This episode has been a long time coming. Back in February, I played my first live show in years and had the honor of opening for The Little Mercies. Their performance was so joyful, heartfelt, and magnetic that I immediately wanted to know more about them and share them with all of you.

We talk about building a life outside the norm, women supporting women, creativity, music therapy, community, and what it really takes to follow your own path. They also share a few beautiful songs and plenty of stories from the road.

In this episode we cover a lot of ground:

•Building a touring folk band from friendship, grit, and a shared love of adventure

•Why having fun is a serious creative strategy

•Leaving your hometown and becoming who you're meant to be

•Women supporting women in music and business

•The realities of making a living as independent artists

•Turning big dreams into practical action

•Teaching music to children and empowering creativity

•Music therapy, memory care, and the power of song

•Following your joy even when the path gets messy

•Balancing art, relationships, family expectations, and personal growth

•The magic of folk music, storytelling, and shared experiences

•Creating spaces where people feel free to dance, play, and be themselves

•The importance of community in an increasingly disconnected world

•Cats, campfire energy, and a whole lot of laughter

A quick note: this was my first time recording an interview like this, and the video disappeared for the first half of the conversation. If you're listening, you'll never know. If you're watching on YouTube, the video kicks in about halfway through.

I loved this conversation and these women. I think you will too.

Xo,

Greta

Learn more about The Little Mercies at: www.thelittlemercies.com

Join me on Substack for the full details of this episode: https://substack.com/@thoughtexperimentcalledlife

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My guest this week lives a life that inspires to me to my core. I first learned about Emily Pennington through former guest, Anthony Elio, when my song ‘Think You’re In Love’ was played on his podcast. Emily’s story grabbed me instantly as she took a year of her life to travel to every national park and wrote a book about it called Feral. In addition, she is also the front woman of her ‘Rowdy Alternative Folk Rock’ band called Trouble’s Braids, so naturally I wanted to hear more about her very unconventional life path.

In this conversation we discuss:

- Starting over creatively in your 30s and 40s

- Building an unconventional life rooted in meaning instead of societal expectations

- Overcoming fear of being “bad” at something new

- Adult learning, side quests, and creative reinvention

- Grief, loss, and how it changes your relationship with time

- Conservation, native plants, and protecting public lands

- Why creativity and wonder are essential parts of being human

Also, Trouble’s Braids is coming out with a brand new EP on June 5th.

Stay in touch with everything they’re up to here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1nN66NEHxiYwSeLGB2t3tF?si=sLCOnjsvT62I5jn46D9qAw

www.troublesbraids.com

Click here to read Feral: https://a.co/d/0cjYfkIK

Join me on Substack for the full details of this episode: https://substack.com/@thoughtexperimentcalledlife

👉Get 20% Off and help your cells age brilliantly with liposomal NAD+ (and more) with Sunny Within (get the Strawberry Lime flavor…it’s much better than the Watermelon!!)

Use my code: THOUGHTEXPERIMENT

https://sunnywithin.com/THOUGHTEXPERIMENT

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I’m so honored to share my conversation with Emily Kwok, a World Champion Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 4th degree Black Belt, peak performance consultant, teacher, mother, creative thinker, and one of the most deeply insightful people I’ve had the gift of speaking with.

While Emily has played an enormous role in paving the way for women in jiu jitsu, this conversation reaches far beyond BJJ. We talk about conscious leadership, creativity, performance, taking risks, learning how to trust yourself, letting go of old versions of your life, and what it really means to become more fully yourself.

I first met Emily when I was a blue belt at an all-women’s BJJ workshop that completely changed my life, but over the years I’ve come to admire her for so much more than her accomplishments on the mat. This is one of those conversations that feels like it has gems tucked into every corner, and I hope it leaves you feeling inspired, challenged, and a little more ready to climb whatever mountain is in front of you.

Learn more about Emily Kwok at www.emilykwok.com

Join me on Substack for the full details of this episode: https://substack.com/@thoughtexperimentcalledlife

👉Get 20% Off and help your cells age brilliantly with liposomal NAD+ (and more) with Sunny Within (get the Strawberry Lime flavor…it’s much better than the Watermelon!!)

Use my code: THOUGHTEXPERIMENT

https://sunnywithin.com/THOUGHTEXPERIMENT

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.