Unscripted, Conversations with Diana Rau

Loved this convo, one of the most unscripted episodes I’ve ever recorded. So much love for my new friend Chitra, who shares so vulnerably and powerfully her stories. And somehow manages to flip the tables on me and get me to be the most vulnerable I’ve ever been in air ????????????. Came close to not publishing but pushed through the discomfort because of how amazing Chitra’s responses are!

Have you ever experienced a total loss of power? What does freedom mean to you? Join Nichole & I in our conversation???? We talk about the how our experience of freedom is shaped by our own experiences of powerlessness. It gets really personal for both of us ❤️

????‍♀️ Ready for a magic carpet ride of a #conversation? ????‍♂️ "When did your childhood end?" "How would you redefine the American Dream?" "What's the most profound spiritual moment of your life?" "Who are your people?" This convo w/ my explosively creative, brilliant friend Divine Bradley was pure magic - soul-nourishing, idea-sparking, expansive, pure joy.

Back in May, I had the opportunity to record an incredible Unscripted episode with a stranger and new friend, Taylor, a mental health professional who talks about his personal experiences with mental health and more. During our convo journey, we explore how we can support our loved ones w depression from afar, how to help queer people in America deal with everyday struggles, bisexuality in America, and what we can do for our communities, and more. Taylor turns the tables on me at the end of the episode and asks - “how do we build these communities? How do we take these communities that aren’t functioning well and breathe life into it?”

Hi everyone, have a lot of backlogged episodes that I’m just getting to publishing now. Thanks for patience. For context, David and I recorded this episode back in May. We talked about: “when have you felt the most powerless?” “When have you felt the most free?” And “what does freedom even mean?” David shares incredibly vulnerable answers - he’s an extraordinary human. We talk through questions that are more relevant now than ever. Hope this convo sparks conversations of your own.

Joe shares something he’s never shared w anyone. Not even family members. This is one of my all time favorite episodes - in deep admiration for Joe’s incredible courage and vulnerability.

Tori and I break this gigantic question into a couple pieces: what moments did you feel like you lived your time well recently? Why? When did you not feel you lived well? Love Tori’s incredible giving heart and amazing self awareness. So many insights here.

How have your wounds shaped who you are today? Do you believe there is a God / higher power? Why or why not? In this Unscripted conversation, Lyn shares her experiences with incredible vulnerability and courage She shares about her attempted suicide and incredible advice for anyone feeling alone: "You’re not alone. Reach out to someone. Anyone. Or start with a journal. I journaled when I didn’t understand why I was feeling the way I did. Do something that makes you feel good. Reach out to someone who makes you feel good. Just know it’s going to get better. When I was at my rock bottom, what I used to tell myself is it has to get better than this.” If you’d like to reach out to Lyn for a conversation, please email me at diana@twine.nyc. I’d be happy to intro you.

How old were you when you first realized you were beautiful? When did someone else telling you, “you’re hot”, become you telling yourself, “I’m hot”? Who is the most incredible woman in your life? What are practices or rituals to get started on the journey of becoming comfortable in your skin? Jillian gets exceptionally real with me in this radiant conversation that cuts to the core of confidence, beauty, and our relationships w ourselves, other women, and the world. Chock full of lived wisdom and life stories from Jillian! Excerpt: “If you’re a person, particularly a woman who doesn’t feel comfortable in your body, or connected to yourself or other people, I invite you to not blame yourself, because we are conditioned to not feel comfortable in our skin, connected to ourselves, and connected to other people because our system benefits from that. It takes a lot of active work, love, and time to take care of yourself. Anything you can do to get to get to that place is a Radical Act. If you’re a person, esp a woman who is Radiant in herself, you are showing other people what is possible, and letting them know that that is allowed.”

I loved this convo with Robert! We talk about: “How did you get to self acceptance and who was the person you needed to accept?” “What’s something that is often misunderstood about you?” “What does living a significant, meaningful life mean to you?” One of my favorite things about Robert is how he’s taken what many people misinterpret about him (deep introspection that is misinterpreted as aloof, not engaged) and embraced it as part of who he is. Some beautiful words from Robert: "I really struggled with being misinterpreted. There wasn’t a reference for how to deal with that. We live in an extraverted world, it was hard for me, I felt like I didn’t know where I fit. I needed to accept me as a person who is deeply meaningful, who likes deep conversations...Who isn’t as outgoing as other people. When I step in the room, I’m not going to be the center of attention, and I might just got off into a wall and go observe. What’s wrong with me? I had to reject the external view. I’m ENOUGH.” Other profound stuff Robert shared during this convo: “We have to ask WHO ARE YOU? We shouldn’t have to hit rock bottom or go through trauma to find ourselves.” "I think we’re running around in life feeling kind of empty because we have these pieces that are lost and floating around.” "Do something just for YOU. You don’t have to share everything with the world. You enjoy for the simple pleasure of being just by yourself." Can’t wait for y’all to listen!

Monica and I start with the question, "What bad habits do you want to break?” Somehow halfway through the convo we shift from snacking to Catholicism…I think Monica is sooo funny and had so much fun recording this with her - you’ll hear me constantly laughing through this episode.

I loved recording this episode w Lisa, a stranger turned friend after this convo! Lisa shares her AMAZING answers to: (1) what is the weirdest thing about you? [hint it’s a genetic mutation that gives her superpowers!!] (2) what fictional character do you most relate to? (3) in your daily life, how important is it to you to give back? And bonus q (4) what is the brand of masculinity you’ve taught to your 4 boys?

Derek doesn’t shy away from the tough questions!!!! He opens this episode by sharing something deeply vulnerable: “It took me years to the point where I can talk about this. I was raised by a single mom who didn’t graduate high school, when I was 13 years old she unexpectedly passed away. She had a brain aneurysm and was there one second, and gone the next." In this convo, we dive into: 1. What is a formative experience you don't often talk about? 2. Who are your people? 3. What are your three greatest weaknesses?

Lara shares her answers to “what is a formative experience you don’t often talk about?”, “What does fear mean to you?”, “What’s one thing people misunderstand about you?” Favorite insights: “Being misunderstood is a combination of how you show up in the world and how I show up in the world. It’s about how people see you through their own lens.” Lara shares her “720” exercise, where she gathers feedback from people who have known her through her life to grow holistically. 3 questions she asks in her 720 survey: “when do you see me thriving?” “When have you seen me not at my best?” “What would you recommend I do to thrive more?” .... and at the end, Lara turns the tables on me with a surprise question!

Questions we talk about in this episode: “How have you unlocked yourself physically? Mentally?” “What do you love, like, and dislike about yourself?” Some great quotes from this episode from Mike: “one time I did 3000 burpees... it took 9hrs and 36minutes.” “Another time I did 10 Murphs back-to-back.” “Within these challenges, there’s purpose. I tie all my challenges to causes.”

Are you critical of your own physical health? How has your relationship to mental health changed over time? How do you practice self love? Josh and I explore these questions in this unscripted conversation!