From Architect to Piñata Artist with Juan Pablo Lascurain

From Architect to Piñata Artist with Juan Pablo Lascurain

Today I speak with my friend and professional piñata maker, Juan Pablo Lascurain! Juan Pablo started out as an architect, but realized he wasn’t creatively fulfilled within architecture’s confines, so he took all the models he was already making out of cardboard and paper and turned them into art. We discuss how piñatas are the main characters of the party—associated with joy, celebration, and memories—how the pandemic changed the trajectory of his career, imposter syndrome, accidental walking meditations, how he started his art studio Mugak, his approach to collaborations with clients, letting go of control when it comes to making art, and more. Resources & sites mentioned in this episode: * Find Juan Pablo on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/juanpablo.lascurain/] * Mugak [https://www.instagram.com/muga___k/], Juan Pablo’s art studio * The picture of the bread [https://photos.app.goo.gl/LnC2Zq5ZRFi278MMA] I photographed in San Miguel de Allende 😂 * Ballista [https://ballista.space/], a space for collectible design, functional art & radical home goods in CDMX where Juan Pablo’s San Miguel de Allende collection will be showcased * See some amazing photographs of San Miguel de Allende and more on Juan Pablo’s partner Leandro Bulzzano’s Instagram here [https://www.instagram.com/leandrobulzzano/] * Museo Jumex [https://www.fundacionjumex.org/es] in Mexico City * Montserrat Piña Benetts’ Sea Glass series [https://www.mpbenetts.com/en/portfolio-collections/proyectos/seaglass] of glycerin soaps Corrections to this episode: * In English “artista plástico" translates primarily to visual or fine artist.

She Used Food as Medicine to Heal Herself—And Now Helps Others Do the Same

This week on the podcast I host my friend and Ayurvedic chef Anastasia “Nastia” Volodchenko. She shares how the classroom to office pipeline was not for her, so after studying fashion marketing & branding in the UK, she had an early life crisis and left London to work on boats around the world for seven years. Nastia also tells us how she would make potions as a kid in Cyprus and hide them in jars in her closet, and how that concoction instinct—alongside her own health journey dealing with endometriosis and PCOS and having her son—would lead her to study Ayurveda and food as medicine. We dive into how Ayurveda takes the mind, body, and spirit into account in order to heal it, Nastia’s experience working at an Ayurvedic hospital, what a panchakarma treatment is 💩, an explication of the doshas, and a recipe for date sugar! Resources & sites mentioned in this episode: * The Diary of a CEO episode [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-groundbreaking-cancer-expert-new-research-this/id1291423644?i=1000672014053] I mention about cancer as a metabolic disease * Nastia’s Instagram account, Integrated Ayurveda [https://www.instagram.com/integratedayurveda/]

Why She Quit Teaching to Open a Gelato Shop in Mexico City

This week I chat with my friend Anna-Rose, gelato master and owner of Amorcita Gelato in Mexico City. We talk about how Anna-Rose went from being a geography teacher in the UK to a gelato-shop owner in Mexico—including all of the red tape of opening a brick-and-mortar business in a foreign country. We also dive into her time at Gelato University (its real name) in Italy, how community has meant everything to her as she opened and continues to grow her business, what it was like developing a supply chain in Mexico, how she’s had to change her gelato recipes across countries depending on local ingredients, some of the core values of her business, and her advice for those wanting to open a brick and mortar shop. Resources & sites mentioned in this episode: * If you’re in CDMX, go to Amorcita Gelato [https://maps.app.goo.gl/SruBGBN6RDmyi3Gk6]! * Follow Amorcita on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/amorcitagelato/]. * Learn more about Gelato University here [https://www.gelatouniversity.com/en/home]. * A brief history of vanilla [https://www.veramexicana.com/article/history-of-vanilla/]. * Find Anna-Rose on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/annarose.lim/]. * Read the New York Times article Anna-Rose & Amorcita are featured in, “For These Women, the American Dream Is in Mexico City [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/30/world/americas/mexico-city-american-expat-women.html]” * If you’re a foreigner living in CDMX, please consider contributing to Gringo Tax [https://www.gringotax.mx/], a CDMX Solidarity Fund. Corrections to this episode: * I have had a haircut between recording and publishing this episode. LOL 😂 * Cempesuchil translates to marigold, not carnation! 🏵️

What is Yogic Entrepreneurship? (And Why I’m Building My Business This Way)

In this solo episode I dive into the concept of yogic entrepreneurship: What is it? How was this idea birthed? How does it differ from regular entrepreneurship? How does one practice it? This idea came to me a few days ago so I wanted to share it with y’all as soon as possible.  Do you see yourself in me as I wrestle with this idea? How would you feel about practicing it in your own life? How would birthing your passion project, new business, writing your book, or finally trying that thing that keeps calling you look different if you did? Please let me know if this concept speaks to you in the comments, and feel free to DM me on Instagram if you’d like to discuss further! Resources & sites mentioned in this episode: * Crea Content Marketing [https://creacontentmarketing.com/], my first baby business. * The 6-Fig Freelance Writer [https://lollyspindler.thrivecart.com/the-6-fig-freelance-writer/], my self-paced digital course for those wanting to start a freelance writing business. * The Pennebaker Protocol [https://www.growingrootsllc.com/growing-roots-blog/2024/1/11/the-pennebaker-protocol]: Scientific findings on the power of writing to heal. * Learn more about Sadhviji here [https://sadhviji.org/]. * You can get the Bhagavad Gita here [https://amzn.to/4dc31bj] (I highly recommend it!). * Learn more about Andrea Gibson here [https://andreagibson.org/] (RIP you sweet soul). * My Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lollyspin/] where you can write to me!

Let Your Freak Flag Fly with Blue of Shibari Mexico

This week I sit down with my friend Blue, founder of Shibari Mexico. We talk about how her involvement in the BDSM community led to a niche interest in Shibari, and how that passion turned into a professional calling. We also dig into the importance of building community—especially around our niche interests—why references are crucial, and how building a business around our passions can lead to doing more admin work and less of what we actually love (in Blue’s case, tying). We discuss coming out as a freak, the moment you decide to go all in and commit to your new business, the privilege of exploring our sexuality, imposter syndrome, the power of seeing clients grow & learn, educating others about common misconceptions about Shibari, how to prioritize your business vs. personal life, being the best in your lane, and how the kink community is a great place to learn how to set boundaries and use your voice. Resources & sites mentioned in this episode: * Blue’s website [https://www.shibarimx.com/] where you can find all of her events, products, and more! * Learn more about what a munch is here [https://knki.fun/bdsm-munch]. * Blue’s Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/lavirgenblueeee] and Shibari Mexico’s Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/shibarimexicotalleres/].