Show notes –
Join Shannon and Christine for a chat about Physical Wellness with special guest Mariela Percal of PerCal Naturals.
Let’s get grounded & connected in the 8 dimensions of wellness!
This week’s resources and references:
Show Transcript –
NOTE: While it’s not perfect, we offer this transcription by Otter.ai for those who are hearing impaired or who don’t find listening to a podcast enjoyable or possible.
Christine Gautreaux 0:08
Let’s do this. Okay,
Shannon M. 0:09
ladies, welcome to our podcast. I am Shannon Mitchell, a black female, millennial entrepreneur, the founder of shallow glow, a handmade shea butter company. I am a champion for your self care, business care and intentional wellness.
Christine Gautreaux 0:25
And I am Christine Gautreaux, a white social justice advocate, an international speaker, coach and published author who helps you upgrade yourself in community care.
Shannon M. 0:35
Yes. And together, we are women connected in wisdom, a podcast grounded in the eight dimensions of wellness. Welcome, welcome to our show.
Christine Gautreaux 0:43
Yeah, you know, depending on the week, we have really cool guests, which I’m excited to introduce you to, today to our guests. But you know, we come together for intentional conversations about how to be wise in business and relationships, and wellness. And I don’t know about our listeners, Shannon, but I always look forward to this pause in my week, to catch up with you to really be to take a moment to check in with myself. About how is the week going?
Shannon M. 1:16
Really? Yes.
Christine Gautreaux 1:19
Good. You know, it’s Wednesday, middle of the week, like how’s it really going? Yeah. So here in Atlanta, and then a big part of the South. We’ve had really huge storms the last couple of days. So power has been knocked out internet’s been knocked out trees down all kinds of craziness. Trying to be out here doing our business. Yeah. But so I don’t know about you, but I’m a little discombobulated this week.
Shannon M. 1:44
No, no, definitely. And it’s funny I am. I tell the people close to me. I’m like the letters artha from men and black. And my emotions affect the weather. So when it was storming and stuff, I was thinking about Mother’s Day, I think about physical wellness, we’re thinking about cancer, we’re thinking about Corona. That’s what we talked about a lot of the times, you know, and it’s physical wellness, had it been different, the story would be different, you know, so I was storming, yeah, knocked the power out. We don’t need these connections, just knock everything out. So that was my fault. Sorry. Sorry. So
Christine Gautreaux 2:18
awesome woman I hearing you. You know, we talk often about body memories and physical wellness. And you and I were having a conversation earlier about how, you know, we talked about March being the month for the Coronavirus and shutting things down. But it didn’t really hit a lot of people until May. I mean, and that’s coming up for a lot of folks like, yeah, those memories of trauma and the memories of what was happening a year ago. Yeah. Yeah.
Shannon M. 2:56
Yeah. And it’s important to remember, you know, so let’s jump into our definition. So we can talk about specific jobs. So yes, physical wellness, is the ability to maintain a quality of life that allows you to get the most out of your daily activities without undue fatigue, or physical stress. physical wellness recognizes that our daily habits and behaviors have an impact on our overall health, well being and quality of life.
Christine Gautreaux 3:29
Without that line about our daily habits and behaviors, then I haven’t gotten as much sleep this week because of the storms, and because of power being out and different things. And I’m a little grumpy. It doesn’t impact my physical wellness, like when my routines change. And because I’ve I mean, I’ve been lucky enough to set up my schedule that I know what works for my health and well, and I am a seven and a half hour sleep gal. Hmm, what’s your perfect number on sleep?
Shannon M. 4:01
I’ve been trying to figure it out. You know, the I’ve been, you know, I’ve been working on my time freedom and my financial freedom and with the time freedom and we set up my schedules for the first time like you’re talking about, you’ve been doing it for a while, but I’m having an opportunity in Corona to set up all these schedules myself. So what works? I don’t know yet. I’m still in the middle of figuring it out. But I would definitely say eight on is on the more side than the left side. Absolutely. Yeah.
Christine Gautreaux 4:29
I know. That seems like a pretty simple question. But when I teach in replay, and we talk about things like change your practice, change your life. Sleep is one of those questions that comes up because it is such an integral part to physical wellness, like what routines and patterns of behavior can you change to impact that and it doesn’t have to be a lot like it can be something really incremental. It can be like I know my body well enough feeling to know that like, I like to get up before the sun comes up. I just do better. You know, it could be via rhythms it could be I don’t, I’m not really educated on on the bar rhythm stuff, but I always say that we’re, we need to get can explain that their circadian rhythms. Not all of that, right. But what I, what I know from my own research of my own self is when I wake up before the sun, I have so much more energy when I am greeting the sun. And when I’m in so even if I’m short, I’m sleep, it’s better for me to wake up before the sun and take a nap later in the day than it is to sleep in for my own body. I know everybody’s different, right? And that’s the part about physical wellness, about checking in with our individual cells. Yes, we’re, we come from different places, and we’re different people. And
Shannon M. 5:55
yeah, and we’re in different situations in our life. You know, right now we have neighbors and music has been out people’s schedules are different from going asleep. Somebody else’s footsteps might be because they’re about to go to work, you know. And so I enjoy the life I have right now. But that’s something I look forward to when I get my dream home and all the stuff that we talk about manifesting.
Christine Gautreaux 6:18
Right? Well, I can tell you, you know, I have my home, but I also have young adults living in it. Right. It is kind of like living and it
Shannon M. 6:29
was a good point. I didn’t think about the kids.
Christine Gautreaux 6:33
Well, it kind of depends, my oldest daughter is in the attic, it was finished off. So it’s kind of like a efficiency apartment up there. It’s right above my bed. So like I hear the stairs and the shutting the door. And you know, um, yeah, she’s really considered about music, but the steps man, like, three, eight.
Shannon M. 6:54
Right? How do you know?
Christine Gautreaux 6:55
What do you mean?
Shannon M. 6:56
How did I? Yeah, oh, when I look at this definition, I think about how it allows you to get the most out of your daily activities. Right. Like we talk about kids, we talk about development and reading and what they should know and where they should be physically. But a few years ago, I realized that conversation really stops after about 18. And then there’s this gap. And then we expect to fall apart. I said I’m not doing that. Oh apart. No, every year is about to be better than the last. And I try to make it so that that is the truth. And especially physically with Corona. You know, it’s important to be front of mine.
Christine Gautreaux 7:39
Well, that makes me think about one of our first guests Dr. Sheila Kay Collins that we had on physical wish she was she on physical? No, she was on something else. But we probably should have had her in physical because Sheila dances almost every day. And I think about that, and I think I won’t say her age because she’s my co author and she’ll kill me. But um, you know, I think about her age and the fact that if I am still dancing every day. Yeah, it’s right. Because she doesn’t think about falling apart. She thinks about moving. Right?
Shannon M. 8:11
She said if you can move it, move it if it’s your eyelid, if it’s your elbow, move it. Yeah, right. And yeah.
Christine Gautreaux 8:18
I love that because I know when and I think you’re right on the up to 18. So I was really active in sports growing up, I played volleyball, I ran cross country, I ran track, I played tennis. Full disclosure, I played tennis because I wanted the cute little tennis icon on my leather jacket. But I was okay.
Shannon M. 8:40
The record is important.
Christine Gautreaux 8:43
But I didn’t know that. And then when I got to college, I wasn’t playing sports in college because I had a really bad injury my senior year playing volleyball, but I kind of fell off the wagon. And for my 40th birthday, I ran my first triathlon because I realized I 30s I was like, Wait a second. Yeah, my body does not like this. So how can we be active every single day? And the reason I bring that up right now is because I just I didn’t even have a chance to tell you this. I got my bike to the bike doctor. Two weeks ago, I did seven miles on the bike last week, I 11 miles on the bike. So I’m jumping back on that and I’m probably not going to race this summer because I still don’t you know, I’m not swimming enough to be racing. But by next year, I think I will be so
Shannon M. 9:39
I like that. I like that as a goal. And it’s interesting before we bring our guests on, I actually have a similar story to so in high school, I had weight training, I was in marching band. We were doing all this stuff. You know, I used to go with my dad and cut lawns in the summer. And then I went to college. And as I started in college, I actually worked at the gym So you know, if you work there now it’s even more time if you want to work out. Then they changed the uniforms to where we couldn’t wear our workout clothes under our uniforms. It was just another reason not to do it. Fast forward a few years later, I’m eating gummy bears way too late at night. And I see a picture of myself. I’m like, when did I get this big? I said, No, we gotta change it. And I realized I was over committed to everybody else, and I would show up for them. But when it was time to change my habits, I wasn’t showing up for me. And that’s how, that’s how this podcast happened. That’s how Shayla bow happened. That’s how all this stuff got here. But we’ll start we’ll talk about it.
Christine Gautreaux 10:36
I know I am excited to bring on our guests. Are you ready? I’m ready. So all right, let’s let’s bring on our guests and have and continue this conversation about wellness, physical wellness. Our guest Mariela is a small business owner, a content creator and an actor. I can’t wait to talk to her about that. And she is the owner and founder of percale naturals and she does she treats skin conditions naturally, which I love that so we’re going to bring her on and have some have some good combo here we go. Welcome, welcome. Hey, welcome to Women connected in wisdom. We’re so glad you’re here.
Mariela Calderon 11:19
Thank you. Thank you for having me. So excited.
Shannon M. 11:22
Yeah.
Christine Gautreaux 11:24
Your company and who you are. Tell us tell us about you.
Mariela Calderon 11:28
Alright, so me in a nutshell, I just had an interview recently for a talent agency, I had to do this. So like script is ready. So me in a nutshell, I am yeah, small business owner pro con naturals, specifically handcrafted natural products for treating skin conditions that, you know, it’s something that came about because I myself dealt with a skin condition that, you know, kind of got in the way of, of what I was trying to achieve in life and it actually like really affected me. So I was able to find relief and like these products and I kind of you know, the the point of the brand is just to bring awareness to like, alternatives that people can have when if they’re dealing through they’re going through the same thing. I’m I’m a content creator I used to go hand in hand with acting I used to specifically content create were like comedy skits I was all about tick tock all day every day. Um, but now I my content creation has taken a turn I specifically content create for small small business owners kind of documenting my documenting my experience and my journey from building a small business from scratch and the things that have won worked for me, and things that are actually working for me, which are the reasons why my small business is growing. So I’ve decided that I wanted to share that knowledge with other small business owners and entrepreneurs. And actor. Yeah, I’m an actor. I was one of the reasons why I moved to Atlanta. So it’s, it’s I’m really happy to be here for it.
Christine Gautreaux 13:08
Right. All right. Is there anything we would have seen you in lately?
Mariela Calderon 13:12
Um, I did a Christmas film. It was an indie film. It was called some kind of Christmas. It should be available on Amazon Prime. I’m not sure. Look it up. I had to do some crying on cue there. I think I actually finished there pretty well. Um, and I recently shot a commercial for this brand. Third love. Are you guys familiar? It’s a undergarment underwear brand for women. Oh, yes. I recently did a commercial for them.
Christine Gautreaux 13:43
That is so cool. Very cool. You’re our first actor we’ve had on the show. Well, thank you. It just hit me because I know Sheila was in a movie to once we’ve been talking about it a podcast boy. Being based out of Atlanta, that really probably should be a question for our guests, because we probably have a higher percentage of people than most because a lot and it could be their profession, or they can do it as extras or you know, so that’s true. Mariela, when you heard us talking about the definition of physical wellness, like, what bubbled up for you, when you think about that?
Mariela Calderon 14:27
Oh my gosh, when when you were talking about, um, you know, times in your lives where you have, you know, had epiphanies and be like, I let myself go like, what’s going on? I used to be more active before and literally brought me back to when I worked corporate America, you know, like, that was the end of me. When it came to like physical wellness because I think, you know, throughout high school, I did sports I was I was pretty okay. College. I was I wasn’t working out as much in college but I was very active because I was going to school full time. I was working full time as well. So I was constantly running back and forth, I had a job that required me to be on my feet for hours. So I still was able to, to to be very good physically, but when I got when I graduated college, that’s when things started going, you know, downhill, because corporate America, you’re just sitting on a desk for 40 plus hours a week, you know, so I didn’t realize how much that was affecting me. Till it started affecting me not only physically, but also like mentally and emotionally. Because I suddenly started feeling like, for lack of a better word, I started feeling like crap. You know, like, Why do I feel so slow? Like, why? Why, you know, why do I not and I feel as happy. But that’s because I think that was a straight correlation with the physical changes that were going on in my body as well.
Shannon M. 15:54
Yeah, yeah. And I love that like for your company, right? You help people with we talked about this woman would skin issues with natural ingredients. So that was one of my things to acne. And I know that they always talk about oh, well, did you have any sugar? Did you drink any soda is that’s the one that you go to, but and that I think that is one of the triggers for me and my skin, right? But the gut psychology and I think we talked about this, when we met how the environment of your digestive system is directly related to your your brain and how you think about them. So on top of us probably gaining weight and being slow, were probably dehydrated, right? Because we’re taking care of this job, but we’re probably not drinking enough water. It affects all of that stuff, too. What do you think about um, let’s talk about acne, right, specifically, because again, that was a huge thing for me. And it definitely changes the way that I feel about myself. Depending on how it looks, you know, how do you think when you think about women in acne? What do you think about? Like, how can they be focused on their wellness outside of just the products that they’re using?
Mariela Calderon 17:00
Right? So acne for me was also a big one. It’s literally what got me to start the brand. Um, I started like, I never really had acne like throughout like my teenage years, I would get a pimple here and there, you know, like regular hormonal acne, but adult acne, like hit me like a truck. Um, and, you know, I was in a, in a point where I kind of hated my job, my body was already feeling like crap, and I just was so miserable. And then on top of that, then my skin just started rebelling, guess me like, and when I mean, like, acne, I don’t mean like one pimple here and there like visible, my skin was going downhill people were starting calling it out, you know, like, what’s going on with your skin, which is also something that, you know, upsets your mental because for me at first, like, I just thought, like, Oh, my body’s going through through something like it’s going through a change, like, that’s okay. Like, your body goes through cycles. But then when people start calling it out, you know, the first thing they, they see you and the first thing that sees your acne, like it really starts affecting you. And it started affecting me like, that was also when I was making the transition between New York and Atlanta. And I specifically came to Atlanta for acting, but my acne was affecting me so much that I didn’t even feel worthy to be in front of a camera. You know, like, I stopped posting on social media, I stopped I didn’t even like go out to meet new people, because I just felt like my acne was holding me back so much. And that’s what everyone has tonight, not just women. I mean, maybe women go through a little bit harder because we’re expected to take a little more care of our image than men. But it’s something that can affect anyone mentally because you think it’s it’s just something that my skin is going through. But when people emphasize it, you know, when people call it out, and it suddenly becomes part of your persona, like people don’t see you people see your acne, it’s really what affects it. So that’s what led me to start my brand because I was trying everything, dermatologist prescriptions, everything and it wasn’t helping me until like what natural products is what did it for me. So my brand is like try it wasn’t only just like, natural products for any skin condition, but specifically like here are some alternatives and some natural alternatives that might also make you feel better in the long run rather than than just harsh prescription. But I totally get it like I’ve been there and that is why I started this brand literally. Yeah.
Shannon M. 19:26
And I love that I love that you thought you were coming to be an actress and now you get to be an actress and a business owner. And you get to help all these people. I love that Yeah,
Mariela Calderon 19:38
yeah, I feel it feels great. I mean, if you and I now know back when I was going through it I was very embarrassed but now of course I mean my acne is gone as you can see but I’m not embarrassed to share the story. So if you were to go to the website, purple naturals calm like it is front and center. Like it’s a story that I am more than happy to share.
Christine Gautreaux 19:56
We will link that for sure in our show notes because Folks, our listeners that will be listening and aren’t maybe not seeing us there may not be watching this on video. Y’all need to see her skin it is.
Mariela Calderon 20:09
Yeah, there’s like, um, before and after, and a case study on the on the website as well, as well as like other customer stories, but it’s something that, you know, I was hard sharing, but I’m like, hey, it’s gonna help other people.
Christine Gautreaux 20:25
Thank you. And thank you for thank you for being vulnerable with that, because that is one of the things that I think Shannon and I really have noticed with a lot of our guests is they’re doing big work in the world. And it does take that vulnerability like that. authenticity and vulnerability, and showing up for each other, especially as women that you know, I think sometimes the media and the world wants us to believe, oh, people just get up and they look like this or, you know, looks good, right? And unless we say to people, Oh, yeah. Did you know that I have this? Or this happens, or oh, this is and this is how I, this is what worked for me. I think it’s important. Yeah. And I would also encourage our listeners to go to your website. I was on it earlier today. And it’s a gorgeous website. And it’s per cow natural, calm, and to check it out. And to, to Yeah, it’s really awesome.
Shannon M. 21:25
I love it. And especially what you said Mariela about not feeling worthy to be on camera, right? That’s a real feeling. I completely understand. Okay, this day, I don’t want anybody see the left side of my face. How do you how do you balance that and still having to do what you have to do. But that’s why I love this podcast, you know, because women have been told what they should look like, what every part of their life should look like. And then if we don’t meet certain standards, now we’re questioning our worth as a person, and your skin and your the value of your life for two completely different things. But I completely understand what you mean when you’re like, not again, I have something to do today. This is not what I need, you know? Yeah. Yeah, I
Christine Gautreaux 22:15
guess. We’re talking about physical wellness today. What do you like to do now? Like for your physical wellness, like, every listener, some of you’re like, This is what I love to do and brings me joy.
Mariela Calderon 22:29
Right? I think what I love to do is just doing me, you know, like, I felt like I came to Atlanta with some with so many expectations of the things that I wanted to do, but other people expectations were, were stopping me and I feel like after I dropped listening to other people and actually doing what I love, it’s literally what has made like I feel like I am the happiest I have ever been. So I am physically well I mentally well, emotionally well, and it’s literally because I’m doing what I love so I wake up in the morning happy I go to sleep happy and I think that’s the best kind of wellness just not putting yourself through situations like you don’t they gotta force yourself to do you know? Yeah.
Christine Gautreaux 23:22
Do you have an exercise routine you love or something that you recommend to listeners?
Mariela Calderon 23:29
How do you say that I got it workout more?
Like you know what?
I am a dog mom and dog mom keeps me active enough
Christine Gautreaux 23:41
to talk baby What’s your dog’s name?
Mariela Calderon 23:44
He crushers name is Crusher but having to walk a 65 pound muscle dog down the street is inoperable water workout for me so I just got a dog.
Christine Gautreaux 23:58
Yeah, I’m glad you gave us his stats cuz I had the image when you said Crusher of this teeny tiny like
Mariela Calderon 24:06
he’s actually a crusher, actually. Yeah, yeah. But I mean, it’s literally it’s a it’s a social fact that dog owners tend to be more active. Because you have to go outside you have you know, I try to be as as active as I can be just for him.
Shannon M. 24:26
It’s funny, that’s actually specifically why I don’t want a dog right now. Like, I’ll be active. I can I’ll stick to the workout schedule that I give myself. I want to be able to sleep if I want to sleep and get up if I want to get when you have that dog scratching at the door. Yeah, you gotta get a child. Yeah.
Mariela Calderon 24:44
He needs you can’t just like not want like, I’m not going to walk you today. Like, right Excuse me. I mean, it’ll be more today. Yeah, but trust me sometimes I’m just walking him. And I don’t know where I just start sprinting down the street because I want to Faster yeah Also it keeps you active.
Christine Gautreaux 25:05
So you have spontaneous exercise.
Shannon M. 25:08
Oh that’s what do you tell people you know, I work out spontaneously I like to keep it
Mariela Calderon 25:16
or I tried to do you know, activities that keep me active like I love hiking. I think it’s a great workout. I actually already started planning on my hiking for this summer like, trying to do it like every other weekend. I think that’s all the all the exercise I’m going to be
Christine Gautreaux 25:31
shooting hikers to Mariela. So what’s your favorite? Do you have a favorite trail or a favorite hike? Or one you’re looking forward to?
Mariela Calderon 25:41
Um, well, I went to Stone Mountain last last summer. Um, and I liked it. It’s the only is the only hiking trail I’ve been to here in Georgia, but I really like it. Like it seemed nice enough to go solo. And that’s something like I want to do a lot more of like solo hiking just like me and Crusher. So I feel like I’m probably it’s like, what, 30 minutes away from Atlanta. It’s right there. So not be sad. I have been spending quite a lot of time there this summer. But I definitely do want to discover new trails here in Georgia.
Christine Gautreaux 26:17
Right? Well, I always recommend one of the places I take visitors and folks that are new to Georgia is to Lula gorge falls. There are some paved trails and there are some off paved trails, but it is gorgeous. And there’s where where’s that located is North South Georgia, and I’ll send you a link to it and we’ll put a link for our listeners. But it is also got killer steps. Like if you want to do steps to climb down to the bottom of the gorge. I think it’s like 650 down there and back to work out and but it’s this workout. It has some of the largest waterfalls in Georgia. And so it’s it’s worth the drive from Atlanta, probably two hours north. Okay. So but it’s it’s a state park. So it’s really it’s, it’s, I recommend it for everybody.
Mariela Calderon 27:10
I think I’ve heard my sister in law mention it previously. So I definitely got to check it out.
Christine Gautreaux 27:17
I used to hike stone mountain on a regular but you know, I’m so frustrated by the Confederate monument, you know, that’s the largest federal monument in the nation. And the history of that place is really dicey. So, so I struggle with that, you know, I struggle with giving them any pennies.
Mariela Calderon 27:37
So, you know, it’s funny, I’m one of the reasons why I visit a stone mountain because someone told me like, it’s the largest Confederate monument. I’m like, Oh, well, I have to go check it out. Um, and then it wasn’t, it was in the, during the era last year, what the BLM, BLM Movement was at its height, and a lot of Confederate monuments were getting replaced. And I’m just like, how big can it be? Like, I’m sure they can cover it up. Oh, okay.
Christine Gautreaux 28:08
All right. Well, my good friend, Wendy blue, who is the Executive Director of reforming arts had a really good point, what they said was, we don’t, as taxpayers, we pay to upkeep that monument. We don’t even have to destroy it, if we will just quit paying for the upkeep. Mother Nature will take care of it. Like Mother Nature, the mountain will take it back, or, but we as taxpayers are paying for it right now. And like, that’s the part that just drives me crazy. It’s like, but we honestly we have some laws on the Georgia books and from the house legislature that we need to change, because they put laws in place to where we can’t touch Confederate monuments. And so that that’s what we need to change first to make some, some long term changes. So welcome to Georgia
Mariela Calderon 29:08
blue state now.
Shannon M. 29:12
And I love how we met you know, me working for my company and reaching out and on Valentine’s day you were supporting the the female entrepreneurs, and then being connected as we do in wisdom, right, I came over here with you. And we’ve been able to host each other and you know, offer our platform so that we can keep growing and doing what we’re doing. And that’s what I think about like I think I have to think about Georgia and the history and how I feel about things but then I try to balance it with. Okay, well, this is what I’m doing to actively make it better and work on the future looking how I would like it to look and with the right connections and the histories and the histories that I would like to put out there. You know,
Mariela Calderon 29:56
right? Yeah, yeah, I mean, that’s what I’m trying to do as much as I can right now. As I’m getting involved in the community, you know, I want to blend into the community as well. But I also know like, there’s some areas I need work that may be an outsider, I’m so willing to like, be part of the change.
Shannon M. 30:15
Yeah. Yeah, I think that’s healthy. You know, I think they definitely have a balance of both. So I like it. I like it. And I like what you’ve done with your company. And I told you this already, you know, but for you as a young woman to move to another state to chase what you want to do. I love that. I was like, We got to have her on the show. She’s got to come talk to the lady.
Christine Gautreaux 30:37
Absolutely, because that’s what it’s about is about lifting each other up and supporting each other.
Mariela Calderon 30:44
Right? Yeah, yeah. And I mean, everyone in Atlanta has been, to my surprise, really, because New York is so like, so cutthroat competitive, like everyone that I’ve met in Atlanta husbands so supportive, every other small business owner, every other actor, every other content creator, like the amount of willingness and the city to share ideas with each other. I absolutely love it.
Christine Gautreaux 31:10
It was very fun. I am curious, I’m coming out of the pandemic, because maybe I would, you know, I was let me back up, teacher, let me rewind my brain. Today, I got news, like two organizations that were closing, because of different reasons. And they’re in the arts and things like that. And it’s just such a bummer. And I’m curious as we emerge from COVID. Like, what organizations are going to spring up to support the arts to support acting to support this things are changing, right? And so I think I’m a little I’m holding both grief in gratitude about it, because part of me is like, oh, I want to connect you to this organization. And then in my brain, like, oh, they just close their doors and, and then, but there’s always, you know, new ones springing up new ones come out of this out of chaos and out of out of tough times. So I’m emerge from this, this time in period of our history, it’s going to be we’re going to be talking about it when we’re old ladies, you’re like 2020 Let me tell you, grandma,
Shannon M. 32:28
no, really, you’re gonna listen to what I have to say it was crazy, okay?
Christine Gautreaux 32:40
So what, Mariela come into Atlanta, coming to being a small business owner, being an actor, like what is surprised you about the South or about Atlanta? Like, what is something that you’re like? Okay, I can say I’m
Mariela Calderon 32:58
surprised like, New York is a little fast paced, like, it’s so like, so stressful. Like, you wake up in the morning, you already stress. Like, you’ve read stresses in the air. But here, I gotta say like, everything is much more laid back. Um, but I feel like even though it’s a slower paced, I have grown more than I, that I ever did in New York, in terms of like, the things that I actually want to do, which I have found so surprising. And it’s, it’s, I think it’s just because of the abundance of opportunities here. And a lot of like, so many untapped opportunities here that I have found that I would, I know for a fact, I would otherwise never had in New York. Like, even even like with my acting career, like I didn’t expect to, like I’ve been here a little over a year. And I have done more for my acting career here in Atlanta than I ever thought I would have in New York City. Yeah. Which is crazy. So it just has amazed me, like all the opportunities that have been able to find in this city, like I saw, it has made me absolutely fall in love with it. Right.
Christine Gautreaux 34:10
It’s exciting. I mean, Atlanta, I would have to look at the stick statistics, but I think we’re second in the nation. For the entertainment industry.
Mariela Calderon 34:19
It’s growing. It was growing. I mean, it was it was always either New York or LA. You know, like, I when I was when I was in New York, and I would tell people like I want to be an actor, but I’m not sure if I want to be in New York, they’ll ask like, are you going to LA? Like when I tell people like no, I’m moving either to like Atlanta or Florida. It’s like why would you leave New York if you’re trying to acting you are where you need to be you know, but it’s just the industry there has gotten so didn’t that word I’m looking for. It’s like bougie like in LA New York is like if you want to you know like they they have the whole culture like fake it till you make it kind of thing like you got to act like that. Star, if you want to be a star, you want to reality just like no, like I’m trying to get into the acting world, I have no idea what I’m doing. Like, you know, there’s, there’s not a lot of, of opportunities for people that don’t have connections or people that don’t have the necessary mentorship. Whereas here again, like everyone is so willing to, to help out to connect to network to like, give out information. Whereas like in New York, I felt like, I just didn’t have that, you know, like, not everyone, it’s so competitive, like, people are not helping each other, it’s just too competitive. Right?
Shannon M. 35:37
That makes sense. I hear
Christine Gautreaux 35:40
about that often on the show about collaboration and versus kitchen. And, you know, I mean, all of us were athletes, you know, in previous in high school and things. So we know about competition, and it’s good to have that spark and that drive. And as female entrepreneurs, you have to or you don’t get things done, right. Piece of the collaboration that you know, when one vote rises, they all rise. It’s like, let’s do an I don’t know, I found personally like I like doing it was I like the collaborative piece of other people and lifting especially other women up because I just get there faster. And it’s way more fun. Yeah, way more fun, you know?
Mariela Calderon 36:23
Exactly. And that’s just something you’ll see everywhere, right? Like, I could give you a great example right now. Shannon and I we both have skincare brands, but I don’t feel like we’re in competition. We actually sharing ideas like, hey, what’s working for you? Here’s what’s working for me what hasn’t been working like, you know, Leah? And I find, like, for me, it was actually so surprising, because, and other places are like other you have met other people that like, as soon as they see that we’re doing the same thing. We’re automatically competitors, we’re automatically you know, working against each other. We’re like, why can’t we just work together? You know, like, there’s enough money in the world for everyone. Why can’t we just both figure out how to get it?
Shannon M. 37:07
Yeah, yeah, that’s yeah. And I had to learn that as a server, like working in the restaurant industry, you’re watching everybody else’s section. And you’re like, Wait, why did they get set twice? Why do they have two tables, I don’t have any tables. I’ve done this to get to work. I’ve been here for this long. And it’s like, what you’re assuming that’s the only money that’s gonna walk in here. The world is full of abundance. But it’s very important. Like when we’re talking about your mindset, do you have a scarcity, mindset, or mindset of abundance, and especially between women, we’re taught to compete against each other, and especially in business, when we talk about running businesses, that’s more masculine anyways, that brings out testosterone, right, that’s more competitive. And so it’s really been something that I’ve been working on my occupational wellness, we’re talking about the dimensions of wellness, right? And being balanced in that. Okay, I saw that you had your table, but if you go to the back, you need somebody to watch the door. There’s all of our events, if you don’t bring them in, somebody’s gonna bring me in, or I don’t have anybody at my table, either. You know, so, yeah.
Christine Gautreaux 38:13
Now well, I would be curious to ask y’all, um, because it does happen, that that it, that fear comes up, or we’re like, oh, you know, so what do you all do personally, when that comes up, when you’re like, you get nervous about it, or there’s not enough? Do you have a tool or technique that you use to kind of shake that off and get into the collaborative spirit?
Shannon M. 38:39
What I do is, I remember that what is for me is for me, so it doesn’t matter what anybody else does, it doesn’t matter what I do sometimes, when the time is right, and I do the work that I’m supposed to do. And I’ve managed, what I’m responsible for, everything else will fall into place so that I don’t like you said, I don’t always live there. But when I remind myself of that, that brings me back to a steady, calm, peaceful place.
Christine Gautreaux 39:03
I love that. That’s a good way
Mariela Calderon 39:06
to think about it. Like what is for me is for me, that’s a very good way to think about it. Um, to be quite honest, like, I feel like I haven’t had that feeling that emotion like in a while, like, I think like last time, I felt that was like when I used to work sales, because obviously sales you’re in that is a literal, competitive environment. But here and seeing how like, open people are to collaborate, I feel like it has also opened up my thoughts about collaborating, like, I no longer feel like, oh, like someone’s asking me for help, but I’m gonna withhold this information. Because then they might, you know, do it better than me or they make it further than me, because I’m giving them this information is no longer viewed that way. It’s like, I want to give them the information and if they can do more with it than I can, then I’m gonna then I’m, I feel like I’m gonna get the information back like okay, now Tell me how you did it better so we could keep going and sharing and growing and sharing, you know? Yeah. So I feel like I, Atlanta also made me change that mindset. And in a way, you know,
Christine Gautreaux 40:14
I love that. I have to check myself on this sometimes y’all like I love to collaborate, but I was raised by football coach and Texas. Spirit like is there, right? I always laugh in my family because I’m the least competitive in my family. And if anybody ever plays board games with me, they’re like, that’s not possible. Really is. So I have to like, I physically when that happens, I take a deep breath, I shake it off. I’m like, well, like you’re not you’re not competing in a sports game. Like you don’t have to elbow somebody out, right? You know, put up our arms. Um, so I have to, I have to sometimes check myself on that and just take a deep breath and check it out and be like, Nope, that’s not true. That’s we’re in this together. And yeah, so. Y’all, I have loved this conversation. Shannon, do you have any last questions for Mariela?
Shannon M. 41:13
No, no, I think we talked about everything I look forward to continuing to work with you. And we’ll talk later.
Mariela Calderon 41:21
For sure, thank you. Thank you so much for having me here. Like this has been amazing. I can’t wait to share this with my family, friends and followers so they could check out how amazing you guys are. And thank you so much.
Christine Gautreaux 41:36
Anything where can people find you? Because I we’re gonna we’re gonna link to your website. But are there any other places they should connect with
Mariela Calderon 41:43
you? Um, if you want to find me on YouTube, I mean, if you want to find me on any social media, the handle always stays the same. It’s literally my name Mariela per cow. Without the space between the A and the P so Mariela per cow, you can find me there on Instagram, YouTube, on YouTube, I also shared on my acne story, my journey moving from New York to Atlanta, and I am now sharing tips for small business growth and entrepreneurship. So you find that there and if you want to check out my tic tock, I haven’t posted there in a while. But if you want to laugh a little.
Christine Gautreaux 42:18
We are. We will post that in the show notes so folks can find you. Thank you so much for being with us today. And we look forward to connecting out at shows and in the real world sometime. Sure.
Mariela Calderon 42:34
I can’t wait for that cannot wait.
Christine Gautreaux 42:39
Oh my gosh, so fun. Yes, I’m so glad you met her. And Brock.
Shannon M. 42:46
Had a great time. Of course. Of course, you know, I like to plug in people quick. And especially with quarantine. We talked about physical wellness. And we were talking about so mountain right. I know we a lot of times when I think about physical wellness, I think about either sickness or health. But it’s also location, right? How does your physical location affect your financial wellness? How does it affect your occupational wellness or your social wellness? So, again, I told you in the show for social wellness, I’ve been very intentional about my support group. That means personally and professionally. And I love meeting you know, business owners like her with Shayla glow, like it’s an honor to even be in the same type of field, you know. So I think actually, that’s a good point. Women, a lot of times we talk about not being in competition. But as a business owner, I’m actually honored to be in competition with some of the people that are my competition as a business. You know, that’s a good thing. Also to be out there in the racing and getting stuff done. So we had a great conversation with our
Christine Gautreaux 43:54
friendly competition to right where we’re supporting each other. I think about sports teams, and it may have changed over the years. But you know, when I was growing up how we’d always line up and we’d shake each other hand or high five for the game. I know we can’t do it right now because of Coronavirus. But, oh, you were sometimes friends with those folks that you went toe to toe with when you were playing a game right? And, um, and it was still it was still fun. So I love what she said about how sometimes she would just run to see if she could beat her dog like spontaneous to me. That was spontaneous joy for physical wellness. You know,
Shannon M. 44:36
I like that. And that that is what I think about when I think about having a dog I think about a dog that absolutely we need to be stride for stride or I want my dog to be active too. I can’t be active and I have this dog that just sits there you know, so I know that
Christine Gautreaux 44:51
I need to give a shout out to my dog friend, Peter Parker who comes in walks me every morning and that’s part of my physical wellness. He’s not my dog, my dear friend, Denise’s and my neighbor’s dog, and they come and walk me. About three months into pandemic, they started doing that. So I would be off my couch and I’m so grateful for them. And Peter Parker is a full blooded poodle. He has Pum Pum in the end, and he’s ridiculously cute. For all our listeners, I should find a picture. Hey, your partner.
Shannon M. 45:27
Go ahead. Go ahead. I was gonna say isn’t Peter Parker? Spider Man’s name?
Christine Gautreaux 45:30
Yeah, yeah.
Shannon M. 45:34
I’ve heard this name before.
Christine Gautreaux 45:38
It was hysterical because one time put it in my calendar wrong. And it ended up. I’m currently serving as the president of the board for performing arts. And so I have a reforming arts calendar. And I accidentally put it in the reforming guards calendar instead of my personal calendar, right. And the executive director called me and said, Why do I have a walk scheduled with Spider Man? Spider bunny, you know, you were talking about place. Um, it made me think about alternate routes and other organizations, a part of where arts and activism meets. And we’re gonna have a virtual roots weekend coming up next weekend. And it’s going to be talking about Southern soil. And basically like how places make a difference, like collective learning in harmony with the land and the place that we’re in, and how that makes an impact on us.
Shannon M. 46:34
Yeah. And it’s interesting that you say that, because when I think about the difference between the North and the South, how she was saying, people up north were competitive when it to keep stuff to themselves, and people down south, or more sharing, you know, we share more, I think about the people who made it to freedom who had escaped slavery, right. And the main it’s a freedom that might have been a certain type of person compared to well, the definitely was a certain type of person compared to that type of person who decided not to try to get away that way, or who would let you you know, so not saying that they were more collaborative, but the energy is definitely I feel like tie to how that person was, and then how they raised their family to be and where we are now and the way we think about things. You know, in the way especially being in the south, we talk about the trauma, and a lot of stuff that’s happened. What I do is run, you know, being mindful of what I eat. We talked about our sleep schedule, what else do I do? Oh, can’t forget about shallow glow, right? Because I can forget about shallow glow, because it helps with circulation. And so I put it on my joints, on my my neck, my spine, my shoulders, the elbows, knees, my hips, my ankles, and my feet. I literally actually not every night, but it is on a checklist to happen every night. Because it won’t shut down. We were talking about that before the call. How if you don’t do certain things, your body’s Okay. Well, I’m still up. If I’m in my theater dry, my hands are dry when I’m trying to go to sleep. My body’s like you’re not done. I don’t know what you’re doing. You’re not done yet.
Christine Gautreaux 48:15
Right, having well, and let’s put, let’s put a note on that about really, calendaring, your physical wellness, right? Because I heard that thread and each one of our stories right when it was scheduled for us like in high school or things like that. We were good at it. And then sometimes you get off track life. You know, I got back from doing triathlons because I had a huge bike accident, and I’ve been injured my wrist. And so I couldn’t do my daily yoga or my bike rides. And that was for about a year while I was while I was rehabbing that wrist, and life happens. So how do we when we get off track? How do we get back on? You know what, I should have asked our guests that but what do you do when you when you get off track? Shannon? What do you do to get yourself back on track with physical wellness?
Shannon M. 49:08
I just started again, you know, I think about all my goal is to run four times a week, and I only did this last week or XYZ. It’s good to know where you are and what happened. But instead of can’t run five times a day, I guess you could run five times a day, but you can’t do all of it at the same time. So I acknowledge it, and then I just start again. Okay, so new week. It’s Wednesday. I ran this morning. So today, I’m good. And then tomorrow. We’ll do it again. And I just tried to start again and stay committed from where I’m at.
Christine Gautreaux 49:39
I love that, you know we talked about an interplay and we also talked about in the book still point like you get into trouble a little bitty steps and you can get out of trouble and little bitty steps. So like even the incremental step of if you want to be a runner, get some running shoes that may be the first step right, or walk walking shoes. You may need to walk before you run. I’ve been I’ve told you that in our listeners before I currently Walk Run, you know, yeah. And building up to run in full time again, I used to be a long distance runner. And so I’m building back up to that. But yeah, those incremental steps, what does it look like? You know, does it look like getting up 15 minutes earlier, so you can do your stretches, does it? You know, look like turning off the media 15 minutes earlier, so you can do your skincare routine. Yeah. I love that. Yeah. So my friend, what is your wisdom and action this week?
Shannon M. 50:36
Oh, my wisdom in action. Let’s see. Let’s see what we talked about. Oh, you know what my wisdom and action is going to be Christine continuing my exfoliation schedule. Because you’re traveling right for the skin. I’m shaving and stuff. And when you shave when you’re waxing, we should make sure that we’re exfoliating on a regular schedule. So I guess this is a perfect time to give a shout out to Shea logo, right? Shout out to our sponsor, Shayla glow, the handmade shea butter company. This is the four ounce multi use butter. But we also have a sugar scrub that is perfect for exfoliation and a multi use oil that I use throughout the day. And that’s what helps me keep on schedule. So I wasn’t doing it for like the last month. But that’s my wisdom and action use shallow glow.
Christine Gautreaux 51:27
I love it. I love it. My wisdom in action I have fallen off not with my walking and running or biking but with my stretching and with my yoga. And so my wisdom and action is I am getting back up 15 minutes early and earlier than usual. And I am doing my stretching. Because I know this to be true. The more exercise I get, the more sleep I need. But the more stretching ASCO need. So I have to rearrange my schedule a little bit. But I am willing to do that. So that’s my wisdom and action. So ladies, if you have a wisdom and action, hit us up on social media and hashtag wisdom and action so we can find you. And you can ask hashtag women connected in wisdom. And we would love to. We would love to chat more with you. You could join us at our community at wisdom at women connected in wisdom.com. And we would love to see you.
Shannon M. 52:25
Yes, join the conversation. We’re here every Wednesday Live at Five and don’t forget, be well be wise and be whole. We’ll be here next week. Thank you so much for tuning in. We’ll see you soon.
Christine Gautreaux 52:39
See you soon.
Unknown Speaker 52:42
Thanks for listening. This has been the women connected and wisdom podcast on-air live on Wednesdays at 5 pm. Eastern via Facebook and YouTube. Be sure to like share and subscribe be part of the conversation and get connected at women connected in wisdom.com.
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