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    On this episode I am joined by the amazing Vanessa Karel, two-time business founder, entrepreneur and creative producer. Vanessa created the platform Greether, aimed at making travel more accessible, sustainable, and safer for female travellers.

    Greether started when Vanessa found herself in Morocco at the start of the 2020 pandemic feeling isolated and wanting to connect with locals who could show her around and answer questions about life in Morocco. She discovered that there was no technology out there that could help her- so she decided to create it herself!

    As well as yarning about how Greether was created, Vanessa shares how the platform is aimed at both female empowerment and sustainable travel. Greether is used by solo travellers and small groups, as well as by women of all ages. The Greeters tailor the experience to whatever you're interested in, whether it's thrift shopping, checking out museums, or finding the best local spot for coffee. Greether also creates accessible and flexible work opportunities for the Greeters, and aims to support women-led local businesses and services in each location. We also yarn about how travel and where you spend your money is a cultural and political statement- whether you're aware of this or not!

    Some of the ways Vanessa and Greether have been celebrated so far include:

    Vanessa was named one of the top 100 rising Latinx startup founders to watch.Greether was selected to enter Expedia's accelerator program for creating more accessible and sustainable tourism.Greether was named as one of the top innovative female empowerment sustainable startups by the UN World Tourism Organisation.GreetHer featured in PhocusWire's Hot 25 Travel Startups for 2024.Vanessa won the 3rd edition of 'Tourism Promise' by the National Tourism Business Council of Mexico.She was also a winner of the second edition of of E-100, an initiative by the Association of Entrepreneurs of Mexico that recognises inspiring entrepreneurs making an impact in Mexico.

    If you're interested in learning more or want to book a Greeter for your next adventure, follow the link here to the Greether website. You can also follow Greether over on Instagram @greet.her to keep up to date on all the awesome work Vanessa is doing!

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    If you want to follow my own travel adventures, or just get in touch, you can find me over on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole.

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    BONUS MINI-YARN

    On this cheeky bonus episode I yarn about what femininity means to me, and the journey I have taken to feeling confident in my own version of being feminine. I talk about my experiences growing up in a rural part of New Zealand, and the transition from a small primary school to intermediate in 'town' where I was first introduced to what I thought being feminine was "supposed" to look like. I also discuss the fact that school uniforms for girls always involved skirts, and the subtle message this sends.

    I yarn about how full-time work and practicing as lawyer meant I spent so much time in a world of masculine energy, that it took time to reconnect with my own feminine energy when I left. It took me many years to realise that just because what makes me feel confident and powerful may look different to others, that doesn't mean it is any less feminine.

    I also reflect on the blue/pink gender binary, and realising how much this rigid structure impacted on my ability to feel confident as who I am. I never resonated with the colour pink, and any version of femininity associated with it, so I was then left wondering where it was that I fitted in. I disagree with the way we continue to assign kids a colour at birth, rather than letting them pick their own colours as they grow up (I'm either blue, purple or black, depending on the day).

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    If you enjoyed this episode I would love to hear from you, or if you have suggestions for mini-yarn topics in the future. If you want to get in touch, you can find me over on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole- see you there!

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    On this episode I yarn with the incredible healer, author and speaker Sarah Salter-Kelly. Sarah has been sharing her wisdom for over 16 years through her private healing practice and presenting at conferences and events, as well as facilitating retreats in Canada and Peru, and teaching trauma-focused and shamanic healing workshops.

    Sarah speaks about how she was drawn to work with mother nature from a young age, and how connecting with pagan spiritual practices has helped her work through some incredibly challenging periods of her life. Having barely reached adulthood, Sarah went through the tragic kidnapping and homicide of her mother. Sarah shares with us the timeline of these events, from finding out her mother was missing, to the eventual criminal trial of the perpetrator.

    Sarah shares so beautifully and deeply about trauma and how we can move through this, which includes her own realisations about both intergenerational and colonial trauma in the context of forgiving her mother's murderer. In her book 'Trauma as Medicine', Sarah shares more detail of her experiences and her healing journey- it is an incredibly moving and powerful read, which I highly recommend.

    For more information, check out Sarah's website and follow her over on Instagram @sarahsalterkelly.

    Content warning: This episode discusses kidnapping, homicide, and suicide. Please check in with your own headspace before you jump in and listen, or make sure you are feeling grounded and ready to receive all the beautiful insights that Sarah shares about healing through trauma.
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    If you'd like to get in touch with me you can find me on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole. I'm always keen to hear from people who would like to be a guest on the show, or let me know if there are any topics that you'd like me to cover. Talk soon!


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    On this episode I was joined by the awesome duo that is Shelby and Scott, creators and hosts of the Balls Deep podcast. Our yarns go all the way from the origins of their romance to the "why" behind creating their podcast, and many things in between!

    Shelby and Scott are both avid travellers, and they share how they approach international adventures while both working full time and trying to make the most of each destination. We bonded over taking a slower approach to travel, having more time in each place and creating space to explore beyond just ticking sightseeing boxes.

    Shelby and Scott share plenty of their travel yarns on this episode, including the good, the bad, and the unfiltered! If you enjoyed their stories, make sure to tune into their podcast, Balls Deep, for even more entertaining chat! You can also follow their adventures over on Instagram @acityilovex.

    Check out the Balls Deep podcast on your favourite platform:

    Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5JB8XfrzERolEy09Z9pZswAmazon Prime - https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/8766b291-d97d-437d-af1b-4ad8432c652f/balls-deepApple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/balls-deep/id1721807996 Castbox - https://castbox.fm/channel/id5718089?country=gbIHeart - https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-balls-deep-136157993/YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BallsDeepPodcastShow/featured

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    If you want to get in touch with me or check out my own travel adventures you can find me over on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole- see you there!

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    On this episode I yarn with Polina, a medical intuitive holistic wellness coach. She shares how she went from a PhD in Consumer Behaviour in Russia, to a wellness coach based in Colorado, USA. Polina explains how she uses a range of modalities to assist her clients, and how she has learnt to let each body speak to her and guide her towards what needs to be healed.

    We chat in more depth about chronic stress and how this flows on to impact other parts of the body, as well as the idea of a 'cancer personality' and common barriers to healing that Polina has seen among her clients diagnosed with cancer. Polina also explains the important connection between mindset and the stories we tell ourselves, and how this manifests as physical health issues.

    You can check out all the amazing ways to work with Polina over on her website, as well as follow her beautiful guidance and insights on Instagram @polinaleroy.

    There were just so many things I wanted to yarn about with Polina that we couldn't fit it all into one episode- so stay tuned for a follow up episode later this year!

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    If you want to get in touch with me for a yarn, with suggestions for the podcast, or just want to tell me how much you're enjoying it, you can find me over on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole.

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    On this episode I yarn with Rosie, a business and mindset coach who supports solo entrepreneurs to grow businesses they love. We dive into how Rosie got to where she is today, including stints in the world of corporate marketing as well as running her own floristry business for a number of years.

    Rosie shares how her approach to life and business has often been one of 'life's too short', while also learning to prioritise rest and space. We yarn about what it means to create a life by design, and the importance of not getting caught up in comparison mode. Rosie and I also discuss how being intentional about what we bring into our lives gives us the freedom to create a future that we're excited about.

    You can follow all of Rosie's amazing work over on Instagram @rosie.coaches or check out her website for more information on her high performance coaching services.

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    If you loved this episode, feel free to head over to Instagram and get in touch with me @yarnsforthesoulnicole- see you there!

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    On this guest episode I had the pleasure of yarning with Sarah, burnout recovery coach and recurring guest host of "Fried. the Burnout Podcast" with Cait Donovan. We dive into Sarah's backstory working with acupuncture, Chinese medicine, and Thai massage and what led her to burnout, as well as how she chose to heal and move forwards. We both identify as introverts, highly-sensitive people and recovering people-pleasers, so it was great to compare notes on how these traits impacted our recovery journeys.

    Sarah shares some of the tools and mindset work that she now teaches to clients as a burnout recovery coach, as well as themes that she sees among guests on her podcast. We talk about whether burnout can really be prevented, or if hitting 'rock bottom' is inevitable.

    We also yarn about the importance of taking a holistic approach to recovery, including nourishing the soul and finding what brings back your inner sparkle and joy.

    You can check out Sarah on Fried. the Burnout Podcast, and follow her over on Instagram @sarah.vosen to see all the incredible work she is doing in the burnout recovery space.

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    If you enjoyed this episode, or just want to drop in for a yarn, you can find me over on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole- see you there!

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    On this episode I yarn with Judi about being childless not by choice. We dive into who this definition applies to, what it means, and how it can look in people's lives. Judi is an insurance expert turned grief coach currently based in New Zealand, and she shares parts of her own story and why she is part of the CNBC community.

    We talk about the differences between people who are childfree vs. childless, and the specific type of grief that is associated with people who are childless not by choice. Judi talks about what helped her come to terms with a future and reality that she didn't want, and the tools that she now uses with her coaching clients.

    If you're interested in learning more about the awesome work Judi is doing, you can check out her website here. You can also follow along her journey over on Instagram @embraceyourfuture_by_judi."

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    You can also find me over on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole. I would love to hear what resonated with you from this episode, ideas for future topics, or just get in touch for a yarn!

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    On this mini-yarn I delve into the idea of "justice sensivity"- this is a term that I discovered recently, and quickly realised how much it resonated with me and my experiences. On the episode I discuss how as an employee I have had stronger reactions to feeling of injustice compared to my colleagues, despite working as a lawyer in advocacy roles. I was surprised at the time that my colleagues did not have the same responses, and I am now able to reflect back and acknowledge that a sense of justice is one of my key personal drivers.

    I also touch on the question of where justice sensitivity comes from- whether it's an innate part of your personal compass, whether it's a value that you can choose to prioritise, or if it's a learned behaviour in response to a world that does not make you feel seen.

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    I would love to hear from you if this episode resonated, so feel free to get in touch over on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole - looking forward to seeing you there!


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    On this episode I am joined for the first time by two special guests! Inspired by a French TV show, Chloé and Youna travelled around the UK and Europe for over a year surviving on just €1 per day. During our yarns they share the details about how they met, their 'why' for the project, and what they learnt along the way.

    Both Youna and Chloé share on how overwhelmingly positive their experience was, and how they met amazing people at each destination. Their journey really is a testament to how you can find magic and connection anywhere you go, as long as you are open to letting it in!

    To check out their amazing story, head over to Instagram @coup_deux_pouces. You can also find them on Insta @chloe_amsl and @youna___loriot.

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    If you want to get in touch with me, you can find me over on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole- tell me what resonated from this episode, what are you loving about the podcast, or if you have any topic suggestions then hit me up! Excited to connect with you x

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    On this episode I welcome back the amazing Théa to get into some yarns on solo travelling while managing chronic health conditions. We are both lovers of travel and value getting to explore new places, but have similar challenges in managing our invisible conditions. Théa shares how her version of travel has changed following a number of head injuries and a back injury, and the shift in mindset this has required. I talk about my own experiences with adrenal fatigue as a result of chronic stress, and how I manage my limitations while living as a digital nomad.

    We both battle comparison, often wishing we were as able as others our age to travel at a "normal" pace. However, we delve into how our values of curiosity and connection can still be met through slow travel, and how it allows you so much more appreciation of the smaller moments.

    If you missed Théa's origin story, check out episode 28! You can follow Théa and her journey over on Instagram @yourbrainbff.

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    If you want to get in touch with me, you can find me on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole- I love hearing your insights, what resonated with you in this episode, plus any other yarns you want to share!


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    On this mini episode I jump into an explanation of why I have changed from using time to organise my life, to focusing on capacity. Our busy modern world loves to talk about productivity, and this is something I grappled with in the early days of healing from burnout- because I had capacity for very few tasks each day, I felt like I wasn't being productive, and therefore was of less value.

    I was at a yoga class on my travels and the teacher said "Be more. Do less". I made that into the background on my phone as a constant reminder to just be. Our value doesn't come from completely filling in our time each day with commitments to other people, and doing all of the things. You also get to determine what lights you up, and what is of value to you.

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    If you have any feedback from this episode or just want to get in touch, you're welcome to find me over on Instagram on @yarnsforthesoulnicole

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    On this episode, Théa shares her experiences with multiple brain injuries and chronic health, and how her focus on a positive mindset and gratitude helped to overcome challenges. Her story includes being forced to step away from work to heal, which resulted in a career pivot to study Speech and Language Pathology with the goal of helping others who experience a traumatic brain injury (TBI).

    We yarn about our own journeys managing chronic health issues, both adapting to use capacity and energy levels, rather than time, as a measure for what we choose to bring into our lives. Théa shares tools and strategies that have helped her through her healing process, including 'brain breaks' and managing her schedule.

    Head over to Instagram to find Théa and follow the incredible work she is doing to raise awareness and create more understanding of TBIs (as well as some of her travel adventures!)- @yourbrainbff

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    If you enjoyed the episode or want to get in touch, you can find me on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole, I'd love to hear from you!



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    On this episode I am joined by the amazing Heather for some yarns on being childfree. We both share what being childfree means to us, and how neither of us ever envisioned a life that included motherhood. We delve into shared frustrations with feeling misunderstood, as well as issues with accessible healthcare for women, particularly those who choose not to have children.

    We approach this yarn with a lens of freedom of choice, with Heather and I both acknowledging people will make different decisions, or have had the choice of whether or not to have children removed from them. Heather shares what her current life looks like, including details from her wedding that stepped away from tradition (think wheels of cheese as a cake, topped with hand-painted dogs!).

    You can find Heather over on Instagram and follow her childfree life- with plenty of dog content:
    @bonnielass89

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    If you're enjoying the podcast, feel free to find me over on Instagram and get in touch:
    @yarnsforthesoulnicole


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    Bringing you another mini-yarn of the podcast, this time yarning about the idea of a soul's journey and the lessons it chooses to learn. This episode brings you some of my woo woo spiritual vibes, and I explain some of the ideas and perspectives that have helped shape the way I experience the world.

    I dive into ideas about soul reincarnation, having predetermined lessons for each lifetime that your soul has chosen to experience, and that eventually maybe your soul gets to "retire"! I also yarn about vibes and frequency, how we connect so quickly to certain people in our lives, and why I feel like a bit of an old soul.

    To get in touch, you can find me over on Instagram- I'd love to hear from you!
    https://www.instagram.com/yarnsforthesoulnicole/


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    On this episode my epic guest is coach and speaker, Nancy. She explains how being raised by immigrant parents in America led to her focus on academic success, but realised as an adult that ticking the boxes had left her feeling unfulfilled. Nancy shares how her soul-searching journey began, and the amazing things she discovered along the way.

    Nancy now offers coaching through her business, panna panya, focusing on helping high achieving professionals develop authentic inner connection. The key concepts she draws from are Internal Family Systems therapy, nonviolent communication, and inner child nourishment- which we yarn about in depth! Nancy also published a children's book called "Let's Make a Cake!" which takes kids on their own self-discovery journey.

    If you enjoyed this episode, I would love to hear from you. Find me over on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/yarnsforthesoulnicole/

    Note: the audio quality on this ep is sadly a bit off (if you have the expertise to help me with this, get in touch!)

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    You can find Nancy over on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/pannapanya101/

    Visit panna panya to learn more about Nancy and the inner connection work that she does. Nancy is currently offering a 6 week workshop series 'Authentic Inner Connection'. This provides a distinct group approach to increasing your inner connection that leads to more authenticity, ease, joy and acceptance. Check out her website for more info!

    You can follow Nancy on LinkedIn, sign up for her newsletter, or find her on YouTube to get weekly articles that nourish your own inner connection.

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    Resources mentioned in this episode:

    Marshall Rosenberg- Nonviolent communication (book and tools)Eckhart Tolle- "The Power of Now"Richard Schwartz- Internal Family Systems therapy and his book "No Bad Parts"Thom Bond and the Compassion Course

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    On this mini-yarn I delve into more detail on my experiences dealing with burnout, and what I've learnt as part of the recovery process. I yarn about getting reacquainted with my emotions, nervous system, and physical body, and acknowledging how these shifts are benefitting my health. This includes a good boat metaphor, as well as me explaining how I have conversations with myself!

    I also talk about giving myself permission to own language to describe my experiences and health status, how empowering that feels, and why I haven't felt comfortable to do this until now.

    If this episode resonates with your or you've learnt something new, I'd love to hear from you! You can find me over on Instagram here:
    https://www.instagram.com/yarnsforthesoulnicole/

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    On this episode I yarn with mother and scientist Anna about her experiences with motherhood so far, and the myth of trying to have a work/life balance as a parent. We dive into external expectations that we often internalise, and how that plays out as an adult, particularly as two self-defined high achievers. We also yarn about being aware of how we were parented and social expectations of us, and how this relates to parenthood.

    As a childfree person it was amazing to have such an open conversation with Anna about her decision to have kids, while acknowledging that this is not the only option in life that creates value and purpose.

    To follow Anna and her two gorgeous boys, you can find her on Instagram here:
    https://www.instagram.com/annaprestage/

    If you're enjoying the podcast, head over and follow me on Instagram:
    https://www.instagram.com/yarnsforthesoulnicole/

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    On today's mini-yarn I share my musings on intergenerational healing and travel. I have discovered moments along my own travel journey where I think about my family and those who have gone before me, and I often contemplate if I am stepping foot where none of them ever got to. I particularly reflect on the opportunities that I have, that perhaps my female ancestors never had access to, which motivates me to make the most of it!

    If you're enjoying my yarns, head over and find me on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/yarnsforthesoulnicole/

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    On this episode I am joined by another amazing guest, chartered accountant and career empowerment superstar Ritu. She shares her story from starting out as an accountant in India, her move to New Zealand, shifting roles to accelerate her career and her leadership growth. We yarn about imposter syndrome and confidence, and how this plays out for women in the workplace, as well as things we wish we knew earlier in our careers. Ritu also talks about the importance of representation in leadership, and some of her experiences as a woman of colour in corporate NZ.

    Ritu has created Project Upgrade Her, a platform designed to support and empower women to succeed in their careers and in the corporate world. To check out the amazing work she is doing in this space, follow her over on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/projectupgradeher/

    To connect with me, you can find me on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/_nicolemaitland/

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