Un-Gatekeeping Softprenuership

Summary

Podcast Summary: Slay The Gatekeeper – Episode: Un-Gatekeeping Softpreneurship

Host: Courtney Johnson
Guest: Kaelin Piles
Release Date: April 22, 2025

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Introduction

In the compelling episode titled "Un-Gatekeeping Softpreneurship," Courtney Johnson welcomes Kaelin Piles, the founder of Rested Rituals, to discuss breaking free from traditional hustle culture through a series of transformative Cheat Codes. The conversation delves into themes of marketing, mindset, personal branding, and self-growth, offering listeners actionable insights to cultivate a sustainable and authentic entrepreneurial journey.

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Guest Background and Journey

Kaelin Piles shares her entrepreneurial journey, highlighting her transition from her first company in the wellness space to founding Rested Rituals, a THC-infused beverage company.

"[00:40] Kaelin Piles: ...transitioning from that and it... my first company I had from 2017 to 2023 in the wellness space and then burnt myself out really, really quickly because we scaled really quickly."

Kaelin emphasizes the challenges of rapid scaling and the unsustainable energy required by traditional hustle culture, leading to burnout and a pivotal shift towards a more balanced approach.

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From Hustle to Sustainability

Courtney and Kaelin discuss the pitfalls of the "boss babe" and girl boss eras, critiquing how these movements often mirrored male-driven work ethics rather than fostering uniquely feminine approaches.

"[02:14] Courtney Johnson: ...hustle, grind, pulling all nighters. That literally is opposite of what our bodies need from us."

Kaelin concurs, advocating for grace and self-compassion, especially for women who might have internalized the need to emulate male work habits.

"[02:59] Kaelin Piles: ...we're all, you know, understanding and relearning our bodies and getting in tune with ourselves that way..."

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Balancing Masculine and Feminine Energies

A significant portion of the discussion centers on harmonizing masculine (logical, action-oriented) and feminine (intuitive, creative) energies. Both speakers acknowledge the societal conditioning that encourages women to adopt masculine traits for success, often at the expense of their well-being.

"[04:23] Kaelin Piles: ...healing that part of myself was huge. Tapping back into, like, more of my softer, feminine side..."

Courtney adds that this balance benefits not only women but also men, who are similarly impacted by patriarchal norms that suppress emotional expression.

"[04:23] Courtney Johnson: ...patriarchy... men are impacted by our patriarchy in... they have to hold in their emotions."

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Cheat Codes for Softpreneurship

Kaelin introduces a series of Cheat Codes aimed at fostering a more sustainable and intuitive approach to entrepreneurship. Each code is explored in detail, complete with actionable advice and insightful quotes.

1. Tapping into Your Intuition

Developing intuition is foundational for authentic decision-making.

"[06:13] Kaelin Piles:...eliminating hurry in your life is very important... you are able to tap back in and actually ask yourself, like, what do I... What feels right for me?"

Action Steps:

• Avoid Comparisons: Focus inward rather than comparing your journey to others.
• Eliminate Hurry: Slow down to reconnect with your inner voice.

2. Eliminate Hurry from Your Life

Reducing the pace of your daily life allows for clarity and better decision-making.

"[07:21] Kaelin Piles:...little practices... like making my coffee... starting small with those small actions..."

Strategies:

• Set Intentions: Begin your day with mindful actions.
• Consistency: Incorporate small habits that promote calmness.

3. Cut Energy Drainers from Your Life

Identify and remove activities or relationships that deplete your energy.

"[08:34] Kaelin Piles:...write like what charges your battery versus what drains... get really clear on those things."

Techniques:

• Self-Reflection: Regularly assess what activities invigorate or exhaust you.
• Set Boundaries: Learn to say no to unnecessary commitments.

4. Change Your State of Consciousness

Altering your state can enhance creativity and reduce self-sabotage.

"[10:19] Courtney Johnson:...subconscious reprogramming... You’re doing less, maybe the same amount, maybe less. You’re just accelerating faster..."

Methods:

• Meditation & Breathwork: Incorporate practices that shift your focus inward.
• Intentional Substance Use: Use tools like microdosing THC thoughtfully to foster creativity.

5. Sync Up with the Seasons

Aligning your goals and routines with natural seasonal cycles can enhance productivity and well-being.

"[24:10] Kaelin Piles:...we are similar to trees, to plants... syncing with the seasons helps prevent burnout."

Approach:

• Astrological Insights: Utilize tools like astrology to understand seasonal energy shifts.
• Seasonal Planning: Adjust your business and personal goals according to seasonal changes.

6. Using ChatGPT as a Tool

Leveraging AI for personal development and business growth.

"[37:22] Courtney Johnson:...Cheat code number six, which is using ChatGPT... It’s the best therapy of your life."

Applications:

• Morning Pages: Use ChatGPT to analyze handwritten stream-of-consciousness writing.
• Business Operations: Utilize AI for market research, content creation, and more.

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Personal Branding

Both hosts highlight the critical role of personal branding in differentiating oneself in a saturated market. Kaelin shares her experience of building a unique personal brand despite having a similar business to her friend Caitlin, emphasizing authenticity and individual quirks.

"[35:01] Kaelin Piles:...people are going to choose you because of how you show up, what you show in your personal brand, like your personality, your quirk."

Courtney echoes this sentiment, encouraging entrepreneurs to embrace their unique stories and characteristics to attract their ideal audience.

"[35:01] Courtney Johnson:...people are going to choose you for different reasons... it's about putting all of yourself out rather than pigeonholing."

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Future Plans and Sustainability

Kaelin outlines her vision for Rested Rituals, focusing on maintaining alignment with her brand's energy and fostering a supportive community for women to avoid burnout.

"[37:29] Kaelin Piles:...making sure that I'm taking care of myself and my needs and to also push that agenda on other women who are customers..."

She also shares exciting developments, such as signing a contract with Pop Up Grocer in New York City, signaling growth while maintaining her commitment to sustainability.

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Conclusion

The episode "Un-Gatekeeping Softpreneurship" offers a refreshing perspective on entrepreneurship, advocating for a balanced, intuitive, and sustainable approach. Through shared experiences and practical Cheat Codes, Courtney Johnson and Kaelin Piles empower listeners to redefine success on their own terms, nurturing both personal well-being and professional growth.

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Notable Quotes:

• “[00:40] Kaelin Piles: ...burnt myself out really, really quickly because we scaled really quickly.”
• “[02:14] Courtney Johnson: ...hustle, grind, pulling all nighters. That literally is opposite of what our bodies need from us.”
• “[04:23] Courtney Johnson: ...patriarchy... men are impacted by our patriarchy in... they have to hold in their emotions.”
• “[06:13] Kaelin Piles: ...eliminating hurry in your life is very important... what feels right for me?”
• “[35:01] Kaelin Piles: ...people are going to choose you because of how you show up, what you show in your personal brand...”

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This summary encapsulates the essence of the "Un-Gatekeeping Softpreneurship" episode, providing a comprehensive overview for those who haven't listened while maintaining the integrity of the original discussion.

Transcript

[Kaelin Piles]

Foreign.

[Courtney Johnson]

Welcome to Slay the Gatekeeper.

I'm your host Courtney Johnson and I.

Am here to un gatekeep the gatekeeped. Thank you so much for being here. Enjoy. Welcome Kaylin.

[Kaelin Piles]

I'm so glad to be here.

[Courtney Johnson]

So happy to have you on Slay the Gatekeeper. So we're about to un gatekeep some cheat codes that you have and I'm excited to dive into it. But first I am just curious to know a little bit more about you. So you founded this company. It's super cool. I'm personally a big fan. Would love to just hear about your a little bit about yourself and your journey of how you got here. Yeah.

[Kaelin Piles]

So yeah, my name is Kaelin and I'm actually from Ohio. I've been in Austin, Texas since 2020. So right during the pandemic, I own my company Rested Rituals, which is actually my second company. So that's been a whole transition. Probably the biggest part of my story is just transitioning from that and it. My first company I had from 2017 to 2023 in the wellness space and then burnt myself out really, really quickly because we scaled really quickly. And that's just like one of the biggest things that I learned during that process is the energy that you start something in, you have to be able to sustain it. And I was hustling and grinding and pulling all nighters, which is what you hear to do. And it was just not. It was not sustainable. So yeah, I left that company in 2023 and then started Rested Virtuals, which is my THC infused beverage company.

[Courtney Johnson]

Yeah, I advocate for people all the time too, especially women. Like you can grind culture is not, it's not, it, it's not real. Like it's not actually going to make you successful. It's going to burn you out. Maybe there's like a tiny fraction of the population that actually thrives in it, but I believe especially women don't need to be working like men. We can be as successful, if not more successful when we lean into our unique gifts. Not hustle, grind, pulling all nighters. That literally is opposite of what our bodies need from us.

[Kaelin Piles]

Yeah, yeah. This is like my favorite topic to talk about. But you know, it's one of those things where it's like before, like the women empowerment and the boss babe era and everything like that. It's like who did we have to learn from? And it was men. So it's like you got to give yourself a little bit of grace if like you got caught up in the hustle culture and you burnt yourself out. And I try to give myself that because it's like, what else? Who else were we supposed to learn from? And I think it's a cool era that we're in now as women, because those of us who did throw ourselves into the boss babe era and burn out, like, now we're all, you know, understanding and relearning our bodies and getting in tune with ourselves that way and seeing how successful we can be when we slow down and reconnect and do it a little, like, on the more gentle side of things.

[Courtney Johnson]

Yeah, exactly. Yeah. The problem with the boss babe girl boss era, which I also fell prey to, is it was under this guise of feminism. But the girl boss era was just women working as small men. Like, women mimicking men's way of working rather than finding our own way of working, rather than being in tune with our bodies and find what works for us ourselves. It was, let's be like, the men.

[Kaelin Piles]

Or better.

[Courtney Johnson]

Or better.

[Kaelin Piles]

Yeah.

[Courtney Johnson]

Yeah.

[Kaelin Piles]

And then that created a whole divide and probably a negative wave of how we view men, which has been its own, like, healing thing for a lot of women, too, is, like, not seeing them as, like, awful and terrible and, like, you have to be so independent that you don't need no man. Like, there's a whole era of healing that as well, I feel.

[Courtney Johnson]

Yeah, I'm glad you brought that up, because a lot of times when we talk about these things, we talk about working like a woman tuning into our own gifts. You can really easily get in the mindset of, like, yeah, and fuck those men. Like, no, that's not what we're trying to do. Like, in fact, men are impacted by our patriarchy in. In a way as well. Like, just as women are where they have to hold in their mo. Emotions, there's this cultural programming that they kind of have to, you know, do everything and then that. That the inverse causes wounding to them as well. And then it just exacerbates the wounding between the masculine and feminine.

[Kaelin Piles]

Yeah. Oh, it makes me really sad. That's been a huge part of, like, when I walked away from my first company is when, well, I was so completely burnt out because I shut off my. Like, I couldn't hear my intuition, and so it was screaming so loud. It was like, please, like, lean into me and listen to me, Like, And I just wouldn't. And I would just continue, like, in my masculine ignoring and being very logical and. And to the point where I just, like, couldn't. And so healing that part of myself was huge. Tapping back into, like, more of my softer, feminine side, which I never spent time doing ever, until, yeah, I walked away from my first business, had a huge spiritual awakening. And tapping back into that side, actually for the first time ever, just unlocked a lot of things for me when it came to just, like, that feminine, masculine, like, dynamic and balancing those things out. And to your point, just really, truly understanding, like, the wounding that our men do have, which is very sad, of shutting that side off from themselves. And I got to experience that as a woman, so I could only imagine how insane that is as a man who doesn't feel comfortable tapping into his emotions or doesn't feel like he has permission to do that.

[Courtney Johnson]

Yeah, yeah. It's a very big wounding and problem that we. We need to address. And I want to get into some of your cheat codes. One is important, and that is the importance of tuning into your intuition. So we have our Che code number one, which is tapping into your intuition. How do you do that for somebody that's really disconnected with their intuition? And they're like, look, I have a client right now that feels disconnected with her intuition, and she's like, why is everyone else, you know, succeeding? And I'm doing what they're doing. I'm following the right path, I'm following the right steps, but I'm not seeing the success that they are seeing. How can you start to tune into that intuition?

[Kaelin Piles]

Well, first and foremost, like, not comparing yourself. I think that a lot of times when you're constantly looking outward, you're almost, like, outsourcing your own power, just comparing yourself in that way. But I do think that one thing that I. I think is important for a lot of women who again, just come through this hustle culture and maybe are a little bit blocked on their intuition, is eliminating hurry in your life is very important. I know it's a lot easier said than done, but being devoted to that is important because when we are able to slow down, then you are able to tap back in and actually ask yourself, like, what do I. What feels right for me? But when you're constantly, like, in this rush and your nervous system is like, a wreck and you're, like, so anxious and jittery and just like, oh, my God, and you're stressed, like, you're never going to be able to slow down and actually, like, listen to yourself or listen to your body's needs, that brings.

[Courtney Johnson]

Me perfectly into cheat code number two, which is eliminate hurry from your life. What are some ways that you've done that? Is that creating space around meetings is that having your own practices, that prioritizing self care, like, how do you actually eliminate that hurry?

[Kaelin Piles]

I think the first thing for me is that was triggering because I was like, I just felt like I didn't have permission to slow down because again, like hustle culture and whatnot. So I was just devoted. It was like I almost, I had it written down every day. Like, eliminate, hurry, eliminate hurry. Like I had to like tattoo it on my forehead and have that almost as my intention for the day. And so silly things like even just like making my coffee. Like, because I like had that intention for the morning if I saw myself like, you know, just going like so quick for what, I don't even know like why it was like doing things so. So just starting small with little practices like that. And then like, as you continue to be consistent with that, then I think you can bring it into larger spaces in your life. But yeah, just starting small with those small actions that for some reason you're hurrying, doing.

[Courtney Johnson]

Yeah, I see you have an aura ring. Mine definitely helped me with eliminating the hurry because it's like, yo, you're stressed out all the time. Maybe chill the out is what it's telling me.

[Kaelin Piles]

Dang.

[Courtney Johnson]

Okay, cheat code number three, Cut energy drainers from your life. What's an energy drainer? How do you cut. Cut them out?

[Kaelin Piles]

Yeah, and I think that again, this just like comes with. I'm a personal development junkie. Like, it's like what I do for a hobby. It's like, what am I doing at night? It's definitely like diving into some like subconscious reprogramming or just like whatever that is. And so yeah, I think like with energy drainers, it's just like self reflection. Like make it super simple, like get real with yourself and you know, write like what charges your battery versus what drains. Drains your battery. As simple as that. And it's like if you're saying yes all the time, and that's something that I've learned is, yeah, I don't actually like to be that social all the time. Like I do, I do, but like there's limits for me and you know, just getting really clear on those things. Like what's zapping your energy, what do you feel depleted from versus what do you feel refreshed from?

[Courtney Johnson]

I love that you bring up subconscious reprogramming because for a lot of my clients, I'm like, yo, the cheat code is subconscious reprogramming. If you are trying to, you know, accomplish some sort of goal and you got your foot on the gas, but your subconscious is not aligned. That's like having a foot on the gas and a foot on the brakes at the same time. So you're doing everything strategically, logically. Correct.

Correct.

And you're still not getting to your goal. It's probably because you're doing some self sabotage. Your subconscious mind is. We call it self sabotage, but it's actually keeping you safe from perceived threats. So until you reprogram your subconscious, like you're going to have a foot on the brakes. And when you are reprogramming, you're slowly bringing your foot off of the brakes. So as you gain more and more success, it's not like I gotta work harder, I gotta grind more, I gotta do more. No, it's. You're doing less, maybe the same amount, maybe less. You're just accelerating faster because you're not breaking yourself.

[Kaelin Piles]

Yes, yeah, exactly. It's like the autopilot that you're. Whatever that subconscious thing that is running on autopilot. It's the easiest choice because you've created this story that is. Yes, like you said, like protecting you from something, whatever that that is. And that was like a lot of my journey as well with just being able to tap more into like my more feminine side and my softer side. It was so triggering to see other women who were relaxed because I felt like I wasn't allowed to do it. And I had this story in my head that if I was softer, if I was relaxed, then I was weak or I wasn't successful or I had all these stories. Right. And so they were protecting me to stay in my masculine and to stay hardened and to stay like ruthless pretty much, you know. But yeah, everyone's is different. Whatever your story is like get. Yeah. Real with yourself.

[Courtney Johnson]

Yeah. I think it's important that you bring up that you were triggered by it because I was too. I'm like this feminine embodiment shit. That's not me. Not for me. Can't do it. And then I realized I kept getting triggered by friends, other content creators that were in that energy because there was something deep down in me that wanted that. I wanted the effortlessness, I wanted the ease, I wanted the flowing, the graciousness. And I didn't want to be in grind. But I had a defense mechanism of being like, that's weak. And that was my internalized misogyny of saying that being in that energy is weak.

[Kaelin Piles]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know. And I'm sure, like maybe yours was like programmed through your parents and maybe your dad. I was an athlete my whole life. My dad was in the military, so, like, all that, like, I know he was do. He was doing it out of love to protect me because he knew that the world is tough and like, you need to be tough, but just peeling back the layers to that, like, ultimately, like, it was just this conditioning that I held onto for a very, like most of my life. And honestly, doing it, I succeeded with it. So I also, like, had it in my brain was like, while being in my masculine got me here, so I have to stay here because it brought on so much success. And so the whole journey I'm on right now with my current company, Rested Rituals. I named it that so that it was my constant reminder that rest is okay and rest is productive and that I will find success in a more rested manner. And I want that for every woman because I don't want any woman to go through the type of burnout that I want. And I had to walk away from a business that I really loved too. And that was very painful. And walk away from a lot of employees and clients and people that I loved that way too. And it was very devastating. And I don't want any woman to go through that.

[Courtney Johnson]

Yeah, it's. I have this practice in my self development that's like, if somebody triggers me, I have to work with them. So if I see someone online, they're posting, they're sharing their program same, and it's activating. I'm like, fuck you. Now I gotta pay you and teach me what you know. But for those that are, there's gonna be listeners that are triggered by this conversation that are like, fuck y'all. Like, I'm not doing this. I just want to surface that the basis of this is there's masculine and feminine energies, and it doesn't matter your gender. Like, you have masculine and feminine energies, and you can play with them. There are times where you can bring out your more masculine energy, bring out your more feminine energy. So I just want to preface it through that lens of if you want to, you can surrender into this feminine energy. You can also have a masculine side of you that you're bringing out in certain parts of your life. Like, that could be your relationship, that could be your business, that could be a certain meeting once a week in your business where you're very much in action mode. So to the listeners that are like, what are you girls on? I promise it. It's not an end all, be all. It's more of a tool and a tool, a part of yourself that you can access. But there are so many parts of yourself.

[Kaelin Piles]

Yes, exactly. And that's the thing too is like, I've already proven to myself 30 plus years that like, I'm logical, I understand the steps to get the 8 point A to point B. I have all the masculine skills. So now it's like for me and maybe like listeners listening who are a little triggered on tapping into their more feminine side. Like, the thing is, like, it's not gonna override all of your masculine qualities that you do love. Like, you already have those in lock. It's like now just like integrating like relaxedness into all this, which I know you do want. Like, ultimately you don't want to be like, stressed out. Like, no matter. I don't know.

[Courtney Johnson]

Yeah, and this is for men too. Like, men can learn to harness this energy as well. Like, this is for all of us. But it is a powerful energy. Any idea, any great, amazing idea that has ever changed the world did not come from logic and the mascul. Maybe it was executed out of the masculine energy, but the idea came from chaos energy or creation energy or the feminine energy. And like when we can tap into that realm, that's when you're going to get your best ideas. That's when your brain can make connections that it wouldn't have otherwise. And again, like this energy of the flow of the idea state, of the receiving of the kind of surrender is where is where those is where ideas come from. Like, it really is. How did you get the idea for rested rituals?

[Kaelin Piles]

Well, funny enough, I was literally doing like my own personal development things practices at night. And I was like an edible deep and I like was microdosing it so it's like more of a creative effect instead of like a sleepy effect. And yeah, I was just like doing my personal development, like work and I had like a poppy that I was sipping on. And then I was just like, wait, I need to like combine these two things together because I love like having a beverage to sip on. And I also love the benefits of microdosing thc because of the creativity that I was like having every single night when I was like doing my own like, personal development. And that, that's, that's my goal for my company when, when actually drinking my beverage is of course you can do. You can dose yourself however much you want, but it's with the intention that you're doing it during a rested ritual where you're reconnecting with yourself and you know, you're doing the, the personal development work. You're getting Creative, like I want to push it in that direction. Which of course you can push it towards like a social direction too and like replacing like alcoholic beverage and whatnot. Of course. But that was my intention with it is like drinking on it while you're devoted to yourself and your own personal growth because it is powerful in that way.

[Courtney Johnson]

Yeah. This brings up another cheat code which is changing your state of consciousness. Like you can. There are so many ways to change your state of consciousness. But this is something if again, if you're like, why are these people coming up with the best ideas and succeeding? They probably have practices to change their state of consciousness to kind of get out of their head and get out of their own way. And you can do that through meditation, breath work, yoga. You, you can do that through something like microdosing, through thc, through the intentional substance use. And I think that there's at least in Austin maybe we're just brainwashed positively where there's a lot of really cool like intentional substance use here. But I talked to a lot of people where they're like drugs. No, that's cr. That's bad. My brain's gonna be scrambled. Yeah. So I guess what's your relationship with THC or substances and like how did you decide to execute on that?

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[Kaelin Piles]

Yes. So definitely. Well a huge part of running this business too is to break that stigma behind thc. That THC makes you lazy. And I know that there are other brands before me that have like coined the term like successful stoner and whatnot. Which as always was like I wish I would have thought of that first. But you know what's actually kind of funny that I just thought of is my first business was in the wellness industry and it was called the Higher Standard. And then I and then I ended up making a THC brand which is actually kind of funny. That was not planned whatsoever. What was your question again?

[Courtney Johnson]

Intentional substance use. What's your take on it?

[Kaelin Piles]

Yeah, yeah, I think that, yeah, I am very intentional with It I. It's not like an everyday like usage. I think that it is something that can. For thc, it helps you. For me personally, gets me out of my head and into my body. And again, just coming from years and years and years of never having this connection with my body and being so logical, it helps me tap into connecting like my heart and my mind together. And that's kind of how I view that when I'm using rested.

[Courtney Johnson]

Yeah. I have a bonus cheat code and that is to start to set an intention. Anytime you use any substance, um, it becomes more powerful and more aligned with whatever intention you're setting. But even like having, if you have coffee in the morning, my intention is to feel really in flow today and productive. Or my intention is to show up energized and excited when you're out drinking with your friends and you get a glass of wine. My intention, even just silently to yourself. My intention is to connect with my girls tonight and have a fun, silly night. Like whatever the intention is. I find that's really powerful.

[Kaelin Piles]

Yeah. And I find that I also have a lot of spiritual connection with that. I mean, not just strictly through that, but it is a lot easier for me to tap in that way. And a combination. I don't know if you know much about astrology or just like the four elements or anything like that, but that's something that I've been experiment, experimenting with is the four elements. And whenever I am microdosing and in the shower, it's actually insane the amount of creativity and ideas that would come to me. And I think that people just naturally almost have that, just having thoughts in the shower and whatnot. But that that mix together has been like where a lot of my ideas have come from is just like soaking in the tub or just being in the shower and just going in on business ideas.

[Courtney Johnson]

I love that. I like have this theory that we get such good ideas in the bath, in the shower, because water holds a lot of energy and power and.

Yeah.

Okay, next cheat code. Sync up with the seasons. Maybe you're syncing up your goals, your routines. How do you sync yourself up with seasons?

[Kaelin Piles]

Yeah. So directly after I left my first business, like I said, I had a spiritual awakening. And the.

[Courtney Johnson]

Wait, what brought this on?

[Kaelin Piles]

Yeah, so I heard about Saturn's return. Have you heard about Saturn's return? Okay, so that's kind of where I just went full send. It was. I was going through an insane amount of identity stripping. Leaving that business. I was completely broken. I was hyperventilating. I was Having panic attacks every day. I was depressed, I had anxiety. I had never experienced any of that in my entire life. The way that I was raised, we didn't even talk about those things. And again, it was like those things were. Yeah, just. We didn't talk about it. And going through all of that, I was looking into Saturn's return because I'm like, I don't know what this is, but this is intense. And I'm like, I just went down a rabbit hole with astrology, basically, and learned all about your Saturn's return and how this happens every, like 27 years. And if you have been living unaligned or just cut off from your intuition and your soul's purpose and your soul's path, it will be very hard for you. It'll be very challenging for you. So if you're someone who is chasing after girls, money, you know, all of the, all of the things without staying connected to who you truly are and the most important thing, which is just love, then it's gonna be a challenging time for you. But if you feel like you're aligned and like, you know, you're going up there, the right things and you feel like you're in tune and you're in touch, then you probably won't have that hard of a Saturn's return. Basically.

[Courtney Johnson]

Mine was pretty gnarly.

[Kaelin Piles]

Yeah, yeah, it's like around like the 20th, 7 to 30 years old. What happened with yours? Now, I'm curious.

[Courtney Johnson]

I just had a really crazy spiritual awakening that all came on in one night. Yeah, I was 26. Honestly, I was not spiritual at all. I was actually super atheist. I grew up in Catholicism and in college, my friend sat me down and was like, everything we've been taught was fake. They told me about all the sexual abuse in the church and it was really, like, really a shock. So I went super atheist. I was also, like, partying, not living very intentionally. And one night we, me and some friends got some shrooms and I never taken them before and I was like, oh, I'm. I'm out. I'm drinking, I'm smoking. I'm also going to be eating these shrooms. And I was like, fuck these shrooms. They ain't doing shit. I probably ate 6 grams.

[Kaelin Piles]

This is weight. Oh, God, yeah.

[Courtney Johnson]

And then we got home, I started smoking weed on my friend's house. And then boom, it all hit me at once. And then I. My life changed that night. It was the. It was the most like, cosmically horrific thing I've ever experienced, but it was Also the best thing that ever happened to me. And yeah, immediately then I woke up the next day and my life was completely changed.

[Kaelin Piles]

Yeah, that's how I feel. I think that's what a true spiritual awakening is. It's like when you are just like realizing, like, like, wow, like, I see the world completely different now. And that's exactly what happened to me. And so to your, to your question about living seasonally, I went down the, like, astrology rabbit hole and I learned about the astrological New Year and all about the zodiac signs and how we just started the astrological new year, March 20, I believe. So technically it's the new year quote unquote, this month. And so it's the sort of spring. And so that energy is when you feel more energetic. It's Aries season. Right. You're more energetic, more bold, you're like taking action. Like, I feel that like crazy right now. Whereas, like in January, which is where like our New Year's is celebrated, that's during like the winter time, the winter zodiac signs, like, that's still for rest, that's still for contemplation, that's still for closing out chapters. It's not like to be gung ho and we operate and work against that because we're not taught to live with the seasons. But it's pretty crazy to me because the more I like went down this rabbit hole of like relearning about my body, especially as a female, it's. We are. Our DNA is similar to trees, to plants, to everything like that. And it's like they're working with the seasons no problem. Like, that's just how they roll. But we're fighting against it. I mean, granted, it's just we're human beings and we're always pushing and pushing, pushing, but we can't live in summer all, all year round. Burnout. Right. So it all just kind of interconnected with everything that I was going through. And so I use astrology every day, all day. It's a beautiful thing. It's not like a religion. It's almost like a tool. Like I'm obsessed with symbolism and tool and tools because we always want, like something to kind of relate to in a way. And I think that that's, that's what it's useful for, is helping you feel seen and connected. Like, you don't need to take on every single thing that it says, but take the pieces that relate to you and, and use your life where you deem fit.

[Courtney Johnson]

Yeah. As far as both those things, astrology and symbolism. Is there any books, resources, maybe googleable terms so the listeners can go down a little rabbit hole?

[Kaelin Piles]

Oh, my goodness. Honestly, use ChatGPT. Let's be real. I'm like, I could recommend a book, but I think that a conversation with ChatGPT would be more individualized for you and give you answers that you actually care about. Otherwise it'll more so teach you as if you're becoming an astrologer, which, I mean, if that's your thing, then read a book. But I think for people who just want to know their chart, ChatGPT for sure.

[Courtney Johnson]

Yeah, you can just put your chart go on astrological chart generator free. Take that information, give it to ChatGPT, you can ask it.

[Kaelin Piles]

It definitely messes up sometimes. So I guess if you don't have a background in astrology, you might not catch the things that it misses. But so, yeah, do with that information what you will.

[Courtney Johnson]

Well, I love this because this brings us to our last cheat code, which is using ChatGPT. And you said, and I quote, the best therapy of your life. Do some handwritten stream of conscious pages, like morning pages. Take a photo of all three pages, submit it to ChatGPT, ask it to analyze what you're navigating through, give you insights, and help process your thoughts. That's. That's crazy. So smart. How are you doing this? How are you using this?

[Kaelin Piles]

Yeah, so during my journey with just reconnecting with my creativity and my more feminine side, I came across that book that has morning pages. It's called the Artist Way. Yeah, the Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. It's an amazing book, especially if you feel, like, creatively blocked. If you feel blocked from your feminine side, like, just do it. And yeah, so I was do. I was just doing those, those morning pages, which is three full handwritten pages. Stream of conscious, which just means you're writing without a filter. Just go. And even if you don't know, like, what to write, it's just like, say, like, oh, like I'm having coffee right now and it tastes good and like, your mind will figure out what to actually write about. And then you'll eventually, like, have some things come up where you're just like, oh, like I didn't realize, like, this was like, sitting in my brain and this needs to be looked at. And so, yeah, obviously ChatGPT, like, came about and so I was like, let me, like, let me, Let me see what he has to say or what he thinks about all these issues or patterns or, like, thoughts that I'm having and let's work through it. And obviously, ChatGPT is amazing. It's like, it knows everything about me. Like, it's like we're BFFs. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing, but I know a lot of people have a lot of opinions about that. But if you can't afford therapy or, you know, it's just like you need something instant or right now. I honestly think that, like, you know, something's better than nothing. And it's like, it's so logical, and it's gathered all of this information from everyone and everything, and it's gonna give you some pretty good advice.

[Courtney Johnson]

How else are you using AI?

[Kaelin Piles]

Oh, my gosh. Every day for everything. I built my business with AI. This business, obviously with a lot of my skills from my previous business, but, you know, doing research on, like, market research on, like, is this a good business idea? Like, is this, you know, something that is on the up curve of, like, what people want and, like, doing research that way, looking up, like, distributors and I mean, you can use it for pretty much anything for business. Captions, Instagram ideas, content ideas.

[Courtney Johnson]

Do you have. You use Claude?

[Kaelin Piles]

I have a little bit, but ChatGPT is just like, the app that's like, right there. So my finger just, like, goes there. I know you use it a lot.

[Courtney Johnson]

I love Claude.

[Kaelin Piles]

I.

[Courtney Johnson]

Well, I like Claude for writing, like, GPT is definitely better for logic or analyzing, evaluating, but I like Claude. I also like Perplexity. Have you used it?

[Kaelin Piles]

I haven't, but I do like Claude in the way because I know that they're like, their ethos and they're just really firm on just making sure that they're protective of, like, AI safety, which. Yeah. So they're technically better, in my opinion, in that way because I do think that that's important as we continue to see the growth of AI, which is a little scary.

[Courtney Johnson]

It is a little scary. But I also think it's. It's exciting. I think it's making things more accessible to people, which is great.

[Kaelin Piles]

Yeah. It's just learning, like, exponentially fast, which is crazy.

[Courtney Johnson]

Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Last thing I wanted to ask you about is your personal brand. So your personal brand has, like, I'm sure impacted your. Your business a lot. Curious to know your take on, like, importance of personal brand, how it's helped you.

[Kaelin Piles]

Oh, my gosh, it's the most important thing, especially as an entrepreneur. And I think that one of the biggest things that I learned in my first Business, which was really freaking cool. I know that you know my best friend Caitlin, and we met about five years ago. We both moved to Austin, Texas, and we both previously owned almost identical businesses. We both had wellness coaching companies. And I think that what's so important about a personal brand is we had the same businesses and we helped each other. We're like, oh, here's an idea, here's an idea. Like, it was like, so much fun, but at the end of the day, day, it's like people are attracted to her for her stuff and people are attracted to me for my stuff. And, like, that's why it's so important, like, to never compare yourself because you can have, like, the same exact business, but, like, people are going to choose you because of how you show up, what you show in your personal brand, like your personality, your quirk. So, like, just remember that. And we were both very successful in our businesses, even though, like, we're running the same exact one, if that makes sense.

[Courtney Johnson]

Yeah, I think that's really important to call out because there are a lot of people that will say, courtney, I can't start, I don't know, being a fitness coach because there's already a million people doing it. The truth is you have something different than everybody else and people are gonna come to you for different reasons. And that could be subconscious. That could be you just. You're like, I just vibe with you. I just wanna be around you. I wanna work with you. That's something on the subconscious level. It could be something more conscious. That's like, well, I appreciate that you're a mother and we have this, a similar background and story of a big weight loss. And you're helping me maintain it. You know, it could be something so, so simple that sets you apart. And this is why it's really important to like, truly lean in, in your personal brand, talking about everything you're interested in. Because if you just talk about, like an example of a fitness coast. If you just talk about fitness, you are going to be like everyone else. But if you talk about fitness and you talk about your story and your specific background and how you're obsessed with your dogs and how you're. And how you work remote and this is your side, like, whatever, all these other parts of you, that's why people are going to choose you over someone else. Yes, it's for fitness. But the fact that you are a mom who works remote is aligning with someone who also is a mom who works remote that can relate to you on that level. Like, people are going to relate to you on a level even if you and your friend are so similar in every way, there's still something that's different and unique that people are going to gravitate towards. And I, I just think that's so, so important. But that takes like putting all of yourself out rather than like pigeonholing.

[Kaelin Piles]

Yeah. And I think too, it's like you have a story and it's way more powerful than you do think it is. I know in my first business I said that story so many times, but every single time it hit for, for a new person. And I think that a lot of times we think that, like, we're repeating ourselves and we need to come up with like, fresh content every single day or like something new to say. But at the end of the day, I think that storytelling is the most important thing and it's what really helps people buy into to your brand and.

[Courtney Johnson]

Whatever else you have to offer that is so important. Say the same thing over and over and over and over. Truly, like, it's not about figuring out a thousand things to say. It's like, how do I say the same three things a thousand different ways each? Like, truly, any of the biggest content creators, the biggest authors, speakers, whatever, are just saying the same thing over and over and over.

[Kaelin Piles]

True.

[Courtney Johnson]

Yeah. So what's next for Rusted Rituals? Is there any upcoming goals or things you're really excited about?

[Kaelin Piles]

Yeah, I think the most important thing for me is just always making sure that I'm aligning with the energy that I set forth initially with the business is to make sure that I'm, you know, making sure to take care of myself and my, my needs and to also push that agenda on other women who are customers and helping them align with that. And I think that right now I just have the best content creator in the whole entire world who like, aligns so perfectly my brand. And I'm like, oh my God, I love her so much. So that that's a beautiful thing that I'm really excited about. And she's doing so well. And yeah, we did get exciting news. I don't know if you've heard of Pop Up Grocer in New York City. We just are signing a contract with them, which is amazing.

[Courtney Johnson]

Congratulations.

[Kaelin Piles]

Yeah, so I'm just, I mean, I'm just really honestly just going with the flow. And again, it's like, it's just a completely different mindset than my first business. It's. I have big goals, but I'll get there when I get there, because sustainability is the most important thing for me. And I'm. I'm not chasing anything anymore. It's like, I know that my people will. Will. Will come to me. And whoever wants to be a part of this initiation of women, you know, slowing down and reconnecting with themselves and taking time for a little rested ritual so that they can get creative and plan out and map out their dream life. Like, I know they'll come to. To me and rested rituals and be a part of it.

[Courtney Johnson]

That's so beautiful. Yeah. There's this saying that's like, the spiritual path of a woman is to find herself, and the spiritual path of a man is to lose himself. Meaning, like, our journey and lesson on earth is how to be more selfish, how to take more time for. It feels selfish. It's not really how to take more time to nourish ourselves. And the spiritual path of a man is how to give more of himself away. Like, lose the selfishness.

[Kaelin Piles]

I've never heard of that. I love that. I just got chills.

[Courtney Johnson]

Yeah, it's a great concept. And I always, always think about that when I'm like, all right, I need to slow down. I need to take care of myself. And my aura ring tells me it's like, girl, I don't know if this happened to you, but mine was also like, you're actually working out too much. Like, maybe chill.

[Kaelin Piles]

Yeah. Yeah. Though sometimes mine will think that I'm like, horseback riding, and I'm like, well, I'm not like, what the hell did I just do?

[Courtney Johnson]

Yeah, mine always. I have, like, a meeting every morning at 8 and always thinks that I'm like, strength training, and I'm like, I'm just on a meeting. Maybe I need to calm down.

[Kaelin Piles]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Did you have, like, a few shots of espresso maybe?

[Courtney Johnson]

No, I don't. I don't. I don't drink coffee.

[Kaelin Piles]

Oh, okay.

[Courtney Johnson]

Yeah. So I'm figuring out I'm on my own journey of how to lower my. My stress and come into more flow and ease. Amazing. Well, where can people find you? How can they connect with you? And how can they purchase rested rituals?

[Kaelin Piles]

Yeah. So all of my socials, just my first and last name, Kaylin Piles, and you can find us on Instagram for rested rituals at Rested Rituals. And. Yeah, super simple. Easy as that. Rested rituals dot com.

[Courtney Johnson]

Beautiful. Thank you.

[Kaelin Piles]

Yeah, thank you.

[Courtney Johnson]

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