This week’s episode is a repost from my friend Jenna Knapp and her Dear Self With Love Substack. Note: This was not supposed to be a podcast. Jenna originally sent me a Google Form asking me to share my experience as a Dear Self With Love planner user. My intuition instantly wanted to respond to these questions, but instead of typing the answers out; I connected my computer to my microphone, put my headphones on, and hit record (and let’s be honest, did a few practice sessions). I knew I wanted to use my voice, in a big and bright way that shows you who I am, imperfections and all. Visibility is not always easy for me despite being on two cooking TV shows including Chopped! on the Food Network. My comfort zone lies in interviewing others. This time, I decided to try the other side of the mic and answer Jenna’s questions. As you will hear, this is more than just a planner. It is a way to approach life and offers a deep connection to Jenna and her community.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform. What’s in This Episode:Jenna first asks me to share more about what I do. As a Food Stylist, Content Strategist, and Podcast Host, I talked about how I support my clients to see content creation as a dream world — a space to play and invent. I teach them to listen to their tiny whispers that come from inside them vs. seeing me as a marketing guru telling them what they should do. In my opinion, content is really energy. If you've ever experienced someone telling you that they "love your energy," it's exactly that! Creating the channel for your unique energy to be expressed.Jenna invites me to share my personal definition of self-love. For me, it's layered and nuanced. It encompasses things that I wouldn't have answered, even just a few months ago. It's loving ALL the parts of me, including those that aren't perfect, get it wrong, and are experiencing feelings like deep grief. It's accepting all those parts so that I can show up to work, to create content from the most honest place possible.Jenna wraps up with a future-based question — "How are you supporting your future 2025 self currently?" Deciding to use my voice and get vulnerable with Jenna's community (and you) is how I'm taking care of my future self presently. Being visible is something that I teach my 1:1 content strategy clients, participants of The Content Retreat, and members of my new Confident Content Collective. Recording these responses was me leaning into my future self, stepping into a new chapter of my own visibility. Curious, tell me in the comments, how are you leaning into your future self, what does it look like to step into their shoes? Topics Covered:My definition of self-love and how it’s changing through a challenging seasonWhat’s my definition of content and how it can support you and your dreams My journey with the Dear Self With Love Planner over the past two years My two favorite parts memorables (as a way to connect with my kids) and mirror affirmations Using the planner as a practice to end my months and cast out my future self Writing the year ahead letter as part of my practice and forgetting the “special place” I put it We can’t wait to hear your thoughts about this episode. Leave a comment below!xo Chef CarlaPS: If these ideas and concepts around creating content from an aligned place interest you. I invite to join us live online for the preview of opening day of The Content Retreat Saturday 9/21/24 and if it’s aligned join us for the full experience Sunday 9/22/24. Here is the Content Retreat Schedule (all times are EST)Saturday 9/21/24 4 p.m.–4:30 p.m.: Welcoming circle: The Confident Content Framework4:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m.: Connecting to Being Seen and Lucid Living with Dulce Ruby: Artist, Spiritual Alchemist, and Modern Curandera5:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m.: Breathwork for Activating Visibility with Stephanie Pereira Lima: Soul Leader, Breathwork Guide, and Reiki Master 6:30 p.m.–7 p.m.: Closing circle and wrap-upSunday 9/22/249 a.m.–-9:15 a.m.: Opening Circle & Cacao Ritual: Connecting to Your Why9:15 a.m.–10:15 a.m.: The Content Mind Map & Aligned 90-Day Plan with Meg Burton Tudman & Carla Contreras10:15 a.m.–10:30 a.m.: Coffee break10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.: Focused + Flow Sprint with feedback12:00 p.m.–12:30 p.m.: Connection, sharing, and support 12:30 p.m.–1:30 p.m.: Nourishing lunch & stretch break1:30 p.m.–3 p.m.: Focused + Flow Sprint with feedback3 p.m.–-3:15 p.m.: Coffee break3:30 p.m.–4 p.m.: Closing circle and wrap-upJoin My Community:WebsitePinterestInstagramSubstackDisclaimer: Always seek the counsel of a qualified medical practitioner or other healthcare provider for an individual consultation before making any significant changes to your health, lifestyle, or to answer questions about specific medical conditions. This podcast is for entertainment and information purposes only. Get full access to Nourishing Creativity at chefcarla.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to this week’s episode! We are learning about using breathwork as a tool to move through creative blocks. I am joined by Stephanie Pereira-Lima, an Intuitive Healer, Soulful Leader, Breathwork Guide, and Reiki Master. She works intimately with spiritual women & emerging lightworkers in awakening their soul purpose so they can create a life that is led by their soul and rooted in freedom, abundance and joyful service. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform.What’s in This Episode:Steph first gives us her definition of creativity which she believes is, “the physical manifestation of someone's soul essence.” I ask her to explain to us deeper about what she means. “I see every individual as a soul, meaning the part of us that is very much all knowing, all loving… it's really that light that they have. It's that sense of joy, that sense of love.”Steph shares her creative process and how she drops into flow to find her center which may include: Stretching, movement like ecstatic dance, changing up her environment, and using time blocking in order to create a container to create. She dives into what it means to integrate masculine and feminine energies (all human have both) in the creative process to create containers in order to create flow and structure.Steph talks about how transformational breathwork is. She defines it, “Breathwork is an active meditation practice. We are dynamically engaging our breath in a rhythmic pattern. And I specifically guide, it's called a three part breath. You breathe through the mouth the entire time… a lot of people describe it as 10 years of talk therapy in one session, and just that process of hyper oxygenating the body, we're tapping into the subconscious mind.”Topics Covered:Steph’s definition of creativity and the role of the "soul essence.”How Steph’s journey has evolved from corporate leader to spiritual leader.She shared how breathwork and how it can help with creative blocks and spiritual awakening.Integrating masculine and feminine energies (all human have both) in the creative process.Steph shares about overcoming the challenges of being visible and sharing one's authentic voice.The importance of self-healing and connecting within, rather than looking for external validation.We can’t wait to hear your thoughts about this episode. Leave a comment below!xo, Chef CarlaPS: Sign up for Stephanie’s 3-month online experience, Journey Deep Within Save $100 by mentioning this podcast episode in your application. I support her work 100%. Ask me any questions via email or DM me on Instagram @chefcarlacontrerasPPS: Interested in The Content Retreat? Join us + learn more hereDisclaimer: Always seek the counsel of a qualified medical practitioner or other healthcare provider for an individual consultation before making any significant changes to your health, lifestyle, or to answer questions about specific medical conditions. This podcast is for entertainment and information purposes only. Get full access to Nourishing Creativity at chefcarla.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to this week’s episode! We’re deep-diving into the creative mindset and returning to being seen after years of creating behind the scenes. We’ll also share a brilliant practice to help you move through creative blocks. I am joined by Dulce Ruby, an international artist and herbal alchemist who creates artworks and tools to awaken and activate people to their dream realities. She had over 1 million people as part of her community on Instagram until she was hacked and started her new account. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform.What’s in This Episode:Dulce first gives us her definition of creativity, which she believes is magic. “The eminence of what is desiring to be birthed through an individual at a given moment. It’s what fulfills, fills, and breathes life into you, and how can you breathe that into the world? Creativity is who you are, materialized into this plane of existence, the 3D material, physical.”Dulce shares her current relationship with creativity, stating that she consistently pours magic into the world and that her creativity is intertwined with her day-to-day life. She also shares that her creativity has been stunted, halted, or hidden as she worked through creating projects behind the scenes including leading a World Peace Tour and creating Despierta, which was meant to be a downloadable antidote for what aches the human mind, body, and soul.Dulce talks about coming back to sharing her creations, “I feel like, as I was hiding myself and my creations, more than people who were used to, I guess seeing me and seeing my work and seeing my words and feeling and just nourishing their souls and trying to say that not in an egotistical way but being able to receive my love and my outpouring and my magic, my creativity, and being able to utilize that as a healing modality for themselves.”Topics Covered:Dulce’s expansive definition of creativity and how creativity is part of everyday life. How Despierta was founded to create an accessible offering to her community. Nourishment as a part of the creative process and how drinking tea can be a way to connect with yourself.Dream, sleep, and awaken, a philosophy that guides Despierta’s and Dulce’s work. Dulce’s energy is contagious! She talks about how she builds playfulness into her life. Dulce shares her process visualization practice for overcoming creative blocks and allowing more creative flow into her life.We can’t wait to hear your thoughts about this episode. Leave a comment below!xo Chef CarlaPS: Use the code ChefCarla10 to save on Despierta + Dulce’s course Lucid Living. Note: I am an affiliate of Dulce Ruby’s programs Lucid Living and Despierta. I support her work 100%. Ask me any questions via email or DM me on Instagram @chefcarlacontrerasPPS: Interested in The Content Retreat? Join us + learn more hereJoin My Community:* Website* Pinterest* Instagram* Substack Get full access to Nourishing Creativity at chefcarla.substack.com/subscribe

This week’s episode is about empowering you to share who you uniquely are in your creative process. I’m joined by Meagan Williamson, a Pinterest marketing expert, certified business coach, trained psychologist, and mom based in Canada. Get the Full Show Notes & Transcript here. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or on your favorite podcast platform while you cook, clean, or create.What’s in This Episode:This episode will leave you inspired to embrace how you create based on the season of life (and business) you are in. In our conversation, Meagan shares her approach to coaching and working with creative blocks by looking beyond the surface level of why you may not be sharing on social media.Meagan shares that she can’t force herself to be creative. When she does have the energy she does massive brain dumps. She looks across what’s trending in other industries and brainstorms about her unique take on ideas, a tutorial that might help someone, and or answer a question she is getting asked by her community. Meagan leaves us with advice: To not fall for viral get-rich-quick tactics using Pinterest but instead to focus on slow and consistent growth. She talks about this in terms of focusing on eating greens like steamed broccoli vs. cheese pizza. It’s not sexy but she will help you with sustainable growth and long term results.Topics Covered:Meagan’s experience with a leadership exercise in high school and how that shaped her view of creative thinking.What it’s like to be creative in other areas of your life such as how you dress, work, and define the world. Meagan enjoys creative hobbies like gardening and being in nature. Stop trying to be other people on social media, be yourself, she calls it, “Meaganizing.”What it’s like to honor your energy and the phases of your life and business. She talks about rest and not working.Meagan talks about her background as a trained psychologist, and how creative blocks are often not about creation but other things in your life like trauma or fear of failure.We can’t wait to hear your thoughts, leave a comment below!Eat Well,xo Chef CarlaPS: Interested in Pinterest as part of your strategy? Join the Pinterest Growth Challenge Note: I am an affiliate of Meagan’s programs. I have been in her Pin Potential Membership since the beginning. I support her work 100%. Ask me any questions via email or DM me on Instagram @chefcarlacontreras Join My Community:* Website* Pinterest* Instagram* Substack Get full access to Nourishing Creativity at chefcarla.substack.com/subscribe

This week’s episode is about being a multi-passionate creative, being open to what you enjoy vs. putting yourself in a box. I am joined by Juanina Kocher, a health coach, yoga teacher, and consultant, who primarily supports mothers.Get the Full Show Notes & Transcript here Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or on your favorite podcast platform while you cook, clean, or create.What’s in This Episode:This episode is filled with a lot of laughs and personal shares! Juanina and I start with our love of the Italian Chopped Salad with Basil Swirls from Sakara Life. We are both ambassadors for the brand. We also both have backgrounds in the restaurant and hospitality world.Juanina shares how she navigates modern motherhood and how she weaves in creativity throughout her busy day-to-day life. Juanina’s definition of creativity encompasses anything that excites you, which is so freeing!In our conversation, she explains how excitement often becomes inspiration and weaves itself into problem-solving and uncovering new creative outlets. Juanina talks about creating room for creativity. And what a difference having space and quiet time makes for her creativity.Topics Covered:* Modern parenting and what that means to Juanina* What it’s like to eat different meals or at different times than young children* How Juanina defines creativity and its connection to problem solving* Creating a bucket list for creative pursuits like pottery or cooking classes* Feeding your creative juices through cooking for pleasure and making new recipes* Wellness tools that don’t take an hour, a five minute meditation, 10-minute moment practice, or taking a walk* Moving through creative blocks by giving yourself space, having quiet timePS: Join Melissa Hoffman for a live free Nourishing Creativity Hypnosis workshop this Saturday April 20th at 1:00 pm ESTJoin My Community:* Website* Pinterest* Instagram* SubstackNote: Some of these are affiliate links. I receive a small percentage of the sales. I appreciate your support of my small Latinè & women owned business. Please see my shop + Juanina’s Instagram for more codes + discounts. Get full access to Nourishing Creativity at chefcarla.substack.com/subscribe

This week’s episode is about finding pleasure in creative expression and the ability to pivot into purpose. I am joined by Melissa Hoffmann, an Intuitive Life, Mindset Coach, and Hypnotherapist for women who know they’re meant for more.Get the Full Show Notes & Transcript here Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or on your favorite podcast platform.What’s in This Episode:Melissa shares her pivot from makeup artist to coach and how she has infused creativity in each step of her journey. We chat about making art simply for pleasure and to nourish yourself instead of seeking external validation.She also talks about how to find balance when creativity is a big part of your work. We then discuss the creation of her newest offer, Soul Portraits, and how it builds on her other project, the Pivot Into Your Purpose podcast. Melissa then highlights how creativity to come back to their path. Don’t miss Melissa sharing her favorite ways to use oracle cards and tools like EFT, hypnosis, and subliminals to move through creative blocks!Topics Covered:* Melissa shares that she finds nourishment in reading fiction and doing watercolor painting. * The difference between creating for pleasure versus creating for work, with Melissa explaining that creating for oneself is more fulfilling and less pressured.* How Melissa created her Soul Portraits offering: Being photographed is a powerful way to express your soul and feel empowered about being visible and being fully seen.* Melissa mentions that creativity plays a role in her coaching, as she helps her clients explore creative activities for their own pleasure and fulfillment.* Pivots and how to know when it’s time to make a change. * Melissa also shares her love for oracle cards and how they spark her creativity. * Melissa discusses the use of EFT, hypnosis, and subliminals in the creative process.Resources Mentioned:* Join Melissa + me for a live Nourishing Creativity Hypnosis workshop on Saturday April 20th at 1:00 pm ESTJoin My Community:* Website* Pinterest* Instagram* Substack Get full access to Nourishing Creativity at chefcarla.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to this week’s episode of Show Up Fully! I have been building and learning from Show Up Fully alongside you since 2020.This journey has been a soul-shaking challenging process. But it’s exactly what I needed (and many of you) to grow and evolve as I discovered what showing up fully meant in my life.It’s been really hard to let go and say goodbye to Show Up Fully. But today, I am officially turning the page on the podcast chapter and I am welcoming in the transition of this podcast into the Nourishing Creativity.Get the Full Show Notes & Transcript hereWhy Nourishing Creativity? For me, as a professional content creator: Food stylist, recipe developer, and podcast host, creation is life. My intention behind transitioning the podcast into Nourishing Creativity is to provide the space, resources, and inspiration for you (and me) to guide yourself to nourish your creativity, where you’re at right now.As I’m moving into a deeper state of nourishing my own creativity, I’m also exploring new areas of slowing down and taking the time to deeply nourish myself. It’s interesting to me to live the principles of Show Up Fully: Res, Deep Nourishment, Movement, Mindfulness, and Water through a softer lens. If this interests you too, I invite you to do Show Up Fully ChallengeTopics Covered:* A heartfelt goodbye to Show Up Fully and the journey of this podcast over the last four years.* What is Nourishing Creativity? Hint: It’s about making it your own and it is definitely not about perfection* Revisiting the five day Show Up Fully Challenge and how it’s supportive to do if you want to refresh how you nourish yourself.* BTS of how I am nourishing myself right now which includes going to bed at 8:00pm with my kids.Resources Mentioned:* Listen to Show Up Fully Challenge Day One: Finding Your Moment of Rest here* Listen to Show Up Fully Challenge Day Two: Deep Nourishment & Finding Pleasure in Food here* Listen to Show Up Fully Challenge Day Three: Move your Body, in Whatever Way Feels Good! here* Listen to Show Up Fully Challenge Day Four: Mindfulness & Using a Simple Breathing Practice to Ground Yourself here* Listen to Show Up Fully Challenge Day Five & Wrap Up: Water + The Episode Where I Talk About Poop here* Listen to my Pilates Mat journey herexo Chef CarlaPS: Paid Substack subscribers join the, Spring Clean Your Website Workshop on Saturday 4/6 from 12:00 to 1:30 EST. The link to join is under Paid Resources and Events.Join My Community:* Website* Pinterest* Instagram* Substack Get full access to Nourishing Creativity at chefcarla.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to this week’s episode of Show Up Fully! I’m joined by Gretchen Holt, co-founder and executive director of Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, an organization that raises money for pediatric cancer. Pediatric cancer is the number one disease killer of children in the U.S. and yet receives the smallest amount of public and private funding. Get the Full Show Notes & Transcript here Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or on your favorite podcast platform.What’s in This Episode:After receiving her son Liam’s cancer diagnosis when he was 2 and a half, Gretchen took action in the form of cookies, baking 96,000, in fact, to raise money for cancer research and support. Liam and her loved to bake together! Cookies bring out a beautiful creativity and passion in everyone. Cookies are also an easy entry point for people to get involved with Cookies For Kids’ Cancer, whether that is holding a bake sale, donating your birthday, buying cookies, or attending one of their larger events. For Gretchen, her creativity flows from love for her children, awareness that time with them is finite, and the drive to do anything for them. Stay tuned til the end to hear how Gretchen overcomes her creative blocks!Topics Covered:* Gretchen’s work with pediatric cancer and supporting her son Liam through his cancer journey * How people can get involved with the Cookies for Kids’ Cancer* Gretchen’s definition of creativity* Cookies as a joy and a creative spark * What underlines Gretchen’s creative determination* Knowing yourself to know how to overcome creative blocksResources Mentioned:* Donate to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer my daughter, Ella’s Birthday Donation page is LIVE! 100% of proceeds go to pediatric cancer research. xo Chef CarlaPS: If you loved this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or on your favorite podcast platform. I really appreciate your support!PPS: Join us this Saturday 3/2 12:00-1:30 PM EST for Nourish & Create: Drop-In Studio Hours. This is your dedicated space to work on your creative projects and connect with yourself for 90-minutes each month. | Head to the Paid Subscribers Tab to sign up. Get full access to Nourishing Creativity at chefcarla.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to this episode of Show Up Fully where Grief Coach and Death Doula, Tammy Faulds, and I are back for our annual chat! This week’s episode is about the rich interconnectedness between creativity and grief. “Emotions are energy in motion.”Get the Full Show Notes & Transcript hereWhat’s in This Episode:* Tammy’s definition for grief is “the end of or change in a familiar pattern of behavior.” Grief encompasses so much more than death — which is why Tammy’s mission is to change the narrative around both grief and death. We learn how being forced into creativity allowed Tammy to reimagine rituals around transition. Curiosity lets us navigate the world from a different perspective. * Like any other emotion, grief wants to be honored. I share a recent loss within my family and the challenge of navigating both the creative and grieving process. Tammy helps us understand when we use creativity, curiosity, and bravery, grief can become a portal to a new way of doing things. And tears are the natural, healing response.  * Tammy and I also discuss creative blocks from the entrepreneur + solopreneur lens and the power of naming grief’s presence. Grief shows up whenever it wants — so how do we make space for it to both exist and exit? Join me as Tammy teaches us how to acknowledge grief and death as part of the cycle while noticing the unique ways it interacts with each of us. Learning the emotion allows us to move forward.  Topics Covered:* Welcome back to the podcast, Tammy! * The connection between creativity and grief* Navigating grief to be able to nourish creativity* Intangible loss vs. ambiguous loss* Tears as a healing psychological response * Multiple cycles occurring simultaneously Resources Mentioned:* Listen to Show Up Fully: Episode #77 with Tammy Fauldsxo Chef CarlaPS: If you loved this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or on your favorite podcast platform. I really appreciate your support! Get full access to Nourishing Creativity at chefcarla.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to this week’s episode of Show Up Fully! I’m joined by Danielle Cohen, the founder of Visibility Medicine and a creative brand photographer with a background in healing modalities, business, and accounting. Get the Full Show Notes & Transcript here Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or on your favorite podcast platform. We can’t wait to hear what you think!What’s in This Episode: * First, I share the breakthroughs I had with Danielle while working together in her Visibility Medicine program (check it out below!). From there, we dive into Danielle’s professional journey. * Danielle details how she weaves her multifaceted background into her business and how she became a brand photographer as a commitment to her YES. We chat about authenticity, how Danielle defines creativity, and her relationship to it through photography. * Danielle also shares the importance of engaging the senses to support her creative process, plus her trifecta for navigating feeling stuck. * Danielle describes her creative journey as a perimenopausal woman and brand photographer — and stay until the end of the episode to hear about soul work as Danielle reads a quote from Clarissa Pinkola Estés.Topics Covered:* Carla’s connection to Danielle through her Visibility Medicine program * Danielle’s photography origin story and the power of authenticity* Danielle’s definition of and relationship to creativity   * Practices for cultivating and nourishing creativity* A trifecta for navigating creative blocks and feeling stuck* The power of making time for creativity and soul work Resources Mentioned:“I've seen women insist on cleaning everything in the house before they could sit down to write... and you know it's a funny thing about housecleaning... it never comes to an end. Perfect way to stop a woman. A woman must be careful to not allow over-responsibility (or over-respectabilty) to steal her necessary creative rests, riffs, and raptures. She simply must put her foot down and say no to half of what she believes she "should" be doing. Art is not meant to be created in stolen moments only.”― Clarissa Pinkola EstésEat Well, xo Chef Carla PS: If you loved this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or on your favorite podcast platform. I really appreciate your support! Get full access to Nourishing Creativity at chefcarla.substack.com/subscribe