You Did That!

About You Did That!

You Did That! celebrates black sheep and the pivotal stories that changed their trajectory in leadership, relationships, athletics, and more. Highlighting the first-or-only ones in their community, these success stories are both singular and universal. Hosted by Sara Stanizai, a coach, licensed therapist, and sought-after speaker, You Did That! is all about blazing your own trail when you’re not sure where you’ll end up.

Publisher

Sara Stanizai

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

7 Sept 2022

Latest episode

23 Jan 2024

Latest episodes

17 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   23 Jan 2024

   Ep 17 Reclaiming Identity and Navigating Trauma with Linda Thai

   Welcome back to You Did That!. In today's episode, we are joined by the insightful and inspiring Linda as our special guest. Linda shares her experiences and perspectives on cultural differences, historical trauma, and the impact of colonialism. Join us as we engage in a thought-provoking and meaningful dialogue on addressing trauma from a holistic and cultural perspective. This episode is sure to provide valuable insights and reflections on the impact of trauma and resilience. Linda Thai LMSW (she, her) is a trauma therapist who specializes in cutting edge brain- and body-based modalities for the healing of complex developmental trauma.   As an educator and consultant, she is gifted with the capacity to contextualize, synthesize and communicate complex and nuanced issues pertaining to trauma, attachment and the nervous system, including the impact of oppressive systems upon identity, mental health and wellbeing.   Linda is passionate about breaking the cycle of historical and intergenerational trauma at the individual and community levels, and deeply believes in the healing power of coming together in community to grieve.  Born in Vietnam, raised in Australia, and now living in Alaska, Linda is a former child refugee who is not only redefining what it means to be Vietnamese, to be Australian, and to be a United States-ian....she is redefining what it means to be wounded and whole and a healer. Main Topics: Navigating Cultural Boundaries and Racism Transforming Depression into Inspiration Fear, Safety, and Seeking Refuge Ongoing Trauma for Marginalized Communities Balancing Teaching and Personal Growth Learn more about the artist Linda Thai: Website: www.linda-thai.com (http://www.linda-thai.com) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lindylou99/ (https://www.facebook.com/lindylou99/)

2. 

   7 Nov 2023

   Ep 16 How to Dream When You're Awake with Artist CoolReve

   Welcome back to You Did That!. In this episode, we are joined by CoolReve, secretly named Hawa. She is an Afghan artist that focuses on graphic design and is the owner of a streetwear brand. Her journey is a wellspring of inspiration, from navigating collaborations to staying true to oneself. Discover the value of personal connections, celebrating success, and blocking out negativity. Join us for an uplifting exploration of CoolReve’s artistry and the invaluable lessons she's gained along the way. Main topics discussed: Why you need to be discreet when sharing personal information How to have your own back if it feels like no one else does Pursuing your art when people expect something else from you How experimenting and adapting will save your life Learn more about CoolReve: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coolreve/ (https://www.instagram.com/coolreve/) Website: https://www.coolreve.com (https://www.coolreve.com/) I hope you enjoy this episode! If so, please ⁠⁠leave a rating and review⁠⁠ (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-did-that/id1644020550) wherever you listen to your podcasts.

3. 

   10 Oct 2023

   EP 15 Am I Famous Enough? Writing a niche book with Alo Johnston

   Welcome back to You Did That!. In this episode, we have a special guest joining us, Alo Johnston (he/him), to share his incredible journey of self-discovery, writing, and navigating the publishing world. Discover how his writing took a unique turn, defying the traditional self-help book genre, and how his expertise in working with transgender individuals brought a fresh perspective to his work. Alo Johnston is a licensed marriage and family therapist and author of Am I Trans Enough?: How to Overcome Your Doubts and Find Your Authentic Self. He particularly loves working with trans, queer, and non-monogamous clients. He is based in downtown Los Angeles and when he’s not working he’s often busy exploring the restorative power of naps. Main Topics: Embracing unexpected support and openness to new experiences The process of writing and publishing a book Understanding diverse gender transition experiences Creating a unique Self-Help Book with a different approach Personal journey and unexpected joy amidst challenges Learn more about the Alo Johnston: Website:  alojohnston.com (http://alojohnston.com/) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetranstherapist/ (http://www.instagram.com/thetranstherapist/) I hope you enjoy this episode! If so, please ⁠leave a rating and review⁠ (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-did-that/id1644020550) wherever you listen to your podcasts.

4. 

   12 Sept 2023

   Ep 14 How To Be A Multi-Passionate Creator with Parisa Parnian

   Welcome back to You Did That!. In this episode, Parisa, a visionary artist and entrepreneur, takes us on a journey through her experiences in the fashion industry and the challenges she faced while promoting inclusivity - at a time 20 years ago when no one knew what that word meant. We explore how the fashion industry has become more inclusive over time, the financial benefits of diversity for corporations, and the impact of Rainbow Capitalism on Parisa’s career. Parisa Parnian is an Iranian-American multi-disciplinary visual artist and culinary creative. She uses art, design, food and performative storytelling to build bridges and connect communities. As a multi-passionate creative, Parisa has been combining her extensive experience in fashion + lifestyle design, event curation, and food/culture-related art installations and events in LA, NYC and SF/Bay Area for over twenty years. Parisa plays with and subverts the colorful layers of ancestral traditions of the SWANA and Latin American cultures through her creative and interactive culinary and art projects. She tells the stories of modern life from the lens of the diaspora and Third Culture Kids, as well as from her lived experience as a part of the QTBIPOC community. In addition to the visual art and culinary projects Parisa is currently working on in collaboration with art and culture organizations and brands, she has a few of her own projects under way. Most notably are her recent projects at the intersection of Persian/SWANA and Mexican/Latinx cultures. This includes Perxican, a Persian-Mexican spice blend and cultural platform to explore “layered” or “mixed” identities and Aziz Amor- a DJ-driven party in downtown LA that is a mashup of SWANA/Middle Eastern and Latinx sounds, cocktails, visual art and vibes featuring women and non-binary talent. Main Topics: Challenges and Struggles in the Creative Industry Taking risks and leaving toxic work environments How knowing yourself will protect you in the long run The underground club scene in New York City Organizing your thoughts when you’re passionate about different fields Learn more about Parisa Parnian: Website: www.savagemuse.com (http://www.savagemuse.com) IG profiles: Food/Culture: @savage_taste (https://www.instagram.com/savage_taste/?hl=en) Aziz  Amor: @aziz.amor.la (https://www.instagram.com/aziz.amor.la/?hl=en) Art/Design: @savagemuse (https://www.instagram.com/savagemuse/?hl=en) Pérxican Spice Blend: (https://www.instagram.com/perxican/?hl=en)  Persian-Mexican layered spice blend and social platform to explore our "mixed" or "layered" identities. Aziz Amor Party: (https://www.instagram.com/aziz.amor.la/?hl=en) Monthly mashup of Middle-Eastern and Latin music, cocktails and vibes featuring women/non-binary DJs, visual artists and creatives from the SWANA and Latinx diasporas. I hope you enjoy this episode! If so, please ⁠⁠leave a rating and review⁠⁠ (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-did-that/id1644020550) wherever you listen to your podcasts.

5. 

   22 Aug 2023

   Ep 13 Our Ancestors Did Not Breathe This Air: College Friends to Co-Poets

   Welcome back to You Did That!. In this special episode, we will be diving into an incredible anthology of poetry titled "Our Ancestors Did Not Breathe This Air" written by six talented authors who have a variety of immigrant and refugee backgrounds. Throughout the episode, we'll explore the power of poetry as a means of self-discovery and self-expression. From feeling boxed-in as "the smart one" to navigating the pressures of med school, they have all found solace, confidence, and creative freedom within the pages of their book. They'll also take us on a journey through their writing circle and the publishing process. Book Summary: From the scents of a bustling street market in India to the warmth of stories rooted in Venezuela to snippets of college days shared at MIT, the poetry in this book features an ache for grounds no longer walked upon. With a range of distinct styles and voices, the poets’ nuanced self-expression amounts to a piece that is both a prayer and a rebellion. Their words, introspective and reminiscing, witty and thoughtful, are an ode to that which makes them who they are and where they come from. Simultaneously, their voices are a rejection of dangerous stigmas, cultural taboos, and oppressive systems. In both verse and image, Our Ancestors Did Not Breathe This Air is a bold and unfiltered collection recounting moments, tears, and dreams that have been generations in the making. Main Topics: Committing to a writing circle with your college besties Publishing essentially your diary - that your family will read Staying equal as a team of six authors without competing How to write and publish your book idea Learn more about the authors of Our Ancestors Did Not Breathe This Air: Websites: http://oadnbta-poetry.com/ (http://oadnbta-poetry.com/) https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/60394934 (https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/60394934) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oadnbta.poetry/ (https://www.instagram.com/oadnbta.poetry/) I hope you enjoy this episode! If so, please ⁠⁠leave a rating and review⁠⁠ (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-did-that/id1644020550) wherever you listen to your podcasts.

6. 

   27 Jun 2023

   EP 12 Beyond Labels: Embracing Multidimensional Identities

   In this episode of You Did That!, I welcome Ryan Alexander Holmes, a Chinese and African American actor and content creator who is bringing mixed ethnicity identity to the mainstream. He believes that it's crucial to opt-out of the mainstream narrative and to embrace one's unique qualities. We've been on some panels together, so I know this is going to be a great episode. Main topics discussed: Looking Beyond Appearances Overcoming Fear Identity Crisis Finding Your Voice Learn more about Ryan: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryanalexh/ (https://www.instagram.com/ryanalexh/) I hope you enjoy this episode! If so, please ⁠⁠leave a rating and review⁠⁠ (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-did-that/id1644020550) wherever you listen to your podcasts.

7. 

   30 May 2023

   EP 11 Navigating Business and Relationships in the LGBTQ Salon Industry with Cal

   In this episode of You Did That!, I welcome Cal,  the Co-Founder of a trauma-informed, LGBTQ+ forward hair salon and community space. Cal works to learn the opportunities, resources, and needs in his community, build connections, and support healthy interdependence.  He looks forward to finding more opportunities to embolden the LGBTQ+ community in Long Beach and beyond. Main Topics Salon Benders and LGBTQ-forward hair salon Recognizing the importance of getting administration and people Learning the power of observation and navigating conflict Importance of external supports and equitable practices in business The transition to feeling reflected within the community. Learn more about Cal: IG (https://www.instagram.com/salonbenders/)/Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/SALONBENDERS/) Visit Salon Bender's website: https://www.salonbenders.com/ (https://www.salonbenders.com/) I hope you enjoy this episode! If so, please ⁠⁠leave a rating and review⁠⁠ (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-did-that/id1644020550) wherever you listen to your podcasts.

8. 

   9 May 2023

   EP10 Honoring Rhythms in Entrepreneurship and Relationships with Christina

   In this episode of You Did That!, I welcome Christina, a Professional travel blogger, entrepreneur, writer, lingerie store owner, sensual movement teacher, and mother to a wild one. Christina is faithfully attached to being a multi-hyphenate kind of woman.  After giving birth to her first child, she decided now would be the appropriate time to upend her life and start all over. So she sold almost everything she had to travel across the US with her husband and two-year-old in tow to "live a wilder life." Main Topics Discussed: Honoring your rhythm Prioritizing meaningful memories over an overcrowded itinerary Blogging and influencing as a career Everyday Adventures The importance of believing in oneself and starting over later in life Is there a piece of advice that when you were first starting, would have been helpful to you? I think in terms of traveling, the advice I would give to anybody who's traveling with friends or family, is to always honor your rhythms. And so it's so much more important to have memories together than to try to fit everything in. And I guess to know your intention. Like, when I travel with my father who's older and disabled, we're not going to do much, but I know what the intention is that it's to be together and to be in this new environment together. What's your favorite thing you've learned about yourself through your experiences? You know, how capable I am as a person, as a woman. I guess what stands out is that I'm proud that I'm 40 now and I just completely started over and I started this thing. That I did it and that I'm successful at it, that I was able just to do it one little step at a time, and that I have a thriving business now. That's what stands out for me is that I guess I'm at an age where most people would be kind of sinking into their work and like rising. And for me, I just started over and that's maybe more common than we think. And it's just not talked about that a lot of people are continually starting over and that that's okay and that you can find your groove later on and there's no endpoint for it because this is a very creative endeavor for me. And so to continue to find out what I want to be doing for my creative work, for my financial work, what actually will sustain my family, has been probably the most rewarding thing, even more than the travel, which is just funny. I think most people focus on that. I got to travel, and that is it.  I actually enjoy working. If I had nothing to do, I would be really unhappy. I like to create, so that's been like, immeasurably satisfying. Who are your role models or supporters on this journey? I want to be honest, I didn't know anybody who did this. And I didn't have anybody guiding me on how to start my blog other than looking to other bloggers and taking the typical online course that's very popular now. I've had many mentors in my life and many teachers and people have inspired me, but this is pretty much the first time where I did something where there was no compass, there was no guide. There was just kind of a lot of chutzpah, which is really just like a total determination and also a belief in myself that I could do it that was not easily attained. What would your younger self think if they saw you now? I think she would think I'm pretty rad. Learn more about Christina: Website: www.liveawilderlife.com (http://www.liveawilderlife.com/) Instagram: www.instagram.com/liveawilderlife (http://www.instagram.com/liveawilderlife) I hope you enjoy this episode! If so, please ⁠⁠leave a rating and review⁠⁠ (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-did-that/id1644020550) wherever you listen to your podcasts.

9. 

   11 Apr 2023

   EP9 How to Tap Into Your Unique Leadership Strengths with Julianne Guinasso and Poonam Natha

   In this episode of You Did That!, I welcome Julianne Guinasso and Poonam Natha of Level Up Leaders, a leadership development and employee management company created by therapists, for therapists. In 2014, Poonam and Julianne became office neighbors and quickly bonded over the idea that taking care of therapists would provide the clinical outcomes their bosses and communities craved. As fellow LMFT's, they believe that, more than any other factor, relationships at work predict employee performance. Mastering relational leadership through cultivating a culture of TRUST is what combats turnover, overwhelm, and disengagement. Nurturance, growth, and integrity are the driving forces in Poonam's way of being. Poonam helps you navigate the path to your success as a leader and the health of your practice or organization by prioritizing the working relationship. Julianne's leading values are courage, curiosity, and service. She knows that by focusing on the energetics of relational trust in the workplace and by leading with emotional fluency, your employees can provide the highest clinical care. Main Topics Discussed: How to be a therapist leader Pivoting from working at an agency to owning your own practice The five leadership archetypes, and how to tap into your strengths How each leader in an organization can complement each other’s unique strengths Building culture beyond the pizza parties Learn more about Level Up Leaders: Visit their website: www.levelupleaders.org (https://www.levelupleaders.org/) Follow them on Instagram: www.instagram.com/levelupleaders (https://www.instagram.com/levelupleaders/) What’s your Leadership Expertise? This is the relational quality you demonstrate with ease. This skillset is what everyone seeks you out for. It’s the aspect of your leadership that cultivates TRUST with those around you. Take this 2-minute free leadership assessment to find out (https://www.levelupleaders.org/free-leadership-assessment)!

10. 

    7 Mar 2023

    EP8 Already Home: Recipes from Habiba Syed’s Afghan-American Kitchen

    In this episode of You Did That!, I welcome Habiba Syed, an Afghan-American English instructor, food writer, and recipe developer known as @cheftaloo on Instagram. As a teacher at Queensborough Community College, she “advocate[s] for first generation and BIPOC students to acquire and habituate college level skills by utilizing an empathetic pedagogical lens.” Main Topics Discussed: Engaging the Afghan diaspora through culinary adventures Having a strong sense of ownership over your native cuisine How to successfully publish a cookbook in 2023 Highlighting Afghan joy through food writing Creating sustainable changes in your life that unlock the genuine YOU Has there been growing interest in traditional food from the Afghan community? Habiba: Yes. Food means home for us. The conversations start out on the surface level, but eventually bring to mind stories about being in Grandma’s kitchen and one’s upbringing. It also invites very politicized debates about the “most authentic” recipes. I get yelled at on social media for putting certain ingredients in certain dishes, but I have to admire the sense of ownership that people have over their cuisine. For many people, there’s only one version of something, because that version is what they enjoyed in their childhood. Tell me about the moment you decided to make food writing and recipe development part of your career. Habiba: This idea has been simmering for some time. I have lots of friends and family who know about my interest in identity politics mixed with culinary adventures. I think the “official” moment was when my grandmother passed last year. Much of what I remember about food, the kitchen, and my sense of childhood are associated with my grandma. It became my calling to preserve her recipes—her legacy. What were some of the challenges you faced while building this platform? Habiba: I knew that this wasn’t a place I was familiar with, but I was willing to learn all I could through attending workshops and connecting with people in the space. Because the publishing world had changed so much in the past few years, I knew I had to do things that were outside of my comfort zone. For cookbook authors, publishers are looking for more than a creative mind and writing skill. Beyond ideas, they’re looking for platforms. They’re looking for marketability. It’s tough to reconcile the artist with the salesperson, but it’s been something I’ve been continuing to work on. Which has been more challenging for you: teaching or food writing? Habiba: Teaching in the traditional space has always been challenging. But now that I’m writing a cookbook, I had to really learn how to switch from sounding academic to sounding relatable. I’m highlighting Afghan joy: our happiness, resilience, perseverance, and survival. What has surprised you the most about this process? Habiba: I have been growing in ways I didn’t know were possible. I always ask what my goals are for any given project and whether my discomfort is greater than my confidence. My answer is always, “No.” My discomfort is not greater than my passion for this endeavor. I promised that I would take this on until it comes to fruition. It’s been difficult at times because I have to deal with my limitations, but my failures teach me lessons I never could have learned otherwise. Learn more about Habiba Syed: Follow her on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cheftaloo (https://www.instagram.com/cheftaloo/)

11. 

    6 Feb 2023

    EP 7 Speak For Yourself: a Trailblazer for Afghan-Americans with Madina Wardak

    In this episode of You Did That!, I welcome Madina Wardak, an LA-based social worker and youth advocate of Afghan origin. Known as @burqasandbeer on Instagram, Madina engages in dialogue tackling mental health and politics from university campuses all the way to her beloved homeland. Main Topics Discussed: Growing up in a tiny Afghan community in Los Angeles Being a prominent voice among Afghan-Americans away from the pressure of expectations Navigating haters within your own community The multifaceted beauty of Afghan culture The promising rise of Afghan-American personalities on social media Why did you name your platform “Burqas and Beer” and what was your goal for it? Surprisingly, I don’t get a lot of hate for the name. It’s actually more of a conversation starter! Back then, I would write these very lengthy Facebook statuses about how identity ties into politics. One of my cousins suggested I start a blog, which I launched in 2015. That happened to be the same year the first Afghan-American Conference took place. I spoke there about gender double standards in the Afghan community. It was well-received but rocked the boat a little bit because I talked about male privilege in the Afghan diaspora. That cemented my reputation in the community as someone who spoke her mind. I don’t claim to represent the Afghan community because I don’t want to have to be pressured by expectations; but I know my voice matters. Still, I want it to be my voice. That’s why I chose the unique name Burqas and Beer. Was there a moment when this felt like an “official” calling—that this was more than just posting Facebook statuses? I do remember being at an Afghan gathering, and an older woman coming up to my mom telling her how much she loved my writing. That was probably the first “real” moment. And every time other Afghans tell me that my content really resonated with them or impacted them in a certain way, I get reminded that I have a responsibility with this platform. What were some of the challenges you faced while building this platform? There’s always the challenge of being an Afghan woman. Really, being a woman in general. I’ve definitely faced a lot of resistance from trolls who’ve tried to silence me or have said that I don’t represent Afghan women in the “right” way. When the Taliban takeover happened, there was a lot of pressure to speak on certain topics and apologize for certain things. It was hard being under that microscope. I’ve been called a Taliban supporter. On the internet, the person on the other side of the screen is no longer a person, but an idea. I was getting a lot of people’s projections, specifically from the Afghan community. One time, my address and my parents’ pictures were leaked. And the crazy thing was, it ended up being some 17-year-old kid from the UK who did a lot of it. There’s often no room for empathy—for understanding that I’m just a person. It’s only this year that I’ve been getting paid for the content I post; so I was doing all this on the side until recently. The biggest lesson I learned is that I’m responsible only for what I say and do, and the work that I’ve done for the community should speak for itself. How does it feel seeing more Afghan people rising up to do prominent work like yours? It’s fashionable to be woken up nowadays, so the biggest challenge is navigating your political and social values to discover how you can make a difference in your own unique way. Learn more about Madina Wardak: Follow her on Instagram: www.instagram.com/burqasandbeer (https://www.instagram.com/burqasandbeer/) Visit her website: www.madinawardak.com (https://www.madinawardak.com/)

12. 

    10 Jan 2023

    EP6 Trusting Your Loved Ones to Transition With You with Nik Stancil

    In this episode of You Did That!, I welcome Nik Stancil, an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor with Prospect Therapy in Long Beach. Through therapy and workshop facilitation at Prospect Therapy, Nik provides consulting services for queer and trans individuals seeking to increase productivity, define and reach new goals, and generally improve their quality of life. Main Topics Discussed: Coming out as the only openly queer and trans person in their family and peer group Navigating the mental and emotional work when coming out and transitioning Setting expectations for the path forward with your friends and family after coming out The parallels between being queer/trans and autistic/ADHD Stepping out of your bubble if you feel unwelcome and seeking out safe spaces What are you celebrating about yourself today? Nik: I am the first openly queer and trans person in my family, and in my bubble. This has bled over into every part of my life, including my work. I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing now if I didn’t embrace this part of me. I find a lot of pride and identity in my work; so, the ability to translate the empowerment of Queerness that I celebrate into my work is what keeps me motivated. Tell me about the moment you decided to embrace your identity. Nik: There were two: the internal and external moments. Internally, the first time somebody referred to me using he/they pronouns, I burst into tears. That made me realize that this is real and it’s not going anywhere. Externally, it was my top surgery. That was when the people around me realized that they had to adjust to this path I chose for my life. It was during that time when they told me that they finally began to see me as I really am. Were you ever pressured to transition in stages as opposed to all at once, internally and externally? Nik: Yes and no. I understand the idea of taking one step at a time. At the same time, I also wanted to be done with this emotional labor I was going through. But, you can’t rush it, particularly those building blocks of how you see yourself. In a way, I appreciate the amount of time that needs to pass during the physical part so that I can emotionally process everything that’s happening. I’m also glad the process is hard, because it’s made me a better person. What were some of the challenges you faced both within yourself and from the people and systems around you? Nik: Looking back, I’m still surprised about how hard it was to convince myself to go through with it. Sometimes, I don’t know how I was able to do it. I’m so grateful that I did; but, I wish, for my clients’ and other people’s sake, that I was able to really narrate step-by-step how I made it all happen. The conversation you have with yourself is the most important one. Gender is super-confusing. Coming out to my family was also challenging, but a little easier than you’d think because I’d already spent years processing my thoughts and emotions beforehand. What made those challenges a little easier for you? Nik: You are one of them. Having a boss that’s not going to fire me or question me. Telling Sara that I wanted to use they/them pronouns, I’m non-binary, and that I’m going on this gender journey, and hearing a simple “cool” from her was amazing. I also had friends that told me that they didn’t care what gender I am, and that made the biggest difference. Learn more about Nik Stancil: Follow them on Instagram: www.instagram.com/nikstancil (https://www.instagram.com/nikstancil/) Request a therapy appointment with Nik Stancil: https://www.prospecttherapy.com/nikstancil (https://www.prospecttherapy.com/nikstancil)

13. 

    15 Nov 2022

    EP5 - From Women's Boxing Champion to Entrepreneur with Liz Parr

    In this episode of You Did That!, I welcome Liz Parr, the owner of Guvnor's Boxing Club in Long Beach, California. She is also a Womens Boxing 5x US Champion and a Team USA Athlete. She is currently on the long, long road to creating champions, all while owning/running her own boxing club. Most importantly, she is remembering to create a life outside of work. You can learn more about her classes, her athletes, and a little bit about her life by following her instagram page @guvnorsboxingclub. We are celebrating her for not only excelling in her athletic career, but for starting her own business in a male-dominated field. Main Topics Discussed: From professional boxer to gym owner as a Latina How underground pro boxer Lenny McLean inspired Liz The moment Liz’s business felt “official” for her Why Liz feels most fulfilled training kids The importance of self-care Where did the name “Guv’nors Boxing Club” come from? Liz: A lot of different things. My husband’s from Manchester, and we support Manchester City. The hooligans are called “guv’nors”. There’s somebody called Lenny McLean who was an underground bare-knuckle boxing champion—all-around gangster, badass, fucking bipolar guy. He was also “The Guv’nor”. I love him so much. My gym was named after the feeling I felt when I watched him. When was the moment your business became official to you? Liz: When they handed me the keys and all of the money went out of my account. Not only did I give everything that I had, but I also went negative. I remember my stomach hurting and wanting to puke. I didn’t know anything about running a business, and not a lot of people wanted to help. When I felt that there was nothing left, it became real. Do you know other women who have done what you did? Liz: I don’t, but I don’t think that there aren’t any. There are probably women out there like me but don’t put themselves out there as much. They just go about their business. They’re doing their thing. What they do is on a need-to-know basis. What other challenges did you face when you started your business? Liz: Money. When you’re self-made—when you don’t have any credit or anyone who is going to cosign for you, it’s a lot harder. There was nobody loaning me money, and I wouldn’t have accepted anyone anyway, because I never want to sink somebody else if I fail. I’d rather go down by myself. How does it feel not having a lot of people who look like you in professional boxing or owning a boxing gym? Liz: It’s being advertised more than back then. It’s bigger in other countries like Mexico, who have been headliners for a long time. I just think that, sometimes, the general population doesn’t care about women’s sports unless they’re actually a fan of the sport. The people I respect were really excited for me, and I got help from many trainers. I just think of it as a job that needs to be done, and I’ll do that job regardless of how you feel about me. Other people’s opinions don’t pay me. What is the favorite thing that you learned about yourself as a result of this process? Liz: That I love training kids. Even though I knew it then, I know it more now. I like to watch them learn, and hopefully imprint a little bit of my personality in them! I really love this special connection to them, where I’m not their parent or really their friend. I’m this person who is teaching them things that they can apply in their life years down the line. Learn more about Guv’nors Boxing Club: Follow them on Instagram: www.instagram.com/guvnorsboxingclub (https://www.instagram.com/guvnorsboxingclub/)

14. 

    18 Oct 2022

    EP4 - We Deserve to Protect Ourselves Too with Tom Nguyen

    In this episode of You Did That!, I welcome Tom Nguyen, Founder, Instructor, and Range Safety Officer at L.A. Progressive Shooters. He founded the Los Angeles gun club in 2020 with the goal of creating a non-intimidating and inclusive community, focused on safety and education, for people new to firearms. Main Topics Discussed: Why vulnerable and marginalized communities should consider gun ownership How Tom created a safe space for the BiPoc and Queer communities in a largley cis-male-dominated world The vital relationship between safety and mental health Why Tom received backlash from the Asian gun community, and his response to them Why it is important to be open-minded and receptive to different perspectives to experience personal and professional growth Why did you find L.A. Progressive Shooters? Tom: I like to joke that it was an accident, since I found it right around the time of the pandemic and a lot of civil unrest in 2020. I’ve never seen so many people in my communities—the BiPoc and Queer communities—who never cared for guns in their lives before to suddenly consider owning them. In these communities, we don’t have a lot of positive role models when it comes to gun owners, so my mission is to bring more people into this world and change those stereotypes. What’s your approach as a firearms instructor? Tom: I like to describe myself as “the most un-gun gun instructor”. I don’t answer for the gun industry. I answer to my community. I just want people to be safe and responsible when making this life-changing decision. If at the end of training, someone says that they’re still not ready to own a gun, then I say, “Great, at least you now know what you’re turning away from.” When did L.A. Progressive Shooters officially start in your mind? Tom: In the summer of 2020. I joined a lot of gun clubs but found that they were not as tolerant nor as inclusive as I wanted them to be. They were spaces that were cis-male dominated and could be very homophobic and transphobic. I knew there had to be a place where people could ask questions and not be judged automatically. I created the L.A. Progressive Shooters page on Facebook. I used the word “progressive” because I want to wear this on my sleeve unapologetically to let people know that we’re not marketing to everyone. We know exactly who we want in our community. This is a safe space for everyone that does not feel safe in traditional spaces. We’re here for everyone else. When you had your first range day with 15-20 strangers showing up who had never handled firearms, what was going through your mind? Tom: What was going through my mind was the huge burden of responsibility. “What exactly have I done here?” But people responded. People were hungry for this. I knew it was real when I met this Mexican-American couple who drove two hours just to get to this meetup, because they never felt comfortable in other gun communities. What would your younger self think if they saw you now? Tom: They would be happy for all the wrong reasons because I was a trigger-happy juvenile. I’ve matured so much since then in ways that my younger self could not appreciate. Learn more about L.A. Progressive Shooters: Visit their website: www.laprogressiveshooters.com (https://laprogressiveshooters.com/) Follow them on Instagram: www.instagram.com/la.progressive.shooters (https://www.instagram.com/la.progressive.shooters/)

15. 

    7 Sept 2022

    Ep3 - Bringing Beauty and Wellness to the Marginalized with Jessie Santiago

    In this episode of You Did That!, I welcome Jessie Santiago, the owner of Salon Benders, a full-service beauty salon based in Long Beach, CA focusing on LGBTQIA+ competency and wellbeing. Jessie has been working in the beauty and wellness industry for over two decades, having first tried her hand at doing hair at age 17. Main Topics Discussed: Loving yourself, no matter how many societal norms you bend Advice to aspiring marginalized entrepreneurs Living your values as a business owner Why integrity is so crucial to the success of any business Why having faith in humanity is the greatest motivator What led to your fast success as a hairstylist? Jessie: To be totally real, I lean into stuff that makes me feel completely terrified. I was really focused. I never found something that I was good at because I never felt very smart as a child and as a young adult. When I tried doing hair for the first time, I found something that really clicked with me and I was passionate about. From then on, I did everything I could to perfect my craft. I knew it had to work because while I love doing hair, I also needed my passion to pay my bills. Why did you start Salon Benders? Were there any trade-offs you had to make when you got started? Jessie: I think it’s so important to talk about this. Everything was a trade-off: It was my physical and mental health, identity, and culture. I had to whitewash, assimilate, code-switch, be low-key about being queer, be skinny, be beautiful—there were all these things that I had to be to be lucrative and be seen as a professional in this industry. I did all of this for 20 years. Right before I opened Benders, I met my partner Cal. He later asked me whether I ever considered working within my own community and offering my services to other trans and queer people. I never really considered it because I was struggling with my own identity and mental health. I had a lot of trauma within my own community because I didn’t identify as “gay” or “straight” when those were the only two categories anyone talked about when I grew up. The moment that Salon Benders became official was a year before we got our space, when I created the Salon Benders brand on social media. It was just myself starting out. But it all really dawned on me when an older trans woman reached out to me for a house call. I saw her as a sister, and I knew that this was the work I wanted to do: to prioritize trans women, especially trans women of color. Where did the name “Salon Benders” come from? Jessie: Cal and I always knew we wanted to open a salon but we didn’t know what to call it. We spent the next six to seven months throwing around all of these different ideas. I am connected to my culture and spirituality, and meditation is a part of that. My grandmother taught me how to ground and reach out to information that somebody might call “collective consciousness”. So, I was lying down one day, deep inside of my higher consciousness, and I asked, “Who are you? What speaks to Cal and I?” We broke every societal rule there is: We’re queer, poly, trans, brown, small, tattooed, fem, loud. We bend or break all of these norms. We’re benders. We bend everything. So, I decided to open my salon to everyone else who was questioning, asking, and bending.

16. 

    7 Sept 2022

    Ep2 - Sara on Sara: Meet your host

    So my first guest is myself. Hi! I'm Sara Stanizai. I'm a therapist, a business coach, a speaker, and a facilitator. My work focuses on the African diaspora and particularly the queer and trans community. More broadly, I love working with children of displaced people across the board. People who really feel like they have imposter syndrome. And I love reminding people that impostor syndrome is actually not a syndrome. It’s a reasonable reaction to a world created without you in mind. We're not supposed to fit in. So we're not monsters. They are. I named my podcast You Did That! because I want to celebrate people doing things. And what I want to celebrate today is that I started my own business back in 2018 and specifically that it has allowed me to really return to my own community in such a beautiful and just amazing way. So I consider the starting of my business, technically, I consider it January 8, 2018, and I chose that because that is the day that I got Prospect Therapy’s tax id number. And I was like, it's official. So it's no longer me working for someone else. I have my own company to work for it. And I knew very early on who I wanted to work with. My favorite thing that I've learned about myself as a result of this process is that I can do difficult things. I can play the long game. I have often felt very impatient and impulsive and I lose interest in things. And if it gets hard, I just kind of put it down and I'm like, I don't like it anymore. And this work has been so important to me and it's something that I have literally created out of my own blood, sweat, and tears, late nights, and problem-solving, and paying lots of people to like help me and coach me through this. You know, every time I had a new idea, I just kept plugging away at it. And I think my favorite thing that I've learned about myself as a result of this is that I actually don't give up that easily and I work really hard. And I really love the type of leader that I have become. I think what has surprised me the most honestly is how much my specific personality, my own brand of weirdness, that is what helped me be successful. I used to think that you had to blend in, and you had to be corporate, and you had to wear a really nice suit. And you had to look, and dress, and speak, and act a certain way and there are only certain limits of parameters that you can work within. And I find that I’m most successful when I do things in a way that only I can do them. And that has been really pleasantly surprising. What would my younger self think if they saw me now? I think that she would think that I was the coolest person ever. And she would really like my hair. She would be glad that I like the same music for the last 25 years. And she would be really excited and she would have no idea how we ended up here. And she will be like, “Wow! You didn’t become like an Elementary School teacher,” which by the way I’ll be terrible at that. I think she will really be surprised at the turn my life has taken. She would have never thought in a million years that I would be my own boss. Not along the box of other people. And she would see that I’m still helping people because that’s something I’ve always wanted to do, that I’ve always been a problem solver. And in my own way, I guess I am teaching certain things too. That I’m cheerleading other people into their own greatness. She would think that’s pretty cool. Thanks for listening and stay tuned for our next episode with a guest who is ever cooler than I am. If you have any questions you know where to reach me.

17. 

    7 Sept 2022

    Ep1 - Intro to You Did That!

    Welcome to the first episode of You Did That! I’m Sara Stanizai. I am really excited to share these stories with you. I had been thinking about starting a podcast for a long time, but honestly, I didn't really listen to a lot of podcasts. I thought it was just like white dudes with a microphone, pontificating about stuff. But then I figured why not? I think there are a lot of stories that need to be told, I mean, I love hearing about them and learning from people. So I'm excited to share this with you. So this podcast really is about celebrating the black sheep. And what I mean by that is the people who often feel like they are the first or only one of themselves in their community. And they feel like they don't have a role model. They didn't have a template. They didn't have someone guiding them to do these things. And it's not just in business or leadership, sometimes in their love life or their personal choices, or in their religious beliefs. There are all kinds of ways that people really set out on their own and we often feel like we are alone in this. That we have to be alone in it. And so I'm really lucky in my work as a therapist and a coach, as a facilitator and speaker. I hear these stories from people all the time. Like, I didn't know there was anyone like me. And my hope with this podcast is that you do hear some of your own stories and you do get inspired by people, and you realize that I'm not the only one like me. One thing I'm really interested in. When we make these decisions, it can really change the course of our life. I never intended to start this podcast. But you know those seeds are planted and you really pay attention to what you want, what makes you excited and what you can't stop thinking about or talking about, what people keep bringing up to you, and just to pay attention to those things I'm really interested in. Often those ideas are born in these really private moments or decisions that we look back on. And we didn't realize it at the time, but then, when we looked back on it, we realized that was the moment I became this version of myself. That was the moment I decided to do this. A little bit about me. My name is Sara Stanizai. I am a licensed therapist and a business coach. I’m a facilitator and speaker. My focus is on the queer first-gen experience. I myself am a queer Christian. My family is from Afghanistan. I was born in Los Angeles, and I grew up with that common internalized displacement of being a child of immigrants or really refugees. So what can you expect when you listen to You Did That!? You are going to meet people who are trailblazers in their own way. You might meet people who are starting businesses, who are excelling in their field, who are really standing out and had started doing something before it was cool or before they felt cool about it and how courageous that decision is to keep going even though you're getting all this resistance from other people and also from within yourself. You’re gonna meet people who maybe it has nothing to do with their professional life but they were open about their sexuality and became the cool gay uncle. You're going to meet people who moved across the country and separated from their families. You'll meet people who decided to quit corporate America and become an artist. You're gonna meet people who maybe are the first person to marry outside of their culture or religion. So these are the people that are doing really cool things. But what's the coolest thing about it is that they did it really on their own and got to redefine themselves. And that's really what I'm obsessed with. So thank you for listening. I hope you're inspired and motivated and excited just like I am.

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