or not. I no longer wait for inspiration to strike, rather, writing is an intentional and consistent practice.

Can you share a particularly moving response or reaction from a reader of your book?

"Thank you for sharing your story. It helped me heal parts of myself that I didn't know needed healing too." LIKE, WHAT? That's exactly what I'm going for.  

What are some common misconceptions about addiction that you hope to address through your writing?

Not so much in my book, but more in my writing since—there are many paths to recovery. There are as many paths as there are people and I hope that everyone can find one that works for them.

How do you envision your future projects evolving from the themes and experiences you’ve explored in your current work?

I envision a post-12-step memoir, one where I've learned to trust myself and lean into my intuition. 12-step played a crucial role in my life for almost nine years, but the last year I've been recovering without it and it's been a beautiful and interesting journey. For example, I don't run every decision I make by a million people first as I did in twelve step. Sure, I talk to my therapist often, but I also make decisions grounded in my own experience and knowledge. And that was something I personally struggled to do in 12-step.

IG and TikTok: @ginelletesta

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