Making It with Helen Merlin

I talk to talented people who love what they do about their mindsets for success. 💡✨ My guests include entrepreneurs, business owners, creatives, community leaders, and change makers.

Building a Sustainable Online Community with Authenticity & Personal Alignment with Tia Grado 01/21/2025

Becoming Your Own Boss & Mastering Your Craft with Jamie Hiyama 08/22/2024

Q&A: How to Find Your Purpose and Ask Good Questions 07/24/2024

Intern to Angel Investor: Reimagining Your Career Path with Helen Merlin 06/05/2024

Cultivating Intimate Relationships for a More Embodied Life with Sage 11/15/2023

Cultivating Intimate Relationships for a More Embodied Life with Sage Helen sits down with Sage, coach, educator, and founder of Butterfly Priestess–a heart-centered business specializing in helping people understand their unique and authentic embodiment. In this deeply insightful conversation, Sage shares her strategies for navigating intimate conversations and experiences across a myriad of relationship roles in order to experience deeper connection and enjoyment in life. Sage talks about her bicultural upbringing in Japan and the United States, her foundational professional years as an educator and facilitator for comprehensive sex education, and her personal journey in discovering the power of intimate relationships and authentic embodiment. –––––––––––––– [01:57] Growing Up Bicultural in Japan — Sage talks about the impact of her bicultural upbringing in Japan and the United States, and she reflects on her early interest in interpersonal relationships [11:10] Redefining Intimacy - She acknowledges how intimacy isn’t just physical and romantic, but also about the intimate way in which we engage with the world [19:02] Gender Roles and the Influence of Society - Sage talks about the social differences society has set when it comes to intimacy between different genders and how they can often conflict with one another [25:23] The Path Through Fear Into Authenticity and Love - Sage discusses strategies to navigate shame, insecurity, and fear in order to live into your values and relate lovingly and intimately with yourself and others [38:08] Sparking Conversations About Emotional Generosity - She explains how her TikTok video about emotional generosity went viral and how the comments reflected a wide range of thoughts and opinions regarding being open and honest with people they love [48:03] Nurturing Intimate Relationships - Sage offers simple and effective advice about encouraging others to be emotionally generous and vulnerable with you, but also understanding that they might still be growing their intimacy and shouldn’t be forced to engage at the same level you’re at [56:01] Unique and Authentic Embodiment With Butterfly Priestess - Sage shares her business, Butterfly Priestess, which focuses on helping people understand their authentic and intimate embodiment in relation to others and to the world around them Connect with Sage: Follow Sage on TikTok: Visit the Butterfly Priestess website: Follow Butterfly Priestess on Instagram: Follow Sage on Instagram: Connect with me: Visit my website: Subscribe to my YouTube channel: Follow me on Instagram: Follow me on Medium: Follow me on Substack: Email me: [email protected] /episode/index/show/eea21ab2-dda4-47fa-a22b-e8d1d936431c/id/28651418

Financial Freedom, Happiness and the Power of Perspective with Philip Hoang (Part 2) 11/01/2023

Financial Freedom, Happiness and the Power of Perspective with Philip Hoang (Part 2) Wealth advisor Philip Hoang returns to The Helen Merlin Podcast for Part 2 of his conversation with Helen, revealing how he built a top-ranked advisory business after the 2008 financial crisis. Philip discusses the value of networking and how building relationships can lead to impactful opportunities for yourself and for those around you. He shares the qualities he seeks in new hires in order to create a world-class service team, including ownership, people skills, and an insatiable desire for personal growth. Philip reflects on the role that the law of attraction plays in attracting the right clients for your business and debunks the myth that financially wealthy individuals are fundamentally different from others. In this open and insightful discussion, Philip and Helen explore where peace, gratitude, and happiness come from. In his closing remarks, Philip shares with the audience valuable advice about business and leadership, including taking risks, empowering your team, and maintaining a strong and clear vision. “You can think about this as a negative event or you can turn it around into a positive event and I chose, how do I improve myself, better myself, better my experiences.” - Philip [11:18] “I’m a big believer that if it scares you, you should probably do it.” - Philip [16:28] “I think being a founder of anything means that you’re bringing people into your vision and you have to protect them. Protect the people that you bring in, care for them, respect them, fight for them, be their advocate.” - Philip [51:04] ————————— [01:11] The Power of Networking—Philip discusses how he started his career in the financial industry in investment banking [11:43] Reflecting and Reinventing During Crisis—Philip explains how during the 2008 financial crisis he took the opportunity to pause, reflect and travel the world, which also launched his wife Shelbi’s career as a travel influencer [19:47] Practicing an Entrepreneurial Mindset—Philip shares how he built his advisory business like a start-up, including his founder mentality, entrepreneurial drive, working in a flow state, and how he recruited a world-class service team [29:03] How to Stand Out in a Competitive Environment—Philip reflects on how to differentiate yourself in a corporate environment and in the industry by continuously practicing self-improvement and being intrinsically motivated to add value [31:51] Philip reflects on the role that the law of attraction plays in attracting the right clients for your business and debunks the myth that financially wealthy individuals are fundamentally different from others [35:17] Cultivating Peace and Happiness—Helen and Philip discuss what makes people happy, and they explore how they each find true peace and happiness through deep self-reflection, practicing stillness, and the absence of pursuing external gratification [49:17] Final Thoughts on Business and Leadership—Philip shares the value of taking risks and practicing ethical and compassionate leadership, which provides the chance to positively change yourself and inspire others. —————————— Resources mentioned: Follow Shelbi on Instagram: Explore Shelbi’s website: Connect with me: Visit my website: Subscribe to my YouTube channel: Follow me on Instagram: Follow me on Medium: Follow me on Substack: Email me: [email protected] /episode/index/show/eea21ab2-dda4-47fa-a22b-e8d1d936431c/id/28485098

Leadership, Curiosity, and the Art of Coaching with Philip Hoang (Part 1) 10/25/2023

Leadership, Curiosity, and the Art of Coaching with Philip Hoang (Part 1) Discover the origins of leadership with top-ranked wealth advisor and former wrestling coach, Philip Hoang. He shares his inspiring journey from a challenging immigrant upbringing to a simple selfless act that shaped his development as a leader. His curiosity and growth mindset motivated him to courageously seek perspective from diverse teachers and mentors. Philip delves deep into the art of coaching and how to create opportunities for young athletes, likening it to building a start-up. His inspiring story illustrates the value of community and pursuing your passion which not only is often free but also priceless. "My hesitation to speak with strangers is overwhelmed by my curiosity." -Philip [16:14] "We can be hyper-focused on the end result. And when we don't achieve it, it can be extremely devastating. We have to be completely willing to accept that it might not ever happen. But it's important to be there because you can start thinking about that vision so that you can start building stepping stones to get there." - Philip [35:10] "Most things that are really important in life cost you nothing." - Philip [39:19] [02:03] Philip shares his immigrant upbringing and recounts a formative childhood experience which taught him the importance of being in service even in positions of leadership. [10:19] Philip's curiosity about wealth and success drove him to excel academically and seek out like-minded friends who shared his passion for learning and growth. [16:14] Philip discusses how his natural curiosity and courage to ask questions helped him extract valuable life lessons. [20:14] He describes his journey as a wrestling coach for high school boys, the culture of endurance and mental fortitude, and the rare opportunity to launch a girl's wrestling program. [26:46] Philip shares how he experimented with many methods to recruit female athletes, eventually culminating in a summer training program for students transitioning from middle to high school. [34:43] Philip emphasizes creating a welcoming environment where athletes felt they had the agency to choose their path, resulting in a thriving community. [37:25] Philip reflects on his coaching legacy, the value of everyday opportunities, and the potential for positive change without a heavy price. Connect with me: Visit my website: Subscribe to my YouTube channel: Follow me on Instagram: Follow me on Medium: Follow me on Substack: Email me: [email protected] /episode/index/show/eea21ab2-dda4-47fa-a22b-e8d1d936431c/id/28419545

Fostering Authentic Connections to Build and Grow an Online Coaching Business with Dominique Cordero Monroy (Part 2) 10/18/2023

Fostering Authentic Connections to Build and Grow an Online Coaching Business with Dominique Cordero Monroy (Part 2) Join Helen and Dominique for Part 2 of their conversation, as Dominique shares the path she took to launch her online Spanish language coaching business. Looking for ways to earn extra income, Dominique began teaching local Spanish lessons. Once the pandemic hit, she moved those lessons online, and reimagined her business, building online courses that allowed her to scale her business. Dominique shares how her business gained traction around the world as she shared her authentic self, cultivated meaningful connections, and employed other ethical marketing practices. Now after several years, she is focusing on expanding her offerings and rebranding her business to become Spanish with Dominique. [00:13:29] “What worked for you is creating content, engaging with your community, giving people opportunities to discover you. And through that, you were able to build quite a following.” - Helen [00:20:14] “…When you're first starting out with marketing, choose something that you can be consistent with…” - Dominique [00:01:22] Dominique shares how she became a private Spanish tutor in order to earn extra income [00:05:46] She discusses how the pandemic compelled her to migrate her business online and how that led to her launching her first course online [00:13:49] Dominique shares the importance of getting outside of your comfort zone at first in order to become more comfortable in front of the camera [00:22:23] She considers how growing her presence on YouTube would benefit her business and the type of content that she would create [00:27:41] Dominique discusses expanding her course offering and rebranding her online business to reflect her personal brand and the authentic connections she has with her students Resources mentioned: Dave Ramsey, radio and podcast host: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/dave-ramsey-7-baby-steps-rs-b26782 Olly Richards, language teacher and creator of Story Learning: https://learn.storylearning.com/spanish-uncovered-level-11674240488549 Charlotte O'Hara, SquareSpace SEO Expert: https://www.youtube.com/@CharlotteOHara1 Connect with Dominique: Follow Dominique on Instagram: Visit Dominique’s website: Connect with me: Visit my website: Subscribe to my YouTube channel: Follow me on Instagram: Follow me on Medium: Follow me on Substack: Email me: [email protected] Did this episode inspire or impact you in some way? If so, SHARE this episode with a friend and leave a rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. LISTEN TO PODCAST EPISODES: Apple Music - Spotify - /episode/index/show/eea21ab2-dda4-47fa-a22b-e8d1d936431c/id/28354577

Chasing Dreams and Finding Home with Dominique Cordero Monroy (Part 1) 10/11/2023

Chasing Dreams and Finding Home with Dominique Cordero Monroy (Part 1) In this episode of the Helen Merlin Podcast, Dominique discusses her upbringing and the pivotal decisions she has made in life leading to her career as a Spanish language learning coach. Witnessing her parents' sacrifices and resilience, she learned to worked hard and got into her dream college UC Davis. After entering a poor job market, she decided to fulfill her dream of living in Spain as an au pair. This experience transformed her life and her lifestyle. She continues to travel extensively, especially in Mexico City. Now, in her 30s, she values community, grounding, and building her online business. "I've always adapted well to change, and I think that has lent itself well to the worldly travel I've done... It doesn't shake me up to move, and I think that comes from moving so much as a child and not having any choice but to be flexible." - Dominique [05:30] "You can manifest, but manifesting only gets you so far. You actually have to get some skin in the game if you want to make that dream a reality." - Dominique [16:29] [01:13] Dominique reflects on growing up in California, the sacrifices her family made, and how they shaped her. [07:17] She shares her determination to attend UC Davis and her unsatisfying initial post-graduation experiences. [13:14] How she got to live in Spain for a year and the self-discovery that came with it. [19:03] Dominique shares how she maintained a balanced work-travel lifestyle and how travel relates to her identity. [24:57] How her priorities shifted in her 30s to valuing stability, community, and everyday moments as she approaches the present day. Connect with Dominique: Follow Dominique on Instagram: Visit Dominique’s website: Connect with me: Visit my website: Subscribe to my YouTube channel: Follow me on Instagram: Follow me on Medium: Follow me on Substack: Email me: [email protected] Did this episode inspire or impact you in some way? If so, SHARE this episode with a friend and leave a rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. /episode/index/show/eea21ab2-dda4-47fa-a22b-e8d1d936431c/id/28162793

Trust in Your Entrepreneurial Capabilities with Mimi Millard 10/04/2023

Trust in Your Entrepreneurial Capabilities with Mimi Millard In this episode of the Helen Merlin Podcast, Mimi Millard shares her entrepreneurial journey and how she developed the confidence to believe in her ability to grow her business. Mimi is the Co-Founder and CEO of De Lune and is passionate about menstrual wellness. She describes her history with period problems and how they motivated her to bring the most effective and extreme solutions for period problems. In a pivotal moment during her corporate career, Mimi decided that her desire to improve the lives of millions of women around the world was great enough to focus full-time on building and growing De Lune. You will also learn how to prioritize yourself to grow as a person and an entrepreneur when working with your partner. “Everyone wants to tell you how to start a business, how to make money, and how to do this and that, but it’s so individual to the product, the market, and timing.”- Mimi [30:30] “Where you are right now is perfect, you will believe in yourself, it will come with time, just keep going through the motions.”- Mimi [31:39] [01:07] Mimi shares her history of painful periods and how her struggles led her to start De Lune. [06:30] She describes her education and engineering background, plus how experience in the workforce attracted her to become a founder. [12:32] The pivotal moment she left her corporate career and focused entirely on De Lune. [14:40] How to develop confidence and grow as an entrepreneur when you start without experience. [18:49] She describes her motivation to start De Lune and how it influenced investors to believe in her vision. [10:47] How to work with your partner while prioritizing yourself to grow as a person and an entrepreneur. [27:48] Mimi on how she rebuilt her relationship into a healthier setup while still growing De Lune. [30:27] Learn how to trust, believe, and show up for yourself as you grow your business. Resources Mentioned: Cramp Aid by De Lune: Connect with Mimi & De Lune: Follow Mimi on Instagram: Visit De Lune’s website: Follow De Lune on Instagram: Connect with me: Visit my website: Subscribe to my YouTube channel: Follow me on Instagram: Follow me on Medium: Follow me on Substack: Email me: [email protected] Did this episode inspire or impact you in some way? If so, SHARE this episode with a friend and leave a rating on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Keywords: Empowerment, Entrepreneurship, CEO, Startup, Menstrual Health, Self-Love, Overcoming Self-Doubt, Mission-Driven, Evidence-Based Approach, Fundraising, Impactful Business, Believing in Yourself, Self-Discovery, Purposeful Business. /episode/index/show/eea21ab2-dda4-47fa-a22b-e8d1d936431c/id/28221998

Trailer 10/04/2023

Making It with Helen Merlin

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