Here For More Podcast: Personal Development & Mindset Growth for Eco Entrepreneurs

“There's no point in being an activist and an advocate if nobody's receiving the message. ” This was an important realization Ashley Renne had as she began to pivot her career towards her newfound passion. 

Ashley Renne is a professional content creator, keynote speaker, on-camera host, environmental activist, and vegan lifestyle advocate (and mother!) with certs in both "Plant-based Nutrition" and "Food & Sustainability" from Cornell. Her travels gave her different perspectives, which led her to start blogging about the places she visits. In this episode, Ashley goes over how she merges her environmental advocacy into her travel content while ignoring what the haters throw at her.

Realization in Bali

It was a regular trip to Bali, Indonesia, when Ashley opened her eyes to the truth. She saw what pictures on the internet showed – fine sand, lush greenery, pristine beaches, coconut trees, and the calm waters of the tropics. There is one thing she did not anticipate, though: trash. The pollution problem was at its peak; her feet were literally stepping over piles of trash. Because of that experience, Ashley was awakened to the reality that caused climate change. It transformed her life and the trajectory of her career. As a result, Ashley started to get interested in sustainability and wrote an article about Bali exposing the ills brought by pollution. The downside was that her writing was not met with great reception. Ashley was dragged on the internet. She got scared of talking about environmentalism for some time, but she realized posting beautiful travel photos was not her thing. Ashley pushed on creating content about the topic with the hope of educating people and, ultimately, urge them to help save the environment.

The Vegan Lifestyle

Ashley discovered veganism accidentally when a vegan influencer’s post showed up on her timeline out of nowhere. It showed a video about a cow chasing a trap where her calf was. She saw the inhumane ways in the dairy industry – cows forcibly impregnated to produce milk, hens made to lay eggs, and more. As she went down the rabbit hole, it convinced Ashley to take the vegan lifestyle. Starting to incorporate this in her content gathered backlash from non-vegans. Despite the debate on veganism, Ashley took courses on food-based nutrition and food sustainably from Cornell University. She uses this knowledge to educate people without seeming preachy to encourage them rather than discourage them.

About Ashley Renne:

Since becoming a full-time content creator, Ashley has completely rebranded from a travel blog named “Travel Lushes” to her self-titled personal brand Hey Ashley Renne. She left her “glamorous” travel influencer career in 2019 to reduce her carbon footprint and instead educate people about sustainable living, became a host on the Smart. Healthy. Green. Living streaming channel (SHG Living), joined the Creative Council board of Climate Power 2020 and started volunteering as a Wildlife Transporter. Ashley has built a platform that hopefully inspires everyone to bridge individual action with systemic change to help end animal exploitation, protect our natural environment, and improve health through sustainable, plant-based lifestyle changes – especially in communities of color which tend to be disproportionately impacted by climate change and health problems.

Outline of the Episode:

[04:11] Impacts brought by Ashley’s travels

[09:24] A professional videographer and editor turned full-time travel blogger

[12:27] Consistency and experimentation as factors to build rapport and community

[20:33] Transition to veganism and a more sustainable lifestyle

[33:19] Journey as a vegan mother and debunking non-vegan sentiments

[42:44] Ashley’s approach to sharing vegan content without being righteous

[50:12] How to travel in a much sustainable means without stopping travel altogether

Connect with Ashley:

Website: http://www.travellushes.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyashleyrenne/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/heyashleyrenne

Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

Find eco-friendly hotels: https://www.greenpearls.com/

Sustainable Tourism: https://wayaj.com/

Get your Plant-Based Nutrition Certification from eCornell! : https://ecornell.cornell.edu/certificates/nutrition/plant-based-nutrition/  

Connect with Natalie!

Surf and Yoga Wellness Retreat Details: https://bit.ly/surfyogaretreat 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nataliejkraus/ 

That feeling when you realize there's no syllabus for life and you're kinda stressed about it 🙄😰

I wasn't supposed to record this episode... what I mean is, I was supposed to be interviewing a guest, until s#!$ hit the fan. Life's not always great (even when it looks that way online!). Today, I'm taking you behind the scenes for a little inside look at what I'm currently going through.

My hope is that in listening, you feel a little more seen, and a little more connected to this voice behind the screen. 

“This is life is too short to be so stressed out and to have our shoulders up to our ears and to feel unfulfilled. Do what brings you joy.” -NK

Connect with Natalie!

Surf and Yoga Wellness Retreat Details: https://www.swellsolretreats.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nataliejkraus/ 

“We forget that food is the most powerful drug that we put in our body three to four times a day.” - Lonny James Ruben. 

Lonny James is the owner of Bunny James Boxes, a leader in food tribe-based gifting. Born in a family with diet restrictions, it gave him the idea of allowing people to receive food gifts that fit their diet. In this episode, Lonny narrates how he took inspiration from his family’s food story in building his business.

Food for Everyone

Lonny grew up in a family with specific food restrictions and preferences. He is lactose intolerant; he has a vegan brother, a celiac sister, and a diabetic father. Moreover, his mother is allergic to eggs, avocados, bananas, and other food, and another sister is allergic to chocolate. For health reasons, meals with the family have been a hassle to Lonny. It even went to the point where his mother has to prepare separate dinners for each member of the family. This situation sparked Lonny to start a gifting company that considers what others can and cannot eat. The rationale behind it is to allow everyone to receive a gift that fits their diet. It is Lonny’s way of having an inclusive take when it comes to food. As a result, he has enabled people to embrace their different eating styles.

Moving Towards Sustainability

In an effort to become carbon neutral, Lonny goes the extra mile in having an alternative to their packaging that is environmentally friendly. Seeing the effects of climate change making itself evident is the driving force behind it. Additionally, Lonny explains that companies with sustainability in their principles are able to survive as a business as opposed to those without. People are also drawn into companies with sustainability goals as he observed that traffic on their website is always congested on the About Us page. Lonny is now in the process of shifting to 100 percent biodegradable packaging. While the technology is on the expensive side at the moment, he believes it is worth the price. 

Outline of the Episode:

[02:48] What a food tribe is and why inclusivity is important to the brand

[06:07] Evolution of Lonny’s family dinners as they learn about their food restrictions

[11:21] Changes, preferences, and backlash over certain diets

[21:53] Sustainability incorporated into the brand subconsciously

[30:44] “Pray for the haters, love the struggle”

[33:35] Fear of failure as the reason to keep going

[37:52] Origin story of the company name, “Bunny James”

Resources:

Website: https://bunnyjamesboxes.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrbunnyjames/

Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lonnyjames/

TikTok: @mrbunnyjames

Connect with Natalie!

Surf and Yoga Wellness Retreat Details: https://www.swellsolretreats.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nataliejkraus/ 

Despite all we can learn online, sometimes the most impactful learning experiences happen in person. This was certainly the case for Sarah Cloes, founder of Flora Flora, a sustainable haircare brand, when she moved to Oahu, Hawaii for college. Growing up, Sarah knew that she was supposed to pick up trash and recycle to be good to the environment, but it wasn’t until she was exposed to excessive amounts of litter, bleached coral reefs, and pollution that it really opened her eyes. 

Today, Sarah has made it her mission to make sustainability not only accessible but exciting. Flora Flora is an elevated sustainable haircare company aiming to rid the world of plastic bottles and give back to communities in a big way. 

In this week’s episode, Sarah shares her story of becoming a sustainable business owner straight out of college. We talk about first-hand experiences with plastic pollution and climate change, communicating sustainable practices with others, pricing for eco-conscious products, and how the pandemic has impacted consumer decision-making and the sustainability movement overall.

Through chatting, we also realized that we have more than a few things in common! Sarah leaves us with her best advice for aspiring or new entrepreneurs. Tune in to hear us make some fun connections & our thoughts on where the future of sustainable business is heading. 

Outline of the Episode: 

• Introducing Sarah Cloes founder of Flora Flora ~ an elevated sustainable haircare company.
• Sarah’s story behind intentionally choosing to build a brand and business around sustainability.
• Moving across an ocean & the personal growth that comes with it. 
• Climate change up close. What happens when we are exposed to the degradation of our planet firsthand? 
• How to communicate heavy topics with others (family, friends, co-workers).
• Sustainable products and higher price tags. Why does this matter? 
• How the global pandemic is contributing to climate change and our awareness of it. 
• How Sarah got into entrepreneurship and started her sustainable haircare brand! 

Connect with Sarah & Flora Flora: 

Website: https://florafloraco.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/florafloraco/

https://www.instagram.com/sarahncloes/

Connect with Natalie!

Surf and Yoga Wellness Retreat Details: https://bit.ly/surfyogaretreat 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nataliejkraus/ 

Hard things happen. Every single day. Intentional positivity can help us live a more hopeful, joyful life, rather than being constantly weighed down by the weight of our world.

Living in a place of scarcity will never bring you to a place of abundance. Just as always focusing on the negative will never turn you into a positive person. But the goal is not to shove the other out or pretend it doesn't exist. 

By recognizing that with every negative thought, the positive opposite exists as well, and vice versa, we can begin to purposefully shift our lives to a more positive light. 🌟

Outline of the Episode:

[0:24] What is the purpose of life? 

[2:13] Intentional vs. naive positivity.

[2:35] Natalie’s story: Her experience with brushing off the hard stuff by always being “happy”… and why this method isn’t effective. 

[6:18] Gaining awareness to choose intentional positivity ~ Natalie shares how she made the shift in her life (through injuries).

[9:47] Hard things happen! It’s important to feel and sit in those feelings (and you should), but how do we not dwell there? 

[11:54] How positivity & negativity exist together (and why this is a good thing!)  

[16:39] Asking yourself what you desire and focusing on what you want. 

[17:20] How the power of intentional positivity can help you achieve your desire.

[19:32] Staying in a negative place isn’t helpful. Here’s what to do instead. 

[20:00] “When you pick up a stick, you pick up both ends. You have to figure out which end you’re holding.” Quote from Ask & It Is Given explained in terms of positive & negative thoughts! 

[20:52] Episode recap

Connect with Natalie!

Surf and Yoga Wellness Retreat Details: https://bit.ly/surfyogaretreat 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nataliejkraus/ 

Today we’re talking all things Law of Attraction and more importantly, why YOU should care about it. 

I’m sharing some of my favorite parts of the book, Ask and It Is Given by Jerry & Esther Hicks, to reinforce the concept - “where thoughts go, energy flows”. In other words, the only reason that anything comes into your life is because your thoughts made it so. Our thoughts and energy must be a vibrational match with the energy of our desire for it to manifest into existence… but how do we know if we are a vibrational match? And if we’re not, how do we change that?? If bad things happen in our lives, are we manifesting those as well? This episode dives into all of this and more!

Outline of the Episode:

[6:05] What are the vibrations that you’re putting out? That’s what you’re allowing for in your life

[6:30] The three-step process according to “Ask and It Is Given by Jerry and Ester Hicks” - how everything in the universe works

[8:18] Focusing on Step 3 ~ how to allow things into our lives

[9:44] "Worry is using your imagination to create something you do not want”

[15:15] It is actually that simple + real-life examples

[18:36] How to understand when you’re in the right place

[19:19] What are the feelings of misalignment

[20:48] The two important things that are going to help the desire manifest into your life: Knowing what you want, and then knowing why you want it

[23:17] Recap of the main themes of the episode

[24:33] Both a challenging and yet rewarding process

Connect with Natalie!

Surf and Yoga Wellness Retreat Details: https://bit.ly/surfyogaretreat 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nataliejkraus/ 

When society told us to check a box, we panicked. But now, we celebrate! 

For the second installment of this special two-part episode, Natalie and Jess discuss where they are headed. They talk about the future and the things they currently work on. In this episode, Natalie and Jess also share the lessons they learned along the way that now play a role in their married life.

Things Falling Into Place

It has been a year since Natalie started the podcast. Going forward, Jess is now a full-time co-producer of the show. Being tech-savvy himself, Jess will now be around to help with editing and backend stuff. Jess has been helping Natalie with editing since episode 56, and now he is getting the full gear. He has some ideas to add, especially with marketing, having fun, and being creative. Jess is passionate and innovative with technology from a digital standpoint, so he is excited to apply what he knows and learn along the way. Another thing that fits the puzzle is their Surf & Yoga Wellness Retreat, which will occur in December. It is definitely a “couple goal” achieved for Natalie and Jess as they integrated nature, travel, and wellness into one activity. Overall, they are now hand in hand in carrying out their passions and business in one. 

Core Beliefs

Throughout their journey, Natalie and Jess had core beliefs that set the course they are headed. It becomes their foundation, but over time, it changes. For example, Jess shares that he once had socially acceptable core beliefs – climb the ladder, jump through hoops, and do a nine-to-five job. Getting into the corporate workplace is the norm, but confidence made Jess change these core beliefs. He believes that it is wrong to allow society to steer your course of action. Jess eliminated those beliefs for himself. Long story short, experience is one factor that will make or break a core belief. There is nothing wrong with dealing with changes as long as it is for the better. 

Outline of the Episode:

[01:41] A short episode preview and recap of the previous episode

[03:20] Jess, the new co-producer of Here For More Podcast

[06:00] First Surf & Yoga Wellness Retreat planned for December

[09:08] Acknowledgement of the time it took for the couple to grow the podcast and retreat

[14:30] Core beliefs that evolved along the way as they go

[18:10] “Taking some power back into our own hands”

[23:42] Hardwork in exchange for a version of life they aspired to live

[26:43] The power to ask for help and outsource people to do tasks 80 percent as good as you

[29:08] Therapy as a crucial aspect to keep mental health in check

[31:11] Plans of going back to Hawaii in the future

Connect with Natalie!

Surf and Yoga Wellness Retreat Details: https://bit.ly/surfyogaretreat 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nataliejkraus/ 

It's our Anniversary! Nat & Jess are celebrating 2 years of marriage this week and are here to give you a life update! This will be part 1 of a 2 part series. 

A Lot Happened

In their two years of living as a married couple, Natalie and Jess have had a lot going on in their life. One big step they made was living in a van they built while at the same time working on their careers. Because they have a house on wheels, Natalie and Jess were able to travel throughout 36 states in 2020. Despite their happy van life, things need to change at some point. The couple decided it was time to sell the van and relocate to Hawaii for a bit. Looking back, Natalie and Jess recount the lessons they picked from the experience of living in a van. For them, it was a humbling experience that made their relationship stronger. 

Passion, Purpose, and Vision

Throughout their journey living in a van, Natalie and Jess were able to discover themselves better than before. Having taken risks in trying out new things made the couple find out what they are capable of doing. They got to know their strengths and weaknesses and ultimately found passion and purpose. Natalie and Jess envision their future of having their children. They see themselves growing close to their family and living in Hawaii to continue their podcast and retreats. That connects to another vision that is entrepreneurship. Natalie and Jess want to do the things they love simultaneously. It strikes a balance between work, family, and play. 

Outline of the Episode:

[03:52] Reflections from being in a long-term relationship; previous update recall

[06:49] Van life, travel, and temporary Hawaii settlement

[10:06] Sold the van to go in a new direction

[14:53] Growth and lessons gained from the van

[17:26] Pursuit of purpose, visions in life, and choices made and to make

[24:42] The need to celebrate victories, whether big or small

[28:01] Overview of what the next episode is all about

Connect with Natalie!

Surf and Yoga Wellness Retreat Details: https://bit.ly/surfyogaretreat 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nataliejkraus/ 

“There is value in the things that don’t always get rewards. It’s not up to you to save the world, but the little things you do really can save the world.” - Manuela Barón, The Girl Gone Green

Manuela is a sustainability activist whose goal is to communicate how everyone can help the planet. In her travels, she realized the problem the world faces – trash. That was the trigger to her lifestyle change. In this episode, Manuela maps out the path she took towards the sustainability agenda.

Eye-Opening Experience

At 18, Manuela transferred to Paris to figure out what she wanted to do in life. In her mind, the decision to move abroad was romanticized, but the reality was far from the expectation. Manuela was exposed to the minimalist lifestyle, from fashion to meals. She noticed that Parisian women barely wear makeup and can whip up elaborate four-course meals using a single pot. Her observation made her look inward, and that was the moment Manuela decided to explore and learn from other cultures through travel. From that, she was able to pinpoint a recurring problem wherever she goes – trash. There was plastic pollution in Morocco; cigarette butts were scattered in Paris; Vietnam has a headache with soda cans. That made Manuela think of going for sustainable living as her own initiative to lessen her impact on the global trash crisis. It was a process of trial and error, but in the end, she successfully spread her advocacy through her social media platform. 

Keeping It Balanced

Obsession for her newfound purpose was the flame that kept Manuela working on her advocacy. Then, a day after her college graduation, she flew to Bali, Indonesia, where she saw firsthand the plastic emergency happening there. Manuela secured a discourse with someone related to the Indonesian president regarding the situation. After that, she went to Malaysia for palm oil. Manuela was living the dream, yet there was a missing link. She was lonely, not taking care of her health, and not eating well because she was too focused on becoming plastic-free and vegan. Despite it taking a toll on her health, Manuela still ignored it and went to Thailand and Hong Kong. That went on for six months until Manuela had her breaking point and admitted to herself that she was, in fact, not well. At that moment, she realized that to continue her work, she also needs to take care of herself. Now, Manuela manages her time well, working on her advocacy while keeping herself healthy. She has also defined her boundaries of when to say no and have time to pause and rest.

About Manuela Barón:

Manuela Barón is a Colombian-American with a passion for sustainability. In 2015, her world travels exposed her to the earth’s plea for change. Surrounded by plastic pollution, she vowed to change her habits to help the environment.

Manuela dove straight into the challenge of going to Zero Waste. Through that journey, she learned about the magnitude of the environmental crisis. Emboldened by other environmentalists, Manuela creates visuals to teach others about the issues.

The Girl Gone Green is a platform to educate and bring awareness on eco-issues & solutions. It is a community with an emphasis on sustainability and conscious living.

Manuela is the Girl Gone Green, and everyone can make little steps towards a better world. Let’s be a conscious community!

Outline of the Episode:

[02:17] How sustainability became a vital part of Manuela’s life

[05:48] A positive mindset to balance everything without feeling overwhelmed

[12:20] The connection between sustainable practices and personal growth

[19:26] Boundaries on when to work on the advocacy and when to say no

[28:59] Advice for a more sustainable means to travel

[35:50] Strategies to start your journey towards a sustainable lifestyle

Resources:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/thegirlgonegreen/

Website: http://www.thegirlgonegreen.com/

Connect with Natalie!

Surf and Yoga Wellness Retreat Details: https://bit.ly/surfyogaretreat 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nataliejkraus/ 

By understanding the Enneagram, you learn about yourself and others, allowing you to navigate your relationships, work, and life more successfully.  

Stephanie Smith stumbled upon the Enneagram about five years ago and instantly fell in love with it. Her obsession with it helped her grow personally and in business. In this episode, Stephanie introduces the Enneagram to understand oneself and become the best version.

Personality Test

The Enneagram consists of nine personality types. It is presented as a circle with numbers one to nine in a clockwise direction, nine at the top. Each number represents a personality type and is connected to two different numbers with lines that form a pattern. The two lines represent growth and stress, or integration and disintegration. Check out the link listed below for a visual of this!

What is remarkable about the Enneagram is that it frees us out of the box rather than keeping us in. It shows two sides of the coin from where we are going – positive or negative. There are a few disclaimers with using the Enneagram, though. First, one should be aware of the other types aside from theirs to better understand and communicate. Second, we know ourselves by having an overview of the different types, so we have grace and compassion for other types. The third is not to stereotype the types and use your type as an excuse. 

Nine Types

There are nine types of personalities in the Enneagram. Each type is assigned by number and has a name that goes with it that best describes the essence. The nine types are the Reformer, the Helper, the Achiever, the Individualist, the Investigator, the Loyalist, the Enthusiast, the Challenger, and the Peacemaker. A lot of the types look similar, which results in some getting mistyped. To determine your type, it all comes down to the core motivation associated with that type. Another thing that makes it far more complex is the wing. These are the numbers adjacent to your assigned type. The wing is the shared characteristic with your primary type. Stephanie briefly goes over each type so listen carefully!

About Stephanie Smith:

Stephanie Smith is the daughter of two entrepreneurs from Colorado. In 2018, she walked away from a very coveted job as a flight attendant with American Airlines to work for herself. As a result, Stephanie moved into the top 3% of Mary Kay and earned her first free car. 

Stephanie led a team of over 70 women to build successful businesses selling skincare and makeup. She learned how to be her own boss and coach others to succeed. In 2020, she started her coaching and mindset business, helping young adults answer the question “who am I?” Stephanie’s passion is helping others find purpose and joy in every situation.

Stephanie is a mindset and Enneagram coach helping young adults become more self-aware, grow their confidence, create healthy boundaries, and communicate with others more effectively all using the Enneagram. From former people pleaser to living life on her own terms, she has used the Enneagram to grow and encourages others to join her on this journey of self-development and self-awareness.

Outline of the Episode:

[05:09] What is the Enneagram?

[08:30] Types 1-3: the Reformer, the Helper, and the Achiever

[20:14] Types 4-6: the Individualist, the Investigator, and the Loyalist

[30:28] Types 7-9: the Enthusiast, the Challenger, and the Peacemaker

[45:34] Struggles of each type in terms of entrepreneurship

Resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myenneagramlife/

Enneagram Free Test: https://assessment.yourenneagramcoach.com/

Enneagram Overview & Diagrams: https://www.chicagocounseling.com/blog/enneagram-overview

Connect with Natalie!

Surf and Yoga Wellness Retreat Details: https://bit.ly/surfyogaretreat 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nataliejkraus/