Can I Just Say? with Nikki La Croce

Labels & Self-Perception: How to Reclaim Your Identity

Labels help us choose the right product off the supermarket shelves, but human beings also apply labels, both to themselves and others, and these labels can drastically affect our perceptions of our true selves. Today’s guest is Cuyla Coogan. Cuyla is a queer life coach based in southern California, whose mission is to help people in the queer community become more confident and comfortable, so they can achieve their full potential. Pulling from her own experiences, Cuyla’s practice highlights the value of self-awareness and self-acceptance, so her clients can be all of who they are without reservations. With that in mind, we talk about how labels affect our self-perception and why it's important to respect the different ways that people choose to identify themselves. We discuss the definition of queer, the paradox between stigma and finding community through labels, and why it’s important to view our experience as a human one. Cuyla also shares the three stages she went through in her life – coming out, coming home, and coming alive – and how she hopes to help others reclaim their identity, as well as why she believes that the only way we can shift societal perceptions is thorough community and conversation. Tune in today to find out more!Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Cuyla Coogan on LinkedInCuyla Coogan on InstagramCuyla Coogan on FacebookCuyla CooganLGBTQ+ Leader Global MastermindThe Trevor ProjectNational Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health 2020Create the Love PodcastThe Coming Alive Community Facebook GroupWTF* for a CauseNikki La Croce--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whothefck/message

Self-Care: A New Discussion about an Age-old Problem

Life can sometimes feel like swimming through an ocean of emotions, distractions, and chaos, and without the proper tools to help ourselves deal with this unpredictability, it can feel like we are drowning. Sharon Zapata joins us for this episode to talk about her new book, Middle Finger Happiness, and unpack her philosophy towards self-repair, a vital part of any healthy life.We get to hear from Sharon about why she chooses to frame the attention we give ourselves and our needs in this way, the central and ongoing part that our childhoods play in our lives, and what it means to take time for oneself in 2020!Our conversation covers making better, intuitive decisions and holding the right kind of conversations, with Sharon underlining why taking good care of yourself should always be a priority. Sharon also gets into her own repair time, how she likes to recharge, and what happens when we neglect these important aspects of our lives that allow us to renew our energy.Tuning in, listeners can expect to gain some fresh perspective on dealing with those unconscious pains and traumas that crop for all of us, and Sharon generously explains how she has managed to confront her own issues in this respect. Make sure to check out Sharon’s amazing book, as it is packed with actionable and inspiring ways to live your life going forward, and tune in to hear what she has to say today!Key Points From This Episode:A little bit about Sharon’s animals, family, and dynamics at home!
Sharon’s thoughts self-care, creativity, and connecting with childhood aspirations.
Our early, determining years and the development of attachment styles and personality.
The current moment in global history and the impetus it puts on our need to exercise self-care.
Our capacity to help others around us, supporting causes, and making good decisions.
Acknowledging our gut feelings and listening to our intuition!
The different fears of men and women and what this indicates about society.
Sharon’s thoughts on self-help books and why she prefers the term ‘self-repair’.
The three ‘D’s — distractions, depression, and decisions.
Healthier decisions for taking care of ourselves and those around us who are willing.
The importance of conversations — fostering communication and listening skills.
The me-time that Sharon keeps space for in her life.
Generational trauma and breaking the cycle of pain and abuse.
Risks of neglecting self-repair and Sharon’s alarms for when she needs to get out.
Durability, ordinality, and irregularity; Sharon’s conception of the individual.
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Seeking Fulfillment: The Power of Discovering Your Purpose

Bianca Amos (@bianca.amos) comes on the show to share her story about immigrating to Canada to pursue a better life for her and her son.Bianca is a writer, media producer, content creator and host of the Once Broken Podcast (@oncebrokenpodcast). I was so thrilled to have her on after first connecting with her here on IG.In this episode, we talk about:- The decision to leave home for another country- The challenges of being a single mother and adjusting to a new culture- Letting go of fear in pursuit of an inherent purpose- How sharing real stories helps us healThis episode’s WhoTheF*ck for a Cause is in support of Matthew House Toronto (@mhouseto), a nonprofit organization that provides food, shelter, housing, and supportive services to those in need. If you are able, please consider making a donation.--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whothefck/message

Your Diagnosis Is Not Your Identity with Alaina Muckell

Learning about Alaina’s battle with cystic fibrosis offered me a great deal of perspective and hope beyond what I could have imagined. Diagnosed with CF at age 2, Alaina spent a good deal of time living her life as anyone who didn’t have a life threatening illness may do. But as Alaina’s health declined during her early adult life, she was faced with challenges most of us could never - and would never - want to fathom for ourselves or loved ones. In this episode, Alaina opens up about:What life is ike as a young person with a chronic, terminal illness
Her family’s endless support and optimism despite their natural fears
How she ultimately came to the decision to receive a lung transplant
And how her life has changed both personally and professionally since she took such a massive leap of faith.
This is one for the books. Get ready for ALL the feels.Thank you so much, Alaina, for sharing your positivity, your perspective, and your beautiful heart.This episode’s WhoTheF*ck for a Cause is in support of The Bonnell Foundation, whose purpose is to provide tools to navigate the difficulties of living with CF by connecting families with resources during their CF journey. Visit whothefck.com/donate to support their mission and check out other causes our guests are supporting!--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whothefck/message

Life After Loss: More Than Moving On

In this episode, Dan ‘Bear’ Cuddy joins me to share his experiences with the loss of his dear friend who died while serving in Iraq and his mother, who had battled multiple sclerosis for most of Dan’s life.We talk openly about life after loss and how there really is no such thing as getting over it. Our conversation explores:– What it’s like to experience the loss of a loved one– The stages of grief and how it has changed his perspective– The importance of support from family and friends– Advice on how to console someone experiencing grief– Continuing to feel connected to the person who has passedThis episode’s WhoTheF*ck For A Cause supports Kick for Nick. Kick For Nick supports U.S. troop and volunteer efforts in fostering peace and stability across the globe by delivering to underprivileged children the joy of play through the gift of a soccer ball donated in honor of PFC Nicholas A Madaras.If you have the means, please visit whothefck.com/donate and give what you can to support the cause!--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whothefck/message

Vegan for Good: Shifting Perspectives, Saving Lives

In this episode, Elena May Gruneberg joins me to talk about her decision to live a vegan lifestyle. During college, we spent a semester in Italy sharing many meat-based meals, so this was a raw and honest conversation about what made her decide she will never eat a meat product or byproduct again. Elena shares some great insight on the challenges of making the choice, while simultaneously destigmatizing the way many people view veganism. Elena's approach is one rooted in the desire to educate, eat clean, and save the lives of animals - without shaming the people who don't follow the same path. We discuss: - Why Elena and her husband, Matt, committed to living vegan - How plant-based diets improve overall health - Common misconceptions about being vegan - How the planet benefits from more people following plant-based diets - Resources for anyone looking to learn more about the vegan lifestyle + plant-based diets This episode's WhoTheF*ck For A Cause supports Farm Sanctuary If you have the means, please visit whothefck.com/donate and give what you can to support healthy living conditions for farm animals. Follow Vegan for Good for curated vegan recipes: https://www.instagram.com/v_forgood/ Follow Elena for a steady stream of animal friends and advocacy: https://www.instagram.com/elemaynomeat/ Interested in some of the vegan-inspired artwork we discussed? Visit https://www.instagram.com/thetechnicalturtle/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whothefck/message

Intersectionality: Understanding Our Interconnected Identities

In this episode of the WhoTheF*ck? podcast, I speak with Gina Gold – comedian, author, eco-feminist, and all around awesome human. Gina and I discuss the concept of intersectionality and why it’s important, particularly for women, to understand how our interconnected identities entwine.We talk about racism, sexism, and the stigma against mental health. Gina shares stories about her past that made her who she is today, including her experience as a sex worker.If you haven’t yet discovered Gina, you’re going to love her. Her energy is addictive, and the conversation we have flows effortlessly.We talk about serious, heavy topics yet somehow, through it all, Gina continues to shine her radiant light.We discuss:Intersectionality and how one person can experience multiple layers of oppression
Eco-feminism – what it is and why you need to know about it
The objectification and over-sexualization of women
ADHD and our mutual later-in life diagnosis
The importance of mental health and decreasing stigma
This episode’s WhoTheF*ck For A Cause supports Direct Action Everywhere. If you have the means, please visit whothefck.com/donate and give what you can to help provide care for rescued animals, defend whistleblowers, and pass animal rights legislation.Learn more about Gina: https://theginagoldshow.com/Follow her on IG: https://www.instagram.com/theginagoldshow/Read her books: https://amzn.to/3fW8P9YAvailable wherever you listen to podcasts: Apple, Spotify, Stitcher, Anchor, etc.--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whothefck/message

Childless by Choice: Trading Society’s Expectations for Your Own

On this episode of the WhoTheF*ck? podcast, one of my closest friends from college, Paula Clancey, and I have a truly candid conversation about the decision she made to not have children and how her confidence about the decision continues to grow in spite of the critics.Tune in to hear our thoughts on the importance of choice, the stigma that remaining childless can carry, how to respond when people insert their unsolicited opinions, and why you shouldn't explain yourself to anyone - because it's YOUR life. This episode’s WhoTheF*ck For A Cause is in support of Planned Parenthood. If you have the means, please visit whothefck.com/donate and give what you can to support reproductive healthcare and the ongoing education that Planned Parenthood provides to millions.--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whothefck/message

Yogi Lifestyle: Education, Healing, and Self-love

For this episode, I reunite with Christina McKitish, a fellow Quinnipiac graduate, art-lover, and humanitarian as she shares the story of how her greatest challenges led her to practice yoga and ultimately started teaching yoga as a way to find her true self - and help others do the same.As a lifelong learner and educator, currently working as a middle-school social studies teacher, Christina's passion for teaching yoga came naturally. When Christina found herself experiencing severe anxiety and depression after a difficult time in her life, she decided to explore yoga as a way to reconnect with herself and become more present.Tune in to find out how yoga has changed Christina's perspective on life, improved her mental and physical well-being, and given her the chance to grow as an individual and with her students.If you're interested in joining one of Christina's virtual yoga classes, head over to cmckitishyoga.com to sign up and make sure you give her a follow on IG @cmckitishyoga.This episode’s WhoTheF*ck For A Cause is in support of Yoga Foster. If you have the means, please visit whothefck.com/donate and give what you can to provide accessible, evidence-based tools for mindful well-being for every classroom.More episodes available at whothefck.com or visit your preferred streaming platform to subscribe. Just search for WhoTheF*ck? and give it a listen.Click below to listen to WhoTheF*ck? on:Spotify
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Rob’s 10K Friends: Opening the Door to Genuine Connections

On this episode of the WhoTheF*ck? podcast, I speak to Rob Lawless, creator of Rob’s 10K Friends, as he explains what prompted his mission to meet 10,000 unique individuals and spend one hour, one-on-one with each of them – for absolutely no reason other than to create connections.Since Rob began his project in 2015, he has met over 3,300 people (I was 3,396!) and doesn’t plan to stop until he reaches his goal to become friends with 10,000 people. The format of this episode is a bit different than you may expect, as it takes a page from Rob’s book and allows each of us to get to know one another better, the way we would if we were just having a friendly conversation.Rob’s time at Penn State University acted as the catalyst for Rob’s 10K Friends, so this episode’s WhoTheF*ck For A Cause is in support of Penn State Thon. If you have the means, please visit whothefck.com/donate and give what you can to help fight the battle against childhood cancer.More episodes available at whothefck.com or visit your preferred streaming platform to subscribe. Just search for WhoTheF*ck? and give it a listen.Click below to listen to WhoTheF*ck? on:Spotify
Apple
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YouTube
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/whothefck/message