in between

Claire Markwick (Real-Life Business podcast) and I met through the Wit & Wire podcast host mastermind, and we hit it off immediately. We both LOVE to talk (good thing we both host podcasts!), we’re both transplants to Australia making this beautiful country our home, and we both love to have real, vulnerable conversations about life’s in between moments. So we decided to sit down for a conversation about our nitty-gritty real-life in between moments, hit record, and share it with all of you! We recorded this episode at the very end of 2021, and in it we share about navigating relationship breakdowns, dealing with imposter syndrome while running a business, and how life teaches advanced lessons in the same topics. Enjoy this special feature-length bonus episode of IN BETWEEN. Show notes: heatherashleybaker.com/podcast/claire-heather Connect with Claire Website: reallifebusiness.com.au Podcast: reallifebusiness.com.au/podcasts/real-life-business Instagram: @clairemarkwick.reignite Connect with Heather Website: heatherashleybaker.com Instagram: @helloheatherashley

Melissa Guller, podcast host extraordinaire and a brilliant teacher of all things podcasting, joins me to discuss discovering a career path (and a life) you love, finding your way in a new city, the art of asking, what she’s learned from taking chances, and the best way to start any new creative project or career. Melissa is a fitting final guest as I wrap up my first season — she’s the one who helped me launch this podcast through her courses and her own podcast (which I can’t recommend enough!) To learn more about Melissa and join her upcoming masterclass on launching a podcast in 2021, visit the show notes: heatherashleybaker.com/podcast/melissa Listen to Wit & Wire podcast: witandwire.com/podcast Be the first to know  when IN BETWEEN returns for season 2: heatherashleybaker.com/email Connect with Heather on Instagram: @helloheatherashley

Two self-professed Gilmore Girls fanatics and Brené Brown fangirls discuss what it means to be ready for anything, feeling difficult emotions, teaching kids about diversity, managing expectations in relationships, and of course, Gilmore Girls. My guest Jae is the cohost of the In Omnia Paratus podcast, and is in the middle of a quarter life crisis. To calm her anxiety she rewatches Gilmore Girls, reads a self-help book (typically Brené Brown) and bakes. In this current stage of life she’s  working on learning and unlearning societal norms and hurtful self-talk in hopes of being a happier and healthier human for the world. To learn more about Jae, view the show notes at heatherashleybaker.com/podcast/jae Listen to Jae's podcast, In Omnia Paratus Subscribe to updates about IN BETWEEN: heatherashleybaker.com/email Connect with Heather on Instagram: @helloheatherashley

In this episode, I talk to resiliency coach Kimberly Smith about surviving divorce, leading with desire over fear, practicing self-compassion, and practical ways to become more resilient in your everyday life. Kimberly is the founder of Encompass Coaching. Through her coaching services, she helps ambitious and overworked people suffering from chronic stress and exhaustion build mental stamina, increase energy and resilience, excel personally and professionally, and move confidently through life’s challenges and transitions. To learn more about Kimberly, visit the show notes: heatherashleybaker.com/podcast/kimberly Connect with Kimberly on Instagram: @kimberly.brooke.smith Subscribe to updates about IN BETWEEN: heatherashleybaker.com/email Connect with Heather on Instagram: @helloheatherashley

I’m setting out to places and spaces unknown, on a new adventure that is unmapped and open to possibility.\r\nTo find out more about what I’m doing, check out this week’s episode.\r\nI also share a few words of encouragement, if you’re pondering paths unknown and unexplored in your own life.\r\n\r\nDownload my free audio guide to help you embrace your everyday constraints and start creating right now at heatherashleybaker.com/create\r\nConnect with me on Instagram: @helloheatherashley\r\n

Today I’m talking to Sarah Jensen, a heart healer who helps big-hearted humans connect with their inner wisdom and magic through energy healing, intuitive coaching and soul-fuelled journaling. She's also the creator of the Pay It Forward Program, and she’s on a mission to positively empower a million people around the globe through journaling and kindness. This episode is for you if you need an extra dose of self-compassion and gentleness right now, as I certainly have this week. It’s also for you if you’re considering a new direction in your life, desire to show up in the world as your true self, or aren’t sure how to deal with your emotions in a loving, kind way. Sarah Jensen is a true heart healer, and in this episode, we discuss the key stories and emotions each of us carries, how we can sit with them as our whole selves, and how to gather information from those stories and emotions we hold.\r\n\r\nLearn more about Sarah in the show notes: heatherashleybaker.com/podcast/sarah\r\n\r\nSarah's website: sarahjensen.com.au\r\n\r\nGet my free creative living audio guide: heatherashleybaker.com/create\r\n\r\nConnect with me on Instagram: @helloheatherashley\r\n

I’ve wanted to bring a guest on the show to talk about the environment since before I even launched this podcast, and today I’m thrilled to talk to Brandy Heyde Montague, founder For Animals. For Earth., a resource hub of simple ideas that anyone can try in their daily life to make a difference. Brandy has been passionate about helping animals since she declared herself a vegetarian at three years old. She’s taken part in various animal welfare projects as an industrial engineer, a graphic designer, and a community advocate. She started an eco conscious clothing line in 2016 to help animal interest groups, and through that discovered a second passion: saving the Earth, which led her to start For Animals. For Earth. She hand paints the clothing sold in their Etsy shop and hosts a podcast called For Animals. For Earth., where she interviews creators and activists all over the world who are making a difference.  In this episode, Brandy and I discuss her path to environmental activism, simple things we can all do on a daily basis to make a difference, teaching kids about saving the environment, and finding creative ways to help the earth.\r\n\r\nCheck out all the resources mentioned in today's episode in the show notes: heatherashleybaker.com/podcast/brandy\r\n\r\nFor Animals. For Earth: foranimalsforearth.com\r\n\r\nFor Animals. For Earth. Podcast: foranimalsforearth.com/podcast\r\nConnect with Brandy and myself on Instagram: @ForAnimalsForEarth & @helloheatherashley\r\n\r\nGet my free creative living audio guide here:  heatherashleybaker.com/start-here\r\n\r\nLearn more about my one day intensive: heatherashleybaker.com/intensive\r\n

In this episode I'm in the hot seat, interviewed by my dear friend and coach, Nicola Newman, for her podcast The Art of Creative Living. Together we explore my personal creative living story, my experience working as the manager of the design team for Cricket Australia, four ways to talk back to your inner critic, building self-trust through the creative process, my journey to finding creative purpose, and launching my business amidst a global pandemic. So fun to switch roles and be the interviewee! Learn more about Nicola and her work: nicolanewman.com Check out The Art of Creative Living podcast: nicolanewman.com/podcast Book a chat with me to learn how you can go from dreaming to doing in your own life: heatherashleybaker.com/intensive Connect with Nicola and I on Instagram: @nicolanewman_ & @helloheatherashley

In this episode (part 2 of 2), I share specific details about how I started doing: how I designed my vision for my creative business, what I learned once I started taking tangible action on my dreams, and the thing that keeps me moving forward in the times when I feel discouraged or struggle with self-doubt. Download my free creative living audio guide to help you start creating your dream: heatherashleybaker.com/start-here Learn more about my 1  day intensive to help you go from dreaming to doing: heatherashleybaker.com/intensive Connect with me on Instagram: @helloheatherashley

In this episode (part 1 of a 2 part series), I reflect on the path I’ve followed chasing my dream of starting my own business and expressing my creativity outside the traditional box of a 9-5 job. I share about the various milestones and moments along the way that led me to where I am in my life and my business today. Download my free creative living audio guide to help you start creating your dream: heatherashleybaker.com/start-here Learn more about my 1  day intensive to help you go from dreaming to doing: heatherashleybaker.com/intensive Connect with me on Instagram: @helloheatherashley

I’m so excited to have two of my dearest friends and clients, Fiona Byarugaba and Siham Omer, join me for a special joint conversation on this week’s episode. In this episode, Fiona and Siham discuss the meaning of home and cultural identity, and how they stay connected to their roots while expanding their worldview. They share their honest thoughts on what they wish people would understand about their experiences as women of color, and discuss how they felt about the year that was 2020. I’m honored to feature the stories and voices of these two brave, strong women on the podcast. Connect with Fiona & Siham in the show notes at heatherashleybaker.com/podcast/fionasiham Get an email each time a new episode is released. Subscribe here: heatherashleybaker.com/email Learn more about my one day intensive, from dreaming to doing: heatherashleybaker.com/intensive

Today I'm talking to Katie Meyler, founder of non-profit organization, More Than Me, the first tuition-free private school for girls in Monrovia, Liberia. During the 2014 Ebola epidemic, Katie resolved to remain by her students and staff instead of heading back to the United States. For her efforts, she was named 2014 TIME Person of the Year. Katie was named among People Magazine's 25 Women Changing the World next to Sheryl Sandberg and Oprah. Katie resigned from her organization in 2018 after negative press over a sexual abuse scandal by a local staff member who she put behind bars. In this episode, Katie and I unpack her journey of healing. We discuss how she moves through grief and change, one day at a time, and what she’s learning about accepting what you can't change, self-love, and courage. SENSITIVITY WARNING: Katie and I discuss experiences of sexual abuse in this episode. Connect with Katie on Instagram: @katiemeyler See the show notes: heatherashleybaker.com/podcast/katie Connect with me on Instagram: @helloheatherashley Learn more about how you can go from dreaming to doing: heatherashleybaker.com/intensive

My guest this week is Pearly Tasker, cake artist, featured on the 2nd season of Zumbo's Just Desserts, toy inventor, and anxiety and mental health advocate. In 2017, Pearly’s struggle with depression and anxiety led her to make big changes in her life. She practiced mindfulness and cognitive behavioral therapy and learned to reroute the pathways in her brain. Pearly decided to transition out of her career as a flight attendant into full-time creative work; pursuing her passion for baking and cake decorating. Pearly uses this creative passion to share her story and normalise conversations about mental health and anxiety. In this episode, Pearly and I talk about she manages her anxiety and continues to create, the habit she practiced to retrain her neural pathways, and how she melded her authentic experiences, passions, and skills together to live her creatively fulfilled life. Pearly's website: pearlysprinkles.com.au Connect with Pearly on Instagram: @pearly.justdessertsau Learn more about Pearly: heatherashleybaker.com/podcast/pearly Connect with Heather on Instagram: @helloheatherashley

With me today is Annie Gichuru, a mindset coach for migrant women of color and the producer and host of Uplifting Studios TV. Annie’s beautiful and inspirational work focuses on positive storytelling and sharing the voices of overcomers and migrant women. She’s just released a third season of Uplifting Studios TV. In this episode, Annie and I discuss discovering your purpose, following the pull in your heart toward your calling, how motherhood prompted her to seek out meaningful, aligned work for her life, and how to deal with limiting beliefs that arise as you live out your purpose. Annie's website: upliftingstudios.com.au Connect with Annie on Instagram: @upliftingstudiostv Uplifting Studios TV: youtube.com/c/UpliftingStudiosTV Learn more about Annie in the show notes: heatherashleybaker.com/podcast/annie Connect with me on Instagram: @helloheatherashley

I’m thrilled to have Latinx author, designer, and women’s leadership expert Majo Molfino on the podcast this week. Majo writes and shares about breaking the myths that we’re conditioned to live by — and how when we break those myths, we open ourselves to our creative purpose. In this episode Majo and I talk about —  how we become conditioned to follow cultural, religious, social, and familial rules and systems throughout childhood the process of breaking free from this conditioning to step into your creative purpose the question to ask yourself when making the choice to commit to a creative project pushing your vulnerability edge and putting your creative work out into the world how to build creative confidence Connect with Majo on Instagram: @majomolfino Majo's website: majomolfino.com Read Majo's book, Break the Good Girl Myth: goodgirlmyth.com Learn more about Majo in the show notes: heatherashleybaker.com/podcast/majo Connect with me on Instagram: @helloheatherashley

To kick off the new year, this mini-sode shares my reflections coming out of 2020. I talk about the important choice I made last year during COVID lockdown in Melbourne and how that choice empowered me to keep moving forward. I share about how I felt burnt out after surviving lockdown, and the way I’m practicing mindfulness to start off 2021. I’ve also realised — that I’m in yet another in between season, a waiting season. Waiting to see the fruit of the seeds I’ve been planting. In this episode I share encouragement for you, if you feel like you’re in a waiting season, too. Check out the show notes at heatherashleybaker.com/podcast Connect with me on Instagram: @helloheatherashley

This week I talk to one of the kindest, most compassionate creative hearts I know: Nicola Newman. Nicola is an award-winning artist, creative mentor and business coach, writer, retreat host and founder of Flourish: The Art of Creative Living, a year-long creativity school. She supports creative hearts to build a loving relationship with themselves through mindfulness and creative expression. In this episode, Nicola and I talk about loving yourself, following your heart and your curiosity, and giving yourself permission to change course. It’s the perfect episode as we head into the holidays and the end of 2020. Grab a cup of your favorite holiday drink, and get cozy. Nicola's website: nicolanewman.com Connect with Nicola on Instagram: @nicolanewman_ Visit the show notes to learn more about Nicola: heatherashleybaker.com/podcast/nicola Connect with Heather on Instagram: @helloheatherashley

This week I talk to my friend and coaching client, Haruka Aoki. Haruka is the founder of Snoring Snail, a snail mail stationery company that encourages slowness, contemplation, and self-expression. While working as an art director and illustrator in New York City, Haruka is planting the seeds to build an artist residency and guesthouse in Portugal. In this episode, Haruka and I discuss the long lost artform of letter writing, learning how to trust yourself, how any action can be a form of meditation, and the value of investing in yourself and your creative work. Snoring Snail website: snoringsnail.com and Instagram: @snoringsnail Connect with Haruka on Instagram: @harukaaoki Check out the show notes at: heatherashleybaker.com/podcast/haruka Let's have a chat about how you can go from dreaming to doing in 2021: heatherashleybaker.com/coaching Connect with Heather on Instagram: @helloheatherashley

My guest this week, Jessie McCall, has over 10 years experience as a professional photographer, getting her start working in the music industry alongside some of the greats. Through a series of curious inquiries Jessie was led to the world of underwater and nude portraiture. This newfound love prompted her toward melding both coaching and the power of the underwater sessions. In this episode, Jessie and I talk about improvising when things don’t go as you expected, pursuing new relationships in a new country against the backdrop of the pandemic, and trying new, uncomfortable things that stretch your comfort zone and your creativity. Jessie's website: jessiemccall.com and littlegreeneyesmedia.com (Jessie's photography) Naked Conversations card deck: jessiemccall.com/store/p/carddeck Connect with Jessie on Instagram: @littlegreeneyes Learn more about Jessie in the show notes: heatherashleybaker.com/podcast/jessie Let's have a chat about how you can go from dreaming to doing in 2021: heatherashleybaker.com/coaching 

My guest this week is my own personal therapist, Merie Burton. Merie is a psychotherapist and counselor with a passion for living life with purpose and connecting with people in an empathetic way. She holds a degree in Social Science (Counselling) and a Master of Counselling, and she's a wife, mum to four, and foster carer. In this episode Merie and I unpack what liminal space is, how we as humans find ourselves in these uncomfortable, often painful spaces, and the choice we all have when it comes to remaining in a comfortable space that we know or moving into the unknown. You’ll learn about embracing paradox, and how the ability to sit in liminal space is the key to experiencing a deep, meaningful life. Connect with Merie on Facebook: facebook.com/merieburtonpsychotherapy Merie's website: merieburton.com.au To learn more about Merie, visit the show notes at heatherashleybaker.com/podcast/merie Connect with me on Instagram: @helloheatherashley Download my free creative living audio guide: heatherashleybaker.com/start-here