An Interview With Melissa Llarena

In the spirit of achieving wellness beyond your imagination, I want to bring into focus the idea that you should be able to carry on this feeling of wellness with you when you hop onto a plane. You should be able to honor your mental, physical, and nutritional wellness needs en route to your travel destination and this brings me to this week’s guest:  Youmie Jean Francois is a transformational speaker, corporate wellness consultant, yoga instructor, and Founder/CEO of Flex-N-Fly, an award-winning travel wellness company that provides stretching, yoga, and relaxation classes to travelers before they board their flights in airports.  Along with her tactical steps for going from an idea to a commercially viable business set of offerings worthy of external investment dollars, she shared in this candid conversation, how she knew that her idea was necessary and not just a good idea. Know how to determine if your good idea is worth mustering up your finite mom energy to go after it. If you’re ready to pick one idea

This is episode 170. I’m your host Melissa Llarena. I’ve been attending SXSW out here in Austin,TX and also volunteering on the Comedy Crew team these last days and weeks. I decided to tune into topics that hovered around imagination + wellness + women and here’s what I realized about what was being discussed vs. not being discussed in these three buckets: Wellness - stigma, sector-specific nuances, and what’s in our locus of control vs. not – Xanax (more mental wellness was discussed than physical and nutritional wellness) Imagination - The band New Order really made it clear that their educational experiences were not really invested in the use of their imagination. Makes me wonder if ours has evolved. I also say this having attended some SXSW EDU events the week prior. Women - Black women. Corporate working women. Startup women. The conversation about being a mom was covered but driven more by the panelists as an afterthought OR to cover medical procedures to freeze eggs. Again, I didn't go to all talks BU

Have you ever fantasized about relocating your family and yourself to Europe? What about Australia? Or are you the mom who is being whisked away abroad because your partner was just granted a VISA? This is for you, my fellow globetrotter!  Today, we have Jenna Davis, who relocated to Germany for a boy, got married, and now has two children. Originally from Canada, Jenna has gone from ex-pat to immigrant in Dusseldorf, Germany. In this conversation, we discuss what you can do in a foreign country (launch an online business, get a Ph.D., etc.), how ex-pats bring a unique perspective to foreign countries, and how you too can make this work assignment the perfect time to reset your own professional identity. When Jenna came to Germany, her yoga pants and her messy bun didn’t quite fit in with Dusseldorf’s excess of Prada shoes and Gucci bags. Moving to Düsseldorf was like that first day of Kindergarten… 24/7. She didn’t know anyone and the Germans looked at her funny. This is also when she turned her career in ma

How to restart your meditation practice now as a new mom or mom to school-age kids (be sure to sign-up for a LIVE and FREE mom-friendly meditation session too!) This is episode 168. I’m your host Melissa Llarena. Last week I participated in a 6-day silent retreat at home. My three sons are 9,9, and 11. I am also married. I’ll let you in on my inner thoughts during that time when all I could do was write post-its to communicate with the world. I want to also let you off the hook my fellow mom who doesn’t have a meditation pillow, time to think on her toilet alone, or a clue how to stay put for 45 minutes without falling asleep. My focus in this snack bite episode will be on one new mom who also participated in this silent retreat and what I heard from someone who once did have all of that stuff and time to meditate like a well-rested 20-year-old goddess.   I felt embarrassed telling people I was doing a silent meditation – trader joe’s I felt like I had to cover my ass and tell them I was still doing mom thin

Whether your kids are two or twelve, today’s guest, Ashley Kegley-Whitehead, a social impact entrepreneur and mom of two girls, has decided to redefine chores for kids. She has built tools you can use to entice your kids to do chores and turn them into responsible human beings. Ashley is on a mission to build self-reliant, compassionate, and confident kids. She believes small things can have a big impact, and that the messages and stories we tell our children today will shape their imagination and outlook tomorrow. Ashley knows first-hand and understands the importance of how values and ideals show up in our communities, workplaces, and households.  As parents, it's important that we're able to have bolder conversations with our kids about this topic – and start them young. Chores are cool as well as raising kids with confidence. We've got to start thinking about how we can introduce to them, at an early age, things that would really grow with them, providing them with that constant healthy support system.  I

Thank you for listening to this episode from my archives. Stay tuned for my brand new 10-minute Q&A episodes, new creative guests, and even news on my upcoming book! Send me a DM on Instagram @melissallarena – I would love to hear your thoughts on this “best of episode.” Do you believe in marriage? Do you feel left out this Valentine’s Day? Where do you stand on this “need” to even have a partner on Valentine’s Day or forever?  This week’s guest is my husband, Jesus Diaz, Jr., whom I met 25 years ago, and we’ve been married for 18 years. Some of our Valentine’s Days have been remarkable, and others we can’t even remember.  This is Jesus’ second time on this podcast and he’s back due to popular demand. Whether you’re spending Valentine’s Day alone or with a partner, tune in to this conversation as Jesus shares his thoughts on loving ourselves and others too. This is not a gushy conversation between two married couples who feel like we have to recruit the world to follow our path.  We both believe you shoul

I’m burned out. Now, what? 3 lessons I learned on how to keep burnout at bay or to rescue myself because mental illnesses run through my family. Plus, what mom has time for burnout? As you listen to this episode, definitely be sure to grab my 10 burnout zappers for creative moms and pass it along to your mom friends too. FREE RESOURCE: 10 Burnout Zappers For Creative Moms - Unexpected and (several playful) ideas to avoid getting too burned out (or to zap it quickly) so that your imaginative, playful, and expansive thinking self can create something glorious today! https://form.jotform.com/230355756860158 My identical twins didn’t sleep through the night until eight months in. That was the same year that I lost a loved one to cancer and that my mom was in a hospital due to being poisoned by a collage of psychopharmaceuticals. It was a devastatingly overwhelming year. I write about this situation in my upcoming book called Mom Life Rescripted: Reawaken your imagination, reintroduce playfulness into your life,

Does having enough money in your bank quench your thirst for fulfillment? In this episode, Paul Ollinger joins us for some money talk – making money, saving money, our relationship with money, and finding the thing that really fulfills us. Paul also dives into three questions to ask yourself to help you figure out how to spend your time. Paul Ollinger is a writer, comedian, and podcaster. After “retiring” at 42 and finding himself bored out of his mind, Paul started the Crazy Money podcast to explore the connection between money, happiness, work, and meaning. In 1:1 conversations with some of the world’s most interesting people, Paul helps uncover the true sources of happiness in life and what money, success, and fame can (and can’t) do for us. Previous interviewees include prominent authors, academics, celebrities, and winners of the Nobel Prize, Heisman Trophy, and Olympic gold medals.  Paul is also a nationally-touring comedian who has opened for Daniel Tosh, Dave Attell, and Chelsea Handler. He has also o

So many moms don’t attach a value to doing something that fascinates them in the same way that they see a value in uncovering what might fascinate their kids. 11 years of coaching and in this episode, I share how I’m seeing this play out both as a mom and as a coach to moms who want to uncover their purpose and be brave enough to pursue it with all of their might. Ultimately, there is value in BOTH you doing something that fascinates YOU and in you uncovering and being HONEST about what might fascinate your KIDS...if neither is considered then everyone loses; I've what happens when interests are stomped on and it's ugly! Definitely, tune in to this week's warning about what happens once we start ignoring our kid's REAL interests (or our own). The context for why this topic is URGENT and important for all parents What I've seen from the most successful corporate executives is this...tune in A personal example in my home that expresses I can be short-sighted too Origami>NASA Solar Panels...who knows? Listen in.

Love to cook? Today, Anita Jaisinghani shares some kitchen hacks for Ayurvedic home remedies. Especially, as moms, it's important to be able to cook for your kids and family yourself.   Anita Jaisinghani, the chef & co-owner of Pondicheri was born and raised in India and is of Sindhi descent. She developed a love for food early on in her life however trained and practiced as a microbiologist. Transitioning as a stay-at-home mother for her two children in Canada first and then Houston, she gradually developed her love of food into a career, beginning with an out-of-home catering business & selling chutneys through Whole Foods.  Anita’s first restaurant job was at the famous Café Annie, where she worked in the pastry department for 2 years. Following her time at Café Annie, Anita opened Indika in 2001 serving deeply personal dishes that illustrated her desire to portray Indian food in a new light. Pondicheri, followed in 2011, expanding with the opening of the Bake Lab + Shop in 2014 and its first out-o

Unlock your potential and transform your entrepreneurial journey with this extraordinary conversation with renowned artist and bestselling author Jay Samit. Discover the explosive superpower of your imagination and redefine your perspectives as Jay shares his experience mentoring a young man who metamorphosed from couch surfing to becoming a self-made millionaire in less than a year. The episode underlines the power of imagination, the significance of defining the problems we solve for our clients, and the tools required to thrive in the dual roles of motherhood and business.  Deep dive into the realm of creativity as it redefines business deals and entrepreneurship. Gain insights on how understanding the motivations of the other party in a deal can lead to mutually beneficial partnerships. Get inspired by the story of a mom who made millions by patenting a simple idea, emphasizing the value of solving problems for big companies. Also, explore Mark Cuban's unique approach to problem-solving, the importance of

In this episode, I will reveal some of my podcast guests coming up in 2023, behind-the-scenes efforts related to my book for moms and at the end, I will tell you how you can get a FREE copy of my very first book which I published in 2012 called The Mommy Shift: A Reentry Strategy for Working Moms. It’s 5-pages of a non-BS strategy on how to undercover what you want to do next. Hint: Send me a DM on Instagram @melissallarena with the word SHIFT for the 5-page strategy for moms who want to reenter the world of work. What’s Coming Up In 2023 Anita Jaisinghani, Chef /Owner of Pondicheri in Houston, Texas; Author of Masala: Recipes from India, the Land of Spices Paul Ollinger, Podcast Host of Crazy Money Ashley Kegley-Whitehead, Founder of BigHer Impact Australian Author Ingrid Adams - New novel 'Descended' launching March 2023 Wish List For 2023 (Please email me if you know any of these prospective guests and can connect me - melissa [@] melissallarena.com) Dan Buettner – Blue Zones Diet  Steven Pressfield – The

There’s a ton of challenges that go into writing a book. It involves a lot of research and travel, plus juggling that with your personal life and everything that’s going on. Such is the determination it takes to be able to get a book done, especially as a single mom. In today’s episode, Alison Macor shares her journey through writing and motherhood. Imagine a mom whose parents were both ill at that time so she had to fly back and forth from Austin, where she lives, to her parents in New Jersey to help with the care, while flying to Los Angeles for her book.  Alison Macor received a Public Scholars grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities for her forthcoming book “Making The Best Years of Our Lives: The Hollywood Classic That Inspired a Nation” (University of Texas Press, 2022), about the 1946 blockbuster that influenced the way we talk about PTSD. She is also the author of “Rewrite Man: The Life and Career of Screenwriter Warren Skaaren” (UT Press, 2017) and “Chainsaws, Slackers, and Spy Kids: Thi

Unimaginable Wellness is brought to you by: Wake Up Mom! A 5-Day Free Challenge For Moms Who Left A Corporate Career And Want More in 2023! https://www.melissallarena.com/momrut/ - January 2nd to 6th – sign-up Join Me! Let's Take Inventory Of What You Are Truly Capable Of + Uncover Your Ultimate Next Adventure for 2023! Join this LIVE and free masterclass on January 2nd-6th at 1pm CDT to: Take an inventory of the biggest wins you've had in your prior life and current one too while on a career break Uncover the skills you may have forgotten and can design your skill-building adventure around so you can stay relevant Discover fascinating skill-building adventures that will help you leap out of bed (I believe adopting an adventurous mindset to creating your own professional development endeavors is the key to staying out of a rut and feeling more fulfilled as a SAHM or WFHM in a mommy trek jo) What stories would you want to tell your grandkids eventually? We'll discuss your "why" Learn about role models that can

Unimaginable Wellness is brought to you by: Wake Up Mom! A 5-Day Free Challenge For Moms Who Left A Corporate Career And Want More in 2023!  https://www.melissallarena.com/momrut/ - January 2nd to 6th – sign-up Join Me! Let's Take Inventory Of What You Are Truly Capable Of + Uncover Your Ultimate Next Adventure for 2023! Join this LIVE and free masterclass on January 2nd-6th at 1pm CDT to: Take an inventory of the biggest wins you've had in your prior life and current one too while on a career break Uncover the skills you may have forgotten and can design your skill-building adventure around so you can stay relevant Discover fascinating skill-building adventures that will help you leap out of bed (I believe adopting an adventurous mindset to creating your own professional development endeavors is the key to staying out of a rut and feeling more fulfilled as a SAHM or WFHM in a mommy trek jo) What stories would you want to tell your grandkids eventually? We'll discuss your "why" Learn about role models that ca

https://www.melissallarena.com/momrut/ - January 2nd to 6th – sign-up today there will be inspiring questions the moment you hop into the group 5-Day Free Challenge For Moms Who Want To Get Out of A Rut called Wake Up Mom! Let's Take Inventory Of What You Are Truly Capable Of + Uncover Your Ultimate Next Life Adventure! Join this LIVE masterclass on January 2nd-6th at 1pm CDT to:    -Take an inventory of the biggest wins you've had -Uncover the skills you may have forgotten and can design your adventure around -Discover fascinating adventures that will help you leap out of bed -What stories would you want to tell your grandkids eventually? We'll discuss your "why" -Learn about role models that can help motivate you -Hear about my personal outrageous adventures and how they have affected my mental wellness -Ask me anything *You can ask me questions in the comments during the LIVE session. I love LIVE participation in this masterclass because tailoring the conversation makes it relevant to those who attend and

A lot of us have this scarcity mindset when it comes to money. What if we get sick? What if we don’t have insurance? There’s too much anxiety around making money and a lot of that is due to a lack of trust. But what does it take to change your relationship with money so you end up becoming a money magnet? Today, money and happiness expert Ken Honda talks about ways to help you live happier and better without having to worry about your financial woes while still doing the things that excite you the most – such as writing a book!  Ken is a best-selling self-development author in Japan, with book sales surpassing eight million copies since 2001. His latest book is called “Happy Money: The Japanese Art of Making Peace With Your Money” (June 4, 2019, Simon & Schuster). Ken studied law at Waseda University in Tokyo and entered the Japanese workforce as a business consultant and investor. Ken’s financial expertise comes from owning and managing several businesses, including an accounting company, a management co

Question from a writing client/listener: How can writing improve self-esteem, self-love, or self-care for a mom?  Answer: If I had to pick the house chore I avoid most, I’d say ironing clothes. I’ll go as far as pulling a sweater over my wrinkled shirt just so I don’t have to get out my iron. It’s sad that I don’t even need to find an ironing board and steady it on the ground, and yet the simple act of ironing still feels so extra. Extra, aka superfluous—I just want to emphasize how annoying it is, particularly for a mom of three boys (who shove their clothes into drawers). But when it comes to writing, this is the practice where I enjoy ironing: I can iron out my illogical thoughts, irrational reactions, and series of options before making big and small decisions, and anything else that would appear blurry if all I did was think about it for too long.   There’s something to banging a keyboard in search of the truth behind the truth in several life categories, hence I write. I write quite a lot, especially wh

Have you ever tried to start a consistent journaling practice? Especially, if you have young kids in the house, it might feel impossible to sit down and do anything with any sort of consistency. Merle Saferstein decided to share 48 years’ worth of her journaling practice – containing lessons and life experiences –  through a series of books. In this episode, Merle shares how she managed to implement a journaling ritual, even when she was a mom with young kids. She also shared the times of day she would figure out when to write, as well as the moments that prompted us as a society to start journaling. As the director of educational outreach at the Holocaust Documentation and Education Center for twenty-six years, Merle Saferstein worked closely with hundreds of Holocaust survivors helping them to pass along their Legacy of Remembrance to hundreds of thousands of students and teachers. When she retired from the Holocaust Center, she developed a course entitled Living and Leaving Your Legacy® and teaches and spe

If there’s one thing busy moms have in common, it would be that there are so many things to do with so little time. Most of us don’t have a few hours a day that we can spend on self-care. Many moms are knowledgeable about the fundamentals of their careers, but then the idea of wellness always takes a backseat. It’s time that we rethink the things that are really important to us as we work our way toward success. And so, I wanted to bring Dr. Jonathan Glass today to help us uncover some Ayurvedic and self-care practices that time-poor moms can incorporate into their daily, weekly, or monthly routine. Self-care is a necessity, it’s not a privilege, so make it a non-negotiable part of your everyday life.  Jonathan Glass, M.Ac, is the founder and author of the Total Life Cleanse. He is a Naturopathic Doctor, Master Acupuncturist, Ayurvedic Practitioner, energy healer, herbalist, and Natural Health Educator. Jonathan served on the faculty of the New England School of Acupuncture and the Dharma Institute of Yoga an