Beyond "What Do You Do?": Laura Munson on Wonder, Rejection & Self-Expression

Beyond "What Do You Do?": Laura Munson on Wonder, Rejection & Self-Expression

Rachel Peck welcomes bestselling author and Haven Writing Retreats founder Laura Munson to Unmasked, sharing their unexpected family connection through Rachel’s grandmother, artist Fay Peck, and Chicago roots. Laura discusses why she prefers asking “What do you like to do?” over “What do you do?” and describes her love of nature, foraging, horses, reading, and writing. Centering her book The Wild Why, she explores self-expression, the “wonder wound,” perfectionism, and how curiosity plus awe can restore life force in a worried world. They talk about being “nature” everywhere, the importance of silence and genuine connection, and making time to truly answer “How are you?” Laura reflects on grief, self-compassion, and going slowly, and reframes rejection by rejecting society’s success/failure myth and focusing on doing the work. She closes by sharing ways to join Haven retreats, Haven Nest, and her Substack. Website: Lauramunson.com [http://Lauramunson.com] Substack: Wonderings With Laura Munson  Instagram: @lauramunsonauthor Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2600831/support]

The Strength to Stay Kind: Noah Harrison on Fatherhood, Faith & Music

Rachel Peck welcomes her brother-in-law, musician and new dad Noah Paul Harrison, to Unmasked. Beyond achievements, Noah describes himself as kind, tough, and fervent. Noah shares how being “soft” has required he learn to be more direct. He reflects on becoming a father to five-week-old twins, the shock of first being told there was one baby, and the honor and strain of parenting with strong family support. Noah explains how he and his wife, Carling, moved from Redding, California, to New York after feeling a spiritual “heart tug” and joining a church plant as a worship leader. He discusses faith, ego and gratitude in songwriting, and his debut album Do Not Go Gentle—an encouragement to endure suffering without giving in.  Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2600831/support]

From the Trading Pits to Beautiful Montana: Lauren Peck on Spirituality, Love & Resilience

Rachel Peck welcomes her mother, Lauren Peck, to Unmasked. Beyond achievement, Lauren’s three words are sameness, unsameness, and love. Lauren explains “sameness” as a spiritual center rooted in the idea that all people come from one origin, and “unsameness” as constant change and creativity; she defines love as an action that motivates her passions and resilience. She shares childhood in Illinois, early spiritual curiosity, ballet, tennis, and an all-state half-mile track career, plus a lifelong fascination with time and world religions, including creating the interfaith-inspired Common Cup in Bozeman. Lauren recounts her finance path from the Chicago options pits to stockbroking, the isolation of being a woman on trading floors, and how 9/11 prompted a move to Montana, gardening, and later rebuilding a career as a CFP after 2008–09. They discuss reframing “monkey mind” as a “beautiful mind,” being mislabeled as only “beautiful,” motherhood, and the red wagon metaphor for perseverance.  Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2600831/support]

Embracing Imperfection: Marissa on Ambition, Burnout & Redefining Success

Content Warning: This episode includes a brief mention of suicidal ideation and mental health struggles.  Beyond achievements, Marissa describes herself as ambitious, empathetic, and resilient. Marissa unpacks how women are often punished for ambition, how perfectionism created a “go and crash” cycle, and how learning to create her own box has been both scary and liberating. She shares practices that keep her grounded, especially a daily gratitude list and meditation, and argues that empathy is a powerful leadership strength that drives team performance. Marissa recounts leaving a 15-year corporate career after the pandemic triggered depression and a spiritual awakening, leading to travel, yoga teacher training in Sri Lanka, and eventually Columbia’s Spirit Mind Body Psychology Master’s program as a bridge into entrepreneurship. She also clarifies yoga concepts like asana and prana and shares where to find her work on Instagram and Substack. Instagram: @marissatheyogini Substack: https://substack.com/@marissatheyogini?r=44ed60&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=stories&shareImageVariant=blur [https://substack.com/@marissatheyogini?r=44ed60&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=stories&shareImageVariant=blur]  Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2600831/support]

Who Heals the Healer?: Kristin on Voice, Identity & Self-Discovery

Beyond achievements, Kristin describes herself as a poetess, healer, and “girlosopher.” A fellow master's student in Columbia University's Spirit Mind Body Psychology program, she reflects on identity, voice, and the process of unmasking who we are beneath labels others place on us.  Kristin shares how writing and poetry became a bridge between her rich inner world and a public self that often felt masked. She opens up about moving from Texas to Louisiana at a young age, navigating rigid cultural expectations, the pressure to adapt herself to fit in, and the experience of being judged for her ethnically ambiguous appearance. Together, we explore the many forms of voice, from breath and language to movement and self-expression, and discuss the challenges that can come with being labeled “strong” or a “leader.” Kristin also reflects on changing her path from pre-med to creative arts therapy, caring for her mother through a breast cancer diagnosis, and the question: who heals the healer? This conversation is an invitation to look beyond labels, reconnect with your authentic voice, and embrace the gifts you are meant to share with the world. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2600831/support]