Life with Leyla

#43: In this episode, I speak to my friend Esther, who I know through VeeFriends, an NFT Project I am a part of. 

Esther speaks to us about her journey to transformational self love. 

Even if you cannot identify with Esther's personal story about embracing being a witch / or practicing witchcraft, you'll be able to apply it to your own life in some capacity. She's very inspiring to listen to! 

Catch her brand new podcast here: https://anchor.fm/esther5322 

She also speaks about her NFT project, WitchyBits. 

Find her on Twitter here: https://mobile.twitter.com/witchybits1 

Check it out & Please let me know if i can help you!  https://opensea.io/collection/witchybits 

Love you

Leyla

#42: In this episode, Leyla chats with Altan Sahin. He's a 16 year old beekeeper from Denver, CO and he's started his own business called Hey Honey. 

It's inspiring to hear from someone like Altan who took something he really enjoyed and cared about, and turned it into a business. 

Learn more about Altan and his honey business, HERE

Connect with Leyla, HERE

#41: This episode is for you - dear parent - and it’s about sugar. and our kids. And Halloween. And all. that. Halloween. candy!

But really, the tips Ciara Spencer gives in this episode are ones we can work on the rest of our parent lives. The way we behave around fun foods, treats, sugar, and more is likely how our children will be as adults. 

Connect with Ciara, HERE

Connect with Leyla (host), HERE

The concept of being neutral about candy and sugar and not putting it on a pedestal is so smart.  And to me, beats micromanaging. 

Raising intuitive eaters is my mission. I want nothing more than my kids to have a healthy relationship with food and their bodies. I’m passionate about getting as much information out about this topic as I can, which is why I brought Ciara on the podcast to talk about Halloween candy!

Letting your kids trust their own hunger cues and their bodies. I think you’ll really enjoy what Ciara has to say. If you like it, or don’t, please feel free to let me know or leave a review! 

#40: Join podcaster, Leyla Sarper as a guest on the Hacking the Hustle Podcast! Hacking the Hustle is a show hosted by Benjamin Sklar dedicated to helping curious people gain insights into entrepreneurship, motivation, and having a positive mindset.

We get real about what's holding us back from doing what we want to be doing, creating content, just putting our voice out there into the world. Why content is essential for your brand or business and tips for someone who's thinking about starting their own podcast. We also touch on NFTs (I'm just learning!) and blockchain. And to my delight, we geek out talking about Gary Vee (Gary Vaynerchuk) :) 

Let us know what you thought!:) feedback is very appreciated. 

#39: In this episode, I chat with Julie Flygare, President & CEO of Project Sleep about World Narcolepsy Day 2021 (celebrated on September 22nd each year). I was diagnosed with Narcolepsy while I was a college student at Colorado State. Then in 2014, my cataplexy symptoms developed. This is a neurological condition that has so many stigmas and misinformation. I'm so grateful to Julie for the work she's doing to help people get diagnosed faster and just general awareness.

To connect with Julie, click HERE

To connect with Leyla, click HERE

Check out Project Sleep, HERE

Julie Flygare, JD, currently serves as President & CEO of Project Sleep. She is an internationally recognized patient-perspective leader, an accomplished advocate, and the award-winning author of Wide Awake and Dreaming: A Memoir of Narcolepsy. 

Since receiving a diagnosis of narcolepsy with cataplexy in 2007, Flygare advanced her leadership in the sleep and healthcare space through speaking engagements, publications, earned media, collaborations, and advocacy and awareness initiatives. Prior to accepting her current role as President & CEO of Project Sleep, Flygare served as President of Project Sleep’s Board of Directors, while also gaining invaluable experience in marketing and philanthropy at the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and City of Hope.

Additionally, she served on the National Institutes of Health’s Sleep Disorders Research Advisory Board from 2012 – 2015. Flygare received her B.A. from Brown University in 2005 and her J.D. from Boston College Law School in 2009, focusing on health law, policy, and rare disease drug development.

#38: The podcast is back!!:) I am so happy. It’s been one year, to the day. This episode is for YOU, you're going to feel very motivated to take action on your project or goal today. Let me tell you about our guest, Cam Palu.

Cam is one half of the dynamic duo known as Camiah. She’s a fun haver, email coder, coffee drinker, video creator, artist, drawing maker, wannabe chef, kid wrangler, and wishful comedian. She’s also my friend who I met when I worked at a digital marketing agency in Denver. She’s very good at helping people START the things they have been wanting to start. She volunteered to be my first guest for the reboot of my podcast after the maternity break. Cam was a guest for episode 6 of the show (back when it was still called Present Not Perfect). That episode was titled "How To Be Creative Everyday. Why Just Starting Eliminates Fear" 

Cam is so wise and motivating. This episode is all about STARTING and DOING. She has some really great insights on why you can’t over think it and why you must just start today. You will always adjust and get better. But starting NOW, is what it’s all about. 

Cam is out to make the world a kinder, more inclusive space. Like, how amazing is that? But you know what the best part is? She is actually living this every day in how she shows up in the world and how she raises her two boys. She is teaching her two kids how to make others feel seen. I almost teared up at this part. She said, many people don’t ever feel seen in their day to day life. So whether it’s saying hi to someone one the street, or going up to a kid in class because you can just tell that he has a tough home life. We talk about this in the episode too. 

Please hit me up on Instagram. I would love to know what you think! Or what project you’re starting. Let me know how I can help. 

XO, Leyla 

To connect with Leyla Sarper click HERE

To connect with Cam Palu click HERE

Learn more about Cam & Camiah HERE

Hey there! It’s Leyla. I wanted to give an update on the podcast. As I’m recording this I am 39 weeks pregnant and about to pop literally any day now…

I am so excited to welcome my second baby girl into the world. Check out my Instagram @LeylaSarper I am sure it will be filled with baby pics and story updates.

The plan for the podcast is to take a break while I’m on maternity leave so I can fully be present with the new baby and my family and try not to be a sleep-deprived zombie.

But I’ll be back! I’m guessing starting back up Dec 1st, but who knows, maybe I’ll just wait till the new year. I’m just playing it by ear. It could be sooner too! I’m not going to put any hard deadlines on myself.

Thank you for supporting the podcast with your time. It means the world to me that you’ve listened to one episode, or a few, or more!

I know, you’re devastated there won’t be any new episodes to listen to, so I will recommend my favorite podcast, The Skinny Confidential, The GaryVee Audio Experience, and The Motherly Podcast. All solid choices.

2020 has been...challenging. But has also been a blessing in disguise for many of us as we’ve had to take a good hard look at what we want to do in life. Now is the time to take action. Take messy action. Do not fall into the perfection trap. Just move forward. And don’t care what people say. They will try to talk you out of it potentially or give their reasons why you won’t be good at that thing. Don’t listen. You know what’s the truth because you’ll feel it in your gut. Listen to your intuition. Don’t have regret. Just try and remember there’s really no such thing as failing. Just learning!

I love you and I know you can do it.

See you over on Instagram :)

Love, Leyla

#37: Jaclyn Zubiena specializes in helping overwhelmed moms go from struggling to enjoying the heck out of motherhood and life. She’s a trained Life Coach and a Certified Health & Wellness Coach.

In this episode, Jaclyn gives tips and offers advice on how to shorten your to-do list, how to get rid of the shoulds, and how to be more present by having compassion and love for yourself.

This is also going to be my last episode as I take a little break for the arrival of my second daughter. I can’t believe it’s been one year since I launched this podcast in August of 2019! Thank you for listening, thank you for being here. 

Connect with Jaclyn here: https://www.instagram.com/jaclynzubiena/

Connect with Leyla here: https://www.instagram.com/leylasarper/

I will resume the podcast in the Fall of 2020. :) 

Love you XO,

Leyla

#36: In this episode, I chat with the creator of The Happiest Mama on the Block 5280, Chelsea Griffith. 

Some of the topics we dive into include: 

As always, please share this episode with a friend! Thank you for your time and for being here. Love you!

Love,

Leyla

#35: In this episode, I chatted with the one and only Jacki Carr, a Goal Coach & Speaker who works with womxn to uplevel their Voice, Vision & Goals.

Jacki is also an avid hiker and mama to 2 little girls. Jacki is just one of those people that lights up the room and I’m so excited to share this conversation I had with her. 

The biggest takeaway I want you to get from this episode is the 3 B words: Busy, Balance and Boundaries. Months ago, before covid-19 changed everything, I went to an in-person event where Jacki spoke on this topic and I was forever changed. You’re going to love it.

To connect with Jacki, https://www.instagram.com/jackicarr/ 

To connect with Leyla, https://www.instagram.com/leylasarper/

Meet Erin Cell, Founder and CEO of Socially Powered.  After more than 20 years in corporate America, Erin decided it was time for a change, time to follow her dreams, time to explore the world, time to do what makes her happy! She has the schooling, certificates, & know-how to help you & your business overcome the fear of social media. Erin has a solid understanding of customer service, account management, marketing, reaching the right customers & finding fanatic fans.

In this episode, I get some advice for people who have recently started their business or side hustle and could use some tips on how to get over the fear and daunting tasks of putting yourself out there, online for the first time. She regularly speaks around the Denver area on social media success strategies, live streaming, getting started with social, resources, tools, and hands-on demonstrations on a variety of platforms. 

In addition, we talk about how we’ve been experiencing quarantine in Denver. This was recorded in May of 2020. 

To connect with Erin, click here: https://www.instagram.com/sociallypowered/

To connect with Leyla, click here: https://www.instagram.com/leylasarper/

Find her on all platforms @sociallypowered

Enjoy! Thank you for your time and for being here. 

Love,

Leyla 

#33: In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Asela Russell, of Denver CO. She is a 25 year+ OBGYN, and today she owns and operates The Center for Wellness MD, where she focuses on these areas for women in midlife and beyond: 

Health & Confidence Weight gain, physical concerns,
and emotional health.

Vitality & Brain Function Focus, concentration, motivation,
and energy.

Sensuality & Sexuality Engagement, libido, and
vaginal comfort.

I ask Dr. Russell all the burning questions on my mind around healthier aging, prevention, hormones, birth control, botox, skincare and I just loved hearing what she had to say. She is so knowledgeable in all of these areas and has years of experience in her practice to back it up. 

Prevention is key. And starting today, not when you're 50. :) 

I hope you enjoy it!

To connect with Dr. Asela Russell, follow her Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/centerforwellnessmd/

To connect with me, Leyla, follow me on IG at: https://www.instagram.com/leylasarper/

If you've gotten any value from this show, please leave a rating and review. Thank you so much for your time and attention, and for being here. 

Love you, 

Leyla

#32: In this episode, join me as I speak to Andrea Vahl, someone I’ve known for years, and have been working with for my own Facebook marketing needs. Andrea is a Social Media Speaker and Consultant who is passionate about helping businesses understand and leverage the power of social media to actually grow their business.  Andrea is the co-author of Facebook Marketing All-in-One for Dummies and was the Community Manager for Social Media Examiner, for over 2 years.

- She was named 50 Favorite Online Influencers of 2014 on Entrepreneur.com, 21 Best Blogs That Will Help You Grow Your Business on Inc.com in 2016, and Top 30 Women in Social Media by Boom Social. She the co-founder of Social Media Manager School, a course that’s helped over 1400 people learn social media and start a business.  Andrea Vahl’s proven ability to make social media marketing easy to understand and implement has directly impacted the bottom line of thousands of companies through her training and one-on-one consulting.  Learn more about Andrea’s books, resources, and get her Quick Start Guide to Social Media for Business on her website, www.AndreaVahl.com. 

- Connect with Andrea, HERE

- Connect with Leyla (host), HERE

- We chat about the many hats she wears: speaker, marketer, edutainer, comedian, and mom! I'm really inspired by her story of how she decided to put herself out there with her character, Grandma Mary, and start blogging and vlogging, on YouTube ten years ago. Andrea says, getting your first troll is a GOOD thing. It means people care enough about your content and are watching. So don't be afraid of the naysayers. They're always gonna be there and they're not your people. 

- Thank you for being here! Please share this episode with someone who may benefit and leave a quick rating and review if you can. Talk soon! Love, Leyla 

#31: In this episode, I sit down with Denver’s skincare expert, Angel Martinez. You might know her from Instagram from her account @MissAngelRenee where she’s constantly dropping the best skincare tips, behind the scenes from her business, Angel Aesthetics, and lots of business and personal motivational content. 

• You’ll get to hear in-depth about Angel’s personal story, how she launched Angel Aesthetics during a difficult time in her life, as well as tons of skincare tips you need to hear.  We chat about how she and her team got creative and got themselves through being closed for almost 3 months by offering video call consultations and at-home peels, they called, “Quarantine & Peel” Angel is always inspiring and motivating her Instagram community and we talk about where she draws her own motivation from and how she keeps the haters & trolls online at bay. 
• To Connect with Angel Martinez, click HERE 
• To Connect with Leyla (show host), click HERE
• Visit Angel Aesthetics at https://skincarebyangel.com/
• Notes/ Products / People We Mention in the Episode: 
• Benjamin Fuchs / Truth Treatments / Vitamin C Serum (the best one ever!!!) 
• Balance Athletica - Taylor Chamberlain Dilk & Chloe Chamberlain 
• Erica Cobb, Daily Blast Live
• Lourdes, SturdyUSA 
• Gary Vaynerchuck, @GaryVee 
• Our Girl, Ally G! 
• The one and only Lexi
• - If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend! Thank you for your time. Love you, stay safe, and be well! XO Leyla 

#30: There is something in this episode for everyone, but especially so if you’re a founder, entrepreneur, parent, or business owner. I hope you enjoy it! 

Kristin Darga is the Founder of Impact Founder™, a keynote speaker, award-winning author, performance, and executive coach. She has worked with hundreds of entrepreneurs, many teams in companies, and as a four-time founder, she understands the highly satisfying yet distressing road of entrepreneurship. After there were two suicides of startup founders and the sudden death of a third, Kristin Darga created Impact Founder to do whatever she could to help alleviate the feelings of inadequacy, isolation, stress, depression, and suicide among founders by sharing real stories of real entrepreneurs’ struggles and successes. 

In this episode, we talk about pivoting your business and life during the pandemic and what that can look like, how Kristin has dealt with the many changes & setbacks that happened as a result of our current situation, how life has never been certain, like ever. Today, we are hearing over and over again how we’re living in “uncertain times.” Among the gems you’re about to hear, one of them is about not missing the hustle and how things used to be. I will say amen to that! 

Things We Mentioned In the Episode & Kristin Darga’s Links:

• Jacki Carr, Goal Coach - BUSY = Because U Said Yes
• Beauty Counter: Flawless in Five & Countertime Line
• Kristin’s book: Impact Founder: Inspirational stories of entrepreneurs who risk everything for what they believe in  https://www.amazon.com/Impact-Founder-Inspirational-entrepreneurs-everything/dp/0996169245
• Her organization, Impact Founder https://www.impactfounder.com/ 
• To connect with Kristin on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristindarga/ 
• To connect with Kristin on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristindarga/ 
• To connect with Leyla (host) on Instagram: 
• https://www.instagram.com/LeylaSarper

#29: In this episode, I talk with my dear friend Kelsey Harbert. Kelsey is a neuroscience student at the University of Colorado. Kelsey is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to all things neuroscience, the study of the brain and its impact on behavior and cognitive functions. What we discussed for the podcast is how to be a better listener! Something literally everyone could improve on if we’re being honest. I know I need a lot of help in this area. And I feel that those around me do too. What about you? 

Kelsey will explain the practice of Reflective Listening and how it can really help improve your listening skills and relationship with your partner, or anyone else for that matter. Kelsey has been practicing this with her partner for a while now and she can attest to how much it’s made a difference in her life.

Especially now, during quarantine and social distancing, where we are spending so much more time at home, it’s important to improve our communication skills. Listening is a major part of communication, but it’s something we’ve never really been formally taught how to do effectively. Plus, add smartphones and streaming tv,  it can feel like even when we are speaking to someone, the person on the other end might be glancing around, totally distracted. I dunno about you, but it feels awful when it’s being done to me. And then, I must admit, I do this to others! 

Here is what you can expect: 

What Reflective Listening is. 

The overall goal is to create an environment that’s a safe space for you and your family - where you don’t feel alone - and heard and listened to. 

The different ways to categorize it: 1) For you and your partner 2) For you, yourself

The signs that you’re not listening to others 

The signs that you’re not listening to yourself 

Which responses should we avoid when listening to someone? 

• Not problem solving, pity, saying something like, “that’s crazy that’s happening to you”  because these actually make people feel alone. 
• You just want to be heard  - people just want to be heard and listened to. 

To connect with Kelsey: www.instagram.com/askelseydoes/

To connect with Leyla: www.instagram.com/leylasarper/

Thank you for checking this episode out! If it brings you any value, please share with a friend, or maybe pass it along to your partner as a HINT ;)

Love you! Xo Leyla 

#28: Our guest is Julie Barzman, she’s my friend on Instagram and we’ve been following each for a while now. I love how she’s spreading positivity into the world by sharing her journey as a mom. The ups and downs, she doesn’t hold back. We talk about her blog and website, TheMommyCodes.com that’s aimed at creating a community and resource for parents in a nonjudgmental way. She covers topics like sleep training, travel with kids, postpartum depression, and beyond. And we also talk about life during quarantine and how we just need to be kind to our selves during this difficult period we’re all experiencing. 

To Connect with Julie, click HERE

To Connect with Leyla, click HERE 

Show Notes & Recommendations from Julie Barzman:

• The Parent Shift book 
• Gentle Parenting - staying calm, reparenting yourself
• Post Partum Depletion
• Vitamin D
• Lymphatic Drainage for face
• Lymphatic drainage for body using wooden tool by De La Heart 
• Honest Co. - cleaning products
• Seventh Generation - cleaning products

Time Stamps: 

1) Intro & Deep Dive 

2) 36:00 Wellness & Beauty Recommendations

3) 42:00 on Being Present

If this is your first time listening, thank you so much for being here. If you’re returning, thank you as well.  I love you for lending me your ears and precious time. I’m your host, Leyla Sarper. I’m a toddler mom in Denver, CO. I started this podcast to inspire others to go after the life they truly want and to not feel guilty about taking care of ourselves, and doing things that make us feel good!  

Present not perfect is a show about self-care, going after our dreams, taking risks, and appreciating the present moment - and the different ways we can get to that point. It’s not about being perfect, there’s never a perfect moment or condition that needs to be met in order to start. We only have now, the present, and that’s so powerful. 

Talk soon, Love you! <3 Ley

PS - If you're listening, let me know on Instagram! I LOVE hearing from listeners. It makes my day.

#27: In this episode, I chat with Liz Carlile, founder of the Motherhood Unstressed Podcast and CBD line. You're going to get a lot of value from this one. We talk all things self-care, how to stay sane during this quarantine, debunking some common CBD myths, and more! One other topic I always look to Liz on is how to let go of stress & guilt when we as parents take time for ourselves. 

Liz Carlile is the host of the Top 50 podcast Motherhood Unstressed, a public speaker, entrepreneur, and mom of 2 boys. Through her podcast and her line of CBD supplements, she helps individuals create a more beautiful life for themselves and their families. 

To connect with Liz, click HERE

To connect with Leyla, click HERE

I found the most beautiful message from Liz on her Motherhood Unstressed website, which just embodies why I started my own podcast, Present Not Perfect so well: “The greatest gift we can give ourselves and our families is to be more fully present. When we can get out of our heads and into our hearts, life changes in innumerable ways.”

This episode was so fun for me because I look up to Liz in many ways. She is a constant source of support and positivity for me. I love her guided meditations, the unique content and guests she brings on her podcast, Motherhood Unstressed, and how she shows up on Instagram. She inspires me to not feel guilty about doing the things that make me feel good and help me show up as the best version of myself for my daughter and my family. I’m so excited for you to be introduced to her. 

Here are the show notes from this episode & Liz’s recommendations:

Find Liz at www.Motherhoodunstressed.com  

Find her podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/motherhood-unstressed/id1356751359 

Liz recommendations:

Morning pages (morning free journaling)

Books & Authors: Miguel Ruiz, the 4th & 5th agreements & Gabby Bernstein

Radiation Nation & Defend your shield 

Joov red light therapy 

--

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend! Thank you again for listening. 

Love you, talk soon! 

Ley

#26: In this episode, I talk to Alysha Badiani all about her new book, her experience and her outlook on living in quarantine through the COVID-19 pandemic in London, England, and what led her to leave her stable 9 to 5 job to pursue what she was really interested in.

BeYoutiful You by Alysha Badiani is an eye-opening book, with a unique and simple way to help you grow your confidence and self-esteem to allow you to live your best life. Alysha’s approach is different than anyone else’s as she touches on the importance of recognizing your own beauty, internally and externally. Alysha helps you by taking you through her own journey. She explains how she made these changes, and how you can too. 

To connect with Alysha, click HERE

To connect with Leyla, click HERE

Find Alysha's book, BeYoutiful You at: https://www.amazon.com/BeYoutiful-You-Alysha-Badiani

If you enjoyed this episode, please share with a friend, tag me in your insta stories, or consider leaving a rating or review on Apple Podcasts. Thank you so much for your time :) 

This podcast is edited by Shaun Chapman Audio in Denver, CO

What To Expect From This Episode: 

- Coping through what’s going on with being quarantined and so much uncertainty

- How to stay positive during quarantine and a global pandemic

- Advice for someone who knows they are not doing what they’re meant to be doing

- The underlying reason most people won’t make a change or even start their side hustle, blog, podcast, or passion project? 

- Daily or weekly routines that help you stay on track with goals, self-care, and mindfulness

- Getting rid of negative thoughts - continuing to think positive, even in an argument 

- Removing sources of negativity / Being aware of what kind of energy is around

- Self-actualization - your own hierarchy vs Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs 

- How Alysha defines self-love. How we can have a healthier relationship with ourselves 

- Mindset / the quality of your thoughts / speaking positively to yourself and others

- Unconscious mind vs conscious mind

- Sleep, movement, nutrition, self-care - Alysha's must have skin products

- Drifting apart from your friends-auditing your circle

#25: Mary MacCarthy, is a Los Angeles-based independent journalist who worked as an international television reporter and anchor for 15 years, for networks including PBS NewsHour, Rocky Mountain PBS, France 24, and many others. She's also a single mother to a 9-year-old diva. 

During this moment we are all living through, Mary is a journalist looking at how people are getting by during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mary has been following the COVID-19 pandemic very closely and was very much ahead of the curve when it comes to knowing what was going to happen in the United States. She is the most educated person I have spoken to personally about what’s happening. I have seen so much misinformation online. In this episode, I was able to ask Mary some questions that I’ve been really grappling with regarding the coronavirus, our response to it, and what we should do next. 

Obviously, neither one of us are medical experts or scientists, so please visit CDC.gov for the latest. We are simply concerned citizens, moms, humans of this planet who want to weed out some of the bullshit and misinformation going around and figure out what we can do moving forward. I hope and your family are doing okay as you’re listening to this. It’s gonna take time, but we will get through this. 

To connect with Mary, click HERE 

Mary is reporting on Stories from the Economic Frontlines of COVID-19 at www.HowAreYouGettingBy.com 

To connect with Leyla (host), click HERE 

Some of the topics we cover include:

• The mixed messaging we got from the US administration, media outlets, and even the World Health Organization and CDC. 
• Stories from the Economic Frontlines of COVID-19. Mary’s new project called “How are you getting by?” She is reporting on everyday Americans are doing in all of this. 
• How Mary was tracking COVID-19 before most of us knew it existed
• How to (or sadly not) get tested
• The mixed messaging on masks - yes, wear masks or face coverings people. 
• Why Americans have trouble respecting the stay at home order
• Some of the trends I see on Facebook about what people are saying (including herd immunity, just quarantining the elderly, and people downplaying this)
• Answering some questions we got on Instagram including prophecies and aliens!?
• Will life as we knew it before COVID-19 go back to how it was before?
• Homeschooling and being with your kid 24/7
• Some of the positives that have come from this! 
• How this is such a patriotic moment for Americans to come together, do their duty, and help each other out as best we can. 
• Some of the major negatives like overt racism and even violence against Asian Americans (and Asian people around the world). 

Please let me know what you thought by reaching out on Instagram or even leaving a rating or review! Thank you for your time :) Talk soon.

Love, Ley