Heroine

What is creative freedom – and when do you feel it most? Shyama Golden is an artist and designer who has found a range of ways to express her artistry. As a daughter to scientist immigrants, her parents encouraged her to pursue something practical. But after ten years of taking that route, Shyama felt the time was right to let her artsy side shine.Shyama shares when she has felt the most and least creative freedom on her journey to becoming a sustainable artist – from her work in graphic and interactive design, to her paintings of families living inside of dinosaurs and a giant Sasquatch made of cats. This episode will get you wondering what phase of creative freedom you're in, and whether it’s time for a change. Show Notes:-Shyama as a little girl: an introverted, only child who liked trying new and “weird” things. [2:56]-On her immigrant parents, college years, and how the nature of her first job affected her creative freedom. [7:12]-How rejection and getting laid off turned out to be a blessing in disguise. [13:18]-From full-time work, to freelance work, to a sabbatical focused on making her own art. [17:28]-How a chance opportunity to participate in an art exhibit helped quiet her inner critic and revealed the positive power of deadlines. [21:58] -Deciding to move to SF for new challenges and opportunities, and the regret she felt initially. [27:09]-Shyama’s insights on sustaining herself as well as having mentors and patrons. [35:14]-The internal shifts Shyama has made to protect her creativity, plus her progress on Catsquatch. [40:38]References:Check out Shyama's work – http://shyamagolden.com/Episode Sponsor:Adobe Creative Residency – http://adobe.com/go/creativeresidencyMusic by Lucia Lilikoi – lucia.bandcamp.com

Interested in learning how to de-condition away from fear and towards bravery? According to Caroline Paul, girls are socialized to be fearful instead of brave — and it’s not doing us any favors. As one of the first women in the SF Fire Department and author of the children’s book, The Gutsy Girl: Escapades for Your Life of Epic Adventure, Caroline has great insights on the relationship between being adventurous and being creative.Caroline talks about how interacting with nature can help us cultivate bravery, and shares powerful insights on the relationship between fear and exhilaration. She also does a fantastic job of breaking down the cultural rituals between men and women, which can help explain why women sometimes feel uncomfortable in male-dominated workplaces. Show Notes:-Growing up as the shy twin: how being an identical twin uniquely shaped Caroline growing up. [4:52]-Discussing the research on girls during the pivotal pre-teen years, and what that time was like for Caroline. [9:39]-College years, being baffled by the idea of careers and what she wanted to do, and how she came to be one of the first women at SF Fire Department. [13:32]-Caroline shares about the early difficulties of working in such a male-dominated field, and the different cultural rituals between men and women. [19:35]-Being the first to volunteer for things, striving to out-brave the men and the backlash that came with that, and the different flavors of bravery. [26:25]-On why parents protect girls more than boys, and the revelation Caroline’s mother had that led her to encourage her daughters to be more adventurous. [29:24]-On Caroline’s book, The Gutsy Girl: Escapades for Your Life of Epic Adventure. [32:09]-How we begin the process of de-conditioning ourselves away from fear: Caroline’s advice to practice bravery in small steps, and her powerful final thoughts. [35:08]References:Caroline’s website: http://www.carolinepaul.com/Get Caroline’s book, The Gutsy Girl: https://www.amazon.com/Gutsy-Girl-Escapades-Your-Adventure/dp/1632861232Caroline’s TED Talk, “To raise brave girls, encourage adventure”: http://www.ted.com/talks/caroline_paul_to_raise_brave_girls_encourage_adventureCaroline’s New York Times Op-Ed, “Why do we teach girls that it’s cute to be scared?”: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/21/opinion/sunday/why-do-we-teach-girls-that-its-cute-to-be-scared.html?_r=0Episode Sponsors:UENO – https://ueno.co/careersAdobe Creative Residency – http://adobe.com/go/creativeresidency Music by Lucia Lilikoi – lucia.bandcamp.com

Interested in learning how to de-condition away from fear and towards bravery? According to Caroline Paul, girls are socialized to be fearful instead of brave — and it’s not doing us any favors. As one of the first women in the SF Fire Department and author of the children’s book, The Gutsy Girl: Escapades for Your Life of Epic Adventure, Caroline has great insights on the relationship between being adventurous and being creative.Caroline talks about how interacting with nature can help us cultivate bravery, and shares powerful insights on the relationship between fear and exhilaration. She also does a fantastic job of breaking down the cultural rituals between men and women, which can help explain why women sometimes feel uncomfortable in male-dominated workplaces. Show Notes:-Growing up as the shy twin: how being an identical twin uniquely shaped Caroline growing up. [4:52]-Discussing the research on girls during the pivotal pre-teen years, and what that time was like for Caroline. [9:39]-College years, being baffled by the idea of careers and what she wanted to do, and how she came to be one of the first women at SF Fire Department. [13:32]-Caroline shares about the early difficulties of working in such a male-dominated field, and the different cultural rituals between men and women. [19:35]-Being the first to volunteer for things, striving to out-brave the men and the backlash that came with that, and the different flavors of bravery. [26:25]-On why parents protect girls more than boys, and the revelation Caroline’s mother had that led her to encourage her daughters to be more adventurous. [29:24]-On Caroline’s book, The Gutsy Girl: Escapades for Your Life of Epic Adventure. [32:09]-How we begin the process of de-conditioning ourselves away from fear: Caroline’s advice to practice bravery in small steps, and her powerful final thoughts. [35:08]References:Caroline’s website: http://www.carolinepaul.com/Get Caroline’s book, The Gutsy Girl: https://www.amazon.com/Gutsy-Girl-Escapades-Your-Adventure/dp/1632861232Caroline’s TED Talk, “To raise brave girls, encourage adventure”: http://www.ted.com/talks/caroline_paul_to_raise_brave_girls_encourage_adventureCaroline’s New York Times Op-Ed, “Why do we teach girls that it’s cute to be scared?”: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/21/opinion/sunday/why-do-we-teach-girls-that-its-cute-to-be-scared.html?_r=0Episode Sponsors:UENO – https://ueno.co/careersAdobe Creative Residency – http://adobe.com/go/creativeresidency Music by Lucia Lilikoi – lucia.bandcamp.com

On the heroine’s journey, a lot of our speakers find that they return to the magic, playfulness, and confidence they had as little girls. Linda Liukas is a beautiful example of this cycle. A computer programmer and children’s book author, she hopes to create a more diverse and colorful perspective of technology – starting with the poetry of coding. Linda’s coding book for children quickly became one of Kickstarter’s most highly funded children’s books, and her recent TEDx talk has garnered over 1.5 million views. Her unapologetic, girlish enthusiasm is contagious – she’ll get you thinking back to what you were like as a little girl and perhaps remind you of parts of yourself you’d like to reclaim. Show Notes:-Linda as a very imaginative little girl who loved role-playing with friends and tinkering on her dad’s computer. [3:51]-How she came to develop a brave and curious attitude towards technology, plus the hilarious story of teaching herself to build a fan website for her girlhood crush, Al Gore. [7:30]-Thoughts on identity: Linda talks about how pre-teen girls often feel like they have to define themselves in very binary terms. [13:20]-Linda’s decade away from computers and technology, what she did instead and why, and how she found her calling. [18:20]-The small steps that led to her true career, early opportunities, and the start of her children’s book. [21:48]-On getting swept up by projects, never graduating, and moving to New York to work with a new start-up. [28:34]-Dealing with self-doubt as her book started to take off, and the importance of taking time and creating empty space for deep work. [34:45]-Launching her kickstarter: How she dealt with imposter syndrome as she started to see huge success. [41:04]-On her TEDx talk and speaking more broadly about her work, plus Linda’s insights on being many things at the same time. [48:27]References:Hello Ruby website: http://www.helloruby.com/Linda's TEDx talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/linda_liukas_a_delightful_way_to_teach_kids_about_computersEpisode Sponsor:Adobe Creative Residency – http://adobe.com/go/creativeresidencyMusic by Lucia Lilikoi – lucia.bandcamp.com

On the heroine’s journey, a lot of our speakers find that they return to the magic, playfulness, and confidence they had as little girls. Linda Liukas is a beautiful example of this cycle. A computer programmer and children’s book author, she hopes to create a more diverse and colorful perspective of technology – starting with the poetry of coding. Linda’s coding book for children quickly became one of Kickstarter’s most highly funded children’s books, and her recent TEDx talk has garnered over 1.5 million views. Her unapologetic, girlish enthusiasm is contagious – she’ll get you thinking back to what you were like as a little girl and perhaps remind you of parts of yourself you’d like to reclaim. Show Notes:-Linda as a very imaginative little girl who loved role-playing with friends and tinkering on her dad’s computer. [3:51]-How she came to develop a brave and curious attitude towards technology, plus the hilarious story of teaching herself to build a fan website for her girlhood crush, Al Gore. [7:30]-Thoughts on identity: Linda talks about how pre-teen girls often feel like they have to define themselves in very binary terms. [13:20]-Linda’s decade away from computers and technology, what she did instead and why, and how she found her calling. [18:20]-The small steps that led to her true career, early opportunities, and the start of her children’s book. [21:48]-On getting swept up by projects, never graduating, and moving to New York to work with a new start-up. [28:34]-Dealing with self-doubt as her book started to take off, and the importance of taking time and creating empty space for deep work. [34:45]-Launching her kickstarter: How she dealt with imposter syndrome as she started to see huge success. [41:04]-On her TEDx talk and speaking more broadly about her work, plus Linda’s insights on being many things at the same time. [48:27]References:Hello Ruby website: http://www.helloruby.com/Linda's TEDx talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/linda_liukas_a_delightful_way_to_teach_kids_about_computersEpisode Sponsor:Adobe Creative Residency – http://adobe.com/go/creativeresidencyMusic by Lucia Lilikoi – lucia.bandcamp.com

Debbie Millman is a writer, educator, artist, brand consultant, and host of the radio show Design Matters (the world’s first podcast about design). In this episode, she shares her wisdom on dealing with criticism, what to do when you’re in an ‘inner critic storm’, and how to funnel your energy towards your one non-negotiable.More about this episode: majomolfino.com/blog/2018/1/27/creative-revival-with-debbie-millmanShe and Majo also discuss Debbie’s darker childhood days, facing rejection in her twenties, and achieving great success in her thirties as a brand consultant. More recently, she realized a connection to her true creative spirit was missing and that she needed to circle back to it. As a creative woman now in her fifties, Debbie’s wisdom and words of encouragement strike a powerful chord. Show Notes:-Debbie opens up about her difficult childhood, touches on her coming-of-age years, and shares how she was recently astounded by a picture of herself from when she was two. [5:01]-The evolution of her creative expression: From making perfumes and writing bad poems as a girl to editing newspapers and magazines in college. Plus, how her twenties came to be dubbed “experiments in rejection and failure”. [10:45]-On rejection and feedback, the idea of the “good girl myth”, and the parts of herself she disregarded in order to please her inner misogynist. [15:28]-Debbie talks about her success as a branding consultant, circling back to her creative roots, and how it’s taken a long time to feel comfortable in her own skin. [20:56]-On getting bullied by a design blog, taking responsibility for our choices, and achieving your one non-negotiable. [25:16]-“Well-behaved women seldom make history.” Debbie offers advice on making things happen for yourself. [32:27]-How Debbie deals with criticism and feedback today. [37:08]-Debbie and Majo discuss an issue many women grapple with, and how they each are working to overcome it. [43:11]References:Majo's website – majomolfino.comDebbie's website: http://debbiemillman.com/Episode Sponsors:Adobe Creative Residency – adobe.com/go/creativeresidency UENO – ueno.co/careersMusic by Lucia Lilikoi – lucia.bandcamp.com

Debbie Millman is a writer, educator, artist, brand consultant, and host of the radio show Design Matters (the world’s first podcast about design). In this episode, she shares her wisdom on dealing with criticism, what to do when you’re in an ‘inner critic storm’, and how to funnel your energy towards your one non-negotiable.More about this episode: majomolfino.com/blog/2018/1/27/creative-revival-with-debbie-millmanShe and Majo also discuss Debbie’s darker childhood days, facing rejection in her twenties, and achieving great success in her thirties as a brand consultant. More recently, she realized a connection to her true creative spirit was missing and that she needed to circle back to it. As a creative woman now in her fifties, Debbie’s wisdom and words of encouragement strike a powerful chord. Show Notes:-Debbie opens up about her difficult childhood, touches on her coming-of-age years, and shares how she was recently astounded by a picture of herself from when she was two. [5:01]-The evolution of her creative expression: From making perfumes and writing bad poems as a girl to editing newspapers and magazines in college. Plus, how her twenties came to be dubbed “experiments in rejection and failure”. [10:45]-On rejection and feedback, the idea of the “good girl myth”, and the parts of herself she disregarded in order to please her inner misogynist. [15:28]-Debbie talks about her success as a branding consultant, circling back to her creative roots, and how it’s taken a long time to feel comfortable in her own skin. [20:56]-On getting bullied by a design blog, taking responsibility for our choices, and achieving your one non-negotiable. [25:16]-“Well-behaved women seldom make history.” Debbie offers advice on making things happen for yourself. [32:27]-How Debbie deals with criticism and feedback today. [37:08]-Debbie and Majo discuss an issue many women grapple with, and how they each are working to overcome it. [43:11]References:Majo's website – majomolfino.comDebbie's website: http://debbiemillman.com/Episode Sponsors:Adobe Creative Residency – adobe.com/go/creativeresidency UENO – ueno.co/careersMusic by Lucia Lilikoi – lucia.bandcamp.com

Grace Bonney started the blog Design*Sponge many years ago, and today it’s one of the most trusted places online to go for creative inspiration. Her journey has had several points of big changes, like when she decided to pursue her blog full-time, when she came out as gay, and when she was diagnosed with diabetes. She’s an excellent example of how we sometimes must cycle through the heroine’s journey more than once.Grace is also the author of the recently released book, In the Company of Women: Inspiration and Advice from over 100 Makers, Artists, and Entrepreneurs, and shares Heroine’s mission to support and empower creative women from all walks of life. In this episode, you’ll learn the mistakes Grace has made in order to grow, and the lessons she’s learned as her business has evolved. Show Notes:-Grace growing up: A quiet and shy girl who struggled to feel like her natural self was accepted. [4:17]-Transferring to a small liberal arts college after feeling like NYU was too big for her, and how that shifted her path for the better. [10:22]-Dealing with pushback and criticism, coming out at thirty, and the importance of transparency. [14:30]-On her early career, the evolution of Design*Sponge, and some deeply-seated patriarchal beliefs that she had to unlearn in order to lead. [21:08]-Majo and Grace discuss misconceptions about women, like the false sense of competition, and Grace shares how a lot of her growth has come from making mistakes. [27:24]-On setting boundaries and letting go of guilt, redefining herself and her business, and the aftermath of being diagnosed with diabetes. [34:11]-Defining success in your own way: Grace shares what a successful day looks like for her. [40:12]-Digging into her book, In The Company of Women. Grace reveals the huge myth that almost every women she interviewed had learned to let go of. [44:19]-Discussing some of the most important messages to women in Grace’s book, including the encouragement to take up more space. [50:17]References:http://www.designsponge.com/http://www.designsponge.com/bookhttp://www.thehivery.comEpisode Sponsors:InVision – https://www.invisionapp.com/companyAdobe Creative Residency – http://adobe.com/go/creativeresidency Music by Lucia Lilikoi – lucia.bandcamp.com

Grace Bonney started the blog Design*Sponge many years ago, and today it’s one of the most trusted places online to go for creative inspiration. Her journey has had several points of big changes, like when she decided to pursue her blog full-time, when she came out as gay, and when she was diagnosed with diabetes. She’s an excellent example of how we sometimes must cycle through the heroine’s journey more than once.Grace is also the author of the recently released book, In the Company of Women: Inspiration and Advice from over 100 Makers, Artists, and Entrepreneurs, and shares Heroine’s mission to support and empower creative women from all walks of life. In this episode, you’ll learn the mistakes Grace has made in order to grow, and the lessons she’s learned as her business has evolved. Show Notes:-Grace growing up: A quiet and shy girl who struggled to feel like her natural self was accepted. [4:17]-Transferring to a small liberal arts college after feeling like NYU was too big for her, and how that shifted her path for the better. [10:22]-Dealing with pushback and criticism, coming out at thirty, and the importance of transparency. [14:30]-On her early career, the evolution of Design*Sponge, and some deeply-seated patriarchal beliefs that she had to unlearn in order to lead. [21:08]-Majo and Grace discuss misconceptions about women, like the false sense of competition, and Grace shares how a lot of her growth has come from making mistakes. [27:24]-On setting boundaries and letting go of guilt, redefining herself and her business, and the aftermath of being diagnosed with diabetes. [34:11]-Defining success in your own way: Grace shares what a successful day looks like for her. [40:12]-Digging into her book, In The Company of Women. Grace reveals the huge myth that almost every women she interviewed had learned to let go of. [44:19]-Discussing some of the most important messages to women in Grace’s book, including the encouragement to take up more space. [50:17]References:http://www.designsponge.com/http://www.designsponge.com/bookhttp://www.thehivery.comEpisode Sponsors:InVision – https://www.invisionapp.com/companyAdobe Creative Residency – http://adobe.com/go/creativeresidency Music by Lucia Lilikoi – lucia.bandcamp.com

Are you a fixer who loves taking responsibility and caring for others, but feel like you have too much on your plate? You’re not alone. Today’s episode features Tiffany Dufu, Chief Leadership Officer at Levo League and author of the new book Drop the Ball – a must-read for all of us trying to do everything ourselves and struggling to embrace imperfection. Tiffany’s gems of wisdom include the value of delegating with joy, a concept she calls “strategic chaos”, and the three attributes to look for in a partner before you build a life with them. She also talks about motherhood as the last frontier of dropping the ball.Show Notes:-Tiffany growing up: An imaginative “good girl” who experienced early on a sense of injustice that sparked a feminist spirit. [5:25]-Trying to be valued and liked in her teenage years, plus the benefit of experiencing failure at a young age. [9:59]-College years, realizing she had more options than she’d been shooting for, and how she got into the nonprofit world. [15:11]-On the specialness of millennials and the powerful meaning behind the title of her book. [20:33]-How Tiffany and her husband fell into default mode when it came to the division of domestic labor – and what they did when that didn’t work. [25:10]-How to delegate tasks in a meaningful way and other essential tips for busy women. [31:39]-Learning to live with chaos: An incredibly amusing story that resulted in restored balance at home. [36:49]-Exploring our social conditioning as women, and how to stay focused on what matters most. [42:40]-Tiffany shares why motherhood is the final frontier in “dropping the ball”, plus the three attributes any partner of yours should have. [45:30]-On our relationships with our mothers, having a greater sense of service, and Tiffany’s final thoughts. [51:52]References:Check out Tiffany’s website and find her new book, available now, at http://tiffanydufu.com/Episode Sponsors:UENO – https://ueno.co/careersAdobe Creative Residency – http://adobe.com/go/creativeresidency Music by Lucia Lilikoi – lucia.bandcamp.com

Are you a fixer who loves taking responsibility and caring for others, but feel like you have too much on your plate? You’re not alone. Today’s episode features Tiffany Dufu, Chief Leadership Officer at Levo League and author of the new book Drop the Ball – a must-read for all of us trying to do everything ourselves and struggling to embrace imperfection. Tiffany’s gems of wisdom include the value of delegating with joy, a concept she calls “strategic chaos”, and the three attributes to look for in a partner before you build a life with them. She also talks about motherhood as the last frontier of dropping the ball.Show Notes:-Tiffany growing up: An imaginative “good girl” who experienced early on a sense of injustice that sparked a feminist spirit. [5:25]-Trying to be valued and liked in her teenage years, plus the benefit of experiencing failure at a young age. [9:59]-College years, realizing she had more options than she’d been shooting for, and how she got into the nonprofit world. [15:11]-On the specialness of millennials and the powerful meaning behind the title of her book. [20:33]-How Tiffany and her husband fell into default mode when it came to the division of domestic labor – and what they did when that didn’t work. [25:10]-How to delegate tasks in a meaningful way and other essential tips for busy women. [31:39]-Learning to live with chaos: An incredibly amusing story that resulted in restored balance at home. [36:49]-Exploring our social conditioning as women, and how to stay focused on what matters most. [42:40]-Tiffany shares why motherhood is the final frontier in “dropping the ball”, plus the three attributes any partner of yours should have. [45:30]-On our relationships with our mothers, having a greater sense of service, and Tiffany’s final thoughts. [51:52]References:Check out Tiffany’s website and find her new book, available now, at http://tiffanydufu.com/Episode Sponsors:UENO – https://ueno.co/careersAdobe Creative Residency – http://adobe.com/go/creativeresidency Music by Lucia Lilikoi – lucia.bandcamp.com

Design is powerful magic – It can help solve some of the world’s most urgent, critical problems. Patrice Martin is co-founder of IDEO.org, an organization that works to improve the lives of people in poor and vulnerable communities through design.Patrice shares about her past struggles to be taken seriously as a petite woman, what she’s observed as a difference in creative confidence between men and women, and some of the incredible projects her team is focused on. Her conversation with Majo is living proof that design, when done well, can change the world.Show Notes:-Patrice shares a funny childhood story about persistence that anticipated one of her strongest personality traits as an adult. [5:05]-High school years: Finding her identity in art. [7:36]-Thinking of technology as a medium to create experiences, plus other formative experiences during college. [10:56]-Patrice’s experience at IDEO – applying a design lens to complicated questions and issues. [17:55]-Her transition to IDEO.org, the organization she co-founded that focuses on social impact and poverty. [21:46]-What she’s learned as a leader, how to set up an environment where people thrive, and her spot-on insights on the difference in creative confidence between men and women. [26:30]-Designing for good: Some of the exciting projects Patrice and her team are focused on. [34:01] -On the importance of being part of a community of mothers who are figuring out the work-life balance together. [43:35]-Patrice’s final words of wisdom and advice. [52:47] References:http://www.ideo.org/Episode Sponsors:Adobe Creative Residency – http://adobe.com/go/creativeresidencyInVision – https://www.invisionapp.com/company Music by Lucia Lilikoi – lucia.bandcamp.com

Design is powerful magic – It can help solve some of the world’s most urgent, critical problems. Patrice Martin is co-founder of IDEO.org, an organization that works to improve the lives of people in poor and vulnerable communities through design.Patrice shares about her past struggles to be taken seriously as a petite woman, what she’s observed as a difference in creative confidence between men and women, and some of the incredible projects her team is focused on. Her conversation with Majo is living proof that design, when done well, can change the world.Show Notes:-Patrice shares a funny childhood story about persistence that anticipated one of her strongest personality traits as an adult. [5:05]-High school years: Finding her identity in art. [7:36]-Thinking of technology as a medium to create experiences, plus other formative experiences during college. [10:56]-Patrice’s experience at IDEO – applying a design lens to complicated questions and issues. [17:55]-Her transition to IDEO.org, the organization she co-founded that focuses on social impact and poverty. [21:46]-What she’s learned as a leader, how to set up an environment where people thrive, and her spot-on insights on the difference in creative confidence between men and women. [26:30]-Designing for good: Some of the exciting projects Patrice and her team are focused on. [34:01] -On the importance of being part of a community of mothers who are figuring out the work-life balance together. [43:35]-Patrice’s final words of wisdom and advice. [52:47] References:http://www.ideo.org/Episode Sponsors:Adobe Creative Residency – http://adobe.com/go/creativeresidencyInVision – https://www.invisionapp.com/company Music by Lucia Lilikoi – lucia.bandcamp.com

This interview had our host in tears. In today’s episode, Majo speaks with Paralympic Gold Medalist Alana Nichols. Playing sports was like a safe haven for Alana, whose family life wasn’t always ideal. But at 17, she broke her back in a snowboarding accident that left her unable to walk again. As a lifelong athlete, this was devastating.Alana grappled with denial, depression, and isolation in college, until a magical moment turned everything around. Her story is about the power of practice, discipline, grit, and faith. And she shares powerful insights on gratitude – seeing what we have instead of what we don’t have. Show Notes:-Growing up as a confident, active tomboy who found her identity in sports at a young age. [4:13]-On always being a risk-taker and her dreams of playing Olympic Softball. [8:46]-Coming into her identity as a young teen, dealing with social pressures, and missing the presence of a mother who wasn’t able to be there for her. [13:48]-Playing sports in high school, being approached by colleges offering scholarships, and the accident that brought everything to a halt. [17:04]-Reflecting on that critical moment in her journey when everything changed, and her initial denial of it all. [22:18]-The hard transition Alana faced upon returning home after rehab. [30:05]-How taking a chance shortcut led to Alana’s magical moment when she was at her lowest point. [35:25]-Mourning her loss with grace, moving forward, and developing a new dream. [38:47] -Alana’s journey to the Paralympics and beyond, her insights on risk-taking, and final words of wisdom. [45:23]References: http://www.alanajanenichols.com/Episode Sponsors:InVision – https://www.invisionapp.com/companyAdobe Creative Residency – http://adobe.com/go/creativeresidency Music by Lucia Lilikoi – lucia.bandcamp.com

This interview had our host in tears. In today’s episode, Majo speaks with Paralympic Gold Medalist Alana Nichols. Playing sports was like a safe haven for Alana, whose family life wasn’t always ideal. But at 17, she broke her back in a snowboarding accident that left her unable to walk again. As a lifelong athlete, this was devastating.Alana grappled with denial, depression, and isolation in college, until a magical moment turned everything around. Her story is about the power of practice, discipline, grit, and faith. And she shares powerful insights on gratitude – seeing what we have instead of what we don’t have. Show Notes:-Growing up as a confident, active tomboy who found her identity in sports at a young age. [4:13]-On always being a risk-taker and her dreams of playing Olympic Softball. [8:46]-Coming into her identity as a young teen, dealing with social pressures, and missing the presence of a mother who wasn’t able to be there for her. [13:48]-Playing sports in high school, being approached by colleges offering scholarships, and the accident that brought everything to a halt. [17:04]-Reflecting on that critical moment in her journey when everything changed, and her initial denial of it all. [22:18]-The hard transition Alana faced upon returning home after rehab. [30:05]-How taking a chance shortcut led to Alana’s magical moment when she was at her lowest point. [35:25]-Mourning her loss with grace, moving forward, and developing a new dream. [38:47] -Alana’s journey to the Paralympics and beyond, her insights on risk-taking, and final words of wisdom. [45:23]References: http://www.alanajanenichols.com/Episode Sponsors:InVision – https://www.invisionapp.com/companyAdobe Creative Residency – http://adobe.com/go/creativeresidency Music by Lucia Lilikoi – lucia.bandcamp.com