3 steps to take when approaching a stranger

What would it look like to value the journey and the pursuit over the end?Today I want to introduce you to Alej, a human that values happiness and the gift it is to pursue living life from what he is passionate about. Social media often is blamed for much of why “real connection” has suffered, but I find it to be the opposite, I find that who we are and how we genuinely show up in relationships is only magnified by social media, and friends like Alej are proof.Alej is one of the friends I get to know because of social media, because he is someone who values connection and shows up fully as himself in every conversationWe chat about everything from the best burger in the world, to what it means to know joy in the now moments of life, to the reality that there is both our deepest value and our greatest fear in who surrounds us and the hope they will always be a part of our livesHe shares how he left the country at 18 and how that has and continues to form so many of his conscience and unconscious choices, how getting to play a sport he loves, getting to learn how to build relationships as he adjusted to life in a new culture; how learning a new language, and adapting to knowing value in himself is something he is truly grateful for We chat about how the quality of work is integral to career and success, but how it matters so much to him even down to the fun others have when working with him, how the respect we give another and the trust we earn holds more weight than a project itselfAlejandro is someone who might not have a calendar that looks full, someone who will never make you feel like you won’t not measure up, but he will remind you that you have the power to choose your life, that it is in your own hand how you move forward So tune in today and meet Alej, and be reminded that telling those around them you love them, and never taking for granted the opportunities we get to bring to life And to you Alej thank you, thank you for being someone who values me reaching out as much as I value you making the time, thank you for sharing a part of your story, for the ease in which you have welcomed me into your life, looking forward to many more memories with you and grateful for how life has brought you into mine

Close your eyes for a moment, imagine you are sitting on the beach somewhere, someone walks by and pauses near you, you notice they are there but don’t say anything, a few birds walk past as if they are looking to invade your space, and the stranger says “looks like you’ve made a friend”.... tune in as I share 3 integral parts of creating authentic connection with someone new

If others were impacted by what you felt, how would they feel when they spent time with you?Today I want to introduce you to Alessia a human that has made such an intentional and gentle impact on my life since she came into it. It has and continues to be something I find intense joy in the my life, to be surrounded by humans like this one, those that inspire me to not only learn and try new things, but to be gentle on myself as I learn them. Alessia is one that loves and lives with contagious joy and one who shares what she loves with authenticity. We chat about how calm and peace can almost feel off when you become accustomed to functioning under stress, and how she is one who is both organized and values the way life flows.She shares what it was like to leave home at 15 and build a life in another country, how here warmth and the love she knows and gives is so deeply rooted in her Russian family and heritage, and how she has become and continues to be a human marked by joy and happinessWe chat about what she is excited about in her work, how sharing what she loves in a more accessible way is something she is working hard towards; how she never loses sight of what it was to begin something new, and how that allows her to hold space for others to begin and learnAlessia is one that truly transmits joy, gentleness, and a strength I deeply admire, she is one that if you are lucky enough to know, to learn from in the gym, one that has without a doubt created space for you to find parts of your own strength and joy So tune in today and meet Alessia, and be reminded that being human is to love, to struggle, to learn, and not give up, and to trust the parts of you that bring you peaceAnd to you Alessia thank you, thank you for how you have so sincerely become a friend, how you ask questions out of a desire to know and care, how you are not afraid to speak and have reminded me to not fear or hesitate both learning and being ok not knowing. You are responsible for my love for calisthenics, for the community I already miss so much, and for being a friend I am beyond honored to have in my life. Thank you for allowing me to share a small part of your beautiful story

Today I want to introduce you to Pasquale, my friend, someone who makes me smile when I see him, a human who has chosen to live life full and with joy to share. I’ve had the pleasure of laughing and growing at the gym with him, spending time as we have learned new things and pushed ourselves outside of our comfort zones, and this life is sweeter because of humans like him in mineWe chat about what it means to find yourself on the other side of what you have always known, to live in other parts of the world and let it change you, to let your own experience define what humanity is like in new places, to let the pace of life not be determined by what you knew but rather by what brings you balance and joy He shares how his work is something he loves, finds passion in sharing with others, and how there is balance in learning the quick pace of the kitchen and the peaceful pace of life as a whole, he shares how his grandmother is who created his heart for cooking and how her recipes still hold so much in what he does nowHe shares why it matters so much to surround himself with those that hold life with respect and truth, and how it can be hard to connect when your passion causes you to work when others are off and how that makes those he is close with even more intentional Pasquale is one who has allowed empathy and I have witnessed an ability to observe and respond in wisdom to what comes his way, one who chooses to live life as someone who knows how valuable each day isSo tune in today and meet Pasquale, a human that will remind you to give your time to what holds value, to not let anyone tell you how to judge a place or people but to know it for yourself, and to be proud of your capacity to adapt to what life brings your way And to you Pasquale thank you, thank you for all the laughter and joy I have and will still share with you, for sharing what you love, for allowing me to share a part of you with others here, and for the friend you have become. You are such a lovely light in this world and it is an honor to know you. See you soon!

If someone told you you were like your mom, would it feel like a compliment?Today I want to introduce you to Anafeli, someone I met simply because food was meant to be shared. I spend most Wednesday evenings at the same restaurant listening to live music, and this night sat next to me was a woman I quickly fell into conversation with, and quickly gained the sweetest friend Ana is the kind of woman you meet and feel as though you are in the presence of someone who knows herself, carries herself with confidence as one who has known life to be all it can contain, and one that has chosen to let it be all it gets to beWe chat about what it means to rely on yourself, to know that you are the one responsible for you, how that can cause fear, and how it can cause us to see a strength within us we might not have known otherwise She shares the value in having those close to her that feel like you can be whole with, those that do not have imaginary lines we need to read between, and the importance in looking at yourself in the mirror and knowing you are who you areShe shares how work is something she is proud of but how it does not define her, how divorce and the changes that came with it led to the truth that it is so much less about what we are good enough for but rather what we are brave enough to choose Ana is a woman admire and respect, one I value getting to know, and one that I believe will remind you just how ok it is to see where life goes without fearSo tune in today and meet Ana, and in her recipe for life, to dance first, ask god next, and have empathy for yourself and others And to you Ana thank you thank you for being you and for the shared laughter, the time together, your sincere and genuine soul, and the way I get to know you

What would it look like for you to solidify who you are?Today I want to introduce you to Shayna, it is something I have come to value deeply the more I live fully as myself the more consistently humans like this one find their way into my life. Shayna is one that I get consistently asked if she is my sister, and aside from having curly hair there are many things I find in that assumption to be a compliment. The way she is unafraid to approach someone and say hello, the way she holds on to the parts of herself that not everyone deserves access to, the strength she has and builds on both physically and as a woman.Shayna is someone who will greet you from a mile away with a smile and give you the confidence that you are seen, capable, and treasured with her whole self.We chat about what it means to have a lot of love to give but at times not be seen for who you are beyond the joy and the energy most see, the value of silence and simply staring at the ceiling, and the way sincerity and honesty allow closeness and trust in relationships in ways even time cannot compete with.She shares how change isn’t the same as stepping into yourself, how we can say life’s moments impacted us, and not changed us. To define solidification of who we are by how the hard times caused us to trust and not apologize for who we were meant to be.We chat about the value of freedom, how being needed in the corporate world stopped being the end goal, how overthinking serves great purpose in the right timing, and allowing our choices to not be second guessed once we make them.Shayna is one I feel I can spend 5 minutes with or 5 hours, 5 minutes that can feel like the hour with a friend that grounds you, and 5 hours that disappears like 5 minutes cause you laughed the whole time.So tune in today and meet Shayna, someone who will remind you that it is more than ok to choose the life you feel whole in, to not give more than you deserve and to love so fullyAnd to you Shayna thank you, thank you for the way you so effortlessly came into my life and how it continues to feel like you were always meant to be there, for the countless chats about everything and nothing, for the simplicity in knowing I never question where I stand with you. Love you so much 

It’s personal Life is personal, it was meant to be feltToday’s episode is a short solo one as I wanted to just share how life and those in mine continue to heal me and  in a way that I hope is able to help you as well 

When someone speaks of how they met you, will it have been a positive interaction? Today I want to introduce you to Brandon, Brandon is one of the friends I have simply because he chooses to say hello; but he has quickly become a friend I can count on, one that holds space for others with sincerity, and one I’m excited to share more of with you todayWe chat about how toxicity in life can be missing out on the chance to experience life and connections. How toxic isn’t just what we put into our bodies, but the idea that passing up on moments to know others and to know yourself is where our FOMO should kick in the mostHe shares what it means to him to be successful, how it isn’t the money, but rather the freedom and the lifestyle hard work allows us to have. He shares how he has been intentional with being present when not working, but how putting in the hours now has allowed him so many of the simple joys in life that he values He shares how a breakup taught him that life can feel heavy, but that everything we feel will pass, to not forget what you have in your life to look forward to, and to even make the most of the way we feel and refocus on our own health and lives. He shares how a goal is only crazy if we don’t put the work in to achieve it, how not wasting your 20’s drastically impacts the rest of your life, and even how our choices one day can either add or steal from the day ahead.Brandon is one that as a human, not just for his age, but overall as a human carries himself with maturity and kindness, he is one who is known by his friends as someone they can count on, and someone who is genuinely lovely to be around. He is one that I believe will change how you view not just what you do, but how you pursue it in hearing this conversationSo tune in today and meet Brandon, a human who will remind you to slow down, to value the sun on your face, the joy in getting to work hard, the reality that we are all given the same hours in a day and you can create a life you love and one that loves others well And to you Brandon thank you, thank you for your willingness to sit down with me, for your open heart and the reminder to show up and not forget the little moments, for being someone I can count on to walk me home at night, and the ease in time with you. I hope you continue to be surrounded by friends, that the work you pour into in career and life always comes back to you, and that the days off feel long and full of life. Grateful to have you as a friend 

Do you know how someone speaks?Today I want to introduce you to Paulina, Paulina is not just a sweet friend of mine but she is also a part of my family here in Mexico. Life can often cause us to question ourselves, our place in the world, and even or purpose, yet community, friends like this one, and the way we love and listen to each other, it has power far greater than anything else this life can do Paulina is one that goes through life with a spark I think many of us forget we possess, the kind of twinkle in her eye that feels like everything she sees is beautiful and worth noticing; and she is one who approaches those around her with the same spark and sincerity She shares the importance of knowing how one loves and not just how we feel love, how we can choose to see effort and care, and how we can miss it without intentionality to see who someone is. We chat about the way we mirror what another gives us and shows us, how not needing to guess who someone is, is one of the greatest gifts we can give another We chat about what it means to go through life with ease, to find joy in what we do, and how life was not intended to be filled or fueled by stress. She shares how speaking what we fear has with those we love and trust has the power to remove fear altogether and how she is proud of letting go of past fears of what life “could be” Paulina shares so much in this conversation that I believe humanity needs to hear, not just how to look at life expecting to see beauty, but also how to look at those and ourselves with eyes to see who they are and how they love, to learn how someone speaks so we do not miss when they tell us we matter to themSo tune in today and meet Paulina, a human, an artist, a woman with a twinkle and spark in her eye, and one I hope you get to hear a small part of the way a soul who chooses to see the whimsy in life carries herselfAnd to you Paulina, Pauchis, thank you, thank you for how you have stepped into my life and felt like I belonged in yours, thank you for the way you speak, the way you laugh and the way you inspire me to see what matters. You are a light and a spark that I treasure, and a friend I am truly honored and grateful to know and live alongside, literally my sweet Nieghbor 

Do you have someone in your life whose door is always open?Today I want to introduce you to Chuy, my friend, my neighbor, a human whose door is always open. I love how life has brought genuine and sincere humans and friends into my life, and even more how those friends add to mine by who they share with me.Chuy is someone who is marked by a smile and joy, he is one who rivals my ability to say hi and start conversation with anyone and genuinely loves getting to meet someone new. He is one who shares space in a way that makes another feel at home, and one I am so excited and honored to share with you We chat about what it means to be the friend others can call no matter what, to not show up in another’s life with expectations but never letting go of what it means told hold your own boundaries.He shares how life shifted for him when his location changed, and we talk about how living in spaces that don’t align with who we are can cause us to hold back from being known in those places fully. How it becomes less a matter of honoring ourselves and more a choice in how much energy we give to be known where we are simply different We chat about the warmth of Mexico, about what it means to take an idea and bring it to life, what presence can cause us to see in ourselves and others, and the impact of showing up for ourselves daily in the little thingsChuy is someone that is a part of my family here at home, he is one that I can call when I need help with the police, if I want to go out and want company, or if I simply would prefer to sit on his couch over mine. So tune in today and meet Chuy, a human that will remind you to be the friend the world needs, to choose a smile and joy because you get to, and to not grant everyone full access to you at all timesAnd to you Chuy thank you, thank you for being a genuine friend in my life. For every time I walk in and you make me feel welcome. There is a rare quality in humanity that shows up in another’s life in such a way that causes us to see and feel at home around them; and you are such a human. I couldn’t be more grateful to call you my friend and my Nieghbor