Conversations with Sarah

In this episode, my friends Sasha & Vivek join me to discuss our experience with the world of Pickup Artistry based on Neil Strauss's book The Game.

In this solo episode, I get some things off my chest and explore how we can live within the boundaries and rules of a relationship but not let those rules define how we engage with someone at the expense of real connection and intimacy.

In this episode, Julie Chazotte joins me for an exploratory conversation about how change really occurs and how changing consciousness can change the world. We talk about both personal transformation as well as social and cultural transformation. Find Julie at: www.julieannechazotte.com/ and https://www.simpleshift.com/peace-of-mind-in-uncertain-times

In this solo episode I muse on loss and letting go, both of things that we want to hold onto and things that we're ready to give up.

In this solo episode I talk about judgment and how it can stop us from being free and allowing others to be free.

In this episode, I combine two conversations - one with Sasha Shennikov & the other with Deidre Lee. We talk about fate vs free will, how we think of fate, how we think of free will, and which one we think rules us all. It's a doozy! You can find Deidre Lee on Instagram @deidre4aday and on episode 32 of this podcast. You can find Sasha on episode 13 of this podcast.

In this episode, I interview Melanie Avalon--actor, podcaster, author, and supplement creator, amazing human--about her life and career. We talk about the major key moments in her life that influenced her career and we also went down really fun philosophical rabbit holes about fate vs free will, why people have different visceral experiences of successes and wins, and how the universe comes to meet us when we're putting the work in toward our passions. Things we mentioned in the show: • The LA Weekly article written about Melanie: https://www.laweekly.com/host-of-the-melanie-avalon-biohacking-podcast-reveals-her-expert-biohacking-advice-to-upgrade-your-body-brain-and-life/ • Melanie's blog post about eating times: https://melanieavalon.com/eatingtiming/ Here are all the places you can find Melanie: Website: https://melanieavalon.com/ Instagram: @melanieavalon Her book "What When Wine": https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0787D7GTT/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1 Supplements: https://avalonx.us/ Intermittent Fasting Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-intermittent-fasting-podcast/id1228755008 Melanie Avalon Biohacking Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-melanie-avalon-biohacking-podcast/id1474706111

In this episode I talk with my friend Maël Jayet about dating, love, polyamory, monogamy, commitment, communication, and everything relationships. You can follow Maël on Instagram @azuleyada

In this episode, I catch up with my friend Ryan Hernandez. We talk about podcasting, parenting young kids, the crazy switch from being childless to having a baby, art, and what it takes to be an artist. Check out Ryan's art at his website: artbyryan.com You can also find him on instagram @artbyryan

In this episode Nikki Carnarius joins me again for an update on her relationship and muse philosophy. We talk about radical acceptance, the problem with categorizing and judging, and how to have healthy relationships with yourself and others. You can find Nikki's work at: Los Suelos: https://lossuelos.com/ Esoterotica: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09YRR1P1D/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

In this "My Spiritual Friendz" episode I talk with my friend David about the stories we tell ourselves, our attachment to identity, and our experiences with Christianity. David is on all social media platforms as Fauxtivational Speaker - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fauxtivational_speaker YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCysxKS6taFVCz-ijBtpRfIg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fauxtivational_speaker

In this episode I explore the cracks in my story about how I relate with men and think about the ways in which we can all find cracks in our stories and beliefs that aren't serving us.

In this episode I interview the Founder of BANGS shoes, Hannah Davis! We met randomly at a coffee shop in Asheville after I'd owned my BANGS for multiple years, long before I moved here! Hannah gives us the details on how BANGS came to be, why she started a shoe company, and how the company contributes to social impact. This story is full of twists and turns and fascinating insights. It was such a pleasure to interview Hannah now 10 years after she started the company. The TED Talk Hannah mentioned: The way we think about charity is dead wrong" Dan Pallotta https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfAzi6D5FpM Check out BANGS at their website: https://www.bangsshoes.com/ and follow them on instagram and tiktok (@bangsshoes): Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bangsshoes/?hl=en TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bangsshoes?lang=en

In this episode I interview Tawni Sands. Tawni is a holistic wellness counselor who specializes in applied kinesiology, or muscle testing. We talk about her practice as a healer, the kinds of things she sees with clients, and her perspective on what healing is and how it works within the body, mind, and soul. You can find Tawni at her website https://www.holisticsands.com/ and on Instagram @teatimewithtawni

In this episode with my friend Vivek, we talk about (almost) everything under the sun, starting with dating and nutrition and moving on to talk about being present and active in your own life instead of avoiding it out of fear. We talk about values and the way we signal to ourselves and others what kind of person we want to be in life. You can find Vivek on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vivekt17/ And Twitter: https://twitter.com/vivekt17

In this episode I talk with Deidre Lee, a personal development and mindset coach, performer, and all around fabulous human and friend. We talk about the practice of creating the lives we want to live by discontinuing the stories that get in our way. We focus in on the practice of pride - what it means to be proud, how to embody pride, and how it can help us live better, more fulfilling and authentic lives. You can find Deidre at the Westside Comedy Theater in Santa Monica California and at her instagram @deidre4aday

In this solo episode I explore how intently and deliberately following my creative impulse has made me less interested in relationships. I also reflect on the past and upcoming Jupiter-Neptune conjunction and how I both found my authentic self and abandoned it over the last thirteen years by putting what others think of me first. Other episodes I mentioned: 18: Retired with Kerri Feazell: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/18-retired-with-kerri-feazell/id1469984146?i=1000453988559 19: Abdicating the Throne with Dr. Jeff Ptak: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/19-abdicating-the-throne-with-dr-jeff-ptak/id1469984146?i=1000454884667 27: Shattering the Perceptual Filter: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/27-shattering-the-perceptual-filter/id1469984146?i=1000552439570

In this solo episode I talk out my anxiety about going back to LA so soon after I've moved to Asheville, my fear of losing the good things in my life, and the mindset shift I discover.

In this episode I speak with Zoë Lumiere, a life coach who helps her clients release past hurt through feeling their feelings so they can manifest the lives of their dreams, from relationships to career. Zoë has two Masters in Spiritual Psychology and a Doctor in Spiritual Science. She has also studied Clinical Psychology, and now specializes in Gestalt Therapy, NLP, and Humanistic Client-Centered Therapy. In the episode, Zoë tells us the story of how she went from feeling unlovable and broken to finding the love of her life through giving her unexpressed and unacknowledged feelings a voice and healing childhood trauma. You can find out more about Zoë here: About Zoë: https://zoelumiere.com/about/ Free Resources: https://zoelumiere.com/spiritual-coaching/free-allowing-love-resources/ Instagram: @drzoelumiere & @allowingdotlove Zoë's Tik Tok Famous Dog: @fenixlumiere

Another solo episode in which I tell the story of how I crushed my creative impulse for years and how I'm managing my deep pull toward art with my fear that it's not enough.

In this solo episode I muse about my first awakening experience in which my entire perceptual filter was shattered. I ponder whether or not it can be shattered again.

In this episode, I muse about a few different life changing moments that I never expected to be life-changing.

In this solo episode I wax poetic on structure, form, and formlessness and the cycle of creation and dissolution. I talk about what astrology is adding to my life and the vulnerability of entering a creative path in a dark forest.

In this episode I talk about my process of creating community in my new city - my relationship to "the other" and to friends, and the actions taken (or not taken!) to make new friends.

This episode is my debut of "season 2" of the podcast after a long hiatus. I muse about the past two years and talk about my hopes for the future of this podcast.

In this episode, Nikki Carnarius explains to me why she calls her crushes "muses". We discuss how shameful a crush-relationship can feel and discuss how turning that fun crush energy into art can be productive and positive. You can follow Nikki: on instagram @nikki_carnarius on twitter: @nikkicarnarius on dribble: www.dribbble.com/ncarnarius And look out for her web series "The Custodians" in 2020!

In this episode, I talk with Chris Alvarado, one of my favorite people who I met at the Westside Comedy Theater. He's a passionate improvisor and improv teacher and I wanted to talk to him about what he's passionate about. We ended up talking about so much more. About beauty and physical attractiveness. About childhood dreams. About courage and fear and leaning into what truly calls us vs. what we think we should do or what we think should bring us happiness. To find out more about Chris, follow him on Instagram @chrisalvarado and listen to him on the Alchemy This podcast: https://www.alchemythis.com/

In this episode, I talk with Lindsay Weglarz about a career change and transformation. She went from wanting to be a writer in the entertainment industry to working in a rehab, and never felt more fulfilled. We talk about how to live a life of purpose, meaning, and fulfillment and how to let go of old ideas of who we think we should be in order to be who we really are.

In this episode I speak with my chiropractor, Dr. Jeffrey Ptak. He tells me about a moment in his recent life in which his entire perception changed and he felt more free. We talked about the negative side of positive judgments, the ways in which we all abdicate our power to others, and the unexpected moments that something clicks and our lives change for the better.

In this episode I have an intimate and philosophically explorative conversation with my friend and neighbor, Kerri Feazell. We talk about the concept of work and having a job, of my experience with attempted suicide, of the ways in which we're free to choose the lives we want to live. And Kerri gives me the biggest news of all - that she's retired!

This is the third part of a conversation with my Dad, Mark Samuel, and his wife, Kamin Samuel. We talk about career and about work and money, about what success means to us all and the ways we feel like we've failed. We talk about how difficult it is sometimes to value our natural gifts and how it can be easy to disregard them as inconsequential because they come so easily to us. To find out more about my dad, you can find him here: www.bstate.com And to find out more about Kamin, you can find her here: www.kaminsamuel.com

In part two of this conversation with my dad, his wife, Kamin Samuel, joins us to talk about her experience with education, work, success, failure, and bankruptcy. We talk about money and how ideas of success can prevent a person from doing what they need to do from a practical standpoint. We also talk about my dad's expectations for me and how my choices met or didn't meet those expectations. To find out more about my dad's work, you can find him here: www.bstate.com And to find out more about Kamin, you can find her here: https://www.kaminsamuel.com/

This is part one of three episodes in which I talk to my dad, Mark Samuel, about work. In my exploration of my own work life, I want to know his idea of success, how he got to where he is now, and what his expectations were for my life growing up. In this episode, he tells me his entire education and work trajectory, how he went from high school math teacher to business owner and author, and what drives his idea of success. My dad is the founder of IMPAQ, a corporate consulting firm. You can find him here: www.bstate.com

In this episode I talk with my mom about her work life and what her idea of success is. I also ask her what her expectations were for me and how she feels about how my work life has turned out so far. While she feels a lot of the same insecurities that I do, she tells me to focus more on WHO I am rather than WHAT I'm trying to be, which I really appreciated. Next week we'll talk to my DAD! Stay tuned.

In this episode, I'm joined by my best friend from high school, Sasha Shennikov, and her boyfriend, Afrand Nikoukar. We're talking about motivation. What motivates a person? How do different people see the world, their place in it, and their influence on it? These are the questions we ask, as we explore the differences between Afrand, Sasha, and me.

This is a super exciting episode for me! I speak with my friend Nick Kaufman about his jump from career confusion to incredible success and fulfillment. We talk about creativity, comedy, and finding the core of what we're passionate about. Nick is one of the biggest reasons I have a podcast, inspired by HIS podcast, Nick Has a Poolhouse. Check it out here: https://tunein.com/podcasts/Interviews/Nick-Has-A-Poolhouse---A-Podcast-p553956/ or wherever you listen to podcasts! And you can follow Nick on Instagram @nickwk

In this episode, I play two Spiritual Guidance sessions from 2017 and 2018: an astrology reading with Phyllis Mitz that I got at the very beginning of my Saturn Return and a Rose Review with Karen Seeberg that I got sometime in 2017. They're both about work and they help tell my story from a bigger perspective, outside of my mind and outside of societal expectations. If you want to have an astrology reading with Phyllis Mitz, you can contact here here: http://www.astrologerphyllis.com/ And if you'd like to get a Rose Review with Karen Seeberg, you can find her here: http://www.livelovelaughmore.com/

This episode features Jeff and Kerri Feazell, two filmmakers with really interesting things to say about work, money, religion, spirituality, writing, creating, and life in general. I don't want to say too much because I don't want to give it away and Kerri and Jeff are much more eloquent than I could be in repeating them. Find them here: https://www.authenticbrandvideo.com/ with the code: Sarah for $10 off and here: https://www.concurrentproductions.com/

In this episode I speak with Jason Hall, a life coach and restaurant manager, and my friend from The University of Santa Monica where we studied Spiritual Psychology. We both have a history of being unsure what we want to be when we grow up. To us, career has been important but elusive as we try to follow our passions. We talk about Jason's history of school and work, his attempt at figuring out what his purpose is, and the content feeling of beingness that he discovered and how that relates to what he wants to DO with his life. We talk about mastery and presence and how any job can be a good one with the right attitude. If you want to contact Jason about his coaching services, you can email him at spiritiliberi15@gmail.com

This is a personal episode for me, and one that was difficult to put together. Talking about art and creativity has led me to talk about work, passion, money, and career, topics that have caused me stress and anxiety for years now. In this episode, I introduce you to my own relationship with work, money, and career as I choose vulnerability and sharing over hiding and shame. I speak with my life coach, Julie Chazotte, about contentedness and accepting myself for who I am and the choices that I'm making, about accepting what is and not questioning my deservability of good things.

Sophie Chiche, my stepmom and founder of Shape House, is back! I wanted to get into her mind a little bit so I asked her about something that I greatly admire her for: interior design! Interior design has always been a mysterious challenge for me and for almost my whole life I've watched Sophie in the process of creating beautiful spaces, from her home to her office to her Urban Sweat Lodge, Shape House and wondered how she did it. In this conversation, she reveals her inner process about how she makes the choices that she makes when creating and designing a space. This episode was really informative and educational for me and I even went home and changed my entire living room around! I like it much better now. So I hope that it gives you a nugget of practical inspiration as well. Huge thank you to Sophie, who endlessly humors me and my creative pursuits. You can follow her on Instagram @sophiechiche

In this episode, Jess and I continue our conversation about what it means to be an artist. We explore identity and how labels have helped us or held us back in our creative pursuits. This is a continuation of a previous episode and while you don't need the context to enjoy this one, I encourage you to go back to episode 05: Soul of an Artist (https://soundcloud.com/conversationswithsarah/05-soul-of-an-artist) and listen to that episode to complement this one. Big thanks to Jess for once again opening up to my audience about her thoughts and her life. You can follow her on Instagram at @jesskiers

This conversation with one of my best friends from college, Jess, is a conversation that changed the direction of the entire conversation about creativity for me. It gets to something in my question about what it means to be an artist that I haven't quite articulated yet. We talk about what it means to be an artist of our lives, taking creative agency over our choices and our experience rather than being a victim of our circumstances and subconscious habits. Jess talks about the God of Ambition, which she has, for most of her life, obeyed, but which she is now questioning as she turns to another creative driver. We also talk about what kind of art inspires us to create vs what kind of art feels inaccessible. This conversation is jam packed with tons of metaphysical and practical philosophy about creativity and life in general. I hope you glean something useful and new from it. Huge thank you to Jess for being willing to go on this philosophical journey with me and to share so much about her life with my audience. You can follow her on Instagram @jesskiers RESOURCES MENTIONED: Jess's short film, which I called the "grocery store video" I think https://vimeo.com/330254569 The Michael Singer books she mentions are "Unteathered Soul" and "The Surrender Experiment." They're incredible. Find them and read them. Jeff Tweedy's Memoir is called "Let's Go (So We Can Get Back)" and here is the Amazon link, you should buy it right away! https://www.amazon.com/Lets-Can-Get-Back-Discording/dp/1101985267

In this episode I speak with professional artist, Mary Doodles. She's been making time lapse art videos on YouTube professionally for 8 years, and we talk about how she came to do that, the discipline it requires to become good at an art form, and how to maintain creative excitement when the thing you love becomes your work. Thank you so much to Mary Doodles! You can find her on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/marydoodles and on Instagram: @MaryDoodles

As I continue to explore what it means to be an artist, I speak with my friend David Carzell, who believes that everyone is an artist if only they're supported as such. But what about people who don't consider themselves artists? Jaime Kinsella and Guy Tabibian help me understand why they don't really think of themselves as artists and why. Thank you to my brilliant guests! David Carzell: @davidcarze11 and @davidcarzell on Instagram Jaime Kinsella: @jmekinsella Guy Tabibian

In this episode, I speak with 4 people: a Professor of Education and Public Policy, my friends Chelsea Hogan and Ericka Young, and my stepmom, Sophie Chiche. We talk about what it means to be an artist, how to determine whether you or someone else is an artist, and what that means for our own creative expression. Everyone has different views on the matter, which makes the conversation completely fascinating. Thank you to my brilliant guests: Chelsea Hogan: www.museumprov.com Ericka Young: www.shootmytravel.com and @erickamyoung on Instagram Sophie Chiche: @sophiechiche on Instagram www.lifebyme.com www.shapehouse.com

In this episode, three of my wisest friends join me to talk about intuition. What is it and how do we differentiate it from other forms of thought? How do we learn to trust and follow it? Thank you to my brilliant guests: Sophie Chiche: @sophiechiche on Instagram shapehouse.com Julie Chazotte: https://www.julieannechazotte.com/ David Carzell: @davidcarze11 on Instagram

Welcome to Conversations with Sarah! A podcast where you get to listen in on some of my most interesting and personal conversations. This episode is a trailer! It'll give you a taste for what to expect in future episodes ;)