Chill + Ambitious

We've made it through another season! This time we answer listener questions and discuss the hardships and delights of making the show. Listen in as we wrap up on some really great interviews and content. #WrapUpSeason2

Jonas Koffler is many things: an empath, storyteller, stroke survivor, entrepreneur, friend, husband, advocate, and then some. He, like all of us, also happens to be imperfect. While it took a life-changing event to prompt a change in his ways, it has also opened up the door for self care and a very fruitful life. This very insightful conversation touches on everything from momentum, to gratitude, to what happens when we embrace our flaws. Catch #EmbracingImperfection

Spending extensive amounts of time traveling around the world sounds like a dream to most, but with the right amount of planning, it can surely be a reality. Jia Lin is a freelancer who comes to New York to work, and goes just about everywhere else to play. She carefully tailors her time, making sure she maximizes her moolah while also building her brand of swimwear. Catch the convo as we talk managing money, spending time in other people's lives, and how to make the most of what you have in #TailoredTraveler

Joanna Fang is a sound designer and the first openly transgender person to win a Primetime Emmy. Mastering the art of Foley has allowed her to discover what it's like to walk in others' shoes and eventually led to her to upgrading her own kicks to the ones she was always intended to wear. We talk discovery, get a foley lesson (complete with creepy sounds), and learn that timing your truth can make a world of difference. Catch #SeekingTruth

Elle Kim (a.k.a. That Hoe Over Here) gives us insight into being a New York City sex worker and the many players involved in the industry. She is one of the "privileged" prostitutes that have chosen to enter the space, which has been receiving increasing press coverage. This subject has often been portrayed as glamorous, but Elle gets real and goes over the dangers, laws, and finances of entering the world of NYC prostitution in #sexworks.

Your hosts chop it up over current events in a very special Chill and Ambitious episode. Sparked by September 11th, Colin Kaepernick, and the Dakota pipeline, we discuss protesting and patriotism. We try not to talk about the Election, but fail. And overall, O + NO rail on absolutist and zero sum mindsets while attempting to find some solutions in today's polarized social and political narratives. #ONOCurrentEvents

Veronika Dash is an actress/ model/ spokesmodel with an enigmatic presence and charm. Her ability to turn roadblocks into speedbumps relies heavily on the fact that she acknowledges all of the people she interacts with and appreciates every moment and opportunity. We talk social media shaming, finding the opportunity of everything, and navigating difficulties. Catch #ActiveAcknowledgement

Meet Elyssa and Phil of Audition Hero, the startup disrupting the acting world. Their high energy is contagious, which translates into how they respond to their clients, partners, and teammates. Ultimately, these entrepreneurs get things done. Laugh with us as we talk cold calling, Hamilton, supporting artists, and Phil’s missed magic career in #PositiveReaction.

Creating work your are proud of usually means holding processes and people to a high standard. Such is the story with Irina + Gilles when launching @FictionLab last year, a music blog promoting talented DJs with mixes and write-ups on inspiring new music. @GIlles-Wasserman, himself a DJ (and a professional soccer player in a past life) and Irina (who works in Investment Banking) have built a life of trust and taste by investing in the things they love, and leaving everything they don't--including the Turbo Folk music of the Yugoslavia. Listen in to their charm in #DiscerningTastes

Max Rouzier spends only a few hours working every day, and makes every second of those hours count. He tells beautiful stories as a journalist and email marketer through That Man Max. Though his clever mind can form ideas in a pinch, living with Sickle Cell Disease means that his physical resources are wiped out rather quickly. We discuss 90's culture, leaving your legacy, and #allcellsmatter. Lots of laughs to be had on #InducedEfficiency [space_20]

Opportunities arise on the daily, without us even noticing. Recognizing and seizing these moments comes from being prepared for them when they appear. Slammin Sam Maxion started his DJ career by asking the right people and following it up with hard work, eventually transitioning into a hit making producer in the 90's, and starting his own podcast. We talk promotion focus, giving back, and rejecting redundancy . Catch #Owning Opportunity

Luke Taylor is on a roll. He started Spark Prep, a college admissions coaching company, as a way to pay the bills while he worked on his creative endeavors like acting & producing music as DJ Lisan. This one-time side hustle gave Luke the opportunity to remind young people of their greatness, build business allover Asia, and realize that he can be a business owner while maintaining his ideals. Listen in as we learn how finding the “moment” in momentum and constant self-exploration are the keys to staying unstuck. Catch #BuildingMomentum. 0:50 How does No get unstuck? 2:25 Luke Taylor founded and runs Admissions Coaching Business Sparkprep 4:18 Luke Taylor DJ and Producer 5:13 Success: Am I asking questions that I still find interesting? 10:21 Luke’s chill is being prepping food 12:27 Momentum is premised in the moment 13:48 Fear of momentum 17:20 Genius is not necessarily something we own 20:55 Sparkprep started as a side hustle and is now a vehicle to remind young people of their greatness 23:33 How radical Luke got to becoming a business person 27:59 Clients in SE Asia 29:47 Climbing out of a rut 32:37 Stephen King’s point of view on writer’s block 35:19 Building incrementally 38:05 Noticing when Luke needs to chill more 39:22 Focus on the small victory and shifting that energy into something positive. 41:25 Momentum is our natural state 45:42 Business person is something just I do 52:08 Need for money conflicted with vision of business 56:04 How Luke chooses a business partner based on value 1:01:50 Guilt and shame are habits 1:03:18 Life is a collaborative effort 1:06:30 Is Luke living his dream life? 1:08:18 Sacrificing the combative-ness 1:16:33 O+NO were fuckin up 1:24:15 QYDKWR: What goals you have that are intimidating you? How can you break them down into smaller pieces?

Mina McQueen really knows herself. She works for a tech company by day and runs her own dominatrix business (Kink and Consciousness) by night. By exploring all aspects of BDSM in her training, Mina pushes the boundaries of her own mind, and really solidifying who she is. Listen in as we talk about how she became a self-expert, adventures at Mistress Morgana Maye's Maison de la Maitresse, and how discomfort can be a good thing. Catch #KinkandConsciousness. 0:56 Visit to Mistress Morgana Maye's Maison de la Maitresse 6:07 How do you know what you want? 10:00 How did Mina McQueen get to starting her solo practice Kink & Consciousness? 13:06 What’s a top? What’s a bottom? 15:57 Safe words 17:20 Learning her kinks is like tuning a guitar 19:48 Using kink to face fears 22:33 Costs + privileges of being Mina McQueen 24:00 Finding clients and matching kinks 31:31 Unethical dominance in society is not called-out 32:40 Power dynamics at work 34:30 Mina gets better at reading her sub 38:44 Negotiating with n00bs vs. experienced players 42:43 What type of domme is Mina McQueen 44:22 Cleo DuBois’ Academy of S&M Arts 45:33 Piercing 51:37 Domme dreams and balancing life w/day job 56:20 Finding stillness in her daily life 59:43 fear is boring 59:43 Big Magic 1:02:40 What do you specifically admire about someone? 1:06:22 forced by ppl flake all the time (forced to be gay) 1:08:39 When is it okay to push boundaries in real life? 1:14:19 O + NO reflect on the conversation 1:24:29 QYDNWR: Do you have a mechanism in your life to confront your fears?

Alex and Ray are partners in comics with a solid sense of their creative abilities. Their online comic series Buttersafe comes out twice a week, while they also work on long-form comics with the likes of Konami and Viewster (to name a few). Daily to-do lists differ greatly for these two, so constant and honest feedback is essential to this duo's success. Listen in as we talk compliment sandwiches, getting critiqued by the internet, and whether or not butter is actually safe. Catch #ComicCooperation

Yogi and business owner Maryam has always built on her achievements and followed her curiosity. This founder of Office Yoga (www.officeyoga.com) capitalizes on her own strengths while leading by letting others do what they’re best at. She proves that there is plenty of room for zen in business. Listen in to #LimberLeader while we discuss following your strengths, filling your own cup, how all leaders are made. 0:38 Does O have impact at work? 2:50 Maryam has always made money off of being an instructor 5:13 Starting Office Yoga 8:54 Office Yoga Response 12:46 What Maryam looks for in teachers 15:07 Perception of leaders diff than what makes a good leader 16:22 Leaders are a reflection of the state of the people 17:25 O loves LBJ 20:10 Why Office Yoga is Chill and Ambitious 22:15 Must adapt class to each client—can’t cookie cutter it 24:30 Puppy pose not office appropriate 26:49 Maryam keeps finding herself in leadership positions 30:00 Maryam is the hub in her group of friends 31:32 Maryam torn between coaching and managing 33:55 Daily Desires 36:11 What happens when you don’t connect with a student 38:03 Maryam had to cut programs and projects she loved 40:16 What defines a leader? Versus follower? Versus manager? 43:06 Has Maryam always felt comfortable being in the leadership position? 48:26 Responsibility of leadership 53:25 Loudest voice in the room is the weakest 54:45 Leaders empower ppl and allow them to do their work 55:14 What is the appeal of loud leaders? 59:50 Vipassana retreat 1:07:02 Breather: brt.hr/CHILL. 1:08:33 O and No’s reflections 1:17:03 Question You Didn’t Know Was Relevant: What role do you always play?

Frankie Lee III is a professional contemporary ballerino who lives life as though it is all one giant dance. Once a very angry and combative youth, he found spirituality and connection through dance. A very kind and outgoing young man, it’s hard to believe he ever chose attitude over gratitude. Listen in as we talk about what happens when you #simplysurrender. 0:29 “And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom” –Anais Nin 4:50 Introduce Frankie Lee III + Spirituality 13:46 Inspiration for dance comes from everywhere 15:49 Preparation is equally as important as the ta-da moment 20:21 Prayer is just preparation for the day and not necessarily religious 27:08 Repentance, responsibility for your actions, and being appreciative 31:27 Giving back what you’ve been taught (Plant good seeds) 35:57 Chill: I can relate to almost anyone, which he learned through forgiveness Ambition: To be a vessel for dance 36:59 Needing to forgive others to let of the hate 43:55 Frankie defines a successful performance 46:16 Surrender as a power 47:48 O+NO Takeaways 50:28 QYDKWR: Can you think of a time when you finally let go of the outcome and it came out better than expected?

Nikki Borodi (www.NikkiBorodi.com) professionally sings, does acrobatics, plays instruments (all at the same time), clowns, makes her own costumes, and teaches yoga. Of her many talents, none are as important or greater than her ability to permit herself to explore every interest. We talk about building space for curiosity, allowing inspiration to come to you, and emotion as a superpower. This has led her to such opportunities as speaking at TedX Berkeley, performing at Madison Square Garden, and providing entertainment for Lucas Films. Catch Self Permission! 1:15 O + NO re-live pressures of childhood 7:09 Introduction to Self Permission + Nikki Borodi 9:59 Clowns express emotions everyday people don't 14:28 Adults expected to stop being curious 16:51 Nikki's superpower: Super Emotion 19:48 Adulting as a professional clown, acrobat, and musician 21:50 Nikki gives O's friend Brandon permission to break music theory rules 26:50 Lessons from being bullied 31:02 Power hair 33:46 Give yourself permission to be curious to feel 40:15 Music is the thread in Nikki’s performances 50:38 Applying mission to inspire creativity in the corporate world 59:46 O+NO Reflections: The difficulty in identifying lack of permission, group-thought via Candid Camera episode, inspiration visits 1:09:15 Question you didn’t know was relevant: Think about someone you find inspirational and identify why you find them so. Is it because they do things you weren’t sure was possible? Or things that you weren’t sure were “okay”?

It's un BEE-lievable how amazingly a hive works to make choices in the best interest of the group. This sustainable and delicious approach is something Scott Jorgensen of Hercules Bees (www.herculesbees.biz) fully incorporates in running his business. After learning to keep wild bees in the Gambia, he decided to take his talents to his hometown where he innovated on the beekeeping process to produce honey & teach about it in a sustainable way. Listen in as we discuss the importance of pride, rethinking growth, and bee cred. 1:15 Season 2 Launch Party THANK YOU!! 2:03 No’s traumatic bee story 4:35 Introducing Sustainability and Scott Jorgensen the bee keeper 7:19 Scott explains why he does beekeeping as a business and not just for fun 11:56 The Peace Corps and the killer bees of Africa 20:20 Sustainable v. commercial beekeeping 23:29 Humans becoming more like bees? 29:04 Working around the limits of sustainable beekeeping 40:20 Measures of success 44:28 Daily desires: try to give a fuck 46:24 Scott’s super power 48:02 Sex-Ed of Bees 54:15 Most other beekeepers think Scott’s crazy 1:00:10 O+NO Reflections: Quality, pride, and efficiency 1:07:30 Question you didn’t know was relevant: Is it sustainable to you? What do you take pride in?

Rapper Adam Vida (formerly known as A-1 @adamraps) has spent a good part of his life creating safe spaces for others. His music is a perfect reflection of who he is as a person, a fun, thoughtful, and creative individual who's aim is to: Think, Hustle, Understand, Really Live & Really love (THURL). He delivers party bangers whilst giving thoughtful criticisms of the world we live in. We talk about music as therapy, not "yucking another person's yum", & Voltron friends. Catch this super insightful convo. 0:36 Welcome to Season 2 2:27 Intro to Adam Vida and his relationship to refuge 7:22 Learning how to rap in his “hip hop cocoon” 12:55 Doubts as a rapper 16:00 Rapping as a peer 19:00 What is THURL? 21:40 Crew forms Megazord and gets it done 28:14 Adam would be a teacher if he wasn’t a rapper 32:09 Making music is his refuge 37:12 Creating safe spaces for kids 40:06 Adam counts on music to make him feel the way he needs to feel 43:57 The sacrifices 51:56 Winning 54:09 Handling criticism 59:38 The creative process 1:01:25 Bad things happening fuels the music 1:03:24 Henning Mankell and daily desires 1:06:15 Boston forces discomfort and creativity 1:08:42 Explains name change to Adam Vida 1:10:25 O+NO Reflections: Everyone needs a Big Tuna 1:17:13 Question You Didn’t Know Was Relevant: What is your refuge? Where are you not afraid to make mistakes? 1:18:34 iTunes Review Shoutout to Nesta___

O + NO want to thank our listeners. So for Season 2, we've partnered with promoters Momentum and TBA to throw you a Launch Party!! We also talk about tapping into human nature's "eusocial" tendencies, further building the Chill and Ambitious community, and what is in store for season 2. LAUNCH PARTY SEASON 2 DETAILS: Where: TBA Brooklyn // 395 Wythe Ave. Brooklyn, NY When: 6pm - 10pm RSVP for Open Bar: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chill-ambitious-season-2-launch-party-tickets-26046712418 Music: Gilles Wasserman https://soundcloud.com/gilles-wasserman Antonio Estrada https://soundcloud.com/antestradamusic Stay until 4am for Momentum’s Rite of Wednesday https://www.facebook.com/events/496227473909098/ 0:00 INTRO Mary J. Blige - Family Affair https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znlFu_lemsU The Beatles - Come Together https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSM5MpKSnqE Gilles Wasserman - @The Paper Box, Brooklyn 02.26.15 https://soundcloud.com/gilles-wasserman/danceupliftheal-the-paper-box-brookyn-022615 Muhammad Ali - 1975 Speech @ Harvard University https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrfmQf_lO5Q 0:45 Season 2 Launch Party Plug 2:30 Shout outs to TBA and Momentum 3:05 Chill and Ambitious wants to use the podcast to build a community 4:11 Hook - Hook lecturing kids (me, me, me…) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55zjlSkBM4M 4:30 Humans are “eusocial” but selfish http://www.newsweek.com/biologist-eo-wilson-why-humans-ants-need-tribe-64005 5:18 Wu-Tang Clan - Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing Ta F' Wit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8keTv_vpwLc 7:33 Kygo Here for You ft. Ella Henderson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8PPap4dJog 7:55 Season 2 Sneak Peek 9:32 Gilles Wasserman - @Illusion, Cielo, NYC 10.10.15 https://soundcloud.com/gilles-wasserman/gilles-wasserman-cielonyc-101015

One whole Chill and Ambitious season down!! Listen to the second part of our wrap up to learn how O and NO met, our tribulations, and insights from episodes 9-15. Goal setting, ADHD, polyamory, travel, vegans, meditation, procrastination, and more!

Pascal Rawls-Phillipe is responsible for helping run a healthy oasis in a food desert. Volunteering his trust and time led to being offered partnership of Seasoned Vegan in Harlem... and he has quite a sense of humor to boot! Listen in to the absolute hysterics as we talk (more) upward spirals, nasal spray molly, being nice to plants, & self-awareness.

We did it!!! Season 1 was full of learnings and insights, some of which we want to highlight a little better. Listen in as we give you the inside scoop on episodes 0-8. Dreams, travel, service, business sense, neuronetworks, intuition, and much more!

Procrastination is a ritual we all participate in, but it doesn't always deserve the bad rap it's gotten over the years. Jay Reifel is a screenwriter, chef, and avid runner who integrates his penchant for putting things off into all of his passions. Listen in as we talk about Sharknado, eating bugs, & stumbling into passions via Positive Procrastination.

Truly listening is perhaps one of the hardest things to do, but it's what helps Stephanie Felicita make friends as she wanders the globe. Our life innovator travels half the year by leveraging her design skills as a freelancer, taking turns between projects and adventures. A camera, journal, passport, and an open ear are all she needs to get taken in by the locals on her journeys. LISTEN in for tips on trips and lots of other stuff.

Communication is essential to every kind of relationship. Our life innovator Aaron Browne finds that open, honest, and constant #communication is what allows him to carry on multiple relationships at once. This self-described "ethical non-monogamist" gets deep with us about boundaries, self-reflection, and how respect grows when you have to accommodate others. We also figure out that communication and community come from the same root for a reason.

Our life innovator Yana Gibuena travels to new cities, states, & countries every week, creating culinary delights through her pop-up dinners. This feat requires a ton of collaboration with strangers (or soon-to-be-friends) while she brings regional Filipino dishes to communities and raises money for victims of Typhoon Haiyan. We discover that delicious things happen when you take people out of their comfort zones.

Is it a weakness or a strength? Justin Freedman, this week's LIFE INNOVATOR, teaches us what it means to rethink disability. This authority grew up with ADHD and is now getting his PHD with a focus on inclusive education. We learn that disability is socially constructed and that you really can do anything with the right perspective.

Brianna Carney is the ultimate goal-setter. So much so, that she even sets goals for how many rejections she needs to get on a given day. It's not all rigidity, however, with this startup owner and founder of Nestfiller.com. She has taken her kind heart and passion for the elderly and turned it into a thriving business helping seasoned adults find new income through the sharing economy. We chat endowment, outcome, and process goals to set ourselves up for success!

Intuition can be described as a "whisper in a loud room," so how can we listen to it over all the chaos? This week's guest is an expert on honing intuition. A Vedic meditation teacher with plenty of successful clients, she finds that working out your creativity and instinct always leads to a more fruitful life full of bliss chemicals and flow state (if you prepare). Listen in while we talk about the difference between intuition and rational thought, the benefits of a daily meditation practice, and focusing on what you WANT to do.

Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right. Dina Zukic works to help develop learning and leadership within organizations through understanding how the brain actually functions. When applied, neuroleadership can seriously up-level performance in all aspects of your life. We talk charisma, growth mindsets, and insights on America's biggest troll.

Nikolai Yakovenko knows a thing or two about rewiring. Be it working around an injury or developing neuro networks for intelligent computers, he understands how to re-think limitations. Listen in as we learn about A.I., how expertise might not be worth anything, and how "in Mother Russia, the car drives you."

"Just be yourself and they'll love you," is Catrin Hedström's go-to piece of advice. Easy to say, but even easier to believe if you're blessed with her bold brand of confidence. A film director and editor, she is passionate (and selective!) of her projects... when she's not dancing around singing show tunes, of course. We dish on having intimidating friends, faking it till you become it, and changing your title by declaring it yourself.

Unicorn Water (aka Champagne) is the lifeblood of Dee Taylor, owner of Sweeping Beauty NYC. As the clever name suggests, she has no problem creating fun anywhere she sees fit, and that's most things! Dee talks play, building rapport with clients, and how you can make a lot of money doing things that no one else wants to do.

What's in a cupcake? For Beatrice Tsang of Baby Bea's Bakeshop it's one way she's built a loyal community. From butter to laser parties, Bea extracts her wisdom.

Janine and Aretha are the embodiment of everything trending and bosses of FLOSS GLOSS. Their nail polish and incredible marketing are simply an extension of who they are at the core- ambitious, culture-obsessed, ALMOST too cool, but somehow approachable.

Community, empathy, creativity, and... language skills? This week’s guest is Peace Boat US Director and Parties4Peace co-founder Emilie McGlone. She is a multilingual powerhouse who connects education, partying, and volunteering to be the true definition of a life innovator. Listen in to see how all these facets intersect.

Meet O and NO, their Life Innovators, and why the American Dream is still relevant.