Health & FitnessMental HealthBusinessEntrepreneurship

Heart + Head Work

MAVEN Founders (Tessa Arneson & Rocky Donati)

Maven is a community that empowers women through the creation of safe spaces and intentional connections rooted in love and curiosity.

Heart + Head Work honors the journey of becoming and how nurturing the pieces of our selves becomes the foundation for showing up for others. Hosted by Tessa & Rocky, co-founders of Maven, this podcast holds space for the intimate questions we carry and the lived moments that shape us. Through candid conversations and real stories, we explore how empowering our whole selves creates deeper connection, shared belonging, and brighter communities.

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S2 · E32
Monday · 1 hr 16 min
What Great Leaders Understand About People
What if the most powerful thing we can offer someone isn't a solution, but the space to feel seen? Salt Lake City Councilmember Erika Carlson joins Rocky and Tessa for a conversation about compassion, grief, community, and what it means to lead with humanity. From her experience bringing an angry room of neighbors together through a moment of shared grief to the Buddhist teaching of the *second arrow*, Erika offers a different way of understanding suffering—and the stories we add to it. Together, they explore how our experiences of loss and feeling different can become sources of compassion, how small moments of connection build belonging, and why making space for difficult emotions can change the way we relate to ourselves and one another. In this episode: - Leading with compassion and making people feel seen - The connection between grief, suffering, and service - Buddhism and the story of the second arrow - Turning experiences of exclusion into empathy - The meaning of giving, including Erika's kidney donation - Acceptance, mortality, and learning to “let it be” - Finding connection in our communities, even through disagreement A conversation about what becomes possible when we stop trying to fix every feeling and start making room for our shared humanity. RESOURCES MENTIONED Women Who Run With the Wolves — Clarissa Pinkola Estés https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/46712/women-who-run-with-the-wolves-by-clarissa-pinkola-estes-phd/ Mary Oliver — Poetry and reflections on nature, attention, and prayer https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/mary-oliver Connect with us! 💬 Join the conversation in our private network on BFF https://links.geneva.com/invite/af6ecd07-9070-43b7-9629-7aaa166aa131 📲 Follow us on Instagram instagram.com/maven.community ✨ And if this episode moved you, sharing it with a friend helps more women find us. More at → mavenslc.com
S2 · E31
October 6 · 1 hr 30 min
You’re Allowed to Become Someone New
What happens when the identities you've spent a lifetime building begin to fall away? Brooke Lark joins Rocky and Tessa for a conversation about entering what Hindu philosophy calls the forest-dweller stage—a season of turning inward, loosening your grip on who you've been, and discovering who you might become next. For Brooke, that has looked like becoming an empty nester, selling her studio and home, entering her 50s, and watching identities she once thought were permanent begin to disappear. Together, they explore the invisible rules we inherit, the ways women learn to self-police, listening to the body, allowing ourselves to change, and the freedom of realizing there may be many versions of us within a single lifetime. The conversation also moves into Brooke's experiences with psychedelics and plant medicine—including mushrooms and ayahuasca—and how those experiences have influenced the way she understands herself, her voice, and her relationship with the world. It's a conversation about identity, weirdness, wisdom, and what might be waiting on the other side of the rules we didn't realize we'd made for ourselves. In this episode: - The four stages of life and becoming a “forest dweller” - What happens when familiar identities begin falling away - The invisible rules we inherit—and eventually enforce on ourselves - Self-expression, femininity and finding your own voice - Plant medicine, psychedelics and Brooke's medicine path - Learning to trust your body and your own ways of knowing - Allowing yourself to live more than one life in a lifetime Connect with Brooke Lark Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brookelark/?hl=en Good Mama Magic — Brooke's nine-episode audio series exploring her story, including the experiences with ayahuasca she discusses in this conversation. https://open.spotify.com/show/3yhIspUhtoNSnfUzSmRpWy?si=b4748165dbf64eca Connect with us! 💬 Join the conversation in our private network on BFF https://links.geneva.com/invite/af6ecd07-9070-43b7-9629-7aaa166aa131 📲 Follow us on Instagram instagram.com/maven.community ✨ And if this episode moved you, sharing it with a friend helps more women find us. More at → mavenslc.com
S2 · E30
September 21 · 41 min
When Your Body Forces You to Slow Down
What if your body isn't betraying you? What if it's trying to communicate? In this episode of Heart + Head Work, Rocky Donati and Tessa Arneson step away from their usual conversations around business and real estate to talk about something underneath nearly everything they do: wellness, intuition, and learning how to listen to your own body. Both Rocky and Tessa have experienced seasons when injury, illness, burnout, anxiety, pain, or other physical symptoms forced them to change the way they related to their bodies. In this conversation, Tessa shares that she has recently received a diagnosis of cervical dystonia after developing an unexplained head tremor—putting her once again at the beginning of navigating doctors, treatments, information, uncertainty, and the question: What does my body actually need? Together, they explore what it means to become an active participant in your own healing. Not by rejecting doctors. Not by assuming intuition has every answer. And not by pretending every physical problem can be solved by simply “listening harder.” Instead, they talk about gathering expertise, building a team, considering different approaches, and then learning to bring all of that information back to the person who actually has to live inside the body being treated: you. They also dig into a pattern they've witnessed again and again among high-performing women: pushing, achieving, saying yes, overriding exhaustion, and continuing until eventually the body gets louder. What happens when, instead of treating your body like the thing preventing you from living your life, you begin treating it like a partner? Maybe healing isn't always about fighting harder. Maybe sometimes it's about slowing down, gathering information, experimenting, surrendering—and rebuilding a language with yourself that you were taught to ignore. In this episode: - Why Maven talks so much about wellness - Rocky's recent cervical dystonia diagnosis - Navigating conflicting medical and wellness advice - Intuition as part of—not a replacement for—your healthcare team - Tessa's experience with chronic back pain - The connection between high performance and burnout - What happens when we continually override our bodies - Relearning your body's “native language” - Why healing looks different for every person - Becoming the person in the driver's seat of your care - Why sometimes the answer is less, not more - Surrendering instead of constantly trying to fix - Turning your body from an adversary into a friend - Trusting your no—and your yes For anyone currently in the confusing middle of an injury, illness, burnout, or something you haven't quite figured out yet, this conversation is an invitation to stay close to yourself. Gather the information. Build your team. Ask questions. Try things. And through all of it, keep listening. Connect with us! 💬 Join the conversation in our private network on BFF https://links.geneva.com/invite/af6ecd07-9070-43b7-9629-7aaa166aa131 📲 Follow us on Instagram instagram.com/maven.community ✨ And if this episode moved you, sharing it with a friend helps more women find us. More at → mavenslc.com
S2 · E29
September 7 · 1 hr 22 min
Why Women Need to Talk About Money
In this episode of Heart + Head Work, Rocky Donati and Tessa Arneson sit down with Jackie Zenner—investor, philanthropist, entrepreneur, former Goldman Sachs partner, farmer, line dancer, and, apparently, rapper—for an honest conversation about women, money, power, and what financial freedom actually means. Jackie shares her journey from a small town in British Columbia to Wall Street, where she became the youngest woman and first female trader to be made partner at Goldman Sachs. As her financial success grew, so did her awareness of how differently women experience money, access, power, and opportunity—and that work eventually became a central purpose in her life. But this conversation isn't simply about earning more, saving more, or investing better. Together, they explore the emotional and systemic realities underneath our relationship with money: the stories we inherited, the shame we carry, the behaviors we developed, the structures we live inside, and the very real differences between having financial information and actually having enough money. Jackie challenges the idea that financial struggle is simply a personal failure. Our money stories are shaped by our identities, histories, culture, capitalism, patriarchy, consumerism, access, income, and the rights women have only relatively recently gained. At the same time, she makes room for personal agency: understanding what isn't ours to blame so we can more clearly see what is ours to work with. The conversation also gets deeply honest about privilege. Rocky reflects on realizing that the financial questions she was prepared to answer weren't necessarily the questions her audience needed, while the group wrestles with what it means to talk about financial freedom from a place of already having it. Together, we unpack: - Why money and power are so deeply connected - What financial freedom actually gives us: choice, time, and agency - Jackie's experience as a woman on Wall Street - Why women have historically been excluded from financial power - Money trauma, scarcity, shame, and identity - The difference between overspending, excessive spending, and underspending - Why financial education alone can't solve financial insecurity - The systems working against women's financial wellness - How privilege changes the way we experience and talk about money - Why people with less money may actually have to be better at managing it - The pressure women feel to constantly do more and make more impact - How joy, movement, friendship, and even line dancing help sustain the work - The Great Wealth Transfer and what more wealth in women's hands could make possible Resources Mentioned The Trauma of Money — Chantel Chapman A resource Jackie references for understanding the relationship between money, trauma, scarcity, identity, and behavior. The Wealth Ladder Jackie references this book in discussing how financial decisions change depending on a person's level of wealth and why spending behavior needs context. Connect with us! 💬 Join the conversation in our private network on BFF https://links.geneva.com/invite/af6ecd07-9070-43b7-9629-7aaa166aa131 📲 Follow us on Instagram instagram.com/maven.community ✨ And if this episode moved you, sharing it with a friend helps more women find us. More at → mavenslc.com
S2 · E28
August 24 · 1 hr 15 min
They Said We Had No Business Investing
In this episode of Heart + Head Work, Rocky Donati and Tessa Arneson sit down with venture capitalist, entrepreneur, and Beta Boom co-founder Kimmy Paluch for a conversation about risk, inequity, criticism, resilience, and what it actually means to choose to be part of the solution. Born and raised in Jamaica, Kimmy eventually built a career in Silicon Valley before she and her husband made a massive leap: selling what they had, leaving the Bay Area, moving their family to Utah, and building a venture firm designed to invest differently. But this conversation isn't really about venture capital. It's about what happens when you see something that isn't working and decide you can no longer sit on the sidelines. Kimmy opens up about the experiences that shaped her perspective, the inequities she could no longer ignore, and what it takes to keep moving when people tell you your idea won't work—or criticize the way you're trying to make a difference. Together, they explore how to discern criticism worth listening to from criticism coming from the "cheap seats," why meaningful work requires both conviction and humility, and how we can fight broken systems without losing our ability to see the humanity in the people standing across from us. Together, we unpack: -Growing up in Jamaica and the experiences that shaped Kimmy's -worldview -Leaving Silicon Valley and asking, "Why not here?" -Taking enormous risks without knowing whether they'll work -Why Kimmy chose to enter venture capital -Inequity, access, and who gets the opportunity to build -Being part of the solution instead of sitting on the sidelines -How to handle criticism when you're doing visible work -"Criticism from the cheap seats" versus feedback from people in the arena -Fighting systems and ideas without dehumanizing people -The importance of common ground -Partnership, encouragement, and having people who remind us what we're capable of -Why even seemingly small contributions can create meaningful change This episode is a conversation about action without certainty, conviction without dehumanization, and the courage to keep doing the work even when you don't know exactly how it will turn out. Resources Mentioned Beta Boom - https://www.betaboom.com Learn more about Kimmy and Beta Boom's work investing in early-stage founders and companies. Connect with us! 💬 Join the conversation in our private network on BFF https://links.geneva.com/invite/af6ecd07-9070-43b7-9629-7aaa166aa131 📲 Follow us on Instagram instagram.com/maven.community ✨ And if this episode moved you, sharing it with a friend helps more women find us. More at → mavenslc.com
S2 · E27
August 10 · 1 hr 7 min
The Best Creatives Don't Chase Validation
What if collaboration isn't compromise? What if it's actually one of the most creative acts we can practice? In this episode of Heart + Head Work, Rocky Donati and Tessa Arneson sit down with filmmakers Amy Redford and Skye Emerson, the creative duo behind Red Sky Stories, for a conversation about storytelling, identity, creativity, leadership, and what happens when we make space for curiosity instead of ego. Together they explore what it means to claim the identity of "creative," why representation matters, how collaboration can strengthen rather than dilute great work, and why the best stories often begin with a simple question: "What if?" Along the way, they discuss directing, writing, women in leadership, building healthy creative partnerships, and the courage to create something that doesn't yet exist. Whether you're making films, building a business, raising children, or simply trying to create a meaningful life, this conversation is a reminder that the most beautiful work rarely comes from doing it alone. Together, we explore: - Learning to call yourself a creative - Why representation changes what's possible - Women leading in film and creative spaces - The difference between collaboration and compromise - Why curiosity belongs at the center of creativity - Building trust inside creative partnerships - Creating environments where everyone contributes - How stories begin with "What if?" - Leadership through openness instead of ego - Building something larger than yourself The best stories aren't created by one person protecting an idea—they're built by people willing to make the idea better together. Resources Mentioned 🎬 Little Genes (short film)https://littlegenesfilm.com/ 🎬 RedSkye Stories https://redskye.co/ Follow Amy Redford and Skye Emerson to learn more about their upcoming projects and films. Connect with us! 💬 Join the conversation in our private network on BFF https://links.geneva.com/invite/af6ecd07-9070-43b7-9629-7aaa166aa131 📲 Follow us on Instagram instagram.com/maven.community ✨ And if this episode moved you, sharing it with a friend helps more women find us. More at → mavenslc.com
S2 · E26
July 27 · 1 hr 34 min
Faith It Til' You Make It
In this episode of Heart + Head Work, Rocky Donati and Tessa Arneson sit down with Dr. Sidni Shorter—President & CEO of the Utah Black Chamber—for a conversation that quickly moves beyond leadership and into identity, self-worth, authenticity, service, grief, and the lifelong work of becoming who we already are. Together, they explore how childhood experiences shape our beliefs about love, achievement, and belonging, why so many of us spend years seeking validation outside ourselves, and what begins to change when we stop performing and start living from our own inner knowing. Along the way they discuss leadership, faith, intuition, grief, ancestry, boundaries, service, and the courage it takes to choose yourself—not instead of others, but so you can offer your whole self to the people you love. This conversation is both deeply personal and universally human—a reminder that perhaps our greatest work isn't becoming someone new, but remembering who we've been all along. Together, we unpack: - What creates genuine presence - The hidden belief: "If I'm excellent, then I'm loved." - Authenticity versus performance - Leadership rooted in service - Learning to trust your own inner voice - Why validation can quietly shape our lives - Grief, healing, and giving ourselves grace - Boundaries without guilt - Finding your own path instead of someone else's - Building a life from authenticity rather than expectation Sometimes the most meaningful transformations don't happen because we become someone different—they happen because we finally stop hiding who we already are. Resources Mentioned Utah Black Chamber https://utahblackchamber.com Learn more about the Utah Black Chamber, upcoming events, business resources, and opportunities to support entrepreneurs and communities across Utah. Connect with us! 💬 Join the conversation in our private network on BFF https://links.geneva.com/invite/af6ecd07-9070-43b7-9629-7aaa166aa131 📲 Follow us on Instagram instagram.com/maven.community ✨ And if this episode moved you, sharing it with a friend helps more women find us. More at → mavenslc.com
S2 · E25
July 13 · 49 min
The Conversation You're Avoiding Is Costing You
In this episode of Heart + Head Work, Rocky and Tessa sit down with Angela H. Brown—publisher of SLUG Magazine and Executive Director of Craft Lake City—for a conversation about leadership, creativity, vulnerability, and living a life with nothing left unsaid. Angela shares the philosophy that has quietly guided her life: "I want to die on empty." It's an invitation to use your gifts, pursue your curiosity, and fully embrace the experiences that shape who you become. Together, they explore what it means to travel through the world with wonder, raise children with a broader perspective, and lead with authenticity instead of perfection. The conversation also moves into the courage it takes to tell our stories, the importance of transparency around mental health, and why sharing our experiences—whether immediately or years later—can become a powerful act of healing. At its heart, this episode is about living fully, embracing vulnerability, and recognizing that our stories have the power to connect us long after we've lived them. Together, we unpack: - What it means to "die on empty" - Building a life rooted in curiosity and meaningful experiences - Raising children with empathy, perspective, and adventure - Leadership through authenticity rather than perfection - The courage to share the parts of ourselves we've hidden - Mental health, transparency, and breaking generational silence - Why vulnerability creates connection - How creativity and community can change culture - The impact of supporting artists and local makers This episode is thoughtful, inspiring, and deeply human—an invitation to live more fully, tell your story when you're ready, and leave nothing meaningful unexplored. Resources Mentioned The Avoided Conversation Audit https://stan.store/mavencommunity/p/the-avoided-conversation-audit The Round Table Group Coaching https://angelahbrown.com SLUG Magazine https://www.slugmag.com Craft Lake City https://craftlakecity.com Learn more about Craft Lake City's annual DIY Festival, artist programs, workshops, and opportunities to support local creatives. Connect with us! 💬 Join the conversation in our private network on BFF https://links.geneva.com/invite/af6ecd07-9070-43b7-9629-7aaa166aa131 📲 Follow us on Instagram instagram.com/maven.community ✨ And if this episode moved you, sharing it with a friend helps more women find us. More at → mavenslc.com
S2 · E24
June 29 · 37 min
How Healing Yourself Changes Your Children
In this episode of Heart + Head Work, Rocky and Tessa turn the tables and invite Maven podcast producer Lo Titensor and her daughter Denali into the conversation. What begins as a playful discussion about joy quickly unfolds into something much deeper—a conversation about intuition, self-trust, healing, motherhood, and the moments that crack us open to become more fully ourselves. Lo shares a personal story about navigating postpartum depression, losing touch with herself, and unexpectedly finding a path back to joy. Together, she and Denali explore how the choices we make to reconnect with ourselves ripple outward into our families, relationships, and communities. Throughout the conversation, they reflect on following intuition, embracing the things that make us feel most alive, and learning to trust the quiet inner voice that often knows the way before our minds do. At its heart, this episode is about remembering who you are—and discovering that when you choose yourself, everyone around you benefits too. Together, we unpack: - Why joy can be a powerful compass for life - The "soul-cracking" moments that change us - Trusting intuition even when it feels scary - Postpartum depression, healing, and self-discovery - The ripple effect of choosing yourself - Motherhood, identity, and personal growth - Following the things that make you feel alive - Why self-trust is one of the greatest gifts we can pass on - The lessons children learn from watching us live authentically This episode is joyful, tender, and deeply human—an invitation to follow the butterflies, trust yourself, and remember that the path back to yourself is often the path forward. Connect with us! 💬 Join the conversation in our private network on BFF https://links.geneva.com/invite/af6ecd07-9070-43b7-9629-7aaa166aa131 📲 Follow us on Instagram instagram.com/maven.community ✨ And if this episode moved you, sharing it with a friend helps more women find us. More at → mavenslc.com
S2 · E24
June 15 · 43 min
Being 'Too Much' Was Never the Problem
In this episode of Heart + Head Work, Rocky and Tessa explore one of the most universal human experiences: the feeling of being alone, not belonging, or somehow being too much—or not enough. Through personal stories and honest reflection, they unpack the childhood moments that shaped their identities, the protective patterns they developed to stay safe, and the ways those same patterns can follow us into adulthood. Rocky shares a formative experience of grief, anger, and loneliness that led her to use anger as protection, while Tessa reflects on a childhood moment that taught her to shrink herself and question her own voice. Together, they explore how our earliest experiences can shape the stories we tell ourselves—and how healing begins when we learn to relate to those parts of ourselves differently. This conversation also touches on parts work, self-compassion, belonging, and the practice of becoming a friend to yourself rather than looking outside of yourself for worth, validation, or connection. Together, we unpack: - Why so many of us feel alone, unseen, or disconnected - The childhood experiences that shape our sense of belonging - Being told you're "too much" or "not enough" - Anger as protection and the role it plays in adulthood - The ways we learn to shrink ourselves to fit in - Parts work, inner children, and self-compassion - Developing a relationship with your higher self - Learning to find belonging within yourself - Why healing often begins with curiosity instead of judgment This episode is tender, reflective, and deeply human—an invitation to explore the stories you've inherited about yourself and what becomes possible when you meet them with compassion. Connect with us! 💬 Join the conversation in our private network on BFF https://links.geneva.com/invite/af6ecd07-9070-43b7-9629-7aaa166aa131 📲 Follow us on Instagram instagram.com/maven.community ✨ And if this episode moved you, sharing it with a friend helps more women find us. More at → mavenslc.com
S2 · E23
June 1 · 1 hr 1 min
What If You Authored Your Own Life?
In this episode of Heart + Head Work, Rocky and Tessa sit down with Laura Hurtado, Executive Director of the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, for a conversation about art, identity, leadership, and what it means to consciously author your own life. Laura shares her journey through the worlds of contemporary art, curation, and cultural leadership—and how art has become a lens through which she understands change, community, and human expression. What unfolds is a thoughtful conversation about self-authorship, breaking inherited narratives, and learning to create a life that reflects who you actually are. Together, they explore the role of museums and art in shaping culture, why discomfort and transition are often necessary parts of growth, and how creativity can help us imagine entirely new futures. This conversation moves fluidly between philosophy, leadership, vulnerability, and personal transformation—grounded in the belief that art is not separate from life, but one of the ways we make meaning from it. Together, we unpack: - What contemporary art can teach us about identity and change - The idea of “self authorship” and rewriting inherited narratives - Why discomfort and transition are often part of growth - How museums can become spaces for dialogue and belonging - Building a future rooted in intention instead of expectation - Leadership, creativity, and staying connected to purpose - Why art matters in moments of cultural tension and transformation - Learning to see yourself as more than your role or title This episode is reflective, expansive, and deeply grounding—an invitation to think differently about art, identity, and the stories we choose to live by. Where to find Laura Hurtado Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (UMOCA) https://umoca.org Follow along Instagram: @utahmoca Connect with us! 💬 Join the conversation in our private network on BFF https://links.geneva.com/invite/af6ecd07-9070-43b7-9629-7aaa166aa131 📲 Follow us on Instagram instagram.com/maven.community ✨ And if this episode moved you, sharing it with a friend helps more women find us. More at → mavenslc.com
S2 · E22
May 18 · 1 hr 1 min
You Are More Than What You Do
In this episode of Heart + Head Work, Rocky and Tessa sit down with Lavanya—entrepreneur, community leader, and founder of multiple purpose-driven ventures—to explore what it really means to build a life rooted in identity, impact, and intention. Lavanya shares her journey from growing up within traditional cultural expectations to carving her own path in a completely new environment. What unfolds is a story not just about entrepreneurship, but about courage—choosing to step outside inherited narratives and redefine success on your own terms. Through her work in hospitality and nonprofit spaces, Lavanya has created more than businesses—she’s created opportunities. Spaces where women can learn, grow, and step into their own sense of agency and worth. This conversation moves from personal story to collective impact, offering a grounded and deeply human look at what happens when we stop chasing external definitions of success and begin listening to something more internal. Together, we unpack: - Growing up within traditional cultural expectations and rewriting your path - The subtle ways systems shape identity and opportunity - Building businesses that center impact over profit - Creating opportunities for women through community and skill-building - Redefining success beyond titles, money, and external validation - The role of small business in solving real-world problems - Listening to your body and honoring moments of necessary change - Why identity is bigger than anything you build Where to find Lavanya: https://www.lavanyamahate.com Follow along Instagram: @the_power_of_ownership Connect with us! 💬 Join the conversation in our private network on BFF https://links.geneva.com/invite/af6ecd07-9070-43b7-9629-7aaa166aa131 📲 Follow us on Instagram instagram.com/maven.community ✨ And if this episode moved you, sharing it with a friend helps more women find us. More at → mavenslc.com
S2 · E21
May 4 · 32 min
On Choice, Grief, and the Right to Decide
In this episode of Heart + Head Work, Rocky and Tessa sit down for a deeply personal and honest conversation about abortion, motherhood, and the complexity of choice. What begins as a reflection on a recent guest conversation opens into something much more intimate—Tessa shares her own experience with pregnancy loss and abortion, and the emotional, physical, and psychological realities that followed. Together, they explore what it means to make decisions in moments of uncertainty, the weight of grief, and the anger that can arise when choice is taken away. This conversation moves between the deeply personal and the collective, touching on systems, language, and the importance of compassion in moments that are anything but simple. At its core, this episode is about autonomy, healing, and the right to navigate our own lives and bodies with dignity. Together, we explore: - The lived experience of abortion and pregnancy loss - Grief, anger, and the emotional aftermath of difficult decisions - What it means to make a choice in moments of uncertainty - The impact of language and systems on personal experience - Why autonomy matters in both motherhood and identity - How we hold space for ourselves and others through complex experiences Resources mentioned in this episode: https://utabortionfund.org Disclaimer: This conversation reflects personal experiences and perspectives. Topics discussed may be sensitive for some listeners. We encourage you to take care of yourself while listening and to seek support if needed. Connect with us! 💬 Join the conversation in our private network on BFF https://links.geneva.com/invite/af6ecd07-9070-43b7-9629-7aaa166aa131 📲 Follow us on Instagram instagram.com/maven.community ✨ And if this episode moved you, sharing it with a friend helps more women find us. More at → mavenslc.com
S2 · E20
April 20 · 1 hr 13 min
Choosing How You Show Up
In this episode of Heart + Head Work, we sit down with Ali, a journalist and community voice deeply embedded in the flow of information, culture, and change. Together, we explore what it means to stay engaged in a world that feels overwhelming—how to care deeply without burning out, and how to move from reactive outrage into something more grounded, sustained, and meaningful. Ali offers a powerful reframe: the difference between anger and outrage—and why one may be essential for long-term change, while the other keeps us stuck in cycles of reaction. This conversation moves from the personal to the collective, touching on media, responsibility, and the deeper systems shaping our lives. At the center of it all is a question many of us are quietly holding: How do we stay in the work—without losing ourselves? Together, we unpack: - The difference between anger and outrage—and why it matters - How outrage cycles can exhaust and distract us - What it means to cultivate sustainable emotional engagement - The idea that our “social contract” may be breaking down - Media consumption, information overload, and staying informed without burnout - Finding your role in the midst of complex societal issues - Why long-term change requires steadiness, not spikes - How community care and small actions still matter Resources mentioned in this episode Utah Abortion Fund A community-based organization providing financial support and access to abortion care in Utah. Hotline + support access: https://utabortionfund.org/ You can also support their work through monthly or one-time donations, helping ensure continued access to care for those who need it. Find Ali Vallarta at https://saltlake.citycast.fm/ Connect with us! 💬 Join the conversation in our private network on BFF https://links.geneva.com/invite/af6ecd07-9070-43b7-9629-7aaa166aa131 📲 Follow us on Instagram instagram.com/maven.community ✨ And if this episode moved you, sharing it with a friend helps more women find us. More at → mavenslc.com
S2 · E19
April 6 · 1 hr 16 min
Living What You Believe
In this episode of Heart + Head Work, we sit down with Blake Spalding and Jen Castle, executive chefs and founders of the iconic Hell’s Backbone Grill in Boulder, Utah. For more than 25 years, Blake and Jen have built far more than a restaurant—they’ve built a community rooted in hospitality, advocacy, and a deep commitment to the land and people around them. Their work has become a powerful example of how business can be used as a platform for values, courage, and collective care. What began as a shared love of food and partnership grew into a restaurant that feeds both the body and the spirit. Along the way, Blake and Jen have used their voices to advocate for environmental protection, community well-being, and the idea that success isn’t measured by profit alone. In this conversation, they share stories of building a values-driven business, navigating activism as business owners, and redefining what it means to lead with integrity in a complicated world. Together, we unpack: - The story behind Hell’s Backbone Grill and how Blake and Jen built their partnership - Using business as a platform for advocacy and environmental protection - The courage it takes to use your voice—even when it’s uncomfortable - Navigating criticism, community pressure, and standing by your values - How food and hospitality can become a space for connection and healing - Redefining success beyond money, status, or traditional metrics - Why small businesses can be powerful centers of culture and change This episode is thoughtful, bold, and deeply human—an exploration of what happens when people choose to lead with integrity, speak up for what matters, and build something that nourishes far beyond the plate. Where to find Hell’s Backbone Grill: Hell’s Backbone Grill https://www.hellsbackbonegrill.com Follow Blake & Jen Instagram: @hellsbackbonegrill Disclaimer This conversation reflects personal experiences and perspectives. Every business, community, and leadership journey is unique. We encourage listeners to reflect on what resonates and explore their own path toward meaningful work and impact. Connect with us! Continue the conversation with us inside the Maven Network, our private space on BFF: https://links.geneva.com/invite/af6ecd07-9070-43b7-9629-7aaa166aa131 Follow us on Instagram @mavenslc More at → https://www.mavenslc.com Connect with us! 💬 Join the conversation in our private network on BFF https://links.geneva.com/invite/af6ecd07-9070-43b7-9629-7aaa166aa131 📲 Follow us on Instagram instagram.com/maven.community ✨ And if this episode moved you, sharing it with a friend helps more women find us. More at → mavenslc.com
S2 · E18
March 23 · 49 min
How Speaking Up Creates Change
In this episode of Heart + Head Work, we explore what it means to advocate — not just in big public moments, but in the quieter, everyday ways we use our voice to influence change. Rocky Donati and Tessa Arneson sit down with business leader and advocate Natalie Caddis and communications strategist Jenna Smith for a conversation about leadership, storytelling, and the surprising ways small moments of courage can ripple outward. Through personal stories and lived experience, Natalie shares what it was like to step into leadership of her family’s manufacturing company during a time of uncertainty — navigating real financial pressure while learning how resilience, creativity, and persistence can reshape what’s possible. Jenna brings a communications lens to the conversation, offering insight into how stories, relationships, and follow-up can open unexpected doors — even leading to moments that feel almost impossible. Together, this episode explores the ways advocacy shows up in business, leadership, and daily life. From navigating crises to pitching ideas, connecting with media, and building relationships that matter, the conversation reveals how influence is often built through consistency, curiosity, and the willingness to keep showing up. Rather than presenting advocacy as something reserved for activists or public figures, this episode reframes it as a practice — something we can all cultivate in our work, communities, and relationships. Together, we unpack: - What advocacy really looks like in everyday leadership - How storytelling can shape influence and open unexpected opportunities - The role of persistence and follow-up in building meaningful connections - Why relationships often matter more than credentials or authority - How moments of pressure can reveal the leaders we’re becoming - The small actions that can create surprising ripple effects This episode is an invitation to reflect on the ways your own voice — and your willingness to use it — might shape the conversations, opportunities, and communities around you. Connect with us Continue the conversation with us inside the Maven Network, our private space on BFF Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mavenslc More at → https://www.mavenslc.com ✨ And if this episode moved you, sharing it with a friend helps more women find us. Connect with us! 💬 Join the conversation in our private network on BFF https://links.geneva.com/invite/af6ecd07-9070-43b7-9629-7aaa166aa131 📲 Follow us on Instagram instagram.com/maven.community ✨ And if this episode moved you, sharing it with a friend helps more women find us. More at → mavenslc.com
March 9 · 1 hr 3 min
Listen and Leap | Jennifer Mulholland
In this episode of Heart + Head Work, we explore what it means to listen — really listen — to the quiet intelligence within. Rocky Donati and Tessa Stuckey sit down with Jennifer Mulholland for a deeply embodied conversation about soul knowing, presence, and the moments in life when we’re called to leap before we have all the answers. Through story, reflection, and lived experience, Jennifer shares how learning to trust the body’s wisdom has shaped her path — from athletics and corporate leadership to healing work, entrepreneurship, and guiding others back to themselves. This conversation weaves together themes of integrity, intuition, and the courage it takes to slow down in a world that rewards speed and strategy. Jennifer opens up about listening through the body, navigating major life transitions, and learning to distinguish between the voice of fear and the quiet clarity of soul speak. Rather than offering formulas or fixes, this episode is an invitation — to soften, to notice, and to experiment with presence in small, accessible ways. Together, we unpack: - What it means to listen to the body as an inner compass - The difference between strategy-driven decisions and soul-led ones - How slowing down creates access to clarity, healing, and alignment - Why sensation, expansion, and contraction can be powerful guides - The role of space, silence, and attention in meaningful change - How trusting the next step — without knowing the whole path — can transform a life This episode is an invitation to remember your wholeness and reconnect with the wisdom that’s already within you. Resources Mentioned: Jennifer Mulholland Embodiment guide, speaker, and coach Website: https://jennifermulholland.com/ Disclaimer: This conversation reflects personal experience and perspective, not medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice. Everyone’s body, nervous system, and healing journey is unique. We encourage you to consult a qualified medical or mental health professional before making decisions related to your physical or emotional health. Connect with us! 💬 Join the conversation in our private network on BFF https://links.geneva.com/invite/af6ecd07-9070-43b7-9629-7aaa166aa131 📲 Follow us on Instagram instagram.com/maven.community ✨ And if this episode moved you, sharing it with a friend helps more women find us. More at → mavenslc.com
S2 · E16
February 23 · 43 min
The Cost of Saying Yes to the Wrong Thing
In this episode of Heart + Head Work, we explore the moment you realize something in your life isn’t aligned — and you can no longer pretend it is. Rocky Donati and Tessa Arneson share a candid, behind-the-scenes look at a season when momentum, opportunity, and growth began to pull them away from alignment. What looked exciting and expansive at first slowly became heavy, complicated, and unsustainable — not because the idea was wrong, but because it wasn’t right for them. Through the story of launching a boutique hotel alongside building Maven, Rocky opens up about the emotional and relational cost of saying yes to something that didn’t fit, the tension of recognizing it in real time, and the courage it took to finally admit the truth. This conversation moves through overwhelm, avoidance, grief, partnership, and ultimately relief — a return to integrity that reshaped how they make decisions today. Rather than offering productivity formulas or growth hacks, this episode asks a deeper question: How do you know when something is truly aligned? Together, we unpack: - The subtle ways misalignment can hide inside “good opportunities” - What happens to the body and relationships when we override inner knowing - Why external success doesn’t equal internal clarity - How honest conversations can restore connection and direction - The difference between what works and what’s right - A simple framework Rocky used to recognize where her energy truly belonged This episode is an invitation to listen more carefully to yourself, even when the answer requires a hard change. Disclaimer This conversation reflects personal experience and perspective, not financial, legal, or therapeutic advice. Every business, partnership, and life circumstance is unique. We encourage you to consult appropriate professionals before making major decisions. Connect with us! 💬 Join the conversation in our private network on BFF https://links.geneva.com/invite/af6ecd07-9070-43b7-9629-7aaa166aa131 📲 Follow us on Instagram instagram.com/maven.community ✨ And if this episode moved you, sharing it with a friend helps more women find us. More at → mavenslc.com
S2 · E15
February 9 · 1 hr 17 min
The Sex Talk You Never Had
In this episode of Heart + Head Work, we explore sex, fantasy, and desire through the lens of presence, safety, and self-trust. Rocky Donati and Tessa Arneson are joined by Dr. Stormy Hill, a mental health occupational therapist and intimacy coach, and Courtney Stookey, founder of Lovebound Library—Utah’s first romance-only bookstore—for an honest, playful, and deeply grounding conversation about what desire is really trying to tell us. Together, they explore why sex is one of the most talked about—and most repressed—topics in our culture, how shame and performance disconnect us from our bodies, and what becomes possible when curiosity replaces judgment. From romance novels and fantasy as tools for exploration, to nervous system safety and sexual sovereignty, this episode invites listeners to slow down and listen inward. Rather than offering answers or prescriptions, this conversation centers presence: learning to notice what’s alive in the body, what feels safe, and what we’re genuinely drawn toward—without pressure to act or perform. Together, we unpack: - Why sex is culturally obsessed over and simultaneously suppressed - What it means to ask, “What actually turns me on?” for the first time - How fantasy and romance can offer information—not instruction - The role of safety, the nervous system, and the body in desire - Reclaiming sexuality as something personal, not performative - Why curiosity and imagination can be powerful tools for self-connection This episode is thoughtful, warm, and unexpectedly fun—an invitation to approach desire with more honesty, softness, and trust. Resources Mentioned: Dr. Stormy Hill Intimacy Coach & Mental Health Occupational Therapist https://lovedeeplab.com/ Courtney Stookey Owner of Lovebound Library Utah’s first romance-only bookstore https://www.loveboundlibrary.com Rocky and Tessa's book picks from Lovebound Library: Heather's Pick: A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston Rocky's Pick: Black Rose and Blood Orange by Karina Halle Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loveboundlibrary Disclaimer: This conversation reflects personal experience and perspective, not medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice. Everyone’s body, nervous system, and healing journey is different. We encourage you to consult a qualified medical or mental health professional before making decisions related to your physical or emotional health. Connect with us! 💬 Join the conversation in our private network on BFF https://links.geneva.com/invite/af6ecd07-9070-43b7-9629-7aaa166aa131 📲 Follow us on Instagram instagram.com/maven.community ✨ And if this episode moved you, sharing it with a friend helps more women find us. More at → mavenslc.com
S2 · E14
January 26 · 1 hr 5 min
How 10 Days of Silence Changed My Life
In this episode of Heart + Head Work, we explore what happens when everything goes quiet. Rocky Donati shares her experience attending a 10-day Vipassana silent retreat—a meditation practice centered on awareness, equanimity, and learning to see reality exactly as it is. With no phone, no speaking, no reading, and more than 11 hours of meditation per day, the retreat created an environment designed to strip away distraction and invite a direct encounter with the self. What unfolded wasn’t bliss—it was pain. Intense, sustained physical pain that became the gateway to something far more transformative: a deep reconnection to the body, an understanding of sensation versus reaction, and the realization that presence isn’t about feeling good—it’s about being fully with what is. Rocky opens up about what it means to sit with discomfort instead of trying to escape it, how chronic pain and dissociation can disconnect us from ourselves, and why learning to observe without reacting can change how we move through every part of life. Together, we unpack What a 10-day Vipassana silent retreat actually looks like (schedule, structure, and expectations) Why Rocky experienced intense physical pain while others did not The difference between sensation, reaction, and equanimity How chronic pain, dissociation, and healing are deeply connected What it means to witness yourself without trying to fix or change anything Why presence creates now benefits—not just future ones How this practice continues beyond meditation and into daily life This episode is honest, embodied, and deeply human—an invitation to explore presence in whatever way meets you where you are. Resources Mentioned Vipassana Meditation (as taught by S.N. Goenka): https://www.dhamma.org https://www.pasava.dhamma.org/ Disclaimer This conversation reflects personal experience and perspective, not medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice. Everyone’s body, nervous system, and healing journey is different. We encourage you to consult a qualified medical or mental health professional before making decisions related to your physical or emotional health. Connect with us! 💬 Join the conversation in our private network on BFF https://links.geneva.com/invite/af6ecd07-9070-43b7-9629-7aaa166aa131 📲 Follow us on Instagram instagram.com/maven.community ✨ And if this episode moved you, sharing it with a friend helps more women find us. More at → mavenslc.com

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