Write Your Path

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/].

The External vs. Internal God

Today we’re talking about God! And the difference between Eastern and Western religions! And capitalism! And patriarchy! Really non-loaded topics TBH. LOL. Join me for a quick solo episode where I do my best to put my worldview into words. Another thing I failed to mention in this episode that I’d like to add: Having God be external also means needing intermediaries in order to reach/connect with the Divine—enter priests, bishops, pastors, rabbis, etc. While—yes—there are “gurus” and spiritual leaders in the East, the way you can tell someone is a real guru (meaning they’re truly on the path trying to achieve moksha or enlightenment) is when they say, “Go inside. Do the work. Listen to yourself,” not that their way is the only way, or to look for the path outside of oneself. Resources & sites mentioned in this episode: * More information on the Maha Kumbh Mela [https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=979913290763805] * The Matrix [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133093/] (I probably did not need to link to this lol) * Learn more about Sadhviji [https://sadhviji.org/] * The study that states 47% of the time our mind is wandering [https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2010/11/wandering-mind-not-a-happy-mind/] (and a wandering mind is not a happy one) * Learn more about tapas here [https://jamiehansonyoga.com/blog/tapas-self-discipline] * Here’s my guruji’s Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/parmanand.giri.121/] if you want to check him out! Correction to this episode: * 20 rupees is equivalent to 20 USD cents, 500 rupees is equivalent to USD $5.35