Attune + Align

In this episode, I speak with Cecilia Tse, Co-Founder and Chief Financial Operating Officer of hey freya. We discuss Cecilia’s ongoing quest to take women from burned out to blissed out, how hey freya identifies and serves a gap in the market, and the unique opportunity available in supplements made for women by women.

Cecilia’s story takes us from Australia to New York, to IVF offices, and to co-founder dates. While working her “successful” corporate job, Cecilia realized she and her team masked the challenges of their daily professional realities by drinking wine together. She became someone she never wanted to be—someone who would work through dinner on client calls when family traveled all the way from Australia to visit her in her studio apartment. On top of it all, she dealt with amenorrhea and never felt “heard” in the doctor’s office. Determined not to continue in this fizzled-out state, she pursued several health and wellness certifications including yoga teacher training. The stars aligned, and she became a well-being strategy leader at her job, eventually moving to California to help build a women’s health brand with a highly-qualified team of stars-aligned women co-founders, now known as hey freya.

Cecilia offers a behind-the-scenes peek at running the business alongside her other co-founders, a tour through the hey freya supplement formulas, and what’s on tap for the next 12 months. As women, we’re marketed so many things of varying quality for so long that we’ve become experts at sniffing out inauthenticity until we get to the real deal—through hey freya’s genuine commitment to showing up authentically by putting their founders front and center, they have built an organic following within their first year. Inspiring women + smartly-formulated products = a business we all could learn from!

Thank you for listening! Attune to your heart...align your life. With Marisa LaValette.

Topics Covered:

• (2:56) We’re calling in stillness and evolution 🌀
• (10:04) Where there’s still room for improvement in the women’s health experience
• (12:24) Are you experiencing the signs of corporate burnout?—stomach knots, trouble sleeping, avoiding friends, collapsing on the weekends
• (18:06) The 50 Questions to Ask a Potential Co-Founder exercise
• (25:50) How hey freya embodies the magical rebel inside all women: complex but not complicated
• (29:30) Why women thrive in community with other women
• (34:44) The power of magnesium bisglycinate for women
• (45:49) Cecilia’s proven strategy for boosting sales
• (49:14) From Wine Free Mondays, to the patriarchy, to capitalism, and beyond, Marisa puts Cecilia on the spot with pointed questions...and Cecilia hits it out of the park!

PLUS:

🔥 Feeling burnt out? Most people are. (12:24)

💊 Cecilia’s tips for streamlining your supplement intake (51:58)

🦀 ♋️ Listen ‘til the end to find out the astrological sign of a women’s wellness company co-founder.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and keep up to date with new episode drops by subscribing to our newsletter at attuneandalign.com!

Resources Mentioned:

• 50 Questions to Ask a Potential Co-Founder Exercise

Guest Info:

• Follow hey freya on Instagram
• Learn more on hey freya’s website
• Quiz to find your hey freya formula
• Exclusive discount code for listeners: ATTUNEALIGN25

Connect with Me:

• Subscribe to our Newsletter
• Follow Marisa on Instagram
• Follow Attune + Align on Instagram

Rate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts: I’m so grateful for your support! Please consider rating and reviewing Attune + Align on Apple Podcasts. First, open the Apple Podcasts app and search for Attune + Align. Then, scroll to the bottom of the page and rate with 5 stars—please write a brief review as well! I appreciate y...

In this episode, I am speaking with my friend Allison Tibbs, the Nourished Life Wellness Coach. We discuss taking action today that our Future Selves will thank us for, blocking off time to do... absolutely nothing, and a potent ego check Allison worked through recently with grace.

Allison shares her favorite mantras and self-care mindset shifts and teaches how to maintain essential boundaries during those tricky times when it feels like our own values are in competition. She reminds us to take breaks from efficiency by proactively scheduling in time for play and imperfection. Allison’s favorite hack for self-spaciousness is to block off time (in PURPLE 💜) on her calendar 🗓 to do... absolutely nothing. She warns us of the dangers of settling for crumbs—those scraps leftover for when we've taken care of everyone else before we take care of ourselves.

Listen until the very end where Allison shares a super recent(!) potent ego check that brought her to her knees...and what she’s learning and wants us to take away as she re-envisions and re-creates her life on her own terms—in alignment with her own values. In our fourth year, we’re humbled and grateful to cultivate a safe and supportive atmosphere at Attune + Align Podcast where our guests show up wholeheartedly to share directly with vulnerability from their biggest life experiences, transitions, and learnings with us and with you.

Thanks for listening! Attune to your heart; align your life. With Marisa LaValette.

Topics Covered:

• (04:02) Audacious mantra: ✨ Dream big. Start small.
• (10:25) What would future YOU thank you for? 🔮
• (24:48) When was the last time you allowed yourself to make a mistake or get messy?
• (30:31) Instead of having all the answers, practice saying “I don’t know.”
• (35:46) Get free: block off time to do nothing in your calendar. ⏳
• (43:39) Ways to be rebellious for all the right reasons
• (55:28) How Allison worked through potent ego checks
• (1:04:54) When everything gets stripped away, you’re forced to sit with yourself 💓
• (1:17:23) Allison’s advice for women

PLUS

💜 Want more PURPLE in your life? At 37:14, Allison shares her tips for blocking out sacred time on your 🗓 calendar just for YOU.

💪 Hear how I urge my clients and my yoga students to rebel against limiting societal and cultural norms at 43:56.

💃 Don’t miss one of Allison’s go-to personal mantras at 1:11:30!

💫 Listen to the very end to find out how Allison realized she can do Whatever. She. Wants.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and keep up to date with new episode drops by subscribing to our newsletter at marisalavalette.com!

Guest Info:

• Follow Allison on Instagram
• Check out Allison’s Website

Connect with Me:

• Subscribe to our Newsletter
• Have a question? Email Us
• Follow Marisa on Instagram
• Follow Attune + Align on Instagram

Rate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts: I’m so grateful for your support! Please consider rating and reviewing Attune + Align on Apple Podcasts. First, open the Apple Podcasts app and search for Attune + Align. Then, scroll to the bottom of the page and rate with 5 stars—please write a brief review as well! I appreciate you.

💫 Sending love, light, and hugs from,
Marisa

In this episode, I am speaking with my friend, Anna Sheehy, a new mom, avid gardener, food enthusiast, former restaurateur, and the founder of Wild Fennel, a boutique shop in downtown Novato filled with unique finds and heirloom quality pieces. Anna and I discuss her personal and professional journey toward running Wild Fennel, how dreams can (and do!) change, and advice for anyone interested in opening up a brick-and-mortar business.

Anna shares how her pastry and baking background and past restaurant business led her to follow her dreams and become the owner of her own boutique. Then, Anna illustrates how Wild Fennel is a culmination of all the things she’s interested in: plants and flowers, cookware, sustainable products, and small businesses, and gives advice to anyone considering opening up their own space. Plus, Anna shares new projects she’s working on including a flower program, bakery and pastry pop-ups, and her upcoming hopeful manifestation, a trunk show!

Thanks for listening! Attune to your heart, align your life. With Marisa LaValette.

Topics Covered:

(3:18) Anna and Marisa discuss living in the same neighborhood

(7:45) Anna connects the dots between studying pastry and baking, opening up Mas Masa, and now being the owner of her boutique Wild Fennel

(9:37) Anna explains what a "shrub" is

(11:19) Marisa shares a story featuring Christmas tree ornaments from Wild Fennel

(15:31) Anna shares what she learned from her previous business, Más Masa

(17:37) Anna explains that your dreams CAN change, and that’s okay!

(19:16) Hear what happened when Anna tried to plan every detail about her store Wild Fennel in advance... and what she ended up doing instead

(22:48) Anna explains the “aha” moment that showed her that her dream can change overnight

(24:36) What’s easier to open: a restaurant or a storefront?

(28:45) Anna explains why LOCATION is the most important decision you'll have to make for your brick-and-mortar business

(30:06) Anna details different vendors’ products at Wild Fennel

(33:02) Anna shares the vision for her flower program

(38:01) Anna describes the themed baking and pastry pop-ups she’s been hosting

(43:56) Hear what SURPRISED Anna the most in the first year of owning her own retail boutique

PLUS:

Listen at 7:25 to hear Marisa fill up her house with Anna's decor from Wild Fennel.

Listen at 27:45 to hear Anna's perspective on trusting your instincts and listening to your gut.

For all the plant ladies out there — listen at 36:17 to hear all about Anna's favorite indoor plants and sustainable planter options. 🪴🪴🪴

Tune in at 48:11 when Marisa asks Anna how she has such good taste!

Stay ‘til the end of the episode at 51:30 to find out what little-known fact about Anna surprises people most.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and keep up to date with new episode drops by subscribing to our newsletter at attuneandalign.com!

Guest Info:

• Wild Fennel’s Website
• Wild Fennel’s Instagram

Connect with Me:

• Subscribe to our Newsletter
• Have a question? Email Us
• Follow Marisa on Instagram
• Follow Attune + Align on Instagram

Rate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts: I’m so grateful for your support! Please consider rating and reviewing Attune + Align on Apple Podcasts. First, open the Apple Podcasts app and search for Attune + Align. Then, scroll to the bottom of the page and rate with 5 stars—please write a brief review as well! I appreciate you.

💫 Sending love, light, and hugs from,
Marisa

In this episode, I am speaking with my friend, Nimisha Gandhi, a functional medicine nutritionist, Ayurvedic Counselor, Yoga Nidra and meditation teacher, and former tech founder. Nimisha and I discuss holistic nutrition, functional medicine, and Ayurveda, along with her perspectives on hormonal health including perimenopause and seed cycling.

Nimisha shares an overview of the three Ayurvedic doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, and clarifies the difference between your Vikruti and Prakruti. Then, Nimisha shares different ways to learn about your doshas, whether in person, online, or in a 1:1 setting. Plus, Nimisha shares a functional medicine perspective on hormonal health and details how her attunement to the mind-body-spirit connection is both an intuitive, and research-backed calling that she now shares with others, directly from the soul.

Thanks for listening! Attune to your heart + align your life. With Marisa LaValette.

Topics Covered:

(4:27) Big moments in Nimisha’s life that inspired an intuitive awakening

(9:08) Nimisha’s journey into functional medicine and how it blends with her previous work

(17:35) What is Ayurveda?

(20:56) The 5 Great Elements, the Pancha Mahabhuta

(21:55) Nimisha introduces the three doshas—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha

(26:34) Nimisha explains your Prakruti vs. Vikruti

(27:44) Doshas also represent phases of life: Childhood, Midlife, Old Age

(30:27) How your dosha can inspire life choices relating to home and career

(32:15) Different ways to discover your dosha, including pulse reading, online tests, and 1:1 work with a practitioner

(39:03) Nimisha shares why “all disease begins in the gut”

(41:34) Nimisha describes Ayurvedic seasonal approaches and makes midsummer recommendations for Pitta-predominant Marisa

(47:15) The Ayurvedic perspective of "like increases like" and "opposites balance each other"

(51:17) A story about Nimisha’s grandmother, cumin, and watermelon

(55:35) Why Nimisha calls seed cycling “the gateway drug to improving your overall hormonal health"

(57:58) Nimisha notes the possibility of perimenopause symptoms beginning for some women as early as age 35

PLUS:

Be sure to tune in at 15:54 for an overview of holistic vs. functional nutrition.

Tune in at 37:36 to learn why a Vata imbalance can feel like “Running really fast but not going anywhere.” 🏃💨

Listen at 1:02:43 to hear Marisa’s symptoms— Is it burnout? Or is it perimenopause?

Stay till the end of the episode at 1:08:31 to hear Nimisha answer some rapid fire questions from Marisa. 🔥🔥🔥

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and keep up to date with new episode drops by subscribing to our newsletter at marisalavalette.com!

Resources Mentioned:

• Take the Dosha Quiz
• Kaikeyi: A Novel by Vaishnavi Patel

Guest Info:

• Nimisha’s Website
• Nimisha’s Instagram
• Schedule a FREE Discovery Call with Nimisha

Connect with Me:

• Subscribe to our Newsletter
• Have a question? Email Us
• Follow Marisa on Instagram
• Follow Attune + Align on Instagram

Rate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts: I’m so grateful for your support! Please consider rating and reviewing Attune + Align on Apple Podcasts. First, open the Apple Podcasts app and search for Attune + Align. Then, scroll to the bottom of the page and rate with 5 stars—please write a brief review as well! I appreciate you.

💫 Sending love, light, and hugs from,
Marisa

Cracking the Code to Confidence and Self-Discovery with Enneagram Powerhouse Ali Dunn

In this episode, I am speaking with my friend, Ali Dunn, a Bay Area certified Enneagram practitioner, speaker, and leadership coach for ambitious female professionals and entrepreneurs. We discuss Ali’s professional path from sales to business coaching and how the Enneagram is a tool for communication barriers, relationships, identifying your purpose, and a way to empower self-trust.

Ali illustrates how the Enneagram is a tool for communication barriers, relationships, identifying your purpose, and a way to empower self-trust. Then, Ali dives into each of the nine Enneagram types, (including my own!), their subtypes and wings, and how they show up in our daily life. Plus, Ali shares how the Enneagram helped her attune to her life’s purpose, and invites anyone listening to challenge society’s status quo and focus on living a life authentic to you.

Thanks for listening! Attune to your heart, align your life. With Marisa LaValette.

Topics Covered:

(4:08) Ali’s life transition from sales to launching her own business

(10:42) How the Enneagram is a tool for self discovery

(15:44) A detailed explanation of each Enneagram type

(31:46) Using the Enneagram to build a successful team

(33:29) Ali’s thoughts on my Enneagram test results

(41:47) What Enneagram types, subtypes, and wings can teach you

(50:46) Ali’s top recommendations for affordable online Enneagram tests

(57:28) How burnout manifests within the Enneagram types

(1:01:11) Why Ali believes women's awareness of their own Enneagram type can empower them to more effectively challenge societal expectations

PLUS:

Listen at 24:25 to find out Ali's Secret Sauce as an Enneagram type 7

Be sure to tune in at 45:05 to find out why Ali gives Marisa a triple-gold star ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tune in at 43:52 to find out why Marisa told her husband to book an Airbnb as part of her Enneagram type homework.

Listen at 32:06 to hear Ali's Enneagram-informed Personal Philosophy on self-awareness.

Listen at 57:48 to hear Ali's definition of BURNOUT, why women are "always going, always going, always going," and how it manifests in her work with her clients.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and keep up to date with new episode drops by subscribing to our newsletter at marisalavalette.com!

Resources Mentioned:

• Free Truity enneagram test
• Rheti test
• IEQ9

Guest Info:

• Ali’s Instagram
• Ali’s Website
• Book a Vibes and Vision Enneagram Session with Ali

Connect with Me:

• Subscribe to our Newsletter
• Have a question? Email Us
• Follow Marisa on Instagram
• Follow Attune + Align on Instagram

Rate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts: I’m so grateful for your support! Please consider rating and reviewing Attune + Align on Apple Podcasts. First, open the Apple Podcasts app and search for Attune + Align. Then, scroll to the bottom of the page and rate with 5 stars—please write a brief review as well! I appreciate you.

💫 Sending love, light, and hugs from,
Marisa