Cageless

After a long hiatus (blame the microphone cords), Cageless is back! And a lot has changed. I am officially 30, newly engaged, and planning two weddings across two continents. In this honest episode, I share the story behind my surprise East Texas proposal, what intercultural love has taught me about myself, and why I'm finally giving my younger creative dreams a second wind. This episode explo...

What if moving abroad, writing online, or starting over in your 20s isn’t running away? What if it is expanding? And perhaps where ever you run; there you are... Valerie Estrina doesn’t just write about girlhood, comparison, self-worth, and identity—she names the things most of us are too scared to say out loud. She is a writer and founder of club reticent —a global community based on Substack of...

In this episode, I’m answering your questions and reflecting on what it’s really like to date /make friends in France vs. America. Think less “Emily in Paris,” and more (almost too chill) French nuances. I’m also talking about dealing with the language barrier in relationships, Texas Hunting Wives and the 50-50 rule. Pardon My French(Man) TikTok: LINK Substack: LINK

With the rise of Ozempic, plastic surgery and toxic societal expectations, how does American celebrity culture shape us? In this episode of Cageless, I explore what I’ve learned as an American woman who has healed from an eating disorder and now lives in Europe. Let's stop letting body image, self-worth, and male validation control your life once and for all. If you're tired of chasing eve...

I just got approved for my 4-year visa in France, and it hit me how much this place has shaped me. In this episode, I talk about French bureaucracy, living far from home, and growing older in a city that once felt like a dream and now feels like real life. If you’re navigating your twenties, thinking about moving abroad, or just craving a slower, deeper way of living—this one's for you. I share th...

Sharing my growth in writing every day for 90 days on Substack. I talk about how the challenge changed my views on creativity, the routines I changed, and the surprising lessons I learned over the 3 months. If you’ve ever wanted to build a consistent creative habit or find inspiration in daily practice, this episode is for you.📚 Follow my 90 days of writing on Substack: https://thejennijohnson.su...

00:00 Start 02:00 Taking control of your life 04:00 Breakups 05:00 Starting over when you didn't expect it 06:00 Freedom 06:37 Authenticity 07:20 Finding yourself 08:01 Seek a teacher 08:20 Rule of Life 10:02 Creativity and atoms 10:35 How do you want your life to look

TikTok star, professional Moulin Rouge dancer and entrepreneur Allie Goodbun joins me on Cageless to share her journey from a small-town to the most iconic stage in the world. Allie’s story is packed with bold choices, creative ambition, and the spirit of building a life you love on your own terms. We talk about: -How taking big risks led Allie to her dream job in Paris; -Why creating your own opp...

In this episode, I tell you when I started asking deeper questions and wrestling with what it meant to live the way of Jesus in our world. Not in the American Church system. I decided to let go of dogma and shame and deconstruct to align my life with Jesus’s heart through my own encounters, research and relationships. Join me as we rethink faith, look beyond tradition, and explore a new way of see...

In this week’s Cageless episode, we dive into the idea that your twenties aren’t your prime—they’re your primer. Age is often weaponized against us, but it’s time to reframe our perspective. We explore the significance of being present, embracing the beauty in our everyday lives, and how true fulfillment comes from relationships rather than achievements. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this jour...

What if the secret to a meaningful life lies in the quiet moments we often overlook? In this episode, I explore the beauty of slowing down and embracing the present. I find it really challenging to stay present in a world that keeps pushing us to rush ahead. I discuss lessons I find interesting from French mystics in Paris and Western spiritual teachers, and break down 4 spiritual practices inspir...

Hey hi hello, my friends, In this episode I am talking about endings of relationships and feeling disconnected from reality. We’ll explore the challenges of grief and change, reflecting on the verse from Jeremiah 29: “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” If you’re struggling to find hope after a diffic...

TW: EATING DISORDERS, MENTAL ILLNESS In this heartfelt episode, I sit down with Bobby of the mindframe podcast for an intimate conversation. From Paris, we openly share the deeply personal details of how anorexia took hold of my life and the spiritual journey that helped me find healing. Now, as a writer and creator living in purpose, I reflect on what it means to truly not be the avatar of yourse...

What happens when the structure you've built your life on begins to crumble? David Hayward, otherwise known as the Naked Pastor , is a cartoonist, ex-vangelical, and pastor turned artist. If you’re interested in deconstruction, spiritual journeying, freedom of thought, or finding for your authentic self, this episode is for you. "I had this profound moment where I saw the oneness of everything. Wh...

Annie Ridout is a non-fiction self-development author, journalist, speaker and ghostwriter. Her work has been published in Women’s Health, The Guardian and The Independent . She is the writer of her self-titled Substack which was featured in the Official 2023 Substack publications. Annie gives us insight on her journey of creating harmony, unlocking her true potential and finding magic in everyday...

David McIlroy is a writer and solopreneur from Northern Ireland. He is the author of Substack publications: How to Write for a Living, The Solopreneur Stack and David McIlroy Fiction. "All writers should be paid." - David McElroy Episode Takeaways: -David shares his journey from hobbyist writer to professional. -Email lists are vital for writers and solopreneurs. -Challenging the importance of soc...

Women lie. And so does the beauty industry. This has become increasingly clearer the older I’ve gotten. Because I find myself doing it too. Beauty enhancement tools that society thinks we need are not solutions, they're beauty bandaids. No matter how much sleep you get, supplements you take and meditation you do, if your heart isn’t in the right place, you aren’t going to feel vibrant and alive. I...

After a YEAR LONG HIATUS the Cageless podcast is back and now on Substack! This episode is from the vault with the coolest Erick Amezcua . We talk about * the repercussions of the internet * belonging * the nuclear family * physics * manifestation * science * entrepreneurship * the Bible * being in the age of TikTok spirituality Grab a $7 subscription to the Cageless Newsletter for the full video...

In the age of social media, non-verbal communication, and long distance relations, some of us can’t remember how to make or keep a real friend. But what is friendship? Really? In this episode I explore what I've learned in long distance friendships, barriers to friendship in adulthood and how to know it's time to break up. Freedom App CODE: CAGELESS: https://freedom.sjv.io/c/3743229/1358315/16076 ...

Can identifying as religious really affect your relationships? I'm deconstructing how your beliefs about God, Church, love can be both harmful and helpful in learning to love another person (yourself included.) Freedom App CODE: CAGELESS: https://freedom.sjv.io/c/3743229/1358315/16076  Support Cageless on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jennijohnson https://www.instagram.com/jennijohnson https://...

How can you be an active participate in your life? How do we find freedom from traditional jobs, relationships and viewpoints? And why do we feel the need to conform to normal routines? Ideas of who you are supposed to be shouldn't keep you from who you're becoming. I'm talking all about anti-American ideals, French cooking and learning how to cultivate relationships with others, God and myself. F...

Meet the mastermind behind the podcast the Earful Tower: Oliver Gee is an Australian living Paris since 2015 and runs one of the biggest travel pods in the world. Consider him the Indiana Jones of Paris, discovering hidden secrets, culture and history. :) You can find The Earful Tower on: Instagram Spotify Website For more from Jenni Johnson's Cageless, support the show on Patreon here . This is a...

Unlearning what it looks like to be patient with my relationships, especially the one with myself. Also let's talk about Jo March, controlling your body and the satisfaction formula. What does it look like for women to trust themselves and trust our ability to create a life that we deserve to live? Support us on Patreon ! Follow on TikTok: www. TikTok.com/@thejennijohnson Follow on instagram:   ww...

I’m exploring American diet culture and how French create the most basic yet intricate carbs. What would it look like to chew instead of spit? To embrace instead of avoid? What does it take to create food that feeds not only our bodies, but our souls? Support us on  Patreon   Follow on TikTok: www. TikTok.com/@thejennijohnson Follow on instagram:   www. Instagram.com/jennijohnson French Bread and...

We moved ! (me and my dog) to Paris ! Talking about turning 27, Ernest Hemingway, canceled plans, making my younger self proud and my Grandma. Support us on  Patreon   Follow on instagram:  @jennijohnson   Travel Blog: thejennijohnson.com Resources: Selena + Chef on Apple TV Shakespeare and Company bookstore Le Procope restaurant This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other s...