A Thousand-Mile Journey

Doctrine to Intuition

EP 029 feat. Wild Maven Wellness (pt 2) Annie Mesaros [Spiritual Counselor] Baltimore, MD In Part two, Annie reveals how her "Dark Night of the Soul" led to a complete break from the church. She explains how she rebuilt her spirituality through nature & intuitive practices, & now works as an "emotional support witch" to help others find their unique rhythm. To create pockets of healing, that can ripple out & change the world. EPISODE OUTLINE The Breaking Point (00:01:14 - 00:07:42) Annie explores the profound aftermath of her "Dark Night of the Soul," which fractured her trust in the religious institution that raised her. She details her final break after her advocacy for inclusion was rejected, a pivotal moment that propelled her out of organized religion & onto a new, personal spiritual journey. Intuition Over Institution (00:15:22 - 00:22:09) This section reveals how Annie constructed a new spiritual framework centered on self-trust. She introduces tools like tarot as mirrors for introspection, & champions a fluid, seasonal approach to practice that defies rigid dogma. Her philosophy empowers individuals to shed external "shoulds" & discover what truly nourishes their spirit in each season of life. Sanctuary for the Spirit (00:22:09 - 00:32:48) Annie brings her mission to life by detailing her work creating accessible, low-stakes communities through moon circles & one-on-one sessions. The conversation culminates in her visionary dream of a nature retreat—a sanctuary for underpaid helpers—showcasing her commitment to building healing spaces where personal & collective transformation can ripple outward. RESOURCES Flourish, boutique & tea lounge [https://www.flourishbaltimore.com/] If you liked this episode, I highly recommend listening to my chat with Sarah Knight [/episodes/ethical-and-sustainable-living], a chef turned educator and activist who shares with us her commitment to ethical and sustainable living practices. You'll find it linked in the show notes. SUPPORT THE SHOW Explore our bookshelf on Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/shop/goldenapproach] Follow/Leave a review on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/70DHu9rEH6zIhtCfmh6juB?si=b0f97477c6054609] Follow/Leave a review [https://open.spotify.com/show/70DHu9rEH6zIhtCfmh6juB?si=b0f97477c6054609] on Apple Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-golden-approach-podcast/id1699910581] Check out our Merch [/merch] WHERE TO FIND US Wild Maven Wellness [https://www.wildmavenwellness.com/] Wild Maven Wellness on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/wild.mavenwellness/] Golden Approach Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/goldenapproachpod] Aubrey Shaffner on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/aubreyds]

Faith & Institution

EP 028 feat. Wild Maven Wellness (pt 1) Annie Mesaros [Spiritual Counselor] Baltimore, MD How does one rebuild after their foundational beliefs collapse? Annie traces her path from a rule-based Presbyterian upbringing, through a devastating crisis of faith known as the "Dark Night of the Soul," to her current work helping others shed shame and rediscover their own inner authority and intuition. EPISODE OUTLINE Foundation of Faith (00:03:30 - 00:09:00) Annie describes her childhood in a Seattle mega-church, which served as a vibrant second family. She recounts sacred, positive rituals like receiving her first Bible in fourth grade, which established a foundational belief in a loving, personal God and a strong sense of community. Unlearning A Legacy of Shame & Control (00:13:42 - 00:23:03) The conversation shifts to the rigid doctrine of her adolescence, specifically the purity movement. Annie details how its teachings instilled deep shame, demonized sexuality and LGBTQ+ identities, and systematically taught her to distrust her own body, desires, and intuition, creating a profound inner conflict. Finding a New Path (00:24:48 - 00:29:31) Annie recounts her "Dark Night of the Soul"—a terrifying period where she felt God's absence. This crisis became the catalyst for her deconstruction. She concludes by connecting her past to her present work as an "emotional support witch," explaining how she now guides others through "spiritual exfoliation" to shed external dogma and trust their inner wisdom. RESOURCES [Episode] Aubrey & Molly: Dandelion Salon & Apothecary [/episodes/carefully-cultivated] [Episode] Elyse: Be More Connected [/episodes/call-of-our-soul]  If you liked this episode, I highly recommend listening to my chat with Sarah Knight [/episodes/ethical-and-sustainable-living], a chef turned educator and activist who shares with us her commitment to ethical and sustainable living practices. You'll find it linked in the show notes. SUPPORT THE SHOW Explore our bookshelf on Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/shop/goldenapproach] Follow/Leave a review on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/70DHu9rEH6zIhtCfmh6juB?si=b0f97477c6054609] Follow/Leave a review [https://open.spotify.com/show/70DHu9rEH6zIhtCfmh6juB?si=b0f97477c6054609] on Apple Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-golden-approach-podcast/id1699910581] Check out our Merch [/merch] WHERE TO FIND US Wild Maven Wellness [https://www.wildmavenwellness.com/] Wild Maven Wellness on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/wild.mavenwellness/] Golden Approach Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/goldenapproachpod] Aubrey Shaffner on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/aubreyds]

Value Driven Strategy

EP 027 feat. Sunny Side Creative Agency Jess Gill [Director of Communications] & Elisa Watson [Creative Director] Jess & Elisa, of Sunny Side Creative, discuss how empathy, strategy, & personal history shape effective branding. They explain why marketing is a long-term, multi-channel effort and share how their unique backgrounds fuel their mission to empower clients with lasting communication tools. EPISODE OUTLINE What is Sunny Side Creative? (00:03:23 - 00:05:01) The duo introduces their agency, explaining how their complementary skills in communication (Jess) and design (Elisa) led to a natural partnership. They define their core work: distilling a client's story into a powerful visual and messaging identity. Debunking Marketing Myths (00:05:36 - 00:08:52) Jess and Elisa challenge the idea of overnight success, emphasizing that effective marketing is a long-term, strategic effort. They stress the need for a multi-pronged approach to reach audiences where they are and the importance of building marketing into a business's operational bedrock. Empathy as a Professional Tool (00:19:38 - 00:33:04) The conversation delves into their personal backgrounds. Jess shares how her hearing loss and family history honed her deep listening and empathy. Elisa discusses how her mother's illness shaped her emotional resilience and perspective, highlighting how these personal experiences directly inform their client-centered approach. RESOURCES Be More Kind [https://www.facebook.com/groups/bmorekind/] - Local networking group If you like this episode, I highly recommend listening to my chat with Brooke Kelbaugh, a cookie artist [https://open.spotify.com/episode/11t9f8vDCepaKv7bSnvqyg?si=6dabc740f593465e] who shares her experience building boundaries, confidence and success through communication skills in her small business. SUPPORT THE SHOW Explore our bookshelf on Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/shop/goldenapproach] Follow/Leave a review on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/70DHu9rEH6zIhtCfmh6juB?si=b0f97477c6054609] Follow/Leave a review [https://open.spotify.com/show/70DHu9rEH6zIhtCfmh6juB?si=b0f97477c6054609]on Apple Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-golden-approach-podcast/id1699910581] Check out our Merch [/merch] WHERE TO FIND US Sunny Side Creative Agency [https://thesunnysidecreative.com/] Sunny Side Creative Agency on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thesunnysidecreative/] Golden Approach Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/goldenapproachpod] Aubrey Shaffner on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/aubreyds]

Personal Growth & Vulnerability

EP 026 feat. Aubrey Shaffner [Host, Pastry Professional, Educator] Baltimore, MD In this heartfelt episode of The Golden Approach, host Aubrey reflects on personal challenges with vulnerability, self-expression, and control, sharing insights from dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT). As the new year approaches, Aubrey encourages personal reflection, gratitude, and grounding practices for growth. The episode explores setting goals, understanding the root of desires, and focusing on impact over perfection, with the aim of building better relationships and a kinder, more curious world. EPISODE OUTLINE [00:00:00] Welcome to the Golden Approach [00:00:26] Overcoming Childhood Fears [00:02:53] Personal Reflection and Gratitude [00:05:37] The Impact of DBT (dialectical behavioral therapy) [00:07:40] Going to the Root [00:20:03] Playing the Infinite Game, Learning Daily Improvements [00:30:35] End of Year Reflections and Announcements RESOURCES Simone Biles Rising [https://www.netflix.com/title/81700902/] DBT (dialectical behavioral therapy) [https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/dialectical-behavior-therapy-what-is-it-and-who-can-it-help-202401223009] Infinite Games by Simon Sinek [https://bookshop.org/a/102417/9780735213500] [Episode} Be More Connected with Elyse Preston [/episodes/call-of-our-soul] Sunny Side Creative Website [https://thesunnysidecreative.com/] [Episode] Sunny Side Creative with Jess Gill and Elisa Watson [/episodes/sunny-side-creative-agency] SUPPORT THE SHOW Explore our bookshelf on Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/shop/goldenapproach] Follow/Leave a review on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/70DHu9rEH6zIhtCfmh6juB?si=b0f97477c6054609] Follow/Leave a review [https://open.spotify.com/show/70DHu9rEH6zIhtCfmh6juB?si=b0f97477c6054609] on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-golden-approach-podcast/id1699910581] Check out our Merch [/merch] WHERE TO FIND US Golden Approach Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/goldenapproachpod] Aubrey Shaffner on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/aubreyds] Join our email list [/gap-subscribe]

A Thousand-Mile Journey

EP 025 feat. Aubrey Shaffner [Host, Pastry Professional, Educator] Baltimore, MD Host Aubrey takes a look back in time, to a point in our history when diversity, inclusion, & equality were just coming to the forefront of our societal consciousness. Two of the biggest names of the time, seemingly from completely different worlds, share a passion & drive to represent a better way. By exploring their work, we can see their shared dream & the different routes they took to achieve such undeniable success. EPISODE OUTLINE [00:00:00] Overview [00:04:53] Part 1: Brave New World [00:09:17] Part 2: A Tale of Two Americas [00:18:31] Part 3: An Expanding World RESOURCES Spotify Playlist [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2cZE2QgHqjAVOVFGgHcuYT?si=94383988631e478b] ‘68 NBC “Comeback” Special [https://archive.org/details/ELVISSINGERSPECIALAIRCUTWithAds2] Martin Luther King Jr. Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech [https://youtu.be/5r98tT0j1a0?si=ZngkwmH1Po3Toavq] CBS News Vietnam News Report #1 [https://youtu.be/W0AmOw06lA0?si=UIIw0ApLBtCcgJWm] CBS News Vietnam News Report #2 [https://youtu.be/89_3DgW_7mg?si=U9Prg_T9W77vFg_8] Madam [President] Excerpt S7E3 [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10338184/?ref_=ttep_ep_3] SUPPORT THE SHOW Explore our bookshelf on Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/shop/goldenapproach] Follow/Leave a review on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/70DHu9rEH6zIhtCfmh6juB?si=b0f97477c6054609] Follow/Leave a review [https://open.spotify.com/show/70DHu9rEH6zIhtCfmh6juB?si=b0f97477c6054609]on Apple Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-golden-approach-podcast/id1699910581] Check out our Merch [/merch] WHERE TO FIND US Golden Approach Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/goldenapproachpod] Aubrey Shaffner on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/aubreyds]