The Couragemakers Podcast | Encouragement, Inspiration & Rebel Rousing for Mission Driven Doers, Makers & Shakers |

Happy Monday Couragemakers! I am so excited to share with you this week's episode of Couragemakers! For this week's episode, I'm speaking to the wonderful Jenipher Lyn. Jenipher a self-taught artist who is on a mission to save the world one doodle at a time. She who believes the more genuine encouragement in the world, the better and her goal in life is to inspire as many girls and women that they are not alone. Jenipher can be found drawing and eating cupcakes in the middle of Florida with husband and giant cat, Baby. I found Jenipher through her doodles and am so happy to get to know Jenipher as a person. In this episode, Jenipher shares the story behind her art, how being a writer or an artist isn't how many people make it look online and how struggling with anxiety, depression and loneliness has influenced her life and her mission. Oh, and also what her ideal weird superpower would be. We really dive into the importance of imperfection, and how the online world sometimes deceives us, the struggles we often face as creative women and how we all need more mess, encouragement and cookies in our lives. Jenipher shares fantastic advice for anyone going through a hard time, gives a great insight into how her creative process has changed along the way and how she protects her own sanity as a highly sensitive person. Jenipher is wonderful and I absolutely loved every bit of our conversation. We had such a good laugh and her approach to life is simply contagious. This episode is full of so much hope, joy and truth and I know you're going to love this episode! Enjoy the show!​​​​ About Jenipher Jenipher a self-taught artist who is on a mission to save the world one doodle at a time. She who believes the more genuine encouragement in the world, the better and her goal in life is to inspire as many girls and women that they are not alone! She does this with whimsical illustrations and vulnerably humorous articles. Jenipher can be found drawing and eating cupcakes in the middle of Florida with husband and giant cat, Baby. You can connect with Jenipher here: Website | Facebook | Instagram | New Book Things we talked about during today's show What Jenipher believes about herself now that she never thought possible How Jenipher's creative process has developed How Jenipher deals with rejection Jenipher's advice for anyone going through a hard time Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: [email protected] About Meg & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently on a 3 month road trip of the US with Mr. Meg but normally based in the UK. That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest |

Happy Monday Couragemakers! I am so excited to share with you this week's episode of Couragemakers! For this week's episode, I sat down and had a good natter with Sarah Steckler. Sarah is a Creative Self-Love Coach who helps women take control of their lives by taking care of themselves. As a writer, journal lover, and creatively obsessed sticker collector, she loves to spend her free time wandering through nature and forest bathing, cuddling up with her English Bulldog, and planning her next Netflix binge! In this episode, Sarah shares her journey of how creativity helped her learn to love herself, how her life has changed now she has become more intentional about her creativity and self love and how struggling is part of the process. We really dive into how showing up as yourself can be a struggle, how giving yourself permission to have bad days can make all the difference and how important it is to find something we love that isn't for anyone but ourselves. Sarah shares great advice for anyone looking to add more creativity and self love to their life, great practical self care for people doing their own thing and really helpful words of wisdom for creative women who struggle with their mental health. This is also a great episode if you struggle with your mental health and want to use creativity as a way to help you, if you often find yourself thinking that doing things for yourself is selfish, and if you need the reminder that what you have to put in the world is pretty damn important. I really loved my conversation with Sarah and finding out more about her journey and the work she's putting in the world. As creative people, it can be so hard to remember that while our creativity gives so much to the world, it gives so much to ourselves as well, and I'm so glad Sarah reminded us of that today. Enjoy the show!​​​​ About Sarah Sarah is a Creative Self-Love Coach who helps women take control of their lives by taking care of themselves. While this seems simple enough, Sarah understands the barriers to change we all can face, including self-doubt, guilt, feeling emotionally overwhelmed, and anxiety that comes with transitions and change. As a writer, journal lover, and creatively obsessed sticker collector, she loves to spend her free time wandering through nature and forest bathing, cuddling up with her English Bulldog, and planning her next Netflix binge! She's also huge animal lover who dreams of one day opening up her own cow sanctuary and dreams of creating her own self-care journal for others. You can connect with Sarah here: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Free Self Care Course Things we talked about during today's show The relationship between creativity and self love What Sarah's self - love journey looks like The biggest things Sarah has learned in starting a business Sarah's advice for anyone looking to add more creativity and find self love in their life Why women struggle with self love Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: [email protected] About Meg & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently on a 3 month road trip of the US with Mr. Meg but normally based in the UK. That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest |

I am so excited to share with you this week's episode of Couragemakers. I think it's fair to say that sometimes the world feels like a bit of a shitshow, especially now and I think this episode is a great beacon of hope. For this week's episode, I had the absolute joy of speaking to Mary England, self-described merriment maker and founder of Uncustomary. Mary's passion is to make other people happy and teach them how to love and accept themselves. After struggling with mental illness for twenty years and working in and studying the field of psychology for five, she decided to start the business Uncustomary to share her personal and professional experience with mental health in a way that translates into self-love and positivity. You can find her twirling in front of murals and leaving a literal trail of glitter in Baltimore, Maryland. In this episode, Mary shares her journey of becoming a self love advocate and how guerilla street art was a massive part of this journey. We dive into the difference between self confidence and self love and how adding the weird to someone's day can make all the difference. Mary shares how she uses her art to challenge social norms and how it has taught her that people are innately good and innately curious. She also shares fantastic advice for anyone wanting to make their life more colourful, glittery and sparkly which I know you're going to love. We really dive into how we can often feel like frauds when we're working with other people to help them overcome and deal with issues we have and often do struggle with, but how ultimately we couldn't be the better person for the job. I've heard a lot of noise online lately about how we can use the platforms we have to make the world a better place, and the challenges you face when you bring your own beliefs and politics into your business or projects. This is the perfect episode if you've been thinking about it too, and if you're wondering how you can bring about change and bring hope to the world when things feel very dark. This is also a great episode if you work to make the world a brighter place and sometimes struggles to keep your own light lit, if you're looking to become more active in your community and find ridiculously fun ways to do that and if you just need a great dollop of hope in your life right now. I love Mary's work, her message and what she's putting in the world. The world is honestly a brighter, more honest and creative place for her being in it. I loved our conversation and keeping up to date with all the wonderful things she's putting in the world. Enjoy the show!​​​​ About Mary Mary England is a self described merriment maker. Mary's passion is to make other people happy and teach them how to love and accept themselves. After struggling with mental illness for twenty years and working in and studying the field of psychology for five, she decided to start the business Uncustomary to share her personal and professional experience with mental health in a way that translates into self-love and positivity. You can find her twirling in front of murals and leaving a literal trail of glitter in Baltimore, Maryland. You can connect with Mary here: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Premium Package Things we talked about during today's show Mary's journey of becoming a self love advocate and how guerilla street art and performances played a huge part in her journey How important it is to get out of our routines Mixing business with politics: if you have a privilege that can help you be on a soapbox or activate change The importance of recognising your own humanity and showing you struggle too Mary's advice for anyone wanting to make their life more colourful, glittery and sparkly Things/Resources Mentioned in Today's Show Improv Everywhere Keri Smith Fred Rogers - "When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: [email protected] About Meg & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently on a 3 month road trip of the US with

Happy Monday! I'm so happy to be back this week with another episode of Couragemakers. For those of you wondering why there wasn't an episode last week, I have just returned to the UK from my 3 month US road trip and my Granddad is seriously ill in hospital. ​​But the podcast is back this week and isn't going anywhere, I can assure you! ​​Now I'm back, I'm going to be recording 2017's episodes and working on special episodes, and new Couragemakers will be back to normal with new episodes every Monday :) I am so excited to share with you this week's episode. This week, I had the opportunity to sit down and have a good natter with singer-songwriter​​ Sarah Smith. After years on the road fronting Canadian rock band The Joys, Sarah went solo in 2012 and in this episode shares what her life on the road looks and feels like, the leap of faith she took leaving the army to pursue life as a musician and the lessons she's learned along the way. Sarah shares the truth about ​​what it looks like to get paid to do things you love, the difficulties we face as women not being taught to own our skills and learning to discover them and how the way of creativity is not for the faint of heart. We really dive into what it means to pursue a creative life; the uncertainty that comes with being a full-time creative, how life is an ongoing practice and how Sarah learned to let go of the fear of the unknown and believe everything will work out. I absolutely love this episode, and Sarah shares such great practical advice for creatives struggling to believe that things will work out and ​​​​how our validation needs to come from the inside. Sarah's passion and enthusiasm for life and her work is contagious and I loved getting a behind the scenes glimpse of what life on the road looks like. I'm really excited to be sharing this episode just days after Sarah launched her most recent album - 11 and I'm really happy I had the opportunity to speak to Sarah at such an exciting stage of her career! About Sarah After years on the road fronting Canadian rock band The Joys, Sarah went solo in 2012 Her songs have won over audiences everywhere during Sarah's relentless tours of North America and Europe and she continues to tour almost year-round. Sarah's latest album, 11, has just been released - on 11th November 2016. Aside from her music, Sarah's has the most fun eating food, being around friends and her dogs, and people watching. You can connect with Sarah here: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Youtube | Things we talked about during today's show Sarah's journey of becoming a full time musician, from being raised on a farm and and having her first solo in a church choir aged 5 to leaving the army to follow her dream of becoming a musician. The difficulties as women being taught not to own their skills and talents, and the long journey involved in rediscovering and owning them again Sarah's advice for creatives who need to trust themselves and need self validation The uniqueness of living on the road, and the struggles with staying inspired and spending so much time with your thoughts. Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: [email protected] About Meg & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently on a 3 month road trip of the US with Mr. Meg but normally based in the UK. That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest |

Hi there and welcome to episode 36 of Couragemakers! This week I'm speaking to Christy Tennery-Spalding. Christy is a self-care mentor, healer, and climate justice activist. She supports people who want to change the world develop amazing self-care practices so they can do their work more effectively and with more joy. Christy lives in Oakland, California with her husband and their feral cats, Dorothy and Harriet. During this episode, Christy shares her journey of activism, working in the nonprofit world and starting her online business and how identifying her zone of genius has helped her work in a way that not only serves the world, but herself as well. We really dive into how burnout and exhaustion can become a badge of honour when working to change the world, how working to slow things down instead of an emergency mindset ultimately changes our lives and our wellbeing and self care isn't a reward, nor is it tied to your productivity, but rather something we all need regardless. We have a really honest conversation about what it means to want to change the world, the grief we often don't acknowledge when working in a helping profession and how our ego, and our guilt often plays a role in how we show up in the world. Christy shares great advice for anyone looking to find their own zone of genius, and some much needed reminders to all of us that self care is not selfish, but rather essential for a wholehearted life. This is a fantastic episode if you're an activist, work or have worked in a helping profession, if you've ever or are struggling with burnout and if you seek to make the world a brighter place without diminishing your own light at the same time. I know this episode is going to resonate with so many people, because it touches on so many cornerstones of what this podcast is about. I absolutely loved talking to Christy and I love the work she is putting in the world. Our stories overlap in so many ways and it was so good to have such a truthful and bullshit free conversation about burnout and how we can all change the world in our own unique way. I know this episode is going to resonate with so many people, because it touches on so many cornerstones of what this podcast is about. Enjoy the show!

Hello welcome to episode 35 of Couragemakers! This week I'm speaking with Anung Vilay and I seriously can't wait to share this episode with you. Anung is owner, photographer and designer of Courageous Creativity:the place for extroverts and homebodies to own their life and write their adventure. She lives in Minneapolis and is married with one fur baby and works part time at a book-store. In this episode, we really get stuck into intersection between creativity and courage and how they play a huge part in our lives. Anung debunks the myth that you don't have to completely overhaul your life and live in a cabin in the woods to be a creative, how courageous and ultimately liberating it is to put yourself out there as well as some great practical advice for anyone who wants to become more visible and own their story. We have a really frank conversation about the courage it takes to cut toxic people from our lives, friendship break ups and how in this often crazy online world, it is okay to struggle alone and not put everything out there. And Anung shares the much needed reminders for all us doers, makers and world shakers that we can do things just for fun, and not everything we do needs to be productive or make us money. If you have a tendency to overthink things (like me) and you want to hear an honest conversation about how to get back to yourself and own your story, you are going to love this episode. This is a conversation I could listen to again and again, and I know it's going to make you feel a lot less alone and shine light into areas of your life that really need it. I love what Anung is putting in the world and how she shows up as authentically herself, and I know you're going to love her too! Enjoy the show! About Anung Anung Vilay is Owner, Photographer and Designer of Courageous Creativity LLC: the place for extroverts and homebodies to own their life and write their adventure. She lives in Minneapolis and is married with one fur baby and works part time at a book store. You can connect with Anung here: Website | Instagram| Twitter | Pinterest Things we talked about during today's show Anung's advice for anyone wanting to own their story Cutting toxic people from your life and friendship break ups The courage it takes to put yourself out there What Anung's life would look like if she didn't trust her instinct and make courageous choices Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: [email protected] About Meg & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently on a 3 month road trip of the US with Mr. Meg but normally based in the UK. That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest |

Hi there and welcome to episode 34 of Couragemakers! This week I had the joy of speaking to Sanah Jivani. Sanah is a honors college student and the founder of a non-profit organization called The Love Your Natural Self Foundation, which focuses on empowering individuals through events, movements and hands-on sessions. She started this organization after losing all of her hair to Alopecia in the seventh grade and struggling with wigs, bullying and low self-worth. Now, her non-profit organization hosts projects in 45 schools and 28 countries worldwide. In this episode, Sanah shares her journey of building a movement from a personal experience she went through, how she is challenging thousands of people around the world to let go of the one thing that holds them back and the many lessons she has learned along the way. We dive into the myths and reality of self love, how to look after yourself while putting good shit in the world and not feeling like it is your responsibility to fix everything and how Sanah's own personal growth has transformed her organisation. Sanah shares really great advice for anyone who is struggling on their own, and some great practical tips for anyone who wants to make a change in the world but doesn't know where to start, or has an idea but feels apprehensive about starting. Sanah is an absolute joy to speak to and I love how honest she is about the challenges she has faced, how her organisation has grown out of these challenges and how vulnerable she is about her own journey of self love. I have so much admiration for Sanah's mission and what she's putting in the world, and I'm so glad we get to really go behind the scenes and hear all about it! Enjoy the show! About Sanah Sanah Jivani is an honors college student double majoring in sociology and communications at the University of Texas at San Antonio. She is the founder of a non-profit organization called The Love Your Natural Self Foundation, which focuses on empowering individuals through events, movements and hands-on sessions. She started this organization after losing all of her hair to Alopecia in the seventh grade and struggling with wigs, bullying and low self-worth. Now, her non-profit organization hosts projects in 45 schools and 28 countries worldwide. The biggest project hosted by her non-profit is the International Natural Day movement. She has reached over 10,000 students through speaking engagements and raised over $10,000 in fundraising. Outside of her work with her non-profit, she is one of thirty We Are Family Foundation's Global Teen Leaders, a TEDx Speaker, a State Farm Youth Advisory Board Member, a DoSomething and College Board Youth Advisory Council Member, a 2016-2017 Character Counts Person of Character, the social media Intern at Gobie and an Editorial Intern at HelloFlo among other things. She hopes that this hard work and positive energy will someday change the world! You can connect with Sanah here: Natural Day | Twitter Things we talked about during today's show Sanah's journey of self love and how she built a movement helping other people to do the same How to look after yourself while putting good things in the world and how you need to create boundaries to see your success How important sharing your story and empowering others to share their story is How self love is allowing yourself to be human and to have bad days Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: [email protected] About Meg & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently on a 3 month road trip of the US with Mr. Meg but normally based in the UK. That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest |

Hi there and welcome to episode 33 of Couragemakers! This week, I'm chatting with Christina Blok. Christina is the CEO & Creative Director of Muse Monthly, a subscription box for books and tea. She a 20-something year old lover of everything nerdy, including Doctor Who, Harry Potter, and Marvel. In addition to running Muse Monthly, she is also a freelance social media strategist and writer. In this episode, Christina shares how she moved from working at a job which made her physically ill, to starting a business based on her passions and her two big loves. We really dive into how our creativity and passions can lead us down the path less chosen, the effect an environment can have on your creativity when you feel unfulfilled and unappreciated and how important it is to find your people. Christina shares wonderful advice for anyone who hasn't yet found their people and for people stuck in a situation which makes them miserable, takes away their creativity and belittles their passions. I absolutely love this episode and I think it really is essential listening for anyone who's ever been told their passion is just a hobby, for anyone who doesn't feel like they fit in anywhere and for anyone looking for proof that you don't have to be stuck and you have lots of options. This is a great episode for writers, readers, creatives, multi-passionates and anyone who ever dared to think they could use what they love to create a life they love. Muse Monthly is a genius idea and I absolutely loved going behind the scenes. I love Christina's passion and how honestly and openly she shares what she's learned to help other Couragemakers. I guarantee you'll be feeling inspired by the end of this episode! Enjoy the show! About Christina Christina Blok is the CEO & Creative Director of Muse Monthly, a subscription box for books and tea. She a 20-something year old lover of everything nerdy, including Doctor Who, Harry Potter, and Marvel. In addition to running Muse Monthly, she is also a freelance social media strategist and writer. You can connect with Christina here: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Things we talked about during today's show Cristina's journey from being creatively unfulfilled and unvalued in her job to creating a job from things she loved that people told her were 'just hobbies' Christina's biggest takeaway lesson from her first year of Muse Monthly How important it is to find your people and Christina's advice for people wanting to find their tribe How it is possible to create your life exactly the way you want it to be Resources/Recommendations from today's show Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: [email protected] About Meg & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently on a 3 month road trip of the US with Mr. Meg but normally based in the UK. That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest |

Hi there and welcome to episode 32 of Couragemakers! This week, I'm chatting with Amy Smalarz. I met Amy through her podcast Living Intentionally with Amy Smalarz and she is a joy to spend time with. Amy is a mom, wife, business owner and teacher and lives just outside of Boston. She is the creator of the proprietary framework Communicate To Be Heard™ as she believes that each of us has a voice that deserves to be heard. Amy works with clients to helps them to discover and define their voice or their value message and then helps them to translate that to other people so you can Communicate To Be Heard™. She believes when that happens, you are truly able to live a life with greater intention. Helping others and bringing a smile to someone's face is what makes her happy. In this episode, Amy shares her journey of deciding she needed to leave her job and setting up her own business in three weeks, how doing her own thing helped Amy to find her direction and mission and how Amy has learned that there is no such thing as work-life balance, and instead, how you have to balance what you have in front of you as life goes along. We have a great discussion about the power of intention and living in the moment, and Amy shares some great practical tips for anyone wanting to live their life with intention. We talk about not giving so much power to negative emotions and how we can stop ourselves falling down the shame hole. This is a great episode if you find yourself future tripping and getting caught up in the busyness of life and want to really enjoy the journey, if you find yourself learning the same lesson over and over again, and if life feels really complicated and you want to bring it back to simple. I love the activist streak that has followed Amy through her work, and the practical activities she shares with listeners throughout the podcast! The work Amy does is so important and I'm so grateful she was so willing to share it with fellow Couragemakers. I know you're going to get so much out of this episode. And if you enjoy this episode, check out my interview on Amy's podcast where I talk all about what living with intention means for me. Enjoy the show! About Amy Amy is the creator of the proprietary framework Communicate To Be HeardTM as she believes that each of us has a voice that deserves to be heard. When you are a client working with Amy, she helps you to discover and define that voice or that value message and then helps you to translate that to other people so you can Communicate To Be HeardTM. When that happens, you are truly able to live a life with greater intention. You can connect with Amy here: Website | Podcast | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube Things we talked about during today's show Living with intention and living in the moment How attitudes to life are contagious and who we surround ourselves with is important The power of asking why and finding meaning The importance of doing your own internal work and sitting with the uncomfortable The things that bring Amy joy and fulfilment Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: [email protected] About Meg & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently based in London, and getting ready for my round the world adventure with Mr. Meg starting August 2016. Don't worry the podcast isn't going anywhere! That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest |

Hi there and welcome to episode 31 of The Couragemakers Podcast! Today I'm sharing my interview with Diana Malerba and I've been excited for a long time to share our conversation. Diana is a certified Confidence Coach living in Switzerland. She helps women to go from self doubt to self confidence and fulfilment. She is a magnet for all things self confidence, courage and resilience. When she is not coaching, she is an advocate for women empowerment, gender equality and cupcakes. In this episode, we dive deep into Diana's journey of experiencing burnout and depression and how reaching rock bottom made Diana realise she wasn't living her life. We talk about how starting to coach people gave Diana joy and energy and helped Diana to heal her own wounds and helped her to feel good enough and have compassion for herself. We explore how convincing ourselves that we're coping keeps us stuck, how emotion is the birthplace of joy and life so it doesn't make sense to cut emotions from our lives and how if we are pretending to be someone that we're not, we also think who we are is not enough. This is an episode I wish I could have heard when I was going through burnout a couple of years ago and listening to this episode brings tears to my eyes. If you've ever struggled with depression, this episode is going to really resonate with you, and help you in your own healing. This is a great episode if you're struggling right now, if you're going through a big change which is causing a huge shift in your identity and if you need some words of truth and comfort. I have so much admiration and respect for Diana and the work she does. I absolutely love her refreshing take on what confidence actually means and how it can show up for us in our own lives, and I love how much our values align. You're in for a real treat with this episode. Enjoy the show! About Diana Diana is a certified Confidence Coach. She helps women to go from self doubt to self confidence and fulfilment. She is a magnet for all things self confidence, courage and resilience. When she is not coaching, she is an advocate for women empowerment, gender equality and cupcakes. You can find her at The Brave Hearted and read her approach to overcome low self-confidence here. You can connect with Diana here Things we talked about during today's show Diana's journey from burnout and depression to confidence coach and realising that low self confidence was causing all of the problems in her life How we have all the answers inside, it's just about making the space to listen to the answers The moment when Diana realised she was asking too much of herself and dealing with unrealistic expectations Diana's advice for anyone who wants to start doing their inner work Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: [email protected] About Meg & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently based in London, and getting ready for my round the world adventure with Mr. Meg starting August 2016. Don't worry the podcast isn't going anywhere! That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest |

Hello there! And welcome to episode 30 of Couragemakers! This week I'm talking to Diana Chaplin. Diana is a freelance copywriter, content strategist, and brand developer for mission-driven creatives. She's also a nature-lover, mother of two, and writer at heart. Following her intuition has given her a joyful life and career, and she loves helping others do the same. During our conversation, Diana shares her journey of deciding at a young age that she wanted to be an independent woman and how that came to be a prominent theme in her life. In this episode we really dive deep into the topic of intuition: from how to know your intuition is telling you something, to Diana's really practical advice on things you can do to develop your intuition. We have a great discussion about the courage it takes to do something even if the people around you don't get it, how lots of small acts of courage allow you to do bigger things and how happiness and love in themselves can be a measure of success. This is such a great practical episode and I really loved the opportunity to really dive deep into the topic of intuition how we can use it to make the world a brighter place. I absolutely love Diana's energy and I know you're going to take so much from her words of wisdom. Enjoy the show! About Diana Diana Chaplin is a freelance copywriter, content strategist, and brand developer for mission-driven creatives. She's also a nature-lover, mother of two, and writer at heart. Following her intuition has given her a joyful life and career, and she loves helping others do the same. You can connect with Diana here Things we talked about during today's show How Diana was an introvert from a young age and became interested in communication and human behaviour How we have to change our existing models of behaviour and there's fear involved because you're stepping into the realm of unknown 3 things you can do to develop your intuion Resources/Things we mentioned during today's how Journeydance - Toni Bergins Insight timer app Being Boss Facebook Group Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: [email protected] About Meg & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently based in London, and getting ready for my round the world adventure with Mr. Meg starting August 2016. Don't worry the podcast isn't going anywhere! That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest |

Hello there and welcome to episode 29 of Couragemakers! This week I'm chatting with Kayli Schattner. Kayli is an Online Marketing + Content Strategist for creative entrepreneurs living in Phoenix, Arizona with her Corgi pup, Stabler. She encourages women to #OwnIt + life a life they love. When she's not blogging for her lifestyle site, Kayli Wanders, you can probably find her at happy hour with her girlfriends, doing yoga in the sunshine or cuddled-up with a good book and a glass of Rosé. During this episode, we really dive into how scheduling self care helps you to sustain a great life and do what you love, how Kayli works to be completely authentic in everything she does and the importance of surrounding yourself with supportive people. Kayli shares fantastic advice for anyone struggling to juggle a million plates at once, some great practical tips to help you get organised and generally how to pursue your dreams without the constant overwhelm. I really love Kayli's life philosophy that it is possible to create a life you don't feel you want a break from, and we had so much fun chatting! We have so much in common and I know you're going to take so many practical tips away from this episode! Enjoy the show! About Kayli Kayli is an Online Marketing + Content Strategist for creative entrepreneurs living in the Phoenix area with her Corgi pup, Stabler. She encourages women to #OwnIt + life a life they love. When she's not blogging for her lifestyle site, Kayli Wanders, you can probably find her at happy hour with her girlfriends, doing yoga in the sunshine or cuddled-up with a good book and a glass of Rosé. You can connect with Kayli here: Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook Things we talked about during today's show Kayli's philosophy that it's possible to make enough to sustain a great life, and do what you love. The cosmic boomerang – when you put out good in the world and do what you love, you attract good karma How there's only so many courses and books you can do/read, eventually you have to buckle down and do the work There's only one you, no one can say what you have to say – so say it! Resources/Things we mentioned during today's how The Day Designer Time Cube Focus app Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: [email protected] About Meg & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently based in London, and getting ready for my round the world adventure with Mr. Meg starting August 2016. Don't worry the podcast isn't going anywhere! That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest |

Hi there and welcome to episode 28 of Couragemakers. This week I'm talking with Kate Evans. Kate describers herself as an overly excitable creative introvert with a peanut butter problem. She works as a Communications Manager for a self advocacy organisation for adults who have a learning disability and she's passionate about empowering people to live their best lives - whether that's her friends, readers of her personal blog, or the people she works with. Making things and writing keep Kate sane, and she can usually be found in front of a laptop or with yarn wrapped around her fingers. In this episode we dive into Kate's journey as an activist and how she dealt with burnout and found work that sustains her as well as serves other people, how finding work that fits your values is essential and how acts of everyday bravery need to be celebrated. Kate shares how she has started to become really honest about her mental health online and great advice for anyone wanting to be more honest with those around them about their mental health. She also shares her unique approach to blogging; how doing things for yourself can just be for yourself and the freedom that comes with doing big and unexpected things. This is a great episode if you struggle with being someone who wants to help the world and look after yourself at the same time and if you want to become more vulnerable and open in your life but don't know where to begin. I absolutely loved chatting to Kate, our stories align in a lot of ways and I have so much respect for her and how brave she is about her life on her blog. I know you're going to get so much hope from this episode. Enjoy the show! About Kate Kate is an overly excitable creative introvert with a peanut butter problem. She's passionate about empowering people to live their best lives - whether that's her friends, readers of her personal blog, or the adults with learning disabilities that she works with. Making things and writing keep Kate sane, and she can usually be found in front of a laptop or with yarn wrapped around her fingers. You can connect with Kate here: Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Things we talked about during today's show Kate's journey from being an activist,burning out and finding work that serves her as well as other people The importance of balance – between a job that makes you feel like you're contributing something positive to the world, but also having time to switch off to avoid burn out. Kate's advice on what to do when you want to be more open and honest with those around you about your mental health Identifying what is and what isn't important to you, and stop listening to what you think should be important to you How Kate has found a way of making blogging work for her, and to help with self care Resources/Things we mentioned during today's how Oxfam and People and Planet Nicole Antoinette Kate's blog post on depression Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: [email protected] About Meg & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently based in London, and getting ready for my round the world adventure with Mr. Meg starting August 2016. Don't worry the podcast isn't going anywhere! That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest |

Hi there and welcome to episode 27 of Couragemakers. This week, I had the joy of speaking to Sarah Starrs. Sarah is a writer, podcast host of The Girl Gang Conversations, and virtual assistant. She believes that our thoughts, choices, and actions create our lives, so she's dedicated herself to making choices, thinking thoughts, and taking actions that feel good. She recently closed down her coaching practice because it wasn't feeling good anymore. In her work as a Virtual Assistant Sarah helps heart-centered female entrepreneurs take the headache out of their business so that it all feels more awesome. By sharing her story and the stories of others through her work as a writer and podcast host, she wants to shine a spotlight on the imperfect mess of being human and in the process, help people see that they're not alone. In this episode, we really focus in on self love and lifestyle design. Sarah shares her experience of depression since a young age, how she thought that an exciting life full of of travel, romance and interesting people were for other people, not for her, and the journey of how she became the person she always wanted to be. During our conversation we dive into how existential philosophy changed Sarah's life and how exploring radical responsibility opened up a new world for her, the world of lifestyle design and how fear can become a lifestyle. Sarah has so much practical advice for anyone struggling to make self love a tangible reality in their lives, and this conversation really dives deep into what it means to create a life you love and become the person you've always dreamt of being. If you enjoy this episode, check out my episode on Sarah's podcast where I get very honest about the truth behind lifestyle design and share about how discovering I was a multipotentialite or a multi-passionate person changed my life. Sarah gives so many practical takeaways from this episode, and I know you're going to love Sarah's journey self love and how we can start believing in ourselves. Enjoy the show! About Sarah Sarah Starrs is a writer, podcast host, and virtual assistant. She believes that our thoughts, choices, and actions create our lives, so she's dedicated herself to making choices, thinking thoughts, and taking actions that feel good. She recently closed down her coaching practice because it wasn't feeling good anymore. In her work as a Virtual Assistant Sarah helps heart-centered female entrepreneurs take the headache out of their business so that it all feels more awesome. By sharing her story and the stories of others through her work as a writer and podcast host, she wants to shine a spotlight on the imperfect mess of being human and in the process, help people see that they're not alone. You can find her writing at SarahStarrs.com or listen to her podcast, The Girl Gang Conversations on your favourite podcast app. You can connect with Sarah here: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Things we talked about during today's show How learning about radical responsibility and existentialism completely changed Sarah's life The difference between self love and self care High sensitivity personality traits and the importance of recognizing and honouring that Resources/Things we mentioned during today's how My interview with Sarah's on the truth behind lifestyle design and being a multipotentialite (The Girl Gang Conversations Podcast) Lisa Lister Jo and Lucy – higherselfie.co Misfit to Maven Sarah's journalling blog post Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: [email protected] About Meg & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently based in London, and getting ready for my round the world adventure with Mr. Meg starting August 2016. Don't worry the podcast isn't going anywhere! That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest |

Hello there and welcome to episode 26 of Couragemakers! For this week's episode, I chatted to Superbands founder Jessica Villa. Jess started Superbands, a non profit Superbands, with the mission of raise global awareness on mental illness in today's youth and empower those struggling through music. When she isn't working on Superbands, Jessica enjoys going to concerts, binge-watching various Netflix series, traveling, and snuggling with her (adorable!) puppy, Jax. In this episode, Jessica talks about her own struggles with depression and low self esteem, how music saved her life, and the story of how she has built an online community and movement bringing young people together through life's challenges by the power of music. We really dive into how Jess has found self acceptance, debunk the myth that you're not supposed to love your job and what role music has played in Jess' life. Jess shares fantastic advice for people wanting to start their own thing but not having the support around them, her tips on how to balance your 9-5 with your 5-9 and how she celebrates her small wins. I absolutely love what Jess is putting into the world and how she has taken her struggles and turned them into something empowering for people going through similar things. Jess is so honest and vulnerable, and I know you're going to love this no holds barred interview. A quick heads up before we begin, I just want to give a trigger warning that this episode does involves a conversation about suicide/self harm and the role they have played in Jess' life. Enjoy the show! About Jessica Jessica Villa is the Founder and CEO of the growing non-profit organization, Superbands. The mission of this non-profit is to raise global awareness on mental illness in today's youth and empower those struggling through music. Through her own personal experience battling depression, Jessica is passionate about Superbands because she wants to create the online community of music lovers that she once longed for as a teen. When she isn't working on Superbands, Jessica enjoys going to concerts, binge-watching various Netflix series, traveling, and of course, snuggling with her (adorable!) puppy, Jax. With so many big goals for her life, Jessica is all about following her intuition to create the life she has always dreamed about. You can connect with Jessica here: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Things we talked about during today's show How Jessica struggled with depression and feeling alone and feeling that music was her only sense of comfort How Jessica balances Superbands with her 9-5 job Jessica's advice for people wanting to start their own thing but not having the support around them Debunking the myth that you're not supposed to like your job Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: [email protected] About Meg & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently based in London, and getting ready for my round the world adventure with Mr. Meg starting August 2016. Don't worry the podcast isn't going anywhere! That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest |

Hello and welcome to episode 25 of Couragemakers! This week I'm talking with Meghan Maydel. Meghan is a brand + biz strategist who helps creative badasses who've decided they're ready to stop playing small to get real with their biz, craft a brand + biz that doesn't suck, and grow a tribe of fans who can't get enough. When she isn't typing away at her laptop you can find her co-hosting her podcast, Blazing Creative, with her awesome co-host Steph Schertz, planning her next Halloween craft, and/or having a good laugh with her hubby and 2 fur babies, Yadi & Guinness. In this episode Meghan takes us on a whirlwind journey of her creative entrepreneurial journey so far (starting at age 12 making friendship bracelets, working for one of the Ad Agency's "top 10 agencies to watch in the U.S, to starting her own thing and becoming her own boss.) We really dive into how nearly having the rug pulled out from under her feet led her to start her business, the growing pains that come with starting your own thing and the great and fascinating history of side hustles Meghan has had! Meghan has great advice for dealing with dreamshitters, some fantastic advice on how to set boundaries so you can enjoy your life as well as getting your work done and is a great example of a multi-passionate who has found a way to combine her interests, skills and strengths to do work that fulfils her and sustains her. Meghan is so interesting to talk to and this is a fantastic episode if you do your own thing or are thinking of starting your own business, and if you want to hear a really honest conversation about what it means to go out on your own and give the world what you've got. I know you're going to love this episode! Enjoy the show! About Meghan Meghan is a brand + biz strategist who helps creative badasses who've decided they're ready to stop playing small to get real with their biz, craft a brand + biz that doesn't suck, and grow a tribe of fans who can't get enough. She comes from a design and advertising background having worked for one of Ad Age's "top 10 agencies to watch in the U.S." where she worked on campaigns for Volvo, Trident, Converse, and more. She also has worked extensively in the in-house design field, helping companies discover their brand story and how to infuse it into everything they do. She broke out on her own in 2014 and launched what is currently Meghan Maydel in early 2015. When she isn't typing away at her laptop you can find her co-hosting her podcast, Blazing Creative, with her awesome co-host Steph Schertz, planning her next Halloween craft, and/or having a good laugh with her hubby and 2 fur babies, Yadi & Guinness. You can connect with Meghan here: Website | Twitter | Facebook Group | Instagram | Snapchat | Badass Bosspreneur Association | Things we talked about during today's show Meghan's whistle stop tour of how she became an entrepreneur Meghan's advice for people dealing with dreamshitters and looking after yourself as an entrepreneur How doing your own thing affects all of your personal relationships and how you start to grow exponentially faster as a person Books/Resources etc mentioned during today's show Asana Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: [email protected] About Meg & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently based in London, and getting ready for my round the world adventure with Mr. Meg starting August 2016. Don't worry the podcast isn't going anywhere! That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest |

Hi there and welcome to episode 24 of Couragemakers! This week I'm talking to Victoria Klein, aka VK and I'm so excited to share this episode! VK is a former Virtual Assistant-turned-Online Business Manager + Burnout Busting Mentor for entrepreneurs who are ready to take their online business up 3 notches while also sleeping 8 hours a night. And when she's not getting her ambitious clients out of their inboxes, you can find her indulging in adult coloring books, in-depth conversations, + dark chocolate anything. Me and VK got chatting a couple of months ago, and she's a fellow podcast host, and I loved chatting to her for her podcast Behind the Boss Mask. It was great to get behind the scenes and hear more about her journey and I know you're going take so many wisdom nuggets out of this episode. In this episode, VK shares the long journey of how she became an entrepreneur, and how her life has changed since she stopped doing what she felt she had to do and started to invent her own definition of success. We dive really deep into the various career paths VK has had so far and what ties them all together, how we can start to live life instead of allowing life to happen to us, and how remembering that everything is temporary is a great way to help you in any situation. This is a fantastic episode for anyone who feels a stuck and needs a reminder to keep going and showing up in the world as your unique self. It's also a wonderful episode for anyone doing their own thing, who feels scared, stuck or isn't sure where their journey is going to take them. I love how honestly VK shares her life and her lessons, and she has great tips for anyone struggling to deal with failure. If you need a pick me up and some real talk, you're in for a treat! Enjoy the show! About VK Victoria Klein (VK) is a former Virtual Assistant-turned-Online Business Manager + Burnout Busting Mentor for entrepreneurs who are ready to take their online business up 3 notches while also sleeping 8 hours a night. Through her no B.S. Behind the Boss Mask podcast, dedicated OBM support, + 1:1 mentoring, she's here to show you how to organize + upgrade your business so you earn more + work less — while making it all feel like the world's first calorie-free dessert. And when she's not getting her ambitious clients out of their inboxes, you can find her indulging in adult coloring books, in-depth conversations, + dark chocolate anything. Meet your virtual business Yoda + get ready to book that vacation you damn well earned at VKtheVA.com. You can connect with VK here: Website | Behind The Boss Mask | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Pinterest Things we talked about during today's show VK's long journey of being an entrepreneur by the way of being an actress, model, yoga teacher (alongside many other fascinating jobs) How no matter how small your actions, you can have a difference on the world The importance of celebrating everything all the steps along the way VK's advice to people dealing with failure Books/Resources etc mentioned during today's show Burnout, Bold Action, + Round-the-World-Adventure with Meg Kissack (Behind the Boss Mask episode) Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: [email protected] About Meg & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently based in London, and getting ready for my round the world adventure with Mr. Meg starting August 2016. Don't worry the podcast isn't going anywhere! That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest |

Hello and welcome to episode 23 of Couragemakers! Today I'm speaking to the wonderful Angela Ford. Angela is a Digital Marketing Strategist, passionate about helping multi-passionate creatives spend more time doing work they love. She also is a fantasy author, entertaining young and old alike with fantasy adventures and non-stop action. In this episode we really dive into how Angela wanted to do something fun and meaningful with her life and her desire to make a difference. She shares her journey from writing novels from the age of 12 and being in a band with her sisters, to working as a digital marketing strategist and being a fantasy author. We have some great conversations about dealing with realists while chasing down your dreams, how books and creativity help us develop as a person and how life isn't about fulfilling what other people think you should do. This is a great episode if you worry about living life with regrets, if you want to hear great advice for getting over the paralysis that we sometimes feel when starting projects and some great practical tips for people struggling to find their values and what they want to do. Angela is an incredible storyteller with a real sense of adventure and curiosity and I could have listened to Angela tell stories all day! I know you're going to love her story and get so much out of this episode! About Angela Angela J. Ford is a Digital Marketing Strategist, passionate about helping multi-passionate creatives spend more time doing work they love. She also is a fantasy author, entertaining young and old alike with fantasy adventures and non-stop action. You can connect with Angela her: Website | Four Worlds Series | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Things we talked about during today's show Angela's journey from writing novels from the age of 12 and being in a band with her sisters, to working as a digital marketing strategist and being a fantasy author How reading as a child gave Angela a broader view of life and different perspectives Angela's advice for people starting a new project but feel paralysed in wondering about other people's reactions Making time for creativity and Angela's journey to start working for herself Dealing with realists when working towards your dreams Books/Resources etc mentioned during today's show The Four Worlds Series Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: [email protected] About Meg & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently based in London, and getting ready for my round the world adventure with Mr. Meg starting August 2016. Don't worry the podcast isn't going anywhere! That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest |

Hi there and welcome to episode 22 of Couragemakers! This week I'm chatting to the lovely Cat Rose. I met Cat over Twitter and got the chance to catch up with her over a coffee in London a couple of months ago and I'm so excited to share this episode. Cat is on a mission to help other creatives get over their fears of self-promotion and get their work seen and shared. She is a coach and founded the League of Creative Introverts: a safe community for creatives to share their work openly, learn from others and get all the support they need on their creative journey. During our conversation, Cat shares her journey from working as a graphic designer, going to Japan and starting the League of Creative Introverts, how she deals with rejection as a creative and how we as creatives can learn to talk about our work. We really dive into the link between being a creative and being an introvert, the turmoil introverts face and Cat shares some great advice about how to set goals as a multi-passionate person. This episode is great if you're a creative and a multi-passionate person and you struggle to tell the difference between resistance and fear, if you struggle to prioritise lots of projects you want to do and if you want practical advice on how to get your art out there and start talking about you work. As a related aside, Cat is going to be holding a really fun one month long summer bootcamp for creative introverts starting in August, called Get Your Art Out! Each week will explore a different theme to help creatives to get their art out. I'm really happy to be featured as an expert camp counsellor during one of the modules, talking all about comparisonitis and how you can overcome your self doubt and put your work out in the world. If you're interested in the summer bootcamp, you can find the details over at thecreativeintrovert.com and Cat has been lovely enough to give Couragemaker listeners a 25% discount with the code MEG25. This is a really great episode and if you're anything like me, you'll be making notes during this one! Enjoy the show! About Cat Cat Rose is on a mission to help other creatives get over their fears of self-promotion and get their work seen and shared. She offers 1-to-1 coaching and founded the League of Creative Introverts: a safe community for creatives to share their work openly, learn from others and get all the support they need on their creative journey. You can connect with her: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest Things we talked about during today's show The turmoil creative introverts face How Cat has found social media helps her connect to like minded people Dealing with rejection as a creative How being an introvert and a multi-passionate plays a part of Cat's business Books/Resources etc mentioned during today's show Morning Pages The Art of Asking - Amanda Palmer Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: [email protected] About Meg & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently based in London, and getting ready for my round the world adventure with Mr. Meg starting August 2016. Don't worry the podcast isn't going anywhere! That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest |

Hello and welcome to episode 21! This week I had the absolutely privilege of sitting down with Spanish artist Maria Gil Ulldemolins who lives and works in Brussels. Maria's creative practice is a very process-oriented and heavily influenced by her experiences with meditation. Her work explores the themes of embracing mistakes, letting go, flow, compassion, control, variations and time. In this episode we really dive into Maria's journey of studying the visual arts in Swaziland at a young age to owning her own studio, her belief that life is like google maps and it finds a way of redirecting you to where you should be and how we all need to stop hating ourselves for hating ourselves when we're in a shitty place. This is a great episode is you want to hear a really honest discussion about integrity, honesty and pity parties, if you want to hear a really frank conversation about the pressure to make six figures online and how it affects creatives, and if you want to feel really inspired like you have the world on your side. I absolutely loved talking with Maria, she is such a breath of fresh air and I can't tell you how much of a laugh we had, both on air and off air. I know you're going to love Maria and this episode! Enjoy the show! About Maria Maria is a Spanish artist living and working in Brussels, Belgium. Maria's creative practice is a very process-oriented and heavily influenced by her experiences with meditation. Broad themes explored include embracing mistakes, letting go, flow, compassion, control, variations and time. Before committing to her painting practice, she worked in innovation. Maria is trained in Product Design, Art History and Art Theory. You can connect with Maria here: Website | Instagram Things we talked about during today's show Maria's story of studying in Swaziland at a young age and how this helped her find herself as a person and as an artist Debunking myths of easy six figure incomes online and how we're all supposed to be grateful for any employment opportunities How Maria is inspired by making accidents happen and her advice on how to take a similar approach with your creativity How Maria doesn't believe in faking it until you make it How we all need to stop hating ourselves for hating ourselves. Books/Resources etc mentioned during today's show Headspace Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: [email protected] About Meg & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently based in London, and getting ready for my round the world adventure with Mr. Meg starting August 2016. Don't worry the podcast isn't going anywhere! That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest |

Hi there and welcome to episode 20 of Couragemakers! This week, I'm talking with the lovely Jennifer Seale. Jen is a certified Holistic Health Practitioner (health and wellness coach), licensed Spiritual Practitioner, blogger, truth-seeker, and lover of life. She guides those who want to love themselves, heal their relationship between food and body, and live their best life possible! She shares a passion of overall wellness through holistic health, food, creativity, mindfulness, spirituality, and most importantly…balance! Jen currently resides in sunny southern California with her partner Greg, and their sweet pup Charlie. In this episode, Jen really vulnerably her journey of growing up feeling insecure and how she made the decision to start learning how to love herself. Jen shares all about the doubt and guilt that comes with starting to love yourself, and how we can start to move beyond the grief of what could have been and embark on a journey of working to build yourself. We really dive into how working to love yourself is always a work in progress, how healing and change can happen when you treat yourself with kindness and respect and Jen gets really vulnerable about what she believes about herself now that her younger self would be astounded to hear. This is a wonderful episode if you want to learn more about what self love looks like in practice, if you struggle with your self esteem and if you find it hard to accept yourself where you are right now. Also, Jen is queen of recommending books and TV programmes, so I've included all of the things she's mentioned in the show notes! I'm really excited for you to listen to this episode - Jen is so honest, so funny and I really appreciate how vulnerable she gets during this interview, to help all of us learn to love ourselves. Enjoy the show! About Jen Jennifer Seale is a certified Holistic Health Practitioner (health and wellness coach), licensed Spiritual Practitioner, blogger, truth-seeker, and lover of life. She guides those who want to love themselves, heal their relationship between food and body, and live their best life possible! She shares a passion of overall wellness through holistic health, food, creativity, mindfulness, spirituality, and most importantly…balance! Jen recently launched an ongoing 21 Day Meditation Experience that is open to the public. You can connect with Jen here: Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram Things we talked about during today's show How Jen's life fell apart in one week and Jen's decision to start learning to love herself How fear is good for you How healing and change occurs when you treat yourself with kindness and respect What keeps Jen inspired and her go to things when you're having a shitty time Books/Resources etc mentioned during today's show The Office House of Cards Scandal Orange is the New Black The Royal Tenenbaums It Was Me All Along - Andy Mitchell Gabrielle Bernstein Mary Ann Williamson Seven Thousand Ways to Listen - Mark Nepo The Four Agreements - Don Miguel Ruiz Friday Five Favourites - The Happy Healthy Balance Big Magic - Elizabeth Gilbert Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: [email protected] About Meg & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently based in London, and getting ready for my round the world adventure with Mr. Meg starting August 2016. Don't worry the podcast isn't going anywhere! That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest |

Hi there and welcome to episode 19 of Couragemakers! Today I'm talking with Maria Northcott. Maria is native New Englander, former schoolteacher, sought-after wedding officiant and creator of community.Maria thrives on building relationships and making connections and in 2015, she quit her full-time job to free her heart and soul to do exactly that During our conversation, Maria shares her journey into the world of creative business, her world beliefs including why she doesn't believe in competition and how we can all take the time to ask ourselves what feeds us, what feeds the world and how we want to spend our energy. We dive into so many topics during this episode and talk about everything from why the idea of quitting your job today to follow your passions is bullshit, why reflection is so important and how creativity has such a wider definition than we're taught. This is a wonderful episode if you want to explore how you would like your world to look and if you're struggling to see how things will all work out okay for you. Maria is just such a big hearted, wonderful person and I think this conversation is the very definition of authentic. Enjoy the show! About Maria Native New Englander. Former schoolteacher. Sought-after wedding officiant. Of all the labels that describe Maria Northcott, however, the one you'll hear most often is "creator of community." It's not just weddings that are Maria's passion — it's the people at the heart of those weddings. Whether it's couples planning their wedding or the professionals who serve them, Maria thrives on building relationships and making connections. In 2015, she quit her full-time job to free her heart and soul to do exactly that. Not only is Maria in demand as an officiant by couples across the country, but she's also the founder of the Maine Wedding Network, fostering a sense of collaboration and support among professional wedding vendors throughout Maine. Whether it's by the woodstove in her midcoast Maine cottage or at one of the many weddings she officiates each year, Maria exudes a warmth that draws people in, makes them feel comfortable, and sends them back into the world with a brighter spark in their eye. You can connect with Maria here: A Sweet Start | Maine Wedding Network | Twitter | Things we talked about during today's show The sacrifices you have to make to follow your dreams Uncovering the reality of the 'quit your job and do what you love myth' How everything you do leads you to what you are meant to do Why self reflection is so important and how you can use it to really grow get the answers you need to get to the next step Books/Resources etc mentioned during today's show Quiet the Mind - Matthew Johnstone Episode 1 of Couragemakers: Creating From The Margins with Amber Thomas Rising Tide Society Facebook Group Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: [email protected] About Meg & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently based in London, and getting ready for my round the world adventure with Mr. Meg starting August 2016. Don't worry the podcast isn't going anywhere! That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest |

Hello there and welcome to episode 18 of Couragemakers! This week I'm speaking to Amanda Sewell. Amanda is a wellness junkie, coach and rule breaker. She believes that everything in life comes down to radical self responsibility. During the interview Amanda shares her own journey of self care, how tough experiences have built her resilience and her practical advice for women who really struggle with self doubt. In this episode, we really challenge this notion that self care is selfish, talk really honestly about the impossibility of meeting other people's and society's expectations and how boundaries are so important in order to live a life that works for you. Hi there! This week I'm talking to Amanda Sewell. In this episode, we really challenge this notion that self care is selfish, talk honestly about meeting expectations & how boundaries are vital in order to live a life that works for you. This is a great episode for you if you want to hear from someone who really embraces being different, if you struggle with self doubt and setting goals, and if you believe there is so much more to life than staying in your comfort zone. I love how honest Amanda is and how a lot of what she says could be put on a t-shirt and I think you're going to love her refreshing attitude towards looking after yourself. Enjoy the show! About Amanda Amanda Sewell is a wellness junkie, coach and rule breaker. She believes that everything in life comes down to radical self responsibility. That we are more than our appearance, "trying to get skinny" or "be more consistent ". We all have needs that at times go unmet and result in us trying to constantly regain control (ie diets, emotional eating, feeling like a victim). She loves working with women who want to move past always stressed about their weight and start living. Free 45 minute In Recovery Session You can connect with Amanda: Blog | Instagram | Facebook | Things we talked about during today's show How health doesn't look the same for everybody. It's about looking for the unique clues your body gives you How we let ourselves be treated and how we enforce that with people around us How Amanda uses boundaries to maintain her self care in her business Amanda's advice for anyone stuck in comparison paralysis Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: [email protected] About Meg & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently based in London, and getting ready for my round the world adventure with Mr. Meg starting August 2016. Don't worry the podcast isn't going anywhere! That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest |

Hello and welcome to episode 17 of Couragemakers! This week I'm talking to the lovely Krista Rae. Krista is a blog strategist and WordPress developer who helps female creatives craft strategic blogs to elevate their business and conversions. In this episode, Krista shares how how she went from starting a craft blog and having a side hustle to being able to quit her job and focus on her business full time , She also shares how she found a supportive community online, and also the not so glamorous side of side hustles and working for yourself. We have a great discussion about the links between mental health issues and becoming an entrepreneur, what happens when you take a bet on yourself and how the power of starting before you're ready. This is a great episode if you have an online business or are thinking of starting one, if you struggle to give yourself permission to take feel afraid and make decision and if you want to hear about both the shit and the glitter of owning your own online business. I had so much fun talking to Krista and I love how honest she is about every step of the journey. She has so much practical advice and I think everyone can learn something from her story. Enjoy the show! About Krista Krista is a blog strategist and WordPress developer who helps female creatives elevate their business, increase conversions, and boost engagement through crafting strategic blogs. She uses personalized, goal-driven strategies to set her clients apart from the competition and highlight their unique offerings. Learn more over on her blog! Krista is happiest spending time with her husband, family, and friends...especially if she can mix a little work in there too You can contact Krista: Website | Twitter | Pinterest | Bloglovin' Things we talked about during today's show Krista shares how how she went from starting a craft blog and having a side hustle to being able to quit her job and focus on her business full time The links between becoming an entrepreneur and mental health issues The not so glamourous side of having a side hustle and working for yourself The different ways we can handle fear Resources/Things We Mentioned During today's show Kory Woodard - korywoodard.com Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: [email protected] About Meg & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently based in London, and getting ready for my round the world adventure with Mr. Meg starting August 2016. Don't worry the podcast isn't going anywhere! That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest |

Hi there and welcome to episode 16 of Couragemakers! This week I'm talking to Michelle Anneliese. Michelle is a writer, speaker, geek, mental health advocate, and self confessed overachiever. She's also a multi-passionate content creator and has dreams of owning her own media production company. During our conversation we really dive into some great discussions about passions and how to sustain them, starting projects to get us through hard times and how to refill your creative cup. Michelle shares her journey of how she started her two blogs and sharing her life online, her dreams of owning a media production company and how choosing herself in tough situations has led her to where she is today. We cover so much ground in this episode, from blogging misconceptions and friendship breakups to being an introvert and what to do to get yourself through a bad. I know this episode is going to be especially helpful for you if you're also a person with a wide range of passions and if you struggle to choose yourself. I find Michelle's honesty so inspiring and I know you're going to love this episode! Enjoy the show! About Michelle Michelle is a writer, speaker, geek, mental health advocate, and overachiever at michelleanneliese.com. She currently runs two blogs: Look Through My Lens and A Geek Girl's Guide. You can contact Michelle:| Twitter | Instagram | Medium Things we talked about during today's show What keeps Michelle inspired and how she organises her creative content What it's like when the people you know in your real life find out about what you do online What Michelle does to get her through a bad day and how blogging has helped her through hard times Michelle's amazing decision making process based around resouces, time, inspiration, and energy Resources/Things We Mentioned During today's show That Hummingbird Life & Couragemakers Feedback Form What Not To Say To Someone With Anxiety - Michelle Anneliese Why I Quit My Passion - Michelle Anneliese on Huffington Post TED Talk: Try Something New For 30 Days - Matt Cutts Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: [email protected] About Meg & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently based in London, and getting ready for my round the world adventure with Mr. Meg starting August 2016. Don't worry the podcast isn't going anywhere! That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest |

About Suzanne Suzanne (who likes it when people call her Suz) is a recovering lawyer and the founder and chief creative copywriter of PepperJar, the place where small business owners and entrepreneurs go to escape the 'epidemic of generic' and stand out online with personality-infused words. As much as she loves her work, she loves play too, and can often be found enjoying any of the following: snuggling on the sofa, wandering by the sea, thinking up witty tweets, sweating on the netball court, getting lost in a book, listening to Stevie Nicks, watching a cracking boxset, eating pretty much anything edible, relaxing in a bubble bath, dancing like a crazy fool in her lounge, and her favourite of all, laughing until she cries. You can contact: PepperJar | Facebook | Twitter | Things we talked about during today's show Suz shares her unexpected journey of moving from being a miserable lawyer to owning her own copywriting business We challenge the myth that work can't be fun Suz''s advice for people to give themselves permission to follow their own path How trying new things and taking yourself out of your comfort zone can spark new ideas Resources/Things We Mentioned During today's show The Middle Finger Project - Ash Ambirge Big Magic - Elizabeth Gilbert Being Boss Facebook Group Savvy Business Owners Facebook Group 60 Second Persuasion Facebook Group The Creative Rebels Facebook Group Violeta Nedkova Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: [email protected] About Meg & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently based in London, and getting ready for my round the world adventure with Mr. Meg starting August 2016. Don't worry the podcast isn't going anywhere! That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest | Facebook

Hello and welcome to episode 14 of Couragemakers! For this week's episode, I had the absolute joy of talking to Ashten Giardine. Ashten is the founder of Just Go Left: a lifestyle blog and a love letter to living her best life. She founded Just Go Left, not just because she not-so-secretly wants to be Oprah, but because she believes through the ups and downs of life we are given the choice to "go left" when things don't go right and I'm so excited to share that journey with you today. In this episode, we really dive into the idea of choosing joy in the everyday little things, how grief and hard times can profoundly affect us and how learning to ask for help can change your life. This is a great episode to listen to if you're going through a hard time and want to hear advice and lessons from someone who made it through to the other side. Big things have happened with Ashten since we recorded this episode back in February. Ashten made the huge decision to move from Atlanta back to California and she has been really honestly shared her journey and also some great decision making, packing, budgeting and moving tips on Just Go Left. So if you're in the process of making a big decision, or moving, I seriously recommend reading her series on the blog. Ashten is such a warm and reassuring force of nature and has so much wisdom to share and I know you're going to get so much from this episode. Enjoy the show! About Ashten Ashten is the founder of Just Go Left: a lifestyle blog and a love letter to living her best life. She founded Just Go Left, not just because she not-so-secretly wants to be Oprah, but because she believes through the ups and downs of life we are given the choice to "go left" when things don't go right. Ashten is an introverted extrovert with a penchant for sarcasm, and sass, who thinks most problems can be solved with a cup of coffee. Ashten lives in Southern California with her boyfriend Kyle and their dog, Gatsby. Just Go Left | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin Things we talked about during today's show Warner's story - how Ashten's life and outlook on life was completely transformed after her dog Warner was diagnosed with PLN (a genetic incurable disease) and how the experience completely changed her Thriving in difficult situations How we are entitled to come out of pain, grief and hardship however we want to Ashten's practical tips for learning to ask for help and how it can change your life Enjoying the chapter you're on and finding joy in the everyday Resources/Things We Mentioned During today's show What I Know for Sure - Oprah Winfrey Brené Brown Rachel Camfield Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: [email protected] About Meg & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently based in London, and getting ready for my round the world adventure with Mr. Meg starting August 2016. Don't worry the podcast isn't going anywhere! That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest | Facebook

Hi there and welcome to episode 13 of Couragemakers! Producing this podcast and interviewing amazing women all over the world has already been such a great experience for me, and this episode is really special. It's not often you get the privilege to interview one of your best friends. This week I'm talking to the wonderful and hilarious Jenny Ambrose. Jenny is a creative director, anthropologist, writer, business owner, encouragement coach - along with many other things - and also the mother of 4 needy animals and the wife of an amazing man. Me and Jenny met through the power of Twitter a couple of years ago, after we bonded over our love of hummingbirds, and she's definitely made my world a much brighter place to be. Jenny grew up in New Jersey, and via LA and New York now lives in Florida. I'm SO excited to meet Jenny and her lovely husband Jake in person for the first time when me and Mr. Meg embark on our three month road trip across the US in August! During our conversation, Jenny gets really open and vulnerable about her own journey - of feeling like she doesn't fit in anywhere, difficult family relationships, her experience of art school and ultimately getting to a place of self validation and acceptance. Jenny really shares how her journey of rooting for herself and finding joy in the world, and what it has looked like for her, and she has some great words of wisdom and comfort for anyone wanting to work on accepting themselves. This is a great episode if you struggle with self acceptance, feel like you don't fit in a box and generally if you want to hear a really fascinating discussion about creativity and how it links to who we are as people. Jenny is the sassiest person I know, a self confessed power house and I know you'll love her just as much as I do! Enjoy the show About Jenny Jenny is a creative heavyweight and self confessed powerhouse. She her time running her business Purée Fantastico, a one stop creative shop focusing on all manners of design, creative thought, and strategic brainery, Jenny can be found tending to her four needy animals, goofing around with her husband and watching re-runs of RuPaul. You can connect with Jenny here: Website | Twitter | Blog Things we talked about during today's show Jenny's journey from growing up as a curious, creative child to running her own business and learning to accept herself The links between not creating and emotional constipation How Jenny structures her day to allow for spontaneity How what you create evolves as you do and the link between creativity and silliness. Things mentioned during today's show 2001: A Space Odyssey The Shining Rosie Bitts Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: [email protected] About Meg & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently based in London, and getting ready for my round the world adventure with Mr. Meg starting August 2016. Don't worry the podcast isn't going anywhere! That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest | Facebook

Hello and welcome to episode 12 of Couragemakers, I'm so happy you're here. I got SO much out of listening to today's episode back when editing it and I know you're going to love this one. For this week's episode, I talked to the lovely Jennifer Sterling. Jennifer Sterling is an Emotional Eating Coach. She helps women stop eating their feelings and release the physical, mental and emotional weight that's keeping them from feeling their absolute best. This is a really juicy conversation and we really dive deep into Jennifer's own personal journey of taking her health into her own hands, the taboos that exist around how women look, and how we can learn to reconnect to our bodies and lean into the discomfort instead of do everything we can do avoid it. We talked a lot about the power of slowing down, Jennifer's advice for any woman who struggles with her body and why taking time for ourselves isn't selfish. This is a wonderful episode if you struggle with accepting your body, find it hard to deal with emotions and struggle with the idea that self compassion and self care is selfish. Jennifer is such a grounded person and has so many insights into how we can learn to live in our bodies. I know this is a topic so many women struggle with, me include and I think you're going to find our conversation just as healing as I did. Enjoy the show! About Jennifer Jennifer Sterling is an Emotional Eating Coach. She helps women stop eating their feelings and release the physical, mental and emotional weight that's keeping them from feeling their absolute best. Outside of her business, Jennifer a mom who enjoys dancing and baking. She can often be found in her kitchen doing both simultaneously. You can connect with Jennifer here: Website | Twitter | Things we talked about during today's show How your body is always in a state of unconditional love and how to reconnect to your body Leaning into discomfort and Jennifer's advice on how to deal with discomfort How compassion and working on yourself can change the world and how we behave towards each other Why taking care of ourselves is really important not only for ourselves but for the people we look to serve Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: [email protected] About Meg & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently based in London, and getting ready for my round the world adventure with Mr. Meg starting August 2016. Don't worry the podcast isn't going anywhere! That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest | Facebook

Hello and welcome to episode 11 of Couragemakers! I’m so excited this week to share my conversation with the hilarious Mei Leong. Mei is a writer, artist and entrepreneur living in Lancaster in the UK, and is the woman behind Wonderfully Mei Designs. In this episode, Mei shares how leaving a career in teaching allowed her to tap into her creativity and how going against the grain helped her to value herself a lot more. We talk a lot about listening to your gut instinct, keeping inspired and how Mei’s life has changed for the better since starting to carve a life for herself on her terms. During our conversation, we dive deep into quarter life crisis’, Mei’s undying love of Nicholas Cage and how creativity and courage can be combined to change the world. This is a great episode is you feel stuck in what you’re doing and if you want some practical tips to help you figure out what you love and how to combine them to create a life you love. Mei is hilarious and she’s a real inspiration for anyone looking to change paths or uncover their own inspiration, and I know you’re going to love this episode. Enjoy the show! About Mei Mei is a UK based writer, artist and entrepreneur behind Wonderfully Mei Designs. Her work is fuelled on café lattes, inspirational quotes and self-motivation and her favourite things in the world are David Tennant, Shakespeare and iced lattes. You can connect with Mei here: Website | Twitter | Things we talked about during today's show How leaving a career in teaching helped Mei to lean into her untapped creativity How inspiration plays a massive part in Mei's life The boldness and gumption it took Mei to go against the grain and leave her teacher training programme Mei's inspiration wall How creativity, courage and making the world a better place runs through Mei's life. Books/Resources etc mentioned during today's show: Noughts & Crosses - Mallory Blackman Elizabeth Gilbert Eat, Pray, Love and Big Magic - Elizabeth Gilbert Impractical Dreaming Facebook Group Being Boss Facebook Group Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: [email protected] About Meg & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently based in London, and getting ready for my round the world adventure with Mr. Meg starting August 2016. Don't worry the podcast isn't going anywhere! That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest | Facebook

Hello and welcome to the tenth episode of Couragemakers! We’re officially in double digits! I’m so happy this week to share my conversation with Raewyn Sangari. Raewyn is the founder of Be a Warrior Queen, a movement empowering women to embrace self-love which began in 2006 among Raewyn’s group of friends. During this episode, we really dive into Raewyn’s own self love journey, the motivation behind starting the Warrior Queen Movement and how alternative parenting (punk parenting) has made a difference to her life. Raewyn shares her struggles with anxiety and has great advice for anyone who wants to start their own self love journey. This is a great episode if you struggle with self care, choosing yourself and dealing with other people’s expectations and also their reactions when you choose yourself. Raewyn is really flying the flag for subverting gender stereotypes, empowering women, and creating a space for women to learn to love themselves and I think you’re going to love this episode! Enjoy the show! About Raewyn Raewyn is the founder of Be a Warrior Queen, a movement empowering women to embrace self-love. She’s also a new wife and mother to a baby girl, learning to navigate these new waters while maintaining her sense of self. The Warrior Queen Movement began in 2006 among Raewyn’s group of friends. Always having a passion for writing and feminism, Raewyn’s posts empower and inspire. You can connect with Raewyn here: Website | Free Self Love E-Course | Twitter | We Are Warrior Queens Facebook Group Things we talked about during today's show The inspiration and motivation behind the Be A Warrior Queen Movement Raewyn’s definition of self care Raewyn’s decision to move home from college Making an alternative magazine for friends in high school Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here About Meg Kissack & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently based in London, and getting ready for my round the world adventure with Mr. Meg starting August 2016. Don't worry the podcast isn't going anywhere! That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest | Facebook

Hello and welcome to episode 9 of The Couragemakers Podcast! I’m so happy you’re here and I’m really excited to share with you another great episode today! I’m thrilled today to be talking to Joanna James-Lynn. Joanna is a virtual assistant, podcaster, blogger, and writer. We’ve been running in similar circles online for a couple of years, and I first heard of her when I stumbled upon the multipotentiality movement. A quick brief one liner on multipotentiality if you’ve never heard the term before, is a term for someone who has many different passions and we talk about this a lot in today’s show. I had a lot of fun getting to know Joanna when she interviewed me for her own brilliant podcast Introspectology and we had a lot of fun during this episode. Joanna is fascinated by personality, identity, and the individual’s experience - themes she explores in her own podcast, Introspectology, on her blog, and also in the books she writes. While she has . degrees in German, French, and Slovenian, and has lived in Germany, Luxembourg, Slovenia, and in a car, she now lives in Oxfordshire with her wife. During our conversation, Joanna shares her journey into the world of lifestyle design, her experience of having depression and how this has impacted many choices she made, We really dig into the idea of doing things for fun’s sake and following your curiosities to see where you end up, giving yourself permission to follow your passions and getting to know yourself. This is a great episode if you struggle to know why you feel the urge to do something, if you have many passions and feel pressured to pick just one (spoiler alert: you don’t), and if you get excited by the idea that you can design a lifestyle that suits you! Enjoy the show! About Joanna Joanna James-Lynn is a virtual assistant, podcaster, blogger, and writer. She’s fascinated by personality, identity, and the individual’s experience - themes she explores in her podcast, Introspectology, on her blog, and in the books she writes. (She considers herself a multipotentialite and in a former life she was a linguist. She has degrees in German, French, and Slovenian, and has lived in Germany, Luxembourg, Slovenia, and in a car. She now lives in Oxfordshire with her wife.) You can connect with Joanna here: Website | Introspectology Podcast | Twitter Things we talked about during today's show Joanna's journey into multipotentiality and how her experiences with depression have led her to design a life that suits her Learning to like yourself The art of following your interests and seeing what happens Giving yourself permission to follow your hobbies for fun’s sake Books/Resources etc we mentioned during this episode Tony Robbins The Art of Non-Conformity - Chris Guillebeau Puttylike 750 words World Domination Summit Emilie Wapnick - TED Talk Refuse to Choose - Barbara Sher Essentialism - Greg McKeowen The 1 Thing - Gary Keller and Jay Papasan Read Me Like a Book - Liz Kesler No Matter What - Sally Donavon Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here About Meg Kissack & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently based in London, and getting ready for my round the world adventure with Mr. Meg starting August 2016. Don't worry the podcast isn't going anywhere! That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest | Facebook

Hello and welcome to the eighth episode of Couragemakers! This week I had the joy of speaking with Anabel Roque Rodríguez. Anabel is a curator and art historian, and in this episode we really dive into the idea of everyday courage, how we all need to have our stories validated and how we can move beyond fear. During our conversation Anabel shares her journey to becoming a freelance curator and art historian, The Comfort Zone list - a snail mail project she started with her friend to move beyond fear, how storytelling has to be a two way process and how Anabel has started to trust herself and honour her decisions, past and present. This is a fantastic episode if you’re interested in the process of storytelling, and if you struggle with putting yourself out there for the world to see. Anabel has great advice for anyone who wants to make themselves more visible, and also some practical tips for anyone who wants to work on owning their story. Anabel has such a unique and fascinating approach and experience of empowering people and we go to so many interesting places during our conversation. This episode made the hair on the back of my neck stand up on end, and I think you’re going to love Anabel! About Anabel Anabel Roque Rodríguez is an independent curator and art historian. She works in the field of contemporary art with a focus on the relation of art and the social, the financial crisis in the Mediterranean, community based art practices and feminism.. She believes that the private is political and we can all make a change through our everyday choices. Her projects deal frequently with empowerment tools and how to create safe spaces where a dialogue can happen and we talk about that in today’s episode. You can connect with Anabel here: Website | Tinyletter | Twitter Things we talked about during this episode: The art of storytelling, and the challenges of listening to people's stories in an academic context The Comfort Zone List - a weekly list writing practice Anabel shares with a friend to support each other to move beyond their comfort zone Annabel's tips for anyone who wants to become more visible, and for anyone who wants to work on owning their own story. Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here About Meg Kissack & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently based in London, and getting ready for my round the world adventure with Mr. Meg starting August 2016. Don't worry the podcast isn't going anywhere! That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest | Facebook

Hi there! It’s the seventh episode of Couragemakers and I’m so happy you’re here. This week, I’m joined by Jessica Humphreys. Jessica is a self-described feminist and sex positivist based in Melbourne, Australia. Jessica owns a digital communications agency and a social commentator who enjoys debating over copious amounts of herbal tea. During our conversation Jessica shares her journey of entering the world of feminism and sexual politics and how she came to start her own business with several employees. We discuss how the thread of community, empowerment and education has shown up in every aspect of Jessica’s life, what it means to be a woman in the world of entrepreneurship and business ownership, and how having a Type A personality affects how you see other people and how you run your own business and This is a great episode if you identify as a Type A and struggle to relax, if you’re a fellow passionate soul and if you’ve had any big changes in your life which have changed what you thought your life would look like and where you would be by now. I absolutely loved talking with Jessica and I really admire her courage of conviction and the passion she has for empowering women, herself included. Just a heads up that towards the end of the episode around the 50 minute mark, we briefly touch on male rights activists and violence against women. If you find this triggering, skip forward a couple of minutes. Enjoy today’s show! About Jessica Jessica is a self-described feminist and sex positivist living in Melbourne, Australia. Jessica owns a digital communications agency and a social commentator who enjoys debating over copious amounts of herbal tea. You can connect with Jessica here: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram Things We Talked About During This Episode Jessica’s journey of starting her own business The struggles that come with being Type A and learning to take time away from work How your perception of work changes when you work for yourself and do what you love. The importance of standing up for what you believe in, even if you’re the only one saying it Books/Resources etc we mentioned during this episode Soar Collective Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here About Meg Kissack & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently based in London, and getting ready for my round the world adventure with Mr. Meg starting August 2016. Don't worry the podcast isn't going anywhere! That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest | Facebook

Hi there! And welcome to Episode 6 of Couragemakers! I’m so happy to share today’s episode with Torie Jochims. Torie describes herself as the over-caffeinated wordsmith at the helm of Wild Spark Creative. She's also a hiker, a mountain climber, a runner, a makeup enthusiast and a lover of craft beer and good desserts. Ultimately, she is a believer in people. At heart, she’s a storyteller and I loved hearing how growing up with her grandparents influenced her ability to tell good stories and how this helped her develop as a person and confront her fears. In this episode we really dive into the power of storytelling, dealing with perfectionism and how important it is to work on your relationship with yourself. Torie shares really openly her journey from working in the service industry, advertising and co-creating a video production company to starting her own venture Wild Spark Creative. This is a great episode if you struggle with dealing with your inner critic, want to learn more about how to use storytelling and writing as a tool to deal with life and how to bounce back. Torie has great advice for anyone struggling with perfectionism or dealing with a toxic work situations and I know you’re going to love her. Torie her she has such a beautiful message for the world and I find her attitude so refreshing and I’m so excited to share our conversation! Enjoy the show! About Torie Torie is the over-caffeinated wordsmith at the helm of Wild Spark Creative. She's passionate about helping small business owners and creative entrepreneurs create content that ignites their brand and authentically connects with their ideal audience. She's a believer in people. She's also a hiker, a mountain climber, a runner, a makeup enthusiast and a lover of craft beer and good desserts. You can connect with Torie here: Website | Facebook | Instagram Things We Talked About During This Episode Using writing as a way of dealing with the shit life throws at you Torie’s journey from co-creating a video production company, to starting her own business Wild Spark Creative Learning to open up to people and working on your perfectionism Working on your relationship with yourself Books/Resources etc we mentioned during this episode Gala Darling Yes Please - Amy Poehler Impractical Dreaming Harry Potter Tara Mohr Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: [email protected] About Meg Kissack & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently based in London, and getting ready for my round the world adventure with Mr. Meg starting August 2016. Don't worry the podcast isn't going anywhere! That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest | Facebook

I’m so happy to share with you today’s episode of Couragemakers with Fab Giovanetti. Fab describes herself as an Italian cheeky monkey who moved to the UK looking to fulfil her never-ending cravings for avocado. She is a Certified Health Coach and the founder of the Health Bloggers Community: platform, events, awards and magazine for people passionate about health and writing. In this episode, we really go deep into the need for self compassion, reframing the stories we tell ourselves about what other people think of us and what we think of ourselves as well as how learning to ask for help. In this episode we talk about: Compassion and self awareness The lessons Fab learned from a really difficult 6 months The need to give ourselves time to feel shit The myth that we can go from zero to 100, or zero to Taylor Swift This episode is great if you struggle with asking for help, recognising the stories you tell yourself and believing you are enough. I absolutely love Fab’s sense of humour, and included some our of pre-call chatter at the start so you get to join in with the mayhem! I really love how Fab is really happy to share her ability to create communities how she’s willing to get really vulnerable in order to help people deal with hard times. Enjoy the show! About Fab Fab is an Italian cheeky lil monkey who moved to the UK looking to fulfil her never-ending cravings for avocado. Certified Health Coach, and business mentor with over five years of experience in PR, marketing and copywriting, she is the founder of the Health Bloggers Community: platform, events, awards and magazine for people passionate about health and writing. You can connect with Fab here Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Podcast | Website Things we talked about during today's show Creating a safe space for communities to grow online Fab’s recent experience in the dating world and what it’s taught her about life Learning to strengthen the ‘asking for help’ muscle Recognising the stories we tell ourselves Books/Resources etc we mentioned during this episode Fuck It (Do What You Love) - John Parkin The Daily Love - Mastin Kipp Rising Strong by Brené Brown Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: [email protected] About Meg Kissack & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently based in London, and getting ready for my round the world adventure with Mr. Meg starting August 2016. Don't worry the podcast isn't going anywhere! That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest | Facebook

I’m so excited to share with you today’s episode with Megan Reynolds, founder of Flawed Perfection Jewelry and Parks & Recreation Fan! During our conversation, we really dive into surrendering the need to have a detailed life plan, creating a bullshit filter and the lessons we can learn from heartbreak. This episode is great if you struggle with saying no, setting boundaries, and if you feel the need and pressure to plan every aspect of your life. Megan Reynolds is a 24 year-old entrepreneur who attempts to balance her jewelry business, Flawed Perfection Jewelry, with being a personal stylist and part-time nanny. She was born, raised, and currently resides in San Diego County, California. She is constantly inspired by her beautiful surroundings. When she's not making jewelry or being a clothing stylist, she's listening to podcasts, chatting with her online friends, watching plenty of good t.v. shows, or enjoying time with all her family that lives nearby. You can connect with Megan here: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest | Facebook Things we talked about during today's show The link between bravery and honesty The opportunities that open when we leave our planned path Our shared experiences of dealing with OCD How you can embrace your flawed but perfect life Creating a bullshit filter and the importance of saying no Books/Resources etc we mentioned during this episode Freedom House New Mexico The Malala Fund #Girlboss - Sophie Amoruso The Purpose Economy - Aaron Hurst Yes Please - Amy Poehler I am Malala - Malala Yousafzai “Sometimes the Universe takes away what you think you want to make room for what you actually deserve.” -- Charles J. Orlando via eHarmony Australia Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: [email protected] About Meg Kissack & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently based in London, and getting ready for my round the world adventure with Mr. Meg starting August 2016. Don't worry the podcast isn't going anywhere! That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest | Facebook Have a wonderful day!

Think of this as the prequel to The Couragemakers Podcast. For this show, it's just me and you, and I'm taking you through the journey that's led up to Couragemakers and more information about what you can expect from the show! If you prefer, skip straight to Episode 1 of the podcast, but you will miss out on some juicy bits! Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here. If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: [email protected] or send me a tweet! About Meg Kissack & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently based in London, and getting ready for my round the world adventure with Mr. Meg starting August 2016. Don't worry the podcast isn't going anywhere! That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest | Facebook Have a wonderful day!

In this episode of Couragemakers, I'm talking to Violeta Nedkova, founder of the Creative Rebels Movement. This is a great episode if you struggle to own your weird, find your superpowers and connect to your voice. You're going to want a notepad and pen! Violeta Nedkova is a multipassionate writer, marketing coach, and solopreneur, who enjoys tweeting, writing to humans, and helping fellow creative rebels grow their businesses authentically. Her goal for 2016 is to create an entire library of fun guides for creative rebels. Wish her luck! You can connect with Violeta here: Website | Creative Rebels Facebook Group | Twitter | Free Guide! Things we talked about during today's show Starting from the core and not from the surface Going from someone who started many projects to concentrating on one project Building a business from your heart that fits your personality Advice she has for people struggling to choose themselves Books/Resources etc we mentioned during this episode Jen Carrington http://www.jencarrington.com/ Sian Richardson http://freshbysian.com/ Gary Vaynerchuk https://www.garyvaynerchuk.com/ Elizabeth Gilbert: http://www.elizabethgilbert.com/ Now Discover Your Strengths: Strengthfinder Test http://www.amazon.com/Discover-Your-Strengths-Marcus-Buckingham/dp/0743518144 Choose Yourself by James Altucher TWITTER LISTS: Famous Creative Rebels: https://twitter.com/VioletaNedkova/lists/famous-cr Budding Creative Rebels: https://twitter.com/VioletaNedkova/lists/budding-cr Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here. If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: [email protected] or send me a tweet! About Meg Kissack & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently based in London, and getting ready for my round the world adventure with Mr. Meg starting August 2016. Don't worry the podcast isn't going anywhere! That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest | Facebook Have a wonderful day!

Today's Couragemaker is Jordan Gage: writer & co-founder of Impractical Dreaming. We're diving into how it feels to say no to things that no longer serve us, feeling like we have to have everything together and how a simple 'me too' can change the world. Jordan is a twenty-something writer currently living in Nashville, Tennessee. When she’s not dreaming of writing and speaking truth to women across the world or new tattoos, she’s probably listening to Harry Potter audiobooks and co-leading Impractical Dreaming, an online community whose vision is to see every woman on the planet free from the bonds of shame, insecurity, and fear by having hard conversations in a space of unyielding empathy. Jordan loves discovering more about Jesus, and would appreciate knowing who allowed her to become an adult because she believes they made a terrible mistake. You can connect with Jordan here: Blog | Impractical Dreaming Facebook Group | Twitter Things we talked about during today's show Showing your true self with the people around you, and sharing your struggles Falling apart underneath while on the surface everything looks great Building a facade around yourself and saying yes to yourself Books/Resources etc we mentioned during this episode Emily Lorin Lifestyle The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield An Open Letter to My Tribe - Jordan Gage Rising Strong - Brené Brown Dear Girl Series - Jordan Gage You Deserve a Drink - Mamrie Hart Yes Please - Amy Poehler Bossypants - Tina Fey For the Love - Jen Hatmaker Big Little Lies - Liane Moriarty Impractical Dreaming Facebook Group Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: [email protected] About Meg Kissack & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently based in London, and getting ready for my round the world adventure with Mr. Meg starting August 2016. Don't worry the podcast isn't going anywhere! That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest | Facebook Have a wonderful day!

Welcome to the first episode of Couragemakers! This week I'm joined by Amber Thomas, blogger, small business owner & an all round creator of things. If you're struggling with being creative or facing creative resistance, this is a great one for you! Amber Thomas is an adventurer and homebody, a surprising misfit and devoted hopeful, a cocktail of colour and grace, born and raised in a small town laying happily under the Californian sun. Amber describes herself as more contradiction than constant; always seeking the space where life can bloom. When life fell apart, her art brought together the many jagged pieces in a beautiful array. Though she says her story is flawed, messy and all the brands of imperfect, art affords her the amazing opportunity to accentuate the greatness that is life. You can connect with Amber here: Blog |Shop | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest Things we talked about during today's show Being trapped in a hamster wheel which is only a race with ourselves The Painful 10 minutes (a fantastic technique to get your creative work started) allowing for time for being creative with no pressure Shaking up your echo chamber Being honest with yourself about your intentions Books/Resources etc we mentioned during this episode Jody Steal (artist) Sia - This is Acting (album) "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up." -- Pablo Picasso Find out more and download the Couragemakers Manifesto here If you have any question about today's episode, any comments or would like to be a guest on Couragemakers, get in touch: [email protected] About Meg Kissack & That Hummingbird Life I'm Meg and I'm the host of Couragemakers and founder of That Hummingbird Life. I started this podcast because I wanted to create a platform for passionate and unconventional women to have honest conversations and to share their stories, struggles and dreams. The intention behind this podcast is to inspire and encourage creative and mission-driven women to live a wholehearted life and follow the beat of their drum. When I'm not recording episodes and making new friends with the wonderful guests, you can find me working on all manners of magic over at That Hummingbird Life, sending free self care checks ins to hundreds of women every Sunday and helping my clients build brands they love as a graphic designer. I'm currently based in London, and getting ready for my round the world adventure with Mr. Meg starting August 2016. Don't worry the podcast isn't going anywhere! That Hummingbird Life | Twitter | Pinterest | Facebook Have a wonderful day!