This woman is special. Ana does some really powerful and unique work. I had the pleasure of doing a session with her and it was one of the most powerful experiences I've ever had with a coach/healer. In this episode, she shares her unconventional story on how she came to this powerful work. Topics Discussed: Growing up with strict Albanian parents Moving in with her boyfriend Moving to India to live in an ashram The importance of working with/learning from someone who’s teaching from experience Her relationship with the Albanian culture Her journey to becoming a trauma coach Responding to triggers in relationships Find her on instagram: @traumacoach_ana
If you're a young Albanian woman looking for some inspiration to do what's best for you (even if that means disappointing others) then this episode with Alisha Coku is the one for you. It's real. It's relatable. It's inspiring. She actually reached out to me to share her story, so I'm sure there will be many of you out there that it will speak to. Topics Discussed: Moving out of state just because she wanted to Not fully fitting in with other Albanians Fighting for a "normal" teenage life The growth you experience from moving out Getting pushback for her choices Healing her relationship with being Albanian
I walked away feeling really inspired after this call, you guys, and I know you will too. Dita, the host of the podcast, Vajza and Gra, shares her journey with the podcast and her personal growth along with it. It's deep. It's real. It's vulnerable. And I know many of you listening will relate. Topics discussed:- Why she took a break from the Vajza & Gra- What inspired her to start Vajza & Gra- The positive and negative responses she received - The struggle of growing up in “2 different realms” (Albanian and American)- Healing resentment towards the culture- Overcoming the fear of being vulnerable (publicly)- Her experience with activism in the Albanian communityFind her on instagram here: @vajzaandgraFind her on TikTok here: vajzaandgraIf you enjoy the episode, please take some time to show some love for the show with a like and subscribe. Your support means the world 💙Find me on instagram: @kristinanikolaj My website: www.kristinanikolaj.com
I really love this episode. I speak with Ariana Metalia, a first generation Albanian American therapist, on ways the Albanian community has evolved and ways it still has room for growth. This episode is really relatable and educational, so I know you'll love it as much as I do. Topics Discussed:- Her journey to becoming a therapist- Getting married young in Albanian community- Grappling between Albanian and American identities- The Gen Z (2nd generation) experience- Forgiving/understanding our parents- The importance of doing the work as a parentFind Ariana on instagram: @therapywitharianaFind me on instagram: @kristinanikolaj My website: www.kristinanikolaj.com
In this episode I chat with Nika Veseli, singer/songwriter/producer and overall go-getter. When she says she's going to do something, she does it, including moving out of her strict Albanian household to start living life on her own terms. Topics discussed:- Singing in Central Park- Meeting the love of her life- Having a strict Albanian father- Rebelling and moving out of her house- Learning to live life on her own terms- How therapy changed her life- Following her dreams in the music industryFind her on instagram: @nikaveselimusicFind me on instagram: @kristinanikolaj My website: www.kristinanikolaj.com
In this episode I chat with my first and only Albanian therapist, Mediha Gega on some of the struggles of growing up as a first gen Albanian American woman. This is something I personally needed to hear, so if you're also a first generation Albanian American woman, I know it will be for you too. Topics Discussed:- Grappling with differences between American and Albanian identities- Understanding your place in your family and how it's molded who you are- Upholding the "good girl" image - Competition amongst women in our culture- Feeling responsible for our parent's emotions- Enmeshment in Albanian families Find her on instagram: @medihagegatherapyFind me on instagram: @kristinanikolaj My website: www.kristinanikolaj.com
Trigger Warning: Sexual assault is mentioned in this episode. This episode is really powerful. Especially for women who've felt disempowered in any way and are looking for ways to take their power back. Gonxhe shares her experience taking her power back after SA through fitness and martial arts. Topics discussed: - Getting the courage to share her story on tiktok- Growing up with strict parents- Low self-esteem and being overweight to self-improvement- Finding a safe martial arts gym environments - Falling in love with jiu jitsu- The benefits of women learning self-defenseFind her on instagram: @91cookie_monsterFind her on tiktok: @sweetassassin26Find me on instagram: @kristinanikolaj My website: www.kristinanikolaj.com
I LOVE love. I especially love hearing women share their stories of how unhealthy relationships taught them their worth and led them to finding healthy love. That's what this episode with Danie is all about. How she went from 2 "failed" engagements, having to cancel a wedding 3 months beforehand to finding the love of her life, getting married and getting pregnant with their first child AKA living her dream life. Topics discussed:- Her experience with unhealthy relationships - The need to be the hero of fixer in relationships- Realizing her worth because of those experiences- Her experience canceling the wedding- Meeting Matthew and never settling in love Find her on instagram: @danie_alexa_Find me on instagram: @kristinanikolaj My website: www.kristinanikolaj.com
First episode of the new season is here! As a jiu jitsu practitioner, I'm excited to start sharing the benefits of martial arts for our mental health! This episode with Laura, the first Albanian female MMA fighter (that I know of), is heavily focused on how her journey with MMA has led her on a path of healing and growth mentally, emotionally and physically. You don't have to be a martial artist to gain insight and helpful takeaways from this episode. Topics discussed:- How martial arts can make you less violent- Gaining confidence from learning self defense- Learning to rest and let ourselves heal- Breathwork (duh)- Learning from losses and mistakesFind Laura on instagram: @trxhilmFind me on instagram: @kristinanikolaj My website: www.kristinanikolaj.com
Ahhh food. What a subject haha. This episode with Leonita, registered dietician and food balance advocate, is all about finding your own rhythm and balance with food. With so many contradicting messages about food in the world, Nita provides some relief in explaining her story creating a healthy relationship with food for herself and her clients. Topics discussed: - Finding your own truth- Her struggles with body image - Unhealthy messages in the food industry- Understanding your relationship with food- Her Hashimoto's diagnosis after pregnancyFind Nita on instagram: @nitanutritionFind me on instagram: @kristinanikolajPodcast instagram: @talkhealingtomeMy website: www.kristinanikolaj.comFind me on instagram: @kristinanikolaj My website: www.kristinanikolaj.com
Anastasia is the epitome of a go-getter. This episode is for anyone struggling with money blocks or is making money but doesn't feel a sense of purpose. She is a crypto trader turned money coach who went from making a million dollars and feeling depressed to making money with the purpose of helping other women do the same. Topics we discuss:- Staying motivated when life gets in the way- Her experience making a million with crypto- Going on a self development journey to find purpose- Using meditation and connection to self to manifest- Embodying the energy of wealthFind her on Instagram: @xo.moneybabeFind me on Instagram: @kristinanikolajMy website: www.kristinanikolaj.comFind me on instagram: @kristinanikolaj My website: www.kristinanikolaj.com
If you're on a healing journey and you're in one of the low phases where you're judging yourself/putting yourself down or you feel like giving up, this short solo episode might be exactly what you need to hear right now to come back to self-compassion and hope. Find me on Instagram: @kristinanikolajMy Website: www.kristinanikolaj.comFind me on instagram: @kristinanikolaj My website: www.kristinanikolaj.com
I love this episode, not only because it goes deep, but it challenges a lot of mainstream ideas in relation to healing. I speak with Dona, a mind-body coach who shares her personal experience eliminating chronic symptoms of panic attacks, agoraphobia and others through processing grief and a therapy practice called Internal Family Systems.Topics Discussed:- Her experience being diagnosed with a panic disorder at 14- Tying your identity to your diagnosis- How Internal Family Systems changed her life- How your chronic symptoms serve a function- Processing the grief of her relationship with her mother- Unhealthy dynamics in the Albanian communityThere are sooo many good topics in this episode. You really just have to listen for yourself.Find Dona on Instagram: @yourealreadyhealedFind me on Instagram: @kristinanikolajMy Website: www.kristinanikolaj.comFind me on instagram: @kristinanikolaj My website: www.kristinanikolaj.com
THIS WOMAN. If you're feeling stuck, stressed or out of alignment in your life and you need some inspiration or uplifting energy, I promise this episode is for you. Alice is one of the most powerful femininely embodied women I've ever met and in this episode she shares how she manifested her dream life. Topics we discuss: - Keeping hope & not quitting in dark times- Trusting something bigger than yourself- Connecting to the feminine to thrive- Becoming your raw, authentic selfFind Alice on Instagram: @alicemayredmondHer Website: www.alicemayredmond.comFind me on Instagram: @kristinanikolajMy Website: www.kristinanikolaj.comFind me on instagram: @kristinanikolaj My website: www.kristinanikolaj.com
Yes, you read that title right. Marina Kirk, corporate wellness coach & psychedelic integration guide tells us about how her experience with burnout in the corporate world led her on a path of wellness and eventually into to the world of psychedelics. With all the research coming out on psychedelics and their mental health benefits, learning about it from someone who works with them firsthand was fascinating. Find Marina on Instagram: @sumofallpositiveHer Website: www.sumofallpositive.comFind me on Instagram: @kristinanikolajMy Website: www.kristinanikolaj.comFind me on instagram: @kristinanikolaj My website: www.kristinanikolaj.com
I walked away from this conversation feeling really inspired and I know if this title speaks to you, you will too. Ali, empowerment coach and body hype woman, shares her story on how she went from binge eating and hating her body to intuitive eating and dancing confidently on social media showing off her curves with no f**ks given. Find Ali on Instagram: @askcoachaliHer Website: www.coach-ali.comFind me on Instagram: @kristinanikolajMy Website: www.kristinanikolaj.comFind me on instagram: @kristinanikolaj My website: www.kristinanikolaj.com
I loved this convo! Valentina is the founder of Vajze ("girl" in Albanian), a luxury jewelry brand she ended up quitting her job to pursue full time. She talks about how she's learned to let her intuition guide her more and how she doesn't allow "failure" or her issues with anxiety stop her from growing as an entrepreneur. Find Valentina's Business Instagram: @vajzeHer Website: www.vajze.comFind me on Instagram: @kristinanikolajMy Website: www.kristinanikolaj.comFind me on instagram: @kristinanikolaj My website: www.kristinanikolaj.com
This is round 3 with my girl, Lindita. Naturopath. Soul healer. There's really no name that does what she does justice. This episode proves this. We talk about her experiences birthing all 3 of her children, naturally, in a bathtub. Using her divine motherly intuitive gifts. It's FASCINATING.***If you want to skip straight to the birth stuff -> go 19 minutes inFind Lindita on Instagram: @lindita_naturalistaHer Website: www.iamlindita.comFind me on Instagram: @kristinanikolajMy Website: www.kristinanikolaj.comFind me on instagram: @kristinanikolaj My website: www.kristinanikolaj.com
Whether you're curious about breathwork, you're a facilitator yourself or you just want to hear the story of how it changed my life, this podcast is for you. It's all about the myriad of ways it has impacted all areas of my life and how it can do the same for you. Please like, comment and share if you feel this episode will resonate with someone you care about 💙Find me on instagram: @kristinanikolaj My website: www.kristinanikolaj.com
Hey fam, this episode got real. I share a personal experience I recently had where I was emotionally triggered and how I responded to it. It's raw. No BS. Just me sharing my story and I know you'll take something away from it. Find me on instagram: @kristinanikolaj My website: www.kristinanikolaj.com