Latest / Crafted Connections / EP 49: How to Be Both a Baddie and a Villager with Avagail Lozano

Transcript

EP 49: How to Be Both a Baddie and a Villager with Avagail Lozano · Crafted Connections

0:03
SPEAKER_00: Hello, welcome to Crafted Connections.
0:07
SPEAKER_00: I'm Kayla Calhoun, and this is a podcast all about storytelling and building genuine community.
0:13
SPEAKER_00: Here we'll dive into the art of storytelling, unpack strategies for making meaningful connections, and hear from incredible humans who are using their story to create impact.
0:23
SPEAKER_00: So grab your favorite beverage, settle in, and let's craft some connections.
0:29
SPEAKER_00: Hello, I am Kaylin Calhoun, and you are listening to Crafted Connections, where we connect with all the people in my network about who they are, why they get up and out of bed in the morning, and hopefully get a little bit of inspiration along the way.
0:44
SPEAKER_00: I really, really believe that everybody's story is interesting.
0:47
SPEAKER_00: We all have aspects of our lives that maybe we don't like reflect on enough about how cool we are.
0:54
SPEAKER_00: So I started this podcast a little under a year ago and have been interviewing folks in my network.
1:00
SPEAKER_00: I'll do a solo every once in a while to kind of share what I'm working on, what I'm going through, and uh to give you some insight on me as the host.
1:09
SPEAKER_00: So today I've got Ava Lozano on.
1:14
SPEAKER_00: She is a friend that I met through a virtual book club this time last year, and she's such a cool person.
1:21
SPEAKER_00: Uh she herself used the phrase Bay Area Baddie in this episode, and I it cannot be more true.
1:27
SPEAKER_00: She's so much fun.
1:28
SPEAKER_00: She's really leaned into a non-traditional life for herself, unapologetically.
1:33
SPEAKER_00: And I love at one point we talk about the phrase, what's meant for me won't miss me.
1:37
SPEAKER_00: Since she shared that phrase with me a little over a year ago, I have been repeating it to myself like a beautiful, melodic uh mantra.
1:46
SPEAKER_00: So super, super excited.
1:47
SPEAKER_00: We talk about her experience as a woman of color, uh, what it's like to be a funty, and to really make community and connection in the social media space.
1:56
SPEAKER_00: So, this episode is for anyone who wants to live a little bit more unapologetically, where you're ready to try new things, to find adventure in everything.
2:05
SPEAKER_00: Ava is such a good example of that.
2:07
SPEAKER_00: We're gonna dig right into the episode.
2:09
SPEAKER_00: Thank you so much to Ava for joining me, and I hope you all enjoy her story.
2:16
SPEAKER_00: So excited to have you on.
2:19
SPEAKER_00: Ava, can you do me a favor and tell the good people listening to Crafted Connections a little bit about yourself today?
2:26
SPEAKER_00: Oh gosh.
2:27
SPEAKER_01: I honestly hate this question.
2:28
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it and honestly, it always I have such a good group of people around me that it always spurs a discussion of like, do we have to?
2:36
SPEAKER_00: Do we have to like identify those things?
2:39
SPEAKER_00: But it's in the sense of like, you know, like when you get up in the morning, like, what do you do with yourself, you know?
2:44
SPEAKER_01: Oh, I mean, every day is like a different day for me.
2:48
SPEAKER_01: But I guess, you know, let's start at the core of who I am.
2:51
SPEAKER_01: I am a Filipina-American Bay Area baddie.
2:56
SPEAKER_01: I actually did an IG live last month and we got to play around with titles.
3:00
SPEAKER_01: So, like, I said that, you know, I'm a content creator, an funti extraordinaire.
3:06
SPEAKER_01: I am the funti to all my nieces and nephews, which is like the fun auntie, and like an adventure.
3:14
SPEAKER_01: I think I don't know if I said an adventure enthusiast or an adventure something, but basically, life is just one big adventure for me, no matter how like it started with like travel adventures, obviously, but I've just come to realize that anything and everything can be an adventure no matter how close or far you are from home.
3:33
SPEAKER_01: So that's kind of me in a nutshell.
3:36
SPEAKER_00: Totally.
3:36
SPEAKER_00: And I think too, like, you know, the longevity of how long you've been a content creator and put your story out publicly does, you know, demand that you often are like, okay, what how do I define myself now?
3:48
SPEAKER_00: How do I define myself now?
3:50
SPEAKER_00: And then continuing to present that to people is such such a thing, right?
3:54
SPEAKER_00: And yeah, and so you've had different like levels of like, oh, this is my travel season, right?
4:00
SPEAKER_00: And then and then you've you know had years where you're like, oh, I really haven't traveled for a second.
4:04
SPEAKER_00: And and then so then you get to like redefine your definition of adventure, which is super, super cool.
4:09
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah.
4:09
SPEAKER_01: I mean, it's ever changing, especially I feel like in the content creation world.
4:14
SPEAKER_01: Because yeah, like I said, when I started I doing content, I was mainly focused on travels because it was right after I had moved back from Korea.
4:22
SPEAKER_01: Um, after teaching English there for four years, and then it was in a season of when I was traveling a lot because I started freelancing and everything.
4:30
SPEAKER_01: And then even at the time when I started creating content, I was in a long distance relationship.
4:34
SPEAKER_01: So that was like one of my like content pillars.
4:37
SPEAKER_01: And then after like a horrible breakup, we had I had to like shift that.
4:41
SPEAKER_01: And then that's kind of what spurred me being more vulnerable and honest online.
4:46
SPEAKER_01: And you know, in the world of travel content creation, a lot of it is about aesthetics, and it's like, oh my god, beautiful places and everything.
4:54
SPEAKER_01: Yet I'm over here, like, oh, this is like the mistakes I made.
4:58
SPEAKER_01: Oh, like this is like the outfit that I've worn for like the third time on this like one trip, or you know, me crying on the floor of a hostel because you know, I'm like in my healing stage, and so it's really just the nitty-gritty, just the real stuff, I guess.
5:12
SPEAKER_01: You know, social media tends to gravitate towards the highlights.
5:17
SPEAKER_01: And for me, I think I should have just started sharing all of that because it was like I was in a place of going through healing through a very, very toxic uh breakup that had me at like the lowest point of my life, and I and then I was starting to travel a lot more, and it was one of my ways to heal.
5:38
SPEAKER_01: But I was like, how do I share this like beautiful place while literally my reality is that I'm like crying and I'm I'm I'm dealing with all of this hurt, and so that kind of spurred me to just kind of share it all.
5:52
SPEAKER_01: And what I can't realize is that more people like that stuff, more people want that stuff, more people need that stuff because a lot of the people who are on social media, the majority of people are not content creators, they aren't, you know, people who travel all the time, they aren't people who have the same time and means that I did to like explore these beautiful places in the world.
6:15
SPEAKER_01: And so it's like they want something that's more relatable and being vulnerable and the hard moments and the tough moments are you know, like things that people can relate to.
6:26
SPEAKER_01: And they they can also relate to the happiness and the joy, but it's kind of like presenting it all together, I think, is such an important piece of social media, especially when you start to build community online.
6:39
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, totally, totally.
6:40
SPEAKER_00: And then like that connection, because I that's something too, right?
6:43
SPEAKER_00: Like this obviously I'm out here connection, community is like what I'm pounding into the wall with this, but I I think we need it, and I think it needs to be like called out on a regular basis.
6:53
SPEAKER_00: Like, how do we intentionally do that?
6:55
SPEAKER_00: How do we make sure that we're we're showing up as ourselves?
6:57
SPEAKER_00: And so whether it be on a social platform or whether it be like one-on-one, like that vulnerability breeds that connection, right?
7:06
SPEAKER_00: Like, you know, I I time and time again, like guests have jumped on and they've been like, yeah, when I shared this, people responded me too, you know, like, or you know, the people that were meant to like be connected with you.
7:16
SPEAKER_00: And it's a really, really special thing, no matter like what platform it exists on, whether you know, small or large.
7:23
SPEAKER_00: So I love that.
7:25
SPEAKER_00: Let's back up a little bit.
7:27
SPEAKER_00: So not everybody just like goes out there and is living, like you said, you you had the time and the means, but like that's not like you didn't just like fall into that, right?
7:35
SPEAKER_00: So talk to me about like maybe was there a pivotal moment where you're like, you know what, I I really want to live to the fullest.
7:42
SPEAKER_00: Were were there experiences that led you to this, like building this life for yourself?
7:47
SPEAKER_00: How do like what's the background on on how you ended up, you know, defining adventure for yourself?
7:52
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I feel like just ever since I graduated college, I feel like I've lived a different life every four to five years, you know.
8:05
SPEAKER_01: And so definitely my past life as an English teacher in South Korea was a pivotal moment of really making travel a priority in life.
8:17
SPEAKER_01: And what around what time were you in South Korea?
8:19
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I was in South Korea from 2016 to 2020.
8:22
SPEAKER_01: And before that, I mean I had already fallen in love with travel when I went on like my first big solo international trip in 2008 during college.
8:31
SPEAKER_01: But up until 2016, I was more of a oh, like I'll do one big trip a year type of girl.
8:38
SPEAKER_01: And then moving abroad, I realized I don't want to do that.
8:43
SPEAKER_01: You know, that's it's not enough.
8:44
SPEAKER_01: I I want to make travel more of a priority, and living abroad made that a little bit easier just because you can hop to different countries in an hour or two from South Korea, and so yeah, so after I came back to the US from teaching, my plan was to be here for a couple of months because you know I was living abroad for four years and then moved to Germany because my ex at the time was living in Germany.
9:11
SPEAKER_01: But the pandemic happened maybe a month after I got home, and so I kind of got like quote unquote stuck here.
9:18
SPEAKER_01: And I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life because we were at that four to five year mark, and I knew I didn't want to teach English online just because it was so different than what I knew.
9:30
SPEAKER_01: And I also kind of felt that my period of being an English teacher was over, and so it kind of I know you said like things don't really fall into your lap, but they do and they don't, right?
9:42
SPEAKER_00: It's like things present themselves because you can't like force something to happen.
9:45
SPEAKER_00: Like there's intentionality and there's like being like this must happen, right?
9:49
SPEAKER_00: And those are two different vibes, and then and then things like for me too, like I find like the next opportunity usually presents itself, but I also have to be clear on like what I want to receive it, right?
10:01
SPEAKER_00: So no, I totally get you.
10:02
SPEAKER_00: So, so yeah, so something like miraculous happened, yeah.
10:07
SPEAKER_01: Well, so I started my Instagram page because we were in the you know, the times of like virtual events and everyone was like on social media because that's how we could connect.
10:17
SPEAKER_01: And so I started to do my own content, and then somebody asked me if I was interested in like freelance writing, and I was like, what is that?
10:26
SPEAKER_01: And so they were like, you know, I know somebody who's doing like a course and they're looking for beta testers, and so that's kind of how I learned all about freelance writing and all the different types of writing that you can do, like content writing, blog writing, email newsletters and everything.
10:43
SPEAKER_01: And so I was like, huh, okay, like this is cool.
10:45
SPEAKER_01: I did the beta program, and then I kind of sat on it for a while and I was just like, I don't really know like what I want to do.
10:52
SPEAKER_01: And then it was also in the age of when like influencer like programs started coming out and and different things like that.
10:58
SPEAKER_01: And so there was a Filipino influencer coach that I followed, and she was giving out free like 15-minute like one-on-ones, um, you know, to get people into her new program and everything.
11:10
SPEAKER_01: And I snagged one of the spots, and during our call, we talked about the influencer program and why I want to be an influencer and stuff like that.
11:18
SPEAKER_01: And then she's like, Okay, well, like what do you do outside of you know, wanting to be an influencer?
11:23
SPEAKER_01: So I don't know why.
11:24
SPEAKER_01: Like I in that moment, I was just like, Oh, like I'm a copywriter.
11:27
SPEAKER_01: Or like, you know, I'm gonna let her know.
11:29
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, right.
11:30
SPEAKER_01: And she was like, Oh, like what do you like, what do you like to write and stuff like that?
11:33
SPEAKER_01: And I'm like, oh, like like blogs and stuff like that.
11:36
SPEAKER_01: And she was like, I'm actually looking for somebody to help me with my blog.
11:40
SPEAKER_01: And so we kind of did it.
11:43
SPEAKER_01: She was like, Yeah, do you have like past experience and stuff like that?
11:46
SPEAKER_01: And I didn't at the time, so we kind of agreed on like a trade.
11:50
SPEAKER_01: I would get like the influencer program in exchange for doing blogs for three months, and then that turned into like a paid thing with with her for like two years.
12:01
SPEAKER_01: And then just from there, it was kind of just putting myself out there like that, saying, like, I I'm a blog writer now or like I do content.
12:09
SPEAKER_01: And with me starting to create my own content, people were like, Do you do other people's social media because I like know somebody who's looking?
12:18
SPEAKER_01: I ended up volunteering my social, like social media services for a nonprofit.
12:23
SPEAKER_01: And then that connection actually turned into me doing social media for nomadic Matt, who a lot of people might know as like the OG like budget travel blogger.
12:36
SPEAKER_01: And so yeah, it was kind of from theirs just word of mouth and just putting myself out there saying, like, this is what I do, and then people referring me or being like, you know, like what's your availability?
12:48
SPEAKER_01: What are you up to now?
12:49
SPEAKER_01: And and different things like that.
12:51
SPEAKER_01: So I guess yeah, I mean, like it didn't like fall into my lap, but also it it just I'm such a believer in like what's meant for you won't miss you.
13:00
SPEAKER_00: We've talked about that extensively.
13:03
SPEAKER_01: Somebody won't miss me.
13:04
SPEAKER_01: And yeah, I mean, we have talked about this before, and there's just like opportunities that didn't work out, you know, in the last like I've been doing this for four or five years now.
13:16
SPEAKER_01: There were some opportunities, especially the last year, that like didn't work out, but it's because there was another opportunity that was like waiting for me that was more aligned.
13:25
SPEAKER_01: And so yeah, I guess that's just kind of how I fell into everything.
13:30
SPEAKER_00: Perfect.
13:30
SPEAKER_00: Okay, two things.
13:31
SPEAKER_00: Talk to me more about like the why and the motivation behind wanting to create and put your story out.
13:37
SPEAKER_00: Cause like I don't think people actually understand what it takes to be an influencer, what it takes to put yourself out there in that way.
13:44
SPEAKER_00: And so, like, when you were like on those days, we were like, what the F am I doing?
13:48
SPEAKER_00: Like, what was like kind of that why or what was that like motivation that kept you going?
13:53
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
13:53
SPEAKER_01: So I just I decided to start creating on Instagram because I had attempted to blog before.
14:00
SPEAKER_01: My first attempt to blog was when I was in Italy in 2013, um, living with a host family for three months as an English language tutor, and that's where I fell in love with teaching English.
14:14
SPEAKER_01: And it was more so as a way to just kind of keep my family and friends updated as to what I was doing in Italy and and how things were going, and just a way to keep in touch because we weren't so connected back then.
14:26
SPEAKER_01: And then I attempted to kind of do that when I moved to Korea as well, but that like just that didn't happen because teaching is like a whole nine to five and whatever.
14:35
SPEAKER_00: It's a full job, yeah, yeah.
14:36
SPEAKER_00: And then yeah, and that stuff fizzles, right?
14:37
SPEAKER_00: Because you're like, we need to make sure we pay these bills and get the job done.
14:40
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
14:41
SPEAKER_01: And so, you know, when when the pandemic happened and we were all cooped up inside and we could only connect online, I was like, okay, let me just start sharing stuff on Instagram because that's kind of where everyone is, and that's you know what everyone's doing now.
14:54
SPEAKER_01: And so I didn't really know that like influencing was a thing.
14:58
SPEAKER_01: And honestly, to this day, I don't even say, like, oh, I'm an influencer.
15:02
SPEAKER_00: 100%, right?
15:02
SPEAKER_00: And I think that's the key, right?
15:04
SPEAKER_00: Is that like when you approach it to go back to what you're saying with like it was Italy, right?
15:09
SPEAKER_00: Where you're like, I'm doing it to keep my friends and family up to date on things, and then more people were like, Oh, that's cool.
15:14
SPEAKER_00: And then they, your friends and family share it with their friends and family, and their and like, and eventually you get past a degree of like, okay, your friend's friend, your friend's friend's friend, like eventually that person is not your friend, and it's just someone who's enjoying what you're putting out there.
15:28
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
15:29
SPEAKER_01: And so I guess I started to share on Instagram too, because I wanted to connect with more people who love travel.
15:36
SPEAKER_01: That was the initial thing of it, is like, okay, I want to find like fellow travelers, but also especially I wanted to find other Filipino American travelers and people who weren't living a so-called like traditional life because a lot of us were in my generation, you know, like the millennials and stuff like that.
15:55
SPEAKER_01: We were raised to believe that to be successful, we had to go to college, you know, land a good job, get married, settle down, buy a house, yada yada yada.
16:05
SPEAKER_01: That's so boring.
16:07
SPEAKER_00: You're like things that I was working towards in the past and no longer identify with.
16:12
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, for sure.
16:14
SPEAKER_01: And so, especially moving to Korea, I think that was like the pivotal moment of like, okay, she she's not, she's not doing, she's not doing things the quote unquote right way.
16:25
SPEAKER_01: Especially because I went there when I went to Korea, I was engaged in like an eight-year relationship.
16:30
SPEAKER_01: And four months into my first year, I broke that engagement off and decided by the end of that year not to come home and then spent like the next three years in Korea.
16:41
SPEAKER_01: So yeah, I wanted to find other people who are doing like the same thing as me.
16:45
SPEAKER_01: And little by little I did.
16:48
SPEAKER_01: I was connecting with people on Instagram, I was connecting with other travelers through the nomadic network because they were doing a ton of virtual events at the time on so many different topics.
17:00
SPEAKER_01: And I started to create those connections um just through like these virtual events and everything and through Instagram.
17:06
SPEAKER_01: And because I had a lot of free time, I was like, Yeah, why not like share my story?
17:10
SPEAKER_01: And at the time I was in a long-distance relationship, and so I was like, you know, let me share this and connect with other people who are in long distance relationships.
17:17
SPEAKER_01: Cause it was really tough to be in one at that time when you couldn't travel to go see your partner.
17:23
SPEAKER_00: It's hard enough as it is.
17:24
SPEAKER_00: Like I saw some friends in college go through it, and it's hard enough as it is to be like, okay, so it's like this is one day until you know we have like a day or two together, and then I'll see you in six months, you know.
17:36
SPEAKER_00: But then in like undefined amount of time, when when are we gonna get to see each other?
17:41
SPEAKER_00: Are we ever gonna get to see each other?
17:42
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
17:43
SPEAKER_01: During that time, it was like we went eight months without seeing each other.
17:46
SPEAKER_01: So yeah, it was really more I was more inspired to just start sharing because I wanted to connect with others who are kind of doing the same thing as me, where they weren't following that traditional path.
17:57
SPEAKER_01: There's other people out here doing this.
17:59
SPEAKER_01: I can't be the only like Filipina doing it.
18:02
SPEAKER_01: And like sometimes I felt really alone in it, you know.
18:06
SPEAKER_01: And then especially like in my family, my you know, my siblings and my cousins were following not like the traditional path to a T, but more so than I was.
18:14
SPEAKER_01: And so I always felt like an outsider, like the black she.
18:18
SPEAKER_01: Like I wasn't, you know, successful in my family or my my parents' eyes, even though when at the end of the day, it's like what if if I feel I'm successful, that's all that matters, you know.
18:28
SPEAKER_01: It's it's down to me.
18:29
SPEAKER_01: But also, too, it's just like coming from a Filipino family, like, you know, the familial relationships are so strong and familiar ties are so strong.
18:36
SPEAKER_01: And and yeah, there's always that part of me that of course I want to make my parents proud, you know?
18:40
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, because you're a human being who wants to be accepted and loved.
18:43
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
18:43
SPEAKER_00: No.
18:44
SPEAKER_00: And then I would say too, like, I I had a mindset coach that used to the phrase success as defined by me, you know, and and what does that actually look like?
18:52
SPEAKER_00: And I would love if you don't mind kind of sharing your experience, because you you nodded to this and you've shared this with me in the past, but the entering these Filipino perspective-led spaces and why that is so important in what you do and and your pursuit of things and in connection.
19:08
SPEAKER_01: So I feel like, okay, so I said, you know, I was doing this to connect with other Filipinos, and that was really important to me because also too, I didn't know a lot of people and know a lot of other Filipinos who traveled a lot like growing up.
19:22
SPEAKER_01: This wasn't like a thing that a lot of us in our community did.
19:26
SPEAKER_01: Even though I grew up in Daily City, which is like 33% Filipino, you know, I didn't hear of people like traveling a lot and and all of that.
19:34
SPEAKER_01: And so that was like my first, you know, really like, oh, I I need to connect with like my community in that way.
19:40
SPEAKER_01: Well, it goes back to college too.
19:42
SPEAKER_01: When I moved from Daily City to San Diego State, I feel like that was the first time I experienced a very big culture shock because not only is Daily City 33% Filipino, it's mostly Asian, we were the majority in my high school, you know.
19:57
SPEAKER_01: And so when I went to San Diego State and it was majority like white people, I was like, whoa, what is like this?
20:04
SPEAKER_00: What is this life?
20:04
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
20:05
SPEAKER_01: That's the first time I sought out, like, okay, the Filipino student organization, you know, and that was like where I was during my college um experience.
20:13
SPEAKER_01: And so when I started to travel more and I wanted to connect with other Filipino American travelers, I I knew that that was an important thing because our experiences vary differently from you know, uh, white travelers, black travelers, Latinx travelers.
20:28
SPEAKER_01: And even though it can be similar in some ways as like a woman of color to other women of color, specifically being Filipino, it's it's very different.
20:38
SPEAKER_01: And so that's why I take out those connections.
20:41
SPEAKER_01: And you know, doing that in the travel space, it made me realize how important that is when I stopped traveling too.
20:49
SPEAKER_01: Not that I totally stopped, but there was a period of 2024 to 2025 where I barely used my passport.
20:57
SPEAKER_01: Like I didn't use it at all in 2024.
20:59
SPEAKER_01: It's still me.
21:02
SPEAKER_01: But during that time, I was here in the Bay Area and I started attending more community events.
21:07
SPEAKER_01: Um I started working with more local businesses and small businesses.
21:11
SPEAKER_01: And because I am in the Bay Area right outside of San Francisco, I was blessed that there were a lot of Filipino-led spaces.
21:18
SPEAKER_01: And I find that that was much more aligned.
21:21
SPEAKER_01: Because one, it there's instant cultural familiarity when you're when I'm in a Filipino space.
21:26
SPEAKER_01: You know, obviously we connect definitely in that way.
21:29
SPEAKER_01: I think it's really important because as a person who has been in a lot of rooms where I'm the only Filipina, but also like the only Asian, it's so I guess refreshing and just it takes such a load off when you're in a space where people can just understand the nuances that you don't have to explain.
21:50
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
21:51
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
21:52
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
21:52
SPEAKER_00: Even like in some of you know, the questions I'm asking you today, right?
21:56
SPEAKER_00: It's I've heard of I people have explained.
22:00
SPEAKER_00: Explain to me, like what it what it looks like, the expectations that your family has on you, but you can't know unless you've actually had those expectations put on you, right?
22:09
SPEAKER_00: Like, how can you know?
22:10
SPEAKER_00: And then to not have to even explain that or like, or people to, you know, just being around the ignorance is rough.
22:18
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and I I feel like it was also really important to seek out those spaces because not one, not only to amplify the entrepreneurs and the businesses who were creating these spaces for people like me and for the community.
22:33
SPEAKER_01: You know, they have been putting in like the hard work.
22:36
SPEAKER_01: They've been pulling the weight for everyone so that this become like Filipino-led spaces and Filipino entrepreneurs and Filipino business owners become more of a norm rather than, you know, like an outlier.
22:48
SPEAKER_01: I want to do my part as a community member to like uplift those spaces and to contribute in the ways that I can, whether it's volunteering, whether it is offering my services in a paid way, to do social media, to do events work as an as like day of ops or different things like that.
23:06
SPEAKER_01: And and I also feel like it was just important for me to seek out like specifically pine-led spaces, which is like short for Filipina, because immediately when you're there, like you know, like I I did like marketing and social media for like a pine-led space.
23:22
SPEAKER_01: And you know, they are just so working with other pinees, it's just so encouraging.
23:27
SPEAKER_01: You don't have to prove yourself because we already know that's one thing.
23:31
SPEAKER_01: Oh my gosh, like wait, I'm and I'm just like realizing this right now.
23:34
SPEAKER_01: It's like that's why it's so important to me.
23:36
SPEAKER_01: It's because it's like you already step into the room and they're like, Yes, we know you're capable, we know that you are deserving of this, we know that you can do the damn thing.
23:46
SPEAKER_01: Whereas in a lot of other spaces, when I was working with other people, and it's not just because I didn't know them, but it's it's just that, yeah, as a women, woman of color, like, you know, historically we've always had to prove ourselves two, three, four, five times as much as others, you know?
24:05
SPEAKER_01: And so yeah, just being accepted and being like fully like, yeah, you're capable.
24:12
SPEAKER_00: Like that's it, it makes me think, like, because you called yourself a baddie at the beginning.
24:16
SPEAKER_00: And I'm like, I'm so glad that term exists because it's perfect to describe you.
24:20
SPEAKER_00: And then also it's like to walk into a room and you don't have to prove that status, right?
24:24
SPEAKER_00: That instant baddie acknowledgement, right?
24:26
SPEAKER_00: Like, I see you, we do, we work the same, like game sees game is what one of my mentors always says.
24:32
SPEAKER_00: And also, right, but then to go back to what you're saying, like, you know, I I've got a filmmaking background.
24:38
SPEAKER_00: So, you know, in film school, we did the media studies and like representation is, you know, like what you actually see on screen in commercials, this, that, and the other, like what's represented in stories, like on a mass scale, doesn't, you know, give people that subconscious belief.
24:53
SPEAKER_00: And it's it's messed up, right?
24:54
SPEAKER_01: Oh my gosh, yeah.
24:55
SPEAKER_01: And and that that brings me back to like what we were talking about earlier about why I started content creating also and putting myself out there is to be that representation that like I never saw growing up, you know.
25:06
SPEAKER_01: And there are more Filipinos and Filipinas like doing this now, and you know, because everyone's on social media and everything.
25:13
SPEAKER_01: I still get people who, you know, tell me, like, oh, I'm so glad that like I I came across your page, or I'm so glad that you know you did this event or this talk, because I, you know, I never had this before.
25:26
SPEAKER_01: Um, just like specifically say like specifically in terms of like solo traveling.
25:30
SPEAKER_01: I've done a few like talks on on solo traveling and stuff like that.
25:34
SPEAKER_01: And I've got in Filipinos who've been like, Yeah, I'm so glad you did this because I I still don't really see anybody any other Filipinas solo traveling, and I I want to do that.
25:43
SPEAKER_01: I don't know if it's possible.
25:44
SPEAKER_01: Or other Filipinos who are like, you know, I've solo traveled a lot before, but I've had to get like I've had a lot of my tips from like other bloggers or or other sources, and it it can't really relate to like my experience, you know.
25:58
SPEAKER_01: And so like I wish I had, you know, your content or your talk before I started traveling.
26:03
SPEAKER_01: And so it's you know, that's just reaffirming to, you know, what I'm doing is, you know, helping others.
26:08
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, the what and the why.
26:10
SPEAKER_00: It really does.
26:10
SPEAKER_00: It just reminds you and you're like, oh yeah.
26:12
SPEAKER_00: And so what does that look like when you're doing this, right?
26:15
SPEAKER_00: Like there's some pioneering that is involved in it, right?
26:18
SPEAKER_00: So when you are like facing something and you're like, oof, okay, I'm this feels like I'm like, I can't really find a lot of examples of this.
26:26
SPEAKER_00: I'm move moving forward like as a pioneer in the space.
26:30
SPEAKER_00: What goes through your head?
26:31
SPEAKER_00: Like what, you know, what what is that experience like?
26:33
SPEAKER_01: I feel like even just it's so crazy because 2020 seems like a lifetime ago, but it also seems like yesterday.
26:41
SPEAKER_01: It does.
26:41
SPEAKER_00: And also I love, I love the parallels.
26:43
SPEAKER_00: Like when you talk to somebody about their 2020 experience, like the the creative projects that came out of like us all having to pause is so cool, right?
26:52
SPEAKER_00: Like, not a great time in a lot of ways, but in a lot of other ways.
26:55
SPEAKER_00: Like the the things that grew from the seeds planted in that time are so cool as well.
27:00
SPEAKER_01: I feel like, you know, it's yeah, maybe there aren't a lot of examples, but again, I'm blessed to be in the Bay Area.
27:07
SPEAKER_01: So I feel like there's just a lot of resources and there's a lot of content creators and other people here that I can talk to about my experience.
27:15
SPEAKER_01: And like even in this, like, you know, as far as I am in my journey, I've connected with so many other Filipinos and Filipinas in the space.
27:24
SPEAKER_01: And so I really think it is all about like networking to find those people, to find the people in your community.
27:30
SPEAKER_01: But it's also, I guess when I started, because when I started, I didn't create content specifically about Filipinos or like really Yeah, yeah.
27:40
SPEAKER_00: You just literally were being yourself and you are Filipina, yeah.
27:44
SPEAKER_00: Like, so you can't like help yeah.
27:46
SPEAKER_01: Now, you know, you know, I I do talk about it a little bit more.
27:50
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, because it was reflected back to you from your community, right?
27:53
SPEAKER_00: They're like, we want more about this.
27:55
SPEAKER_00: And then you said, Oh, I got plenty to say.
27:57
SPEAKER_00: Like exactly.
27:58
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and so I guess, yeah, I I guess I just like did my thing in a kind of a well, and honestly, as I asked that question about pioneering, like I'm thinking about it, and I'm like, no, it it honestly was just like, This is who Ava is like, you know, you you you love adventure, the philosophy of like, I'm I'm gonna just like lean into things, you were seeking the connection, like all those pieces that we've discussed already created the like the motivation and the like where you wanted to go.
28:23
SPEAKER_00: And and what are you gonna do?
28:25
SPEAKER_00: Be like, well, nobody did it, so I'm not gonna do it.
28:27
SPEAKER_00: Like, no, thank you.
28:29
SPEAKER_00: Like, that's what you're hungry for.
28:31
SPEAKER_00: So I love it.
28:33
SPEAKER_00: Hey y'all.
28:34
SPEAKER_00: You know, I love telling stories, gathering stories, and finding a way to help people connect their story with the people that will get it.
28:43
SPEAKER_00: And that's what my story strategy sessions are all about.
28:45
SPEAKER_00: So over at Calhoun Creative Consulting, my strategic storytelling firm, we do one-on-one and or facilitated workshops in relation to really honing in the strategy around your story.
28:58
SPEAKER_00: It's a bit of messaging meets content creation, meets storytelling, and then how do we put that out in the world?
29:04
SPEAKER_00: How do we show up regularly?
29:05
SPEAKER_00: There's a bit of mindset work around it, right?
29:07
SPEAKER_00: To actually tell your story.
29:08
SPEAKER_00: Whether you're launching something new or trying to rework your brand or just feeling a little foggy on how to communicate with your people, this is how to get clear.
29:15
SPEAKER_00: We'll dig into things like your narrative, how to uncover what matters most, maybe map out a few content pillars while we're at it.
29:21
SPEAKER_00: You'll also get a recording of our session so you can revisit the conversation anytime you like.
29:26
SPEAKER_00: Let's shape a story that actually feels like you.
29:28
SPEAKER_00: So book yours today.
29:29
SPEAKER_00: There is a link in the show notes.
29:30
SPEAKER_00: And hey, while you're at it, use the code podcast, all caps, P-O-D-C-A-S-T for 25% off your session.
29:38
SPEAKER_00: I would be honored to spend time with you and suss out your story.
29:42
SPEAKER_00: Let's dive back into the episode, shall we?
29:47
SPEAKER_00: Let's talk about because we've done it, we've done a lot talking about like your your actual like career and your like outwardly facing life.
29:54
SPEAKER_00: And you do share some of this stuff as well.
29:56
SPEAKER_00: But like, let's talk about like your passions and like the fun person that you are.
30:01
SPEAKER_00: And I would love to hear more about your funky life.
30:03
SPEAKER_00: And just like what does that look like?
30:05
SPEAKER_00: And and what are those, how do those values like play out in your life?
30:09
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so I recently let's go with the funcy part first.
30:14
SPEAKER_01: Uh which I guess like is a passion of mine.
30:18
SPEAKER_01: I I love being a funcy.
30:19
SPEAKER_00: Honestly, I I feel like one in three posts I see of yours, it's like you and your your little buddy.
30:24
SPEAKER_00: Like, so so good.
30:25
SPEAKER_00: And you've got like the one in particular that you see all the time, right?
30:29
SPEAKER_01: The one that all everybody sees like on my stories, Lil Bestie, she's four years old now.
30:34
SPEAKER_01: Somebody told me they were like, Oh my god, she's so grown now.
30:38
SPEAKER_01: Like, I feel like I've seen her grow up through your stories.
30:41
SPEAKER_01: And I'm like, oh my god, stop, please.
30:42
SPEAKER_00: You're like, don't do that to me.
30:44
SPEAKER_00: Don't do if you cry, I'm gonna cry.
30:47
SPEAKER_01: But she's my sister's daughter, my younger sister's daughter, and my younger sister also has two older kids, older boys.
30:55
SPEAKER_01: They're teenagers now, so that's why you don't see them because they're like, I don't want nothing to do with you, you know.
31:01
SPEAKER_01: Only if you like are gonna buy me food, only if you're gonna give me money, you know.
31:04
SPEAKER_01: That's that's the only time they want anything to do with me.
31:07
SPEAKER_01: But I am the godmother to all three of them.
31:09
SPEAKER_01: So I'm Minang, which is um godmother into Galog.
31:13
SPEAKER_01: And so, yeah, I mean, me and little Bessie, I I joke around, we're like stage five clingers to each other.
31:20
SPEAKER_01: I love hanging out with her just as much as she loves hanging out with me, you know.
31:24
SPEAKER_01: I talked about this on a previous like IG Live where we talk about community, we talk about how it takes a village to raise a child.
31:33
SPEAKER_01: And everyone has their role as a villager.
31:35
SPEAKER_01: And I know that my role is to not have kids.
31:39
SPEAKER_01: My role is to be the fun tee that the parents can take a break when they need, and so that, you know, like I can I can just be the adult who kind of reminds everyone to to not take life so seriously in some ways, you know.
31:57
SPEAKER_01: Yes, it's so much work raising a kid.
31:59
SPEAKER_01: I mean, I've I've heard the stories and you know, I I have an imaginary running list of like 2354 reasons why I don't want to be a mom or be pregnant.
32:11
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
32:11
SPEAKER_00: Oh, right, right, right.
32:12
SPEAKER_00: Because both of those experiences are, yeah, they're both a lot.
32:15
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
32:15
SPEAKER_01: Oh, yeah.
32:16
SPEAKER_01: And so I'm like, you know, I'm like, why why do I need to have my own kids?
32:20
SPEAKER_01: Because my my friends, my sisters, they've had they've all had theirs, and I'm very happy to contribute where I can and to help take them off your hands for a few hours a day, whatever.
32:33
SPEAKER_01: But then also give them back at the end of the day, you know?
32:36
SPEAKER_01: It's great.
32:36
SPEAKER_01: I'm just being around my like my niece, especially, but like also my my nephews and stuff like that.
32:42
SPEAKER_01: It I it keeps me young, you know.
32:44
SPEAKER_01: It helps me always just find the joy and like the whimsy and everything, and to just keep that that childlike mindset, lots of play to feed my inner child.
32:57
SPEAKER_01: I'm just the most unserious when I'm with them.
33:01
SPEAKER_01: And it's kind of just like it's so fun to laugh and to just be free when I'm with them.
33:07
SPEAKER_01: And then also too, like, you know, she's four.
33:10
SPEAKER_00: She's not gonna judge me, so so you get to be yourself, yeah, yeah, yeah.
33:14
SPEAKER_00: Like completely and fully.
33:15
SPEAKER_00: That's so amazing.
33:16
SPEAKER_00: And I there's so many things I'm thinking about this, but I've been really noticing in my own life a lot of like intergenerational relationships and just how nourishing those can be.
33:26
SPEAKER_00: But then to like have like really, really young and like to see her and like knowing that you two like will just kind of continue this bestie path.
33:34
SPEAKER_00: I'm sure that's like so fun as you think about and daydream about that stuff too.
33:39
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's so fun.
33:40
SPEAKER_01: I mean, I I'm just I'm also like even my friends' kids.
33:45
SPEAKER_01: I'm like, I'm the funcy to my friends' kids, you know?
33:47
SPEAKER_01: I yeah.
33:49
SPEAKER_00: I also love like as you like share this, like I you're giving permission to a lot of people who often get the questions about being a mom and and you know, and just that like women just constantly experience that, right?
34:00
SPEAKER_00: And so I I just love you explaining like where you are and what you want and like loud and proud, and it's perfect.
34:07
SPEAKER_00: It's so perfect.
34:08
SPEAKER_00: What comes to my mind too as we've been talking is have you seen the it's been come across my Instagram a lot, and maybe it's just the communities that I am connected to, but there's like a branching from the phrase it takes a village, the idea of you know, everybody wants to like be a part of the village, but nobody wants to be a villager.
34:26
SPEAKER_00: What like have you thought about that?
34:28
SPEAKER_00: Like, and I I guess I'm saying it to you because like as you're just talking, even before you said about your, you know, your family and and it taking a village and you supporting, like I'm like you you like even supporting like the Filipino American spaces and being like, you know, I'm just gonna volunteer where I can, like you're out here being a villager.
34:46
SPEAKER_00: And I don't know, I just I just want to take a second to like acknowledge like how important that is, and that like you are like a real life living example of doing that and in every category of your life and all these different communities and relationships you have.
34:58
SPEAKER_00: And I just really love that.
34:59
SPEAKER_01: So, yeah, no, I've been seeing that too.
35:01
SPEAKER_01: How like I think it's trending probably.
35:03
SPEAKER_00: I don't know.
35:04
SPEAKER_01: I I don't know, but everybody wants a village, but nobody wants to be a villager, and yeah, I think it comes down to and I think I've seen how people talk about like, you know, we use boundaries as an excuse to not be a villager.
35:17
SPEAKER_01: We use the the most recent thing I've seen is that like a people, a lot of people now have like emotional intelligence and self-awareness, but they use it as an excuse to not be a villager.
35:28
SPEAKER_01: Nobody wants to be to go out of the w their way, nobody wants to put down their like boundaries or whatever.
35:35
SPEAKER_01: But like sometimes like you need to inconvenience yourself, you need to like adjust your boundaries, you need to do these things that make you uncomfortable to in order to have that village, you know.
35:44
SPEAKER_01: And I I totally understand.
35:47
SPEAKER_01: I mean, even just this morning, you know, one of my I I had to drop off little bestie to school and we I had to go, I had to leave the house at 7.45 to go pick her up.
35:56
SPEAKER_01: I don't like being anywhere before 8 a.m.
35:59
SPEAKER_01: if I don't have to, you know.
36:00
SPEAKER_01: So, but I will do it because my sister needed help.
36:05
SPEAKER_01: That's my role as a villager.
36:07
SPEAKER_01: There's a lot of like, you know, events that I I want to go to that I want to support.
36:12
SPEAKER_01: I hate driving, but I will drive across the Bay Area and to go support my friends, to go support people.
36:18
SPEAKER_01: This week I have three back to back to back events, you know, events every night.
36:23
SPEAKER_01: And I'm like, oh god, like I know I'm gonna be tired, but I'm gonna do it because it's like, you know, I mean, and people just don't like to do that.
36:31
SPEAKER_01: And it's like, I get it.
36:32
SPEAKER_01: Yes, to an extent, we all gotta protect our peace.
36:34
SPEAKER_01: I know I was hibernating in the beginning part of this month um in order to do that.
36:38
SPEAKER_01: There were there was a weekend where I kind of just chose Jomo over FOMO because I didn't have the mental and emotional capacity to show up.
36:48
SPEAKER_01: But I intentionally did not commit to those events like in the first place.
36:52
SPEAKER_01: I didn't, when people were inviting me, I wasn't like, yes, I'll be there because I didn't know if I was gonna be there, you know.
36:57
SPEAKER_01: And yeah, when the day came, I made the decision not to go.
37:00
SPEAKER_01: But I I think that so many people are like, yeah, I'll do that.
37:02
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I'm down for this, yeah, I'm down for that.
37:04
SPEAKER_01: They're not actually real with themselves that they are, and then when it really comes down to it, they're not.
37:09
SPEAKER_01: They will come up with an excuse, they won't go, they won't show up, you know.
37:12
SPEAKER_01: And I've just kind of like seen this where people will like RS VP for events and then just not show up, and then they won't even like send a text to say why.
37:21
SPEAKER_01: And I and I feel like, you know, just like what we were saying in this day and age, like a lot of people want that community, want that village, but they don't want to even they don't want to inconvenience themselves, like even in the slightest.
37:33
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
37:35
SPEAKER_00: And I I want to dig into that a little bit more, but before we do, I want to define Jomo and FOMO.
37:40
SPEAKER_00: Like FOMO, most people know fear of missing out, but Jomo every joy of missing out, right?
37:46
SPEAKER_00: And where you're like, you're at home in your comfy socks, you know, eating your favorite snack and grateful for the rest.
37:52
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
37:52
SPEAKER_01: And you're just like, okay, like I'm glad I didn't go to that because I my social battery is saying no, you know?
37:58
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
37:59
SPEAKER_00: And it's okay and it's healthy sometimes.
38:00
SPEAKER_00: But then it goes to, and so yeah, if you don't mind like kind of wrapping up this portion of the conversation by like maybe speaking a little bit more to like how you do balance those things.
38:10
SPEAKER_00: Cause I think I think you touched on it for sure.
38:12
SPEAKER_00: But just like when you look at it, you're right.
38:14
SPEAKER_00: Like it's because here's the thing if your sister's out here being like, please take little bestie to and from school every single day, that's not that's not what you signed up for, right?
38:23
SPEAKER_00: Versus being like, I'm here to help out.
38:25
SPEAKER_00: What can we do?
38:26
SPEAKER_00: What do you need?
38:27
SPEAKER_00: And and then also offering alternatives.
38:29
SPEAKER_00: So yeah, so I'm I'm curious about when it comes to that because both just how how do you balance?
38:34
SPEAKER_00: Because also going back to your ex your lived experience, you are in a position where it's people will left, right, and center try and take advantage of you.
38:42
SPEAKER_00: So I would love to hear more about that, the balance of it all.
38:46
SPEAKER_01: Oh, yeah, yeah.
38:47
SPEAKER_01: I mean, yeah, just having the the time, you know, and the availability.
38:50
SPEAKER_01: I've said this multiple times in the last few years that just because my schedule is flexible doesn't mean I'm always available.
38:58
SPEAKER_01: And yes, people have tried to take advantage of that before.
39:01
SPEAKER_00: Like, even just sliding to your DMs, I imagine.
39:03
SPEAKER_00: Like the things they're asking for, and you're like, I don't know you.
39:06
SPEAKER_00: Like here.
39:07
SPEAKER_00: Even like I messaged you like uh like a month ago being like, Hey, I got a friend coming to the area.
39:11
SPEAKER_00: Do you know?
39:11
SPEAKER_00: And I like, and I was just like, you know, Ava gets to say no.
39:15
SPEAKER_00: I'm gonna ask because we do have a connection, but also I'm sure you get more than that, you know?
39:19
SPEAKER_00: Like, yeah.
39:21
SPEAKER_01: No, I mean, like with friends and stuff, like I'm always happy to help if I can.
39:25
SPEAKER_01: But I mean, like personally, the way that I balance that and in full transparency, I feel like last year I had no balance.
39:31
SPEAKER_01: I kept saying yes to everything.
39:32
SPEAKER_01: I overcommitted.
39:33
SPEAKER_01: I yes, I there were instances where I did say yes to things, and then when the the day came, I was like, oh crap, like I can't, I can't make you know, and it was just because I was hustling so hard and it was just tough to slow down because I was like, I had this momentum, and even though I was like, crap, like I know like I'm tired and I know I'm like burning out, like I still gotta keep going.
39:55
SPEAKER_01: And like, you know, I realized that was to cover up that was to avoid dealing with other things, but I'm always on a journey out here, you know.
40:03
SPEAKER_00: And then you, I mean, so eloquently spoke to like not RSVPing and not showing up because you're like, I've been real with myself in the past, like that lived, you know, when you go through it.
40:13
SPEAKER_00: I'm an experiential learner and I think we, you know, game C's game on the experiential learning for sure.
40:18
SPEAKER_01: You know, I just balance it uh just by thinking about what my priorities are.
40:23
SPEAKER_01: Like right now, you know, family, family is always a prior family is always a priority for me.
40:27
SPEAKER_01: Like if if I can help and if I can do it, I will.
40:30
SPEAKER_01: I have learned to say no because in the past I have always kind of said yes to everything, but I have learned that sometimes I gotta say no.
40:38
SPEAKER_00: And that you're allowed to every once in a while.
40:40
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
40:41
SPEAKER_01: And my family kind of knows that like I'm just always doing something, so they don't really expect it as much.
40:46
SPEAKER_01: And then just like with other things, you know, for like other events and and just things that come up.
40:54
SPEAKER_01: I think I've just in this last like month or two, I've really been more I've taken the time to think about things before I commit.
41:03
SPEAKER_01: Um, and I think that's really really important.
41:06
SPEAKER_01: Whereas it's because it's like, yes, I do want to go to everything and I want to see all the people I like.
41:10
SPEAKER_01: I'm such a social butterfly and an extrovert.
41:13
SPEAKER_01: I need the you know, pick these social things to fuel me.
41:16
SPEAKER_01: But I've I've been more intentional about things that's really important for balance, is just really being real with yourself.
41:23
SPEAKER_01: Like, look at your calendar.
41:25
SPEAKER_01: You know, do you have anything on the day before, the day after, or the day of this new event?
41:31
SPEAKER_01: And if you do, like, are you gonna have do you think you'll have the social capacity or the the battery to you know to go and to to be a part of it, to be present?
41:40
SPEAKER_01: And if not, then I'm gonna say no, you know?
41:44
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I I think that's it.
41:45
SPEAKER_01: I think it's just really being more intentional about things to create the balance.
41:49
SPEAKER_00: Perfect.
41:50
SPEAKER_00: And honestly, like I as I'm hearing this, I'm one super proud of you because we met each other at early 2025, right?
41:56
SPEAKER_00: So like I think I did see you like have a few a burnout, like micro burnout moments, right?
42:00
SPEAKER_00: Where you're just exhausted or sick or whatever.
42:02
SPEAKER_00: And and I but also in practice, like, and I'm reflecting this back.
42:06
SPEAKER_00: So if this isn't the case, by all means, call me out.
42:09
SPEAKER_00: But like, I'm like thinking about when I asked you about the pod and whether or not you'd be willing to jump on.
42:13
SPEAKER_00: You said, Yes, send this stuff over.
42:14
SPEAKER_00: I'll take a look.
42:15
SPEAKER_00: You didn't say yes, right?
42:17
SPEAKER_00: You you're like, let me take a look.
42:18
SPEAKER_00: Is this something that aligns?
42:20
SPEAKER_00: Is this something that I have time for?
42:21
SPEAKER_00: When can I do it?
42:22
SPEAKER_00: You know, like, and maybe that wasn't what you were doing there, but I'm looking at it, I'm like, that feels like that's you in practice, right?
42:28
SPEAKER_00: People are asking, and you're like, she's gonna take a second, she'll get back with you.
42:32
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
42:32
SPEAKER_01: No, yeah, that was it.
42:34
SPEAKER_01: I was like, I would love to.
42:35
SPEAKER_01: I love being on podcasts, but I was like, no, I'll take a look.
42:38
SPEAKER_00: Let me see if you gotta be honest with yourself.
42:40
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
42:40
SPEAKER_00: Oh, I love that.
42:40
SPEAKER_00: So that's such a good example.
42:42
SPEAKER_00: And that's why I also wanted to call it that specific moment between us, right?
42:44
SPEAKER_00: Because because people like are like, you know, you you're like, cool, boundaries, bound, but it's like they what does it actually look like?
42:50
SPEAKER_00: And sometimes it's like, you know, taking giving yourself time to say yes or no.
42:54
SPEAKER_01: Right.
42:55
SPEAKER_01: It's not like a hard no.
42:56
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, right.
42:57
SPEAKER_00: And it could be cute and micro.
42:59
SPEAKER_00: It's so beautiful.
43:00
SPEAKER_00: It's so beautiful.
43:01
SPEAKER_00: I love that.
43:02
SPEAKER_00: I love that.
43:02
SPEAKER_00: Awesome.
43:03
SPEAKER_00: Well, speaking of, I want to respect your time.
43:05
SPEAKER_00: We're almost done here.
43:06
SPEAKER_00: Is there anything that uh I didn't ask you about that you were like, oh, I cannot wait to share this in relation to just you as a human, connection, community?
43:15
SPEAKER_01: You know, I think just like these days, I've you know, just online and just with the current climate and everything, I feel like a lot of people are finding it tough to show up and to be present uh online and offline.
43:29
SPEAKER_01: I know that that was the case for myself specifically this past week.
43:33
SPEAKER_01: I intended to have like a really slow January and it felt like it was a slow January.
43:38
SPEAKER_01: But when I was like gathering all these uh pictures for my like January recap, I was like, oh, like I don't know if I'm gonna have 20 pictures or slides for a carousel.
43:46
SPEAKER_01: And I ended up with an album of like 55 things, and so I'm like, okay, it wasn't a slow January.
43:51
SPEAKER_01: But it was an intentional January.
43:53
SPEAKER_01: It was more slow, like slow events like the the treehouse collaboration and being out in nature and different things.
44:00
SPEAKER_01: like that.
44:00
SPEAKER_01: Um so the point that I'm getting to is that you know we're all going through it personally, a lot of us personally, all of us collectively, I think.
44:10
SPEAKER_01: But it's that even though we are going through it, that there are still there's still a lot of good.
44:17
SPEAKER_01: And you know, there's still there's still this is what I wrote in my caption yesterday, I think.
44:22
SPEAKER_01: It's like there's more hope than despair and there's more love than hate.
44:28
SPEAKER_01: And you just gotta be intentional about seeking it out.
44:32
SPEAKER_01: I know I've had days where it's just like like just feeling hopeless and everything.
44:36
SPEAKER_01: But at the end of it, like looking back on my January, even though I cried like half the month, it was still a good month.
44:43
SPEAKER_01: And so you know just to just to seek those things out and it it doesn't have to be anything big.
44:48
SPEAKER_01: Again, you know, going back to the beginning of our conversation, anything and everything can be a little adventure.
44:53
SPEAKER_01: Anything and everything can have a moment of joy.
44:55
SPEAKER_01: Which is why I started my my Bucket Hindi adventures.
44:58
SPEAKER_01: It's like a series that I have content if anyone wants to go take a peek.
45:02
SPEAKER_01: And it's basically Bucket Hindi means why not in the Galog and so you know for me it's like that's like my life one of my life's motto and if it's like if there's no good reason not to do something then I'm gonna do it and enjoy my life.
45:16
SPEAKER_01: And it's about you know saying yes more often to the random spontaneous adventures the good intrusive thoughts you know just the the moments where it's like that you second guess yourself to stop second guessing yourself and and to share those parts of yourself that you know people may not see and this doesn't have to even be like online but just like in real life and to seek it out like day.
45:41
SPEAKER_01: Because I think that's that's what'll that's what will get us through.
45:43
SPEAKER_01: So yeah I you know I'm I'm kind of on this journey of like just figuring out you know like what's next.
45:51
SPEAKER_00: Figure out honestly though you said you're that four to five year moment like and you literally were like you're there and you're like cool what's next?
46:00
SPEAKER_00: Well I can't wait to like maybe a year or two like have you back on to hear like what the next chapter ended up being right because you're right you're like that rotation is real.
46:09
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
46:09
SPEAKER_01: So I mean you know if you want to see me go on that journey I find me on Instagram.
46:14
SPEAKER_00: Yeah yeah I'll tag all the things you shared with me in the show notes but I just like want to thank you so much for like one that beautiful summary of like everything just now and like and and the the points that you made because like we are going through it but like I love I love seeking out the good the good intrusive thoughts that makes me think of like my version of that is like whenever I'm like oh I should get a little treat.
46:36
SPEAKER_00: I'm like get the little treat.
46:39
SPEAKER_00: So I am just I'm so grateful for your time.
46:41
SPEAKER_00: Is there anywhere that you want like to direct people to find you is it is it simply your Instagram I mean I'll put your like your website and that uh stuff in the show notes too but I want to make sure that people can find you in the way you want them to yeah I'm mostly on Instagram these days.
46:55
SPEAKER_01: Who knows?
46:56
SPEAKER_01: You know could change because you're you're on a pivot Instagram is a solid you know that's where you'll find a girl all the time.
47:04
SPEAKER_00: Perfect perfect uh I'm so grateful for your time and uh with that I um gonna say goodbye crafted connections is lovingly produced by Calhoun Creative Consulting a strategic storytelling firm dedicated to helping people and brands tell their stories in a way that resonates.
47:25
SPEAKER_00: If you enjoyed this episode be sure to subscribe and connect with us on Instagram at Crafted Connections Pod.
47:32
SPEAKER_00: Keep creating keep connecting until we meet again