My Crunchy Zen Era
Welcome to My Crunchy Zen Era — we're not exactly sure what it means, but we're figuring it out. It started when I asked my friends: How do you create a life you love? Then it turned into a podcast full of a little fun, a little humor, and a whole lot of curiosity. Each week we dive into a fresh topic with a guest, exploring everything from everyday joys to life’s bigger questions. Whether we’re laughing, learning, or just letting things unfold, this show is your weekly dose of lighthearted inspiration. Hosted by Nicole Swisher.
Episodes
What do toupee influencers, runaway kids, and velociraptors have in common?
Nicole sits down with comedian Alex Velluto to find out. From his first open mic at sixteen to three Dry Bar specials, Alex shares the chaos, craft, and slow grind of a comedy career.
We cover surprising jobs (including a teaching stint that ended with thirty kids fleeing lawnmowers), homeschooling his son, speaking three languages, and the phi...
Sometimes the smartest move isn’t climbing higher—it’s knowing when to walk away.
This week on My Crunchy Zen Era, Nicole chats with Stuart Cooper—a self-described sales hunter who’s grown companies across healthcare, biotech, finance, staffing, and tech—to talk about the art of strategic quitting, taking smart risks, and that one time he ran for Congress in just five months.
They start with intermittent fasting (yes, r...
Two words you don’t expect together: margaritas and the FTC. Nashville creator Sarah Beth Schulte of The Tip Jar Nash joins My Crunchy Zen Era to talk creator ethics, brand deals, and her “40 Dates in 40 Days” experiment. We dive into building trust online, what disclosure really means, and how to stay authentic when content becomes business. Plus: a perfect Nashville day, a must-try East Side restaurant, a scenic Ten...
If your nervous system has been living on espresso and good intentions, this episode is your gentle nudge to breathe, laugh, and maybe rethink everything you thought you knew about happiness. Nicole chats with Jackie Oña Cascarano — Executive Career and Wellness Coach, and founder of Juno Women’s Collective — about the actual science of feeling good and the surprisingly simple ways to get there.
Jackie breaks down the ...
What does it really take to build something that lasts—through late-night doubts, hard conversations, and a global pandemic?
This week, we sit down with Scott Field, co-owner of Third Coast Comedy Club in Nashville, to trace the journey from a single improv class to a gathering place where friendships deepen, creativity thrives, and community shows up for one another. From a freezing Boston bridge to a drizzly Nashvill...
What do you get when believers, skeptics, and the cryptid-curious pack into a Bigfoot conference in Gatlinburg?
Midnight sightings. Missing time on desert roads. Portal theories. Skinwalker stories. And... way too much nacho cheese.
We spent a full day deep in the world of cryptids, fringe science, and seriously committed merch tables—and came back with the stories that stuck.
In this episode:
- Eyewitness accounts vs. ...
Can You Start Stand-Up in Your 40s? Tara Brown Did—And It Changed Everything
In this episode of My Crunchy Zen Era, we sit down with comedian Tara Brown, who first tried standup comedy at 45 and ended up leaving her corporate PR job to become a stand-up comic. Her story is about starting late, staying true to yourself, and finding real success through connection, not clout.
We talk about:
1. Taking a big creative l...
What happens when a comedy fan with zero stage time accidentally becomes a trusted curator in stand-up?
Meet Josiah Bourke — the low-key force behind Comedian Discovery and Comedian Discovery Live, two platforms that are quietly (but steadily) reshaping how comedy fans find their next favorite act. What started as a personal obsession with stand-up specials turned into something way bigger: a genuinely useful space wh...
We Finally Made It to Scotland – After 3 Years, a Pandemic, and a Traumatic Brain Injury?!
After three years of delays (thanks, global chaos and a traumatic brain injury), my mom, Heidi, and I finally ticked off our bucket list dream: a mother-daughter trip to Scotland! And wow — it was so much more than bagpipes and shortbread.
In this episode, we’re spilling all the details of our epic journey: fro...
Stubbornness, talent, and occasionally rapping all 14 minutes of "Rapper's Delight" are just a few traits that helped Brinn Daniels in her cinematography career. On this episode Brinn and Nicole chat about:
- Internships at Comedy Central, The Daily Show, and Saturday Night Live.
- How saying "no" to seemingly perfect opportunities can lead to something even better.
- The challenges of being a wom...
Can a horse take the place of your therapist? Well, perhaps we shouldn't go that far since we're a big fan of therapy over here... In this episode, Nicole is joined by Dr. Ashley Dial who shares how horses serve as powerful therapeutic partners in her coaching practice. Plot twist: Nicole worked with Dr. Dial and shares a bit about her firsthand experience working with the horses. Today they discuss:
- De...
Has her google history landed her on a government watchlist? Edgar-nominated author Ashley Weaver ponders the occupational hazards of being an author as she joins host, Nicole Swisher, this week as they discuss:
- The inspiration behind Ashley's Electra McDonnell book series.
- Unconventional female characters.
- The extensive career opportunities in the criminal underworld.
- Unique stories from World War II.
- Writi...
What would happen if we all approached learning with more creativity, collaboration, and genuine curiosity? Dr. Stephanie Moore-Lotridge takes us inside her work as an educator where she's pioneering approaches that could transform how we train future doctors. On this episode, Nicole and Stephanie discuss:
- Learning to say "no".
- Blacking out during a marriage proposal.... unrelated to the above ...
Is silent walking the mindfulness trend we all need now? Who can really say... But Phillip Headrick might try in his return to My Crunchy Zen Era with host, Nicole Swisher. In this attempt at a reflective episode, Nicole and Phillip take on:
- Listener comments and questions!
- Sunday routines and related meltdowns.
- Yet more irrational fears... the dead bodies are real.
- Artificial intelligence relationships.
- Travel...
What happens when your dream career collides with your physical limitations? When external validation no longer sustains you? Join standup comedian, Paula Kosienski, and host, Nicole Swisher, as they discuss:
- Is clean comedy funny?
- Pursuing a standup career while managing chronic illness
- The woes of seeking external validation
- Defining your own success
- Pets parents taking it too far
- Proper chip-eating etiquette
I had this fear that I would die without having written a book because I was too scared.... Sara Holifield aka Avalon Griffin admits as she shares about quitting her job to write a paranormal romance novel. Join Sara and Nicole as they discuss:
- Quitting jobs to reset your life
- Sara's books: Unbound by Shadows and To Dwell in Shadows
- Romance novels as a tool for healing and empowerment
- Practical writing advi...
I feel like I've designed my life to be a very stress-free experience... Zeta Graves shares on this episode with host, Nicole Swisher. Join Zeta and Nicole as they chat about:
- Mental health benefits from improv (soooo good for anxiety)
- Building confidence through improv
- The fear of deep water and poisonous creatures in the south
- Accepting the uncertainty of life
- Using AI in the legal field
Catch Zeta&apo...
It was a karmic lesson for us to be uncomfortable... Brittany Otto shares in this week's episode. Join us this week as we discuss:
- Brittany's Akashic reading
- Spying on neighbors
- Ghosts and hauntings
- The challenges of being an empath hairstylist with healthy boundaries
- Hair loss due to COVID and Ozempic
- Accidental shrines
Subscribe now and join this exploration of what it means to live a happy life in an in...
Say yes to everything unless it gets you killed... is Phillip Headrick's life philosophy that he shares on this episode with host, Nicole Swisher. Join Nicole and Phillip as we chat about:
• Daily affirmations and meditations with a wandering mind.
• Why we love dogs.
• Being buddies with exes.
• Time limits for first dates and judging people on cutlery use.
• The importance of trying new thi...
What does "crunchy zen" actually mean? That's exactly what host Nicole Swisher and her guest Marianna Barksdale are figuring out together in this warm, funny, and not so insightful debut episode.
Join us to:
- Debunk recycling myths.
- Explore our wildest irrational fears such as will my ribs spontaneously pop out of place?
- Discuss the legalities of owning "part of a goat".
From Nicole&a...
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