Attune + Align

In this episode, I speak with Cecilia Tse, Co-Founder and Chief Financial Operating Officer of hey freya. We discuss Cecilia's ongoing quest to take women from burned out to blissed out, how hey freya identifies and serves a gap in the market, and the unique opportunity available in supplements made for women by women.   Cecilia's story takes us from Australia to New York, to IVF offices, and to co-founder dates. While working her “successful” corporate job, Cecilia realized she and her team masked the challenges of their daily professional realities by drinking wine together. She became someone she never wanted to be—someone who would work through dinner on client calls when family traveled all the way from Australia to visit her in her studio apartment. On top of it all, she dealt with amenorrhea and never felt “heard” in the doctor's office. Determined not to continue in this fizzled-out state, she pursued several health and wellness certifications including yoga teacher training. The stars aligned, and she became a well-being strategy leader at her job, eventually moving to California to help build a women's health brand with a highly-qualified team of star-crossed women co-founders, now known as hey freya.    Cecilia offers a behind-the-scenes peek at running the business alongside her other co-founders, a tour through the hey freya supplement formulas, and what's on tap for the next 12 months. As women, we're marketed so many things of varying quality for so long that we've become experts at sniffing out inauthenticity until we get to the real deal—through hey freya's genuine commitment to showing up authentically by putting their founders front and center, they have built an organic following within their first year. Inspiring women + smartly-formulated products = a business we all could learn from!   Thank you for listening! Attune to your heart...align your life. With Marisa LaValette.   Topics Covered: (2:56) We're calling in stillness and evolution

In this episode, I am speaking with my friend Allison Tibbs, the Nourished Life Wellness Coach. We discuss taking action today that our Future Selves will thank us for, blocking off time to do... absolutely nothing, and a potent ego check Allison worked through recently with grace.    Allison shares her favorite mantras and self-care mindset shifts and teaches how to maintain essential boundaries during those tricky times when it feels like our own values are in competition. She reminds us to take breaks from efficiency by proactively scheduling in time for play and imperfection. Allison's favorite hack for self-spaciousness is to block off time (in PURPLE

In this episode, I am speaking with my friend, Kim Burris, a licensed psychotherapist, author of The First 90 Days After Birth, and founder of The Holistic Counseling Center. Kim offers evidence-based treatment with a heart-centered approach that honors the mind, body, and spirit connection. We discuss Kim's path toward transpersonal psychology and how Human Design, the Enneagram, the Yoga Sutras, and her perspective on polyvagal theory are woven into her practice for self-awareness and spiritual growth.   Thanks for listening! Attune to your heart, align your life. With Marisa LaValette.    Topics Covered: (2:30) Listen to hear how Kim's mantra inspired the name of this episode    (5:54) Kim shares about her first interest in transpersonal psychology at age 21   (15:05) Kim shares an overview of the difference between traditional psychology and transpersonal psychology    (22:48) Listen as Kim describes the role yoga played in her spiritual awakening   (28:00) Kim's rock polisher moment of seeking the divine in life's experiences in big cities rather than retreating to a cave   (37:46) Hear how Kim uses Human Design, the Enneagram, and astrology with her clients    (47:16) Kim shares her recommended reading booklist    (50:21) Kim talks about her guided journal book, The First 90 Days After Birth   (58:44) Kim gives her perspective on New Year's resolutions and shares directly from the template she uses with her accountability buddy  PLUS: Listen at (3:55) to hear the story of how the Universe crossed Kim and Marisa's paths at yoga…where else?! 

In this episode, I am speaking with my friend, Anna Sheehy, a new mom, avid gardener, food enthusiast, former restaurateur, and the founder of Wild Fennel, a boutique shop in downtown Novato filled with unique finds and heirloom quality pieces. Anna and I discuss her personal and professional journey toward running Wild Fennel, how dreams can (and do!) change, and advice for anyone interested in opening up a brick-and-mortar business.    Anna shares how her pastry and baking background and past restaurant business led her to follow her dreams and become the owner of her own boutique. Then, Anna illustrates how Wild Fennel is a culmination of all the things she's interested in: plants and flowers, cookware, sustainable products, and small businesses, and gives advice to anyone considering opening up their own space. Plus, Anna shares new projects she's working on including a flower program, bakery and pastry pop-ups, and her upcoming hopeful manifestation, a trunk show!   Thanks for listening! Attune to your heart, align your life. With Marisa LaValette.    Topics Covered: (3:18) Anna and Marisa discuss living in the same neighborhood  (7:45) Anna connects the dots between studying pastry and baking, opening up Mas Masa, and now being the owner of her boutique Wild Fennel  (9:37) Anna explains what a "shrub" is (11:19) Marisa shares a story featuring Christmas tree ornaments from Wild Fennel (15:31) Anna shares what she learned from her previous business, Más Masa (17:37) Anna explains that your dreams CAN change, and that's okay! (19:16) Hear what happened when Anna tried to plan every detail about her store Wild Fennel in advance... and what she ended up doing instead (22:48) Anna explains the “aha” moment that showed her that her dream can change overnight (24:36) What's easier to open: a restaurant or a storefront? (28:45) Anna explains why LOCATION is the most important decision you'll have to make for your brick-and-mortar business (30:06) Anna details different vendors' products at Wild Fennel  (33:02) Anna shares the vision for her flower program  (38:01) Anna describes the themed baking and pastry pop-ups she's been hosting  (43:56) Hear what SURPRISED Anna the most in the first year of owning her own retail boutique PLUS:   Listen at 7:25 to hear Marisa fill up her house with Anna's decor from Wild Fennel.   Listen at 27:45 to hear Anna's perspective on trusting your instincts and listening to your gut.   For all the plant ladies out there — listen at 36:17 to hear all about Anna's favorite indoor plants and sustainable planter options.

In this episode, I am speaking with my friend, Nimisha Gandhi, a functional medicine nutritionist, Ayurvedic Counselor, Yoga Nidra and meditation teacher, and former tech founder. Nimisha and I discuss holistic nutrition, functional medicine, and Ayurveda, along with her perspectives on hormonal health including perimenopause and seed cycling.    Nimisha shares an overview of the three Ayurvedic doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, and clarifies the difference between your Vikruti and Prakruti. Then, Nimisha shares different ways to learn about your doshas, whether in person, online, or in a 1:1 setting. Plus, Nimisha shares a functional medicine perspective on hormonal health and details how her attunement to the mind-body-spirit connection is both an intuitive, and research-backed calling that she now shares with others, directly from the soul.    Thanks for listening! Attune to your heart + align your life. With Marisa LaValette.    Topics Covered: (4:27) Big moments in Nimisha's life that inspired an intuitive awakening  (9:08) Nimisha's journey into functional medicine and how it blends with her previous work (17:35) What is Ayurveda? (20:56) The 5 Great Elements, the Pancha Mahabhuta (21:55) Nimisha introduces the three doshas—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha (26:34) Nimisha explains your Prakruti vs. Vikruti (27:44) Doshas also represent phases of life: Childhood, Midlife, Old Age (30:27) How your dosha can inspire life choices relating to home and career (32:15) Different ways to discover your dosha, including pulse reading, online tests, and 1:1 work with a practitioner (39:03) Nimisha shares why “all disease begins in the gut” (41:34) Nimisha describes Ayurvedic seasonal approaches and makes midsummer recommendations for Pitta-predominant Marisa  (47:15) The Ayurvedic perspective of "like increases like" and "opposites balance each other" (51:17) A story about Nimisha's grandmother, cumin, and watermelon  (55:35) Why Nimisha calls seed cycling “the gateway drug to improving your overall hormonal health" (57:58) Nimisha notes the possibility of perimenopause symptoms beginning for some women as early as age 35 PLUS:   Be sure to tune in at 15:54 for an overview of holistic vs. functional nutrition.    Tune in at 37:36 to learn why a Vata imbalance can feel like “Running really fast but not going anywhere.”

Cracking the Code to Confidence and Self-Discovery with Enneagram Powerhouse Ali Dunn In this episode, I am speaking with my friend, Ali Dunn, a Bay Area certified Enneagram practitioner, speaker, and leadership coach for ambitious female professionals and entrepreneurs. We discuss Ali's professional path from sales to business coaching and how the Enneagram is a tool for communication barriers, relationships, identifying your purpose, and a way to empower self-trust.  Ali illustrates how the Enneagram is a tool for communication barriers, relationships, identifying your purpose, and a way to empower self-trust. Then, Ali dives into each of the nine Enneagram types, (including my own!), their subtypes and wings, and how they show up in our daily life. Plus, Ali shares how the Enneagram helped her attune to her life's purpose, and invites anyone listening to challenge society's status quo and focus on living a life authentic to you. Thanks for listening! Attune to your heart, align your life. With Marisa LaValette.  Topics Covered: (4:08) Ali's life transition from sales to launching her own business (10:42) How the Enneagram is a tool for self discovery (15:44) A detailed explanation of each Enneagram type (31:46) Using the Enneagram to build a successful team  (33:29) Ali's thoughts on my Enneagram test results  (41:47) What Enneagram types, subtypes, and wings can teach you  (50:46) Ali's top recommendations for affordable online Enneagram tests  (57:28) How burnout manifests within the Enneagram types (1:01:11) Why Ali believes women's awareness of their own Enneagram type can empower them to more effectively challenge societal expectations PLUS: Listen at 24:25 to find out Ali's Secret Sauce as an Enneagram type 7 Be sure to tune in at 45:05 to find out why Ali gives Marisa a triple-gold star ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Tune in at 43:52 to find out why Marisa told her husband to book an Airbnb as part of her Enneagram type homework. Listen at 32:06 to hear Ali's Enneagram-informed Personal Philosophy on self-awareness.  Listen at 57:48 to hear Ali's definition of BURNOUT, why women are "always going, always going, always going," and how it manifests in her work with her clients. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and keep up to date with new episode drops by subscribing to our newsletter at marisalavalette.com! Resources Mentioned: Free Truity enneagram test Rheti test IEQ9 Guest Info: Ali's Instagram Ali's Website Book a Vibes and Vision Enneagram Session with Ali   Connect with Me: Subscribe to our Newsletter Have a question? Email Us Follow Marisa on Instagram Follow Attune + Align on Instagram   Rate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts: I'm so grateful for your support! Please consider rating and reviewing Attune + Align on Apple Podcasts. First, open the Apple Podcasts app and search for Attune + Align. Then, scroll to the bottom of the page and rate with 5 stars—please write a brief review as well! I appreciate you.   

Meet Lauren Friis. She's a small business owner of a new store in downtown Mill Valley, CA, called Surf And Sand. Before owning a retail boutique centered around coastal living and sustainability, Lauren worked in the tech, nonprofit, and design industries for over 16 years. She is a California coastal girl at heart, having grown up in San Diego on the beach. Lauren is a proud mother to her 7-year- old son and is newly married. It's the journeys in her life that have brought her to where she is today.   Listen to hear: 6:00 how she navigated getting engaged, opening a new store, and planning a wedding all at the same time 25:50 the #1 customer testimonial she gets most often 26:00 3 tips for sustainable consumerism 32:00 how there's no play-by-play book for opening a retail space  34:30 why she recommends opting out of the rat race and opting into joy 35:15 how she balances life's "buckets" 36:50 how she's invested 110% into her business 39:40 how divorce and being a single mom can be "scary as hell" ...and why she wishes more women would talk about it  

Meet Dr. Leada Malek, DPT. She launched her online physical therapy practice from her living room in March 2020, and she's AthletaWell's Guide for physical therapy. Tune in to hear about her holistic approach to patient care, her belief that women can hype each other up to recover just as hard as we work, and how her past experience with hustle culture informs her work today. Listen to hear: 8:20 the accidental beginning of her 60K+ Instagram account 9:30 why “you should ditch [static photos] at this point” in favor of Instagram reels 15:30 her #1 mindset shift since launching her online PT business 21:00 three things she recommends to uplevel your wellbeing TODAY 29:45 three red flags signaling over-stressing of body + burnout of mind 33:00 why women should hype each other up to recover as hard as we work 36:00 why her big dream is a part-time job (mine too!)

Meet Margeaux House. She's the yoga teacher, writer, motivational speaker, and brand ambassador behind This Curvy World, her blog that promotes health and wellness at any size. Tune in to hear Margeaux's amazing laugh, along with her thoughts on beach bodies, body positivity, and body neutrality. Walk away remembering that self care isn't selfish, this isn't a dress rehearsal, and you are enough now.

Meet Tiffany Madvig. She opened a women's community co-working space All Together Co. in March 2020. You read that right. Tune in to hear how Tiffany made pivot after pivot to keep her dream afloat. In our first episode of 2022, find out how Tiffany knew when it was time to walk away. If you've ever been torn between pivoting and shutting down your dream, Tiffany's journey through her inner intuitive wisdom is the story you need to hear.

Meet Lauren Benbassat. She's the CMO and co-founder of Realm, a wellness food company serving women who want simple, easy, and delicious food. Lauren joins Marisa in a conversation about the lifelong journey of entrepreneurship and how a hopscotch across disparate career fields reveals its cosmic alignment in retrospect. Lauren shares her unwavering viewpoint on the ethics behind product development and emphasizes responsibility in creating a better future for ourselves and our families. Tune in to hear Lauren's #1 piece of advice when it comes to balancing entrepreneurship with a growing family, pivoting towards life's transitions, and approaching your own self care—trust fall into the divine timing and flow of your life.

Meet Danielle Polini. She's the creative behind her eponymous brand photography studio Danielle Polini Photography. She shares how she curated a semi-nomadic life for herself revolving around her passions—photography, palm trees, and of course... pizza. Listen to this episode to hear about her personal experience with permission—the only person who can grant you permission to live a life you love is YOU. 

Meet Claire Zhao. She's a minimalist, yoga lover, photographer, and the founder of Noou, an online women's activewear brand based in San Francisco. On a mission to build the foundation for a more minimal life for modern women, Claire launched her personal passion project driven by the belief that "busy minds need simple things." She aims to create a greater choice of essentials that women wear for everything they do with their bodies. She also wants to build a community for women to empower and inspire each other.

Meet Kala Hunter, a San Francisco based environmental journalist. Listen to this episode to hear what has inspired Kala's writing during the pandemic and learn her advice for anyone gearing up to tell their story online. Walk away from this conversation with actions you can take to remember that every day is Earth Day.

Meet Martina Pezzino, a Certified Nutrition Consultant who works with women to heal their hormones, optimize fertility, and thrive through pregnancy and postpartum. At Balanced Beginnings Nutrition, and through Vital Woman Membership, Martina's mission is to help all women reclaim their vitality and see their womanhood and motherhood for the superpower that it is. 

Meet Michelle Emmanuelle, a life and wellness Coach, yoga instructor, and choreographer who claims her Divine rights in life. She's the founder of RECESSitate, a wellness based business offering workshops and 1:1 coaching supporting individuals towards sustainable wellness. Her intention is to create space for greater exploration and discovery towards expansion and personal growth. Michelle is passionate about living life authentically and supporting others to do the same. Creativity is her form of activism to disrupt the normative lines of what is considered practical and possible.

Meet Sarah Liller, the multi-passionate entrepreneur behind Goddess North as she chats with Marisa about her lifelong journey through manifesting her desired outcomes—what is your relationship to manifestation? Do you think it's magic, or a series of well-executed intentions? Listen to learn more about tarot, goddess archetypes, and human design.

Meet Beth Martin, mom of two littles and Beauty Counter executive. An advocate for better beauty, Beth shares about what “clean beauty” actually means and sheds light on the historic lack of regulatory legislation for the beauty industry. Get ready to ditch your before and after photos—Beth's holistic approach to clean beauty will get you cultivating your healthy glow from the inside out.

Meet Melanie Akwule, founder and CEO of MINWO. She's committed to closing the racial wealth gap for black women through business ownership and entrepreneurship through her annual In the Black conference and Activating Your Allyship Journey (AYAJ) workshop for individuals and corporations. Don't miss 24:17 when Melanie shares about her experience competing in the 2012 Olympic trials, and learn how she applies the "athlete's mindset" to running her business.

Meet Sylvia Doss of Open Circles Wellness. Sylvia is the owner of Vital Scoop green powder blend and is a serial wellness entrepreneur based in San Francisco.   Sylvia strongly believes that health is a strong contributor to our life experience. She has evolved her career through various aspects of the health and nutrition fields including business owner, board member, certified holistic nutritionist, group fitness instructor, and health coach to those recovering from cancer.  When not working on health initiatives, Sylvia enjoys music, photography, and enjoying sports with her husband, Andre.     Tune in to this episode to learn Sylvia's business-building tips relating to finances, interpersonal relationships, and self-care.

Meet Brielle Calloway. Brielle is a world champion Salsa dancer, career coach, and brand strategist based in New York City.    After falling in love with Salsa in college, Brielle began training in Latin dance at twenty-three years old and won her first professional salsa competition just five years later. A true believer in the power of leading with your heart, today she coaches entrepreneurs, executives, and mid-career professionals and uses her brand and marketing expertise to help companies clarify their messages, streamline internal processes, and scale their ventures.   Tune in to this episode to learn Brielle's tips on staying true to the calling of your heart.