LET IT OUT

268 | artist + entrepreneur Whitney Bell on overcoming trauma, spoon theory, creativity, and being present in your body

Episode Summary

Whitney Bell is an LA based activist, entrepreneur, Teen Vogue writer, and producer of the vulnerability variety show, Stories of Women. We sat down in Las Vegas at the Emerge Music Festival for this live interview. Whitney not only make really inspiring and moving work, but also manages to lift up others' while still prioritizing her own self care. She's a successful multi hyphenate who has worked through her childhood trauma and an eating disorder through therapy and medication and channeled her experiences into her artwork. She's known for her hugely popular art installation, "I Didn't Ask For This: A Lifetime of Dick Pics", and has since gone on to launch her own clothing line, Kid Bell, and storytelling platform, Stories of Women. In this week's episode she talks about her experience of burnout, mistakes in relationships, building a team, and punishing her body. Now she's in a place where she prioritized her mental and physical health, helps other people, and is constantly creating but in a way that's sustainable. We had a cozy conversation that talked about her habits and routines, the best advice from her therapist Jennifer, and what her younger self would have thought of her life now.

Episode Notes

Notes from the Show:

-Stories of Women, Whitney's storytelling platform

-This Woman Turned Her Collection of Unsolicited Dick Pics into an Art Show via Vice

-Spoon Theory

-Kidd Bell, Whitney's clothing line that partners with nonprofit organizations

-Dolly Parton's memoir, Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business

-Anita Hill's memoir, Speaking Truth to Power

-Roxane Gay's Hunger

-Absinthe show in Las Vegas

-Tasha from Emerge

Likes & Learns:

-Follow the charm! When you're overwhelmed and have too much to do, just follow what feels charming to you in the moment.

-Let's Play podcast episode with me and I also love this episode with Josh Radnor

-Lean into resting and the uncontrollable nature of life is my learn for the week.

All original music composed by Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs

Album art by Zoie Harman

Cool Things to Check-Out:

-Read my latest piece for The Fullest "Pivot: Showing Up For Therapy"

-Previous podcast guest Clara Artschwager and I are hosting an event July 17th from 7-9pm at The Hoxton in Williamsburg. I will be teaching a yoga class and Clara will talk us through her approach to dating and relationships. Tickets are $15 and you can get them here.

-if you're in LA my good friend and previous guest Anjie Cho is teaching two very cool classes, Contemplative Flower Arranging and Kado: The Way of Flowers. Go check them out and tell her I sent you.

-Sign-up for my newsletter to get updates on where I’ll be and what I’m loving.

–Join the listener Facebook Group.

-Get my book Let It Out: A Journey Through Journaling

If you Liked This Episode Try Out:

-Episode 95 with Valerie Chaney
-Episode 205 with Tina Essmaker

This week’s episode is sponsored by Ned. Ned offers wonderful hemp products made from organic materials in small batches to help with anxiety and insomnia relief, natural pain relief, as an anti-inflammatory, and so much more . I have tried so many CBD products but Ned is one of the best! They extract their oils from hemp flowers using a slow and mindful process, and infuse each batch with binaural beats and happy loving energy. I love that on their dosage instructions on the bottle it reminds me to take 3 deep breaths before using. It’s such a grounding process and I’m so excited to share their wonderful products with Let It Out Listeners.

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