Episode 86: What If You Were Never the Problem? | How two sisters reclaimed their identity and built a business that helps others do the same.

Episode 86: What If You Were Never the Problem? | How two sisters reclaimed their identity and built a business that helps others do the same.

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2398088/fan_mail/new] Episode Snapshot: What if the thing you were taught to hide became the very thing that helped you build something meaningful? In this episode, Dr. Katie is joined by sisters Nicol Varona Cancelmo and Cory Varona Corniel, co-founders of OCOA, a clean curl care brand rooted in Dominican heritage, identity, confidence, and community. Together, they explore what it means to build a business for good — one that serves people, creates impact, honors culture, and succeeds in the marketplace without losing its soul. Summary: Nicol and Cory grew up hearing messages that their natural curls were “too much,” “unruly,” or “pelo malo” — bad hair. Like so many girls and women, they absorbed the belief that something about them needed to be fixed in order to be accepted, beautiful, or professional. But their journey toward embracing their curls became much more than a beauty transformation. It became a reclamation of identity. Through curiosity, research, motherhood, health concerns, and a desire for cleaner, more nourishing products, Nicol and Cory began creating what they couldn’t find. What started in a kitchen eventually became OCOA — a purpose-driven haircare brand built to help people love their curls and themselves. This conversation is about natural beauty, cultural identity, sisterhood, entrepreneurship, perseverance, and the courage it takes to build something that reflects who you are. Nicol and Cory remind us that business can be more than a transaction. It can be an act of healing, representation, and service. Key Learnings: 1. Sometimes the thing you were taught to hide is actually part of your power. Nicol and Cory share how childhood messages about their hair shaped their confidence, identity, and sense of belonging — and how reclaiming their curls helped them reclaim themselves. 2. Business for good begins with a deeply human problem. OCOA wasn’t born from chasing a trend. It came from lived experience, cultural messaging, health concerns, and a desire to create something better for their community. 3. Purpose can fuel perseverance, but it doesn’t erase the hard. Building a values-driven business required sacrifice, patience, trial and error, and years of learning while balancing full-time work, motherhood, family, and growth. 4. Representation is not just about being seen — it’s about feeling worthy. By rooting OCOA in Dominican heritage, bilingual storytelling, and authentic cultural pride, Nicol and Cory are helping others see their beauty, identity, and story reflected back with dignity. 5. Authenticity is a business strategy — but more importantly, it’s a way of living. Their brand truly clicked when they stopped trying to look like everyone else and leaned fully into who they are. Resources: * Learn more about OCOA: ocoabeauty.com [https://ocoabeauty.com/] * Follow OCOA on Instagram: @ocoabeauty [https://www.instagram.com/ocoabeauty] * Connect with OCOA on LinkedIn: OCOA - Curly Hair Care [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ocoabeauty/] * Shop OCOA at Ulta Beauty [https://www.ulta.com/brand/ocoa?cmpid=PS_Non%21google%21PSG_MassHair_OCOA_NoDKI&CAWELAID=330000200003377331&CATRK=SPFID-1&CAAGID=189814376089&CATCI=kwd-2446199478473&CAPCID=811628426760&CADevice=c&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23142180423&gbraid=0AAAAAD9rLH5zm-0rQQgiNK7yl5Cz2qH4W&gclid=Cj0KCQjwornRBhCrARIsAON5exHSkh1pUxfj0tEwtBILxI80_z5CKnepSny4Uud1Dc_KkR1kosD9GFgaAvayEALw_wcB] Guest Info: Nicol Varona Cancelmo and Cory Varona Corniel are sisters, entrepreneurs, and the co-founders of OCOA, a clean curl care brand created to help people embrace their natural beauty with confidence. Inspired by their Dominican heritage and their own journeys of reclaiming their curls, Nicol and Cory built OCOA to offer high-performing, nourishing products while creating a larger movement around identity, representation, sisterhood, and self-love. As Dominican American founders, they are redefining what curly haircare can look and feel like — bringing culture, clean ingredients, and community together in a brand designed to help people be exactly who they were born to be. Connect with Katie on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-sandoe/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/kathryn.katie.sandoe/], and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/katie_sandoe/?hl=en]. You can also get free resources to help you on your purpose journey at www.katiesandoe.com [https://katiesandoe.com/].

Episode 85: A Life Worth Living | Stop Waiting for Someday and Start Savoring Today with Nick Kemp

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2398088/fan_mail/new] Episode Snapshot: What if purpose isn't something you find—but something you practice every day? In this conversation, Dr. Katie welcomes back ikigai expert Nick Kemp to discuss his new book, A Year of Ikigai, and explores how the Japanese philosophy of ikigai invites us to stop living for the weekend and start savoring the small moments that make life worth living. Summary:  Many people believe that purpose is a destination—a calling to discover or a milestone to achieve. But according to Nick Kemp, that's one of the biggest misconceptions about ikigai. In this episode, Katie and Nick unpack the Japanese philosophy of ikigai as a way of living rather than a destination. Rather than chasing happiness through promotions, vacations, or retirement, they explore how meaning is cultivated through everyday experiences, relationships, growth, and intentional action. Nick explains that ikigai exists in the ordinary moments we often overlook: sharing coffee with a friend, walking a loved one to the train station, learning something new, or overcoming a meaningful challenge. He introduces a simple framework of awareness, agency, and action, encouraging listeners to notice what matters, choose how they want to live, and actively engage with life. The conversation also examines the unintended consequences of modern technology and constant distraction, arguing that fulfillment comes not from passive consumption but from embodied experiences and genuine human connection. Drawing from his new book, A Year of Ikigai, Nick shares why small daily reflections and micro-practices can profoundly reshape how we experience our lives. Ultimately, the episode offers a hopeful reminder: purpose is not something waiting for you in the future. It is something you choose and cultivate today. Key Learnings: * Ikigai is a way of living, not a destination. Rather than searching for one grand purpose, we can cultivate meaning through everyday experiences and intentional choices.  * The small moments matter. We often chase major milestones while overlooking the ordinary moments that make life rich, joyful, and deeply meaningful.  * Meaning requires awareness, agency, and action. We must first recognize what matters, believe we can shape our lives, and then actively choose behaviors that align with those values.  * Purpose is something you choose. Instead of waiting to "find" your purpose, commit to a role, a cause, or a way of contributing that reflects who you want to become.  * Ask yourself one powerful question: "How do I want to use my life today?" The answer shapes not only your purpose but how you show up in your relationships, work, and everyday moments. Resources: * Nick's Website: Ikigai Tribe — https://ikigaitribe.com/ [https://ikigaitribe.com/] * Connect with Nick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickkempikigai/ * Nick's New Book: A Year of Ikigai: Finding Everyday Purpose through Japanese Wisdom — https://ikigaitribe.com/a-year-of-ikigai-book/ [https://ikigaitribe.com/a-year-of-ikigai-book/] Guest Info: Nick Kemp is the founder of Ikigai Tribe and a leading voice in bringing the Japanese philosophy of ikigai to a global audience. Having lived in Japan for many years, he has dedicated his work to helping individuals and organizations understand ikigai not as something to discover, but as a daily practice of living with meaning, joy, and intention. Through his coaching, speaking, workshops, podcast, and his book A Year of Ikigai: Finding Everyday Purpose through Japanese Wisdom, Nick invites people to reconnect with the small moments and relationships that make life worth living. Connect with Katie on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-sandoe/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/kathryn.katie.sandoe/], and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/katie_sandoe/?hl=en]. You can also get free resources to help you on your purpose journey at www.katiesandoe.com [https://katiesandoe.com/].

Episode 84: The Moments That Change Everything | Life Switches That Spark Purpose, Passion, and Potential with Joel Steele

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2398088/fan_mail/new] Episode Snapshot: What if the moments that change your life aren't random at all? In this episode, speaker, entrepreneur, and author Joel Steele introduces his concept of Life Switches—those sparks of clarity, urgency, and conviction that move us from drifting through life to actively creating it. While many people wait for a watershed moment or external event to force change in their lives, Joel believes we can become more intentional about recognizing and activating the moments that ignite our passion, purpose, and potential. Dr. Katie and Joel explore why so many people live with their "switch" turned off, what keeps us stuck in ordinary patterns, and how small, intentional actions can reignite the pilot light when life's challenges leave us feeling disconnected from ourselves. Summary: Many of us spend years following expectations, checking boxes, and doing what we think we're supposed to do—only to discover that success doesn't automatically create fulfillment. Joel Steele argues that the difference between merely existing and truly living lies in our ability to recognize and respond to what he calls Life Switch Moments: experiences, realizations, and sparks of insight that challenge us to move in a new direction. These moments can arise from triumph or tragedy, but their purpose is the same: to activate us. Throughout the conversation, Joel shares how life switch moments helped him move from feeling disconnected and directionless to building a life fueled by passion, purpose, and possibility. He emphasizes that while these moments often arrive unexpectedly, we can cultivate the conditions for them by creating space for reflection, asking better questions, and becoming deeply honest with ourselves about what we truly want. Katie and Joel also explore the barriers that keep people from acting on these moments. Fear, self-doubt, instant gratification, and the desire to fit in often prevent us from pursuing the extraordinary life we desire. Yet Joel argues that confidence isn't something we're born with—it's something we build through a series of small promises kept to ourselves. By taking intentional action, creating momentum, and learning to trust our own inner wisdom, we begin to see new possibilities emerge. The conversation culminates in Joel's belief that each person possesses untapped potential waiting to be activated. The challenge isn't finding the answers outside ourselves—it's learning to look within, flip the switch, and begin living with greater intention, energy, and purpose.  Key Learnings: * Life switch moments are sparks of clarity and energy that push us toward action. They help transform ideas into reality and often signal that something in our lives needs attention, change, or expansion.  * Many people spend their lives reacting to expectations rather than intentionally choosing their path. Living "on" requires awareness, purpose, and a willingness to actively shape your life rather than simply go through the motions.  * Life switches become easier to recognize when we create uninterrupted space to think. Honest self-reflection helps us identify where we are, where we want to go, and what might be standing in the way.  * Belief in yourself isn't created by waiting until you're fearless. It grows when you consistently do what you say you're going to do, creating evidence that you can trust yourself and follow through.  * Living an extraordinary life isn't about status, money, or recognition. It's about defining success for yourself and building a life that feels deeply aligned with who you are and what matters most. Resources: * Connect with Joel on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joel-steele-9685888/] * Visit Joel's Website [https://bookjoelsteele.com/] * Read Joel's Book: Life Switch [https://www.amazon.com/Life-Switch-Experience-Discovering-Potential/dp/B0FGZD1V1N] Guest Info: Joel Steele is a speaker, entrepreneur, author, and leadership mentor who helps individuals unlock their potential through his Life Switch framework. Drawing from his own experiences with failure, reinvention, and success, Joel teaches people how to move from drifting through life to living with intention, passion, and purpose. Through speaking, coaching, and his writing, he empowers others to recognize the moments that can change their lives—and take action when they arrive.  Connect with Katie on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-sandoe/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/kathryn.katie.sandoe/], and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/katie_sandoe/?hl=en]. You can also get free resources to help you on your purpose journey at www.katiesandoe.com [https://katiesandoe.com/].

Episode 83: Finding Your People | Moving from Connection to Belonging with Rachel Rozen

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2398088/fan_mail/new] Episode Snapshot: We’ve never been more connected… and yet so many people feel painfully alone. Why? In this episode, Dr. Katie and Rachel Rozen unpack the modern crisis of belonging — from surface-level networking and curated identities to the exhaustion of adult friendships and the fear of rejection that keeps us from truly being seen. Together, they explore what it actually takes to find “your people,” build sticky relationships, and create meaningful connection in a world that often rewards performance over authenticity. Summary:  We live in a paradoxical time: more opportunities to connect than ever before, yet many people feel profoundly lonely. Surrounded by people, yet not fully seen. In this conversation, Rachel Rozen shares how social media, performance culture, and the fear of rejection often prevent adults from building authentic relationships rooted in vulnerability and belonging.  Together, Katie and Rachel explore the difference between surface-level connection and true belonging — the kind where people feel seen, heard, valued, and emotionally safe.  The conversation dives into the realities of adult friendship: friendships changing across seasons of life, the myth of the lifelong “ride or die” friend, and why making friends as adults can feel surprisingly vulnerable.  Most importantly, this episode is a reminder that belonging is not something we accidentally stumble into. It’s something we intentionally cultivate through curiosity, vulnerability, presence, and care... one conversation at a time.  Key Learnings: * Connection (surface friendships) and belonging are not the same thing — belonging requires feeling seen, heard, valued, and emotionally safe.  * Adult friendships often require intentionality and vulnerability, along with invitations and consistent follow-through.  * Many people struggle to build authentic relationships because they are performing rather than showing up as their true selves.  * Workplace belonging is possible when leaders foster psychological safety, curiosity, and genuine human connection beyond productivity.  * One of the simplest ways to deepen connection is to reach out and tell someone you’re thinking about them. Resources: * Rachel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-rozen/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-rozen/] * Rachel's Website: https://www.connectioncatalyst.me/ [https://www.connectioncatalyst.me/] * Free Networking Webinar: https://www.connectioncatalyst.me/freewebinar [https://www.connectioncatalyst.me/freewebinar] * NYC Executive Dinners: https://www.connectioncatalyst.me/dinners [https://www.connectioncatalyst.me/dinners]  Guest Info: From Chief Customer Officer to Connection Coach, Rachel Rozen transforms professional networking from "icky" to "sticky." She's on a mission to help professionals build authentic connections, drawing from her journey of connecting with 300 people in a year. Her coaching strategies empower professionals to turn networking challenges into lasting relationships. When not coaching, she's cheering for the NY Mets and Syracuse Orange, reading, and experimenting in the kitchen. Connect with Katie on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-sandoe/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/kathryn.katie.sandoe/], and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/katie_sandoe/?hl=en]. You can also get free resources to help you on your purpose journey at www.katiesandoe.com [https://katiesandoe.com/].

Episode 82: The Joy of Missing Out | Reclaiming Presence in a World Designed to Distract You with Elizabeth Ross Holstrom

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2398088/fan_mail/new] Episode Snapshot: What happens after we become aware that modern systems are intentionally designed to keep us scrolling, consuming, reacting, and constantly engaged? Following last week’s conversation (E81 with Dr. Mitika Kanabar) about why these systems are so psychologically sticky, this episode with Elizabeth Ross explores the lived human impact of living in an “always-on” world — and how we begin reclaiming our peace, presence, and humanity within it. Summary: In a culture optimized for speed, stimulation, and nonstop engagement, many people feel exhausted, fragmented, overwhelmed, and disconnected from themselves. Yet we often blame ourselves for it — believing we simply lack discipline, balance, or better habits. Elizabeth Ross invites us to see things differently. Building on the previous episode — which explored the neuroscience and addictive nature of modern attention systems — this conversation focuses on what those systems are actually doing to our daily lives, relationships, nervous systems, and sense of self. Elizabeth reframes distraction and burnout not as personal failures, but as predictable outcomes of technological and cultural systems designed to keep us constantly engaged. Together, we explore how hustle culture, productivity obsession, constant notifications, and the pressure to always be available slowly pull us away from presence, creativity, rest, and genuine human connection. But this episode is not anti-technology or fear-based. Instead, it is a hopeful and deeply practical conversation about how we begin coming back to ourselves. Elizabeth shares powerful insights around nervous system regulation, sensory awareness, intentional pauses, and her “To Me / By Me / Through Me” framework for navigating stress and emotional energy. We also explore the shift from FOMO (fear of missing out) to JOMO (joy of missing out), the growing desire for analogue experiences, and why reconnecting with nature may be one of the simplest ways to reconnect with ourselves. Ultimately, this conversation reminds us that reclaiming our attention is not just about reducing screen time — it’s about reclaiming our ability to fully experience our lives. Key Learnings: * Burnout and distraction are often systemic issues, not personal failures  * Our brains require stillness, boredom, and space to process and create  * Presence is a practice that begins with intentional pauses throughout the day  * Sensory awareness helps reconnect us to ourselves and the present moment  * The “To Me / By Me / Through Me” framework offers a healthier way to navigate stress and emotional energy  * FOMO can shift into JOMO when we intentionally reconnect to what truly matters  * Nature remains one of the most powerful tools for nervous system regulation and human connection  Resources: * Connect with Elizabeth on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethrossholmstrom/] * Elizabeth's Website: www.mindfulemployer-us.com [https://www.mindfulemployer-us.com/] Guest Info: Elizabeth Ross is a speaker and master facilitator focused on systems awareness and business evolution in alignment with nature. Her work sits at the intersection of sensory intelligence, energy awareness, and conscious leadership — helping individuals and organizations move out of distraction and burnout and into more regenerative ways of being and working. With over two decades of mindfulness and leadership experience — and her own stress-induced health collapse as a turning point — Elizabeth speaks from lived experience, not just theory. She creates powerful experiences that reconnect people to their bodies, their senses, and the clarity that emerges when we pause. She’s also a co-founder of DisruptHR Portland, Conscious Capitalism Portland, and Mindful Employer. Connect with Katie on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-sandoe/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/kathryn.katie.sandoe/], and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/katie_sandoe/?hl=en]. You can also get free resources to help you on your purpose journey at www.katiesandoe.com [https://katiesandoe.com/].