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Meredith Talks to Girls Write Now
Special guest episode from NYC-based nonprofit Girls Write Now!
In this episode of the Writing Our Way to Wellness podcast series, Meredith finds herself in the role of interviewee instead of interviewer. This wide-spanning conversation between Meredith and Girls Write Now Staff Member Vahni Kurra covers everything from the pitfalls of ambitions to mental health memes; the connection between physical and emotional pain to the importance of learning to journal as if no one's watching. Thank you for listening!
Girls Write Now is an award-winning nonprofit make up of "a diverse, multi-generational, passionate community of writers, creatives, leaders, artists and activists who all share a love of stories."
Sign up for Writing Your Way to Wellness
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Actual photo from the first-ever Beautiful Voyager t-shirt sales fundraiser from 2017
Episode 38: Obi Felten, Flourish Labs
Obi is offering our podcast listeners a special discount! Find a trained peer supporter on peers.net who understands exactly what you're going through, then use code "BEVOYA" to to book up to 4 FREE SESSIONS and share it with any teen or young adult in your life who could benefit from some extra support.
A bit about this episode: I've been wanting to speak with Obi Felten on this podcast for years because of her unique blend of product incubation experience (she was the first non-engineering member of the team behind Google's Moonshot factory) and her passion for mental health innovation. Since I also am a non-engineer working at an innovation lab with a passion for mental health, Obi seemed like someone I needed to know.
Obi is the founder and CEO of Peers.net, a telehealth platform where anyone between the ages of 13 and 30 can book 1:1 sessions with a peer supporter of their choice within 24hrs. To experience how powerful it is to talk to someone who has actually been in your shoes, just visit peers.net and pick a supporter that feels right to you.
This conversation traces Obi's career arc along with the personal experiences that led her to found Flourish Labs, a startup focused on elevating professional peer support (a new concept to many) using the tool of technology. We talk about the power of this kind of peer support, especially for people who are just learning to accept their mental health challenges or people who are transitioning out from in-patient care, etc. We discuss what is currently known in the world of mental health treatment, and what the future might look like. Good stuff.
Train to become a peer supporter or sign up for peer support using the code "bevoya" for a discount!
This is the unedited Zoom version of our conversation. To hear the podcast, subscribe to the Beautiful Voyager podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Episode 37: Megan Cornish, Mental Health Strategist
Megan Cornish is a former social worker and writer who has been tackling big questions about how mental health is discussed on Linkedin.
Megan Cornish is a former social worker and writer who has been tackling big questions about how mental health is discussed on Linkedin. That's where she caught my eye—I loved her authentic, honest voice and risk-taking in what tends to be a pretty stuffy and status-quo environment. I felt like Megan was wrestling with the same kinds of things I was about the "industry" of mental health. So when she wrote a list of the companies and people who intrigued her and included me on that list, I wrote back and said I would love to get to know her more in my favorite way — on a podcast conversation.
Here we dig into the world of wellness products, the role of faith and spirituality in Megan's own mental health journey, going "dry" on social media for January, and much more. To learn more about Megan, check out: The Therapy Trust Collective.
This is the unedited Zoom version of our conversation. To hear the podcast, subscribe to the Beautiful Voyager podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Episode 36: Ximena Vengoechea, Researcher
Ximena Vengoechea is a user researcher, writer, illustrator, and author.
Ximena Vengoechea is a user researcher, writer, illustrator, and the author of the new book, Rest Easy: Discover Calm and Abundance through the Radical Power of Rest. In this conversation, we dig into what rest really means and why it's not just napping, for example. We talk about her path to writing and her first book, Listen Like You Mean it: Reclaiming the Lost Art of True Connection.
Ximena has worked at Pinterest, Linkedin, and Twitter. She's also a contributor at Fast Company and writes a newsletter, Letters from Ximena. I really loved hearing some of Ximena's insights about a perfectionist's journey to rest. There's something in here for all overthinkers.
This is the unedited Zoom version of our conversation. To hear the podcast, subscribe to the Beautiful Voyager podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Episode 35: Kevin Kelly, Co-Founder of Wired Magazine
Kevin Kelly is the author of Excellent Advice for Living.
Kevin Kelly is best known for co-founding the award-winning Wired magazine in 1993, but his work spans widely beyond that. He's the founder of the Cool Tools website and podcast (which I've appeared on in the past!), which has been reviewing tools daily for 20 years, and the Recomendo newsletter, which he works on with Claudia Dawson, who has also appeared on this podcast. He's the co-chair of The Long Now Foundation, a membership organization that champions long-term thinking and the author of multiple best-selling books about the future of technology. I wanted to sit down and talk to Kevin about his newest book, Excellent Advice for Living, but our conversation spanned many topics, and at the end Kevin gave me some great advice for myself, too, which I will cherish. Thank you Kevin!
This is the unedited Zoom version of our conversation. To hear the podcast, subscribe to the Beautiful Voyager podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Episode 34: B Dukes, Student of Ancestral Healing
B Dukes is a non-binary filmmaker, photographer, and a student of psychedelic medicine.
Photo by Sabrina Seller
B Dukes is so many things. A queer, non-binary filmmaker, a photographer, an activist, a student, and a healer. They tell the incredible story of their journey from a child in the backwoods of South Carolina to the world of Silicon tech...with many stops in between. We talk about what ancestral healing means, the fascinating world of psychedelics being used to address trauma, and B's travel around the globe to understand new ways of connecting with our "shadow selves." This is the first part of a multi-part episode, with the next episode coming after B's research trip to Ecuador next month. Learn with me, then become as big of a fan of B as I am.
This is the unedited Zoom version of our conversation. To hear the podcast, subscribe to the Beautiful Voyager podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Episode 33: Dr Zorana Ivcevic Pringle, Yale
Dr. Zorana Pringle, Ph.D., is a Senior Research Scientist and Director of the Creativity and Emotions lab at Yale.
Dr. Zorana Ivcevic Pringle, Ph.D., is a Senior Research Scientist and Director of the Creativity and Emotions lab at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. Born in Croatia, Zorana shares cultural perceptions of creativity. Her research centers on the role of emotions in creative work. Zorana and I were lucky enough to get to work together on the How We Feel app, out now and free to all. I've learned so much about the role of creativity in my own life from Zorana and think you will too! Follow Zorana on Twitter for her latest work.
This is the unedited Zoom version of our conversation. To hear the podcast, subscribe to the Beautiful Voyager podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Episode 32: Jeffrey Sparr, Self-Taught Artist
Jeffrey Sparr used his early experiences with OCD to fuel his life as a self-taught artist.
Jeffrey Sparr is a father, husband, mental health advocate, teacher, and nonprofit founder who used his early experiences with OCD to fuel his life as a self-taught artist. In this conversation, Jeffrey and I talk about what he's learned from helping people use creativity as a means of self-expression and what an unlikely candidate he was for this kind of work. Through the PeaceLove Foundation and in partnership with Hasbro and Amazon, Jeffrey's working on a new game to help people with their mental health. Jeffrey says, "You can't reverse engineer authenticity." You definitely couldn't reverse engineer his story.
This is the unedited Zoom version of our conversation. To hear the podcast, subscribe to the Beautiful Voyager podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Episode 31: Claudia Dawson, Recomendo
Claudia Dawson is a psychonaut -- and if you don't know what that is, you should listen to this podcast.
Claudia On the go
Claudia Dawson is a psychonaut -- and if you don't know what that is, you should listen to this podcast. She co-produces one of my favorite weekly newsletters, Recomendo, which features “6 tools for thought” each week. She's the Founding Editor of a publication called Phantom Kangaroo, "an eerie place for poems." In this conversation, we cover everything from the Carlsbad Caverns as a metaphor for the self, how mental health can helped by psychedelics, Claudia's fantastic advice for all beautiful voyagers ("accept that you are a prism"), and many other inspiring ideas. Claudia is very inspiring herself, in fact. You should get to know her work.
This is the unedited Zoom version of our conversation. To hear the podcast, subscribe to the Beautiful Voyager podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Episode 30: Larz May, #HalfTheStory
Larz May is the founder of an incredible mental health nonprofit called #HalfTheStory.
Larz May is the founder of an incredible mental health nonprofit called #HalfTheStory. The nonprofit's mission is to empower the next generation’s relationship with social media through advocacy, education, and providing access to resources. What I love about Larz is her ability to cut through social media's rapidly evolving landscape and point to deeper truths, in a very timely manner.
I look to Larz as a leader in digital wellbeing and think you should too. She founded the Global Day of Unplugging, an internationally recognized day every August that encourages divesting from technology to plug back into life. In this conversation, we talk about what it means to approach daily life with honesty, forge that path for others, and so much more.
This is the unedited Zoom version of our conversation. To hear the podcast, subscribe to the Beautiful Voyager podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Episode 29: Rosie Acosta
Rosie Acosta has taught yoga and mindfulness around the world.
Rosie Acosta has taught yoga and mindfulness around the world. She is the award-winning podcast host of Radically Loved and the author of You Are Radically Loved: A Healing Journey to Self-Love. A first generation Mexican-American, Rosie grew up in East LA in the 1990's. We talk about how she taught herself to reframe her perspective as a kid and how those lessons have played out in her life. Rosie's warm, presence, and depth are irresistible. You will want to spend time with her as I did! You can also follow Rosie on Instagram.
This is the unedited Zoom version of our conversation. To hear the podcast, subscribe to the Beautiful Voyager podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Episode 28: The Anxiety Sisters
Abbe Greenberg and Maggie Sarachek are everyone’s anxiety sisters.
Could there have been a more natural and intuitive connection than mine with the Anxiety Sisters? I don't think so. Abbe Greenberg and Maggie Sarachek have built an online community of 200K people and host a popular podcast called The Spin Cycle. In their work, they blend their personal experience with their professional training as counselors, mental health advocates, researchers, and educators. They are about to release their book, "The Anxiety Sisters’ Survival Guide: How You Can Become More Hopeful, Connected, and Happy" from Penguin Random House. I read an early copy and it's terrific. The down-to-earth, actionable advice that Abbe and Maggie share is dead on. Great work, sisters!
This is the unedited Zoom version of our conversation. To hear the podcast, subscribe to the Beautiful Voyager podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Episode 27: Jessica Poundstone, Artist
Jessica Poundstone is an artist who lives and works in Portland, Oregon.
Jessica Poundstone is an artist who lives and works in Portland, Oregon. Named a Top 100 artist by Saatchi Art, Jessica has found creative process through intuition and exploration. She says, "I work on each image until I feel everything click into place: that feeling of 'rightness' tells me it’s done" -- I love that. Jessica's journey through the world of corporate jobs and into the life of an artist is fascinating, as is her own identity journey and the role emotional wellbeing plays in it. I really enjoyed digging into creativity and mental health with Jessica.
This is the unedited Zoom version of our conversation. To hear the podcast, subscribe to the Beautiful Voyager podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Episode 26: James Kaufman, Creativity Researcher
Dr James Kaufman is a Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Connecticut and the author/editor of more than 50 books, including Creativity 101.
Dr James Kaufman is a Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Connecticut and the author/editor of more than 50 books, including Creativity 101 and the Cambridge Handbook of Creativity with Robert Sternberg. In this podcast, we talk about the connection between mental health and creativity, a topic that endlessly fascinates me. It was an honor to talk to one of the world experts on this topic!
This is the unedited Zoom version of our conversation. To hear the podcast, subscribe to the Beautiful Voyager podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Episode 25: Peter Krask, The Creativity Guide
Peter Krask, a New York-based writer and photographer, is the founder of an unusual consulting business called The Creativity Guide.
Peter M. Krask, a New York-based writer and photographer, is the founder of an unusual consulting business called The Creativity Guide. Using his twenty years of experience in theater, television, visual art, and business, Krask acts as a personal "project whisperer" for creatives and entrepreneurs. His consulting work is informed by the practical know-how of a seasoned creative director, project manager, grant writer, community engagement speaker, and development partner. I loved getting to speak with him about how he helps people navigate the anxiety and stress of transitioning into—or starting—something new.
This is the unedited Zoom version of our conversation. To hear the podcast, subscribe to the Beautiful Voyager podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Episode 24: Michael Moskowitz, Moodrise
Michael Phillips Moskowitz is the founder of a cutting-edge research product lab.
Michael Phillips Moskowitz is the founder of AeBeZe, a cutting-edge research product lab dedicated to establishing a new mental health standard called "Digital Nutrition™." Their app, Moodrise, brings together curated images, videos, and audio to positively affect brain chemistry.
Michael has also served as a Middle East foreign policy research analyst at think tanks in the United States and overseas. He co-founded the award-winning menswear label, Gytha Mander, and TODO Monthly magazine; and spent several years at IDEO, a design and innovation firm in Palo Alto. Michael served as the Global Chief Curator at eBay before embarking on mental health innovation.
This is the unedited Zoom version of our conversation. To hear the podcast, subscribe to the Beautiful Voyager podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Episode 23: The Zakar Twins, Authors
Writers, models, actors, these Detroit-based Iraqi brothers are the author of the new book, How to Be F*cking Happy.
Zach and Michael Zakar call themselves the "Middle Eastern Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen" — which gives you a taste of how funny they are.
Writers, models, actors, the Zakar Twins most recent book, How to Be Fucking Happy is out now. I love this line from their book description, "Happiness takes practice, so grab a pen because you're writing this story too." As you'll tell by listening this interview, I had a ton of fun with these Iraqi brothers. Based in Detroit, their first book, Pray the Gay Away, dug into their experiences growing up in a conservative family and coming to terms with their sexuality (and finding out they were both gay after hooking up with the same guy!).
The Zakar twins are like fun friends you want to discuss your own mental health journey with as they share theirs. We'll be hearing more from them.
This is the unedited Zoom version of our conversation. To hear the podcast, subscribe to the Beautiful Voyager podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Episode 22: Maurice Chiang, CEO of Prairie Health
Maurice Chiang is the CEO and Co-Founder of Prairie Health, a new startup bringing genetic testing to a patient-centered approach to mental health. Genetic testing provides useful information to psychiatrists and prescribing physicians about to how to treat people with varied cultural backgrounds.
Maurice Chiang is the CEO and Co-Founder of Prairie Health, a new startup bringing genetic testing to a patient-centered approach to mental health. This is incredibly promising and forward-looking! Genetic testing provides useful information to psychiatrists and prescribing physicians about to how to treat people with varied cultural backgrounds.
Did you know that American women are often prescribed SSRIs at inappropriate dosages, for example, because of a "one size meets all" mentality that pervades our health system? Using data from genetic testing is a great first step toward addressing this issue.
Maurice earned his undergraduate degree in bioengineering at Stanford (which is where he met his co-founders), then got a master’s in computer science. In this podcast, we talk about where the team is now, and where they're going. I will definitely be keeping my eye on Prairie Health as I really admire their approach and work.
This is the unedited Zoom version of our conversation. To hear the podcast, subscribe to the Beautiful Voyager podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Episode 21: Kevin Dedner, Hurdle
Kevin Dedner is the Founder & CEO of Hurdle.
Kevin Dedner is the Founder & CEO of Hurdle, a startup dedicated to building a pipeline of mental health professionals who understand how to help people with varied cultural backgrounds. On the Hurdle website are the thoughtful words: "Your culture will always be honored."
Kevin's path to this work is fascinating. In this interview I describe him as a superhero who has fought some of the biggest enemies of our time including childhood obesity, HIV/AIDS, and tobacco control through the lens of public health policy. He's worked clients like the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, on political campaigns, and successfully led health policy wins.
Having conversations with people like Kevin is incredibly energizing for me. I think you, too, will be inspired to hear about the growth of Hurdle and where the company's going in the future.
This is the unedited Zoom version of our conversation. To hear the podcast, subscribe to the Beautiful Voyager podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Episode 20: Oluwapelumi Ajibade, Research Coordinator at UW
Pelumi is a research coordinator at the University of Washington.
Pelumi, whose full given name is Oluwapelumi Ajibade, is a research coordinator at the University of Washington, where she is involved in fascinating work about interracial communication and anxiety. In this conversation, we cover all kinds of things including Pelumi's experiences as a Nigerian-American woman, her future as an obstetrician (fingers crossed) the podcast she started when COVID hit, and her life as an overthinker.
This is the unedited Zoom version of our conversation. To hear the podcast, subscribe to the Beautiful Voyager podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.