Yarns for the Soul – Details, episodes & analysis

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On this episode I am joined by the magical Maren Swenson, an intuitive stylist, fashion coach, podcast creator and mother.  After leaving a high demand religion, Maren embarked on deep inner work to explore how she wanted to show up and be seen in the world. A key part of this was rediscovering and owning her femininity, which inspired her to create a space for other women to do the same.

Maren shares the backstory to starting her coaching business "Wild Serenity", and how she uses intuitive fashion styling to help women step into self-expression and self-love. We yarn about some of the key blocks that women face in owning their own style, from internal narratives we have created to what we've been told is socially or culturally acceptable. 

Maren explains how religion had stifled her ability to express femininity in the way she wanted, and what she had to unlearn when she left that community. We also yarn about the power of women reclaiming and using their voice, and the story behind Maren starting her own podcast "The Glow Code". 

To check out all the awesome work Maren is doing and find out how you can work with her, check out her website. Her podcast The Glow Code is available on your favourite podcast platform today, and follow her beautiful content over on Instagram @findwildserenity. 

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If you enjoyed this episode you can find me over on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole to follow along for more! 

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Welcome to episode 50!! I am celebrating this milestone episode with a special mini-yarn all about the origins of the word "yarn". 

Most people outside of New Zealand will only associate yarn with wool, and I have to tell people my podcast is sadly not about knitting! So here's an episode to explain what the word yarning means to me, as well as exploring the historical origins behind the use of the word in everyday kiwi conversation.

On my research journey I pulled at many threads, from indigenous cultures to Greek mythology, and I was surprised by what I unearthed. Is the origin from early sailors visiting New Zealand shores, and telling tall tales while they hoisted sails? Or is yarning another form of cultural appropriation? Perhaps spinning yarn is a synonym for goddesses weaving the destiny of mortal souls? 

I wrap up the episode by tying together what my discoveries mean to me, and how this affects the future of the Yarns for the Soul podcast. 

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Resources:

"To Spin a Yarn: The Female Voice in Folklore and Fairy Tale"

Te Ara- "The origins of Kiwi humour"

"Yarning about Yarning as a Legitimate Method in Indigenous Research"

"Stories from the Aboriginal Women of the Yarning Circle: when cultures collide"

"Clinical yarning with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples"

"The power of healing in the yarn: working with Aboriginal men"

"Yarning up with Doc Reynolds: an interview about Country from an Indigenous perspective"

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If you want to get in touch with me, or just follow along as I muddle my way forwards, come find me over on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole- see you there!

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On this mini-yarn I share with you part of my creative podcasting process around guest episodes, and explain that I only share with the world whatever my guests are comfortable with. I have some epic guest episodes coming up, and I also plan to get back into more mini-yarns in the new year so watch out!

I also wanted to take a moment to acknowledge that the world feels a bit dark right now, and acknowledge my privilege in being able to somewhat switch off for my own mental health. I hope that through continuing to produce this podcast I create spaces where people feel heard, seen, and ultimately feel less alone. All I want is to contribute to providing some light in this world. 

Thanks so much for following my journey so far, and if you'd like to get in touch you can find me over on Instagram @yarnsforthesoulnicole. 

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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/5JB8XfrzERolEy09Z9pZsw
• Amazon Prime - https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/8766b291-d97d-437d-af1b-4ad8432c652f/balls-deep
• Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/balls-deep/id1721807996 
• Castbox - https://castbox.fm/channel/id5718089?country=gb
• IHeart - 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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