Act with Alina

As I've learned more about the importance of pronouns, I've started including them in more areas of my life - Zoom, email signatures, LinkedIn, Instagram and more. I've received a fair amount of questions about WHY I include my pronouns so why not do a whole episode about them? I invited my friend Ari Farrell onto the podcast to discuss their journey, why pronouns are important, and how important it is to stay curious and open to ways of life that may be different from your own. I hope you enjoy this marvelous episode! Here are the resources Ari recommends to learn more: Websites: Human Rights Campaign (HRC): https://www.hrc.org/ PFLAG: https://pflag.org/ The Trevor Project: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/ Books: Be an Inclusion Ally: ABCs of LGBTQ+: https://www.amazon.com/Be-Inclusion-Ally-ABCs-LGBTQ/dp/B089J2RZT1How to be You: https://www.amazon.com/How-Be-You-Trying-Someone/dp/0143110128Empowering Differences: https://empoweringdifferences.com/product/empowering-differences-book/

How does adoption work? What makes a successful foster care experience? How do you raise a child that is a different race than you? How do you navigate relationships with bio parents? We talk about all of this and more in today’s episode with Jon & Krista Maroni! I am entirely obsessed with this family and am THRILLED to have them as guests on the podcast. Also, can we talk about how flipping cute their daughter Mila Rose is? She’s simply the best! I can’t wait for you to listen to this episode. Make sure to share & review while you’re there! (Available on Apple, Google, Spotify & more).

HAPPY EARTH DAY ACTIVISTS! Check out today’s shorter BONUS episode with former guest and environmental activist, Jen Power, for ways you can celebrate today and make it the start of something new.  Have you wanted to do more for the earth but weren’t sure where to start? All of us have something in mind we could start with, even if it’s small! Reusable bags, bar soaps, slow fashion/thrifting, meatless Mondays and more. In this episode we urge you to start with one thing and commit for an entire week to start your journey towards lasting change. Let’s celebrate this incredible planet we all call home! Don’t forget, “We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfecting, we need millions of people doing it imperfectly.” Anne Marie Bonneau 

In light of the recent mass shootings in Atlanta, former guest Melody and I thought it was important to have a meaningful follow-up conversation to our episode on an Asian American Experience through COVID-19. Melody vulnerably shares how the recent spa shootings of Asian women affect her, why it's important to discuss the oversexualization of Asian women and how we can support our Asian friends, family and communities right now. I hope you come away from this episode feeling more compassion and care, I know I sure did.

I think we can all agree that our appreciation for teachers increased 10-fold last year as we witnessed the drastic change from entirely in-person learning to entirely at-home learning. Adapting to new teaching styles and figuring out how to engage both virtual and in-person students became the norm for many teachers including Cheney High School teacher, Kiki Ortega. Tune in to this weeks episode where we peek into a teacher’s experience through COVID-19 and learn how we can better support our teachers, schools and students. Listen to this episode and more wherever you normally get your podcasts (Apple, Google Play, Spotify & more!). Don’t forget to subscribe and review while you’re there.

The newest episode is NOW LIVE with the amazing Kate Burke. She talks about the radical changes she experienced with her health & wellbeing over the past few years and how she is navigating through becoming sober & discovering endometriosis. You don’t want to miss this one! I loved having a conversation with Kate and am honored she came onto the podcast to share her story.

Love can be tricky, can’t it? In this week’s episode, I talk with my friend Amber about her experience getting divorced at 24, helpful tips for how to support someone going through a difficult time like this, navigating the dating scene afterwards, and how she knew she’d found a great match in her now husband, Josh! I hope you enjoy listening and don’t forget to check out Amber's podcast, Liberated Ladies!

Tune in to this week's episode all about how cultivating a growth mindset helps us understand and advocate for others, the importance of EQUITY to ensure everyone receives equal opportunities and how to be a better ally to our BIPOC communities! Part of activism is listening, learning and growing. So what are you waiting for? Check out the new episode!

This is a very special episode not only because the guests are incredible but also because we recorded live at Speak Spokane! In this week’s conversation I chat with the lovely Juan & Jonathan (aka Juanathan) all about growing up in the queer community, coming out to yourself, representation, the intersectionality of being latino & gay and how to talk to younger generations as we raise them. When I listened back to this episode there were so many times where I was nodding my head in agreement and felt so moved by what Juan & Jonathan had to say. I hope you LOVE listening!

Okay this was one of my favorite podcasts to record because this topic fuels my soul! I talk with Environmental Activist, Jen Power, about waste management, why recycling isn’t evnough, how our garbage produces harmful emissions, and how corporations poor business decisions leave the consumers in charge of literally cleaning up after them. Not only that, but Jen also provides actionable ways you can help prevent climate change and be a more intentional consumer!

In this week’s episode my dear friend, Lauren, shares about her two pregnancy losses in 2020, what has helped her heal, how to best support someone experiencing a miscarriage, and how she is processing these heavy experiences - embracing both pain and joy in the process.

It's rare when you meet someone who is so open and willing to talk about what can often be such a private topic. In this week's episode, I have a fantastic conversation with my friend Andrea about her polyamorous "pod", the dynamics between them and how it differs from open relationships. Have a listen and don't forget to subscribe!

Second shutdowns are happening all over the country because of COVID-19. It's more important than ever to support your local businesses to keep our communities strong through this weird-ass time. I'm coming at you with a shorter solo episode this week to talk about my favorite ways to shop local and reasons WHY it's so damn important. Listen in, drink some local coffee (or wine) and enjoy my friends!

Racism took on a new form for Asians & Asian Americans this year with the Coronavirus. I have a meaningful conversation with my friend Melody about what her experience has been like this year as an Asian American and how she's aware of the prejudices that surround her more than ever. Come ready to listen, come ready to learn.

Stepmom, biological mom, super mom? Basically. Hear from my friend & creator of The Ugly Moms blog, Ali Winslow, talk about her experience being a stepmom to Liam & Theo, biological mom to Brooks, mom-shaming, her postpartum journey, and family dynamics.

I sit down with my friend & podcast host of the If I Mae podcast, Maegan Lovell, to talk about mental health, therapy, our individual journeys when it comes to counseling and how both of our therapists names are Allison (say what?).

For the first episode I sit down with my brother & Urban Planner, Aren Murcar, to talk about affordable housing, homelessness, non-motorized transportation, convenience, road safety and why it's important to understand the ideas behind complicated words like gentrification & multimodal transportation. Did I use my brother for my first episode trial run? Why, yes, yes I did.