EP04 Building big dreams with Sofia Jane, Fitness Entrepreneur & Musical Muse

This week, I’m joined by Sofia Jane Cunningham - fitness entrepreneur, musical muse, and founder of SoFit.

We talk about building big dreams, creating freedom through your work, and using movement as a daily reset for your mind. From leaving a traditional job to growing an online business, Sofia shares what it really takes to stay consistent, back yourself, and keep going when growth feels slow.

We also get a glimpse into life behind the scenes with her boyfriend, singer-songwriter Cian Ducrot - from creative inspiration at home to travelling the world, attending the Grammys, and navigating love, ambition and business side by side.

This episode is your reminder that small habits build big lives… and you don’t need to have it all figured out to start!

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with someone who needs a little boost 🤍

And if you can, leaving a rating or review helps the podcast grow so much.

Transcript

Speaker 1 0:04

Hello there and welcome to the Delusional Optimist, a podcast about fresh starts, second chances, and navigating the messy middle of life. I am so excited for today's episode. I've had this guest on my wish list since the get-go. And honestly, what makes it even better is that you guys have also messaged me and said that you would love to have Sofia Jane Cunningham on the podcast. And if that name sounds familiar to you, well then that's probably because you know her as Cian Ducrot's girlfriend and the muse behind so many of his songs. But trust me, that's only a very small part of Sofia's story because she's also a fitness entrepreneur and a seriously driven businesswoman who's traveling the world, building her own brand called SoFit, while saying 'yes' to opportunities that many of us could only dream of. I followed Sofia for a while now, and her posts always feel like little bursts of sunshine on my feet. They're joyful, they're infectious, and very much a reflection of who she is in real life as well. In this episode, we talk about confidence, ambition, and what it actually looks like to build something on your own terms while living a life that doesn't follow the traditional script. And of course, we chat about her life with Cian too and what it's like to enter all these glamorous occasions like the Grammys. Yes, we have the insight scoop on attending the Grammys and wow, wait till you hear. I love this conversation so much. It's fun, it's motivating, and full of those little mindset shifts that make you think a little bigger. Here's Sofia. Sofia, welcome to The Delusional Optimist.

Speaker 1:48

I'm so glad you're here today. Thank you. I'm so excited. Honestly, I listen to so many podcasts, so I did wonder like, when will be my first podcast? I'm just obsessed. Like in my spare time, I'm just constantly listening to podcasts. So I'm happy to be here.

Speaker 1 2:03

Thank you for being here. It feels like such an honor, and I admire you so much. Like I've always loved following your socials before I ever met you. Like, Steve, when I get this podcast off the ground, I have to get Sofia. But it also helps that when I put a question box out, people actually suggested you as a guest. So I'm like, I'll see what I can do. Interesting. So tell me, if someone hasn't heard of you before, hasn't seen your Instagram, hasn't seen the beautiful videos and songs that Cian posts of you and that you share as well. How would you describe yourself and who Sofia is and where she is in her life right now?

Speaker 2:44

Actually, which is really sweet. A lot of people call me the sunshine in their life, which is an incredible compliment and very sweet. So I guess I'm kind of like I like to be a radiance in people's lives and making them feel happy and making them feel good. And I guess, yeah, I'm I'm I'm pretty optimistic. So I love the the name of the podcast. I feel like it suits. Yeah, I'm I'm very sporty, I'm always moving. I mean, that's my that's my job. So I wake up and I exercise and I I eat something that's gonna make me feel energized. I dance, I'm always asking him to dance with me. I'm like, let's dance in the living room. And he's like, again, and I'm like, yes, let's dance. I actually got a tattoo recently that says, Let's dance because it's just the constant thing that I ask people to do with me, which is funny. But yeah, I I like to think of myself as a pretty optimistic and happy person. I have my down moments, like everyone does, but I've learned to deal with them better, I feel like, in the past couple years.

Speaker 1 3:51

That may be why you have immersed yourself into the world of fitness so much and you embrace sport and you embrace the outdoors and you embrace eating well. You know, it's known that it affects your mental health, it's known that it gives you a boost. Yeah. Is this why you found this path in life that you've decided to uh to take?

Speaker 4:09

Um I I've always been into sports as like from a young age. My parents were always like exercising around me. They'd be going for dog walks and being like, let's go, you know, go skating down the seafront. And it was always like movement was involved in our life, but in a way to make us like feel good, get out the house, get some fresh air, and and just feel more energized. And they weren't like saying that to me, like, let's go out to feel good, but I could feel that that was like what they were trying to do, you know. They were like, let's get out of the house, let's move our bodies, and then we come back and we're just we all feel felt better. So yeah, from a young age, I was doing that anyway. And then I feel like as I got into my teens and especially like lockdown era, I definitely then was like consciously using it as a tool to feel better because lockdown was horrendous and it was everyone was inside, you know how it was. And I turned to exercise to feel better in those moments. And I remember, I think it was Joe Wicks. Have you heard of him? I was using everybody has in lockdown. I mean, he was the lockdown king. I was using his workouts like two times a day because I was like, I loved him as a person, but also I just loved his workouts, and I loved that he also had that kind of view on exercise that it he used it to feel good. So then I started being like, Yeah, this is actually making me feel so great. And I was really consciously thinking about the fact that I felt so good. So yeah, I guess I do use it for that. And yeah, I've never really cared about what it physically does to me. I can see that obviously it changes me and I'm getting stronger and more toned. But when you look at it like it's gonna help you to feel better, it becomes a lot easier as well to actually do it.

Speaker 1 5:55

Yeah, and your messaging online is so infectious because you're like, take the stairs. I love taking the stairs, I love running from A to B. I love taking a bike here and there and everywhere. And I think it's such a lovely message. Because modern day life is very, is the word sedentary? Like we're just we sit a lot. We sit in our offices, we sit at our laptops, we sit on our phones, we sit watching TV, there is another way, but it seems almost more natural now for people to just sit. Yeah. Um, that message of like move your body, it feels good, it's just so nice. And it doesn't, it doesn't have to be anything drastic. It's taking the stairs, like you say.

Speaker 6:33

Yeah, that's the thing. Like it really doesn't have to be overwhelming. I think the smallest changes you can make in your life can they really can add up along the way and make you a healthier and happier person. Like nothing I do is drastic, like everything I do is very simple, and I'm not doing intense workouts. Like when I wake up in the morning and I do my workout, it's 25 minutes max, but I'm consistent with it, and I think that's what's the most important part of living a healthier lifestyle, just being consistent with the small habits and yeah, like taking the stairs. It's a simple thing. Choose that instead of the elevator and choose that instead of taking the lift, you know. I just love that outlook and I feel like it makes my life easier as well. I just love simple things.

Speaker 1 7:16

Yeah, I have to say, anytime I see one of your videos, I'm like, I have to get out there because my job has me sitting at a desk a lot, and sometimes I I can, you know, feel a bit lazy after work, or you know, you wake up and it's winter and it's dark, and all you want to do is just be cozy for an extra five minutes. But when I see your stuff online, I'm like, no, Sofia wouldn't do this. I'm gonna get myself out there. I can't move. What would Sofia do?

Speaker 7:41

No, I definitely chill, I definitely chill, but I I just it just makes me feel better. So I I wouldn't I wouldn't do it if I wasn't enjoying it, you know.

Speaker 1 7:50

I feel exercise is also so personal because one thing that somebody likes somebody else might not enjoy, but how do you feel when there's challenges? You know, like the 75 heart online, like that seems like a very intense thing for people to be taking on and then and then putting that pressure on themselves, and then it's no wonder it's hard to stick to because it's just not a sustainable thing, especially if you just aren't really moving day to day to take on something like that. I love that you take the more not gentle approach, but just the more realistic approach because that is not realistic for everybody to just go intense from day one and cold turkey on everything.

Speaker 8:28

Yeah, honestly, that's that's why people give up because it's just not sustainable and it's also not enjoyable. Like that's so intense to wake up and I think it's like two workouts a day, and I think one has to be inside, one outside, the reading, the the water, and it's just like an intense list of things. And like you said, it's no wonder they get to probably day 10, and they're like, I can't do this, this is so unrealistic and unsustainable, and I'm stressed. And like with my clients, I'm always like, let's take things one step at a time. You know, if you're new to this, let's start with just your steps, like let's increase your step count. Because a lot of people's step count is low, and that's such an important part of your lifestyle and living a healthier lifestyle is just walking more. It does wonders, not just for your body, but for your mind, because you're out in the fresh air and you're just like you're seeing things, and also I always say to my clients, go out for a walk without listening to anything, just go and be, because it's so easy nowadays to be like, I'm gonna go on a podcast walk, I'm gonna go listen to music on a walk. But it's like actually just go out and just be in your thoughts and just be in the present because that's where you're gonna benefit mentally as well as the physical form of the movement, you know.

Speaker 1 9:40

It's true though, we can all relate to like leaving the house and being like, damn it, my ear pods aren't charged. Yeah. Like I'm gonna have to just be with my own mind. But when you give yourself that chance to take in nature, to hear your own thoughts, to just be present, it is so so lovely. Steve thinks I'm a freak for being able to do it. He's like, How can you just go and walk with nothing? And I'm like, there's just so much to see, like you can see birds. I know if it's raining, you can hear the rain, like it's so nice. I feel like it's almost like a form of meditation in itself, just being present and soaking up the world around you. Yeah. But I realize for people who have busy brains, it might be harder to do because you need something to distract, you know? Of course, yeah. But no, it's it's lovely. So you you say that you were always kind of sporty and always loved being outdoors and moving. What were your interests prior to setting up your own business? Did you have a regular job? Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur? How did Self It come about?

Speaker 10:44

So I did have a regular job for I think from the age of 18 to 21. So three years. I was working in an office, just like as an receptionist. I was kind of like a PA to the office manager. I absolutely loved the people around me, but I hated the job so much. I hated being stuck. I always have like being like that. Before that job, I had cafe jobs and just like random little jobs in my hometown. But the one thing I always hated was that I had a specific amount of time off for the year and that I had to be like there at a certain time. And I was always like, I can't, I don't like this. I need to be free, I need to be free. I don't think I knew what I meant when I said I wanted to be free, but I always said it, I drilled it to my parents. I was like, I just want to be free, I want to be free. Like people would ask me what I want to do when I'm older, and I wouldn't say anything specific, but I would say, I just want to be free. And they would be like, okay, I guess I meant I want to be my own boss. I need the freedom to like choose what I want to do with my day and choose my own hours and be able to work from anywhere. So yeah, I had that kind of goal, I guess. And then when I was in the last job before SOFIT, I yeah, I just didn't like being stuck down. And I remember Cian asking me during lockdown, he was like, What's your dream? And I was like, No one's asked me this question since I was a kid. And I was like, What is my dream? And I was like, I think I didn't have a specific again, I didn't have a specific answer for him, but I said to him again, I was like, I just want to be free. And I said that to him, I was like, I used to tell my family and friends this, but I never knew what I meant. And he was like, What do you love doing? And I was like, exercising. He was like, You literally do that all the day, all like all the time. And I was like, actually, I can make something out of this. And so I put those two things together, and I was like, okay, I'm gonna study to be a personal trainer, I'm gonna set up a business. I knew that I needed to be like a business that wasn't on the ground, it had to be online. So then I was like, okay, researching different apps I could use, different people that were also doing the same thing at the same time. And I was like, okay, I've got this. So then did the PT course, found the app I could use, and then just started promoting myself on Instagram and just like slowly built a business, and now it's like my full-time job, which I'm so happy about. I love it.

Speaker 1 13:13

And you get to travel and be free, which is the dream that you've had all along. I know, it's so funny. When you put yourself out there in a new space, it's always so daunting. And I suppose sometimes we have like high expectations, or like even me with launching a podcast, I'm like, I hope thousands of people listen, you know, and it's it's not a reality. It's always a slow build to get to anywhere, but like hopefully they will. But it is always a slow build to to get to anywhere. And I feel like sometimes we can be a little bit impatient, you know, if we're not getting as many interactions as we like online, or people aren't sharing our things, or maybe we're not getting the client signups that we want, whatever it might be. How did you keep yourself motivated? Or did it maybe it maybe it snowballed and it became, you know, busy from the get-go? I don't know how it was for you, but how did you keep yourself motivated when it was a slow build?

Speaker 14:09

I think to be honest, being in in and around Cian's career really motivated me for for one. Seeing his success was hard not to be motivated all the time. And also seeing how much he worked so so hard for everything in his life, I was like, okay, I need to do that. I need to, I need to be working. What's that saying? It's like there's always someone working harder than you. I don't know if it's a saying, but you know, it's a phrase. I think I had that like drilled into my brain because I'm like, if I'm I can do better, you know, every day I can do a little bit better. I just saw Keen working so hard, and I think that was one. And then another thing that probably keep me motivated was the fact that I couldn't see myself going back to the job I hated. So I was like, there's only one option, and it's this option, like it has to work. So I just kept going, I kept going. And it definitely didn't like snowball straight away. Like I had to work really hard. I probably at the start had like three clients, and I was like, oh gosh, how am I gonna survive? But luckily, I had like saved money from my previous job, so I was okay in that respect. But I had one plan and I had no plan B and I hated being stuck. So I was like, it has to work, and I'm gonna keep going, I'm gonna keep going. And and it's also it's it's embarrassing at times posting so much and kind of putting yourself out there. It's it's daunting and scary. But I think once you can push past that, you I don't know, you can really change your life. Like if you just stop caring what people think and just think about yourself and your career and just tunnel vision, everything becomes easier in a way, just to keep going and trusting that it's gonna work out for you.

Speaker 1 15:52

So yeah, that's probably funny you you say that because even me launching the podcast, I'm like, oh, only 30 people have liked it, only like whatever amount of people have looked at my story. Oh my god, I should take it down. You know, every single person starting something new like has those thoughts. And it's so funny because it's it's easy when to when you see somebody who's kind of built it and is successful and has their community, it's very easy to compare yourself to that, and you kind of forget that it well, they had to start somewhere too, and they were in that space also. So it's it's lovely to hear that it's not just a me thing or not a me thing, it's very much a universal thing. How did you navigate then aspects of running a business that you might not necessarily have known about? Did you learn as you went along and kind of trial and error, or did you do again like some businessy type of course in the background? Because it's it's hard when you're navigating aspects of an industry that you're just have no idea about.

Speaker 16:54

Yeah, absolutely. No, I didn't do any business course or anything. I kind of just I winged it. Like I just learned along the way, and I've learned so much. I made mistakes, I made so many mistakes, but I learnt from the mistakes every single time, and I'm still learning. Like I'm still learning how I can manage my time better and market myself better. And yeah, I feel like it's just an ongoing lesson constantly, like every day. Something will happen, and I'll be like, oh, next time I'll do this. But no one ever really taught me what to do. I think I learned a hell of a lot from my old manager in the receptionist job that I had. She was just so incredible. She was like a PA to two people in the in the office while also being office manager. And I always thought to myself, like, wow, how is she doing so many different things at once? She's so organized, she's so incredible. And she'd she taught me all these different kinds of things that she'd do. She'd use spreadsheets to keep on top of things. She'd have like email folders and stuff like this, and all those things I remembered from that job. And I just took note of those from her. And also, my dad has always been his own boss. I guess I watched him as well running his own business. He's a painter and decorator, so completely different thing. But I saw I saw him doing various tasks that I'd be like subconsciously picking up on, I guess, as a kid and seeing how he managed his day. And like, he's another reason actually I wanted to be free because I remember just being at home on like half-term or whatever, and my dad would come home at like 1 p.m. and I'd be like, Wow, is your day over? And he's like, Yeah, I work for myself. And I was like, That's so cool, dad. I want to do that. And he'd just be home for like the rest of the day with us. And yeah, if that answers the question, I'm not sure I kind of went off there.

Speaker 1 18:45

No, it does. You you learned as you went along and you were inspired by the things you saw along the way. And I suppose it just proves that even though your last job wasn't something that you necessarily wanted to do, like it was a big learning curve because you learned something that you were able to take with you going forward and apply to your own business to help, you know, speed things along. So there's always a reason for the chapters we have in our lives, even if they're not always the ones that we want to be in at that moment in time, right?

Speaker 19:15

Definitely. 100%.

Speaker 1 19:17

What do you love most, apart from the freedom about your job? And I'm sure that you get a lot out of being able to help people improve their lives, reach their goals. What do you love most about running CellFit?

Speaker 19:30

I absolutely love the connections that I make. Like my clients become my friends. I'm talking to them like most days as well. So I love I love that. I love seeing people's lives change. Like people come to me with who have never exercised before and can't seem to get like shake this low self-esteem and not feeling motivated, feeling de-energized, not eating well. And then they come to me and they leave SoFit like their best self, feeling energized and feeling like they've got a routine locked down. They can they can exercise in a way that makes them feel good, they can see themselves continuing doing that as well because of the way I've implemented the simple habits into their life. And that's just the best feeling. Like someone coming to me and not feeling good and then leaving feeling good, and then nothing tops that. Nothing tops it. And it just makes me so happy to see clients doing that. And that's probably apart from the freedom that you said, that's probably my favorite thing, just helping people. I love helping people and seeing people succeed. And this job is all about that. So I love it.

Speaker 1 20:43

You're just continuing spreading that sunshine even through your work endeavors. Who or what gives you, you know, the way you say that people describe you as like sunshine girl who brings positivity and joy to people's lives. What or who brings that same level of positivity and joy into your life? Because it can be hard to be that person for other people, you know, all the time. Because as you say, you're human and you have days when you're not feeling your best either, but you're still trying to radiate happiness and joy and lift people up and leave them feeling better than when you saw them. So who does that for you?

Speaker 21:22

Definitely my parents. They're like number one and obviously Keen. But my parents are just the light in my life. They always have been and they always will be. They're just they're like my best friends. They are so again positive and just good to be around. They're they're like 50s to 60s and they act like they're in their 20s. Like they're just the best vibe. And we're always having a laugh when we're with them. So yeah, I've definitely learned that from them. And also Cian, like I have to give it to him. He's where we obviously live together, but he He is just like this radiant person. And he brings so much joy to my life. And we're we're like best friends too. We do everything together together. I had some really hard times during lockdown where my mental health was so so bad. And he he taught me that I can be, I can get better, you know, and I can feel good. And the things I was worrying about were so minor. And he he would be the one that would be like, get up, let's dance. And then I started being like to him, get up, let's dance. But yeah, he's just a great person. And obviously, I've got my friends around me who are so fun and vibrant. And I surround myself with great people. I've also got my brother really nearby in London. And we hang out and we have great times. And yeah, I have people to bounce off of who, you know, they mirror my energy. So yeah, I'm very lucky in that respect.

Speaker 1 22:53

Did I read somewhere that your brother was the person responsible for introducing you to Keynes? Yes, he was. Bringing him into your life. Literally, he was a story.

Speaker 23:03

So in lockdown, I'm not sure if you had this in Ireland, but we had bubbles. So you could hang out with one other household. And at the time I was living in an apartment with my brother, and he was like, How about we invite my friend Cian round as our bubble? And I didn't know who Cian was. I was like, Oh, okay, yeah, sure, whatever. And he was at the time Cian was living with two Canadian girls. And George was like, Let's just invite him, they can be our bubbles. Like, whatever. So he comes around and we met that night, I think it was like June 2020. And we we just got on so well immediately. And my brother was kind of like, oh great, oh great, what have I done? And we have lived together ever since, which is crazy. Like we tell people that, and they're like, What the hell? Thanks to my brother, I found my soulmate, and actually, my brother's girlfriend, I introduced her to him, which is funny.

Speaker 1 24:03

You were each other's cupid, yeah, in in indirect ways, which is so lovely. And what was it about Cian that captured your heart?

Speaker 24:12

I loved that he would just like dance with me. I sound so obsessed with dance, but I am obsessed with dancing. But he he was very much like my dad and is is like my dad because as I grew up, I would always dance around the house with my dad, and when we'd be out, my dad would be the person to like get up in front of a crowd and just dance with me at different events and stuff and wouldn't care. And I know a lot of a lot of men don't do that. A lot of men are like, no, like I don't want to dance, but my dad would be the one like kind of flying his hands around. And when I met Keen, he did the exact same thing, and I was like, finally, someone that doesn't care, you know, someone who just wants to have fun. And I immediately just saw that and I loved that about him. And actually, growing up, I would always say to my friends, Oh, like the perfect guy for me would be someone like my dad, personality-wise. And then I obviously kind of manifested that into my life because Keen came around and I was like, You are exactly like my dad, and actually they're like best friends now. But I'd say that about Cian really caught my eye on the first night as well that I met him. He was like that, and he was just, I don't know, different to other guys I'd met. So I was like, You're a keeper, I'm taking you.

Speaker 1 25:31

Yeah, not many Irish boys, I know he's half French, but not many Irish boys would want to just be freaking danced. Yeah, and like for being judged, you know, which is just such an infectious person to be around, you know. So they're just free to be themselves. Yeah, exactly. So you guys obviously get to travel the world together, you get to share in his experiences, you've seen his star rise, and it's only getting bigger and bigger by the day. What is life like on the road for you too, especially for you, trying to balance a business with being present and wanting to explore where you are?

Speaker 26:06

Yeah, it's um so fun. It's the funnest thing ever. Like it's it's clearly the the life I always dreamed of because we're just free, we're traveling, we're working, we're making money from wherever in the world, and having a good time. I mean, we're seeing places I never ever even dreamt of seeing, and having experiences that I never dreamt of even having, and we're doing it together as well, which is so fun. Like we're sharing memories together, we're able to bring friends with us, and Cian's manager and her husband come with us, and we just have this like family traveling vibe together, and it's just amazing. And obviously, keeping a business running on the road can be tricky at times, but there's a lot of downtime in Cian's like when you're touring and he's I don't know, doing sound check or he's doing some sort of interview or whatever, there's a lot of time for me to just be and work. You know, it's not always go, go, go. Like when we're in venues, we're in the venue for like be like six to eight hours. So I have time to to do my work and I have time to film like kind of random videos as well, like exercising in dressing rooms that other people, you know, wouldn't necessarily do. It's kind of it's a unique thing that I think people like seeing me do. So yeah, it's a it's an incredible life that we have together, and I'm so grateful because we just we just have fun, and every day feels like a week, like the weekend. But we're also working, yeah, but also working really hard at the same time. I'm not sure really how we're balancing it really, but we are, and a lot of the time we are working, like when we're on holiday, I'm on my phone a lot, I'm I'm on my laptop a lot, but I'd rather be doing that than being stuck in an office, you know.

Speaker 1 28:01

So there's positives to there's only positives, really. There's positives. You can't really complain when you're sitting like in a beautiful atop a mountain or in a chalet or on a beautiful beach, or I saw you were like in a camper van and you have your laptop out. You know, these are the perfect the job. Where was the last place you guys went on a big adventure in? And where where was the last place that really captured your heart that you truly loved?

Speaker 28:30

We did a big tour across America last year, which I loved so much. It was so fun for like I think it was eight weeks, and we just went everywhere and saw every part of America, and we were in this it Keen did the whole tour acoustically, so it was literally just me, him, his manager, and her husband, and then Cian's PA and tour manager. So it's a very small knit team, and it just felt like we were on a big holiday, but also everyone was working, and yeah, that was probably my favorite trip, recent trip that we did that kind of captured my heart. And when we came back, I was like, whoa, what just happened? We were just in a in a van for eight weeks across America. It's kind of hard to like let it sink in that we did that, but yeah, that was fun. We also did a road trip across Sweden and Norway, which was incredible. That was just the two of us in a little camper van, which she just mentioned. That was incredible. But again, I was working a lot of it. Like when Cian was driving around, I'm on my laptop working, so yeah, there's that. Like when you're running your own business, you're always you're always switched on. Like you can't really turn your brain off. You're constantly thinking, okay, I need to send that email, I need to reply to this client, I need to post on my stories, I need to make a video, all while trying to enjoy yourself. And it's definitely not a complaint because I'd choose that again over any other job, but it's not always easy. It's a it's a lot of being like almost in a way not very present because you have to work, it's your job, it's my life. So yeah, but I still enjoy all those moments. But there is a lot of work involved to keep it running.

Speaker 1 30:16

And I know from from personal experience, having someone creative by your side as well, like they never stop either because they're always inspired, they're always thinking about like Steve, for example, is always like finding a new melody, like getting inspired for new lyrics, or just like, oh, like I need to go back and finish this thing, or like it just it never ends. So when you have two busy brains together, it's oh my god, it's a fun dynamic, but but like that, it can become it can become tiring. Even at our wedding, like Cian and Steve were at the piano, which I thought was so funny. But the thing is, like, it's incredible to be around people who are so passionate about what they do because it is genuinely infectious. I think there's downsides sometimes when it's 3 a.m.

Speaker 31:00

and you're trying to sleep, and the piano's like literally the other night, literally the other night, Kian was doing that. He's moved his studio into our living room, and which is looks really cool. He's kind of made it in the way that goes with the living room, it looks nice, but it was like 3 a.m. the other night, and he was just like singing into the mic and like playing the music. I mean, I don't know how our neighbors haven't complained, but yeah, it's hilarious. I've kind of learned sleep through it.

Speaker 1 31:27

Yeah, but it's yeah, I remember Steve was was writing a song that they ended up releasing called Wherever You Are. And in the voice memo where he's writing it, all you can hear is like me wait because he we we had a piano, an upright piano in our bedroom for a little while because Steve was just like, I want to be able to write when inspiration strikes, and that's fine. Until one of our dogs ate the lead, and then now it's no longer there because in that voice message you can hear me waking up and I'm and I'm like, Do you mind stopping? It's really late. I'm trying to sleep. Like I had work, I had to be up at like 6 6 30 a.m. the next morning to go to my office job, like my normal office job. So I'd not be sitting up at 3 a.m. Like, you know, being interrupted. But once the song was released and it became really popular, like we were looking back at voice messages and he was like, see, there you are. He was complaining. I'm like, I wasn't complaining, it was a beautiful song. I just need a little sleep. Yeah, so I'm yeah, it's funny, it's not a thing many people can relate to of just like creative brain that doesn't stop and strikes at any hour.

Speaker 32:37

Literally, Keen Keen will just be like, We could be just driving someone, he's like, wait, I need to pull over, and and he just starts singing into his like voice note and for like 10 minutes, and then he's like making notes and like writing a song, and then he's like, Do you like this? And he's lit literally written like a whole song, and I'm like, We're on the side of the road, and you just wrote a song. He's like, I'm sorry, but I had to. I'm like, it's fine, it's fine.

Speaker 1 33:00

Do you give honest feedback though? Are there things you don't like?

Speaker 33:04

I do, I do. He actually really trusts my opinion because I'm so honest with him, so which is good. I've always grown up with music around me as well, so I felt like I have a good ear if I say so myself. But I help him and he I mean, I'm the only person here that can as well. In the moment, he'll be like, Do you think this one or like this one? I'm like, that sounds exactly the same. Sometimes I'm like, I can't. That sounds the same. He's like, No, but there's a there's a slight difference, and I'm like, no one's gonna notice that but you that has literally been my life the last few weeks, as he's like finalizing the album.

Speaker 1 33:37

I'm like, Did you hear that and that? And I'm like, no, it sounds exactly the same as the last four versions in my ears. I'm like, the average person is not gonna dissect it, but he's like, they're so passionate at every little element, which again is just like beautiful to see, but sometimes it's like I don't know what you're talking about. I don't know what I don't know what you're talking about. We cannot mention the fact that you guys get to experience like incredible events like the Grammys. Like you have a Grammy award-winning boyfriend. How cool is that?

Speaker 34:13

It's so funny. Sometimes I just like go over to the Grammy and just pick it up and pretend that I want it, and I just like go around the apartment like, thank you, thank you, I'm just holding it. It's so heavy, it's like a weight, but yeah, it's crazy. That was a whole, that was a whole crazy moment. But Cian really made that happen for himself. He really tried tried his hardest to get in that session with Scissor and then made it happen. And she then just brought the song out and it became Grammy nominated. It was a crazy whirlwind of events, and then actually attending the Grammys felt like a dream, like a female dream. I want to hear about it. Tell me everything about attending the Grammys. It was fun. We went with the guy, Adam, who's actually with us today, he's come over from Ireland, and his girlfriend, so it was just the four of us, but it was just after the LA fires, so it was kind of up in the air whether it was even gonna happen. And we were we were unsure ourselves whether to go because of the the air in LA and stuff, but we were like, we gotta go, like we we've gotta make this work. It's uh, you know, you never know when you're gonna go back to the Grammys. So we flew over and we spent the week there. We went to the Grammys, the four of us, and I mean, you see, you see people that you never thought you'd see, and it it feels very surreal. Like we were sat next to Paris Hilton as well for the whole ceremony, which was cute. She's lovely, and yeah, I mean, Beyonce walks in, Jay-Z walks in, Sabrina Carpenter, and it's just like every celebrity you could ever think of is just in one room, and you can feel this like insane energy, and yeah, and then obviously Ciane won the Grammy, which was another crazy moment. We kind of just we kind of just it happened. He won the Grammy, and then what happens is he had it in like the pre-ceremony. So we're in like this kind of theatre room. He wins the Grammy, he goes up and he collects it, he comes back, but then he leaves us like pretty soon after to go and do like different interviews. And the whole time he was gone, he was gone for like three hours, and we were just kind of sat there like, when does he like reappear? Like, have we lost Cian to the to the Grammy world? Like, is he ever gonna come back? Like, does he care about us? But he had to be like, like turning him into the Grammy. He literally left for so long, and it was just me, Adam, and his girlfriend, and we were just kind of sat in the at the foyer, kind of like twiddling our thumbs, like when's Cian gonna come back? Eventually he came back and we celebrated together, and then we went to the actual ceremony later, which was the the televised version, and yeah, it was a crazy night, and then we got invited to a Bruno Mars after party, which was which was just crazy. When I say the words, I'm like, that wasn't us, that was fake, but yeah, that was crazy. You went to this like tiny little nightclub venue place, which was probably like 200 people, and Bruno Mars was just performing on this stage with his band. They were doing like covers, and then he did one original song at the very end, but even just like seeing it was tiny, he was just kind of like playing like the tambourine and people walking in. Like Leonardo DiCaprio walked in, and we were just like, No, this isn't real. This is real, like the whole time all of us were just like pinching ourselves, but yeah, that was the craziest experience ever, and I'm happy that the Grammy is now in the house because it took a while to get here, but now it's here, and every time I see it, I'm like, huh, what a great memory.

Speaker 1 37:45

Where does it have pride of place? Where do you guys keep it?

Speaker 37:48

He had kept it on his piano for a while, but then he he moved it in front of the TV so that every time we watch the TV we can see the Grammy.

Speaker 1 37:58

Yes. Well, I know Keen is big into manifestation, so there's no better way to manifest another one than looking at that one.

Speaker 2 38:08

Literally looking at it all the time.

Speaker 1 38:12

Um when you're in those like mad environments, and I realize like you guys dip in and out of those environments all the time because Keen's job allows you to do that, but when you are in those mad environments, do you allow yourself to fangirl? Like, do you ask for selfies? Do you are you respectful and you're like I can't pretend, I have to pretend that I'm cool with this, even though I'm geeking out inside.

Speaker 38:35

We haven't actually I've never asked anyone for a selfie because I feel like when you're in you're in like the kind of I guess a VIP section and you're backstage, I'm always like, oh gosh, like I don't know if I could I don't have the guts to go up to people and ask for a selfie. There've been people that I wish I did, but yeah, um yeah, I've just never had the guts to do it to be honest. I feel like if I asked Cian, he'd be like, Oh, like I'll do it with you, and it'll be fine, but no, I've not I've not done it. I don't have any selfies with anyone.

Speaker 1 39:06

Well, Steve and I um we did we did ask somebody for a selfie just because it was so bizarre. We went to see you two. The band invited Steve backstage before the show. So, like, it was I mean, it wasn't a surprise to see Bono because it was his show. Like, it wasn't a surprise to see the Tee Shock, and it wasn't a surprise to see the star rugby player. But when when I turned around and Matt Damon was there, I was like, this for a second, what's going on? Why is Matt Damon in the three arena in Dublin backstage mingling? Like, okay, Colin Farrell, but like you know, like, but just Matt Damon. Yeah, just was so bizarre that I was like, we no, we have to get a photo with this guy. Yeah, that's just the real not to, and he was lovely. But Steve has a funny moment where he was at the Brit Awards and he was a guest with Courtney Cox and Johnny McDade, and they were just chilling at the table, having a jolly old time, and then there must have been a break for like an ad break or maybe like resetting this the stage. I don't know how the real show works, but Emma Budton from The Spice Girls came up to Steve and was like, Can you ask Courtney Cox for a selfie for me? I'm too shy of it. And Steve was like, That was the most bizarre moment. Baby Spice asking for a photo with Monica from friends, but asking me to sort it out.

Speaker 40:32

There was Monica next to Steve.

Speaker 1 40:34

Yeah, and then Baby Spice was sitting somewhere else, and she was like, Oh my god, I need a selfie with Courtney Cox. So she ran over to Steve and was like, Can I get a selfie with her? I just thought that was so funny because I'm like, okay, even the celebrities, like the super popular, well-known celebrities who've been famous for many, many, many, many years, still get a little shy about these things, which is so cute. It is cute. I like that. Getting back to a little bit of the work talk, online can be a very difficult space for comparison. How do you work on that for yourself? How do you stop yourself from comparing yourself to other people, other business owners, other people who are, you know, fitness instructors who have their own platforms? How do you maintain you and become confident and comfortable in your own skin?

Speaker 41:26

Yeah, I don't know. For a while I didn't, like I was comparing myself all the time, and it's so easy to as well, because we have access to everyone's lives. And I feel like it's only recently I've started to use the the bigger platforms and the I guess more successful people as motivation. But for yeah, for ages I wasn't. I mean, still I do compare myself. I catch myself and I'm like, oh, like I'm so far behind, they're doing this, this, and this. But then I kind of bring myself back and I'm like, wait a second, I only started this properly like three years ago. I'm still new to this. I think there's a saying, it's like it takes 10 years to actually get to where you want to be and are happy with the the place you get to, and it takes 10 years of hard work. And I I kind of think of that and think, well, I've only been doing this for three years, so I'm fine, I'm doing pretty well considering. And yeah, I use them as motivation, and I also now and then go through my following list and who I'm following and just unfollow anyone that's kind of I'm comparing myself too much to, and I'm like, I don't need to keep doing this, like I don't need to keep seeing them achieving all these things. I'm happy for them, but it doesn't need to be the first thing I see on my phone when I go on Instagram. You know, I I need to stay in my lane and focus on myself. We're we all have different paths and we all have different timings. And I think remembering that really, really helps.

Speaker 1 42:53

You curate your space to work in your in your in your favor, which is so important because it can get very noisy online. And when we get into our own heads, we can literally get in our own way of like succeeding. Yeah. I know I definitely in my early career I I got in my own way by just overthinking things and comparing too much. Um sometimes you do just need to take a step back and reassess. Because I think like there's that whole, you know, you see the success of someone and it looks like an overnight success, but that's like years and endless nights of hard work and dedication.

Speaker 43:32

Exactly. Yeah, it takes so long and a lot of late nights and early mornings and stress and setbacks and things going wrong. And and I think, yeah, comparing yourself just takes away from that and it takes away your joy. And also when you start comparing, you you kind of lose a s a bit of yourself because you're like, why am I not like that? And why can't I do that? But it's like, but you're you and you're unique, and you have a different way of doing things. And yeah, I think it's good to remember that.

Speaker 1 44:03

If someone is listening and they kind of want to go on a journey and take better steps for themselves, whether that's like lifestyle or mental health, whatever it might be, what advice do you have for them? Like what three things can they start implementing today? I would say sleep more for starters.

Speaker 44:25

Like getting more sleep is like changed my life. When I sleep more, I'm a better person, I'm more energized, I can think clearer. I think that's really like the foundation of living a healthier lifestyle. You need that time to recover and be human. So I would always say prioritize your sleep, you know, get enough sleep, seven to eight hours a night of solid sleep. And then I would say, definitely move more, because like you said, so many people are sedentary and don't move enough. And it can really get to you. Like there's days where I'll wake up and go straight on my laptop because I've got too much of a busy day. So I'll start working straight away and then I won't leave the laptop all day. And I'll get to like 4 p.m., 5 p.m. I've been on there since 7 a.m. or whatever. And I haven't moved and I can feel in my body I'm so like agitated and like annoyed, and like my temper is like shorter and things are annoying me like easier, and I'm choosing like I don't know, unhealthier choices because I just can't think clearly. And I really see the difference today's where I move and don't move. So like if I was to go out and exercise immediately or go for a walk, I'm just a better person. So I would definitely always say move, like just move more, even if it's going for a walk for 30 minutes or doing a quick, even 10 minutes can change your morning. Like if I don't have enough time and I I only have 10 minutes, I'll just do a quick 10-minute workout. It could be like a mixture of squats, planks, lunges, a few star jumps, anything simple, and you really do just feel better immediately. And you're like, oh, that's all I needed. I just needed 10 minutes. And I think if you go in with that mindset as well, like I'm just gonna do 10 minutes, you always end up doing a bit more anyway, and you're like, oh, I'm in it now, I can do more. So movement and sleep for sure, two really important pillars. And then I think just surrounding yourself with good people is so important to being and living a healthier and happier lifestyle because if the people around you aren't cheering you on and making you feel good and making you laugh, I think laughing is so important if you're not laughing enough and just like actually smiling, it's life gets harder, you know. You need to laugh, you need to be with people and have a good time. So yeah, those three are super important.

Speaker 1 46:52

Yeah, I like all of the above, especially the laughter part, because I feel like life can feel very serious sometimes and it shouldn't, especially when you hear stories of you know bad things happening to people out of the blue and they're no longer here. So it's like embrace every single moment that you have because you don't know how long you have it for. I know it's nice, nice agreement, but nice reminder. Yeah. I know that you actually quite embrace the home workouts as well, as opposed to pushing going to the gym. What is it about a home workout that you love more? Is it the fact that you can just squeeze it into your day no matter what time of day, or what is it about a home workout?

Speaker 47:35

It's definitely that. The fact that I usually just wake up and I have so much active wear that I don't wear because I just get out of bed in my pajamas and start, I'll just start exercising because I'm like, this is the moment I've got I can do it in the day. And if this is all I've got today, then I'm gonna do it. And I just love that that's an option, you know. I just roll out my mat and I don't need much space. I just need the length of the mat and I can do a solid workout from home in whatever clothes I want to wear. It's efficient, it's just an efficient way of keeping fit, especially if you're a busy person who doesn't necessarily have the time to be going to the gym for an hour. And you know, it's not just an hour because you have to get to the gym and then work out for an hour, come back, shower. It's like a whole chunk of your day that you don't really need to do if you want to live a healthier lifestyle. So that's why I kind of push for the home workouts because I'm like, you can make this easier for yourself if you just do it from home, and you can get so fit from home as well, body weight or just like resistance bands and a few dumbbells, like super, super minimal equipment, and you can just feel energized and fitter. Like that's how I honestly I go to the gym probably like maybe once a week, not even that, because I'm just doing all my workouts from home. So yeah, I love I love a home workout.

Speaker 1 48:53

I feel like if we simplify things for ourselves, we are probably gonna stick to them a little bit more. Then definitely. If it's hard, we're gonna come up with a million and one excuses. Oh, I'm too tired to go there, it's too far to to travel, there's traffic, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. I don't have fuel in the car. Yeah, exactly. When we really don't want to do something, we'll come up with seven million excuses, and some of them aren't even rational. So the simpler the better, I say. What is your dream? Are you living a dream? Do you have bigger ambitions? What is the end goal for you?

Speaker 49:26

I'm definitely living a dream already, but I have big, big goals. I would love to firstly have my own app which I can train hundreds and thousands of people over the world. I'd love to reach more people. I want to teach more people to the simplified way of living a better lifestyle and a healthier lifestyle because I feel like not enough people know that. And a lot of people will see things online and be like, oh, that looks so hard. And I don't think I can keep up that insane 5 a.m. lifestyle of gyming for two hours and whatever the crazy routines you see online are. But yeah, I would love to reach more people to show them that you can get fitter by doing simple things. And I would absolutely love to I would love to partner with with some sort of mental health experts and therapists and kind of intertwine that into my app because I'm all for that, I'm all for mental health and feeling better through through exercise. So yeah, that's probably my my main goal is just reaching more people, having my own kind of app space that is all about simple, healthy habits.

Speaker 1 50:43

Do you have any, like in the true spirit of the delusional optimist, any silly dreams that might seem delusional? Like maybe you secretly want to win a Grammy yourself. I don't know. Do you have any goals that you're like, I know it's a bit crazy, but I'd love to do that someday.

Speaker 51:01

This isn't really my goal, but like now and then I'll be like, oh, it does look so fun to be an artist. Like when I see Key and performing on stage and like having the best time ever, I'm like, that looks fun, but it's not for me. I would, I would, I would not like actually doing it. I just like the thought of it. I also do like now that you've said it, I would love to like dance in a music video or something like properly though, not just be like in I don't know, like I'd love to do some sort of like just swaying in the background. It's like swaying. I want like a full-blown routine. I just love dance, and it's funny because I don't do any dance class or anything. I used to as a kid, and probably to probably did for like six, seven years, but I don't do anything now in London or in my life, but yeah, I'd love to do something to do with dance, that'd be fun. If Cian ever does like a more of like an upbeat song that needs dancers, I'd love to be in the dance group.

Speaker 1 52:02

I was gonna say, if only you knew someone who was a pop star, a rock star who had music videos.

Speaker 52:09

I need to do it, I need to do that. That's a fun dream. I like that you asked that.

Speaker 1 52:13

That sounds like a lot of fun. That would be something I would be horrific at. But I like the spirit of the idea because I think sometimes I'm just a bit too shy about these things. But when you let go and everybody else around you is having fun, it's impossible not to join in. We might wrap up on a really quick, quick fire round. So, first thing that comes to mind, well, I feel like I know the answer to this one, so it's not a great first one, but morning workout or evening workout. Morning. What is your favorite comfort meal? Oh, sushi. One thing that instantly lifts your mood. Music. Any particular artist that you're listening to other than Keith?

Speaker 52:57

Um, I keep playing Fred again lately. I'm really getting into my dance era.

Speaker 1 53:02

You're getting ready for that music video. I'm ready, I'm ready. Dream country that you'd love to visit but haven't got there yet. Australia. I'd love to go there. One word you want to embody this year. Confidence. Definitely.

Speaker 53:18

I feel like you've got lots of confidence. I don't know. I think it's all I'm putting it on. Revake me till you make it to me. I'm not I feel like I'm not a confident person, but I don't know. Maybe I I'm doing well at showing that I can be, but I don't feel confident all the time. I want to feel more confident.

Speaker 1 53:38

You definitely exude confidence to the outside person who's not in your brain. Like I think you come across very confident. What would Cian say is your most unexpected trait?

Speaker 53:50

Unexpected trait. I don't know. Maybe that I s I want to sleep really early. I'm not sure if that's like a trait. I'm quite sleepy at night. I'm not sure if that's a trait.

Speaker 1 54:01

How early are we talking?

Speaker 54:03

Like if it wasn't for him wanting to watch like every TV show under the sun, I would want to sleep at like 8 p.m. Is that early?

Speaker 1 54:12

That's quite early.

Speaker 54:13

Yeah, I'm uh I love that because then I could get up earlier. Okay, so you're like a an early bird. Yeah. As opposed to do you have a favorite self-care ritual? No, I'm so bad at self-care. I'm I don't really do any like skincare or anything like that, which is funny. I've always just washed my face of water, which Keen always laughs at.

Speaker 1 54:34

Do you have more of a skincare routine than you do?

Speaker 54:37

Yeah, he does. He's always buying products, and I just kind of use the ones that he's got now and then. But I yeah, I'm just very again like simple with things like that. I've just washed my face of water, and now and then I'll put little like eye patch things on just because it feels like refreshing. But I don't really have anything set in stone. I love a lip balm.

Speaker 1 54:58

Like I was the same, I never did any skincare, no moisturizing, and then I reached a certain age and I was like, it's probably time I I used a moisturizer because I just I just never got on board, it just seemed like too many things, and I didn't know like what goes on top of what, and but now I know because I have to know because I'm getting older.

Speaker 55:17

What movie could you watch on repeat like a hundred times over? Oh, I'm so bad at movies, I don't really watch them. But one film I do love is Mamma Mia. So I'd probably watch that over and over again. What about a book that you could read over and over again? What book did I read recently? I love I love the diary of a CEO. I wouldn't read that over and over again, to be honest, but I I did love that recently. I used to read loads of Jacqueline Wilson books as a kid.

Speaker 1 55:47

Yes, I've got to be able to do that.

Speaker 55:48

And I feel like I feel like I would, if they weren't so kind of kid related, I would love to keep reading those because I always remember love, like I would be so happy reading them, just like flick through them like really quickly. But I'm not so much of a big reader now. I kind of read business books, but I wouldn't keep reading those over and over again.

Speaker 1 56:08

Maybe it's fair. I think actually, I might be mistaken. I think Jacqueline Wilson released a book in recent years, didn't she? For adults, or maybe that's a completely different author. I could be wrong. I'm gonna have to Google that. I need to do that. That might be a bit weird if she released something from the dead. Um before we go, what advice do you have for anyone who's still trying to figure out their way? Maybe they have a dream, they don't really know how to take that first step. Maybe they just feel a little bit lost in life. What advice do you have from them?

Speaker 56:45

Be authentic to who you are and always remember if you've got like a dream, remember your why. Because sometimes I get lost in that too. And I need to come back to wait, why am I doing this? And then I'm like, oh yeah. Okay, so I would say remember your why, be authentic and just go for it and give it your all. And and you know, if if you're willing to put the work in, then you're gonna see results. But you have to, you do you really do have to work hard. Like being a freelancer and chasing your dreams. Well, I mean, it doesn't have to be freelance, but chasing your dreams take an takes another level of discipline. And I learned that every single day. I'm like, wow, I really have to be turned on for this and this and this. So prepare for that, but just go for it and and try your best and try your best every single day. I think it's really important to just start and then go from there. You know, don't hold back if you if you have a dream, just start now. Because, like you said earlier, life's so short, you don't know how long you've got left. Just go with what time you have now and have fun on the journey too.

Speaker 1 58:00

Squeeze every little bit of joy out of it as you can. Yeah, yeah, that's beautiful. Sophia, thank you so much. It's been such a pleasure to talk to you. Thank you. I love this. So there you have it. That's Sofia Jane Cunningham. What a special human being she is, and I loved every second of our conversation, and I'm truly honored and so grateful that we got to have that hour together. Sophia's energy is just so uplifting, and being in her company is really special. You can't help but feel better walking away from the conversation. So thank you, Sophia. If you enjoyed this week's episode, please feel free to share it with someone who might love it too. And don't forget to follow the delusional optimist pod on social media for more. If you also had a few seconds to spare to give this podcast a rating and leave a comment, I would be so, so grateful. It really helps give the podcast a bit of bump and maybe the chance for more people to do it too. I'll be back again next week. In the meantime, have a beautiful week ahead.