What do people do?

Melissa Colborne is a registered dietitian and weight loss coach in South Africa. She shares her knowledge about sustainable living without restrictive diets and teaches others how to foster a healthy relationship with nutrition and physical activity for a truly fulfilling life.  In this episode, we spoke about a career in dietetics, how to change your life and keep healthy habits, and the importance of gut health, while debunking some of the widely-spread health trends, among other things. Check out Melissa's website for more useful information: https://www.mcdietitian.com/ 

Rugile Matuseviciute is an audio-visual journalist and environmentalist, she travels the world to document people's stories of climate change, while teaching students and actively talking about climate challenges and sustainability. We spoke about a career in journalism and environmentalism, how living sustainably really looks like, and how to keep a work-life balance even when doing something that you love to do the most. Link to the book "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/615570    LET'S CONNECT Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatdopeopledonow/  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/whatdopeopledo/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatdopeopledo  Website: https://www.whatdopeopledonow.com/    Thank you for listening!   

Simona is a NYC-based vocalist, composer, a voting member at the Grammy Recording Academy, a music teacher, and the only player of a Lithuanian folkloric instrument called kankles in the US.    We spoke about the life of a freelance music creator and the life of an expat, how to find authenticity and deal with perfectionism, the importance of community and structure for creative juices and productivity, among many other things.    Check out Simona's upcoming events in Lithuania: https://kakava.lt/en/event/rare-guests-in-jazz-kankles-closer-to-music-with-simona-smirnova/6827/11586    Use our code "WHATDOPEOPLEDO" for a 10% discount at Hostinger: http://hostinger.com/whatdopeopledo or http://hostinger.lt/whatdopeopledo     Let's connect! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatdopeopledonow/  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/whatdopeopledo/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatdopeopledo  Website: https://www.whatdopeopledonow.com/    Thank you for listening!           

Greta Adlyte is a professional glider pilot from Lithuania, currently working in one of the Air Clubs in New Zealand. Greta was always fond of the art of flying - first as a passenger, and later as a member of a local aviation club since she was 16 years old. We spoke about a career in aviation, its challenges, and its joys. We touched on many topics, such as the ability to think sharply, perfectionism, how to deal with stress and gender stereotypes, and how important it is to learn how to ask for help. Greta reminds us about the importance of finding the courage to follow your dreams, even (especially) the craziest ones. Hostinger code 'WHATDOPEOPLEDO' for a 10% discount: https://hostinger.com/whatdopeopledo Jaunimo Kelionės: https://instagram.com/jaunimokeliones?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==

Dr. Chris Callewaert is a world-renowned senior research scientist at the Faculty of Bioscience Engineering at Ghent University in Belgium. Chris specializes in the science of body odor and skin micro-biology. He is also a founder of a start-up company creating science-based deodorants and related products. We spoke about carving a career in research, and entrepreneurship, why the Amazon rainforest tribes are less prone to various diseases, and what to do to have a healthy skin and gut microbiome which is a key to feeling good.    Check out Chris's website for more useful information: https://drarmpit.com/ 

Ryan Peacock is a professional wakeboarder and a multiple-time Britain's national champion. He also owns a successful wakeboarding business together with his brother, called the Peacock Brothers. We spoke about the ins and outs of building a successful business from scratch and the importance of physical and mental health along the way.   The documentary "Mental Health in Extreme Sports - We Need to Talk": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBCxypVJIN8       

Welcome to the second season of the What do people do podcast!  Your daily dose of inspiration and a large international community of creatives and doers can be found here:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatdopeopledonow/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatdopeopledo/  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/whatdopeopledo/  Website: https://www.whatdopeopledonow.com/ 

How often do you want to quit?    Michal Molcan is the editor of the Standart magazine. And a dreamer too! He kind of did the impossible: Michal started a niche magazine about coffee and has made it to be a well-known brand, publishing in different languages on different continents holding a strong yet nomadic team spread globally... His print runs are strong and growing, magazines are read in coffee shops in London and New York, yet he lives in Prague and loves running away to work retreats in nature. I had only one question for him: HOW? How did you build such a strong business?    Also, a founder myself (I'm guessing you guys reading are founders or freelancers too) I was curious to know how many times it felt too hard and too much? How many times did he want to quit?    It's a good episode. I highly enjoyed it. And I think you will too.    Standart magazine: https://standartmag.com/    Get yourself a copy of our magazine: whatdopeopledomag.com Huge thanks goes to our sponsors zyro.com: https://zyro.com/lt Use our code DOWHATYOULOVE to get 30% off - you can finally start your DREAM website. 

When to quit and when to stick?    In conversation with Sapphire Bates, the founder of the Coven Girl Gang.    It's an online community of women supporting each other through the highs and lows helping entrepreneurs to feel less lonely and less alone. In this episode, we look at Sapphire's previous business and what it's like to walk away from a successful project only because it stopped making you happy. She is an amazing example of what courage over fear can lead to - in Sapphire's case, it's a new business, a new career and a job she actually loves.    Coven Girl Gang: https://thecovengirlgang.com/   Get yourself a copy of our magazine: whatdopeopledomag.com Huge thanks goes to our sponsors zyro.com: https://zyro.com/lt Use our code DOWHATYOULOVE to get 30% off - you can finally start your DREAM website. 

Claire Fitzsimmons is the cofounder of If Lost Start Here, a guidebook to thoughtful destinations that make everyday life better. Her writing has been featured in The New York Times, Mother Magazine, The Independent, and Anxy amongst others. Before 'If Lost Start Here' she was an art curator working with such names as The Tate Modern, The ICA London and The Serpentine gallery. In this podcast, she shares a fun and fresh way to look at (and after) our mental health and we talk about her huge career change as well. It's not easy to make such life-altering decisions, however, we do tend to forget that we live only once and it's kind of cool to be brave!

Amanda Blair is a Daily Differentness Ambassador, a coach, a mentor and now a published author. Her book “Limited edition of one” is a philosophy on how to stop fitting in and start living your most true and unique life. “At other times, the pain had gone very deep. I seemed to load more and more pressure on myself to “get it right”. The result was often a feeling of rejection and therefore failure. A few times I'd exchanged my London second-hand-shop look for the corporate kit, complete with killer heels, to get my foot in the door of financial PR in New York. For whatever reason (perhaps that I don't like numbers?), it didn't work. I'd cooked local recipes badly in France to build a social life and ended up with nothing but leftovers. Even “success” had brought failure sometimes. Like when I made a good job of pretending to adore Wagner while living in Germany and ended up editing someone's 80-page thesis on him.” Amanda lived in 7 different countries for prolonged periods of time and is an expert of “when in Rome, do as the Romans do”. Until she discovered how much good “standing out” can do for us. In this conversation, we dive deep into why humans have such a strong desire to be unique and just like everyone else at the same time. We also talk about pink flamingos and why really hard life experiences have truly magical healing powers. Amanda's new book & coaching: www.limitededitionofone.co.uk Get yourself a copy of our magazine: whatdopeopledomag.com

Miriam Tyrangiel is the founder of a fast growing online bedding company Undercover. Starting small it grew quickly being picked up by world known publications such as the Stylist, The Sunday Times, Elle Decoration, The Times, The Evening Standard and many more. What did Miriam do to achieve success?    Why do some companies die out and others thrive? We sit down to look into various decisions Miriam made along the way and analyse why Undercover is doing so well.    Another subject we touch upon in this episode is motherhood. In the era of “FLOW” and other concepts created by men who do not give birth in the middle of their careers, working mothers are so badly overlooked. What if you sleep 3 hours a night and then still go to have strategy meetings and make decisions? What if you are trying to look after a small baby but also have to grow a team? All on very little sleep? There are torturing techniques based on sleep deprivation, and yet women are capable of going through that and ALSO building a business. HEROES!   You are not alone. In the “What do people do podcast?” we talk to successful founders about what their days and to-do lists actually look like. We hope you find comfort and reassurance in these conversations.  Some useful links:    Undercover: https://undercoverliving.com/ Online course for founders and freelancers: https://whatdopeopledomag.com/online-course  Huge thanks goes to our sponsors zyro.com: https://zyro.com/lt Use our code DOWHATYOULOVE to get 30% off - you can finally start your DREAM website.   

In this Change episode, Auste interviews Charlotte Cramer.   Charlotte is a Strategist, Speaker, Masters of Science student studying Applied Neuroscience, a  Social Entrepreneur, and an author who just published her debut book that already hit Amazon's bestseller list - The Purpose Myth.   In the book, Charlotte talks about the purpose myth -  the lie that the work you do for income must also fulfil your life's purpose.    So in this interview, Auste and Charlotte navigate exactly that. The meaning of purpose at work, a portfolio career, talk about Charlotte's book and discusses why our jobs falsely define who we are.   Charlotte also shares some truly valuable tips on what it takes to write a book or how to start a purpose project.   We hope you will like this episode as much as we did. Full of insights and tips to get you going! *** Books mentioned during the episode: Charlotte  Cramer - The Purpose Myth Julia Cameron - The Artist's Way David Graeber - Bullshit Jobs Elizabeth Gilbert - Big Magic *** Connect with Charlotte: https://charlottecramer.com/ Become What Do People Do? Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/whatdopeopledo  

Plant therapy, dance therapy, aromatherapy - how much have you heard about these disciplines within the mental wellness industry? Do you think those are strange? But then again, so was meditation or yoga, until it started to get normalized within the society we live in.    In this episode, Auste interviews Maggie Coker - a holistic mental health coach, creative mentor, and aromatherapist. They talk about how one can explore different kinds of mental wellness disciplines and other methods, so one can integrate awareness about their mental health into their everyday lives. And no, that is not meditation. We go beyond that. And while the conversation centers around broadening our perspective around mental health and mental wellness, we also talk about Maggie's creative projects in Berlin, community building, cities we live in, and societies that sometimes drive us to burnout.  Maggie is fantastic because she has such a broad perspective on all of this, and we just loved having her on the podcast. Hopefully, this conversation will broaden your perspective and show that we all have more options to find what's right for us.   Mentioned in the episode: Netflix show - Pretend It's a City https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13660958/ Sweden's first drop-in meditation center: https://www.thenow.se/ Connect with Maggie: https://www.flowertalkofficial.com/ Support Maggie's FlowerTalk Mental Wellness City Guide: https://www.gofundme.com/f/flowertalk-mental-wellness-city-guide?utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1&utm_medium=chat&utm_source=whatsapp Follow Maggie Coker: https://www.instagram.com/flowertalkofficial/   Become a Patreon, join The Podcast Club, and let's grow together: https://www.patreon.com/whatdopeopledo  

Chloe Kian is a YouTuber, blogger, podcaster, and a very recognizable face on social media. She went to film school and made a career out of vlogging. Her content spins around ethical fashion, veganism, books, and zero waste.  In the episode, we talk about how strange and unwelcoming the profession can be, even though it so often seems glamorous from the outside. Chloe also lets us into the backstage of what's it like to produce content and how she made it big (even though she doesn't think she made it yet!).  We all do have a bit of an imposter syndrome, and Chloe's raw and simple manner puts things most of us wonder about when looking at influencers with large followings in a very simple light. 

In this episode, Simona Schimanovich, a yoga teacher and transformational coach, talks about overcoming the fear that so often stops us from taking steps toward change. Simona spent 12 years as a designer/art director and lived almost everywhere from Vienna to Melbourn. Now, she works at some of Amsterdam's leading yoga studios.  Simona shares practical examples and ways to find the courage to make changes in the direction you dream of going. Follow Simona here https://simonaschimanovich.com

This episode is a conversation between our two podcast hosts: Rasa and Auste. What is the WHY behind each episode? What is the backstory of - What do people do? and what did Auste do before joining the team? This is a brilliant example of how the 10 thousand hour rule works in real life! Each week we invite people to share their vulnerable stories, and this time around, we choose to tell our own.  Also, the true podcast fans will love a glimpse behind how episodes are made. For example, Rasa (who's a non-smoker) had to smoke a cigarette before interviewing David Hieatt and Auste not being able to believe someone like Emma Gannon not only replied to her message but also agreed to an interview. If you're curious about the fake-it-till-you-make-it strategy, this episode is for you!

Miranda York is one of the most influential people in London when it comes to food. Not a blogger or a social media influencer; she's an editor of At Table magazine, writer, podcast host, event planner, and now a published author. Although she was at the last stair of the corporate ladder, she chose to start her own business.  In this episode, we talk about growing a team, or the decision not to, dealing with heavy pressure, finding inspiration when it seems there's none left, and meeting expectations you set for yourself.

Emma Gannon used to have a blog and a glamorous job in a magazine world in London that she left behind to invest her energy into the creative work she loves to craft. Now, Emma is a published best-selling author and a host of Ctrl Alt Delete, a podcast in the Top 10 Apple Podcasts about work, wellbeing & creativity.  In this episode, we talked about ideas flowing in and out, planning time, social media, content, and tackled questions many creatives ask daily. We hope today's episode will be as eye-opening to you as it was to us. 

Many entrepreneurs don't feel like they ever do actual work. It's more like a play. Yet, what we once loved, the idea we felt so passionate about, might quickly become a burden - we work too much and too hard, to a point where it actually becomes work - one we don't really want to do.  How does David handle it all? What are his rules to balance it out? Also, we talk about the hard mental health pressures he's been through and what helped him cope. 

Not all stories we share are fairytales with a happy ending; many involve constant search, confusion, and challenges. The end of a job contract made Maria Kahlert realize she had not only anxiety but burnout too. In our new podcast episode, Maria shares the honest, intimate, and raw side to the career change. What do you do when a long-awaited fresh start is interrupted by the lockdown? To hear Maria's take on it, listen to our new episode. 

Morten Nordstrøm's story is one of a kind since he's changed his career path not once, but twice. He became a painter at the age of 18, and by 20, he was already repainting houses. Then, he decided to get a degree, not one, but two. He got a perfect-on-paper job at Sony Music, which he then chose to put aside to follow independent filmmaking and photography. When you have a job, a passion on the side, and a family, something needs to be changed. Morten tells us how to know what to change and when. We discussed modern masculinity, fitting in, the issues with creating not for yourself but others, and other topics that will make you thirsty for change. 

  Reda Gudinaite has lived so many lives that she has lost count. Her summer job as a kitchen assistant opened up one of Gordon Ramsay's restaurant doors for her. Later, she moved to Vilnius and opened a coffee shop, the walls of which have heard stories screenwriters would die for. Now, she lives by herself in the woods.  We talked about reflecting on the self, being happy with less, and finding inner peace. Reda moved places and occupations to learn more about herself. In case you want to do the same, this podcast will make your journey easier. 

We could call Dr. Helen Graves a real champion for a drastic career change as she turned her passion into a full-time job. Sounds like a dream come true to many, but what does it cost to get there?   The career change can be over-romanticized sometimes- from being your own boss to working from home to putting yourself out there. On the other hand, living a double life, dealing with after-the-switch financial burdens, and knowing how to choose “right” projects are just on the top of the iceberg. Helen also opened up about so-rarely-talked-about issues such as impostor syndrome, lack of confidence, and workplace bullying. To top that up, we discussed how and why she finished a Ph.D. in health psychology research during the lockdown, although she didn't see herself working in the field. 

Back when Instagram was just an app for sharing photos with your friends, Sarka Babicka was getting free dinners at Michelin-star restaurants. After years of trying to make a name for herself as a London-based food photographer, Sarka decided to move back to native Prague and start a new life. We talked about feeling grounded, learning detachment from all-things materialistic, and being open to changes. However, making a change this big doesn't come easy. Actually, it took her a year-long road trip from London to India. Listening to this podcast might save you some time, though.

  Stine Dulong had everything one is taught to dream of. Working in London City as a corporate lawyer with FBI agents involved in some of her cases, Stine, outwardly seemed to have it all. Inwards, the opposite. We talk to Stine about performing the role that is not created for you, running away from yourself, falling in love with ceramics, leaving a job behind with no plans, and picking up the little things on the go that made her start feeling good. Feeling like herself. Today, Stine is a ceramic artist, has a famous ceramics brand SkandiHus, and is working with Michelin-starred restaurants. We talk about that too: how does one become an artist, and why one is expected to just be one, rather than become.    In this episode, Stine shares what it takes to have the guts to leave your prestigious career behind you, go into the exploration of yourself and allow yourself to take the small steps to do what you love.

Rebecca Rowntree is the kind of woman we all admire. She had her fair share of agency experience, later went freelance, founded a super successful This Way Up podcast, and became a mother. However, with success, there come mental health issues too. We talked endlessly about the perks of having an impostor syndrome, using anger to your advantage, overcoming so deeply embedded competitiveness, and balancing motherhood and freelance work. In this podcast, Rebecca gives a freelance tool kit to help your career work.  

Hugh Thomas, the CEO & a co-founder of brand Ugly drinks seems like someone who has it all. He has built a successful international company of healthy carbonated drinks with creatively carved visuals. But there are so many obstacles and struggles to overcome behind building a brand. It comes with episodes of depression, anxiety, and responsibility to pay others while having to survive off of a minimum wage. In our conversation with Hugh, we discussed how many failures it takes to finally achieve what you strive for and how a successful entrepreneur can feel deeply unhappy. 

Michael Stephens has spent over 10 years working for some of the world's most respected British brands - including i-D Magazine, Vice Media, Liberty London, Ted Baker, and Virgin Atlantic. Was he happy though? Struggling with a life-threatening eating disorder and a series of burnouts led him to leaving everything he worked so hard for - starting from his career to his home in London. It's a story about getting better both physically and mentally. We touch upon topics like what is ‘well-being'? Why is ‘self-care' so important? How are mental health and creativity connected & how to achieve work-life balance? Can you relate?   Also a special thanks goes to Zyro.com, beautifully designed and an incredibly easy to use platform to create your own website. Use code DOWHATYOULOVE to get 30% off.

Growing up in a Romanian village Andrei Lasc knew very well how to plant veggies and look after baby ducks. Yet, the 9-year-old Andrei had no clue who Eminem was.  How did a guy from the middle of nowhere become a leading copywriter and art director in Bucharest? It's a story about hard choices - Andrei always knew he wouldn't be happy in a stable job. Even if that job would be in one of the best creative agencies. And a well-paid one. When your heart tells you it needs freedom over security, you better listen.  This is a story about working for yourself because you simply have no other choice. Some minds aren't made to find comfort in office jobs.  In this episode, Andrei shares his tips and tricks on how to start small and become big, and how to deal with the financial instability that comes with the package.

Bonus podcast episode in Lithuanian! Here's an extract from our conversation with a singer and theatre director Kamilė Gudmonaitė. We originally recorded this while doing the interview for the 2nd issue of the magazine (coming out soon). It turned out to be so good and powerful we simply couldn't resist posting it as a podcast too. Apologies to all international listeners, we aim to only create content in English, this is a one time bonus episode. Here we talk about the power of therapy and what happens when you start telling the truth... to yourself. It's painfull to stop running away from fears, yet once you decide to go into the fire - to properly burn - it stops hurting and a new chapter automatically begins. This is a conversation about mental health, self love, and building a career based on believing in yourself as opposed to feeling like you are not enough, not great, and not worthy. We want to say a special thank you to all our patrons. You guys are the best encouragement - an army of friends who believe in us! Also a special thanks goes to Zyro.com, beautifully designed and an incredibly easy to use platform to create your own website. Use code DOWHATYOULOVE to get 30% off. We're also sending lots of love to Birutė Mineralinis vanduo for sponsoring the podcast, strong women and providing electrolyte powered water to fuel our small team!    

From early childhood, girls find their looks and intelligence being compared to those of fellow girls. It starts at the kindergarden and continues to workplaces and personal relationships. Instead of empowering each other, women are taught to compete to prove themselves. In our conversation with Tijana Tamburic, former model, Tedx speaker and Forbes 30 under 30, we talk about the magic that happens once women start to lift each other up even though nobody else is willing to. We discuss the importance of vulnerability at work, challenges that come with gender stereotypes, and how to flourish in both your personal and professional lives. 

Apparently, you can have a bestseller and a picture perfect career and still doubt yourself. People tend to think that the path to success is a straight line – as though once you start doing what you love, you'll have a few setbacks, but ultimately there'll be a happy ending. This conversation with Vaiva, a famous writer, is a perfect example of how there's no easy way to turn your passion into a paid job.

"I have only quite recently learnt to listen to my inner voice and read the signals that might mean that I should not take the project, usually because it would cause me more stress than joy." Success not only comes from putting in the hard work, it has to do a lot with valuing yourself. Learning to say no to job offers is a big part of it.  This is a conversation with Aleksandra Kingo, a freelancer photographer, about what working for yourself is really like. Bonus thoughts on balancing motherhood and a kickass carrer.  Apologies for not perfect sound quality, this conversation has been recorded in Corona times, remotely and we did get a better microphone since. Thanks for listening! 

This might look like a story about wanting too much and working too hard. Actually, it's about not feeling enough. Greta Madline worked harder than anyone else. She's built a good freelance life in her hometown and once it got comfortable - she moved to Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, where she worked even harder. Once Greta established herself there - she moved countries, and started all over again in Amsterdam, finally reaching a dream point: her client list was filled with famous brand names, she worked with the best people in the industry and her pockets were full of money. And then? She left again. No matter how much she achieved, she never felt content. Why? Yet, this time round, instead of looking for new work opportunities, she decided to… find herself. Why do creatives suffer so much at work? What's wrong with the “go-getter” mindset, and “fake till you make” it mantra? 

"How many people do you know that go to work every day and describe it as this thing I do 5 days a week so that the 2 days I can see my friends? It's such a depressing outlook for life". Matt Simmonds had everything - a successful startup, funding, career and media recognition. Forbes named him as 30 under 30, even the queen of England used the products produced by Matt's startup. He lived a dream life. And then, suddenly, he quit. Why? This is a story about not building a life based on other people's values. Matt spent a year trying out all sorts of professions - from an adventurer to a farmer, interviewed people who were incredibly happy at work, and he also met neuroscientists and psychologists all in order to find what an ideal job should look like.  At the end of it, he even wrote a book under the same name "The meaning of work". Find it online here: https://www.themeaningof.work/  On average, we spend 86 thousand hours at work - more than we see our loved ones or simply chill and enjoy life. Matt took a year off to figure out what makes us happy at work. We hope this episode saves you time & helps define what you really want from life. Secretly, we also hope it inspires you to stop doing “this thing 5 days a week so for the rest 2 days you can see friends…”  Sending love! This podcast is supported by patrons - thanks guys

"I was convinced nobody in London would ever hire me because I'm... useless. I had this idea in my head that I'm a failure even before starting something" says Indre Kulikauskaitė, a marketing strategist working in London, living in Vilnius and often based in Bali. After her startup failed big time (her relationship with a business partner-boyfriend followed) she was left with thousands in debt to friends and relatives, jobless with not even enough cash to buy a good meal let alone a mascara. This is a real story about Indre's journey from feeling like an imposter to getting a job and googling what she's supposed to do (and then nailing it), as well as learning to appreciate her weaknesses (hence they soon become strenghts).