French Kissing Life

Ep 23: Why We Crave Connection in Community with Talia Schneiderman

• Shawnna Stiver • Episode 23

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Growing up in an entrepreneurial family set the stage for Talia Schneiderman's journey into the world of business and community building. In this episode, Talia recounts her path from teaching at My Gym Children's Fitness Center to co-founding the Harvest Goal Collective with her long-time friend, Steph Exner. We discuss the profound impact accountability groups have on women balancing multiple roles, offering them a safe and supportive space to chase their dreams and cultivate meaningful connections. 

Talia and Steph met in 2008 at My Gym in Thousand Oaks, California, where Steph attended Talia's baby gym class with her two-year-old son. They immediately hit it off, bonding over their entrepreneurial journeys, creative pursuits, and parenting experiences. Despite Steph's failed attempt to marry Talia into the family (seriously, it didn't work), they remained close friends and cheerleaders for each other. In 2022, they teamed up to create a platform to support other women's journeys, drawing on their shared passion for empowering others.

Topics covered:

  • Importance of community and connection.
  • The journey to founding Harvest Goal Collective.
  • The concept and benefits of accountability groups.
  • Building a community, starting from the initial stages to evolving and expanding over time.
  • Providing a supportive and non-judgmental environment for members.
  • Tips and insights for personal development.

Here are some actions you can take whether you have 5 minutes or 50:

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Connect with Talia and Stephanie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harvest_goal_collective/
Website: https://harvestgoalcollective.com/

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Contact French Kissing Life Podcast

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Until next time, muah!

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Speaker 1:

Welcome to French Kissing Life. I'm your host, shauna Stiver, and I am thrilled to help you discover what makes your heart race, your soul dance and your spirit soar. Every week you'll get a fun dose of inspiration, laughter and a sprinkle of magic as we explore stories, insights and conversations that empower you to ignite the spark within, in a world that demands you be anything but yourself. This is your permission slip to be a little more you. Together, let's shed the shoulds, embrace our unique brilliance and welcome more joy. Are you ready to French Kiss Life? Welcome back to another episode of French Kissing Life. I am your host, shauna Stiver, and today we're going to talk about the importance of community, more specifically, why we crave connection in community. So there are thousands of examples in history that illustrate why we, as human beings, need each other. You can point to all of the findings from the pandemic, for example. You can look at natural disasters and how neighbors just pitch in without hesitation to help others in need. Unfortunately, we have recent examples of that here in Iowa, as our state has been hit more than once this spring with devastating tornadoes. Those are some of the most extreme cases of why community matters, but it's not the only example, or even really the most common. Maybe you're thinking of tackling a goal and you need an outsider's point of view, or you want to put into practice what you're learning in therapy, or you are curious about a sober lifestyle, but you don't really want the judgment or well-intended questions from friends or family. That was exactly the goal for Talia Schneiderman and Steph Exner when they launched Harvest Goal Collective. Talia and Steph met back in 2008 at my Gym in Thousand Oaks, california. Steph was taking her then two-year-old son to Talia's engaging baby gym class. They became friends immediately and Talia's energy as a teacher and coach was infectious, warm and positive. Steph seriously attempted to marry her into the family. No joke Didn't work. Since then, they've been each other's biggest cheerleaders, bonding over entrepreneurship, journeys, creative passions and parenting. They supported and championed one another's dreams as they pursued their own distinct professional paths. Supported and championed one another's dreams as they pursued their own distinct professional paths, and in 2022, the duo joined forces to develop a way to support other women's journeys too. In the search to discover the next steps, together they held an accountability meeting for themselves to state their goals, record the steps necessary and then check in two weeks later. It was there that the inspiration was born. On December 19th 2022, they held the first group accountability meeting and on January 1st 2023, they made the mission and direction clear and became Harvest Goal Collective.

Speaker 1:

In this episode, we talk about Talia's journey to get where she is today how accountability groups can help people tackle stickier goals within a really safe, non-judgmental space the key to what makes their facilitating so successful and what's next for the business. We are not meant to do life in isolation, and the work that Talia and Steph are doing proves that. If you are struggling to make progress with a goal or looking for inspiration to improve an area of your life, this episode is for you. Please enjoy my informative and goal-oriented episode with Talia Schneiderman. Hi, talia, thank you so much for being on French Kissing Life today. I'm excited to chat.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, thank you so much for having me. I was up last night preparing, making sure the technology was good, and I'm so excited to be here too. Thank you so much.

Speaker 1:

Yes, of course. Well, today we're going to talk about the like so important topic of community and how important that is just generally to humans, and so I'd love it if we could start with, like your story, how you got to this point in your life and growing this kind of business that you're growing.

Speaker 2:

Oh my gosh, I love this question and it takes I mean I have to go all the way back to the beginning because it really is all encompassing. Is that okay?

Speaker 2:

Yes absolutely Okay. So I grew up in Woodland Hills, California, which is in the Valley of Los Angeles County. Um, my parents are entrepreneurs. They founded my gym children's fitness center when my mom was pregnant with me, when my mom was pregnant with me, and so I was literally born into the gym, you know, and I was in the office while they were teaching classes and so I firsthand saw like how a business was run, what it took, et cetera, and now the gym is a franchise. It's all over the world, almost every single state.

Speaker 2:

It's wild, but because I grew up in the gym and I had the parents that I had, I learned how to teach my gym classes. And for those of you who don't have kids or have never heard of my gym, it's age-appropriate gymnastics and movement classes for children age from like three months old to 10 years old. So it's really fun and bonding and there's lots of benefits with child development cognitively, emotionally, all the things. And so I started teaching at 13 years old in the gyms and so I learned how to command a room, teach a class, conversate with parents, etc. By the time I was 16 years old, I was working regularly in the gyms and both of my parents gyms, because we had two. And then I went to UC Berkeley for college and I helped teach in some gyms in Northern California, in the Walnut Creek location and in the San Francisco location. And in the San Francisco location was my first exposure to training other teachers, because I was meeting people who were like wow, you're the founder's daughter. Oh, tell me what you know. And so I would impart my parents' wisdom onto them and teach them things that you can't get from, like reading a manual.

Speaker 2:

After that I moved back home and I taught in my dad's gym with him every single day for eight years, and so that's when I really really learned how to run a business, the ins and outs of everything, not just teaching the classes but managing staff training, staff everything, customer service, sales, all of it. I think he thought I was going to just go ahead and take over the gym, which was what they were hoping, but I have. I'm entrepreneurial in spirit, I always have been and I was like I want something else and I always wanted to act. And so I, while I was working at the gym, I went to acting school and I loved it, fell in love with the acting classes, and after I completed that two-year program. I was asked to train to be a teacher at the acting studio and I I completed that two-year program. I was asked to train to be a teacher at the acting studio.

Speaker 1:

And I of course said yes, yeah.

Speaker 2:

So now I am learning how to teach a different skill set to adults and working with I was 26 or 27 at the time and many of my students were older than me, and so, like learning how to teach and communicate with all age groups, all ethnicities I mean it was so diverse and fun and also learning how to really pay attention, listen and help people get from moment to moment in an emotionally logical way. I mean I'm going into acting territory here, which is really cool and fun and could be a whole other episode, but I really honed in on my skills at the acting studio. I then met my husband and we got married and I was teaching nights and weekends at the studio and he had a regular nine to five and I knew that this wasn't sustainable. Like we wanted similar hours so that we can have more quality time together. And so at this time there was a full-blown my Gym franchise office and they had been trying to get me to come and work for corporate my Gym forever, and so I finally said yes, and so my position at my Gym Enterprises was I was a support person, so I was doing accountability and support calls with my Gym owners around the country and world, and I was also doing support visits, like flying around the country and helping people open their gyms, watching them teach their classes, helping them learn how to teach better, filling in the gaps, inspiring them, and in that work it wasn't just about my gym or the classes. It was allowing them to see, like, the bigger picture here, like no matter what you do in your life, the skills that you're learning right now you can apply to everything, and so I've always had this sort of teaching, leadership, inspirational thing, connecting thing about me.

Speaker 2:

I got pregnant with my first baby and I knew that I didn't want to work a regular nine to five or be traveling at all when she was born, and so, when she was born, I decided to. We were so blessed and fortunate that I was able to stay home with her and I stopped working and around three months postpartum, I was like I need something else. I wasn't sure like how motherhood. I've always wanted to be a mom, but I wasn't sure like what my creative needs were going to be like after becoming a mom and I was like, oh there, there, I still need to be doing other things, and so I was able to do some side kind of fun hobbies while she was little. So I was like a health coach for half a minute and what I loved about that was like connecting with women and building community, which is what we're talking about today. And then I stopped doing that and I got pregnant again and kind of took a break because I was, you know, I had a toddler and was pregnant.

Speaker 2:

And once he turned it was a little bit different with him because it was in the middle of COVID and we were moving houses and so I just didn't have space to do anything creative. Like moving was the project. And then, once we moved, and once he turned two so I had a two-year-old and a four-year-old I was like, okay, I feel like I have space for something else now. And I had a little vintage business with a friend and that was really fun. Yeah, it was so fun. It was inspired by my grandma and, again, the thing that I loved about it was finding these treasures, kind of reviving them and then passing them on to someone else, and it was a lot of fun. But then I was like, well, what's the end game here? A brick and mortar store, like I, just it wasn't. It didn't have that like oomph, like that passion for me.

Speaker 1:

And so.

Speaker 2:

I stopped and while I was doing the vintage business, Stephanie my business partner, the co-founder of Harvest Goal Collective, and I reconnected. And just to go back, I met Stephanie 15, almost 16 years ago at my gym. Oh fun, Okay, she was a mom bringing in her baby. I was a teacher and we became friends instantly and she like tried to set me up with her brother-in-law. Like. We were just like can we just be in each other's lives all the time? And so we always were cheering each other on, watching each other. When I did the vintage business, she had another business called Cedar Ravine Clothing and Accessories Inspired by Nature, Sustainable Products, and she was like wrapping that up. And I was wrapping up the vintage business and she was like I think it's time to work together.

Speaker 2:

I love that. Yes, I think it's time to work together. And that was November 22, so the end of 2022 and so she and I started talking and we both knew that we wanted to do something in community with women in a supportive, empowering way. And we wasn't. We weren't sure like what that was going to look like. And then she said, what about accountability groups? I was like, oh, what do you mean? Tell me more.

Speaker 2:

She's like well, imagine small groups of women meeting on zoom, so it'd be virtual, facilitated by you and I, and we hold the space for women to talk about their goals and what's going on in their lives, and then we check in every other week and see how they're doing and help them reprioritize, et cetera. I said, okay, that sounds interesting. And so we had our first accountability group with each other and any goal accepted, like business, parenting, educational, decluttering, health, wellness, self-care, whatever. And so we had a Zoom and it was very efficient and I facilitated her with what was on her mind and her priority goals. And then she did the same for me. We took notes for each other and, at the end of it, just saying it out loud and knowing someone was listening was so validating and empowering and motivating.

Speaker 2:

So at the end of the hour, she says I feel so pumped and excited. I want to tackle this list. How do you feel? I'm like I feel great, and she's like I think this is it. I think this is what we're going to do. And so we put a simple call to action on Facebook, like starting virtual accountability groups for women. All goals accepted. Anyone interested in the response was huge, like hundreds of people saying yes, me, me, me. And so we saw that people were craving community, they were craving support and they wanted to do it with each other not alone, and that's how Harvest Goal Collective was born.

Speaker 2:

So that was the whole story, Shauna.

Speaker 1:

I love, I love the stories, I love the stories. But it strikes me that you guys, you know, were you influenced by something where you, you know, like maybe didn't have the best support for something? Or was it just that you, you just like maybe didn't have the best support for something, or was it just that you, you just sort of stumbled into this? And once you tried that first group together, you were like this is the thing.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, it kind of was an accident. Yeah, it really was. It was an idea. Stephanie heard something on a podcast about accountability groups and then we're not therapy or coaching at all. I just want to make that very clear. We're like facilitators, we stay in our lane on that. But Stephanie was and I hope she's okay with me saying this but it was sort of the inspiration behind this idea for her, I think, was that she was a part of a therapy group for five years and it was such a gift for her and she wanted to bring that gift in a way that we could to other women, and so she saw accountability as the vehicle for that.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yeah, and really like the support comes from, like you're not just tackling it yourself, you have that additional person that's helping you. And also, I think what can be so beautiful is when you have, like this collective wisdom of the group that can support you in a way that you maybe weren't even expecting, which to me, like speaks to the trust and the safety that you build, you know, for your members. I'm curious to know what you think that's like. How do you think you kind of created that for them?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, that's such a great question and you hit the nail on the head with that.

Speaker 2:

It's not just Steph and I facilitating, it's the wisdom of the group and it's one of my favorite things watching the unexpected support in perspective that happens within the group, because you bond and you learn about each other and it's organic, the connection.

Speaker 2:

It's really beautiful and I think the culture of that trust starts with Steph and I. I think people can really feel how honest and authentic and true we are and Steph and I also share like our struggles and what we're going through in group, like we walk the walk, we talk the talk, like we do what everyone else is doing in group on our own as well. And so I think, because we're vulnerable and open, it allows other people to be vulnerable and open as well, and sometimes it takes time, you know. So it's like maybe someone isn't comfortable at first and then, after they show up three or four times, they're like, oh, they fall into the groove of it and then some people open up right away and it's really just dependent on personality, you know, and comfortability. But I think it starts with Steph and I and comfortability, but I think it starts with Steph and I, you know, and that's really, really, yeah, it's so.

Speaker 2:

That is. Our top priority is creating a safe, non-judgmental space for women to show up exactly as they are, without worrying about putting on a mask or being a certain way or saying the right thing, it's, it's, it's so beautiful and it's evolved in such a natural way. I'm really proud. I'm really proud of what we've built.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yeah, I would be too if I was you. It strikes me too that, like you know, tech as technology advances and certainly we saw this during the pandemic that of gives us an out to not have to seek out stuff like accountability groups or connection or community. But from your expert perspective in leading a business like this, why do you think having those accountability groups or community is so important for people you know on their way to achieving goals?

Speaker 2:

First of all, I just want to say that everyone is different. Some people do work better alone and they don't want to collaborate and they want to put their head down and move forward. That I do think, and I actually used to be that way. I was not a group team person, like in school. I would prefer the solo project over the group project and as I've gotten older, I have realized the value of learning other people's perspective to open my mind and help me evolve to like the next evolution of Talia, and I feel like that is a benefit of doing or joining a community or an accountability group like this is because it helps you evolve as a person, it helps you be more empathetic, it helps you listen, it helps you understand where different people are at and it just opens up your mind. And so I just think, like in a personal development, self-development type of way, it's just going to be enriching. So that's one way it could benefit. Another way it can benefit is like moving the needle on your goals.

Speaker 2:

You know it's like yep, people join, most people join because they have so many things to do, they're wearing so many hats, they're juggling so many things and they want it all in one space to talk about, and so it's kind of a breath of fresh air to be able to talk openly kind of to a third party who's not your family, not your partner you can talk candidly like we have no skin in the game and what their personal lives are, and so it is actually a form of self-care to show up to group, because it's literally like relief. You have your designated time to talk about what's important to you and you have a group of active and engaged listeners who are paying attention to what you're saying, and so that's just extremely validating. It helps build confidence. It's self-care, confidence, it's self-care and oftentimes that's the only space that people have to be able to kind of air out whatever they want to air out like that. So it's it's so beneficial in like so many different levels. Yeah, did I answer the question? That was like a big one.

Speaker 1:

You did you did. And it also makes me think of like stickier goals, like maybe somebody who goes to therapy often but then is like, how do I implement things that I learned in therapy like day to day? Or like somebody who's you know, maybe curious about trying a sober lifestyle but doesn't really want the judgment or the expectations from, like a friend or family, or even just you know, simply the questions.

Speaker 2:

And it's like this group is designed specifically to provide that kind of support for those things, exactly, exactly. And I love that you're saying all these things, because everyone is coming in with different things. You know, we actually ended up we didn't know this was going to happen. We ended up attracting small business owners, entrepreneurs, women who don't have a partner, they don't have a staff, they don't have a team, and they are also a mom and a wife and like all the things you know, and they were using us as the consistent part of their schedule to kind of help organize themselves, bring them home, find clarity, get grounded, and so we're really helpful in that way too, and in that the women can work on their business and then they can work on other aspects of their life all in the same hour. And that's really important to us is that we support the whole person.

Speaker 2:

We kind of holistic, like W-H-O-L-E, you know, holistic accountability, um, because you know we aren't just our businesses, we are so much more. So it's just really safe and supportive and nurturing and nourishing and all the things. And it's true, there's really no goal off limits, and if there is something outside of my wheelhouse, like maybe the list or the goal that we put on the list is finding a therapist that works for you, because I don't get into that. You know that's not what we do or opening it up to the group and saying does anyone relate to this? Does anyone have any wisdom they can impart or share different perspective? And so it's really this. It turns into this really collaborative, creative conversation.

Speaker 1:

And I would guess too, like helps people with friendship. You know, like maybe that's an unintended consequence of it too. But you know, in one of our episodes we talked about like how to make friends as an adult, because there there isn't those built in structures like there are when you know we're in school or we're in college or even like for people that work remotely. You know, I can point to times where, like I worked in an office and my social life was for sure like more thriving because I just like had those people to go to lunch with or to do happy hour with. So it's nice also to like have that be sort of an unintended thing to happen with group members.

Speaker 2:

It is. It's really beautiful. The bonding and the unexpected connections that people make are my favorite part of what we do, and we've all like each other so much that people make are my favorite part of what we do, and we all like each other so much that people have been asking for in-person events, and so we started doing that too for our members. We have members all over the world, but because I'm in California and so is Stephanie, we have a big chunk of our members who live here, and so we are like we ran a. We did a mud run last year and we ran a 5k a couple of months ago, and we're doing a floating sound bath in April and we're hosting our first retreat in May. So because of the culture we've created and people want to get together, we're making that happen too. So, yes, the friendships and the bonding.

Speaker 2:

And then the other thing about it is that because we've attracted entrepreneurs and the women are learning about each other and their businesses and building trust, they started referring and hiring one another. They started networking. It was so cool and unexpected, and so when that happened, we asked do you want us to support you in that too? And they all said yes, and so now we host networking events online that are free to attend for anybody actually but there are presenting spots reserved for members where they get to talk for 10 minutes about their business to a room full of really excited women looking to connect. So Harvest has evolved and continues to evolve, but it started with accountability and it's kind of grown from there in such a beautiful way.

Speaker 1:

Well, tell me so, how does it work? Tell me, like sort of how you began and what that included in sort of what you're evolving into.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, so it started with accountability groups five women per group, sometimes six, one hour every other week, facilitated by Stephanie and I. So it's a two-person facilitator model. Right now that might change, but right now it's two, where one person is the main facilitator, making sure everyone has their time, goes through the structure, asks clarifying questions, encourages engagement, and then the other person takes notes on every single lady and what their goals are in a very specific way action, steps and we email those notes to them every single time, so they have a list of everything they're working on and then that's the list. When we come back two weeks later, that is the list that we check in on. How is that going? Do you want to keep this on? Do we need to adjust this? Do you want to keep this on? Do we need to adjust this? Do you want us to pause this? For you, is this still a priority? So it turns into this flexible, you know, prioritization of what's happening in people's lives and where they're at, and nothing is ever set in stone, but it's always like being self-aware, re-evaluating and we're just always reflecting that back. So that's how it started and the way women join is they pick a group that works for them. We have 10 or 11 on the schedule and that is the group that they show up to, with the same five, six women. And, yeah, if they need to change a group, they let us know. If they miss a group, they can do a makeup, but it's really that is their cohort of people that they are doing their goals with and, like I said, if anyone needs to change like they just we're really, really accommodating because we understand life happens. So that's how it started and that hasn't really changed at all.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, what we noticed was that the networking started happening because they people were like I want to support you. Oh, I know someone who needs your services X, y or Z and so we were like, oh my gosh, they're networking. Do you want support in this too? They all said yes, and so we were like, oh my gosh, they're networking, do you want support in this too? They all said yes, and so we started hosting these networking events and now we do two a month and everyone's invited, it's free to attend, not just members, but the presenting spots. There are four presenting spots per networking group which are 10 minutes in length, and you get to talk about your podcast or the service you offer or a passion project, and so it gives our members the opportunity to practice talking about their business in a safe, really supportive space and it allows everyone to connect and benefit from the opportunities in the room.

Speaker 2:

And from there we added a member directory on our website. We have a private Facebook group. We have a member section in our newsletter so you can send me your podcast or your blog and we'll blast it out to our database. So we're always just looking for ways to support our members in business and gain visibility in any which way. So that happened and then we started growing and I felt like we had a community because we had a private Facebook group. But the truth was like everyone was in their own little five-person accountability pod.

Speaker 2:

They weren't really meeting the other women in the community. And so, once again, we're always asking our members like, okay, if we brought someone in to teach, what would you want to learn about AI, instagram, meditation, yoga, whatever? And so what we did is we started hosting monthly community workshops included in the price and bringing in these guest experts to teach on different things. So we created an opportunity for everyone to come together once a month and learn from an expert guest speaker. And if people can't make it, we record it and we have a library of all of these workshops that they can go back and watch when they can. And so that's how we included more of a community event that everyone could go to at the same time if they wanted. And now we're evolving again, like this is literally happening as we speak. So very, very soon we will have other types of classes on our schedule, taught by other instructors.

Speaker 1:

Amazing. I know, I'm so excited.

Speaker 2:

So we're going to be like a school. We're going to be a continuing education for women really cool classes that you can't get anywhere else, in all different categories. So accountability will still be on there and we're going to continue to grow that. But now we're going to have a doodling class, now we're going to have a love and sex class, now we're going to have a meditation class and you can become a member, kind of like the Y or the gym, like become a member of harvest and we'll have some free stuff that the membership gives you and then we'll have different opportunities that people can add on and sign up for, dependent on their interests.

Speaker 1:

So this is being put together right now, that's amazing, gosh, I need to join this.

Speaker 2:

Oh my gosh, Please, please, oh my gosh, you would love it.

Speaker 1:

You would love it. So it sounds like it's open to anybody. Yes, yeah, yes, that's Okay. Yes, that's amazing. That is so amazing and so incredible that you guys are growing. You know so much and it just goes to show you that, like you hit it on the on the head when you sort of surmise that, like this is something that people need you know.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, yeah, thank you for that. Yeah, they people are craving connection, they're craving community, and we kept it virtual because we wanted people to be able to tune in from anywhere, and there will be, and continue to be, like, in-person events as well. But, um, and you're going to have to come to a networking event or something, shauna, because I want you to feel the vibe every time.

Speaker 2:

I mean, the number one thing that people say is like I've never been to a networking event like this. I felt so welcome. It was collaborative, not competitive. It felt fun and exciting and I wasn't intimidated. And I and again, that's the culture from the beginning, Like that's the core of who we are and we bring that to all aspects of the business. Yeah, so, oh my gosh, I can't wait for you to try it.

Speaker 1:

Yeah. So how do you guys ensure the success of specifically like the accountability group? So I'm going to totally out myself here. So, um, I've been in groups before and it's like life gets in the way because it just has a way of doing that. Um, there aren't really like repercussions or consequences to me not showing up. Then I start skipping the meetings, then I think it's not like I rationalize that it's not really helping me and so I leave. This is all on me for not participating. But would you say that the success of the group lies in the readiness of the individual, or is there something that you guys do specifically to ensure that people find the value in that and they don't want to leave the group?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I think it's a combination. The readiness is so important, like if somebody is not ready, like there is nothing I can do or say that'll help them be ready, like maybe I'll light under, like maybe something, maybe I can say something that would light a fire under their butt a little bit. But it does really come down to readiness and because it's not even being accountable to the group, it's like giving people the space to be accountable to themselves Do you know what I'm saying? And helping them learn the tools to practice that. And that takes time. And so the first step is like well, are you ready and how important are these things to you? Yeah, yeah, you know, and I can compare it to the gym. And I can compare it to the gym, like people can say, oh, I want to get healthier or I want to get fit or I want to train for a marathon, but if you don't do the work and you don't show up, like you're not going to get the result. And the accountability work is the same. It's very similar.

Speaker 2:

Um, it gets hard sometimes for people. Sometimes people come and they're like I've done nothing on my list and I'm like okay, that's okay and you're here. You did nothing on your list and you still showed up and you showed up for the group, thank you, thank you for being here and thank you for being brave and admitting that. Thank you for being brave and admitting that. So, again, I think, because Steph and I are vulnerable and we share, like, the hard things that we go through and we don't always get to everything on our lists, and because we give ourselves grace or we try to like we're not perfect at all, it gives people permission to do the same. Yeah, like we've had women from day one every other week for almost 18 months. You know, I feel like that says something and and the women stay like they like it and they love it, and so I think it's a combination of the readiness and the culture that we've created and just what we're providing. And again, like if people don't take advantage of the value because there is so much value jam-packed in what we're offering then again, like that's on them and maybe they're not ready and they can try again later, but again it's a shame. Free zone, like no judgment.

Speaker 2:

So it, yeah, it gives people the space to say I didn't do this, and then I get to say is it still a priority. And they get to say, no, let's take it off the list. And I say, great. Or they'll say, yeah, it is still a priority, but I just don't have the space for it now. And then I can say, do you want me to bring this back up in June? Like, yeah, bring it back up in June. And so then we'll make a note on our end so that they don't have to remember it to bring it back up in June. And then we'll say, hey, it's June, do you want to put this back on your list or do you want to save it for later? And then they get to decide so.

Speaker 2:

And then some people come in and they're like none of this resonates with me anymore. I want to change everything on this list. And I'm like great, let's start from scratch. Or they say you know, I want to use my time to troubleshoot this issue. Does anyone have perspective on that? So people can use their time in different ways, and whether they do something or not do something, the most important thing is showing up. Which, does you know? It comes back to the readiness.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and I think, though, too, that the there's something to be said for the facilitation as well, that aspect of it, because even though there's, like you've created this, this wonderful space that is, you know, judgment, free and safe for everybody, there is an element in my opinion that, like, facilitation equals discipline, equals caring about your people. You care that they get what they are. They came to the group for you know, so I think that that that is a huge component to it as well.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I, yeah, I. It's interesting because, as a facilitator, I have to stay neutral in terms of my opinion about goals, because it's not my job to tell them this or that, like they know what's best for them because it's their life. But in terms of cheering everyone on and wanting them to succeed, and sometimes if I noticed that someone has had something on their list for a while and they haven't got it done and they'd say it's still a priority, I'll ask him like so do you want a little tough love right now? Like I'll ask. I'll always ask permission first, cause some people hate it, some people need it.

Speaker 2:

I personally like a little kick in the butt, um, and then I'll sort of change my approach or change the notes that we send and make it a little bit more firm and direct. If that's what someone wants and if they say no, it's like okay, but it's really just holding the space for them to come to it on their own. And of course we want them to succeed, you know, but ultimately it's not about what we want, it's meeting them where they're at. Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1:

Yeah. Do you have any tips for somebody who's maybe thinking about improving an area of their life, whether it's, like you know, self-esteem or confidence, or even the big task of you know, starting a business? Do you have any tips for somebody who's maybe trying to gauge that readiness, or who maybe is ready for something like you know, a group like this? Like any tips that you'd share for either of those two people?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, the first step for me always is getting it out of your head and onto paper, like get it out of your head. We can have ideas all day long, but if it just lives in your brain, like it's just going to stay there, it's not going to move into action. It's not going to move into or evolve into anything. Some people need to process on their own and they discover the direction in writing. Some people need to talk it out. I'm actually I'm a talk it out person, like I'll have an idea and I'll call up a friend. So that's the other thing, like call up someone that you can bounce ideas off of, whoever that is for you, and I'm like I have this idea, can I just vent right now and share it out loud and in that sort of word vomit. Usually an idea will be like oh, and this is what it is. So the first step if you have an idea, if you want to get started on something, first step like get it out of your head and onto paper, talk it out with a friend, boil it down to what the idea is as you're hashing it out, and then write that down too. That would be step number one, because it was just in here. It's going to just stay in there. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And then, in terms of readiness for an accountability group, again, like people join for different reasons. Some people come to group knowing exactly what they want to work on. Like they are so clear from the get-go we literally just hold the space for them to talk about it. It's very straightforward.

Speaker 2:

Some people are looking for structure. They're entrepreneurs, they're used to nine to five or school or whatever, and they're looking for some sort of structure and they get that from us. Some women are in transition. They're like switching careers, and they're they they're not really quite sure what it's going to be like, and so they use us as a way to explore and discover. You know what it is. Um, most women have a business. Not everyone does. Uh, some women are coming to like organize their life, you know, because it's you know they're dealing with all the things and they want to provide some sort of like system to their daily routine, et cetera. Some women come because they're having a hard time scheduling and self-care and they want to make that a priority. Um, I think that was a roundabout way of answering your question Well, I love what you guys are doing.

Speaker 1:

Um, I can't wait to check out a session. I think that, like, the accountability for goals is so critical and, um, I just think that, like you guys are are doing such incredible work, I can't wait to see, like, how this grows for you.

Speaker 2:

Thank, you so much, Shauna. That means a lot. And the other thing that's also really powerful in the accountability group is saying it out loud to a group and knowing other people. Other people heard what you just said. It's like, oh, it makes it more real. It's like, oh, they know it and they're going to check in on it next time, and so it kind of does like light a fire under you, like, oh, I'm going to be asked about this in two weeks, you know. So it really motivates people to to want to get it done.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yeah, that's amazing. Well, before I let you go, we've got to do a round of rapid fire questions. So are you ready? Oh my gosh, okay, I'm ready. The first one is if you were a drink, what would you be and why? A margarita Spicy or?

Speaker 2:

regular, regular, I would be a regular. I just love tequila. I'm not a big drinker at all, but I'm a happy girl. I like to dance, I like to have fun and margarita is a fun, good time drink for me.

Speaker 1:

I know you can't go wrong with a margarita.

Speaker 2:

That's my top two, yeah.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yeah, when you were a kid.

Speaker 2:

What did you want to be when you grew up? I wanted to be a dolphin trainer at SeaWorld.

Speaker 2:

That is so specific and I love it. It was, yeah, I mean, I want to do lots of things. I wanted to be like an author, I want to be an actor, but that I remember like going for the first time and it just looked so much fun to be able to interact with these amazing animals and to have that relationship and connection and perform and teach them things. That that it still sounds fun to me perform and teach them things that it still sounds fun to me.

Speaker 1:

honestly, Maybe that could be one of your classes that you guys add.

Speaker 2:

Oh my gosh, how fun would that be, could you imagine?

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, oh, my gosh, I love it. What's a book that you would recommend to everyone? This is a hard one. Okay, I'm just going to say this off the top of my head, because it's really the first author that had an impact on me. Um, have you ever read anything by Isabel Allende? No, she is a magical realism author and she really inspired creativity in the way in which I used words in writing like really beautiful metaphors. Um, stories based on historical events, but this magic element was added to her stories. But this magic element was added to her stories and it just always spoke to me and I I'm like having the hardest time remembering the names of the novels.

Speaker 2:

it's been a really long time since I've read, but Isabel Allende was, I forget where in Latin America she's from, but so and I I don't know, it's just the way she wrote just spoke to me. I loved that I was able to like, really imagine and taste and feel and sense the world that she was creating with writing and it. That really helped, like my schooling in art history, because that type of writing fits. When you're describing a painting, you have to be able to write in a way that someone can really imagine what it looks like, um, or, or a sculpture or whatever, and so I love that. Have you seen the movie chocolate?

Speaker 1:

Uh, no, I don't think so, but I know what you're talking about.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, it's just like this magical sort of element. So, isabel Allende, okay, okay.

Speaker 1:

I'm going to look her up. Yeah, if you could teleport to anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Speaker 2:

I'd probably go somewhere in Asia. I've never been to Bali or Thailand like somewhere tropical with really yummy food, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1:

I feel like that's the. That's the first time anybody has said Asia. We get a lot of the beach places, but I don't think anybody has said Asia so far.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I mean there's a beach there, like I'm imagining a beach over there. But yeah, I've been to Europe, I've been to the Middle East, I've been to South America, but Asia, like I really want to go to Asia.

Speaker 1:

Okay, um, what is the song that, when it comes on, you immediately want to get up and dance, preferably on a table.

Speaker 2:

I'm a salsa dancer.

Speaker 1:

And so again I'm not.

Speaker 2:

you'll probably learn this about me right now I'm not good with names of things, like they just don't stick in my brain. But you put on a cha-cha, you put on a mambo and I'm up and. I can't help but to move. I love Carlos Santana. I think his music is amazing. Um yeah, I'm a dancer, so it's not hard to get me on a table.

Speaker 1:

Girl after my own heart. I love it. If you could instantly master any skill, what would it be?

Speaker 2:

Language.

Speaker 1:

Like a foreign language or just yeah.

Speaker 2:

Like yeah, Knowing how to speak and understand any language so that I could communicate with anybody.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, that's such a great answer, yeah.

Speaker 2:

That is a good one.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, um name, a mantra, quote, affirmation or words that you live by.

Speaker 2:

Take deep breaths all the time. Just remember, like, if I have my breath and also this is going to sound really simple, but it's going to be okay, like everything is going to be okay In any given circumstance. It happens for a reason. Whether that sounds cliche, I know it's kind of annoying that it's cliche, but I do believe that you're given the things that you can handle, no matter what it is, and you can get through it. Like you're okay, I'm alive, I'm breathing, there's nothing attacking me. Like it's going to be okay and do the best with what I've got on each and every given day. You know each day is different. To give myself grace and some days like my best is not that great, but it's my best on that day and to let it be, um, yeah.

Speaker 1:

And I'm strong. Just you saying all that.

Speaker 2:

I'm like, oh right, I mean, what are we doing in this world? We're all just these, like little human beings trying to like figure it out.

Speaker 1:

But when?

Speaker 2:

it comes down to it like are our needs met? Are we safe? Do we have food and water?

Speaker 1:

Okay, I'm okay, mm-hmm.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, french kiss or French fry, I think.

Speaker 1:

French kiss. Well, it depends on with who? You know, You'd be shocked by how many people say French fry. But we have said it does depend. It's got to be a good French kiss and it's also got to be a good French fry.

Speaker 2:

So, yeah, yeah, I am. I love kissing. Like kissing is like that's where it's at. Yeah, yeah, I'm with you.

Speaker 1:

I'm with you.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, I'm with you. I'm with you. Who's your celebrity crush? I really like David Beckham. I think he's just really hot. Yes, there's something about. Well, I'm in awe of humans who can do exceptional things, like at high, high levels, and then how they train their bodies to be able. I'm just like whoa. Yeah, so all of those professional athletes with all those amazing athletic bodies, like doing for me and a handsome face. You know, doesn't hurt. Who's yours, do you have one?

Speaker 1:

I mean, David Beckham is a really good answer. I would say, yeah, he is so, so hot. I think on the last like the last one that somebody asked me and I said the latest bachelor Joey was so wonderful, and like the fact that he was physically cute is just like a bonus, cause he was just such a kind human being and I'm like, oh, this makes you like so great yeah.

Speaker 2:

I think Usher is really hot too.

Speaker 1:

Yes, oh, uh, michael B Jordan. He's also really attractive. Oh yeah, oh yeah, yeah yeah.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, when Usher performed at the Superbowl I'm like, okay, Usher.

Speaker 1:

I know, I know, gosh, we could be here all day naming all these attractive guys. I know right. If you could do anything right in this moment that would make you feel free, what would you do?

Speaker 2:

I would stop everything and I would go be in nature somewhere.

Speaker 1:

I would go for a hike for a hike, but slowly like not rushing, I would just go be in nature.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, so right now, no agenda, no agenda. I have nowhere to be. No one's expecting me, everyone's expecting me today, by the way. So to be able to like escape right now, so to be able to like escape right now sounds so good.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yeah I hear you. I asked this question of everybody that comes on the show what does French kissing life mean to you?

Speaker 2:

I think it means to really like do the things that make your heart sing and be unapologetically yourself. And if you don't know who you, who you are, anymore, cause sometimes we don't like especially.

Speaker 2:

Are you a mom, shauna? No, but I have a dog. Yeah, you have a dog, okay, yeah. So becoming a mom really messes with your identity. Or it can like who am I? What am I? I'm a mom, now. What is this? What's going on? And so sometimes there's like you don't know who you are, but to, like, tap into that and try to rediscover her in the most brave, unapologetic way.

Speaker 1:

Does that make sense? It does, yeah. I think that what you said is so beautiful. It's it makes so much sense and it's so true.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, we're so stifled by, like, how we're supposed to be, how we're expected to be. So to just give yourself the freedom to just be you like, wear whatever you want eat whatever you like be you like, follow your intuition, Like it'll never steer you wrong.

Speaker 1:

Yeah.

Speaker 2:

That's what I think it is.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I couldn't have said it better myself. If anybody wants to check out what you have going on with Harvest, where can they find you?

Speaker 2:

Yeah, they can find us at harvestgoalcollectivecom. Yeah, they can find us at harvestgoalcollectivecom. We will be switching websites soon because, like I said, we are becoming a school, uh, continuing education, um. You can also find us on instagram at harvest underscore, goal, underscore, collective, and we also are on facebook to harvest school collective. Uh, yeah, amazing. Well, we'll have all of that in the show notes, but, talia, thank you so much. Collective.

Speaker 1:

And we also are on Facebook to Harvest School Collective. Yeah, Amazing. Well, we'll have all of that in the show notes. But, Talia, thank you so much for coming on the show today and telling me all about what you have going on. I think what you guys are doing is beautiful and I I am just so excited to see it grow and grow and grow.

Speaker 2:

Thank you so much for having me, Shauna. This was so much fun. Such a blast. You're amazing. Really this was such a great time. Thank you.

Speaker 1:

Margaret J Wheatley once said there is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about. And Coretta Scott King also said the greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members. I believe that one of the greatest aspects of a community is that not only can you benefit from the support yourself, but what you have the potential to do for others. So, with that wonderful reminder, if you want to explore more about why we crave connection in community for this week's kindness in action segment, here are some steps you can take to explore this concept, whether you have five minutes to spare or 50. If you have five minutes, I'm suggesting you read an article from Masterclass on why community matters. And then, if you have 50 minutes to spare, I have another article, this time from Better Up, that talks through the importance of community, including the different types of communities, the benefits, et cetera. And then, if you want to connect with Talia and Stephanie and everything they have going on with Harvest Goal Collective and the accountability groups, I will share their information in the show notes. Be good to one another, everybody, and we will see you next week for another fun and silly and playful and always informative episode of French Kissing Life.

Speaker 1:

I'm your host, shauna Stiver. Thanks so much for being here. Thank you so much for listening to this week's episode of the French Kissing Life podcast. I hope you enjoyed this episode as much as I did. If you're enjoying the show, shower us with a five-star rating and hit that subscribe button to make sure you never miss a future episode. And if you would be so kind and give the show a review, I'll sweeten the deal for you, since you know I live for good conversation. I want to hear from you. Share your favorite takeaways and aha moment you had, or a fun emoji that represents this week's show, along with your Instagram handle or email address, and you'll be entered to win this month's giveaway. The French kissing life movement is gaining momentum, and your ratings and reviews play a pivotal role in propelling the show to new heights until next week.