This episode is your permission slip to listen to your own internal seasons of productivity and rest. I’m joined by Mackenzie Belcastro, a transformational coach, Reiki Practitioner, and podcast host.

Mackenzie and I kick this episode off by inviting you to drop into a powerful Creative Spark meditation. This meditation is a practice you can bookmark and return to again and again.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or on your favorite podcast platform while you cook, clean, or create. Get the full show notes & transcript here.

What’s in This Episode:

Mackenzie defines creativity as being in touch with one's soul or higher self. She highlights the importance of regular self-care and meditation for keeping that channel open and shares her journey of aligning her external world with her internal values.

Mackenzie reminds you that it’s okay to experience human moments and shares her own cyclical pattern of stepping back from “productivity” in the fall. She gives herself permission to rest, knowing she’ll return to a season of productivity when she feels inspired.

Mackenzie reminds you that you do not need to force your creative process. And that you are deserving of self-compassion while navigating seasons of creative blocks.

xo Chef Carla

PS: Are you Substack curious? Listen to this podcast episode about building your new digital home on Substack. Join the Substack Accelerator to share your creative projects and work in the world. Create, Launch, & Grow Your Substack

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Disclaimer: Always seek the counsel of a qualified medical practitioner or other healthcare provider for an individual consultation before making any significant changes to your health, lifestyle, or to answer questions about specific medical conditions. This podcast is for entertainment and information purposes only.

This week’s episode illustrates what’s possible for you when you allow your spirit to lead you in your work. I’m joined by Emily Nachazel, intuitive business coach for visionary soul-led women.

When with clients, Emily uses somatics and energetic work to help people shake out resistance. Here, she takes us behind the scenes of what it’s been like to move through her own creative blocks and reconnect with her voice and self-expression.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or on your favorite podcast platform while you cook, clean, or create. Get the full show notes & transcript here.

What’s in This Episode:

Emily Nachazel defines creativity as, “life force that is flowing through.” She surrenders and stays present to the energy that feels bigger than her so that it can move through her.

Emily shares about her current relationship with creativity while being pregnant and celebrates pregnancy as one the most creative portals she has ever been through.

Emily compares her daily morning practice to brushing your teeth, a non-negotiable part of the day that has become a foundation piece of showing up online in her business for the past 10 years.

Emily gives you permission to shift your perspective and view your business as an art practice rather than spreadsheets, data, and invoices.

Topics Covered:

Defining your creativity as life force energy

Embracing the self-discovery and evolution of entrepreneurship

What’s possible for you when you allow your spirit to lead you in your work

Celebrating pregnancy and birth as potent creative portals

Reframing your creative blocks as pathways to more aligned realities

Unblocking the voice and self-expression through singing and ancestral healing

What has been moving through you lately? Leave a comment below or tag us on IG @chefcarlacontreras & @emilynachazel to share with us.

xo Chef Carla

PS: My mission is for you is to use your voice, share your work, and step into your fullest expression of who you already are through your content. Join the next Substack Workshop here

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Disclaimer: Always seek the counsel of a qualified medical practitioner or other healthcare provider for an individual consultation before making any significant changes to your health, lifestyle, or to answer questions about specific medical conditions. This podcast is for entertainment and information purposes only.

This week’s episode is the first live Nourishing Creativity episode. I’m joined by repeat guest Deb Driscoll, an author, spiritual teacher, and energy guide. Her playful approach to the creative process is magnetic!

In this episode, Deb shares how since her last episode she has shifted her priorities to focus on being an author with a business. She was not giving herself the space to create, there was always another to-do in her business.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform while you cook, clean, or create. Get the transcript and full show notes here

What’s in This Episode:

Importance of Pausing and Breathing: Deb talks about the significance of stopping, pausing, and breathing to connect with your creativity and intuition.

Definition of Magic: Deb defines magic, “as the intentional direction of energy” and shares how it relates to creativity.

Current Relationship with Creativity: Deb shares her journey of prioritizing her writing and creative projects, she is an author with a business.

IN Your INTUITION Summit: Deb explains the purpose and structure of the summit, which aims to empower women to claim their intuitive wisdom, join the summit

Challenges and Creative Process: Deb discusses the challenges she has faced while organizing the summit and how she has incorporated rest and self-care into her process.

Listen to Deb’s previous podcast, Episode 96: Healing is a Creative Process with Deb Driscoll Founder of Big Life Magic here

xo Chef Carla

PS: Are Substack curious? Listen to this podcast episode about building your new digital home on Substack. Our next workshop is Saturday 3/1.

Disclaimer: Always seek the counsel of a qualified medical practitioner or other healthcare provider for an individual consultation before making any significant changes to your health, lifestyle, or to answer questions about specific medical conditions. This podcast is for entertainment and information purposes only.

This week’s episode is focused on confidence and the power of knowing that it doesn't matter. I’m joined by Christine Ajisafe, self-love expert, business coach, transformation queen, and soul igniter.

Christine gives you permission to feel inspired by your own ideas, to be turned on, and to be excited! It’s your reminder that you have the key to unlock your own unique magnetism.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or on your favorite podcast platform while you cook, clean, or create. Get the full show notes & transcript here.

What’s in This Episode:

Christine Ajisafe defines creativity as your connection with your turn on and emphasizes that many of the obstacles we face are self-imposed. She reminds you that true confidence comes from realizing these obstacles don't actually matter.

When you feel an idea taking shape in your body, that’s the energy to follow! Christine tells you about her creative blocks and how she moves them out of the way with commitments like going live for 30 days, even if it’s at one in the morning.

Showing up is how you move forward, rather than waiting for the day when you “feel ready”, Christine gives you permission to do it afraid, and you can do it alongside her in the Embodiment Experiment

What are you giving yourself permission to create, share, or do after listening to this episode? Leave a comment on Substack or tag us on IG @chefcarlacontreras & @christineajisafe to share with us.

xo Carla

PS: My mission is for you is to use your voice, share your work, and step into your fullest expression of who you already are through your content! Join Press Publish Club

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Disclaimer: Always seek the counsel of a qualified medical practitioner or other healthcare provider for an individual consultation before making any significant changes to your health, lifestyle, or to answer questions about specific medical conditions. This podcast is for entertainment and information purposes only.

“What ways do you want to be visible in 2025? ” —Carla Contreras

As I close out 2024, I am getting honest with myself about the milestones I hit in this past year. I received awards and recognitions that I would have encouraged my clients to share across all social media platforms, but didn’t.

What I’ve learned this past year as a content creator is that even when you think you are hiding, your work is still visible especially, if you have the courage to press publish. This episode sparked an idea that's been simmering.

Press Publish Club is the space for you to be in community with fellow courageous creatives + entrepreneurs. Join us before Monday January 6th and get a bonus 30-minute Content Strategy Session (worth $150.00). Press Publish Club

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform while you cook, clean, or create. Get the full show notes & transcript here.

What’s in This Episode:

This episode is an invitation for you to get visible, for you to show up fully, as my previous podcast said.

I tell you about the behind the scenes of my own content creation and invite you to think about how you’ve been both visible and invisible in 2024.

Maybe you might feel the safety of hiding from the big audiences or staying off of social media when there’s an influx of comments to respond to.

But the work still has a life of its own in these digital spaces. And people see it, celebrate it, and feel inspired by it on the other side of the screen.

You’re invited to respond to the journal prompts below and if you need support join us inside Press Publish Club

What ways were you visible in 2024?

What ways were you invisible in 2024?

What ways do you want to be visible in 2025?

Do you need support in doing that? What is going to make you feel more confident in being visible?

What’s your visibility plan for 2025? Leave a comment on Substack or send me a DM @chefcarlacontreras to share your visibility journey with me

xo Chef Carla

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Disclaimer: Always seek the counsel of a qualified medical practitioner or other healthcare provider for an individual consultation before making any significant changes to your health, lifestyle, or to answer questions about specific medical conditions. This podcast is for entertainment and information purposes only.

This conversation focuses on nourishment. I’m joined by my dear friend Layla Khoury-Hanold, a James Beard Award nominated journalist, freelance food and travel writer, and author.

Layla shares how she honors her appetite and nourishes herself in a way that is true and that aligns for her. She invites you to fill your cup first and gives you inspiration to make space for your creative process.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform while you cook, clean, or create. Get the full show notes & transcript here.

What’s in This Episode:

Layla shares her definition of creativity which she believes is something that is constantly evolving. She gives us a look into her creative process which includes: Research, daydreaming, or putting writing blocks in her calendar.

She gives us a real life example as a parent, partner, and business owner of what has to give in order to support her creative time. Layla is clear about her priorities and asks for help with dinner and releases the responsibility of figuring out the after school schedule for her daughter.

Layla surrounds herself with other writers who understand the ups and downs of the creative process. She’s familiar with the isolating feelings that can come with creation. She prioritizes being in spaces where she feels less alone on her creative journey.

Topics Covered:

Satisfying your appetite for life and getting intentional about how you nourish your creative energy

Reframing the need to “earn” creative time or be worthy enough to dedicate time to creative projects

Refilling your cup for yourself vs refilling your cup for others. Read Layla’s essay on refilling your cup on Mother Untitled here

Building your creative community of people who get what you’re going through

How are you nourishing your creativity? Leave a comment on Substack or DM us on IG @chefcarlacontreras & @words_with_layla.

xo Carla

PS: Dreaming of starting your own Substack? Listen to this podcast about building your new digital home on Substack here

Disclaimer: Always seek the counsel of a qualified medical practitioner or other healthcare provider for an individual consultation before making any significant changes to your health, lifestyle, or to answer questions about specific medical conditions. This podcast is for entertainment and information purposes only.

We made it to episode 100! I am so grateful for you tuning in and listening to this podcast whether it’s your first episode or 100th. I’m celebrating this milestone with a special repeat guest who will remind you that you are part of something larger.

I’m joined by Sofia Adler, an energy worker and certified mindful meditation teacher. Sofia works with a variety of energetic modalities that help you connect back to yourself, the land, and the universe.

Tune in as Sofia and I explore the many ways that energy can support you, your creativity, and your life force. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify. Get the full show notes & transcript here.

What’s in This Episode:

Sofia Adler defines creativity as connecting to the universal life force and remaining open to the infinite possibilities of what can be created. When approaching creativity with the belief that anything can be created, our capacity for abundance expands.

Sofia blends a variety of energetic modalities to help people heal and reconnect with themselves, others, and the universe. She shares examples of how she uses this energy inside of her own business too, to spark ideas and channel language that helps her connect to her ideal clients.

Sofia tells us how she nourishes her creativity by doing nothing, stepping back, and journaling. When she gives the creative process space, she can listen to where the energy wants to go next.

Sofia believes in dissolving creative blocks by removing old emotions and energies that are no longer serving us so that we can keep moving forward, growing, and evolving – rather than being held back by past experiences.

What is your current relationship with your energy? Tag us on IG @chefcarlacontreras & @sofiaadler_ to let us know how you reconnect with yourself and your creativity!

xo Chef Carla

PS: Dreaming of starting your own Substack? Listen to this podcast about building your new digital home on Substack here

Join My Community:

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Disclaimer: Always seek the counsel of a qualified medical practitioner or other healthcare provider for an individual consultation before making any significant changes to your health, lifestyle, or to answer questions about specific medical conditions. This podcast is for entertainment and information purposes only.