Episode 001: Pilot

 Intro: Welcome to the Ashes to Wings podcast, where we tell stories of overcomers, and give you tips and tricks to living a fuller, more embodied life, here's your host, Jenni O'Connor.

Hey friends, welcome to Ashes to Wings. This is our pilot episode and I am so excited for what we already have planned for you! Our title, Ashes to Wings, is referencing the legend of the mythical Phoenix. The Phoenix is a bird that dies spectacularly in flames, burning completely to ashes. But just when you think its life is over, it regenerates itself, born anew from the ashes. It's become a powerful metaphor for those who want to transform their lives, and that's what I hope to accomplish together with you. 

We'll have a few different focus points in this podcast. In our guest episodes, I'll either be interviewing someone who has an inspiring story of transformation, or I'll be interviewing someone who is an expert in a field like meditation, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, therapy, and more. The goal is to inspire you, and to give you tips for feeling more connected with yourself and others. 

In our teaching episodes, I'll give you practical methods that you can try at home for breathwork, mindfulness, meditation, and more. As a certified Somatic Coach, I am all about helping you make the connection between your body, mind, and emotions. And in Somatics, we use the body to sort of shortcut our connection to our emotions. So using these methods, you'll find yourself feeling more in-tune with your body as a whole. 

Now I know a lot of our listeners are busy folks and don't always have the time to sit down and listen to a long episode. So we'll also have Minute Tips, which are short episodes - about a minute long - with embodiment and mindfulness tips for those busy days where you just need a quick time out. 

To give you a little bit of my backstory, I'm a certified Life Coach and Embodiment Coach. I'm an author and a speaker. I'm also the proud owner of Studio Phoenix, a women's aerial studio in the Chicago suburbs, which is primarily known for pole dance. Yes you heard right, I said pole dance. I've been a pole dancer since 2010, and even competed and medaled in pole competitions... which sounds even crazier when you hear the other side of my story. I live with constant pain and fatigue due to fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. But, like the Phoenix, I refuse to let it get me down for long. Sometimes I'm rolling in my wheelchair, and sometimes I'm flying through the air on a pole, but I am always moving forward. For almost a decade I've helped thousands of women build their confidence and reconnect with their bodies. Because I spent a large part of my life seeing my body as the enemy, I know the importance of shifting the way you view yourself; and helping others change that viewpoint and learn to respect and feel connected with their bodies has become my life's mission. I believe that we rise by lifting others. 

Well I want to keep this pilot episode short and sweet, so I'll close this out by asking you for a favor. Would you subscribe, rate, and review Ashes to Wings? Your support helps new podcasts like ours grow and become more visible. In fact, if you really like it, I'd love it if you shared it with your friends. Let's help make this world a better place together. See you next time!

Outro: Thanks for listening. The best way to learn is to teach someone else. So take one thing you learned today and share it with a friend. Find Jenni on Instagram at the_Jenni_O'Connor and online at JenniOConnor.com. Subscribe for new episodes. Until next time, rise above!