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Nearly Enlightened
Join Nearly Enlightened's host Giana Giarrusso and discover the body, mind and spirit connection! The Nearly Enlightened Podcast is for the soul-centered seeker who is on the path of personal growth and spiritual development. This podcast takes a light-hearted approach exploring topics rooted in themes of mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing.
Nearly Enlightened
Finding Joy and Balance in Wellness: Insights with Deirdre Doyno
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How do we find joy and balance in our wellness journey amidst the chaos of daily life? Join us as we explore this question with the insightful Deirdre Doyno, a triple certified holistic health coach, who shares her personal strategies for bringing fun and relaxation into healing. Deirdre reveals how she navigates overwhelm by returning to foundational practices and emphasizes the magical experiences that arise when operating from a place of joy. Reflecting on her own journey, she underscores the significance of self-care for those guiding others on their spiritual paths.
In a world where digital connections often replace real ones, we discuss the profound impact of community bonds and basic self-care practices on our well-being journeys. Drawing from Deirdre’s experiences, we highlight the importance of taking radical responsibility for our lives and the transformative power of community support. With over seven years of sobriety, Deirdre inspires us to rethink our relationship with alcohol and the societal norms surrounding casual drinking. Through stories of personal growth and healing, we uncover the layers behind drinking habits and the spiritual insights gained from embracing sobriety.
From the importance of uncomfortable conversations to the healing power of nature, this episode is a heartfelt plea to reconnect with ourselves and our surroundings. We reminisce about childhood memories in rural Rhode Island and explore modern challenges like blue light and constant connectivity, offering creative solutions to integrate natural elements into our daily lives. Delving into gut health, we provide actionable steps towards a healthier lifestyle, emphasizing the profound impact of diet, mindfulness and unplugging. Listen in as we celebrate authenticity, integrity, and the journey of personal growth with the wisdom and warmth of Deirdre Doyno.
Connect with Dee:
https://mailchi.mp/35c52e3e69db/anahata-yoga-bienestar-offerings
email: deirdre.doyno@gmail.com
IG: @anahata.yoga.bienestar
hi, friends, this is the nearly enlightened podcast. I am your host, gianna geruso. If you are coming back, welcome back, and if you're new, welcome um. I am joined by my friend, deirdre d uh. She was on. You're on a couple of podcasts did we do?
Speaker 2:three, I I think, two, I think I was I had the honor of interviewing you and one yeah, so, yeah, that was fun.
Speaker 1:So if you haven't listened to those yet, go back and listen. It's crazy. That was more than a year ago. Whoa, I think it's actually closer to two. Oh, I know, I think it was 2022, actually, like at least the first episode, it was a while ago.
Speaker 1:Anyways, if you need a refresher and you haven't listened to those um podcasts before, d is a triple certified holistic health coach with a heart rooted in the rhythms of nature as a gut health specialist, yoga instructor and reiki master. She is here to sprinkle a little magic on into your life when she is not guiding souls and where you can find her blissfully homesteading, nurturing her family's off-grid oasis with regenerative farming and intentional living. Think of her as your spiritual cheerleader, which is so true because you're definitely mine here to help you dance to the beat of your own drum. She feels inspired, to help you weave self-study into your days, creating rituals that light up your life and help you thrive. After all, we're here to shine. We are here to shine. Yes, amen, no, seriously, since we became friends, we were introduced by Jamie. We talked about it on the past podcast. We've actually never met in person before um internet friends and you have been like my biggest type person throughout the last couple years, for sure it's an honor.
Speaker 2:I love, I love hyping people up. It comes naturally, I think, if I see someone or become friendly with someone and it, you know, I see what they're doing and it inspires me, like why wouldn't I, why wouldn't I hype that? You know, I think it's a blast. We gotta have fun. We gotta have fun because it's crazy out there.
Speaker 1:Yes, and see that's. That is. I think the biggest lesson that I've learned over the years is like I took health and healing and all these spiritual practices so fucking serious and it seriously it. Nothing sucks the joy out of life quicker than that.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, and that's been coming through a lot for me too recently actually, so I'm so glad you brought that up. It's just like you can when you're on this you know this quote unquote path of healing and like really diving into more spirituality in your life and also guiding others. It's almost hard not to get lost in it sometimes, and I think it's like we also, like I, had to sit down with myself and give myself a reality check and be like all right, girl, like what are your foundations? What's going on? Like what is what can you focus on? That like is main basic stuff. You know, because you it makes you miserable if you get lost in it. And if you're, I don't know if you're like me, but if I don't do something like very perfect or whatever, like I'm, I'm all in it, it's all or nothing. And if I screw it up and I don't like, ah, the world is ending, I have to start all over again. Um, so just come back to the basics. Is, I feel like where I'm at right now?
Speaker 1:I don't know about you yes, it's funny you say that because I feel like this whole summer has been about not taking myself super seriously and just like flowing with what comes up. And excuse me, I have been spending so much time at the beach, like yesterday I was at the beach and I was swimming and it's like just what my soul needs, like I joy. Yes, I was supposed to even teach a class last night and I asked a friend for a favor and was like, hey, will you sub my class? Like I really just don't have the bandwidth right now, like I need a break and I mean I'm going back to teaching later today.
Speaker 2:It's not like I'm taking like this huge hiatus, but like I just needed a break and I needed to have a little fun in the sun yeah, and I think when you're, when we're in joy, when we're operating from a place of joy and in the frequency of joy, that's when the magic happens. You know we're operating from a place of joy and in the frequency of joy, that's when the magic happens. You know we're not gonna. Things aren't gonna happen with and for us if we're like in this miserable state.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you're so right, you're so right. It makes everything way easier to just be in or choose that state of joy. It's like sometimes the world can be burning down around you, but like you still have to have a little fun. Oh yeah, for sure. I mean, sometimes the world can be burning down around you, but like you still have to have a little fun oh yeah, for sure, I mean the world is burning.
Speaker 2:I was gonna say we are in a dumpster fire right now. So just be the raccoon, just that's out there, and have fun with it, with what you can. And I mean I think too to that. You know, you teach a lot of classes and you hold a lot of space, and I think, as someone who does, that you also really need to take care of yourself and you really need to be held and supported in order to hold space for other people Like I think that that's a huge piece of the puzzle when we do the work we do.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's so true. I'm just like sitting with that for a minute Like, yeah, I hold a lot of space.
Speaker 2:You really do, and I feel like it's whenever I like. If I have a massage therapist like, for example, if I was going to ask you for a massage, I'd be like are you getting work done regularly yourself? Like, are you cutting cords after you give someone massage, like. Those are the questions I ask because I think it's important not for not only for me to protect my own energy body, but for you to be also receiving. You know, when you're giving so much, it's also important that you are receiving especially when you're space holding.
Speaker 1:Yes, I actually just went to a friend's class on Sunday and that was like, oh, so good to not be the teacher.
Speaker 1:I was like, oh, I just get to like be the student and just like be here, be present, listen, and it's so true, it is a fine balance and like I'm not complaining or ungrateful by any stretch of the imagination, but it is that walking that fine balance of like doing the work and then also nurturing yourself. And it could be hard to do that as somebody who identifies as a healer or an empath, because you constantly want to be like outputting that energy and like, if anyone knows anything about human design, I'm a projector, so like, I'm just constantly like plugging in to other people. So like, I'm just constantly like plugging in to other people, and it's it definitely has been a practice of like learning how to, how to balance that. And when I was younger I definitely got caught up in it because I didn't know what the heck it was or like how to deal with it at all, and I think like a majority of my twenties was acquiring these tools so that I like know how to better take care of myself.
Speaker 1:So that I can exactly show up more fully, show up better, show up energetic, like um it's. I mean, even the podcast has been gaining momentum and this is a. This is a way of holding space too. Totally, 100 and my, my classes have been pretty packed and um yeah, I am super grateful for that. But it's funny, it's like the more joy you find, like the less serious you take it, the more magnetic your energy becomes, I think yes, yes, yes.
Speaker 2:I'm over here screaming that's it, that's, that's the, that's the juice you want to be drinking.
Speaker 1:Right there is the joy yeah, because, yeah, you know, I've said I've said this in podcasts in the past too it's like we, like we were meant to enjoy this place, and that's what I kept coming back to on the beach yesterday was like, oh, this playground, it's like so good, like god created this. And here we are, just like fucking swimming in the ocean. Like are you kidding me?
Speaker 2:yeah, yeah, and I think sometimes, like you acquire all these rules are not rules, whoa where's that weird? I don't know where that came from tools, but I think maybe like we acquire all these tools.
Speaker 1:Well, we could. We could talk about what the slip that came out to like that let's talk about. I guess that's where we want to go. Oh, it's funny because you're in the midst of break method. I have worked with break method in the past and like they talk about these rules and patterns that we've acquired that like aren't ours, and those are the things that keep us from the joy.
Speaker 2:Yes, yeah, it's wild, and I just got my like rewiring. I'm doing rewire right now and it's like you get. You get this like you know packet or list of things that are sustainable solutions for you to take. You know, this is the other thing too, like inspired action, inspired action to better your life, and it's like so it makes me feel so squirmy on the inside, but that's like, that's like the ego talking right, because I there's what is that quote where it's like we'd rather stay in familiar hell than experience an unknown heaven, and so it's like that.
Speaker 2:I just keep coming back to that, back to that, and like this is kind of too coming tying into what we were just saying. Like, as someone who holds space like myself, like I'm always constantly looking like okay, where can I be a student? Next, what can else can I add to my toolbox? Because I know when I'm doing that, I'm going to be able to help more people. If I'm helping myself, I'm going to be able to help other people from different perspectives with different tools. Because that's the thing, too is about tapping into holistic health. A little bit 's like, you know, it's so bio-individual, like, and this is the thing when you think you know, getting lost in like the your own health and wellness journey and this, that and the other thing. It's like no one and I hate the word diet diet is gonna work for everyone one, you know. It's so particular to your life and I'm not just talking about your physical life, your blood.
Speaker 2:I'm talking about who are the people that are surrounding you, what, literally, is in your environment, like there are so many things that go into play here.
Speaker 1:Yes, I totally agree and it's. You know, a lot of the same themes come up, like season after season. So, season two, I've talked with Katie Katie to gets a bunch and she is a nutritional therapy practitioner and we talk about this all the time Like there is no one size fits all for anything and that's why it's like it's kind of about dipping your toe in or diving right in, depending on what kind of person you are, and just trying things like you. You know the people who tell me oh, I've tried yoga once. It's not for me it's like, oh, you tried it once.
Speaker 1:So that was like one teacher, one limited perspective. Like and I'm not saying that yoga is like the one size fits all answer, it kind of is. But I won't have that argument with people like if you want to try it, great, if not, like I'm not going to fight you on it. Um, like it is the answer. Like you talk about the yoga sutras of pat and jolly.
Speaker 1:Like they it literally is the guidebook of life. Like you want a spiritually connected, like aligned body, mind, spirit. Like get the most out of life you can possibly get. Like live by this book. I mean it literally is the science of wellbeing, yeah, but like, if you just try one thing one time, like you don't, you can't form a perspective around that. So for me, like acquiring all of these tools, like I just had this insatiable kind of energy that took over me of like I have to figure out, I have to get to those root causes, I have to learn the most that I can, and then once I started to learn what worked for me, then it was like, oh, I have to actually teach this to people.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, yep, yeah, and I definitely that's kind of where I think a lot of us right now need to be, and I think that's to like going through and working the break program, looking at it through like a spiritual lens. Really quick for me was like and I say this, I say this out of joy to like it really allowed me to look at myself as the asshole, like I really you know what I mean like I think, like it did, it had a beautiful way of oh, I'm the problem yes, like where is it taking radical responsibility for my life and everything I've done, that I'm doing, that I'm going to do, and then moving on and not dwelling and not, you know, anticipating and just living from this place of truth that's mine, yeah, you know.
Speaker 2:Just coming back to the basics, like am I sleeping well enough? Is the quality and quantity good? Am I, am I hydrated? Is my, what is my nutrition? Look like, am I moving my body? Like the B, like I am talking basic stuff, and for me, one of the things that's really come into play, especially in the past year, is purpose and community, and I don't think people realize how big of an effect that has on our wellbeing because we think, oh, the supplements and the this and the that, and it's like there's so much that goes into it.
Speaker 1:Yes, and talking about community, this is something that's kind of near and dear to my heart, because I grew up in like this crazy big Italian family and like a theme of growing up was like it takes a village, like my aunts and uncles were like supplemental parents and we my cousins and I were always together to the point where, um, like four of my cousins are my best friends and we pretty much talk every day and we're together all the time and that sense of community just kind of like it's like the next generation of of that community and I really feel for people who don't have that and I've, yeah, because I have such a strong foundation in family and community I think I've attracted a lot of people who don't and that, um like, over the last year, I've been very candid about my, my relationship.
Speaker 2:Jay you, I think your microphone went off.
Speaker 1:Am I back?
Speaker 2:You're back.
Speaker 1:Okay, yeah, I I hit the mute button by accident. Oh I know Spirit just takes over these, all of this and like, yeah, maybe trying to shut me up about that, and really a bulk of my work this summer has been moving past that and and you know, I sat in the grief of it all and now like moving past that, but he was somebody who didn't have like a very big community background and like I feel sad for that. I I feel sad for anyone who doesn't have that because, especially with the internet, I think we've become so connected through the internet but it's actually pushed us further apart.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Because it's like the internet and these social spaces are like in a lot of senses. It's like the illusion of community and connection, like we see these people online and we think we really know them, but like really know this loneliness.
Speaker 2:Yeah, oh god.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's not the same as like no way human touch. Yeah, and I know that's contradictory, because we literally just said like our whole, our whole friendship is like through the internet but I think there's medicine in it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, if it's with the intention like, you have to look at the intention, right?
Speaker 1:yes, with everything you know, even exactly. Uh, ai has been something that's been coming up a lot for me and it's like if we're using ai for good, then like where is the, where is the harm in? You know, somebody could probably come up with a counter argument for me and like great, I would love to hear it. But yeah with anything.
Speaker 1:Like you can use it for good or bad. So, like, what is your intention behind it? It's like you know, I've been embracing the AI and I've been using it for a lot of my, my things. I mean my editor and my. What writes the show notes is now all AI. It's like I would be doing that. That's so hard. It's like, of course, like I would rather do it by a click of a button and have like a virtual assistant.
Speaker 1:That's literally a robot like oh yeah, I'm using it to get these episodes out yeah, I totally agree with you.
Speaker 2:I totally agree with you yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:So something that I also want to talk about is you just sent out an email yesterday and I know this was kind of like a big, audacious goal for you because you've been talking about it for a couple of weeks and it's a milestone that you hit. So you had seven years of sobriety and I just want to, first and foremost, celebrate that. I think that is so courageous and, like you said in your email, like it doesn't have to be this rock bottom, like terrible moment, and you know I don't know too much about your story with that journey, but I that was like so inspiring to me because I actually had this breaking point this weekend of like okay, I have to give up the casual drinking, like I don't, I'm not somebody who drinks a lot.
Speaker 1:I'll go 30, 40, 50 days without drinking and this summer.
Speaker 1:I've. You know I said I come from a big, crazy Italian family so we like to celebrate and in the summer we're like out on boats and no one, no one on my dad's side of the family has really had an issue with drinking. My mom's side of the family is kind of different. Um, we saw a lot of like addiction on that side of the family. Um, but my dad's side has always had like a healthy relationship with alcohol and it was something that was always around because it's part of the culture and no one like ever get too crazy. Like if my dad has two glasses of wine, that's like a big deal. Um, but I have noticed with myself of like this social drinking pattern that I have and I'm like why do I do this to myself? Like I never feel good after it's been triggering like this crazy hangover anxiety and anxiety.
Speaker 1:Yes, it's like I don't even have a hangover, but I actually have anxiety just because I drank to what you know, tequila has been my drug of choice. Um, yeah, that was mine and I'm like, okay, I kind of have to stop this. Like it's not good, it's not healthy, I don't need it. So, like why am I doing this? Just because, like, oh, everyone else is having a couple glasses, so I want to have a couple glasses, but it's like I never feel good after. It's never. So. My best friend, nikki, and I were talking about it. We kept texting each other, like in big capital letters, like it's never worth it. Why are we doing this? It's never worth it yeah, it's.
Speaker 2:I mean it's a, it's a deeply layered, yeah um conversation, because I think in, you know, in western culture, in the United States, it's like a cure-all and it's there with glorified like anything I've ever seen before.
Speaker 1:Like watch your favorite tv show. Like they are glorifying alcohol use like and not just alcohol use, but like binge drinking. Like that is what is glorified it's scary and um, I think it's a point. Like you're I said this to myself this weekend like you're literally micro poisoning yourself every time you do this to yourself.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's. I mean, well, some people, you know, call it satan's juice or the devil's juice, and I think I don't know very much about, like I can't speak about the Bible because I've never studied it myself. I can't speak about the Quran because I've never, you know, studied it myself, but I do know that it's, you know, in some religions and cultures it's forbidden to drink. It's forbidden and even like, in what is it? I think it's an Arabic, like the way it's spelt is different, alcohol or something, and it breaks down to be literally translated into body eating spirit. So, like there's I, you know, I kind of I've tried to, over these seven years, I've tried to, over these seven years, I've tried to look at and just get curious, like why, where is this coming from? What mask am I putting on? You know, like even I don't know, like, look, think about it too.
Speaker 2:Like one of the things that I recently was reading, it was saying how, like alchemists or you know, use alcohol to extract the essence of an entity. So like if you're making a tincture, you're basically putting alcohol with herbs or medicinal plants to take out like the good of that. And so when I look at that I'm like, oh my gosh, you know, and just even myself like, okay, what was I pushing down? What? What could I not feel? What did I not want to feel? What mask am I putting on?
Speaker 2:And I was like, and these are things like I couldn't talk about. I couldn't speak about this for a few, the first few years, cause I was still trying to piece together in my mind like what was happening, what, like, what was I experiencing? And it wasn't like you had mentioned, like I never really feel. Like I had this like crazy rock bottom. I and I think I can say this here on this podcast I had an audible voice come through and tell me you're done D, you don't need to drink anymore. In that tone, it was not angry.
Speaker 1:It was not angry response.
Speaker 2:It was not angry, it was not, it was from spirit. That was just like I think you're done here. And I listened and I was like, oh my god, like what is what? Did that voice need me to see and learn and whatever. And just stepping back now and like looking at things, but from like instead of a shameful perspective, because I know I've done that and I've gotten stuck in that and seeing like I was, I was at if you were at a bar and you weren't drinking, I was buying you a shot because I was so uncomfortable that you weren't drinking. Okay, so like there's just things that I've had to go back and look at and be like why was I so uncomfortable? What's going on? And getting to the root of that.
Speaker 2:And I really feel like I did this all by myself in the beginning and I feel like that's why it's important when we are going through something like this and it's not even just alcohol If you're cutting out sugar, if you're coming out of a toxic relationship, find help. It doesn't need to be, you know, at an A or whatever. Like I didn't have, I didn't have that opportunity. Like I really didn't. It was not here where I am physically so I couldn't do that, um, and I know now, like it's, maybe I could have found it online. I know there's some online now, but you know, like you were saying it, the human experience of being in person with someone, it's different and it's just it's such a layered conversation. So, yeah, I mean I feel very open now to speaking about it because I think more people should get curious about it. You know, I think people definitely are.
Speaker 1:It's a conversation that that's come up quite a few times and um, more and more people I know in my sphere are are turning towards a sober lifestyle and I think, like you said, we've been like masking something or like pushing something down or, like you know, we talk, we can go back to learned behaviors, like a lot of times it's like literally, this behavior has been passed down through generations yes, there's, there's definitely that point of view.
Speaker 2:that's, you know, that's an, a, a they, you know, they talk about it as disease and it comes down the line and cycle breaking is a real thing I believe in and, um, you know, know to there's people who I really want to speak to. This too, because I feel like some people right now just might not even like beautiful life, like what have you, but the collective, what we are going through right now, you could be feeling the stress, the pain, the you know just the grief of what's happening right now, and that's what you turn to. And you know what I mean. And I don't think that there's anything wrong with that. I don't think there's a right and wrong to life, but I think that there are questions that we could be asking ourselves as to why or what we're turning to, you know, to ease the grief or to ease the pain, or to ease the pain.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah. Or just like cope with every day, like every day, you know whatever, insert your insert experience here.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I went go ahead.
Speaker 1:No, no, you can go ahead.
Speaker 2:Going to mention really quick Cause. When I went back to the, I was in Massachusetts in April with my son, march and April and I was so or even last year too, when my sister we were celebrating her wedding and stuff. She's blessed her heart. She's the sweetest thing in the entire world and she made sure it's. You know that there was non-alcoholic beverages there and you know like there's all and that's. You can find that everywhere.
Speaker 2:Now it's so cool there and you know like there's all and that's you can find that everywhere now and I feel like and that that really like just made me feel like, okay, there is another option for people you know what I mean like, even if like mocktails or whatever, and I'm glad that it's a conversation. I'm glad that it's actually a conversation, because I feel like before it was a taboo or it was like wasn't even a conversation. We don't talk about it.
Speaker 1:Or even so. I mean, I'm sure you've experienced this before. But even like how you said, you were uncomfortable with somebody not drinking at the bar when you were a drinker. Now I've seen it happen where you're like not drinking and people are kind of like what's, what's why? Like, what was the bad thing? What was you know? Like, if people get weird when you're the one, you're like oh, no, no thank you, I don't drink. People are like oh yeah, what happened? Like yeah, people get so weird so weird.
Speaker 2:I was watching this video where this guy was saying exactly what you're just saying. He was like but if I tell somebody I don't drink water, they don't even. They're like okay, whatever. Yeah, like no one would bring him up. Exactly, it's like. It's just, it's wild times, we are in wild times and I think it's just. I'm just.
Speaker 2:I'm happy that it's a conversation now, because I think even too like I had my ex-boyfriend when we finally got to a place where we could have a conversation with each other, with each other. Um, because we were like oil and vinegar is that the thing? Oil and water? Well, oil and water, yeah, I put oil and vinegar on my salad, okay, anyways. So I was, I was like why didn't you say anything or do anything? And he was like I didn't know how. And I was like okay, so there's also something there too. Like, how do we help someone who we can visually see or understand that they might be having a hard time? Like, how do we go about that time? Like, how, like, how do we go about that? Like? And I'm just posing this question to society, I think, because I don't think we should have to tiptoe around anymore and have the hard conversation and not feel, you know, and it is a sensitive subject, I will say that. But no, I completely agree how do we do that?
Speaker 1:yeah, yeah, I know, yeah, and I think I think there's a huge chunk of us now that are trying to like figure out how to weed through that and I don't think that progress and you know, you can insert basically anything that we've talked about on this season of this podcast like even look at the political sphere right now, like all of these things, it's like if we don't have these uncomfortable conversations, there is going to be zero progress.
Speaker 1:That's happening. We are going to start sliding backwards. We're not going to stay like if we keep accepting the status quo, eventually we're going to start and I feel like we are in a backslide and that's why some of us are like, oh, no wait, we have to look like oh, no wait, we have to look at this, like we have to look at all these ugly, uncomfortable things. We have to have these uncomfortable conversations because if we don't, like you know I I'll bring this up again, I talked about it with danielle, um, but like the political sphere right now, like the closer we get to the election and the posts that I'm seeing, I just like it. You, it kind of not like putting yourself up on a pedestal or anything like that, but like looking at people arguing over left and right, it's like, oh, the systemic dumbing down of society is a real fucking thing.
Speaker 2:like we don't get it, like you're fighting over the same thing the division to me just like coming from a you know, just like looking down, zooming out, it's like this I see just yeah, it just is creating more division and I don't understand how we can move forward if we're not in union.
Speaker 1:And it starts with ourselves first, yes, and it doesn't mean that we all have to agree on everything all the time, but we have to be willing to have these uncomfortable conversations in a respectful way.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, yeah, yeah. And like I don't have to agree with everything that you say, I don't have to agree with you, you don't have to agree with everything that I say or agree with the way I live my life, but there is a mutual respect oh yeah, where'd that come from? Like I just feel like we've lost that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I feel like we've lost that and I think it goes back to what we were saying about community and tribe and and having a village. It's like the further that we got away from that, the easier the division becomes right, because we stopped seeing the other person as a human being.
Speaker 2:Oh girl, you just opened the portal of like mother real big, you just unzipped that real quick and you know it's not like I'm coming at this of a place of being perfect, or you know, I'm still weeding through all of these things.
Speaker 1:I'm still working every single day to be a better person, to be a better version of myself, to see the humanity in other people. Because, like, sometimes I can be a judgmental bitch. It's like why I got into this work, like, I was a fucking dumpster fire.
Speaker 1:Right, you're human, right, you're human, right, you're human. Still, you know, like I was telling you a little and I'm like I'm not going to get too much into it, but like things that are going on in my personal life right now that are making me feel like a fucking fraud and looking at, trying to just look at it in a different way, of like I'm trying my best to lead with love and do the best that I can.
Speaker 2:Like I'm not a perfect person yeah, well, I don't know what else you can do yeah, exactly, internet.
Speaker 2:Come for me, I dare you yeah, no, but for real, and I think that the there's there's just a huge disconnect from ourselves. I feel like we are so disconnected from ourselves. We are so disconnected and this is too like what I was trying to get out in that newsletter that I wrote is like we've just become so disconnected from our own self mind, body, spirit. We've become so disconnected from the earth. We've come so disconnected from our babies. We've come so disconnected from our families, our communities, and like what does that look like? And like I really do truly try to, like you were saying, like I'm not perfect either. You know, I try to grow a lot of my own food, but I also need to go to the grocery store. You know, like there's one of my favorite things to remind myself or say to myself is like do what you can with what you have. You know, like, start with the low hanging fruit and see what you can do.
Speaker 1:And that's that's like the big thing about break method and the self-study is like you don't have to change anything at all. The first step is not changing anything at all, like so, if you're you know, a lot of people get swept up in the like oh there's so much to change and fix and do and it's like no, sometimes you just have to be the observer yes, can you be non-reactive?
Speaker 1:that's hard for this. Like fiery italian girl like yeah, air sun sign, but like I have like five planets in leo, so it's like there's a lot. Am I rising as Sagittarius? There's a lot of fire there, oh yeah, you are a windy fire yeah yes, but that's why I love you.
Speaker 2:Bring it on, come on, come on in.
Speaker 1:You know, I think that's why that's why I've done a lot of this work too, because I was somebody who was very like quick to anger, quick to temper, quick to like want to fight, and like I even see that now, like in this new, healed version of myself, like even some things that, like you know, are your trigger, like I just want to fly off the fucking handle, like that is my response.
Speaker 2:Oh, yeah, yeah, and to be able to get to the point where you can see yourself and notice and be like, oh, I want to get so mad right now, but I'm actually going to just hug you and I'm going to tell you that I love you.
Speaker 1:I'm not quite there yet, but I'm working on it.
Speaker 2:It's, it's a practice and it's not going to happen every time, but I think it's just like coming back to it and looking at your, look at yourself first. I think we all need to look at ourself first and that's going to ripple outward, I think you know, even even just doing it around my son to like he'll look at me and be like Mommy relax.
Speaker 1:It's a trip. That's funny. These kids that have like learned yogic tools right out the womb they're gonna be.
Speaker 2:They're gonna be the ones oh yeah, oh yeah, yeah, for sure, you know, but it's and I mean connecting them to the earth too, I think is so important, holy cow, um, because that's the other thing too. Like we try to not do a lot of screen time, um, but we also live in the middle of nowhere, so it's like, really, I, I get it, I'm blessed, I know where we live, is like it's a beautiful place to be and I'm really lucky to raise my child, like I'm raising him. Um, and don't get me wrong, there's a lot of hearts. Everyone has their heart. Yeah, there's a lot of pros, pros and cons, but I think getting these kids with their hands in the sand and the dirt and letting them get muddy and letting them like, I could go on and on about this, but I think it, you know it's good for their, it's just they need to have that connection to the earth, because if we're going to lose it, yeah, yeah, you know this is something.
Speaker 1:So my dad grew up on a farm in Italy and grew up very, very poor and not like the American experience at all. Like I mean, he grew up in the 19. He was born in 1955.
Speaker 2:So we grew up in the 19.
Speaker 1:He was born in 1955, so he grew up in the 60s um, but he didn't have electricity or running water like they grew up, very different from what the 1950s, 60s, 70s were in the united states, um, so he's been americanized for sure, but I think I I've seen little glimpses of it in the way that we grew up, um, you know, because we were the last generation that didn't really grow up with internet. You know, I remember, I remember the day that we got a computer and it wasn't even connected to dial-up or anything like that, like it was literally just a computer that had, like you know, whatever, I don't even know, it was before Microsoft Word, even it wasn't it just like a black screen with like green codes?
Speaker 2:yeah, I think that's like I don't even like I don't know either.
Speaker 1:We didn't even have that. It was like when Windows first kind of became a thing, pretty sure, um, but yeah, there was like basically whatever you could do without the internet. It's like what you had. I remember when we first got dial-up. But anyways, we grew up in rural rhode island. We were like very western rhode island, so a lot of farmland, a lot of. We grew up on a lot of land. We we had neighbors, but they were like very far away up on a lot of land. We we had neighbors, but they were like very far away. And as soon as we would come home from school, like my mom would be like okay hour to play, like get outside, go run, do what you have to do, and then we'll come in and do homework. And being outside was like a huge. There was so much importance on that. And my grandfather had a giant garden. My dad had a giant garden.
Speaker 1:We had fruit trees that lined our entire property like we did grow up pretty connected to the earth, like we were outside as much as you could be, and in the summer my mom used to actually threaten us with camp, like she would be like if you're not, if you don't behave, you are going to camp. Oh, but she took us to do like you know. We went to camp gina, like that's, that's what it was, and she always like we were on the beach, we were. There's this place down here called the umbrella factory and it's, um, like a co-op, like little shops and stuff and they have like chickens running around and a bamboo forest. Like these were the things that we did. We, even if it was raining, we were outside like I should not care.
Speaker 2:It's so important. It's so important and and even to like I think, for anyone who's listening to this, that's a parent that has not read hunt gather parent, please go pick that book up. I mean, even if you're not a parent I think it was a I think you would like it for your, if you read it for your future self. Um, but one of the things that they talk about it, the woman talked about in the book, is she went to like four very distinctive tribes and communities and like different corners of the earth and just like studied how they raise their children and a lot of them, what they do is like even like for alessandro, my son, if he gets upset, I'm like all right, we gotta go outside, like let's go outside and you will see it change in an instant.
Speaker 2:And they're so you know it's, it's, it's. You know you're getting, you're grounding, you're earthing, you're literally being charged by the earth's, the power of the earth's magnetic force when you step on the ground without shoes on. Yeah, you know like it's so. Nature is so powerful and I just I pray that we don't forget that.
Speaker 2:Or you know, like I just or that every part of it yes, can everyone please just go listen to the colors of the wind from the pocahontas soundtrack, because it will.
Speaker 1:It will change your life that was my favorite movie growing up same. That was like I was not a princess Barbie girl, but if that was like my jam well, also like I didn't look like any of the Disney princesses because I had like dark olive skin, dark hair, dark eyes. So, like I, I resonated with Jasmine and Pocahontas because they looked like me.
Speaker 2:Yes, right on, yeah, but it's just, you know, remember, remember the elements of nature and honor them, and how can you bring them into your life? And you know, even coming full circle to what we were even just started talking about, you know, like, turn your phone on to the red light at a certain hour of the night, like I was actually just talking to Edgardo.
Speaker 2:You know, the other day I'm like I cannot stand because we're solar power, so we have a lot of our lighting is led, just because that takes up less power from our system, and I was like I don't know if anyone listening knows how to mitigate that please reach out yeah, but I was like you know what would be actually really cool and like romantic is like if we put, like if you could weld me some like really cool candle fixtures, and like at a when the sun goes down, we are putting candles on and like yes, can we not only romanticize our lives, but also just like come back to that, like we're supposed to be around the campfire. You know what I mean? Yes, that kind of vibe and energy bringing that color back into the home and like I'm just so curious to see.
Speaker 1:I know, because I mean, the studies are starting to roll out about blue light, like there's no arguing anymore that it is harmful for your health, like it's, yeah, crazy yeah, and it's, it's well, isn't there a thing? I wonder if you could get the color changing led lights because they I know they have them um that it's like by a remote control, but you can change the color of them. So I'm pretty sure there's a red setting.
Speaker 2:You should look into that, okay, yeah I will, because's like I feel like a chicken in a factory sometimes, like if I'm cooking dinner a little bit too late. I'm like yo I can't.
Speaker 1:The most unhealthy the most unhealthy time of my life was when I was working for I don't know if I can say this, but I was working for Victoria's Secret and all of the lights in there are halogen and fluorescent lights, and I was in there for like 12 hours a day eight 10, 12 hours a day and it was literally the most unhealthy time of my life.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And I used to say it all the time, I used to fry under those lights. I would be like there is something like before I even knew, before I was even connected, before I was even like into the yoga or the spirituality or health, any of it, I was like there's something with these fucking lights Like I know it. I know you're so new.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, isn't it true that in this? Is it it in the U S? I don't, I have to do some research here. Um, but you can't even buy incandescent lights anymore. Oh, I don't know, Is that? Is that a truth? I don't.
Speaker 1:I also don't want to be like spanning misinformation, but like I actually don't know the answer to that, um, because I've never really had to buy light bulbs before, so I don't't know. I've always just lived in an apartment and it's like part of your.
Speaker 2:yeah, like you, just maintenance like hello my light is out because I know one's like in one fixture. I have it's very open concept in here and like in one of the fixtures, it's like I'm pretty sure they're led lights, but it's like yellow. I was like, do not get the white, get the yellow. So it's like a different. So maybe sure they're led lights, but it's like yellow. I was like, do not get the white, get the yellow. So it's like a different. So maybe they're?
Speaker 1:yeah, I know they do. They do have different hues.
Speaker 2:Yeah Well, because this is the thing is is like the sinking of the circadian rhythm is so real. That's another basic thing that I'm really trying to get back to. So it's like you know, when you're looking at your phone at eight o'clock at night, your body thinks it's high noon.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you're getting charged up by this blue light.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah. That's why you can't sleep and that's why you, when you wake up, you feel like shit, it's crazy, it's so crazy.
Speaker 1:Well, and it also I mean the phone thing is like so layered as well, because like now you're going into like okay, talk about addiction, it's a dopamine hit yes, exactly yeah.
Speaker 2:so like, who am I without my phone? Who am I without this app or that app? Or who am I without, you know, touching it from the hours of 6 pm to 10 am? Like just who am I? Like you know what I mean. And then the scary thing is too I don't know if you've ever done this, but I've done this and I'm like whoa, yeah, we've got to make some changes there Actually done that and then, like looked around to like touch it, like to find it, and like turn it on, or like look at something, or like hey, gardo asked me a question the other night and I was like I don't know, like look it up on Google real quick and see what it says. Like, if you don't have that, like what? Like what are you going to do? Can you hold on to that? Can you hold on to that curiosity? Like you know what I mean. Like, cause I bet no one has encyclopedias in their house anymore where you can go and look it up.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:But it's, it's just like have these little experiments with yourself and like find out, find out a little bit more about who you are, you know, like, what's going on in there.
Speaker 1:Yeah Well, yeah, I mean, it gave us a way to like never have to sit alone, never have to sit quietly with our thoughts, Like again just observing, like are you one of those people where, if, like, there's not a lot going on in your sphere, like, do you have music playing, do you have the tv on? Are you just listening kind of white noise? Are you distracting yourself with your phone?
Speaker 2:yeah, like I am the freak that goes to the coffee shop and sits down and eats my breakfast without technology in front of me.
Speaker 1:I think that's such a brave and beautiful practice. It's funny because I actually just saw a video about this too, about like allowing yourself to just go and be the one person that's not on your phone and just like observing what's happening around you.
Speaker 2:Wild. If I could get paid to people watch, oh, I'd be a fucking millionaire, swear to god. I remember when I used to work at the airport with Jamie. Actually, that was like my favorite thing oh my gosh, that's so funny.
Speaker 1:This is a new story for me. I didn't know you guys worked at the airport.
Speaker 2:Oh we have so many good stories but it was so much fun. But I used to love just like watching the people.
Speaker 1:Well, that's like a great. I mean, what better place? First of all, people are like so wildly out of their natural habitat and like everyone is nervous as soon as you walk into the airport. Like everyone's panicking.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and that was like before all the smartphone craze and all the stuff. So it was like even more fun because people really were like, you know, in it, yeah, in it, in it, in it for sure, yeah, oh, yeah, for sure. And I think you know it's, it's, it's also to just like tapping into your own system and gut health, to like just to bring that up when you're sitting and you're eating food and you're watching something, or you're like, and it's striking emotion within you. So like, for example, I'm watching posts on Instagram, say, about the political environment in the United States, and I'm eating something, what do you think? How do you think your body's going to digest that food? That's going in? It can't.
Speaker 1:Let me tell you it can't. No, because you're putting yourself in fight or flight Like so your your digestive system is like nope turned off, it's turned.
Speaker 2:It's literally turned off, and you cannot absorb the nutrients, the minerals, that. So it doesn't even matter if you're eating.
Speaker 1:The most nutritious meal.
Speaker 2:Yeah, Because what you consume isn't just the food on your plate. It's also what you're watching, what you're eating, what you're listening to, what you're even just listening to some of the music that's coming out nowadays.
Speaker 1:I'm like oh, no, I know I used to love Eminem and I listened to one of his new songs and I was like, like I used to berate my dad. But like this is literal devil work, like this is a spirit and entity coming through Like this is not art.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's all tits and ass. And I mean, yeah, don't get me wrong. We used to like go to club hell. Yes, yes, yes, I know Like just listen to a call and don't get me wrong. When I hear those songs I do like to dance around a little bit and remember the good times. But, like, when you look at it through a different lens, you can be, like whoa whoa.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's like what is the energy that you're absorbing?
Speaker 2:Yeah, exactly, exactly exactly. It's energy, because we are, we are energy, and so what are you allowing into your realm like it's gonna affect you?
Speaker 1:it's gonna affect you in ways that you might not even so there's a new genre of music that I'm like really getting down with. And did you know that healing house is now yes, it is now a genre of music Like hello. We've made it.
Speaker 2:I just yes, I just electrified my whole body. That is the only thing I will listen to now, literally.
Speaker 1:I've been like trickling it into my yoga classes here and there and, yeah, it's fun.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes I love it.
Speaker 1:If anyone knows a healing house DJ, send them my way because I have a vision of doing in person like yoga events DJ to like healing house and then just like yeah, well, this is like I, this is, I feel like I one girl that I also know from social media.
Speaker 2:She does something called Dance Church on Sundays, where you just go, you don't talk. I was like this concept I need to bring somewhere. So please take this and run with it. Jade, Maybe we could do it when I come.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh yes.
Speaker 2:But no one talks. You just show up and she told me she sets up different up different stations to in the room. So like if you need to sit down on a meditation pillow for a second, if you need to go and, like, rub yourself with essential oil, you can go over here. If you want to grab a hula hoop, you can go over here, like, but you just there's no talking, it's just the music is blaring and you're literally just moving your body and I think if it was done to the healing house music.
Speaker 1:Yeah, like I need that in my life. That sounds like a party I want to be at.
Speaker 2:Me too. I think it would be so fabulous.
Speaker 1:I would just love to see like more you know as a single person. It is very like where do you go meet somebody at the bar?
Speaker 2:Like where do you go? I would love to ask you that question. I live literally in the middle of nowhere, so I have so many, I have so many questions yeah.
Speaker 1:So like, where, where do you go? What do you do you go? What do you do? Even if you're like seeing somebody, like what's the first thing you? Do oh, you go out for dinner and drinks, and this is something that I've been looking at because it's like, oh, if you are operating on that kind of like wavelength, then that's kind of going to be the only thing that you have in common.
Speaker 1:I mean it's not the only thing, but it's going to be like the foundation of the thing that you have in common and like I need more than that. Yeah, no, you do, I need more than that. So, yeah, it's very, it's very interesting to look as a 30 something year old.
Speaker 2:That is like starting to date again and look at, like, what events are around that you could go to. That would and not necessarily go like, but I feel like, again coming back to intention, like can you do things for yourself and if that person is there, mejor, like, better for you both, you know. Like can you go to dance church for yourself, but then the love of your life is there and you know what. I mean, I feel like that's what I want for you but there needs to be more events like that right, yeah, like that.
Speaker 1:Maybe this is what you need to be doing. Yeah, this is, this is the work. This is and it's funny because I've been thinking about it because Tori, who's been on the podcast before too, um, yeah, she does herbal mocktails and that is her work- yeah, I love somebody who was like I know it's literally the most beautiful, informative, like amazing. She just does like such an amazing job. Uh, yeah, her social media is such a it.
Speaker 2:It's a resource really yeah, she's, she's good at her.
Speaker 1:Her content's great um, but yeah, like I would love to see more spaces like that open up where it's like like let's elevate the vibe a little bit, like let's all step up a little like yeah, yeah let's just go and be weird.
Speaker 2:Yeah, let's go be weird and yeah, yeah, I mean age of aquarius baby. Let's just, let's bring it in with bells on, why not?
Speaker 1:Uh, yes, I'm ready for it.
Speaker 1:I think we are starting to create those systems. I mean, literally listen to everyone who's been on the podcast this just this season alone. Like, are really people who are out there doing the work for themselves first, and I think that is the biggest piece, the most important piece, because when you are operating from a place of authenticity and integrity which is something that I brought up on my social media last week that I didn't say too much about, but I can get into that later but people who are really operating from this place of authenticity and integrity, it really does have a tangible ripple effect out and integrity it really does have a tangible ripple effect out. And I want this to be a celebration of people like that who are doing this work, because we're really setting the tone for what's to come next, and I know it's going to be better than this. There are some major, amazing changes in society and humanity that we're already starting to see. We're already starting to see it yeah, it's coming we gotta hold that flame yeah, we gotta hold the flame.
Speaker 2:We gotta hold. You know, I just like I see, yeah, I see it too. I see people coming. I see, too, a lot of on our land, where we are. I see things and I'm excited for the future. And it's when you're in the muck.
Speaker 1:Yes, it's hot, yes, and that transition phase like I've said this before too and like being in it on a personal level of like a very small, like personal journey, that space of change and transition and like that place of like birth, like that place where you're coming into this like death and rebirth, is like the most excruciating hard place to be. So now we're like all going through it on an individual level, but like also collectively.
Speaker 1:So like yeah, like feeling it, yes, like let's, let's gather some tools. Let's, let's assist one another, let's, uh, let's assist one another, let's hold space for one another. Yeah, let's have grace.
Speaker 2:The thing yeah, that's the thing is you've got to find the people that are gonna hold your hand in the muck and not be and not push away.
Speaker 2:I know you mentioned or enable yeah, not, yeah, enable it or push it away with toxic positivity and just like, can you actually just hold my hand here, can you just hold my hand? And I think some people it's just hard, and I know for me too that maybe that's a piece of why I was like no, I'd rather take a shot of tequila, but you know, I don't know, know it's a joke, but seriously the joke, it's a joke, but I I feel now on the other side that I'm, I would gladly and feel honored to hold anyone's hand in the muck and I think that that's kind of what I'm.
Speaker 2:I'm coming into and seeing as a spiritual cheerleader to like hold your hand and from like such a non-judgmental space and like holistically individualize what. How can I support you and I I hope that more people can do that for other people and I know that other people, you do it for other people. Many I'm sure everyone on this podcast has done it for other people do it, does it for other people, and I think that is the beauty. That's coming, the community that's coming, that's being born. We're sitting in the birth canal of something and you know they, you know that's gonna totally set the tone for future generations like that in our generation we've been through so much you know, and and we've got.
Speaker 2:I feel like we have or even the generations behind.
Speaker 1:Like I am very close to my cousin who is he'll be 22 next month and he was born right after one year after 9-11. So like he has only seen war and terrorism and turmoil and political upheaval and just like like that generation was literally just like. At least we had a few years of like.
Speaker 2:Oh, yeah, we had a good time. That's the thing too, like, yeah, I, I, I had a good time. Even though we're going through some stuff, we're having a good time yeah um, but we're here to bridge the gap I feel like through a lot of what's happening.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and it's you know. It's like why I've talked about why you know, and it's funny because Break Method just posted about this, I think yesterday, like the positive affirmations thing that that can't be your, that can't be your coping mechanism because you're not healing the root, and like you're only ever going to be stuck in this place of like toxic positivity and like yeah how can you weed through that to get to the root of that so that, like that is just your your operating, it's an?
Speaker 2:added yeah I think I I totally agree with that and I I appreciate that and I think to like, if you can get to a place where you're using affirmations as an extra great, but I don't think it's like it's not the inspired action that's going to create change, Right, yeah, like you've talked about it and Stefan talked about it too.
Speaker 1:And it's how my own healing journey happened. It's like I didn't get right into like this spiritual nitty gritty. I healed my gut first.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:That was the first step and I talk about it on that podcast. It's like, oh, if your gut is imbalanced, like, how do you listen to it, how do you trust it?
Speaker 2:piece of what I had written in that newsletter was like about gut healing, because when you stop drinking or any, anything that's toxic, even sugar, like, you need to really love on your gut, you know. And just coming full circle to to come back to the basics, like the best like is. I think some people get so lost and like, oh, I have to have this probiotic or that or this, yeah, but like, can you eat sauerkraut? Can you go for a walk? Because the best probiotic or that or this, yeah, but like, can you eat sauerkraut? Can you go for a walk? Because the best probiotic that I'm starting to find is exercise wow interesting.
Speaker 1:What do you get from?
Speaker 2:exercise like we love to talk about hot takes.
Speaker 1:So like here we go. No one in the fitness industry is talking about this I mean, where is serotonin created?
Speaker 2:in the gut in the gut. How do you gain serotonin?
Speaker 1:I mean even talk about the gut, brain access. So people who suffer from like anxiety, depression, you know, insert your ailment. If your gut is imbalanced, like your brain is imbalanced, then all of your nervous system is imbalanced and then all your organ systems are imbalanced. So like, yeah, literally every part of your health starts with your gut, even your mouth health starts in your gut.
Speaker 2:Oral health is huge. Yeah, your gut. Even your mouth health starts in your gut. Oral health is huge. Yeah, your gut. I'm actually going to be I think I'm going to be doing a gut 101 workshop. So for anyone that's interested in listening, stay tuned. But I think that's one of the big pieces is like people when they hear gut health, they think it's just like their intestines, their stomach. It's from your mouth to your anus, ladies and gentlemen. It runs all the way down. So like, even so, we're not just talking like toothpaste mouthwash situation, which I would maybe get into. We're talking like how are you cleaning your toilet bowl? Okay, like what's going on there? All of that has to do with gut health and I don't think a lot of people realize, and it's just these tiny little tweaks you can do.
Speaker 1:Tiny little tweaks. I mean even just starting off with, like eating more local produce and if that's not an option, like, eat a little bit organic. If that's not an option, just wash your fucking vegetables.
Speaker 2:Amen, like, really like really wash them, yeah, like, not just run them under cold water, like actually wash them, snickers, some baking soda, scrub it out, get it, get it, get in there and and keep going like if you're creating biodiversity within your gut.
Speaker 1:You're good, I promise yeah, and it doesn't have to be that complicated like less processed food, more homemade food, less seed oils. That's a big one for me, like it's so hard because it's in everything, that's in everything, and even like if you're eating out like that. Seed oils like even if you ask for butter, like their butter is cut with seed oil.
Speaker 2:Seed oils like even if you ask for butter, like their butter is cut with seed oils, like it's what makes it spreadable. Yeah, it's, it's. It's a you. I think you were the person who, who was like you, kind of have to be a health freak in order to yeah to, to like eat correctly, or I shouldn't say eat correctly, but like be health conscious.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you have to be kind of a freak and like I always my sister, because my sister is a pharmaceutical doctor and and I was like Cassie, you just when you're looking at food in the grocery store and you look at the ingredients, if you can't pronounce the word or it's five, if it's five ingredients or more, you can't pronounce a word that's in the ingredients. Put it down. She's like Deirdre, I can pronounce everything.
Speaker 1:I was like, I was like touche.
Speaker 2:I love those science people yeah, but I mean it's a good rule to follow, like because any quote-unquote diet you're gonna put yourself on. What's the main thing?
Speaker 1:they talk about eating whole food yeah, and that's the most sustainable thing. Like these diets where you're like measuring foods or you know whatever it is like. Those are not sustainable. But if you are eating whole foods, no like one ingredient, just like yeah, yeah. You can't go wrong. You can't go wrong with that. You can't go wrong with that you can't, and a lot of these diets, like keto and paleo and like all these other diets, they work because you're cutting out processed ingredients.
Speaker 2:That is the secret.
Speaker 1:That's the secret. There it is. There it is. Well, this I feel like we made it sound way more complicated than it is. I feel like we went on kind of like uh we're the queens yeah, yes, we definitely are, um, but no, it's really fire and that was one of the things. So when I was healing my gut it's funny because I actually went paleo when, when I was healing my gut in my 20s- I think it's necessary sometimes.
Speaker 2:I will say that.
Speaker 1:The biggest thing was the processed food, like that's where I noticed the biggest difference was like not eating all of these things that have added gums and dextrose and polysorbate and all of these things like cutting that stuff out made the biggest difference because all of those things are inflammatory to your gut yeah, yeah, and I mean you have to just like I know you say this a lot too it's like you have to just use your discernment, because I think a lot of like a lot of these people that put products out on the market are also experts.
Speaker 2:so they're like producing gluten free granola bars or this or that. Turn the box around and read the ingredients and tell me what's in it. Yeah, I mean this.
Speaker 1:I'm very passionate about this. I love sourdoughing. That's like my hobby. It's funny. I started probably like eight years ago dabbling in it and then I was like kind of unsuccessful, so it just like trickled away. And then, um last November ish probably my cousin was, his girlfriend is um, has gluten intolerance and um, so he wanted to get into the sourdowing for her and he was like I have a little bit of starter. It's like really active. Do you want it? And I was like sure I'll give it a try again. And I did and it, first of all, it like was the mental health bolster that I needed, like it.
Speaker 2:Just I'm like I cannot wait to eat some of your baking my depression away, like baking. You got to do what you got do, yeah like it really.
Speaker 1:Just, you know, it was one of those tools like how meditation and yoga has been um, like a tool that's just helped support me through my journey of well-being. Like figuring out how to bake sourdough has been kind of like the same for me it's great.
Speaker 2:You should do a little. You should do something with that.
Speaker 1:That's funny. So many people keep asking me to do like a workshop, just to like teach them how, and it's like I'm like I don't know it's gonna take the fun out of it for me.
Speaker 2:Okay, well, I'll learn from you and I'll make it. I'll make videos for you and then you can just put it out.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I love that.
Speaker 2:I'll do that. I'll do that for you.
Speaker 1:I love that I have a Google Doc of successful recipes and there's like over 35 people in that Google Doc. And I've given my starter, which was my cousin's original starter, to probably close to 15 people.
Speaker 2:Amazing.
Speaker 1:Changing lives, changing lives, changing lives. You know, it goes back to that community thing. Like not only are we healing our gut, but like there is an element of community to it, because we're like all nerding out about this and like sharing recipes and oh, I did this and this worked. I did this and it fucking failed miserably. Like it's figuring out these. You know, like we've demonized bread and this is going back to what I said Like if you're going to the grocery store, the bread that you're buying at the grocery store has like 10, 12 ingredients in it. Yeah, my most complicated bread recipe has five ingredients.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and it's you know, I go back to community and sharing and, like this big Italian culture, it's like I love sharing these things with people. So like, yeah, I'm going to make like two or three loaves at a time, I'm going to make like two giant calzones that are going to serve like 30 people. And the consensus that keeps coming back is like, oh, I didn't get like the carb crash or like I felt this way. Or you know, like my uncle gets really bad heartburn from bread. And it's like, yeah, well, because the bread you're eating like it's not just flour, water and salt, like, yeah, it's, there's like so many inflammatory things in there. So like, yeah, it's, it's causing heartburn. It's like that's just inflammation, that's just inflammation, that's just inflammation.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So I think it's like a really cool thing to share with people and it's something that's brought joy back to me. It's literally brought joy back to my life.
Speaker 2:I love that joy. Yes, how can you bring more joy in?
Speaker 1:even, yeah, even just like baking something and bringing it to someone and gifting it Like I like that's one of my love languages, like I'm a gift giver, like I love giving gifts, and so to have this gift that you like make yourself to give to someone. Like I brought two loaves of bread to my brother-in-law's grandmother's house a couple months ago and literally there was not one crumb left within like within 10 minutes. Everything was gone and just the joy and like people just like enjoying, like how simple is that? Like enjoying a piece of bread with butter, but like it just like made everyone giddy and like, brought us all together and like that's's awesome.
Speaker 2:I love that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I love that, and it doesn't have to be sourdough, like insert your thing. Yes, yeah, it's just one of these tools that has worked for me, like like breath work, like meditation, like yoga. It's just one of these, one of these tools.
Speaker 2:I love it. I love that yeah.
Speaker 1:Thank you for being here. Thank you for having me. I love having you. I think we have some of the best conversations. You keep it real and authentic and that's what I love here, like we're not pretending to be some spiritual high leader, that's like above the rest. It's like we're we're in the thick of it with everyone else, like Like we're doing this work because we are or we're a dumpster fire.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we're. We're here with our masks off just dancing around the fire.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes, well, stay tuned for maybe like some ecstatic dance yoga events, yeah.
Speaker 2:Coming at you live.
Speaker 1:Looking for healing house DJ djs. Send them my way. Anyone in the um southern new england area oh yeah, let's make that a reality.
Speaker 2:I'm gonna put that on the burner, yeah and some gut healing workshops from day yeah, they're coming, they're coming down the line yep I feel bummed we're just like in this blossom transition like up level. Let's go, let's move yeah, oh, oh.
Speaker 1:This past year and a half has been hard you're good, jay, you're good. Yeah, I've seen it yeah, all righty, I think this is where we wrap it up. If anyone wants to connect with you, how can they find? Yeah, um.
Speaker 2:You can find me on instagram at anahatayogaviennestar um, or you can email me just my name.
Speaker 1:You can put in the show notes, maybe yeah, I will definitely do that yeah, permission to slide into my dms yes, use the internet in an intentional, healthy way yeah, for real connection. Yes, yes, yes, oh, I love you. Thank you for being here. Love you too, girl. Thank you for listening to this episode. If you liked it, please like, subscribe, share. Share it with somebody you love, share it with somebody who needs the message, or just somebody who is on the journey. We'll see you next time.