Unimaginable Wellness For Aspiring Mom Nonfiction Writers
Select from any of the 150+ episodes to learn from mental health, mindfulness, wellness experts, entrepreneurs, psychologists, writers, and moms who decided to safeguard their well-being using wellness + writing practices that you too as a mom can apply, so you can write your non-fiction book while retaining the kind of unimaginable wellness that goes beyond your imagination.
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Latest Episodes
Find Your Purpose Besides Being A Mom (This Is An Open Call For 50 Moms To Become Beta Readers Too), Episode 148
Let’s talk about how you can find your purpose, BESIDES being a mom, I have three steps for you in this week’s podcast and this week I am calling for 50 moms from 50 US states to become my beta readers in exchange for your name in my book credits. Send me a DM on…
You Can Learn How To Play Again! Try This Moms!, Episode 147
Did you ever hear your name during Romper Room? Do you remember that 80s TV show when the host would look through a mirror and say a bunch of names? Well, I may have said your name during this podcast episode. Listen for it. Also exciting about this episode is that I read a snippet…
Melissa On Why I’m Pivoting An Interview With Melissa Llarena, Episode 146
In this week’s episode, you are about to go behind the scenes of my podcast relaunch journey. I want to reveal my personal reasons for pivoting from entrepreneurship to wellness. Today, I will invite you to be part of my creative process. I’ll ask you to send me your thoughts on 3 important questions. My…
Rerun of Dr. Joel Fuhrman Talks About Regaining Your Power Through Nutrition, Episode 144
Thank you for listening to this episode from my archives. Stay tuned for a refreshed podcast theme, new guests, and even artwork soon! Send me a DM on Instagram @melissallarena – I would love to hear your thoughts on this “best of episode.” Are you looking to lose weight? Let’s talk about this top New…
Rerun of Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith Talks About How to Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, and Restore Your Sanity Through Sacred Rest, Episode 142
Thank you for listening to this episode from my archives. Stay tuned for a refreshed podcast theme, new guests, and even artwork soon! Send me a DM on Instagram @melissallarena – I would love to hear your thoughts on this “best of episode.” Are you tired? It’s a silly question, right? This is the episode…
Rerun of Phaidra Knight, World Rugby Hall of Famer, founder of PeaK Unleashed, and Mixed Martial Artist Expresses the Importance of Equality and Feeling Limitless Regardless of Age and Circumstances, Episode 142
Originally from a small rural town in Georgia, Phaidra Knight, for nearly 18 years, traveled the globe as a professional rugby player, establishing herself as one of the premier players in the sport. In this episode, she shared the many unique experiences she had both on and off the field. And she explained how…
The Power of Savoring Each Moment During This Back To School Season and into Your Daily Life with Alejandra Molina, Episode 141
A lot of moms have a lot on their plates right now and sometimes, it can feel like things are a little out of control. How do we navigate this wild adventure of life called motherhood and still be able to find some humor amidst the craziness of it all? And how do we juggle…
How to Write the Book Inside of You with Alex Kiester, Episode 140
Do you have a book inside of you that’s just waiting for you to put out? As for Alex Kiester, writing has been her childhood dream. And although life has a way to deviate her from it at times, she still finds herself coming back to her first love. Here’s a little background about Alex.…
Want to Make a Big Life Change? Learn the Four Phases of the Jump Curve from Mike Lewis, Episode 139
Are you thinking about making a big change in your life? Maybe you want to shift careers, or perhaps relocate to a different part of the world. Whatever that change looks like for you, today’s guest, Mike Lewis, shares these four phases of what he calls, “the jump curve,” that people go through as they…
Fall Back in Love with Your Craft Again with Lorin Martin, Episode 138
Have you ever wanted to do something in your life but you just never had the courage to do it? Maybe you’ve pursued your passion to become a doctor or a pharmacist, or a lawyer because you wanted to do good in the world. But then you ended up working in an organization that’s got…
EPIC Local Spots Where You Can Unravel Life’s Challenges Featuring @HikeAustin’s Creator Matthew Guthrie, Episode 137
When was the last time you went out for a hike in the mountains, walked on the ocean, or just experienced nature? Being outdoors can do wonders. So, get your hiking boots or your surfboard ready because you definitely would want to head out after hearing this episode. Born and raised in Austin,…
How To Turn Life’s Silliness Into Your Brand Featuring Squidinki Co-Founder Max Mendez, Episode 136
Imagine being an illustrator with a studio in Sydney right next to the Museum of Contemporary Art in Australia, who gets to use their talent to give people a good laugh at the silliness of life? This week’s guest is Max Mendez and his artistry is behind the Squidinki brand. Squidinki is a unique brand…
The SECRET to SUCCESS Behind Australia’s Chocolatier Rebecca Knights, Episode 135
Please note: this episode will be available on Tuesday for playing purposes. Stay tuned. Add An Interview With Melissa Llarena to your iTunes playlist for instant access there or return here on Tuesday and be delighted. What could be possible for moms who want to launch their own businesses and reawaken their imagination? A life…
Finding Joy, Clarity, and Confidence as a New Entrepreneur with Jessica Burgio, Episode 134
This conversation is perfect for new or aspiring entrepreneurs. What if you are new to self-employment and you want to put together a beta offer? What’s the key to having massive clarity on what you want to sell? Who might you want to ask to be your first clients? What if you could uplevel…
The Rules of Raising An Entrepreneur by A Mom Who Did Margot Machol Bisnow, Episode 133
These days, the thought of entrepreneurship for our kids as a viable career option doesn’t sound completely foreign or nuts. It may sound risky or unstable and less conventional than becoming a doctor, lawyer, engineer, or accountant – but it’s an option that is increasingly getting popular, especially since the advent of the internet. Do…
A Spiritual Journey: A Look into Your Masculine and Feminine Sides with Johnson Chong, Episode 131
Are you on a spiritual journey right now? Chances are, if you are in your 30s or 40s, you have been on a spiritual journey of some sort, and maybe you still are going through the motions of it. As for me, my spiritual journey started here in Australia due to the “at-home time” I…
How To Reconnect With Your Artistic Self For Busy Moms With Belinda Lindhardt, Episode 130
How can pausing or neglecting your hobbies as a busy mom lead to feeling like you’ve lost an essential connection to yourself? In this episode, you’ll uncover what it takes to be an artist and a single mom, especially during those early childhood years. Hear whether it’s worth it to give up on your dreams,…
Founder of Collective Hub Lisa Messenger on How to Start Up to Scale Up, Episode 129
Lisa Messenger has lived a full range of entrepreneurial emotions – the ups and downs over the course of being in business for over 21 years. In this episode, Lisa covered quite a bit, including the idea of finding your purpose, knowing why you’re going into business, how to fail fast, and how to assemble…
Tim Taylor Teaches The Father-Daughter Dance: How to Cultivate a Beautiful Relationship with Your Daughter, Episode 128
What does it take to earn back the trust of not just anyone, but your kids? In this week’s episode, I invited Tim Taylor as he shares how he tried to earn the trust of his daughter back. He also shares how fathers can create space for their daughters so that they can open up…
Michael A. Blunt Teaches How to Attain Peace and Success by Deprogramming Your Limiting Beliefs, Episode 127
What if you could create a gorgeous life on your own terms? What if you are exactly where you are supposed to be not behind or broken? What if you gave yourself the permission to envision your fantasy life free of obligations? What if you just want peace in your life in a world that…
Coaching a Homeschooling Mom Who Wants to Scale Her Small Business And Be Present With Her Kids, Episode 126
We want our kids to have a lot less screen time. Yet we keep hearing that the only way to have a scalable business that sells while you’re sleeping is online. How do we figure out things to make sure we stay in alignment with our values? How can we continue to be excited about…
What If Losing Weight And Feeling Great Was As Easy As Making One Decision? VeVette Turner Turned Her Life Around at 46, Episode 125
Happy Mother’s Day, or as I like to call it, Happy Warriors Day! If you are an entrepreneur, or even if you’re in a corporation, your health is more valuable and more important and should be a higher top priority than your wealth on any given day. One day, VeVette Turner, and her now husband,…
Are There Cultural Narratives That Might Be Holding You Back? Author Valeria Aloe Discusses Her Findings Amongst Latinas, Episode 124
Were you the first to leave your home country to settle in the USA? Were you the first to go to college? If any of these scenarios, whether you are Latina, or not, hold true for you, then it’s important for you to uncover the subconscious cultural narratives that could be affecting you or holding…
Mompreneur (Former Management Consultant) Kim Peirce of Babe Australia Shares How to Strategize, Implement, and Win Big in the Retail Space, Episode 122
Today, you are in for an entrepreneurial treat as I feature Kim Pierce, the founder of Babe Australia, a company dedicated to giving customers an experience of just feeling good. You will hear a quote that you’ll want to make your own which is, “I’m not here to get a haircut!” This conversation all started…
Marc Champagne, Author of Personal Socrates, Teaches Us How to Ask Valuable Questions That Create Opportunities and Change Your Life, Episode 121
Are you someone who’s scared to stand up in a crowd and ask questions thinking you might have a silly question? A lot of people hesitate to ask questions, especially because they think that maybe a bull’s eye target will be on their back, or they will look silly or dumb. But just when you…
How to Cultivate Compassion and Kindness Through Meditation and Mindfulness with Jason Partington of The Sit, Episode 118
Imagine this: It’s Saturday morning. 6:30 am. You are sitting at the beach on soft sand. It’s warm. You are surrounded by other people who are doing the same thing. And you’re sitting in silence for 20 minutes. You watch the sunrise on a beach in Sydney, Australia. Then you feel heard and supported as…
Neurodivergent Mom, Zoe Martin, Talks About Embracing Motherhood and Neurodiversity, Episode 117
This is a special conversation between two moms: one is at the helm of a neurodivergent family. Every single person in Zoe Martin’s has been touched by autism, including Zoe herself; and on the other hand, me, a neurotypical who doesn’t know the realities of a neurodivergent family. Zoe Martin is a coach and mentor…
15-Year-Plus Veteran Podcaster Jordan Harbinger Shares His Wisdom From Ad Swaps to Skill Stacking, Episode 116
If you enjoy podcasts in general, or you’ve ever wondered whether you wanted to launch one yourself, then this conversation is for you! Today, we have Jordan Harbinger, a 15+-year veteran in the podcasting space. Jordan spoke to this idea of fear, whether there’s such a thing as good or bad fear, and how do…
How Abby Sullivan Created Wundernook to Nurture the Wonder of Childhood While Simplifying the Journey of Parenthood, Episode 115
Have you ever struggled with finding a toy or any object to keep your kids entertained for more than a day? This episode features an inventor, business owner, and mom Abby Sullivan, who is also the founder of Wundernook, the patent-pending, modular building system that encourages open-ended play for children ages 3 to 10. It…
Celebrating Love with Jesus Diaz, Jr., Episode 113 [Valentine’s Day Edition]
Do you believe in marriage? Do you feel left out this Valentine’s Day? Where do you stand on this “need” to even have a partner on Valentine’s Day or forever? This week’s guest is my husband, Jesus Diaz, Jr., whom I met 25 years ago, and we’ve been married for 18 years. Some of our…
Journalist and Author Cal Fussman Talks About Creating an Unbreakable Family Legacy, Episode 112
Do your kids have a great relationship with their grandparents? Family is everything, but not everyone realizes that. And if they do, sometimes it’s already too late and regrets always come later. But if you can be more intentional with nurturing relationships within your family, you will be surprised by how everyone can uplift…
Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith Talks About How to Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, and Restore Your Sanity Through Sacred Rest, Episode 110
Are you tired? It’s a silly question, right? This is the episode that can change the quality of your life because this is for you if you are tired all the time. We actually don’t have a sophisticated language around our exhaustion. But this week’s guest, Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, wrote the book, Sacred Rest, where…
Amy Guth Shares About Overcoming Fear and Embracing Discomfort at This Time of the Great Resignation, Episode 109
Were you part of The Great Resignation or do you want to be? Is getting out of the rat race your BIG goal in 2022? Whether you left by choice or were let go by your employer or you want to launch a side-hustle, this conversation is perfect for you. This week’s guest, Amy Guth,…
Dr. Joel Fuhrman Talks About Regaining Your Power Through Nutrition, Episode 108
Are you looking to lose weight? Let’s talk about this top New Year’s resolution, which is the desire to lose weight or increase exercise or just improve our overall diet. Sure, we want to improve our health. But how serious are we when it comes to making the changes necessary to turn our health around?…
Sesame Street Puppeteer Chris Thomas Hayes Creates Magic and Captures Imagination, Episode 107
Are you a fan of Sesame Street? I had the opportunity to ask Chris Thomas Hayes, a puppeteer and actor, about what it takes to capture our imagination, along with the imagination of our kids. This episode reveals a lot about what happens behind the scenes of Sesame Street. Chris walks us through how he…
Letting Go of the Pressure of The Perfect Christmas, Episode 105
Being a mom to three little boys, I could have inherited this notion of delivering on a perfect Christmas experience – from the hot cocoa and the annual outing to seeing the best neighborhood Christmas decorations. Then I realized that perfection was the worst possible ambition I could ever have in my own life. No…
2021 Isn’t Over Yet! What Are the Things You Can Do Right Now That You Can Bring With You to 2022?, Episode 104
Just because you have comfy sofas does not mean that you have to sit down. You could still stand up for your goals and your ambitions and treat this December just as you would next January – with enthusiasm, optimism, and a deep desire to continue to evolve. It’s almost the end of 2021 and…
Finding Happiness in the Little Things Within Your Reach, Episode 102
In this episode, I’ve curated another 10 excerpts from my 100 episodes where my guests have shared about happiness – how little it takes to feel happy and more inspired. It’s also amazing how short of a time someone can go from feeling anxious to feeling grateful, joyful, and truly supported the moment you take…
Leveraging Your Emotional Landscape to Figure Out Who You Really Are, Episode 101
I’ve come to realize that while the central themes of this podcast have been creativity, courage, and curiosity, the deepest core of this is our identity. Today, I’ll be covering how some of my guests have uncovered their truest identities, whether you can truly change your identity, and what this whole identity crisis and searching…
Laura Carney Didn’t Find Her Life Purpose – Instead, It Found Her!, Episode 99
What does it mean for a person to find their purpose? And how does a person go about doing that? In Laura Carney’s case, her life purpose found her – and in a situation where she was finally ready. Laura’s dad was killed by a female driver who was distractedly talking on her phone. 13…
How To Stop Living Someone Else’s Life (Even If It’s Been A Good Run), Episode 98
Have you been neglecting your own interests, wants, and desires, all in the pursuit of making other people happy? They may be your family colleagues, society, or your close friends. Has the time come for you to draw a line in the sand and make a really hard decision – a decision that brings up…
Dr. Nima Rahmany Discusses How to Become a Cycle Breaker in Your Family, Episode 97
Want to finally accept that it is you who may need to be the cycle breaker in your family? It’s a tough pill to swallow. Personally, I’ve gagged a couple of times whilst holding onto this thought – the thought that it’s me who needs to ultimately take full ownership for my own happiness and…
Comedian Kathy Klotz-Guest Talks About Achieving Your Life’s Purpose Through Laughter and Embracing Your Humanity, Episode 95
Why is a sense of humor and humanity so important that you should bring both to work and keep them in your life? In fact, a sense of playfulness can be your superpower. It certainly was for this week’s guest: Kathy Klotz-Guest. In today’s episode, Kathy shares her story as a woman in technology…
Let Your Emotions Fuel You to Doing Something Incredible in Your Life, Episode 94
Think about the last time that you balled your eyes out in front of someone other than a therapist. How emotional can you be in front of your family? On the flip side, what range of emotions can you handle being on the receiving end of? In this episode, I’m going to share with you…
Harpist Genevieve Lang Explains How Performing With The Sydney Symphony Orchestra Can Be As Courageous As Sharing Of Yourself With Others Offstage, Episode 93
This week’s guest is Genevieve Lang, a fellow mum who also sends her children to a Montessori program here in Australia. Now, this was one of those school situations when you realize that amongst us parents, we are still interesting adults with extraordinary life experiences. And it was during the recent lockdown that I had…
Van Lai-DuMone Explains How Creativity Workshops Can Increase Creativity in the Workplace, Episode 87
Wondering what the heck happened to your creativity? Where did it go? You may have started life out as a child joyfully playing with Legos, or maybe you were more of a finger painter. Now, you’re surrounded by Excel spreadsheets – and they’re not even the color coded ones! If you feel like your…
Dr. Thomas Hills Explains How to Create Your Mental Map to Get You to Where You Want to Go, Episode 85
If you are curious about how your brain works and how you can enhance its performance then tune into this conversation. You will have a better sense of how you create a model of the world inside of your head and how you can change it so that you can choose from new behaviors. This…
Why I Was Comfortable Having a Conversation with GaryVee and Other Big Names on the Podcast, Episode 84
Telling the world that you want to chase your wildest dreams such as podcasting, leading a movement, or selling any form of artistry is vulnerable and anxiety-provoking especially if you’ve spent a bulk of your life trying to hide and not be heard. That is why you definitely need courage to do those things and…
“Captain Inspiration” Jordan Maness UCLA Program Director Teaches Us How to SAIL (Select An Ideal Life), Episode 83
Can you describe your ideal life? More, importantly, how can you most effectively navigate your daily life in pursuit of your unique ideal life? You do have options. There are several 300-page self-help books on the market that you can try to read and incorporate into your daily life. However, the odds of you finishing…
Neurodiverse Creator Joe Biel – A Perfect Example of Curiosity, Courage, and Creativity for Someone with Autism, Episode 81
Have you ever heard of neurodiversity? I hadn’t. So here is one definition: it’s a range of differences in individual brain function and behavioral traits (used especially in the context of autistic spectrum disorders). This brings me to this week’s badass guest, Joe Biel, a neurodiverse creator. Biel is the founder and CEO of Microcosm…
How To Be A Present Father And Raise Gentlemen Who Will Pursue Bigger Dreams Than Can Possibly Fit Into Any Box, Meet Jesus Diaz, Jr. An Incredible Dad, Episode 79
Happy Father’s Day in the U.S. Jesus Diaz Jr. is a dad and my husband. I get to witness how much care and love he pours into our three sons so I wanted to bring him on the podcast to share some of his wisdom with you – whether you are a guy with kids…
How Wall Street Journal CMO Suzi Watford Puts Clarity of Purpose at the Heart of Leadership, Episode 77
What does it mean to be a decision maker? What can the team at The Wall Street Journal do in order to bring more young people into its fold? On today’s episode, Wall Street Journal executive, Suzi Watford, talks about how we can create an inclusive space for our next generation of CEOs and decision-makers.…
How Much Creative Potential Do You Actually Have In You? Paulina Larocca and Dr. Jen Gippel Co-Founders of Creative Enlightenment on Medium.com, Episode 74
How Much Creative Potential Do You Actually Have In You? Paulina Larocca and Dr. Jen Gippel Co-Founders of Creative Enlightenment on Medium.com, Episode 74 Have you ever wondered whether you could ever be creative? Creativity is not limited to a beautiful work of art, a tear-jerking song, or a heart-wrenching sonnet. It’s also not just…
Former Professional Cyclist and Lifetime Entrepreneur Kevin Miller on Starting Your Self-Employment Journey, Episode 73
Several former corporate executives have recently found themselves self-employed. For some, it’s been a dream long-time coming. Yet for others, it’s been anything but a dream. The ups, downs, and pace are different than working for someone else and that is why I wanted to interview a lifetime entrepreneur who has started 14 businesses, Kevin…
Three Unexpected Insights You Must Consider If You Are One of the Two Million Moms Who Were Impacted By 2020 And Had To Pause Your Career, Episode 72
Collectively, moms have confronted a lot of uncertain moments historically. Some of us have gone to give birth with a plan and had to make adjustments. Others thought they were going to adopt a particular child and then the legal system changed her plans. Yet, 2020 felt a little differently. It was the year that…
How to Become An Exceptional Leader Who Can Energize Teams And Is Her Industry’s Ultimate Talent Magnet, Top Management Guru Professor Sydney Finkelstein Shares His Wisdom, Episode 71
What if there were more similarities across sectors than differences? What if the best bosses — the “talent magnets” across sectors shared qualities that you could learn and apply today? It was a pleasure to speak with one of the world’s most prolific and generous (both) thinkers in the field of management, my former…
Uncover Why Conscious Gastronomy is the Key to Creating a More Equitable Food System and Pick Up Easy Zero-Waste Recipes with Regenerative Food Systems Specialist Eleni Michael, Episode 69
Where does our food come from? How mindful are we about the food we purchase and consume? What is conscious gastronomy and how is it one step closer to the achievement of an equitable food system across the world, which subsequently falls under every other form of power dynamics? Eleni Michael is on a mission…
The Life and Times of a Rock Star with The Former Frontman of the Jangletones Victor Hanning, Episode 68
Ever wonder what it’s like to live the roller coaster life of a rock star? Me too! We see it in the movies all the time. The talent and rise to fame, the chaos, the drugs, the fall. Well, today you get a firsthand account from someone who has lived it! Former frontman for The…
Suzy Batiz Shares The Wisdom She Cherishes For Giving Her The Freedom And Ability To Trust Herself And Accept Whatever Comes Her Way, Episode 67
Get ready for a deep conversation with the potential to change how you see yourself, those around you, and what you expect from life. Suzy’s perspective is that of a wise human who has done the work that many of us would rather avoid just to get on with achieving various success markers. We dug…