Free To Be Me
Sharing stories of ordinary woman living extra-ordinary lives. Here, we craft a tapestry of diverse perspectives, offering support, inspiration, and holistic health insights. Join us on this transformative journey, where shared stories empower your own narrative. Welcome to a community where your well-being matters.
Episodes
Wednesday May 15, 2024
Wednesday May 15, 2024
In this episode of the "Free To Be Me" podcast, guest Karen Eldar shares her journey in finding calm amid chaos through various practices such as Yoga Nidra and her unique backgrounds in Chinese medicine, spiritual psychology, and a profound love for understanding consciousness through patterns and archetypes. The conversation delves into Karen's transformative experiences and insights on nurturing inner peace, the role of love in achieving calmness, and the therapeutic effects of embracing one's path without succumbing to societal pressures or self-doubt. The discussion is interwoven with references to Elizabeth Gilbert's insights on finding calm within oneself rather than seeking it externally. Karen's narrative is a testament to the power of self-introspection, the importance of surrounding oneself with supportive community, and the journey towards self-acceptance and actualization through embracing the love that exists both within and around us.
Links to find:
Host Karen Pawley on Instagram & Facebook & LinkedIn
Elizabeth Gilbert’s Letters from Love
Sponsor Holly and Maple on Instagram & Spoonflower
Wednesday May 08, 2024
Wednesday May 08, 2024
In this podcast, we listen to Karen in conversation with Tamara MacPherson, who shares her life experiences, emphasizing the significance of growth, change, and acceptance. Tamara opens up about her journey from growing up in an abusive household to making choices out of fear, leading her through three marriages and to a point of self-discovery and realization. She discusses how crucial support from friends and family has been throughout her life and how she navigates the balance between routine and fluidity. With an open emotional center, Tamara reflects on her ability to distinguish between her emotions and those of others, enabling her to support friends without taking on their burdens. Her curiosity and love for nature, fantasy, and exploring new concepts fuel her passion for life. Tamara feels a sense of readiness for a new phase in her life, guided by the signs provided by the universe. The episode underscores the importance of listening to the universe, learning from life's experiences, and being open to growth and change.
Links to find:
Host Karen Pawley on Instagram & Facebook & LinkedIn
Guest Tamara McPherson on Instagram
Book by Cristy Cabe If Only It Were a Piece of Cake: Slices of hope for life's difficult moments
Sponsor Holly and Maple on Instagram & Spoonflower
Wednesday May 01, 2024
Wednesday May 01, 2024
Guest, Jessie Carr shares her journey of transformation, emphasizing the significance of pause and mindfulness in navigating life's changes. Initially driven by external achievements and the corporate grind at Google, Jessie experienced a profound shift when she decided to leave her job and travel the world without a concrete plan. This decision was met with mixed reactions from others but marked the beginning of her exploration into a more mindful and fulfilling life. Through her studies, including a recent course on the science of mindfulness, Jessie has deepened her understanding of the importance of pause and awareness in personal growth. She discusses the liberating realization that joy and satisfaction are paramount and highlights how Human Design has provided her with a roadmap to embrace her individuality and share her insights with others. Jessie encourages listeners to find joy in simplicity and to trust in their unique journeys, using mindfulness and self-awareness as tools for transformation.
Links to find:
Host Karen Pawley on Instagram & Facebook & LinkedIn
Guest Jessie Carr on Instagram & Website & Linger List Free Guide
Book by Octavia Raheem Pause, Rest, Be: Stillness Practices for Courage in Times of Change
Sponsor Holly and Maple on Instagram & Spoonflower
Wednesday Apr 24, 2024
Wednesday Apr 24, 2024
In this episode of the podcast, Uma Girish shares her deeply moving journey through grief, transformation, and her path to finding purpose and meaning in life. Having moved from southern India to the United States in 2008, Uma's life took an unexpected turn when her mother was diagnosed with, and soon passed away from stage 4 breast cancer. This loss propelled Uma into a profound period of self-reflection and healing, during which she explored the depths of grief, the importance of storytelling, and ultimately found her calling in supporting others through their grief and helping them discover their life's purpose. Uma discusses the significance of language, narrative shaping, and the power of sharing one's story for healing and transformation. She also touches upon the impact of Human Design on her life, offering insights into how it has provided her with a deeper understanding of her purpose and how she serves others. Uma's journey underscores the importance of navigating life with authenticity, and the continual process of becoming and embodying one's true self.
Links to find:
Host Karen Pawley on Instagram & Facebook & LinkedIn
Guest Uma Girish on Website & Substack & Podcast: Being Fully Me (on all podcast platforms)
Book by Uma Girish Losing Ama Finding Home: A Memoir about Love, Loss and Life’s Detours
Sponsor Holly and Maple on Instagram & Spoonflower
Wednesday Apr 17, 2024
Wednesday Apr 17, 2024
In this episode I dive into the nuances of bravery versus courage with guest Robyn Cohen, a yoga instructor from Metta Yoga in Marin. We discuss how bravery is about acting in the moment, while courage involves facing fears with conscious decision-making. I share a reading from Brené Brown's book "Rising Strong," emphasizing the transformative power of courage on our emotional being. Robyn, revealing her personal journey and struggles, including a childhood marked by fear and a deep desire to be liked, reflects on the impact of early heartbreaks and her path to finding strength and courage. She opens up about her experiences, from dealing with her first broken heart in sixth grade to navigating relationships and self-worth. Robyn also touches on the significance of her father's sobriety and its positive impact on her life, illustrating the healing power of courage and the importance of support systems. The episode encapsulates a conversation about personal growth and the continual journey towards self-discovery and wholehearted living.
Links to find:
Host Karen Pawley on Instagram & Facebook & LinkedIn
Guest Robyn Cohen on Instagram & Facebook & Website
Elizabeth Gilbert on Substack Letters from Love
Sponsor Holly and Maple on Instagram & Spoonflower
Wednesday Apr 10, 2024
Wednesday Apr 10, 2024
In this in-depth, heartfelt episode, Sonja McKaiser, a vibrant Cape Town-based life coach passionate about empowering women over 40 to redefine midlife as a groundbreaking, revolutionary phase, joins me for an enlightening conversation. Delving into topics of radical self-love, emotional expression, and societal pressures, Sonja shares her journey from feeling invisible and shrinking herself to embracing her larger-than-life presence with unapologetic confidence. She highlights the transformative power of granting oneself permission to take up space, to feel deeply, and to express emotions freely, advocating for the healing potential of community, vulnerability, and authentic connection. Through practices like gratitude, intentional moon circles, and embracing a variety of experiences, Sonja illustrates how embracing one's full emotional spectrum and rejecting societal norms about aging can lead to profound personal growth and fulfillment. Her story is a testament to the strength found in vulnerability, the vibrancy of living true to oneself, and the magic that unfolds when women come together to support, witness, and empower one another.
Links to find:
Host Karen Pawley on Instagram & LinkedIn
Guest Sonja McKaiser on Instagram & Website & Midlife Experiment Facebook Group
Book by Sonya Renee Taylor The Body is not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love
Sponsor Holly and Maple on Instagram & Spoonflower
Wednesday Apr 03, 2024
Wednesday Apr 03, 2024
This week's Free to Be Me podcast episode features Zoe Kanat, a certified meditation teacher and yoga nidra guide. We discuss the importance of women becoming the creative leaders of their lives by acknowledging their feelings and being present in their bodies.Through personal anecdotes and discussions the episode encourages listeners to embrace rest, playfulness, and creativity to thrive and make a positive impact on their communities and beyond. Zoe's work, including her courses on Insight Timer, aim to awaken the beauty within each person and spread it to the world, highlighting the power of connection, storytelling, and mutual support in fostering personal and collective well-being.
Links to find:
Host Karen Pawley on Instagram & LinkedIn
Guest Zoe Kanat on Instagram & Website & Insight Timer
Book by Karen Brody Daring to Rest
Sponsor Holly and Maple on Instagram
Wednesday Mar 27, 2024
Wednesday Mar 27, 2024
In this podcast, Abigail shares her journey of embracing change, exploring creativity, and navigating life's transitions. Initially focused on her photographic business, she highlighted the importance of letting go and being open to new experiences. The move to the United States, where she couldn't work due to visa restrictions, propelled her into a period of self-discovery and experimentation. This period led her to write a children's book, inspired by her pet sitting adventures and connections with nature. Abigail's story is a testament to finding one's path through change and embracing the seasons of life. She emphasizes the significance of grounding, exploring one's creativity, and the liberating feeling of minimalism and letting go of physical belongings.
Links to find:
Host Karen Pawley on Instagram & Facebook & LinkedIn
Guest Abigail on Instagram
Book by Karla McLaren The Art of Empathy
Sponsor Holly and Maple on Instagram & Spoonflower
Wednesday Mar 20, 2024
Wednesday Mar 20, 2024
In the episode of the Free To Be Me podcast, Karen shares an engaging and heartfelt conversation with her long-time friend Karen Lowe. They delve into a range of topics from embracing life's journey, reflections on personal growth, to the significance of rest and dreaming big. Karen speaks candidly about her experiences with friendship, the pressures of the working world, and finding joy in creativity, strategy, and connections. She reveals her aspiration for a future where women experience a sustainable work environment that doesn't compromise their capacities. Karen also highlights the importance of allowing oneself to dream and the transformative power of recognizing and celebrating one's achievements. Their discourse further explores the value of solitude, nature, and independence in fostering personal fulfillment and the capacity to contribute meaningfully to others' lives. The conversation is imbued with wisdom on personal growth, the importance of vulnerability and self-love, and the pursuit of a more fulfilled, joyful life.
Links to find:
Host Karen Pawley on Instagram
Guest Karen Lowe on LinkedIn
4dayweekSA on Instagram
Human Energy Work on Instagram
Glennon Doyle’s book Untamed
Sponsor Holly and Maple on Instagram
Wednesday Mar 13, 2024
Wednesday Mar 13, 2024
This episode of the podcast features a deep and insightful conversation between the host, Karen, and Dr. Sharon Hoffman, focusing on the journey of personal growth, self-discovery, and authentic living. Dr. Hoffman shares her journey from being highly curious and questioning the world around her, through her academic pursuits in psychology and consciousness, to her career transitions from clinical training, corporate America, and eventually finding her current path in public speaking, writing, and mentoring. She emphasizes the importance of aligning with one's authentic self, leveraging intuition, and embracing the present moment to navigate life's challenges and opportunities. The discussion also touches on the concept of Human Design, exploring how individual traits and predispositions can influence one's life choices and interactions with the world. Throughout the conversation, there is a recurring theme of fostering inner peace and compassion, both within oneself and towards others, as a means to contribute positively to collective consciousness and societal evolution.
Host Karen Pawley on Instagram
Connect with Dr. Sharon Hoffman:
Website - for live speaking events / 1:1 private coaching
Clubhouse (Wed 6pm & Sat 8:30am PST)
Articles on Medium
Facebook
Instagram
Free guided visualization audio
Free guided wisdom reset audio
Institute of Noetic Science
Katherine May’s book Enchantment - Awakening Wonder in an Anxious Age
Holly and Maple on Instagram
I'm Karen Pawley, host of the Free to be Me Podcast. I'm South African born and currently living on the beautiful shores of the Bay Area of California. I have had the pleasure and honour of journeying with many fabulous women over the course of my life. Each from different backgrounds, at varying stages of their lives, but all have encountered trauma, have faced obstacles and challenges along the way and yet each time they have raised themselves up and kept evolving. These women have inspired me to live a better, more honest life and many will be joining me here to bravely share their stories.
The topics we will cover will span far and wide, I can’t even begin to dream where all they may take us. My personal journey includes impactful and transformative experiences as a holistic health & wellness coach, guiding people as a yoga nidra meditation facilitator, as well as playing in the ponds of the gene keys, human design and astrology so you’ll definitely be hearing more about these passions within the conversations shared here as well as a whole lot more!
The central theme revolves around the inward journey to self-discovery, self-love, and the holistic integration of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. My mission is to inspire listeners to look for answers within and to nurture a deeper connection with themselves, offering stories as inspiration for a healthier, freer life.