Just Call Me Viv

The conversation delves into the personal and entrepreneurial journey of Zaira Flete, who faced alopecia and reinvented herself as an entrepreneur. Zaira's journey of healing and discovery led to the creation of a product that has impacted many lives. The themes of resilience, faith, and empowerment are central to the discussion. Zaira Flete shares her journey of empowerment through time managemen...

They turned cafecito and conversation into a sold-out community — and they're doing it for us. In this episode of Just Call Me Viv, I sit down with Elizabeth Colon and Marisel Melendez, the co-founders of Boricua Talks, a speaker series celebrating Puerto Rican women and their stories. We talk about building community in the diaspora, what it really takes to start something from nothing, and what...

Vivian shares her encounter with a supportive and collaborative woman, Andy Lyons, who embodies the spirit of making space for others. She reflects on the importance of recognizing those who support and uplift, and encourages listeners to embrace collaboration over competition. Takeaways Collaboration over competition Recognizing those who support and make space for you

The conversation explores the experience of feeling like an outsider in social settings and the value of depth in connections. It delves into the concept of being an 'otrovert' and the process of outgrowing spaces and relationships as part of personal growth and reinvention. Takeaways The value of depth in connections over social breadth The process of outgrowing spaces and relationships as part o...

The conversation with Lizbeth Perdomo covers her journey from Berklee to building a community, navigating challenges, and building resilience. It explores the lessons learned from running a studio, balancing business and parenting, recognizing the need for change, and the birth of Que Mami through manifestation and belief in self. The discussion also highlights the process of starting Que Mami and...

Vivian addresses the fear of taking the next step and emphasizes the importance of embracing fear as part of the change process. She encourages consistency, honesty, and compassion as key elements in navigating change and starting something new. Takeaways Embrace fear as part of the change process Consistency, honesty, and compassion are essential for navigating change

The conversation delves into the themes of reinventing identity, navigating responsibility and rebellion, and pursuing passion and entrepreneurship. It explores the experiences of two women who were once 'cool nerdy girls' and how they have evolved over time. The influence of upbringing, the impact of responsibility, and the pursuit of passion are central to their stories. The conversation covers...

The episode discusses the unreliability of motivation and the importance of structure and consistency. It emphasizes the role of identity-based habits, normalizing the dip in long-term effort, and reconnecting to the reason for starting as key strategies for maintaining motivation. Takeaways Motivation is unreliable and spikes with novelty Anchor effort to identity, not emotion

The episode discusses the normalcy of slow progress and the importance of consistency. It explores the competence curve, zone of proximal development, process-based thinking, and earning ease through repetition. Takeaways Slow progress is normal Consistency is key

The conversation delves into the recognition of the need for change, the impact of burnout, navigating stress and dysregulation, and the transformational power of yoga as a practice and way of being. Katelyn's journey from burnout to self-discovery through yoga and the impact of the education system on well-being are explored in depth. The conversation delves into the themes of flow-based living,...

The episode discusses the experience of losing self-trust after a setback and provides insights on rebuilding self-trust and trusting one's adaptability. Vivian shares practical steps and psychological perspectives to help listeners navigate through this challenging experience. Takeaways Losing self-trust is a common experience after a setback. Rebuilding self-trust involves separating judgment fr...

The episode explores the psychology of second-guessing and provides strategies to overcome it. It delves into the reasons behind second-guessing and offers practical steps to interrupt and redirect this behavior, ultimately empowering listeners to make decisions with confidence. Takeaways Understanding the psychology of second-guessing Strategies to overcome second-guessing

Starting something new can be mentally exhausting, and the fatigue experienced is a result of cognitive load and adaptation. Consistency and pacing oneself are key to managing this exhaustion and building new habits. Takeaways Cognitive load and adaptation contribute to the mental fatigue experienced when starting something new. Consistency and pacing are essential for managing exhaustion and buil...

The conversation explores the neurological basis of confidence, the process of building confidence with purpose, the importance of repetition and evaluation, and the significance of recording evidence for confidence. Takeaways include the understanding that confidence is built through habituation and that short exposure reduces threat and increases follow through. Takeaways Confidence is built thr...

The conversation delves into the career evolution and inspiration drawn from personal experiences, the challenges and triumphs faced, and the navigation of high-pressure environments. It also explores the journey of building something of one's own, the aspects of leadership and decision-making, and the relational work involved in the career path. The conversation delves into the identity shift in...

Overthinking is a threat response loop in the brain, driven by the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. It leads to circular, urgent, and exhausting thoughts. Practical steps to stop overthinking include identifying the threat, separating the decision from identity, and taking action to calm the nervous system. Takeaways Overthinking is a threat response loop Separate the decision from identity Take ac...

The conversation explores the impact of apologizing and the use of empowering language in communication. It emphasizes the need to replace sorry with affirming statements and highlights how apologizing weakens one's position in conversations. Takeaways Replace sorry with affirming statements Apologizing weakens your position

The conversation focuses on the importance of preparation for confidence and the power of clarity in communication. Vivian shares her personal experiences and provides actionable advice for effective communication in meetings and leadership roles. Takeaways Prepare for confidence Clarity creates preparation

Conquering your fear of starting something new and unfamiliar.

Vivian and Liz discuss the importance of authenticity in social media and the significance of midlife friendships. They explore Liz's approach to social media, her passions and identity in midlife, the evolution of friendships, navigating friendship loss and breakups, and the challenges of making new friendships in midlife. They also delve into the fear of rejection and the process of filtering fr...

Getting comfortable in front of the camera isn't about confidence, it's about finally being seen.

High-achieving women aren’t tired because they’re weak — they’re tired because they never stop choosing everyone else.

Before the goals. Before the resolutions. Before choosing a word for the year. There’s a question many women haven’t asked themselves in a long time: What do I actually want? In this final episode of the year, Viv creates space for the part of you that still desires something even if you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, or unsure what that something is. Midlife can train us to prioritize duty over desir...

Reconnecting with the Things you Desire in the next year.

This video is a gentle reflection on what you’re not bringing into the next season of your life — not out of anger, but out of self-respect. We talk about release without guilt, emotional boundaries, and how to stop carrying what was never meant for you. If you’ve been thinking, “I don’t want another year like this,” this space is for you. At the end, I share a simple, science-backed tool to help...