Motivational Millennial | Passion | Dreams | Overcome Challenges | Purpose | Fulfillment | Motivation

We’re back for final episode of the Motivational Millennial podcast. Yes, it’s true … it’s time to say goodbye. If you’ve been a listener of the show for a while now, it’s very clear that we believe in a growth mindset. It’s because of this belief that we feel it’s time to end our Motivational Millennial journey and begin new ones. This was a bittersweet episode to record because we’ll miss this podcast, the inspiring interviewees, and our amazing listeners, however, we’re incredibly excited about the directions we’re heading with our careers and personal lives. Take a listen to this farewell episode so we can express our gratitude for the love you’ve shown us over the life of this podcast and find out what we’ll be up to next and how we can continue to support you. What you’ll hear in this episode: Our gratitude for the listeners, interviewees, and everyone who’s participated in the podcast in any way over the years An announcement about Ivy’s new project, the Mind Climate podcast What’s next for Blake in his motivational speaking journey Details on where you can listen to all our previous episodes of Motivational Millennial from this point forward Blake’s biggest takeaway from doing Motivational Millennial Ivy’s favorite moments of the Motivational Millennial podcast Ivy’s wishes for you, the listener, as you move forward in your life How you can continue to stay in touch with Blake and Ivy Follow Us On: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

The time has come for us to officially wrap up this season of the Motivational Millennial podcast. In this special finale episode, we talk about how we’ve grown this past season; with an eye towards how we can help other people through their own growth process, of course. In the Motivational Millennial season two finale, we’ll discuss the importance of remembering that our sacrifices are a choice we’ve made and not something people force upon us, how taking ownership of our choices can empower us to feel happier and less anxious, the long-term benefits that come from investing in your personal growth and development, and so much more! What you’ll hear in this episode: How Blake learned he doesn’t always have to lose for others around him to win The importance of remembering our sacrifices are a choice The ways Blake’s life has changed since realizing he doesn’t have to sacrifice to make others happy How Ivy learned to take ownership of her decisions What if the story we tell ourselves about our lives isn’t entirely accurate? The long-term benefits that come from investing in your personal growth and development The profound impact Blake and Ivy’s hairstyle changes this season have had on them What playing a video game helped Ivy realize about her own growth mindset Why Blake and Ivy refuse to be pessimistic about the possibility for people to transform their lives Follow Us On: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

In this week’s inspired conversation, we reflect on our powerful interview with Jackie Rotman. Jackie is the Founder of Everybody Dance Now! which is a national youth development organization. Jackie also served as the Executive Director of Spark, a philanthropic network of millennials focused on gender equality, and she is currently helping survivors of sexual harm and advocating for sexual empowerment for women. During our conversation, Jackie talked about the idea of restorative justice and how it can be used to not only heal the survivors of sexual harm, but also to heal the offenders. It’s this idea of healing that really stood out us and that’s why we’re diving more into this topic today. Enjoy! What you’ll hear in this episode: The difference between healing and punishment when it comes to individuals who inflict damage upon others Why Ivy finds the idea of restorative justice so valuable How restorative justice can help in a parent-child relationship The importance of releasing shame and how it can help reduce the desire to harm others What a video game taught Ivy about harmful societal norms How a healing perspective is helping Ivy adjust after moving back to a conservative part of the country Follow Us On: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

This episode involves a frank conversation about sexuality and sexual harm. While we feel it’s an amazing, and incredibly important conversation, listener discretion is advised.   Jackie Rotman is the Founder of Everybody Dance Now!; a national youth development organization. At age 14, she began using hip hop dancing culture as a tool for self-empowerment for young people. Jackie also served as the Executive Director of Spark; a philanthropic network of millennials focused on gender equality. She frequently speaks about social entrepreneurship, women's rights, and how to effectively engage millennials in philanthropy and social impact. Currently, Jackie is a concurrent MBA student at Stanford and an NPA student at Harvard Kennedy School. After a traumatic event, Jackie shifted her focus to helping survivors of sexual harm and advocating for sexual empowerment for women. It’s those topics we’ll be discussing in detail today. What you’ll hear in this episode: The two recent projects Jackie’s been working on related to sexual empowerment for women and surviving sexual harm What is restorative justice? How Jackie is working to close the orgasm gap and help women feel empowered in their sexuality The correlation between rape culture and female sexual empowerment The events that led Jackie to eventually begin her work around sexual harm, female sexual empowerment Jackie’s belief that we can’t rely on external factors to help us heal from sexual harm What sexual empowerment means to Jackie and how it’s been a part of her personal journey Jackie’s thoughts on the #MeToo Movement Why we need to destigmatize sex Follow Us On: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

In last week’s episode, we spoke with Lily Fontas; a wellness coach and educator who is on a mission to help women get strong, healthy, and happy on their own terms. While there were a few things that stood out to us from our conversation with Lily, the theme we’ve decided to center this inspired conversation around is the idea of a marathon versus a sprint. What you’ll hear in this episode: How Lily’s motto of “never diet again”, and the tension behind it, is the perfect example of the struggle between our actions being a marathon or a sprint How Ivy uses the concept of marathon versus sprint when creating systems for her business Why Ivy believes the idea of marathon versus sprint can be connected to self-care and compassion What the levels of stress we put on ourselves might say about how we perceive our self-worth How changing our perspective of the process can help us sustain a marathon pace Are we using the stress of sprinting to distract ourselves from the underlying issues that causes us to sprint? Follow Us On: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

Lily Fontas is a wellness coach and educator who is on a mission to help women get strong, healthy, and happy on their own terms. After struggling with a binge eating disorder and nearly burning out as a classroom teacher, she turned to bodybuilding for stress relief by combining strength training and positive reinforcement. She found a way to live a healthy life without dieting or deprivation and now she shares her expertise with women worldwide as an online coach. In this episode, we talk about Lily’s personal journey, the importance of finding a balance between paying attention to what you put into your body but not paying so much attention that it becomes an obsession, why the diet mentality needs to go, and so much more. Enjoy! What you’ll hear in this episode: What Lily loves about what she’s up to now Lily’s transition from being a kindergarten teacher to becoming a professional body builder Why Lily feared losing her job when she took control of her health Why it’s so important for Lily to help others become more fit How the health and fitness industry isn’t designed to help people lose weight and keep it off Finding the balance between focusing on the details of getting fit but not becoming too obsessive and adding extra pressure on yourself Why the diet mentality needs to go What Lily considers to be her biggest achievement and how she accomplished it The biggest challenge Lily has faced while building her business The importance of focusing on what you do want rather than what you don’t want How weight lifting has reframed Lily’s view of failure Follow Us On: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

In last’s week’s episode with Chelann Gienger, we talked about her incredibly entrepreneurial journey that saw her open a brick and mortar business when she was only 18 years old, why it’s important to see everything in your business as a growth opportunity, why we need to take “extreme ownership” of our lives, and so much more. In this week’s episode, we were inspired by our conversation with Chelann to dive more into the idea that we should embrace moments in the present to better enjoy our journey instead of focusing so much on the destination or goal we’ve set for ourselves. Enjoy! What you’ll hear in this episode: How Chelann’s story reminded Blake of the power of starting where you are now An example of how Ivy let the fear of starting too late stop her from doing something she wanted The role having a growth mindset can play in the story we tell ourselves about what we’re capable of accomplishing at any age What Blake likes about Seth Godin’s perspective on our threshold for failure What Ivy doesn’t like about Seth Godin’s perspective on our threshold for failure What do you want to gift your future self by taking consistent steps through your journey? How managing our expectations can help us be happier on our journey to achieving our goals Taking ownership of your journey to make it more enjoyable The difference between happiness and fulfillment Follow Us On: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

Chelann Gienger was recently named one of the top 40 millennials to follow in 2018 by the Huffington Post. Chelann is a serial entrepreneur who owns the NUYU Juice Bar in Washington state, is the Host of the Entrepreneur Before 25 podcast, and the author of Dear Millennial,: A Compass to Defining Your Unique Purpose, Pursuing a Life of Fulfillment, and Building a Legacy. In this episode, we talk about Chelann’s incredibly entrepreneurial journey that saw her opening a brick and mortar business when she was only 18 years old, why it’s important to see everything in your business as a growth opportunity, why we need to take “extreme ownership” of our lives, and so much more. Enjoy! What you’ll hear in this episode: How Chelann first got started in entrepreneurship The advantages Chelann says she’s had growing up in an entrepreneurial family The ways Chelann’s grown throughout her entrepreneurial journey so far The importance of seeing everything in your business as a growth opportunity Chelann’s challenge of opening a brick and mortar business at the age of 18 Which of Chelann’s incredible achievements surprises her the most? The parts of her book Chelann felt were the most challenging to open up and write about What Chelann would tell her younger self if she could go back and have a conversation with her Why we need to take “extreme ownership” of our lives Is social media causing millennials to be too flexible with our values? Follow Us On: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

In this week’s episode, we’re reflecting on our conversation last week with Gregg Clunis from the Tiny Leaps, Big Changes podcast. One of the main things that stood out to both of us during that conversation was how Gregg knew in high school he needed to change from being an introvert to being an extrovert if he was going to accomplish all his goals in life. He was able to accomplish that transition by throwing himself into theater and other events that put him in the spotlight. However, as an adult, Gregg’s struggled with understanding what part of him is still in performance mode and what part is who he truly is. It’s this struggle that we’re diving into today. Enjoy!

Gregg Clunis is a content creator, author, speaker, and entrepreneur. He’s also the creator and Host of Tiny Leaps, Big Changes; a top-ranked self-help podcast with over 2 million downloads. Through that podcast, Gregg helps people change their lives by focusing on making changes to their day-to-day behavior. Gregg is also the Founder of Podsimply; a digital education and services platform where his team helps individuals and businesses launch and grow podcasts that get noticed, attract an audience, and generate sales. In this episode, we’re talking about why people are drawn to Gregg’s research-based approach to self-help, what recording his thoughts during the grieving process after losing his father taught Gregg about opening up so publicly, the simple steps we can take to make big changes in our lives, how Gregg is attempting to embrace the fear of truly being himself on public platforms in order to achieve his goals, and so much more! Enjoy! What you’ll hear in this episode: How Tiny Leaps, Big Changes was started, and the emphasis Gregg placed on research during the process The types of people Gregg finds are attracted to his research-based approach to self-help Gregg’s experience of sharing so personally on such a public platform The biggest challenge Gregg has faced while building his podcast and community Gregg’s three steps for making big changes in your life The three main areas Gregg’s noticed people care the most about improving How the world cares more about the value we provide than they do about us as individuals Follow Us On: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

Last week, we had a great conversation with Kalyna Miletic about how to create a lifestyle business you love. In this episode, we’re going to specifically reflect on the insights Kalyna had about how we show up on social media and the role that social media plays in our lives. We hope you have as much fun listening to this episode as we did recording it. Enjoy! What you’ll hear in this episode: Why Ivy appreciated that Kalyna talked about how we aren’t vulnerable enough in our online presence Why we need to heal our wounds and then show our scars Are you really interacting with people on social media or just the platforms themselves? How scheduling social media time into our day can help us gain back some of our control Why taking a step back from social media sometimes causes Ivy to feel guilty and selfish Follow Us On: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

Kalyna Miletic is a certified coach and the Founder of KickStart Your Work. After seven years of studying what makes people happy, how people think, and working with millennials in 17 different countries, Kalyna developed a signature system that teaches the six keys to building your career in a way that will ensure you enjoy the work you're doing every step of the way. In this episode, Kalyna talks about the moment that inspired her to go from being a conformist to following her own path, what it means to have a lifestyle career, why our real identities shouldn’t be so dependent on our virtual identities, and so much more. Enjoy! What you’ll hear in this episode: Kalyna’s mission to build a tribe of 10,000 women whom she can support How Kalyna went from being a conformist to following her own path The event that happened in Brazail at 3am that made Kalyna realize she didn’t like her own business What the term “lifestyle career” means to Kalyna Why it’s so important for Kalyna to make an impact on women and help them obtain a lifestyle career The common challenges people face when working towards a lifestyle career The main way in which Kilyna’s business required her to grow Kilyna’s advice for those looking to transition to a lifestyle career but aren’t sure where to start How social media keeps us from exploring our interests and passions Why our real identities shouldn’t be so dependent on our virtual identities Follow Us On: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

In this episode, we reflect on our conversation with Daniela Plattner; a leadership coach and the Founder of The Future of Feminine. The two main themes of that conversation were intuition and purpose, so that’s what we’re diving more into today. One of us even reveals how Daniela’s formula for combining your pain with your passion to create your purpose inspired a complete shift in our business. Enjoy! What you’ll hear in this episode: Blake’s take on Daniela’s actions of actively cultivating intuition Examples in Blake’s life where his intuition kicked in How Blake and Ivy tap into their intuition and recognize it’s speaking to them Why it’s not all or nothing when it comes to using intuition to guide our decisions Ivy’s thoughts on how intuition is a conduit to a deeper knowledge and understanding The difference between emotion and intuition How meditation, prayer, and nature help us tap into our intuition How Daniela’s perspective of combining your pain and passion to create your purpose helped Ivy through a difficult time in her coaching practice Follow Us On: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

Daniela Plattner is a leadership coach and the Founder of The Future of Feminine. She's dedicated to helping individuals, communities, and organizations maximize their capacity to achieve their goals. Her retreats, trainings, workshops, and interactive talks have activated people around the world including leaders of diverse organizations, Fortune 100 companies, universities, municipalities, festivals, and conferences at the United Nations and U.S. Congress. In this episode, Daniela explains how her intuition led her to leaving what appeared to be a dream job and starting a business of her own, why she considers her insecurities to be her fuel, and how she believes our pain can be turned into our purpose. Enjoy! What you’ll hear in this episode: Daniela’s two favorite things about her business How The Future of Feminine was started Why the world needs more feminine leaders The technique Daniela uses to refine her intuition The story of how Daniela’s intuition led her to leaving what appeared to be a dream job How Daniela’s grown and transformed throughout the journey of her business The common challenges Daniela’s sees the women she coaches face Why Daniela considers her insecurities to be her fuel How combining your pain with your passion equals your purpose Follow Us On: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

In this episode, we reflect on our conversation with Dr. Laymon Hicks; youth motivational speaker and author. A theme that stood out to us from that conversation was how our experiences, upbringing, and community culture shape our view of what is possible for ourselves and our lives. It’s that theme that we’re diving more into today. Enjoy! What you’ll hear in this episode: Blake’s main takeaway from the interview with Laymon What living in Ireland as a child taught Blake about privilege Why we all should perform radical acts that take us out of our comfort zones The power of taking it just one step at a time Why compassion for ourselves and our journey is an absolute must The importance of celebrating our accomplishments How evolution factors into our need for approval Follow Us On: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

Dr. Laymon Hicks is a youth motivational speaker and author. He's offered keynote addresses and workshops at more than 150 schools and student conferences in 45 states for over 350,000 young people. Laymon obtained his bachelor’s and master's degrees from Florida State University where he served as Student Body President; managing a ten-point, three-million-dollar budget. At the age of 29, Laymon graduated with his doctorate degree from Northeastern University. In this episode, we hear about Laymon’s powerful story of self-doubt and self-limiting beliefs that he was able to turn into a deeper understanding of his self-worth, why Laymon feels so compelled to help young people do the same, how others can transfer their self-limiting beliefs to us, what we can do to break from that, and so much more. Enjoy! What you’ll hear in this episode: The two main topics Laymon covers when speak to young people What Laymon means when he says we need to neutralize the “weapons of mass destruction” How an email Laymon sent as an 8th grader changed the course of his entire life Why Laymon experienced self-doubt even after receiving his doctorate degree The struggle of not feeling worthy until you accomplish your goals but needing to feel worthy to accomplish them What a tough collegiate political campaign taught Laymon about building relationships Why there is no reason for young people not be successful if they truly want to be How others can transfer their self-limiting beliefs to us The importance of letting young people know their past doesn’t dictate their future Follow Us On: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

In this episode, we’re reflecting on our conversation from last week with Patricia Echeverria; a transformational coach and creative catalyst. Patricia brought up some very interesting ideas around how our mindset has the power to change our perception of our reality. While the end results, and our actions, may stay the same, how we choose to perceive certain situations can either help us feel fearful or empowered. It’s that topic that we’re diving more into today. Enjoy! What you’ll hear in this episode: How Ivy’s recent decision to move parallels Patricia’s experience leaving her job The importance to change our mindset so we’re making empowered decisions instead of fearful ones Why it’s okay to disappoint people occasionally Blake’s takeaway from Patricia’s interview about how clarity comes from moving forward Why we should always be taking tiny leaps   Follow Us On: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

Patricia Echeverria is a transformational coach and creative catalyst. She's the founder of the Creative Courage Club; a platform dedicated to maximizing our creative human potential. Her passion for design and social impact has led her to create global projects including a conflict resolution scheme in the Korean demilitarized zone, the redesign of a rural Indian Village, library of the future in South Central L.A., Design Your Life workshops for college students, and the Creative Courage Summit. Patricia currently works with inspired individuals who want to turn their vision into action. She helps them to overcome fears, limitations, excuses, and blocks so they can finally turn their most outrageous and inspiring creative ideas into reality. In this episode, we discuss what Patricia to helping others tap into their own creativity, how she realized she created her own reality and had the power to change it, the main personal development challenge she helps others overcome, the importance of taking imperfect action, and more. Enjoy! What you’ll hear in this episode: How Patricia helps people maximize their creative potential What led Patricia to realize she had the power to help others tap into their own creativity What courage means to Patricia and the role it plays in her life When Patricia realized she was creating her own reality and she had the ability to change it The main personal development challenge Patricia sees her people struggle with Finding clarity through action Why taking imperfect action is better than taking no action at all Follow Us On: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

In this inspired conversation, we’re reflecting on our interview last week with Laura Renner. Laura talked about how, through the course of starting and growing her business, she learned it was okay to have multiple passions and that she needed to follow her own set of rules. We loved both concepts so much that we’re diving more into them this week. Enjoy! What you’ll hear in this episode: Blake and Ivy’s main takeaway from Laura’s interview Why you need to honor the right path for you instead of taking the expected path How Millennials can sometimes unfairly devalue traditional jobs The importance of embracing our multiple passions Why our passions don’t need to become our career How mistakes are a good thing when you’re exploring your passions   Follow Us On: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

Laura Renner is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and has worked for over 15 years in the fields of Foreign Affairs and Public Relations, Education, and Human Resources. Laura is also the Founder of Freedom Makers; which helps military spouses find flexible work with small businesses. In this episode, Laura discusses why the concept of freedom is so important to her both on a personal and professional level, how Laura handles being multi-passionate, why it’s important to live by your own set of rules, and much more. Enjoy! What you'll hear in this episode: Why freedom is the main principle of Laura’s business How Laura decided to pursue Freedom Makers instead of one of her many other business ideas The ways Laura’s changed and grown since starting her business How Laura overcame her self-sabotaging tendencies Laura’s advice for millennials on the path to success and fulfillment Why brunch is Laura’s perfect example of living by your own rules Why it’s becoming more okay to have kids present while you’re working with other people   Follow Us On: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

In this inspired conversation, we reflect on our chat with QuHarrison Terry, who is a serial entrepreneur that was recently named one of LinkedIn’s Top Voices in Technology. QuHarrison’s interview was one of our most scientific interviews to date and we’re continuing that theme today by giving our thoughts on Transhumanism, our quest for perfection, the importance of making mistakes, and how technology is potentially hindering our personal growth as human beings. Enjoy! What you’ll hear in this episode: The drastic difference in Blake and Ivy’s takeaways from their conversation with QuHarrison What is Transhumanism? Are our smart phones actually helping us? If you aren’t making mistakes, you aren’t making anything How Blake and Ivy overcome reflexive fear How technology physically rewires our brains The importance of occasionally getting out of your habit loop   Follow Us On: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

QuHarrison Terry is a serial entrepreneur who was recently named one of LinkedIn’s Top Voices in Technology. He’s the Co-Founder and President of VNM USA, the Co-Founder and CEO of 23VIVI, the Marketing Direct at Redox, and is known for his marketing work at EatStreet. Perhaps most impressive is the fact that he’s been able to accomplish all this by his early 20’s. In this episode, we talk with QuHarrison about his fascination with Transhumanism, the values that were crucial to him when starting his multiple businesses, how he markets specifically to millennials, and much more. Enjoy! What you’ll hear in this episode: QuHarrison’s fascination with the concept of the inevitable human When, and how, QuHarrison fell in love with technology How QuHarrison’s technological interests have changed over the years Why Transhumanism scares even QuHarrison The three values QuHarrison kept at the forefront when starting all his businesses Where QuHarrison gained the confidence to start multiple businesses at such a young age How QuHarrison has had to grow personally to excel professionally Why QuHarrison thinks millennials need to make mistakes in order to be successful How QuHarrison markets specifically to millennials   Follow Us On: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

In this inspired conversation, we’re reflecting on our interview last week with Molly Mandelberg; a tech savvy strategist supporting coaches, healers, change makers, and visionaries to expand their businesses in a way that allows them to reach more people and make more money with less time spent. The two things that stood out to us the most during that conversation with Molly was that we need to be asking other people what we’re good at, or at least paying attention to the items and topics people are regularly seeking our help with, and why it’s so importance to have the right tribe of people around to support you. Enjoy! What you’ll hear in this episode: How the opinions of others have impacted Blake’s career path Why sometimes the easiest path can actually be the right path How to utilize skills gained from your hobbies in your business The importance of having people around who can hold you strong Are our distractions just a way to escape our work? Our tendency to seed advice from people we know will slow us down Why we sometimes need professional guidance instead of just using our friends and colleagues Big dreams and goals require big support   Follow Us On: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

Molly Mandelberg is a tech savvy strategist supporting coaches, healers, change makers, and visionaries to expand their businesses in a way that allows them to reach more people and make more money with less time spent. With the heart of a writer and the brain of an engineer, Molly is uniquely qualified to support her people not only to connect the dots and tackle the tech but also to craft their deep work into inspiring content and hot copy. As a business strategist and coach, she is known for taking the overwhelm out of big exciting projects, so they can be birthed into the world and received by those who need them. In this episode, we dive into the struggles Molly faced with her business, the importance of realizing the game is big so you should play small, why it’s critical to surround yourself with a community of supportive like-minded people, and much more. Enjoy! What you’ll hear in this episode: How Molly decided she wanted to focus on helping people with the tech side of their business The ways that Molly has grown since starting her own business The moment Molly was brought to tears because of her business The common non-tech struggles Molly helps her clients overcome How Molly still struggles in her business even though she’s attained success The number one system that’s helped Molly in her business Molly’s two main tips for new millennial entrepreneurs The importance of finding your tribe How Molly uses travel to further her personal growth   Follow Us On: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

Last week, we had the pleasure of speaking with Marc Guberti; who has written over 18 books and is the host of the Breakthrough Success Podcast where he’s had guests like Seth Godin, Neil Patel, and Ray Edwards. It was while he was speaking about some of his most successful guests and how they all have systems in place, that our interests were particularly piqued. It was a great reminder of how important systems are, not only in business, but also in our general lives. It’s that concept of having internal and external systems in place that we’re diving more into today. Enjoy! What you’ll hear in this episode: Blake dispels the myth that you must wear hard work like a badge of honor to be successful The irony of saying you don’t have time to put systems in place The importance of realizing you deserve to be supported Ivy’s takeaway from Marc’s interview about a book that is sexist but also powerful in a positive way Why we shouldn’t just focus on external forms of support How “acting as if” can help you manifest what you truly want The mindset you must have to be adaptable and successful How we constantly set ourselves up for failure The road trip that caused Ivy to change how she goes through life How Blake’s productivity has increased 50% since he gave up his to-do list   Follow Us On: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

As a young child, Marc Guberti survived a life-threatening illness. As a young millennial, Marc has written 18 books, and thousands of blog posts, educating millions of people on how to build their own digital marketing empires. Marc is also the host of the Breakthrough Success Podcast, where he’s had guests like Seth Godin, Neil Patel, and Ray Edwards. Marc believes that age is not a limit to success and that you can never be too young, or too old, to pursue and capture your dreams. In this episode, Marc discusses how the Boston Red Sox got him started down his online career path, his favorite personal and business development books, the common traits he’s noticed all his most successful podcast guests have, and much more. Enjoy! What you’ll hear in this episode: Why virtual summits are the next big direction Marc’s taking his business The main thing Marc has learned from doing virtual summits The balance Marc has found between celebrating his successes and pushing himself to accomplish more How the Boston Red Sox started Marc’s blogging career The main challenge Marc faced at the beginning of his online endeavors The common traits Marc’s noticed all his most successful podcast guests have Marc’s favorite personal and business development books Marc’s advice for other millennials on their own path towards success Why it’s critical to be aware of what you’re feeding your subconscious   Follow Us On: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

Last week, we spoke with Anna Nti-Asare who is a writer, teacher, counselor, a PhD student at Cambridge University. We were really inspired by Anna’s transparency in talking about all the times she wasn’t able to obtain the goals she set for herself and how she valued those times since they made her work harder and appreciate her successes even more. It’s that practice of gratitude that we’re diving into today and how is applies to our humanness and the global desire to obtain happiness. What you’ll hear in this episode: The main takeaway Ivy had from the conversation with Anna regarding a global truth and Buddhist psychology How we can reduce our suffering by becoming grateful for it Blake’s recent unpleasant experience that ended up being a great exercise in practicing gratitude Why radical acceptance doesn’t mean resignation Ivy’s belief that happiness is the motivator for why humans do everything they do Blake’s belief that reducing suffering takes a higher priority for humans than seeking happiness The power loss aversion has over human behavior and emotions Why you can’t forget to have gratitude for your moments of gratitude   Follow Us On: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

Anna Nti-Asare is a writer, teacher, counselor, a graduate of both Stanford and Cambridge, and soon to be a PhD student at Cambridge. Anna focuses her efforts on gender and race issues in the United States with an emphasis on how those issues relate to the country’s youth and pop culture. In this episode, Anna opens up about her own struggles in her educational journey and personal life and how she feels it’s important to look past a resume and see all the times a person wasn’t able to achieve their goals because, only when doing that, can others learn their failures aren’t actually failures at all. What you'll here in this episode: The type of guidance Anna provides a counselor to recent high school graduates The elements of Anna’s personal journey that resonate the most with her students How Anna’s resilience helped her receive a Gates Cambridge Scholarship The importance of talking about the times we don’t get what we want out of life How Anna keeps a narrative going with her students about self-worth as it relates to gender and race How Anna convinced a highly traditional university to let her continue her research and work around black feminism The profound reasons behind what having a PhD means to Anna How Anna’s international travels in her younger years helped shaped her views on social justice The importance of shifting our numbness to social injustice displayed on social media to letting be a motivation for change   Follow Us On: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

In this episode, we’re reflecting on our conversation from last week with the incredible Julia Price. One of the main things that stood out to us as Julia was talking about her experiences in the music industry was how she felt more doors open when you follow your passion and purpose. Today, we’re diving more into this by connecting Julia’s perspective to the Law of Attraction and discussing why you can’t always rely on the universe to do all the work for you. Take a listen and enjoy! What you’ll here in this episode: Ivy explains how the theme for today’s show relates to the Law of Attraction How science proves we should have gratitude journals Finding the middle-ground between using hope as a business strategy and not having any at all Why Blake and Ivy feel grit is a requirement for entrepreneurs and why they believe Julia is a perfect example How trying to maintain a positive attitude all the time is a form of denial Why you shouldn’t hide what you care about   Follow Us On: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

Have you ever experienced something so emotionally painful you weren’t sure you could come back from it? We all face our own challenges and our guest this week, Julia Price, is no exception. Julia is a musician with millions of YouTube views under her belt, was a top-rated Viner, and has been a featured artist on Good Morning America. She also speaks at conferences and workshops in the self-development field motivating audiences to turn their pain into power. While Julia is currently living her dream life, it wasn’t always that way and, in this episode, she’s talking about what she’s learned from her challenging experiences and how they’ve shaped her perspective and purpose in life. What you’ll here in this episode: Julia’s shift from just making music to understanding her deeper purpose The moment in a recording studio that made Julia feel powerless Why new generations of creatives should trust their instincts and be confident more opportunities will come Julia’s viral experience of a little boy standing up for her when she was sexually harassed The importance of having male allies Julia’s advice for others on their own path to finding their purpose How a painful health scare helped Julia realize the power of connecting with other people Julia’s perspective on the challenges millennials face How the death of Vine shifted Julia’s perspective on life Blake and Julia’s freestyle rap   Follow Us On: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

In last week’s episode, we spoke with Caleb Arring and Matthew VanHorn who are successful business mentors for LGBTQ entrepreneurs. During that conversation we talked about the medical scare that completely changed their perspective on their career paths, the unique challenges LGBTQ entrepreneurs face when starting and growing a business, why entrepreneurs should switch to outcome-based planning instead of to-do lists, and more. While talking with Caleb and Matthew we were particularly fascinated with how they were able to change their perspectives and see a direct result in their business. So often we convince ourselves we’re not capable of accomplishing the things we want when there’s actually nothing stopping us but ourselves. In this episode, we’re going to dig a little deeper into this topic. What you’ll here in this episode: Ivy’s biggest takeaway from their interview with Caleb Arring and Matthew VanHorn Blake’s biggest takeaway from the interview Using gratitude to switch to a “now that” perspective instead of an “if-then” perspective The difference between Blake and Ivy’s views on life purpose How Blake used gratitude to get through his CrossFit class   Follow Us On: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

Caleb Arring and Matthew VanHorn are a dynamic power couple who are also successful business mentors for LGBTQ entrepreneurs. After struggling to get enough clients to survive they’ve finally found success to the tune of over $20,000 per month collectively. Now, they’re passionate about helping other entrepreneurs in the LGBTQ community find fulfillment through self-employment. In this episode, we’ll discuss the medical scare that completely changed their perspective on their career paths, the unique challenges LGBTQ entrepreneurs face when starting and growing a business, why entrepreneurs should switch to outcome-based planning instead of to-do lists, and much more!   What you’ll here in this episode: How Caleb and Matthew started working together to help LGBTQ entrepreneurs Caleb and Matthew’s experience being both romantic and business partners at the same time The medical scare that changed Caleb and Matthew’s outlook on their career paths The unique challenges LGBTQ entrepreneurs face when starting and growing a business Why Caleb and Matthew are the perfect examples for their clients The importance of knowing your weaknesses and finding support as an entrepreneur The one thing that’s helped Caleb and Matthew work more efficiently Why entrepreneurs should switch to outcome-based planning instead of to-do lists Caleb and Matthew’s advice for millennials who’re on a path to fulfillment The danger of falling into the “if, then” trap Caleb and Matthew’s thoughts on the unique challenges millennials face in today’s world How LGBTQ millennials have had a different experience from previous generations   Follow Us On: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

During our conversation last week with Loren Trlin, in which we talked about how she helps young people figure out their purpose, we realized a common theme in that process was trial and error. This might have stood out to us because we’ve both used trial and error, whether intentionally or not, to figure out our own purposes. In this episode, we explain how trial and error led us both to where we are today, how our unhealthy relationships with money have had a ripple effect on various aspects of our lives, and why our issues with feeling unworthy of success kept us from realizing our true purpose.

Loren Trlin figured out her life purpose after burning out as a lawyer, launching 3 unsuccessful businesses, and embarking on a "Find My Why" experiment. In this episode, Loren talks about her transformative journey, how she responds to people who push back against the idea of having a true purpose in life, and how she was able to tap into her warrior spirit.   What you’ll here in this episode: The layers Loren had to peel back to reveal her true purpose What did Loren’s “Find My Why Experiment” entail? What Loren finds most exciting about what she’s doing now Loren’s response to people who push back against the idea of having a life’s purpose The most common challenges faced when trying to discover your purpose The major a-ha moments of Loren’s life The role alchemy plays in Loren’s value system How vision boards factor into Loren’s workshops Loren’s advice for millennials who are on a journey towards success Are you a worrier or a warrior?   Follow Us On: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

Welcome to the first official stand-alone after show episode! If you listened to our interview last week with the ultra-spiritual JP Sears, or even if you’re just familiar with his hilarious videos, you know that JP has found the balance between being funny and making some very important observations about our society. One thing that really stood out to us as we spoke with JP was how he’d been using humor to mask his pain and heal his wounds ever since he was a child. This is something we both have a lot of experience with as well and that’s why we wanted to dive more into this topic in this week’s episode. Enjoy!

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be ultra-spiritual? This week’s guest, JP Sears, can absolutely guide you. JP is an emotional healing coach, YouTuber, author, international teacher, speaker, and world traveler, whose work empowers people to live more meaningful lives. JP is the author of How to Be Ultra Spiritual, and is very active with his online videos where he encourages healing and growth through his humorous and entertainingly informative videos; including his hit Ultra Spiritual comedy series, which has accumulated over 100 million views. Thanks to JP’s desire to be ultra-spiritual, he’s currently living in beautiful Costa Rica; which explains all the wildlife noises that can be heard during this interview. Those that know JP only from his comedic videos, will get to experience another side of him in this thought-provoking interview as he openly discusses the wounds of his past, the dragons we must all face, our dysfunctional use of social media, and several additional compelling topics.   What you’ll here in this episode: How JP incorporates his love of language into his many creative projects The origin story of How to Be Ultra Spiritual Why JP thinks so many people connect with his Ultra Spiritual series The dysfunctional use of social media Some examples of emotional healing JP’s experienced for himself Why you can’t achieve your dreams without acknowledging your wounds and facing your dragons Are business challenges really just personal challenges in disguise?   Follow Us On: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

We’ve made it! We’re officially back with Season 2! Did you miss us? Thanks to the incredible feedback we’ve received from our amazing listeners, we’ve decided to change up the format of the show a little bit. Don’t worry, we’re explaining everything in today’s episode. We’re also talking about the biggest ways we’ve grown since the end of Season 1 because you know we’re all about personal growth and transformation on this show.   What you’ll hear in this episode: A change in the format of the show What “secret perfectionist weapon” did Blake eliminate from his life? The ways Blake and Ivy have each grown since the end of Season 1 Why our choices can help us stop being victims of our circumstances How Ivy’s ongoing struggle with anxiety has helped her feel more empowered The importance of acknowledging and evaluating your emotions Why Blake doesn’t like Taylor Swift’s new song and Ivy’s annoyed by John Mayer The power of being part of a community   Follow Us On: Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

Welcome to the Season 1 Finale! Today we’re talking about how we’ve grown in the podcast, our lives, and our businesses---all around the theme of vulnerability. Let’s explore the topic together! What you’ll hear in this episode: Recurrent themes for our guests and for us: vulnerability and authenticity Why vulnerability does NOT equal weakness What vulnerability really is and how it shows up for us The irony of our goal for the podcast (sharing with people the human stories and journeys of phenomenal millennials who have had struggles) and how it’s helped us in the process If you feel scared and “not big enough” . . . Why a “to-do” list can be overwhelming The vulnerability around trusting yourself and listening to your intuition Moving forward from a grounded place and in alignment with your values “Your business success is a function of how many uncomfortable conversations you have.” –Tim Ferris Being supported, strong, and focused Why it shows vulnerability to care about something A look ahead to Season 2 in the fall Resources: www.motivationalmillennial.com (Find our newsletter, a free gift, and our e-guide, Motivating Your Millennial Mind) Email us: ivy@motivationalmillennial.com or blake@motivationalmillennial.com  

After a life-threatening hospitalization in 2011 from an unforeseen development of Type I Diabetes, Latisha Di Venuto decided that life was too short to not live for her true passions: The Arts and humanities.  Since taking classes, pursuing auditions and doing stand-up shows, Latisha has become a professional actor with appearances on HBO’s Girls, Orange is the New Black, and Street Behavior.  In addition to acting, she loves music, dancing like nobody is watching, and doing marathons... of TV shows.   You can read the full show notes at www.motivationalmillennial.com.  

Do you ever feel like you aren't where you are supposed to be in life? Do you feel like the world has left you behind? It's during these times that we need faith the most. Listen to hear how career coach Evangelia Leclaire is navigating a season of faith while balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship.   Evangelia is an expert career coach at The Muse, and the Founder of Career Ready Set Rock, an independent consultancy for millennial women, moms and moms-to-be who want to make more moves, money, and meaning in their lives and careers.   Evangelia has gone from a Fortune 100 company career to a start-up called Dream Careers that she helped grow globally. There she helped young people discover and pursue their career dreams.   Although Evangelia is a career strategist who swears by strengths assessments and action plans, at heart, she believes that the greatest life blessings and lessons come from being present, surrendering and having faith.     What you'll hear in this episode:   What Evangelia is up to right now How Evangelia’s career identity shifted since becoming a mother What it means to Evangelia to be authentic  Helpful tips to guide people in their journey of self-discovery  One of Evangelia’s greatest accomplishments The biggest challenge Evangelia has faced What it's like to be in a "season of faith" How Evangelia balances motherhood with entrepreneurship Learn the challenges that the millennial generation faces How to support millennials    Resources: The Success Principle by Jack Canfield  Evangelia LeClaire Motivational Millennial Free Gift  Motivational Millennial    

Is there something that you loved as a child and never stopped loving? For Coyote Peterson, his love and connection to animals has never left him. In this episode, we are interviewing Coyote about his how his passion and the support of his team have led him to success. Tune in to listen to the incredible stories that have shaped his journey.   Coyote is an avid adventurer and animal expert who hosts the Brave Wilderness Channel and the Emmy Award-winning show, Breaking Trail.   Since childhood, animals have played a huge role in his life. Each one of them, from the bizarre to the deadly, have led him on countless pursuits to understand their true nature and develop an appreciation for the incredible habitats they call home.   His goal is to make animal conservation and education entertaining for the next wave of explorers and to further promote compassion and welfare for the natural world through the curiosity it provokes. You can read the full show notes at www.motivationalmillennial.com

Do you feel like since you been doing something for so long that you can’t do something new? Feel like you can’t transition into a new vocation? You can achieve anything. You just need to know what you want to achieve and go after it.  Lee Norris has been an actor for 26 years. He was on the television shows One Tree Hill, Boy Meets World, and the Torklesons and some movies: the Zodiac and Blood Done Sign my Name. Lee is currently transitioning into the business side of the movie world. After 26 years of acting, he is taking the connections and experiences and using them in a new way. You can read the full show notes at www.motivationalmillennial.com.

Jules Schroeder is the founder of Unconventional Life, a podcast hosted on Forbes’ Under 30 Channel that profiles millennials who earn their living in non-traditional ways. Jules launched her first 6-figure company at the age of 18 and first 7-figure company at 22, while serving as a digital marketing consultant for many top companies. You can read the full show notes at www.motivationalmillennial.com

What do you do on your time off of work? What if you could make that your living? Magician Ryan Kane does that very thing. Ryan got into magic tricks as a child and hasn't stopped loving it since. That could be you! Listen to this episode 48 of Motivational Millennial to learn more about how Ryan Kane has grown from card trick on the street to performing in large theaters in front of hundreds of people. Ryan is a full-time magician and comedian thriving in San Francisco. When he's not performing for companies like Louis Vuitton, Wells Fargo, and Google, he is headlining his own monthly show in San Francisco for theater goers and helpless San Francisco tourists. You can read the full show notes at www.motivationalmillennial.com.

Do you feel connected to the wilderness? Maybe Wild Awakenings is for you! Skylar Wilson is working to make a wonderful experience for people who want to connect with the wilderness and lose themselves in it. Listen to episode 47 of Motivational Millennial to learn more about what Skylar is doing and how you can be a part of it.  Skylar is the founder of Wild Awakenings, a conscious community of change-makers dedicated to the thriving of Earth, life, and humanity. He is a minister in the Creation Spirituality tradition, specializing in guiding sacred wilderness immersion experiences (also known as Vision Quests). For the last 3 years, Skylar has directed transformational events and retreats for thousands of people around the country, including the Cosmic Mass, an intercultural healing ritual that builds community through dancing and the arts. What you'll hear in this episode: What Skylar Wilson is up to What Skylar loves about his job Was it challenging for Skylar to go back to normal life? The things Skylar notices when he is coming back The goals of Wild Awakenings  When Skylar knew what he wanted to do with his life Skylar’s biggest dream and how for he had to go to achieve it  What the most significant challenge has been for Skylar and how he is working to overcome it How Skylar brings the wilderness and his work into his day-to-day life The challenges that some members of the millennial generation face   Resources: ivy@motivationalmillennial.com - for a reduced price coaching session Wild Awakenings - Skylar’s website The Hidden Heart of the Cosmos - Brian Swimme The Universe is a Green Dragon - Brian Swimme  

You always hear the phrase, “trust your gut” but have you ever heard from someone who lives it out choice by choice? It’s hard to trust anything with so many people breathing down your neck and telling you it isn’t a good decision. You forget what your gut said in the first place. Well, today’s guest is here to tell you how she trusts her gut in every decision she makes. Erin Mays doesn’t wait around; she goes where her gut leads. Erin Mays is co-founder of Ebco and is a design strategist and researcher with deep expertise in innovation and product design.  Erin has worked with top clients such as SC Johnson, Ziploc, P&G, Glaxo Smith Kline, and Samsung, among many others. She specializes in leading comprehensive research programs using an array of methodologies including in-depth interviews, ethnographies, collaborative work sessions, and usability testing. You can read the full show notes at www.motivationalmillennial.com

Are you struggling with paying attention and listening to your heart? Do you focus too much on what other people think than what you really want? Rob Reynosa is here to help. Rob is dedicated to helping people empower themselves and come face-to-face with their struggles and doubts. Rob has gone through the same struggles you may be dealing with. Today on Motivational Millennial, we will be talking with Rob about listening to your inner voice and following your heart.  Rob Reynosa is the Founder and Creator of the #1 Conscious Lifestyle Brand There Is No Ceiling aka THINC. He is a Conscious Creator, an artist and a visionary who has dedicated his life to helping humanity gain clarity about who we truly are and to help humanity understand and use the greatest power known to Mankind - the Infinite Power of their Mind. Read the full show notes at www.motivationalmillennial.com.

If you love cutting edge performance and experiencing some of the incredible things that uniquely creative individuals  are able to do, using only their bodies, listen in to today's show, with Blake and Ivy's dynamic guest, Superdope Beatboxer and Theatrical Wizard, Kaila Mullady.    Out of the box Kaila, who started beatboxing in the fourth or fifth grade, is the 2015 World Beatbox Champion, the 2014 America Vice Beatbox Champion,  three times Loop Station Champion and three times reigning Beat Rhyme Champion. She performs all over New York City, the rest if the country and in other countries, using beatboxing, singing, rapping, poetry and theatre to push the boundaries of creativity and to demonstrate just what the human instrument is capable of. Listen in today and get ready to be blown away!   Today, Kaila talks to Blake and Ivy about:   •What she was like as a kid. •What she's up to at the moment. •The fun she has, moving between being an individual performer and a collaborative artist. •The craziest idea that she's managed to pull off. •The unique show that she and her team put on in Switzerland. •The biggest dream she's achieved so far. •Her work with speech impaired children. •How gender issues affect the her in the Hip Hop Community. •How her accomplishments as an artist have surprised her. •The biggest challenge she's faced so far and how she overcame it. •Her advice to other millennials who are on a journey towards fulfilment and success. •The most challenging thing she's had to practice till she could never get it wrong. •Her take on the Growth Mindset. •The unique challenges that Millennials face currently. •Social Entrepreneurship- the way of the future.   Links: Kaila Mullady on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube. Kaila and her crew's website: www.beatboxhouse.com Kaila and her crew on Youtube: The Beatbox House   Kaila recommends:  Books: The Art Of Learning by Josh Waitzkin                                  and            Pedagogy Of The Oppressed by Paulo Freire  

Step of out your comfort zone and get yourself where you want to be. Learn to love yourself enough to get out there, and keep leveling up to be the best you can be, so you can keep moving forward toward success. Grow your skills to better your lifestyle. These are just a few of the success tips that today’s guest shares. You can’t listen to this episode and not be changed!   Christopher Burns is an introvert turned extrovert and owner of Burn it Up, a company committed to coaching you to get you to the next step! He has learned the importance of self-worth and gratitude. Listen to this very his energetic interview with the Motivational Millennial team.   Chris, also known as "Mr. Heartfire", is dedicated to awakening the Power in everyone he meets, so they discover and experience the god within and ability to create their reality, leaving them embraced in joy, love, and transcendence. Chris helps leaders and high-achievers to connect with the soul of their message, career, and purpose in life, ultimately creating breakthrough results in freedom, finances, and fulfillment.  

I’m sure we would all like to know all the answers to life, the universe, and well, everything. Considering a lack of information is part of being human, we’ll never know it all. We do have people who can answer many of these existential questions about health, perseverance, and reframing our circumstances, such as today’s guest - Avital Miller.    As Avital practiced her yoga postures during a backpacking trip around the world, people began asking her to teach them. She discovered great joy in sharing something she loved and helping to bring inner peace to many people. In 2004 she became a certified Ananda Yoga Instructor. She immediately started running her own outdoor yoga business, managed yoga and fitness programs at the YMCA, and became a teacher trainer.   Avital has a professional background in dance and has created spiritual dance performances, as well as movement programs, to help people direct their energy to the Divine. Avital received a Dance Major at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and studied Dance Movement Therapy. She has performed various styles of dance around the world, and is thrilled to now use those skills to help people connect to spirituality. You can read the full show notes at www.motivationalmillennial.com

From collegiate athletes to snowboarders, to commissioned visual artists, to yogis, we all have something in common with international energy healer and hip-hop artist, Ra.Be. Using the medium of freestyle rap as an extension of his efforts “to grow and to learn more and more of who I am.” Whether making music, working as a coach and mentor or doing any of several different kinds of yoga, he’s constantly practicing what he refers to as “the art of fulfillment in the day-to-day that allows the artistry to come through.” Join your hosts, Blake Brandes and Ivy LaClair, while we explore different facets of this jack-of-all-trades, and bring inspiration and motivational encouragement right to you.    You can read the full show notes at www.motivationalmillennial.com