Vida The Podcast
Welcome to the Vida podcast with your hosts Rebecca Espinoza & Shay Frago! Vida gives a voice to the voiceless. We’re giving you a taste of conversations and perspectives meant to expand your mind, open your heart, and ignite your soul. As multicultural women, we believe that everyone deserves equal access to information and resources that can elevate your experience as a human being. We have honest conversations with each other along with diverse leaders, teachers, healers, and creatives from all walks of life to discuss topics ranging from relationships, business, spirituality, and so much more. Regardless of your cultural background, socioeconomic status, or childhood upbringing, there’s a space and a voice for you here. Thanks for joining us we as navigate this vida together!
Vida The Podcast
73. Creativity in the Age of Social Media: How Not to Lose Your Unique Voice and Authenticity to The Digital Noise.
In this episode, Rebecca and Shay reconnect after a busy season, discussing their experiences with social media and its impact on their personal and professional lives. They explore the evolution of social media from a fun app to a platform for creativity and business, the duality of inspiration and comparison it brings, and the pressure to maintain authenticity while building a brand. They also delve into the challenges of niching down in a multifaceted world, emphasizing the importance of self-expression and purpose in their online presence. In this conversation, the duo explores the complexities of social media, including the importance of taking breaks for mental health, the challenges of content creation, and the balance between documenting life and truly living it. They discuss the potential relief of a world without social media, reflecting on how it could foster more in-person connections and creativity. At the core of it all, they encourage the need for authenticity and maintaining your voice in this digital age.
Key Moments
- Creativity can be both inspired and hindered by social media.
- Authenticity is crucial in maintaining an online presence.
- The pressure to conform can affect self-expression.
- Niche down but allow for multifaceted expressions of self.
- Self-care and disconnecting from social media can be beneficial.
- Comparison can lead to feelings of inadequacy.
- Intention and purpose behind social media use are essential.
- Digital detoxes help in becoming more present and aware.
- Building a community on social media is more valuable than just accumulating followers.
- Documenting life should not overshadow the experience of living it.
- Social media can serve as a valuable tool for discovering local events and experiences.
- The pressure to create content can be overwhelming for business owners.
- Imagining a world without social media raises questions about community and connection.
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Rebecca Espinoza (00:01.448)
Hello everyone, welcome back to another episode of Vida. We are here, reconnecting after I think some time. We've been doing our solo episodes and we've been doing guest interviews, but getting a duo episode has been, I feel like just sprinkled about throughout the season just cause we both are busy and we have our schedules and we're, but we're trying to make it work and we're here today. Yeah, I just got back from traveling.
And O'Shea, you've been deep in it with, you just got out of doing a work event. So it's just been, yeah, it's been a busy time. But thankfully for social, I guess, technology, we are able to connect and be here and record even when we're in completely different states. And that topic kind of ties into a little bit where we're gonna talk about today, which is social media and our relationship to social media and I guess technology in general, but mostly social media and what it's like for us as.
on a personal level, but also a professional level and a creative perspective. Yeah, I know we have a lot to say on this, so we'll get into this, but before we do, just starting off with Shay, como esta tu corazon?
Shay Frago (01:16.354)
Good. I feel like it's good. Definitely in a busy season in both like a fun way, but also kind of tiring and feeling a little bit of the light at the end of the tunnel. have like one more month before I'm in like summer Friday mode for work, which is exciting. And then I'm taking my first vacation since like August of last year.
this week and I get to see you in person this week so I'm like yay like it's gonna be a fun week and it's also just like every hour of my day lately has been pretty full so I'm also just like ready to decompress at the same time. Como esta tu corazon?
Rebecca Espinoza (01:59.548)
Yeah, it's really cool that your job gives you like summer Friday work schedule because you guys do not work Fridays or you just get off early on Fridays. You don't work Fridays. Yeah. So I feel like all companies need to adopt that because
Shay Frago (02:15.348)
Yeah, summer Friday should be a thing everywhere.
Rebecca Espinoza (02:18.706)
which is the four day work week in general should be a thing everywhere. Yeah, today I'm feeling a bit drained and low energy if I'm being honest. So if that energy is being reverberated back here on this episode, that is what is happening. I'm excited to be here, but I just definitely feel low energy as I'm getting back from travels. was, my cousin,
Shay Frago (02:23.03)
Yes.
Rebecca Espinoza (02:46.882)
cousin's wedding in Utah and Moab, which is beautiful in this small little desert town. And I got back Sunday night. Yes, last night. So or no, sorry, Saturday night. So I use Sunday to completely veg out. And then yeah, just feel like anytime after a big anything, a trip or event, it takes me like a week to recover and not recover as in like, I drank and I partied. I did not do that. It's just like energetically.
Shay Frago (02:57.666)
Yeah.
Shay Frago (03:12.344)
getting.
Rebecca Espinoza (03:16.572)
Yeah, and yeah, and then we have lightning in a bottle coming up in two days. You leave tomorrow? you guys are getting there early.
Shay Frago (03:21.102)
I'm gonna go bathroom
Shay Frago (03:27.222)
Yeah. Yeah. So we leave tomorrow as soon as I'm done with work. So it's just like back to back getting things done for the podcast, things done for my business, things done for regular work. then like, leave tomorrow. As soon as we're done with work, we'll go to Emeryville. We'll leave at like 7 a.m. on Wednesday to go pick up our trailer and then we'll be in big.
Rebecca Espinoza (03:37.203)
Yeah.
Rebecca Espinoza (03:44.514)
yeah, because you guys have more of a drive, I forgot. Yeah, because you're coming from Nevada.
Shay Frago (03:48.618)
Yeah, it's eight hours in total, but we're breaking it up.
Rebecca Espinoza (03:52.294)
Yeah, no, yeah, I forgot about that. Yeah, so we'll be doing that. We should be really fun. And I'm stoked. also a little nervous, overwhelmed with just like the length of it. And it's camp like I'm going to be, you we're going to be I'm yeah, I'm fully roughing it like I'm camping in a fucking tent in Bakersfield. And in May, so that'll be interesting. But
Shay Frago (04:09.526)
Nope. thank you.
Shay Frago (04:15.15)
While you're in our AC when it's 100 degrees during.
Rebecca Espinoza (04:19.086)
I will definitely be doing that. Yeah, but I'm excited. I'm stoked. I think the music is going to be so much fun. Just that I haven't been to a festival in years. You you went to Burning Man recently.
Shay Frago (04:29.934)
Yeah, I mean, I would, I haven't gone to a proper festival since like 2019. So it'll be different for sure than Burning Man, but like excited to do that. Like this is, I mean, so funny because we've all been friends for so long, but our LA girl group, like we've never done anything like this together.
Rebecca Espinoza (04:38.258)
Yeah.
Rebecca Espinoza (04:48.004)
No, because we've, I guess we found each other when we were still in our, like, I guess the opening or like the opening or peak of our spiritual beginnings and, you know, paths. And, you know, I'll say this for myself, this could be a whole different episode that we can do at some point. But I used to think my party girl side and my spirituality side had to be different. They couldn't coexist because if I was
Shay Frago (04:54.04)
to be a great team.
Rebecca Espinoza (05:14.406)
Spiritual if I was partying that didn't mean I could be spiritual. So that's obviously not true That's the whole point is spirituality is to bring all these different parts of you together and to integrate them and let them coexist and that's like these these kinds of festivals exists It's specifically for that, you know, I'm stoked about the workshops
Shay Frago (05:31.959)
god, yes. All the conscious kitchen stuff.
Rebecca Espinoza (05:34.456)
Yeah, so it's gonna be fun. And yeah, we get to like see each other and these expressions of ourselves, like our party girl rave girl selves that we haven't in the past. So I'm excited. And I guess this kind of ties into the topic, you know, we're going to be out there, going to be camping, we're going to be present, and just fully immersed in this like mini community for a little bit. I know for myself, I'm not going to be on social media.
Shay Frago (05:45.71)
Same.
Rebecca Espinoza (06:01.288)
I'm like barely probably gonna be on my phone if anything, just to take photos. But my plan is to completely disconnect from social media while I'm there and to obviously like update whatever once I get back. But you you and I, I would say are, you know, both present, pretty present on social media with, you know, for many reasons to obviously stay connected to the people in our lives, but also for entrepreneurial and business reasons and creative reasons as well.
So let's get a little bit into that. Let's get into the beginnings of it. When did you first realize social media was more than just an app to have fun with and post photos? And when did you start actually shaping your identity or how you show up in the world on social media?
Shay Frago (06:46.894)
2016.
Rebecca Espinoza (06:49.156)
Very accurate, very specific.
Shay Frago (06:51.47)
Yeah, I like in 2016 was kind of like the rise of like blogging social media really actually becoming a thing. Like if we look at the history of when like Instagram and all of that stuff kind of came to be. And in 2016 is when I bought a domain and I decided to like fully embrace this identity and this dream of mine of wanting to start a blog, wanting to share my life, wanting to share.
things on the internet world to help people. Like that's when I was like, like this is a thing because that's when blogging was blowing up. And I was like, I wanted to do that. And it was that like, we've talked about the 2B magnetic work. We're like having the expanders and having the expansion to see what's possible. That was that year for me. And actually funny because we're having this and we're going to lightening the bottle. I bought that domain right after I went to Coachella that year.
And I was like, I'm going to share my Coachella experience and like what wellness things that I brought with me and like outfits and blah, blah, blah. So like, that's what started it. I bought the domain. I think it was growing up with Shay. It was like my first business meeting. Um, I, yeah, it was like 23, 24 when I did it. And so I was like, I want to share like my human experience and like grow up and blah, blah, blah. And so bought the domain, started sharing on Instagram.
Rebecca Espinoza (08:08.015)
Mm-hmm.
Shay Frago (08:13.422)
when Instagram was still more of like a personal platform than it is, like what it is now. And that's when I was like, I can share things and I was getting response and people liked it. And I got like my first brand partnership, like really awkward being consistent with it. And I was like, oh my God, this is really fun and I can make it a job. So that was it for me. It was like spring, summer, 2016.
Rebecca Espinoza (08:35.578)
Mm-hmm. Yeah, I you were kind of in that world more early on, like kind of when it started becoming, I guess, yeah, more of a norm to blog and it was just more common to be in the world in that way. I feel like for me, I would say it was probably around 2018-2019.
Yeah, think I wanted to similar to you. I was just like wanting to explore like what social media could do blogging. I remember I started this blog. It wasn't even about me, but it was called Tales of Love and it was spelled T-A-I-L-S and it was about owners and their pets and like their stories. Yeah. So I started that just for fun because I loved my pets and I like, yeah, I interviewed, had people send over their like little like
Shay Frago (09:13.833)
No.
Rebecca Espinoza (09:25.342)
paragraphs with their pets and their photos and it was so cute and it so fun. And I think I just loved the process of that creative experience of like talking to the people, getting them to send over their stories, seeing the photos, how I was going to design the blog. Actually, yeah, that was like in 2018. And then after that, I started a an Instagram, a separate Instagram, I guess that was more geared towards my journey with personal development, mental health and spirituality. And I
can't even remember what the, man, I can't even remember what the username was, but it was, I was going on there talking about my journey with depression and anxiety and mental health and how like I was overcoming it and all the things. That was when I started more openly sharing, vulnerably and personally, as opposed to just sharing photos for fun and just like giving people some insight on like my life. So I would say like 2018, 2019 is when I started in that, in that world. And now I
I I do do it still, of course, but it's different. feel like, and we'll get into like, we'll get into like the different variations of like, you know, what's sharing on social media is like, but I definitely still do it. I do it more now geared towards my writing and that creative aspect. And then of course, to Vida. So that's been like my journey and my experience with it so far.
Okay, so getting into a little bit about creativity, because I think that's like, of course, there's a lot of creatives on there. Building a business is a creative endeavor as well. So do you think social media has helped or hurt your creativity over time? Has it inspired more expression or more comparison and things like that? Or what's been your personal experience with expression and comparison?
Shay Frago (11:08.462)
I think it's both her and inspired. So I think it's a little bit of both. I think when I first started, and I think, I think this is true for most humans is like when you first start and you kind of like in this mindset of like, you got nothing to lose, and you just are really excited to be doing something and like putting your art or your work out there.
and using your voice and having expression and like doing this new thing. It's like very exciting. It's very fun. And you don't, it's almost like you don't have anything else to compare it to anyways. And when it was so new in those like earlier formative years, it was like, it didn't feel saturated. It didn't feel like you just felt like you were getting to share. And it was just like something new and exciting for, I think everybody. And at least I definitely felt that way. And then as I was like,
really making it a business. was like, snap, like I need to, there's a level of seriousness to business. It's like, sure, social media can be creative, but I wanted to also make money. I wanted it to also become something more than just the creative aspect. So then it started becoming more like you have to have business strategy, you have to have marketing strategy. And so it almost sucks the fun out of creating because then it becomes curation and then it becomes.
Rebecca Espinoza (12:08.264)
Hmm.
Rebecca Espinoza (12:17.64)
Mm-hmm.
Rebecca Espinoza (12:29.511)
Yeah.
Shay Frago (12:30.56)
it becomes something a little bit more materialistic is the word that almost comes to mind, where it's just like, it's no longer just like an expression of your voice and like what you feel like saying that day. It's also gets to be a part of your marketing, gets to be a part of your strategy because that's business. So it was almost like realizing.
I get to create content simply for the joy of creating. Like I have that established now in my business. Like that's what YouTube is for me. That's a little bit what Vida is for me too, where it's just like, this gets to just be my authentic creative outlet that can still feed my business. And like there's aspects of my content creation process now that still allows me to be creative, but it's more strategic, has more business principles underneath it. So I think it's a little bit of both. And with the comparison stuff, I feel like.
There have been moments, I don't know if it's comparison in terms of creativity. It's more like comparison of like, I'm not as far along as like that person on the internet who's doing something similar to me. And it would be like, why? Like, I don't think our content's that different. If anything, I think like I have a little more in terms of like education pieces or certain things where I'm like, I don't, I don't like get how that person's doing better than me. Like I think it's more success comparison than it is like maybe creativity.
Rebecca Espinoza (13:51.442)
Mm-hmm.
Shay Frago (13:54.107)
I feel like, yeah, it's been a little bit of both in that aspect for me.
Rebecca Espinoza (13:59.55)
Yeah, I think it definitely is normal for it to be split in that way because I feel like it's kind of nuanced for me as well just because I think the comparison does come up for me with creativity, which is why I specifically don't scroll. And if I catch myself scrolling, I stop. yeah, because someone was telling me the other day, like, she's like, I'll catch myself scrolling for an hour. And I was like, I've never even gotten to that point. I don't know if you've ever. Yeah.
Shay Frago (14:27.342)
No. I was like, my scrolling holes are mostly either friends or like I'm literally looking for something specific.
Rebecca Espinoza (14:29.33)
I've never.
Rebecca Espinoza (14:38.384)
Yeah, like I'll catch myself if I catch myself scrolling, it's like 10 minutes. And then eventually, I'm like, okay, that's enough. And
Shay Frago (14:45.006)
I've also muted everything on my account so that I don't have temptation to conflict. Because when you scroll, think it just depletes your dopamine levels,
Rebecca Espinoza (14:50.619)
Yeah.
Rebecca Espinoza (14:56.782)
Yeah, for me, I see it for my creativity is like, my channel gets clogged because it's like I'm just receiving other people's energies, their words, their ideas, whatever it may be. So even all even writers that I follow, I like, I don't even look through their stuff anymore. Like, I'll just like skip through their posts because I'm like, I don't need their words or their advice because I trust my words and my advice. And if I am going to go seek out maybe
guidance or something, I actually have someone that I can go to like a coach or a reader or something that I go do that with a therapist. But when it comes to creativity now, I'm very, very mindful about other people's information and energy that I am absorbing for myself, because I do catch myself maybe comparing in that way where I'm like, damn, how come I didn't write something like that, or I didn't come up with that idea. But also, like I just said,
If, and this is something that just, it's, it's float has been floating around the internet is like, if you're cons, if you're consuming, you're not creating. So simple as that, if you are creative, you need to like be very mindful about how much you're consuming because your ideas can get mashed with other people's ideas. And if you want inspiration for me, like my friends are my inspiration, like in real life, when I have conversations with my friends or the people in my life, like inspiration gets sparked. And I just want to create something through that.
Shay Frago (16:10.988)
Thanks.
Rebecca Espinoza (16:17.714)
So I don't need to go online to find it specifically. And I know not everyone's like that, but that's just my perspective. And however, I will say I do get inspired when I see something like very educational on there that's like, or very informative in some ways, like some sort of like journalistic piece or like things like that. for example, follow, like my teachers, like for example, like permaculture teachers, my herbalism teachers.
That's the stuff that inspires me where I'm just like, my God, I need to learn more of this stuff to apply it for my life. But it's not in the realm of like creative inspiration. It's like the way I live my life inspiration. So it's just very nuanced and I think I've become very specific about how I use social media. And I do like the idea of muting things. I think I need to go and do that. I remember I did a big unfollowing spree. I know you did too. I think you unfollowed everyone at one point, right? And then refollowed later.
Shay Frago (17:11.822)
I only followed people that I remembered, which to me with social media, if you remember someone's content or personality on there, that means that they're impacting you in a positive way.
Rebecca Espinoza (17:24.69)
Yeah, so like keep them in your life. Yeah, so I think I need to do that as well. I just need to go and meet people and then the people's updates that I want to see, can just go search them and like view them in real life because yeah, just think it makes things more simple as well. And like it allows you to just like be more clear and connected to like your own channel, which is to me the channel to like the main source, like source God creator. So that is my...
Shay Frago (17:49.582)
Yeah, I agree.
Rebecca Espinoza (17:54.61)
That is my two cents on that. Do you want to ask the other question? Two questions will like trade.
Shay Frago (17:56.076)
Yeah.
Shay Frago (18:01.322)
Yeah. So I love that because I feel like it bleeds very easily into just comparison, all that kind of stuff. Like, do you feel pressure to show up in a certain way online because of your work, because of your brand? And how do you navigate being you as a human being, walking this human experience, while also like strategy or not strategy?
Rebecca Espinoza (18:30.856)
I will say when I was younger and first starting on this path of like, I guess, self-expression, I felt more of a pressure because people began to know me as, the girl who talks about XYZ, spirituality, witchcraft was a big thing in my life at that point, herbalism. Like, I just got known as that person and people like, like people did expect like, I saw you posted that thing and like, you posted that and da da da. And honestly,
I've looked, I don't have those posts anymore, like I archived them, but I've looked back on them and I'm like, I was really like trying to be this like version of myself. Like I was identifying with this expression of like the witch, the spiritual woo woo mystic so much to the point where I look back and I'm like, damn, like I think I needed a lot of self reassurance from my end.
Or I was just really excited to be on this path and I just wanted everyone to know about it. I'm not sure exactly what it was. But today, I don't feel the pressure to show up a certain way anymore. If people who have been in my life since they've been in my life, since all this started with probably in 2018, they will see the different identities, all the different identities that I've gone through. And it's just like...
Shay Frago (19:44.75)
It's not.
Rebecca Espinoza (19:50.238)
like I've changed so much or I've evolved so much, know, and that's normal. That is the human experience. So I don't feel that pressure anymore. And I will say though, like I'm not at a certain caliber of guess of like notability and just like not all these people really know me like on a grand level. So maybe, I don't know, if I do become more of a brand later on, there will be that expectation to show up a certain way.
But honestly, I follow certain creators that I love the way they're doing it. You're introduced specifically I'm I'm thinking of this one creator. I've been following her for a very long time, long time before she blew up into being like the brand that she is or having this brand. But Montana Lauer, the founder of In Bloom, she like
Shay Frago (20:35.64)
Yeah.
Rebecca Espinoza (20:39.972)
She I think does it so beautifully because she has her brand in bloom and she is very much a part of that brand. She like models for her brand. She's the founder of it and like she's very much the face of it, right? But she also has, she shows up as who she is truly. Like you see it on her social media, like who she is and then you see it kind of bleed into her brand and it's so just authentic and true. And I think that's why people really resonate with the brand other than the fact that she has incredible products.
But that's the way I aspire to be. just like, I'm just going to be me. And I get to create a brand around that, like with Vida. know, like we don't talk about like a specific strategy in regards to like, how are we going to show up? Like we have to do it this specific way. We just are who we are. We're silly. We love to like, you know, yap about life and just like show up and be ourselves. And we're deep. And that just comes up naturally. Like we don't have to force it.
So I would hope that when and if Vida gets to that point, I'm just like, I'm just gonna keep being me and that's what's gonna attract the people that are meant to be here. I'm not as serious with my strategy right now, especially being like the main thing that I guess I'm working on like growing is Vida and my writing. For me, it's just like I post when I post and like the creativity comes and flows and I have fun with it. Like that's the way.
it is for me. I know your path is a little bit different. So go ahead and get in. Go ahead and get into that.
Shay Frago (22:12.718)
Yeah, I've never felt that I had to be inauthentic. Like, I don't think that my personality has necessarily changed from when I started to now. I feel like I've done a really good job being me in every single season. I would say when it comes to authenticity, the part that I've struggled with in terms of expression and sharing pieces of my life is
all the different parts of who I am. And I think a part of that is at my niche outside of Vida is in health coaching, in like menstrual and fertility work. everything I teach is very holistic, very integrative. So I have had problems, like I've had to work through this of feeling like I can't show myself going out to drink with my friends on occasion, or I...
shouldn't let people know that I go to festivals and I don't follow my protocols for like a week. Like I wouldn't let myself share like just the normal parts of being human. Like we all party, sometimes we drink, sometimes we drink too much, sometimes we don't. Like I'd say I don't do that that often anymore, but I am human. I want to have like fun and enjoy. I'm not going to always be on, which is...
why I love now teaching like the 80-20 rule and it's like if 80 % of the time you're doing the things that you need to do but 20 % of the time you're being human and enjoying this experience then great and I do live my life I like eat sweet, breathe that but for a little while there I was just like oh like I don't particularly want to show myself like having fun in this way because I'm a health coach and people see me as like a health coach which they did and like
I felt would feel this pressure sometimes of just like people being like, how do you always stay so consistent with your eating or like, blah, blah, blah, and like staying on top of your hormones. It's like, I do because I've practiced this and implemented it into my life for so long, but it doesn't mean that I don't like fall off and sometimes also have shitty cycles. But I think because of the niche that I have, and I don't know if it's just the way that like my life presents online, people think like,
Shay Frago (24:20.066)
this I'm like this perfect human who's doing things all the time. And like, I'd be like, no, like I am. That is not my life at all. So I feel like sometimes that would be hard or obviously I've been teaching fitness for almost eight years and in every single studio that I've been at, have people in the community who have decided to follow me. So I would feel like almost uncomfortable. Like, well, you're experiencing this way in the studio and then like you experienced me this way online and like
My platform is so much more of what I bring it to the studio. So sometimes that would feel weird to me where it's just like, was like getting comfortable with being seen as like all parts of my human dynamic. And sometimes I would feel like pressure or like, like maybe I shouldn't voice that or I shouldn't show this parts of me and blah, blah, blah. But I have worked with mentors and therapists who was just like, why did you build a business? And it's like, how
Rebecca Espinoza (24:52.847)
Right.
Rebecca Espinoza (24:59.762)
Yeah.
Shay Frago (25:14.422)
you want to build a business at the end of day, I want to build a business that's an extension of who I am and what I must stand for. So it's sort of like learning to really be all parts of me. So I'd say that part is there. But when it comes to strategy, I mean, I love social media. So I would say I definitely probably record a lot more of my life than like maybe some of my other friends. But strategy wise, do like some of certain platforms
Rebecca Espinoza (25:19.89)
Yeah.
Shay Frago (25:44.086)
And the way I create content is based off of a specific strategy with my authentic voice. But like I have other platforms that I just create to create on. And I let it be kind of 80 20 as well. We're like 80 % of it is strategy and it's like curated style content that I know is going to perform well. But the other 20 % is like, what is my human one express? What's the deeper layers here of the work that I'm doing that I want to put out online. So for me, that's kind of how I navigate things now. And that feels good to me.
Rebecca Espinoza (25:53.0)
Mm-hmm.
Shay Frago (26:13.26)
because I do want to grow like social media for me is like a platform that I really, really do want to grow on even more than I'm already at.
Rebecca Espinoza (26:21.629)
Yeah, dude, the expressing the different parts of the self is so real on like, think especially people who are building a brand and you are the brand or whatever, I think experience that a little bit more than like others potentially. Or it's just like, or on the flip side, people who just like, think having discovered the many different parts of themselves don't realize like you can post a variety of different things that you want on there. like specifically my page, I
my my bio is just like a space for self-expression. Like that's it. And like that's what I it to be. I think having like your why behind social media, like you said, like why are you building a business and what are you to use social media for? That is so important. I'm reading this book right now, like The Art of Gathering. And it's like, you read it?
Shay Frago (27:09.102)
I read some of it because Organic Olivia talks about it all the time and I was like, I need to read it. I finished it.
Rebecca Espinoza (27:13.758)
Mmm.
Yeah, I started right now. It's been on my bookshelf forever. Mike recommended it to me and I finally got to it. But she says, you you need a purpose for a gathering, like even for like weddings and like birthdays, people just throw it because it's a thing to do. And it's like a ritual. And it's like, you know, like this is just a process you do. But like, what is the real reason and the why? Keep asking why until you get to like the core of it. And I think, I think with social media, especially if you want to be building something with it.
that is going to be essential. And for me, the space for self-expression is so real. I think when I first started with this expressing of who I am on social media, like I mentioned, I had that one about my mental health. That was a separate post or a separate account. And then at one point I had a different account called Word Witch. And it was when I started sharing my poetry more.
I remember thinking like, am I separating all of this? Like, why am I keeping it separate? Like, why can't I just put it in one page? And for me, it was because I personally didn't want, similar to you, all these other people who already knew me for that one, for that identity they already knew me as and that they're comfortable with to see me in all these other expressions. So I thought, okay, just create different Instagram pages and then whoever's meant to find me will find me.
Shay Frago (28:43.828)
Yeah, and that's exhausting.
Rebecca Espinoza (28:46.416)
It's so exhausting. at one point, I guess you do niche down, right? like, and I think that, yeah, like, Tau, you talking about the whole, like, how do you navigate the niching down? Because that's so hard for me.
Shay Frago (29:00.714)
Yeah, I think. OK, so I'm going to obviously we are females and the feminine expression is so multifaceted. So I at least know all the women in my life who have ever been told by any business coach of like niching down freaking struggle with it. I included I was like, I don't like feeling boxed in like that. And I think that is a natural expression of the feminine energy. And when you are building a business,
Rebecca Espinoza (29:20.775)
Yeah.
Shay Frago (29:30.446)
you have to niche down, like double edged sword where it's like, got to pick one topic to get known for otherwise, like you're never going to get known. Um, and the way that I kind of see it is like, you might niche down, but like, so I technically talk menstrual and fertility work. That's the vehicle in which I give women and even men that I've worked with who don't even have periods, the, uh, human experience. Like that's kind of the lens that I'm.
Rebecca Espinoza (29:32.222)
You know.
Shay Frago (30:00.642)
bringing people through because it's still, I like use the luteal phase to talk about all the subconscious NLP work that I had wanted to niche down where I was like, I want people to know what it's like to work with like their inner child and all these different parts of themselves. But I'm still technically talking about the menstrual and fertility work. the niche that you choose the way that I see at this point and the way that I like teach it to some of our business clients at our job who are like at my day job who feel the same way of like, I don't want to be boxing with a niche. It's like, let the niche be the
Rebecca Espinoza (30:12.178)
Hmm.
Rebecca Espinoza (30:16.776)
Mm-hmm.
Shay Frago (30:29.858)
the lens in which you're teaching your ideal client all the other things that you're passionate about. And eventually when you get to a certain point in your growth journey and the brand and whatnot, depending on what your personal goals are, like the niche no longer matters because people are bought into you and what you do. And then you truly are the niche realist, but you have to have a vehicle to start with.
Rebecca Espinoza (30:46.205)
Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
Rebecca Espinoza (30:53.534)
true.
Shay Frago (30:59.266)
Um, we're on four. I was like, where are we? Yeah. So in terms of that, we love social media and sometimes it can be a lot, but have you ever taken a break from social media? Uh, what did that do to your mental health or your productivity or your sense of self, anything like that? Like what's kind of been your journey with the relationship to being on it as a pre.
Rebecca Espinoza (31:21.342)
I have done a digital detox. I haven't done one in a while, probably in over a year and a half. So I'm definitely due for one. And I definitely felt the shift in my state of wellbeing, like how much more present I am, how much less I reach for my phone just out of a state of comfort. Like you realize, and I still catch myself, I'm like, don't do that. When you're just like bored or you're just like sitting there, you're like uncomfortable.
in a group environment or something, reach for your phone as a safety blanket so you can just be on social media and scroll. it's so sad because that shows that humans don't have coping mechanisms to just be in whatever situation that you currently are. And I definitely felt more free, in my opinion, but I haven't done it in a while because, and I don't like admitting this, but because I feel like I
I have been consistent with posting and building my audience that I feel like if I take a month break, it's going to fall back.
And it will and it will it will. And that's so unfortunate that that's the state that like we're in. But I think in truth, what I want to do with social media is build community, not just build people to watch me for the fuck of it. So people who are going to stay around even when I have a month break are there because they truly want to connect with me and know me and or like see my work and whatever it may be.
Shay Frago (32:45.9)
Yeah.
Yeah.
Rebecca Espinoza (33:00.306)
So it's okay if I take a month break because they're gonna be there. That's my thing and I think it is essential for everyone to take a detox and a break because like you said, our dopamine, our dopamine is constantly getting drained from it and we're getting easy dopamine hits and it's, yeah.
Shay Frago (33:20.674)
the dopamine overload nowadays is wild. This could be an episode in itself. And like, but since we are talking about social media and my research with social media and dopamine specifically, if you are someone who scrolls in that first hour of waking up before doing anything else for your brain, you deplete your dopamine levels for the day, which is why people are fatigued or like sad or just like lackluster, not feeling like a sense of purpose because all of that, like,
Rebecca Espinoza (33:25.682)
We need to get a professional on here about this.
Shay Frago (33:50.594)
happiness went into the social media and now your brain needs a reset and so like for the rest of the day you're kind of like meh.
Rebecca Espinoza (33:59.294)
Exactly. And like I've caught myself doing that. Like when I was like not doing well last year and even early this year, I would just like first thing I would do is like look at my phone.
Shay Frago (34:09.804)
And so we have, yeah, we all have seasons like that, guys.
Rebecca Espinoza (34:12.924)
And I still have to like, I have to admit that like, I am on a journey of, I just made, I just journaled about this today where I'm like, what do I need to do to get back to like feeling more connected to like my, the embodiment of the woman that my soul wants to be and came here to be. And there were little things like be more in nature, like laugh more, like learn more, like little things like last time on my phone, like live more slowly.
These are simple things, but the world that we live in, this modern first world developed especially here in the city, it actually makes it very difficult.
Shay Frago (34:48.94)
Yeah. I I remember feeling that way, which is it is a journey because it sounds so simple and so easy to do, but it's not. feel like honestly, after I left LA and moved to Reno, my life feels just so, like there's busy seasons, but I'd say for the most part, my days feel very, very peaceful. It's like, I hear the birds when I wake up, I'm just like immersed in the trees. I don't feel like I have to be so back to back. then
Rebecca Espinoza (35:05.213)
Yeah.
Shay Frago (35:18.356)
I've been practicing kind of like same same with you where it's like, I don't think I can be off my phone for a full 30 days and not sign into social media. But I do unplugged, I try to do unplugged weekends or at least day where it's like all day Saturday, I just my phone, the notifications are off. I don't go on Instagram for like a full day. And I actually forced myself to have a non curated content day where it's just like,
Rebecca Espinoza (35:31.378)
Hmm.
Shay Frago (35:46.182)
Even if like by nature because I want to like capture this moment. I'm like no for at least 24 hours a week We're living life without that and it's very helpful and also very hard like when it becomes such a big part of your life
Rebecca Espinoza (36:01.394)
Yeah, I like the tip about turning off the notifications, especially if your social media notifications are on all the time, even if you just choose a day to do it. Mine have been offered the same. Nice.
Shay Frago (36:10.934)
go. We're always off but I turn off my phone calls like if all of me or text me I also don't see it like it's a full not available unless I want to go into that like app that day.
Rebecca Espinoza (36:19.133)
Yeah.
Rebecca Espinoza (36:24.134)
Yeah, having the social media notifications off is like a game changer. I haven't I haven't had them for years. I took off my. Yeah, so that's just like a small thing that you can do that actually does make a difference. And so what you miss someone's message on your Instagram or you just like don't you don't get your notifications and someone likes your photo. Who fucking cares? Like it's that's yeah, that's the dope and me hit that people want. But it's about creating.
Shay Frago (36:29.344)
I would, I was like, couldn't imagine having those back on.
Shay Frago (36:44.078)
Yeah.
Rebecca Espinoza (36:52.562)
your withdrawal slowly, I guess. It's like versus like an abrupt cold turkey. So I do like that, like I'm just having no social media for like the weekend or whatever it may be. I think that's a really good one.
Shay Frago (37:03.766)
Yeah, like finding that balance, especially if you are also a creator like us, like you have to find ways, find harmony with it all because it's very easy as an entrepreneur also to like always be on, always be thinking or like, it's a great shot. And it's like, have to remember to, I, one of my favorite creators is Zach Krabitz. And one of the things you have to build your life first and build your brand around your life. And what does that look like? What are the values? And that doesn't mean.
Rebecca Espinoza (37:08.977)
I know.
Rebecca Espinoza (37:16.709)
So easy.
Rebecca Espinoza (37:23.922)
Mm-hmm.
Shay Frago (37:31.362)
Like you have to force yourself that like not everything has to be content, not everything has to be curated, not everything has to be captured. And it really, as a creator, you have to force yourself to do that. Otherwise you'll get sucked in and then you'll get burnt out or you just feel like you don't have a life outside of your job. It's you need to create those boundaries with yourself.
Rebecca Espinoza (37:41.222)
without a doubt,
Rebecca Espinoza (37:49.342)
I actually, oh my gosh, I watched this movie today, recommendation movie to our community, but also to you Shay, it's called Love Me. Have you heard of it? It's an indie film. I think you'd really like it. At first I was like, this is a little weird. I was like, I don't, but then I understood what they were doing. So it's with Kristen Stewart and Steven Yoon, who he's from The Walking Dead. He's also from...
Shay Frago (38:14.446)
He was my favorite person. forget. He was my freaking favorite.
Rebecca Espinoza (38:18.514)
On The Walking Dead, mine too. Yeah, I loved it. He was like crush. He's so sweet, so cute. So he's in this and the story is like billions of years into the future after basically human species don't exist anymore. And there's this buoy from the ocean and this satellite that meet and become friends from a distance. But then they're learning how to be life form.
and the life form that they choose to want to connect to is like being human. But it's so funny because so the Buies trying to learn about like, what is life form? it's like Googling and like finding all these things. And it's just showing all these like YouTube videos of like, like just like ridiculous things of like people like doing donuts in their cars or just like the one that it's sums upon that it like likes is like this influencer on YouTube that is like this like, you know,
Like just a lifestyle content influencer is also talking about personal development and it's giving like inspirational quotes and things like that. So the buoy attaches to that identity and like wants to be that person, which is Kristen Stewart. And, but what it's learning, it's just the snippets of what it's seeing on YouTube, right? Just like, this is life. Like, you have date night and you make tacos together and you record it and like you watch friends together and you eat ice cream and like all these things. So it's like,
Shay Frago (39:44.376)
literally downloading what we experience in real life.
Rebecca Espinoza (39:46.546)
So the buoy is like then being like, this is life. So it starts to create that for itself. And it's like recording itself like as like this life form. And it's doing those things, but over and over and over. And it's trying to get it perfect just the way this person on its YouTube was doing it. And then Steven Yoon's character, which is the satellite who also becomes human. He basically was like, this is fake. Like even when they're laughing and they're recording, they're like recording each other like.
making a joke and then he laughs and he's like, this isn't real. And he laughs again. He's like, haha, fake. That feels fake. He's like, are we even real? Like, what are what is life? Like, what are we doing? And then it goes into that whole thing and the experience of like, no, life is so much more than when people show it's experiencing the full spectrum of being human. And that is what's going to make you real. And that's what's actually going to liberate you from like these confines.
Shay Frago (40:18.305)
It's not real.
Rebecca Espinoza (40:43.6)
It was so good because I personally believe it was really good because of the social commentary that it makes on this day and age. like, if the world ends one day, is this what humans are gonna be known as? People who were just hooked on their phones, constantly recording everything and putting on like a show for other people to see basically. So I recommend it. It did not get good reviews on Rotten Tomato. And I personally think because I think it's...
Shay Frago (40:50.786)
Yeah, sounds like it.
Shay Frago (41:10.891)
It.
Rebecca Espinoza (41:11.502)
It's deep, it's existential, it's a little nuanced and artistic as to all the way they did it and sometimes those films don't land. But I think the message that it was relaying was really fucking good, so I would recommend it.
Shay Frago (41:21.984)
I almost feel the worse the score is on Rotten Tomatoes, the more I like it. I'm like, the ones that have really high scoring, I'm like, are people dumb as a doornail? Because like that was a horrible movie.
Rebecca Espinoza (41:33.938)
I know, like those fucking blockbuster, like big box movies, they get really high reviews and like, okay.
Shay Frago (41:38.326)
It's just horrible.
Shay Frago (41:42.446)
Absolutely not. That is, no.
Rebecca Espinoza (41:45.576)
But that brings us into this question then, know, that fine line between documenting life and living it. And do you ever catch yourself doing things just for the content, like do it for the gram and just like, I mean, we joke about this even sometimes too, where we're.
Shay Frago (41:59.244)
I mean, yeah, like sometimes I feel like I don't feel like I do that that much. Honestly, there's times where there I'd like will be an environment. It's a beautiful shot. And I'm like, I want this shot. Like, sure. I want a curated shot. And I don't necessarily know if I'm doing that necessarily because I want it for Instagram. At least it doesn't feel that way. In that moment, I do it because I like
A part of my like authentic code is aesthetic. Like I like aesthetic. I have very strong leave replacements too. So I know like that's a part of that sign is just, I like the aesthetics and I like to have memories. Like there's so many pictures that I have from like Erin's birthday weekend that were beautiful picturesque shots that like never made it to Instagram, but I have it in my memory bank. And I was like, I want these specific shots or like these specific angles that just remind me of the moment. And like I'm...
Rebecca Espinoza (42:31.73)
Mm-hmm.
Shay Frago (42:56.192)
I used to want to do photography and I think like a beautiful thing with photography and now like I really love video content is it serves as a memory bank. Like I have so many things from like digital camera days where I'm like pictures are meaningless at this point, but it's beautiful to like go. I sometimes just like go look at old albums to like remember those moments of life. And I feel like that's a beautiful thing of our day and age is like we get to capture memories and moments in ways that we used to not be able to do.
Rebecca Espinoza (43:06.92)
Mm-hmm.
Shay Frago (43:25.09)
So I think like, there's definitely, I would say being a creator and having social media in my life has made me more wanting to capture specific aesthetics, aesthetic, not necessarily to post on Instagram or on YouTube. I think my brain works in two different ways with that now because I have a healthier relationship with it where it's like.
Rebecca Espinoza (43:35.934)
Mm-hmm.
Shay Frago (43:50.39)
Ooh, I do want to create a mini movie of like, so for like example, we're going to lightning in a bottle. I am going to be present, but I want to create a highlight reel of it still. So it's like going to be present, but there are certain specific moments that I know I'm going to capture the shot because I already made the mental movie in my head and I do want it to be a part of content. So like I do that kind of stuff. And I think a part of it though is at least for me, I want to take.
Rebecca Espinoza (43:59.998)
Mm-hmm.
Shay Frago (44:16.758)
my community along certain journeys with me while still maintaining presence. So it just kind of depends. And I think my practice is always like, I want to have this mini movie and I want to be present. I'm going to pick a day where I unplug though. And I like, don't, don't do that. And I don't care if I don't get the shot and like forcing myself, not forcing, encouraging myself to like not be so attached. That's I kind of see it nowadays, but I don't purposefully do things in my life.
Rebecca Espinoza (44:39.368)
Yeah.
Shay Frago (44:46.156)
to get the shot or to have a story to share. I kind of see it. It comes back to what I said earlier with Zach Rabbitts. I'm building my life around my business. And I think a life worth living is also a life worth sharing and I don't need to.
Rebecca Espinoza (45:00.284)
Yeah, I think the... like I relate to the whole aesthetic thing. I also like seeing really pretty shots and I like, even I do with my film camera and that film camera is like just for me and as you know, as all of our friends know, it takes me a year sometimes to develop all of the film that I've taken and I'm just like sitting in my drawer. So it's like, for me, I'm just like, that's such a good shot. I'm gonna get it right now even if I'm not gonna see it in a year.
As a content creator, I am now learning to get some shots a bit more so I can use for content, because it's kind of hard for me. For me, I'm just like, fuck, that's effort. I just don't want to do that. And I just want to be here. I don't want to set up a tripod or something and then get the shot or whatever it may be. It's a little bit harder for me, especially I found because
Shay Frago (45:45.368)
We did, yeah, it's not.
Rebecca Espinoza (45:59.614)
I, a lot of my content, if I'm, it's like a mix. Yeah, it's like me speaking to the camera or like me sharing my poetry or me like, yeah, like I catch like when I'm out traveling or whatever it may be, but it's harder for me to get B-roll. And you know, we have to get B-roll to our social media manager for Vida. It's hard.
Shay Frago (46:22.882)
Like I see B-roll as strategy where it's like you're gonna, I film B-roll once a week where I'm like, okay, what are things that I do in my life every day that's gonna feel like authentic B-roll? And that to me though is like strategy. I'm like doing it for content because that's a part of having business. It doesn't feel like I'm doing it because I'm trying to create a certain experience I want people to see if that makes sense. I think, yeah.
Rebecca Espinoza (46:47.996)
Yeah, it's already you're already doing it. So you're just going to put your camera on there versus
Shay Frago (46:52.526)
routine, I film it at least once a week. When I go on a daily walk, I film it at least once a week. When I'm doing work, I film it once a week. When I'm making my breakfast, I film it. So it's like, I'm filming aspects of my life because that's a part of business, but I'm not like waking up in the morning like, I'm gonna film my morning routine so people can see it. It's not like that kind of energy.
Rebecca Espinoza (46:55.565)
Exactly.
Rebecca Espinoza (47:14.686)
And it's yeah, it's hard because I see some content like did you film all how many times did you do that? We like getting out of bed and you're stretching I'm like you have to set up your camera before that. So it's like that's not real. You're not just getting out of bed
Shay Frago (47:21.534)
Like, yeah. That to me is just business.
Rebecca Espinoza (47:30.288)
I know. I think that for I'm like, I get it. It's like, I think that's the that's the direct direction that business is in right now. It's like the owners are the brand and they want to see like a mini movie of the fucking owner's life like all the time, which I get and I understand. So it's hard for me. Honestly, I'm going to be real. Like, it's hard for me to like catch those things like even.
Shay Frago (47:31.863)
It's a mindset.
Shay Frago (47:45.301)
I'm just...
Shay Frago (47:55.995)
when we did our people.
Rebecca Espinoza (47:58.142)
When we were, I know, like when we were doing our B-roll like in Sequoia, we did a pretty good job. But for me, I was just like, this is so awkward. Because I'm like, for me, my B-roll is like, just like, yeah, I'm going to be at LIB, I'm going be filming like the art. I'm in front of the art though, you know, like I'm filming it, like things like that. And
Shay Frago (48:22.286)
Yeah, I mean, I will say in a way, when you are a content creator and doing b-roll or things like that, it is a part of the business. a part of the game. It's like, I want to say it's a part of the game. It's just the nature of social media. And I think in some ways it took me a minute to not feel self-absorbed. Where it's just like, this feels a little silly and a little materialistic and it feels a little vain.
Rebecca Espinoza (48:43.858)
Yeah.
Shay Frago (48:49.996)
because like influencers get made fun of all the time. And I'm like, I don't want to be that person because that's not the energy I'm wanting to put out. And it's like, this is, this is business. Like this is something that I chose to do. So I had like, I've gotten more comfortable being like, can you film me walking in doing blah, blah? Or can you film me through the door? Like it, it, for me, at least it was like, I don't want to come off as like self-absorbed or like taking up space in that way or whatever. And I think like,
Rebecca Espinoza (49:15.698)
Yeah.
Shay Frago (49:19.03)
when you do it in a way that is genuine and authentic to you, kind of like, I don't know, you get to go over it a little bit and you just realize is what building a social media business is.
Rebecca Espinoza (49:25.896)
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, and like, mind you, I live in LA, so I see that all the time. LA is littered with influencers who are from here, who are not from here, who come here just to like, the shot. like, like the number of times I've been on at Griffith Park on my usual hike and I see people in fucking heels that are just want to get the shot of the Hollywood Hollywood sign, like them standing in front of it or like at the observatory. I'm just like, God damn it. Like.
Shay Frago (49:41.154)
Yeah.
Rebecca Espinoza (49:57.992)
So like, think that's why I, for me, it's also just been like, and maybe it is a thing of like, I just don't wanna be that. Like, I just want to like be and enjoy my life and be normal. And like, so I think that may have something to do with it. I've been surrounded by it for years and years and years that it is a little of a nuisance. Yeah, so, and I think that's why I told you in the past, I'm like, I just wanna be someone who like shares information. Like I wanna, that's why we started Vida, cause I'm like,
Shay Frago (50:14.83)
But yeah, exactly.
Rebecca Espinoza (50:26.302)
Most of the time, the social media content is just clips from our episodes and it's great. And I get to use my voice and express myself and I don't have to be this, I guess, life influencer. I just want to have information and talk about it and share it. So I'm definitely still working on my relationship with it. And I would say I've definitely learned some stuff from you with how to just create B-roll and just be like, I don't know, just be real about it. So I'm still.
on that journey for sure.
Shay Frago (50:57.39)
We think our content's coming along though, it's great. And it feels authentic. And it feels authentic. I think it is, like it does feel like us. So that's an
Rebecca Espinoza (51:00.858)
It is, it's pretty good. So you feel what? It does.
I think it does, yeah, without a doubt. So with social media being such a big, you know, energy in our lives and so many other people's lives, I think it's a very curious thing to want to know if social media just disappeared completely tomorrow, which I would not be surprised if it did shut down somehow and like, you know, like the way Spain had that full blackout and like no one could do anything.
What would you miss the most about it and what do you think you'd feel relieved about it not being here?
Shay Frago (51:44.854)
I think I would miss, at least for me in my relationship to social media at this point, it's, for me, it's kind of research, honestly. Like I like, like if I want to travel, I like being able to put the destination I'm traveling and like finding all of this stuff that like people have taken the time, like restaurants, experiences, excursions, hole in the walls. Like I like, like using it and like, how can I
Rebecca Espinoza (52:06.11)
Mm-hmm.
Shay Frago (52:13.396)
allow it to create the experience I want to have taking on a trip or if I'm looking for events and things to do, it's like all my favorite places locally will post like Friday, we have this Thursday, we have this right? Like we don't really have websites anymore. It like that like everything's passed through social media. So I think like I would miss it and being like in the loop of like experiences and things for me to do.
And I would miss it for like friends that I do consider close. just don't talk to as often. like knowing, being able to plug into like their world here and there, I think that's what I would miss the most. And in terms of relief, like being a business owner and as much content as I create, it'd be really nice to like not feel the pressure to create, not feel the pressure to show up. And I don't use pressure as in like, that's how I literally feel, but it is like, I do, am I, I am always thinking of like, okay, what's the content for this?
Rebecca Espinoza (53:08.038)
It is part of your schedule.
Shay Frago (53:09.358)
Yeah, and it's kind of like, okay, I haven't shown up on social media in like two days via stories. And like, that's an important piece of my sales funnel. Like I do need to do that. So I think like, I would feel like, okay, like I don't have to do something and have that kind of in the back of my mind, especially like Monday through Thursdays are really my like cadence of posting days for my business. So I think that part would feel nice. Or it's like, I don't got to do anything.
But then I'm also like, okay, but then what would my business be like? Would it even exist if social media didn't exist? I don't know. There's so many layers to that, but I think that's what comes to mind. about you?
Rebecca Espinoza (53:46.686)
Yeah, I think the... I'm really trying to think about what I would miss about it. Yeah, the whole local events thing happening is really cool. And I think just like the little silly things, funny to say, just like on social media that is like comical that I really love and like communicating through memes is great because that's how people think of you and you're just like, and it makes you laugh.
Shay Frago (54:06.414)
Like the
Shay Frago (54:15.918)
is like breaking
Rebecca Espinoza (54:16.336)
It's so little, but it's just like, that's, think something that I would miss. And I think I would also miss just like, I have found a lot of very inspirational people in regards to the topics that I really care to learn about through social media and like activists and just like big voices on topics that I feel really inspired on. I think I would miss that. But I feel like I would feel very much more liberated. And I think my creativity would
probably feel less restricted in some ways. And I don't know, I think I would feel relieved to be able to just like, when you're bored, what are you gonna do instead? Okay, I'm gonna read my book or I'm gonna go write or I'm gonna go on a walk. Like instead of the easy access, quick instant gratification and dopamine, which is like picking my phone if I'm bored. And I don't know, I think it would be kind of...
Shay Frago (55:14.222)
forces to do more in-person stuff.
Rebecca Espinoza (55:16.188)
I think it would be a favour to the world in some ways if it did disappear.
Shay Frago (55:19.862)
was like, I think it would bring back kind of like poetry readings, like that would become a lot more
Rebecca Espinoza (55:26.652)
like in person doing those kinds of it would bring in person events again.
Shay Frago (55:30.742)
Yeah, it would force us to like be discovered.
Rebecca Espinoza (55:33.874)
And like, of course there's still in-person events happening, but I think things would become more localized as well. Like you would be more connected to your local communities and you would be more willing to attend local events and such things. So yeah, it seems like the simple days, some part of me like wants that. Part of me wants that. And I don't know where our world is going right now when it comes to technology. That's a whole other talk. I actually met someone
Shay Frago (55:52.544)
It is reconnecting to your life.
Rebecca Espinoza (56:03.614)
who wants to connect me with someone who co-founded this AI company that is actually doing AI for personal development. And I kind of want to get her on the podcast and see like what she has to say about using AI for good versus like where it's going. She gave a talk at this retreat that he was at. And that's the big question on everyone's mind. Like where is technology going and what is it doing for us? So that's a whole other conversation until we know.
Shay Frago (56:28.802)
We'll never really know. Exactly. That's the annoying part.
Rebecca Espinoza (56:35.63)
Yeah, so I think this is a good topic to discuss with the world that we live in, especially. We're the generation that saw the shift in social media happening from like not having any, then to having MySpace, then to having Facebook, and now to like everything else that exists. You know, we definitely saw the growth in our generation.
So I'm so curious to hear what other people have to say about this topic. Is there anything else on your heart that you want to share before we close off? Awesome. So if you felt like this conversation sparked anything for you, definitely just rate it, review it. That's what helps this community grow. At the end of the day, that's what we want. We want a community where people can talk about these conversations and just keep it going and to not close ourselves off to topics that inspire.
bigger thinking and inspiration. So please rate, review, share it if you'd like, and reach out to us to continue the conversation if you'd like. Okay, thank you for being here and we'll see you next week.
