Unconventional Life – Podcast, Blog, Live Events

Category: Wellness

  • Ep291: The Way of the Wanderer with Virtual Nomad Kach Medina of 2 Monkeys Travel

    Ep291: The Way of the Wanderer with Virtual Nomad Kach Medina of 2 Monkeys Travel


     

    It is often said that “success is a journey, not a destination.” This can’t be truer for the travel vlogger and nomadic influencer Kach Medina

    Her chronicle of over 140 different adventures started in the small country of the Philippines where the young Kach had already envisioned what she would do for the rest of her life; her knack for adventure made her the modern explorer that she is today.

    “I really wanted to become a diplomat so I could have a stronger passport, and I already knew when I was young that I wanted to travel the world. I envisioned this when I was seven, talking to my grandfather.”

    In 2013, Kach headed off backpacking to Southeast Asia. From there, she flew to different countries to explore more. In late 2014, having embraced a nomadic lifestyle, she began travel blogging on a full-time basis. Then after four years of adventure travelling followed by two years of sailing the Caribbean, she moved and bought a stone house villa in Herceg Novi, Montenegro, in 2019 to start a new expat life.

    Even during her time abroad, Kach never stopped looking for new horizons. She went from office jobs to teaching, jumping from one career to another. And even after several mishaps in life, love, and a car crash that left her immobile for months, she had one unwavering dream that kept her going: To travel the world.

    “When I finally found my mission, that’s when I decided that no matter what is happening externally, I just have to keep going.” She explains,” I just have to keep reminding myself that even though bad things come if I could just make my mission on a daily basis happen, I could surpass them.”

    Paving the way with every article she posts, Kach is now a devoted writer and wandering enthusiast who has made it her life’s mission to spread the joys of travelling. She makes it a point that the journey isn’t about the best spots or the most expensive food a country can offer; it’s about the act of finding yourself lost in new experiences.

    “My mission is to make one person happier every day. if I do that, I feel like I am still alive.”

     

    More of Kach:

  • Ep280: Reclaiming Your Peace Through Letters Imbued with the Beauty of Life with Calligrapher Paul Antonio

    Ep280: Reclaiming Your Peace Through Letters Imbued with the Beauty of Life with Calligrapher Paul Antonio

    The hustle and bustle of everyday life can lead us to take many things for granted. But by simply finding the connection between writing and life, professional artist and calligrapher, Paul Antonio had found a beauteous view of the world.

    Raised in Trinidad, Paul found a love for nature and the abundance of life around him. The bond he made with the natural wonder of his surroundings—and his curiosity—Paul found himself walking a swervey path into the realm of Calligraphy.

    “I could hear the music in the writing,” he says, “I knew that there was rhythm there, I just didn’t know how to connect it to the writing.”

    Paul left for London, England in 1998 and went on to study Letter form History at the Department of Typography and Graphic Communication, University of Reading (1998). After being awarded one of the ten Art & Crafts Scholarships from The Commonwealth Foundation, he went to Reigate School of Art and Design to study Calligraphy, Gilding and Heraldic Painting specialising in Historical Materials and Techniques. He got the only Distinction in his year (2000).

    Having always been interested in the history and the development of writing as a whole, Paul went on to study Arabic Calligraphy, English Palaeography and Archaeological Illustration at Birkbeck University (2001).

    This fondness for writing pushed him to pursue arts. During the days of his apprenticeship, he learned how letters were imbued with the very beauty of life which he so desperately admired and has since been drawn towards calligraphy and Heraldic arts.

    In 2003 Paul went to Egypt as the Assistant Archaeological Illustrator for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, to copy hieroglyphs. This role assisted him in illustrating some of the hieroglyph collections at the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London. It also allowed him to run a year-long course on ‘An Egyptian Writing System’ for Birkbeck University and some intermittent courses for undergraduates at UCL, the British Museum and the general public.

     “I knew that I was not here to do the writing, I was only here as an instrument. I was here for the writing to happen through me.”

    Paul stresses that like any artist, or writer, the art of Calligraphy also requires emotion. He says that as he writes his pieces, he leaves himself open to his emotions and true to his inner feelings. Though there is a level of focus that must be kept to ensure a steady hand, Paul encourages one to also be free when writing.

    “The writing is more than just pretty shapes on a page. This isn’t about you, giving yourself permission to be at peace. This is about you reclaiming the peace that is already yours.”

    After a 2 year collaboration with the reputable paper brand Rhodia, Paul’s Social Media label PAScribe released the PAScribe Rhodia pads. Three pads on white paper with his unique grid, and black and grey paper with very fine lines to help calligraphers practise with light or metallic ink on dark, in the hopes of getting people to correspond more with each other.

    Even now as Paul pursues other crafts such as heraldry, meditation, and teaching, he still hasn’t lost the dedication and love that he has for calligraphy, passing on his passion to his students and living by the principles he has learned through his years of practising arts.

     

    More from Paul:

  • Ep277: How to Stay Original with The Man Behind 100 Voices, Impressionist Charlie Hopkinson

    Ep277: How to Stay Original with The Man Behind 100 Voices, Impressionist Charlie Hopkinson

    The field of entertainment demands fresh ideas to keep the people watching, and with the massive presence of the internet, it’s impressive how far content creation can go. But how can someone make their content feel “original”? Professional Impressionist and voiceover artist, Charlie Hopkinson, says it’s about “authenticity” and staying true to your own ideas.

    Starting out as a math teacher and gradually shifting into his current career, he points out the misconception that people are born creative or talented. Rather he says that it’s more about the effort you put out and the passion that you have, which makes something feel “authentic”.

    It was the cumulative results of years of practice, planning, and experience that led to his success.

    And I’m talking about 100 impressions or so…

    Impressions of Morgan Freeman, David Attenborough, Rick and Morty (Rick and Morty show), Game of Thrones (Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister, Ser Davos Seaworth…), Breaking Bad (Walter White, Jesse Pinkman), Lord of the Rings (Gandalf, Boromir, Legolas…), Peaky Blinders (Tommy Shelby, Arthur Shelby, Alfie Solomons…) Cartoons and more!

    This dude can literally do a whole movie voicing by himself!

    “I think it’s quite strange though because the life I’m currently living is very much a mixed-mash of all these different fields that I’ve been involved with over the years.”

    Through his comedy career, as well as his growing YouTube community, he understood that people know when something feels authentic. He stresses that creators are chasing the idea of pleasing the audience and it ends up turning people off.

    “It’s really easy to get caught in the trap of trying to chase what the audience wants you to think the audience wants,” he stresses. “And it definitely takes you down the wrong road… as a comedy creator, I would say, If It’s not making you laugh. Don’t make it.”

    Being in the comedy industry for more than four years, Charlie clarifies that he has also been in creative slumps. His advice for anyone who feels as though they’ve become stale or just wants to improve is to put yourself in a “live environment”.

    “…The instant ‘oh, people are really enjoying that! I’m really enjoying that feeling, that connection with other people, that was like a big thing for me, finding my creative fulfilment and finding enjoyment.”

    He states, highlighting how it unlocks your creativity through performance pressure and connecting with your audience.

    Whose impressions you think are the best?

     

    More from Charlie:

  • Ep276: Making the Most Out of Your Mistakes, With Vocal Coach Arden Kaywin

    Ep276: Making the Most Out of Your Mistakes, With Vocal Coach Arden Kaywin

    The struggle for self-improvement is not an easy task. We try our hardest to be the best at what we do, gathering as much knowledge and tools as we can just to be a little better than we were yesterday. However, we sometimes feel as though we’re not getting the results we want and often end up stuck in a slump. Singer-songwriter Arden Kaywin believes that this sense of not-enoughness comes from our lack of mindfulness.

    The renowned songstress and vocal coach make it a point that the real problem isn’t in the small mistakes we make, but in the lack of foundation. As a performer, technique and artistry are essential, but to be connected and impactful requires mindfulness.

    Arden says that “The mind is the thing that can—and will—sabotage all the rest of it [technique and artistry], if not addressed.” A person could have the best training and it still wouldn’t matter if we lack the proper mindset.

    Having been with experienced and inexperienced singers alike, Arden knows that the mastery of techniques is not enough. To break through the blocks that prevent you from performing at a consistent and satisfying level, she emphasizes the need for meditation and mindful practice, even for non-artistic industries.

    She compares traditional training to a rocket ship where you add new technology to it, but it would never launch if it lacks fuel.

    “They’re not able to breakthrough in their career, they’re not able to quit that side job, they’re not able to do it sustainably, and yet they’ve been in voice lessons every week for years of their life. And the reason why is because this rocket, it’s got all this kick-ass technology in it, but no fuel.”

    This fuel is what she calls the Soul Piece or the purpose of a person called to do, partnered with the right mentality.

    She makes it clear that we have to acknowledge our emotions, thoughts, and fears because as she puts it “In trusting those blocks, not only do you get the sound that you want, but then you’re empowered to move forward, much more powerfully on this journey with not just your voice, but with anything else you’re doing”.

     

    More from Arden:

  • Ep275: Purpose and Effort Driving Passion and Success, With Muse Co-Founder Ariel Garten

    Ep275: Purpose and Effort Driving Passion and Success, With Muse Co-Founder Ariel Garten

    Pursuing something meaningful is a beautiful yet seemingly difficult endeavour for most people. We are sure about wanting to make or do something impactful. But finding the direction you want to go and deciding what you want to do are hard choices.

    There’s so much I want to do but which one is worth doing first?

    The driven genius Ariel Garten shows us that it’s not about choosing what to do first, rather it’s about choosing to take action and turn your passion into results.

    Being in a multitude of industries – fashion, neuroscience, psychotherapy, and technology – she’s gone through a lot of trial and error, and to her, it was in that journey that we learned what our real purpose is—and where to pour out our effort.

    “My outlet has changed but the intention has not,” Ariel states.

    Energetic and inspired, Ariel has always had this compelling need to make meaningful things in all areas of her life. Her burning desire and enthusiasm for creation have led her to branch off into different paths. Playing both sides of arts and science, finding that connection with her passions is the reason for Ariel’s success.

    “I was really weaving these worlds, trying to find the thread between art and science and pulling them together” she points out, “we really wanted to do something that was gonna make the world a better place”.

    Her big visions and her thirst for creation made it possible for Muse to grow into what it is today.

    Considering the difficulty of her goal, Ariel’s journey was heavily criticized for its scale. She notes that at the beginning of her journey it seemed too ambitious, but the eager innovator stressed, “I just had this undying, unfettered belief in myself: that it was possible to do this and I could figure out a way.”

    For Ariel, it was not just her talent and brain that made her successful, but also her unwavering determination.

     

    More from Ariel:

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