The Undercurrent Podcast

In my interview with Daniel Bilog - men’s coach and hypnotherapist, he shares how looking through our ancestral lineage can help us find the clarity, freedom and self-awareness to direct our lives in intentional ways. That the trauma of colonization, wars, immigration and other adverse experiences generations before us went through were imprinted in their DNA passed onto us and can impact how we experience our lives today.We also talk about masculinity and how it has gotten a bad rep over the years. He explains why he doesn’t use the word “toxic” to describe modern day masculinity, how men as a collective are evolving today and advice for men who want to become more conscious, empathetic and loving beings.Listen to episode #78 now

In my conversation with Agnes Purwakusuma, we talked about our journey working together over the last year. There was a big learning curve for the both of us and some growing pains too. We share in detail what worked, what didn’t and the things we’re constantly trying to improve on.When you listen to the episode you’ll learn how to hire an assistant, what to look for, how to start delegating and lots of other tips on how to create a symbiotic relationship.Listen nowIf you’re not sure if you should hire someone, here are 5 signs you might need to:1 - You do everything on your own.2 - You wish your life was more organized.3 - You are busy and are never complete with your to-do list.4 - You don’t get enough sleep because there is too much to do.5 - You have high expectations of yourself which takes up too much time and energy on even the smallest tasks.

“Anyone who isn't embarrassed of who they were last year probably isn't learning enough.” - Alain de BottonThink about the person you were last year. 5 years ago. 10 years ago.What were you like?Do you ever look back to a moment in time when you did something so shameful that it still stings to this day?There were things I did that were outright obnoxious, selfish and even cruel and I still cringe thinking about them.But it’s really no use dwelling on stuff you would have done differently.Back then, your decision making and emotional capacity were limited to where you were in life. You did the best you could. And like the quote above says, “if you’re not embarrassed, you’re not growing”.No matter what you’ve done, how bad you think you acted, you deserve grace and self forgiveness.You deserve to feel worthy of love and belonging.We as human beings have the ability to learn from our mistakes, evolve and grow. So let’s celebrate that!Carrying the weight of shame and self loathing doesn’t serve anyone.It only limits your capacity to love yourself and other people.In my interview with Dean Powell, a mentor who helps men stand up unapologetically in their power, he shares his story of addiction, infidelity and how he was able to transform his life in a completely new way.He believes that everyone deserves a second chance, no matter what they’ve done.Listen to Episode 76 NowIf there’s something you need to forgive yourself for, remember the four R’s of self-forgiveness:Responsibility - by accepting responsibility and taking ownership of your actions you can start to practice self-compassion.Remorse - expressing remorse and guilt for your mistakes is healthy (just as long as you don’t overdo it). And it acts as a catalyst for change.Restoration - giving a proper apology to those involved (including yourself) can repair the relationship and give space for you to move forward.Renewal - instead of dwelling on your past mistakes, learn how you would do it differently in the future and commit to being the person you want to be.Hope these help.

In my conversation with Lily Lawes, she shares her inner work journey to becoming a self-love coach. Starting in children's publishing, to working at an NGO in Uganda and living a glamourous life in Dubai were all phases of her life in which she was deepening the relationship with herself and doing her inner work. This path eventually led her to doing the purposeful work she does now.Listen to her story now.We are constantly evolving. Who you are now isn’t the same person you were years ago. The decisions you make today will lead you towards the person you are becoming.When you do your inner work, the choices you make are more in alignment with what you really want. You will have more claritypeace and fulfillment being on the right path. And when more of us are fulfilled in life and work, the world is a better place.

In my interview with Cathy Trinh, author, speaker, entrepreneur, humanitarian, she tals about her road to recovery after addiction to alcohol, drugs and sex and love. After hitting rock bottom there was no place else to go but up.When you listen to her story, it’s hard not to be inspired by her family’s escape from Vietnam during the war and spending time in refugee camps, or her struggle of being a single mom while her ex-husband was in and out of jail, or her journey recovering from cancer.Cathy is a living example of perseverance and resilience.Listen to episode # 74 now.

Claire Sanders is the queen of being comfortable in uncertain situations. In our conversation, she shares how she made several life changing decisions for the unknown: leaving her high powered career in London, initiating a divorce after 10 years of marriage, starting from scratch and becoming a coach and relocating to Cornwall with a new partner after the age of 40.She shares her secrets to pivoting successfully and coming out of the other side unscathed.Listen to episode #73 Now

In my interview with Mark Reid, trauma coach & healer, he shares his personal story of healing through a wide range of traumatic experiences: a rare form of skin cancer, lymes disease, drug/alcohol/sex addiction, a failed engagement, divorce and losing a child.He believes his experiences are gifts from the universe that have helped him awaken and commit to doing daily inner work to transform his life and the lives of his clients.In his career, Mark has been a school teacher, sports coach, DJ, personal trainer, business coach, practitioner of human design, tantra, breathwork, meditation and energy healer.Listen to episode #72 nowExperiencing hardship isn’t something to wish for. But I can see how going through it helped shape the person I am today. It also makes me a better person, friend and coach. I have more access to empathy and a deeper understanding of people’s life’s journeys - pain and joy.If you’re going through a tough time now, I’d like to remind you that everything is temporary. You might not be able to see the sun above the clouds, but it’s up there. And it’ll shine when you’re ready.

In my interview with rap artist, Eddie Douglas, he shares his story of how he transformed his life by getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. Growing up in a gritty town in North Carolina, he faced a lot of adversity. And instead of letting it get the best of him, he leaned into these experiences and leveraged them to become more loving and kind.He went on a spiritual journey that led him to change his life and career. He now lives in Bali where he enjoys life and creates hip hop music.Listen to episode 71 NowWhat is your relationship like with discomfort?Mine is a little different these days. Because I learned the hard way that avoiding hard things doesn’t solve my problems, I’m more willing to face them.Here are 3 practices I use personally to help me get through uncomfortable situations:Presence - I meet myself where I am by either journaling or meditation. Instead of avoiding, I’ll try and get crystal clear about what my emotions are, why they are there and let myself be with them.Self validation - I allow myself to feel what I’m feeling. And no matter what the feeling is, I offer myself words of affirmation as I would to someone I love.Take baby steps - Instead of facing a hard thing head on, I try to break it down into baby steps. Sometimes big projects that I’ve never done before can take me past the edge of my comfort zone that I feel frozen. So instead of thinking about completing the big project all at once, I break it down into more manageable chunks and focus only on one at a time so it’s not as scary.Do you have any tips of your own for how to get comfortable with being uncomfortable? Send us a DM @theundercurrentpodcast and share your thoughts!

I interviewed Kate Smith, remote career coach at the Remote Nomad and she teaches professionals how to land remote jobs with clarity and confidence.She tells her personal story of how she spent nearly all of her savings to land a remote job and ended up starting a remote business of her own. Kate also shares her 6-step process for how to land a remote job and why applying to as many jobs as possible doesn’t work.At the end of the episode Kate shares a couple of free resources 1) The Remote career playbook to take you more in depth through Kate’s signature process and 2) A resume revamp checklist specific to remote jobs. Download these here.Listen to episode 70 now.Now that I’m my own boss, I work harder and longer hours on some days and other days I rest.I choose the days according to the natural rhythm of my life. Having the autonomy to do this helps my mental health and overall well being.How do you design your days and weeks? Send me an email and share with me :)

I told myself to find what feels good. That’s it. No forcing or trying too hard anymore.The trick is: if something feels good, natural and sustainable, it’s going to be easy to be successful.In my interview with Suzana Lebrecht, creatrix, mentor and women’s coach, she shares her personal story of how she followed what feels good, even if it didn’t make sense to design a life that feels natural, flowy and joyful.She has a background working in corporate in Brazil and felt chained to her 9-5 job with no way out. She eventually got through and found herself in the process. Since then, she’s lived in different continents and is now settled in Bali where she creates retreats, art and experiences inspired by energy and nature.Listen to episode #69 nowDo you feel like you’re forcing things to happen in your life?What would happen if you let go a little?

I recently interviewed Joy Diwa about the topic of living on autopilot. She was a highschool educator for 10 years, living paycheck to paycheck. During the pandemic she found herself putting in extra time and extra energy that she didn’t have which sent her into a downward spiral.She was disassociated and numbing her feelings with various coping mechanisms. She said at one point, she felt absolutely nothing.Joy tells her inspiring story of how she left a decade long career to find her own joy and create a life with more meaning and fulfillment.She also shares tips for people who feel stuck in life and how she personally moves through phases of stuckness and self doubt.Listen to episode #68 now.If you’re in this phase now, remember that everything is temporary and there is always a way out.

Do you struggle with getting things done?Ever have this feeling at the end of the day that you could be more productive? Maybe you didn’t do what you actually wanted to do? Or you just feel unsatisfied with how your day went?I know how this feels all too well. I’ve wrestled with the idea of productivity my whole life.Some days I feel on fire and super accomplished. And other days, feel guilty about how UNPRODUCTIVE I WAS.Back in my 9-5 days, I’d get to work and have a big to-do list in front of me. And at the end of the day, it seemed like the list was longer than when the day started!To make things worse, I’d look around the office and it seemed like everyone else around had their shit together except for me which made me feel helpless and out of control.I got sick of being in these situations, it was draining and started to affect my mental health.So I decided the days of always feeling behind the 8-ball were over and I committed to learning how to work with more focus and effectiveness.I’m spilling all my secrets with you in this week’s podcast episode: Ten Productivity Tips to Help You Stay Focused and Get Shit Done.Listen to Episode #67 Now

In my most recent podcast episode: How to be successful without even having to think, I share the ONE thing that can make or break your success: Habits!Here are some highlights I cover in this week’s episode:What a habit really is How to actually create new habits in 4 partsHow our brains workWhy motivation isn’t enough for us to change our behaviorAnd a few other personal habit hacks of my own.Listen to episode #66 Now.

In my interview with Andrea Jakucs, a Filipino-American licensed clinical social worker for the BIPOC community, we talk about ways that people can feel more successful and increase their overall well-being. She shares what the 8 pillars of wellness are and how her personal wellness journey has inspired the work that she does.She also talks about how our stress levels are rising because of the impact on things like social media and offers helpful tips to minimize stress and improve our mental health.Listen to episode #65 now.

How long does it take for you to get ready in the morning? 30 minutes? 45 minutes? I’m kinda embarrassed to share this but sometimes it would take me over an hour and a half to get ready just for work.That’s ninety whole minutes I took each morning to blow out my hair, apply mascara and stand in front of my closet trying to decide which pair of the many black heels I owned that best matched my OOTD.I could have used that precious time to sleep more, work out or enjoy a nice, healthy breakfast. But instead, I rushed out the door already late, hungry and stressed out just to make sure my outfit, makeup and hair were on point.I needed to look perfect. Every. Single. Day.Do you struggle with perfectionism? It’s something a lot of women and especially women of color battle with.There’s a saying in the black community, “You gotta work twice as hard to get half as far”.And it isn’t just an aphorism, there’s some truth to it for BIPOC, women and other marginalized communities.Studies show that women are better educated but undervalued. We graduate from college at higher rates than men but get paid less - even in the exact same roles.The pay gap is even bigger if you’re a woman of color. We lose out on millions of dollars over the course of our careers compared to white men because of the gap.And it’s not because we’re settling either. Women negotiate for promotions and ask for raises more often than men. But not one’s even trying to hear it.We gotta work harder and be perfect and still aren’t valued the same.In this week’s episode I’m going to talk all about perfectionism: what it is, the different types of perfectionism (the good, the bad and the ugly), the causes, the signs, how it affects WOC and helpful tips to overcome it.Listen to episode #64 nowThese days, I definitely don’t spend as much time getting ready. I’m lucky if I brush my hair or even wear shoes.The process of healing has been a long journey and I’m still on it. I think it will always be something I’m working on.If you struggle with perfectionism too, I’m here with you, alongside you. And hope this helps in any way wherever you’re at in your journey.

In this week’s podcast episode I share more personal people pleasing stories, what people actually is, the 10 signs to look out for, where the behavior comes from and how it can affect your life.I also share helpful tips to stop the pattern of pleasing people.Listen to Episode #63 NowBeing a people pleaser isn’t always a bad thing. But if this behavior is getting in the way of your well being and joy, it’s important to figure out ways to practice self care, set boundaries and protect your peace.Remember, you can’t pour from an empty cup. So make sure you’ve got a little something in there before you think about helping other people.If this is a pattern that runs deep and it’s affecting your mental health or other areas of your life, I suggest you speak with a mental health professional or coach who specializes in this area so you can learn how to break this pattern and stop draining your energy on other people and live for yourself. 

In this week’s podcast episode, I speak all about the topic of purpose and tell the story of how I went from just going through the motions to how I changed my life and career in a big way by aligning with my own intrinsic feeling of success vs. what society expects of me.If you listen to the show, you’ll learn the 5 questions that I’ve used for hundreds of clients and students to find their life purpose and help them take meaningful steps towards achieving their biggest goals.Listen to Episode #62 nowAre you at a point in life where you want to connect with your purpose? Do you feel it’s time to make some changes so you can feel more fulfilled everyday?Would you like some support with that?If you answered yes to these questions, I’m hosting a FREE masterclass series for a limited number of people who are ready to take the next steps towards creating meaningful work and living a more purposeful life.Note: The series is first come first serve and it’s filling up fast. I’ve got only 5 spots left in this upcoming cohort. To sign up, head to Instagram and DM @theundercurrentpodcast with the word “PURPOSE” and we’ll send you the details.

What's your definition of success?Is it money? A fancy job at a big company? A nice car?I strived to achieve all these things and was successful on paper. But I didn’t FELT successful. This is because I never checked in with myself about what I really wanted.I adopted the classist and capitalistic view of what society describes as “success”. That to be somebody, you gotta flex labels, titles or material things.Doing life solely in this way is unfulfilling. Trust me, I tried. It's insatiable.I interviewed Charito Soriano, a member of Astralogik, a Queer Filipino-American musical duo. Their songs are shaped by their story of redefining what “success” means through the lens of being queer, Pinay and suriving violence and homelessness.Charito shares the challenging journey she went through trying to make it big in the music industry and losing everything in the pursuit of society’s definition of success. But even through the hardships she faced, she reveals that the greatest gifts in life she’s ever received were because of these hardships.Annnd… for the first time in The Undercurrent Podcast history, we have a live musical performance. Charito shares her gift of song on the show and I can’t wait for you to hear this one!Listen to Episode 61 NowSuccess is not limited to society’s definition. I'd like to offer another definition of success, one that you can't see on the outside but you can totally feel on the inside. One that includes an abundance of energy, self compassion and confidence.Here are signs you're successful, even if you don't realize you are:1 - You prioritize self care2 - You have healthy boundaries3 - You don't take things personally4 - You forgive yourself for mistakes5 - You're ok with being misunderstood6 - You emotionally regulate when triggered7 - You care more about what you think vs. what other people thinkWant to redefine what success means to you?And start living life on your terms?We’re hosting a masterclass series for a group of ambitious folks who are ready to stop playing small and live a life with more meaning, purpose and their version of success. If you’re interested, DM us at @theundercurrentpodcast with the word “SUCCESS” and we’ll send over the details.

In my interview with Charlotte Skogsberg, she shares how to live a healthy and balanced life through Ayurveda, Psychology and Yoga.She explains in detail about the science of Ayurveda, the three different body types that we each have a combination of, how to use food as medicine and ways you can heal your life from the inside out.Listen to Episode 60 NowIf you’re feeling off balance, know that there are many ways you can heal your life. And you also don’t have to do it alone.

In my interview with Desi Danganan, he talks about his life and entrepreneurial journey: from designing some of the first websites that ever existed, to opening night clubs in San Francisco, to becoming a community leader and founder of a non-profit for Filipinos and other marginalized communities.He shares that the creative genius behind navigating these roles in completely different industries were driven from somewhere deep. He explains how he taps into this energy and how it is the key ingredient that has led him to doing purposeful work in his career.Listen to Episode 59 now to learn moreAre you at a point in life where you want to connect more with your purpose? Do you feel it’s time to make a change?Would you like some guidance?If you answered yes to these questions, send me email and let’s talk.