Cultivating Community with Wellness Chef and Coach Kara Elise

/

Meet Kara Elise, a foodie who turned her passion for hosting into a full-time career that allows her to create joy by creating experiences for people around a table. She's curated moments and events for Darling Magazine, Alaska Airlines, Sorel Shoes, and more! Keep on reading and tune in below to get the behind-the-scenes with Kara as we enter her kitchen, where she offers creativity, art, and genuine community.

SHOW NOTES:

Kara got into cooking and food because she loved creating spaces that facilitated nourishment and connection. Food was a great modality to do that (2:00.)

She started her company to bring people together in a connective space. She loves the intuition that comes with preparing food, taking the ingredients in a kitchen and making something magical with it (4:15.)

This created two themes in her work life, first the importance of creating connection around food and two learning how to be intuitive and playful to make art out of food (5:03).

She loves working with brands at retreats because clients are completely taken out of their comfort zone and she can be part of the new environment. This allows Kara to come in, as a chef, and create a comfortable and inviting experience with food (5:20.)

“My vision is for people to feel free in the kitchen. I think the kitchen should be fun, playful, and intuitive. ”
— Kara Dykert

Kara’s book, Toast, offers simple and intuitive meal recipes. Accessible recipes are very important to Kara because they are the starting point for learning kitchen intuition (9:00.)

The biggest universal tip for bringing people together, according to Kara, is a table question. The way it works is you ask the question and then every single person at the table goes around and answers it. By asking the same question around the table it allows everyone to equally voice their own part of their story (13:15.)

She likes using table questions outside of the social space and brings it to the corporate space to help clients connect with their teams on a more intimate level (16:00.)

Kara believes that to pay it forward it’s important to first connect with ourselves: know who they are, be grounded, and operate from a place of self-compassion and self-love. She also has been hosting live cooking classes everyday on Instagram (17:20.)

What’s Next for Kara? She has been building an online course called Hosting with Heart which is a six-part series that teaches viewers how to host well. In addition to her series, she’s still working on her podcast with her finance and filming a pilot for a TV show called What’s in your Kitchen, where she teaches viewers how to use ingredients you have in your kitchen and in life to create something magical and nourishing (19:30.)

Thank you readers, to tuning into the Brava Podcast. If you like the show please leave a review on iTunes! 

What from our conversation inspired you today? What do you hope to hear next? Tweet or message us on Instagram @BravaPodcast to tell us what you want to hear, even if it’s your own story! 

Leading Yourself Well With Marissa Nash

/

Today on the Brava Podcast I am so pleased to introduce you to Marissa Nash. Marissa is a Certified Professional Life Coach and Team Coach that specializes in helping YOU to make an impact whether it be within your own organization, your community, with your family or the world.

In today’s episode we discuss everything from how to avoid burnout, how to incorporate self-care into your routine, and even how to perform your own life audit! So use this next 20 minutes with Marissa as your own personal time with your new life coach. She’s got your back because she knows you have big plans for your future. Let’s get started!

Marissa Nash and the Brava Podcast

SHOW NOTES:

Marissa’s company, The Vine Collective, is a great resource for leaders, teams, and women everywhere! Her background stems from being a yoga instructor. She now coaches women in the corporate and entrepreneurial space (1:15.)

A lot of her work that she integrates into her practice is by John Maxwell and how to lead well (3:34.)

Looking to create a real impact on others? Marissa believes you can do this by having a positive influence on the people, the environment, and the cause you are most passionate about. It’s creating change that is sustainable. It means to leading with wellness and wholeness and working to inspire others to be the best they can be (5:12.)

Marissa’s Leadership Growth Plan is a roadmap for women to plan their growth for their life and leadership. Check it out here! (6:00.)

On Sunday nights, Marissa plans out her workouts for the week because that is her priority. It creates self-accountability as she plans to succeed in the week for what matters most to her. What’s your priorities? Share in the comments below! (8:00.)

Curious on how you can perform a life audit? You have to know where you are before you know how to make change in your life. She walks women through a 7-step process beginning with your why and your purpose on what you want to do. Continue tuning in to hear all of the 7 step process in her interview (9:34.)

Looking to create change? Marissa would suggest getting clear on what matters to you. Then, identify what gaps there may be in your community. Lastly, take action and remember, it’s ok to start small (11:37.)

Marissa is very inspired by Brené Brown because she is focused not only on strategy but also the heart (13:11.)

Need help with focus? She recommends writing 3 things each morning of different tasks you want to accomplish (14:45.)

Let’s talk books that inspire! Marissa loves the “The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth” by John C. Maxwell and “Dare to Lead” by Brené Brown, but via Audio! (16:55.)

Want to learn more from Marissa? She is starting her next Mastermind in the fall! Be sure to check it out here.

Thank you readers, to tuning into the Brava Podcast. If you like the show please leave a review on iTunes! 

What from our conversation inspired you today? What do you hope to hear next? Tweet or message us on Instagram @BravaPodcast to tell us what you want to hear, even if it’s your own story! 

Season 2 Is Here (!!) + Giveaway

/

Season 2 of the Brava Podcast is. HERE!! I am SO excited to share with you the tremendous women I've been interviewing over the past two months who have discussed everything from learning how to live a more creative life and investing in yourself to rooting your career in self-love. ⁣

Stephanie Campbell Brava Podcast

Episode #11 featuring author and Illustrator, Ilana Griffo, is live NOW and you can listen on Apple, Spotify, Castbox, Sticher & more. 
⁣
One of the on-going themes in Season 2 that I have noticed is the fear of the jump, the hesitancy we tend to have when taking those next steps whether it's starting a new position or starting your company. Each of the women featured on the Brava Podcast has tackled this in some way or another that I hope can inspire you on your career journey. ⁣
⁣
Again, BRAVA to these amazing women and for you listeners, you go girl. 

GIVEAWAY TIME:

To celebrate the launch of Season 2, I’ve create a side-hustle “starter pack” of sorts! Check it out below and enter now for a chance to win!

[GIVEAWAY TIME! 🎉📱] To celebrate the launch of the second season of the @BravaPodcast, I thought it would be fun to do a side-hustle "starter-pack" giveaway to one lucky listener! Enter with the rules below & the link in my bio. Good luck! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ - - - - - ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 1️⃣Rate & review the @BravaPodcast on iTunes (& be sure to leave your IG handle so I can find you if you win!) 🌟⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 2️⃣Tag a friend in the comments below! 👭⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 3️⃣Follow @BravaPodcast! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ + + check the link in my bio for more ways to enter and receive bonus entries!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ - - - - - ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ If you win? You'll get a light pink letterboard, a vintage calendar desk accessory, a copy of the book Big Magic and a gold ballpoint pen. Hurry & leave a rating & review before Sunday, 3/10. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ - - - - - ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Giveaway Rules: US residents only. No purchase necessary. Must be 18 years or older to enter. Giveaway is no way endorsed, associated with or sponsored by featured brands. Giveaway will be closed at 11:59 pm EST 3/10. Winners announced no later than 3/13. Good luck!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ - - - - - ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #YouGoGirl #BravaPodcast #Podcasts #NewPodcasts #Giveaway #Contest #Sweepstakes #PodcastGiveaway #PodcastSweepstakes #Win #Letterboard #SideHustle #StarterPack

1 Likes, 0 Comments - The Brava Podcast (@bravapodcast) on Instagram: "[GIVEAWAY TIME! 🎉📱] To celebrate the launch of the second season of the @BravaPodcast, I thought it..."

Good luck!

Exploring Your "Aha" Moment with Lillian Rafson

/

Hi, listeners and happy holidays! In the mood for a holiday vacation? Today’s episode will be all about exploring your dreams, adventure and discovering your “aha” moment. Let’s talk travel. Picture this. The start-up Pack Up & Go wants to plan your 3-day weekend. The catch? Your destination is a surprise. This innovative idea and business was conceived by Lillian Rafson. Lillian, CEO and Founder of Pack Up & Go, wants you to embrace the unknown and as an entrepreneur, she’s quite spontaneous herself! Listen below to learn more about Lillian’s start-up story, her go-to advice and her own “aha” moment.

SHOW NOTES:

Lillian quit her job to discover what she wanted to do. She traveled and back packed and ran into to two women who were on a surprise vacation. She realized that the “surprise vacation” market wasn’t as prominent in the U.S. (1:10).

She launched Pack Up + Go within the 6-8 weeks left in her trip in 2015, researching and interviewing the locals and tourists along the way. On January 1st, she launched her Squarespace account and let her friends and family know. At that point she planned only a handful of practice trips. A friend featured her launch within Business Insider and the rest…is history (3:00).

How you find capital or fund for your big idea? Lillian’s biggest costs at the beginning were the domain name and Squarespace account. The best part of Pack Up + Go is that it’s a cash flow positive organization, full owned by their team without venture capital assistance (5:50).

Lillian was always inspired to study what made her happy in school. She went to NYU for gender studies, marketing and French. She values her hands-on experience that internships provided her while in school (7:00).

She believes that traveling forces you out of your comfort zone and gives you the ability to explore new things. She loves that her travelers are willing to let that control go and explore new things and push their own boundaries (9:19).

One of Lillian’s favorite customer stories highlights a woman that was celebrating her 70th birthday that was traveling alone. She came home from her trip and sent 50-75 pictures from her trip and that she had the best time on her trip (11:10).

Curious as to which cities are the most popular to travel to this year? Nashville and Charleston are both booming. Lillian’s favorite cities to travel to? Savannah, New Orleans and Chicago (13:16).

Let’s talk travel must-haves. Lillian’s top 3 are: a rolling suitcase, a pair of comfortable and cute sneakers, and an external battery pack for your phone (14:30).

Lillian’s go-to message and source for inspiration, an Israeli term…”YALLA” (16:30).

“Yalla! Let’s go! If not now, then when? Let’s just do this.”
— Lillian Rafson, CEO and Founder of Pack Up & Go

Next steps for Pack Up + Go is to expand domestic city trips and to continue to support small business in the U.S. while creating multi-city trips for customers (18:35).

Thank you readers, to tuning into the Brava Podcast. If you like the show please leave us a review on iTunes! 

What from our conversation inspired you today? What do you hope to hear next? Tweet or message us on Instagram @BravaPodcast to tell us what you want to hear, even if it’s your own story!