This week’s episode is a conversation with Xenia Marie Ross Viray, who is the creator of the platform and iterations of Myths of Creation, an interdisciplinary artist who—quite literally—gets paid to be herself.

Not in a “personal brand” way.

In a devotional to creativity, consciousness, and resonance kind of way.

We talk about what it actually looks like to build a body of work—and a business—without contorting yourself for the algorithm.

Inside the episode:

* Why your “content” might actually be your laboratory, not your marketing

* The difference between authenticity and unmasking (and why one of them is much scarier)

* How trying to “perform for the algorithm” quietly erodes the very thing that makes people choose you

* What it means to create from resonance instead of strategy—and then translate it into something people can understand

* The trap of constant visibility, especially now

We also go deeper than business.

Into the emotional, political, and psychological reality of being online right now:

* The dissonance of building a business on social media while being harmed by it

* What it means to be a sensitive, creative person in a time of constant crisis and information overload

* How algorithms fracture reality—and why it’s getting harder to actually talk to each other

* The grief of losing intergenerational understanding (and the question: where are our elders?)

And then—because we can’t not—we go cosmic.

We talk about:

* Creativity as a portal for new consciousness

* Art, music, and even the Olympics as evidence that joy and expression can shift collective energy

* The idea that we’re not just resisting broken systems—we’re being asked to create entirely new ones

One of the most grounding threads throughout the conversation:

You don’t have to do it all the same way.

Some people are here to resist.Some are here to rebel.Some are here to create.

Most of us are doing all three—just in different proportions, at different times.

And none of those roles are more valuable than the others.

If you’ve been feeling:

* burnt out by social media

* confused about what to share (or whether to share at all)

* caught between wanting to grow your business and wanting to opt out of the noise

* or quietly craving a more human, more magical way of moving through your work

this episode will meet you there.

Not with a formula.

But with a reorientation back to yourself.

PS. At the end of this episode I got a push notification that reminded me it was recorded on my grandfather’s birthday. When you get to the end, you’ll be glad I mentioned that.

This week on the podcast, I’m breaking down the most profitable month I’ve had: $108,500 in sales.

But this isn’t a “here are my secrets to making money while you sleep” episode. Because sure, the money came in over the course of a month, but it is because of the systems, community and IP I have spent years building.

This is a conversation about what it actually looks like to build a profitable business when you’re a feminist, a service provider, and someone with complicated feelings about capitalism.

Inside the episode, I talk about:

* Why getting money into the hands of marginalized people is an important part of our political work

* The strange reality of being good at capitalism while actively critiquing it

* The long, messy path from not qualifying for an apartment lease to being approved for an $800k mortgage

* What most people get wrong about “six-figure months” in the coaching industry

* The less glamorous truth behind this launch—including personally reaching out to 400 people and still getting ignored by most of them

I also share the real throughline behind my results: not viral content, not hacks, not a brand-new offer.

Just relentless iteration, deep attention to what clients actually need, and a business model built around making people feel seen at every stage—from first contact to long-term client relationships.

If you’ve ever wondered:

* whether making money while critiquing the systems that force you to work without protecting your basic rights can coexist

* why your offers aren’t converting even when the work is good

* what ethical selling actually looks like in practice

this episode pulls back the curtain.

Not on a fantasy version of entrepreneurship—but on the slow, strategic work that actually builds a sustainable business.

Listen to the episode and join my email list to get first access to the next time I launch.

Grab a sneak peek into my business model here.

This week on Left Standing, I’m joined by Taylor Tieman, founder of Legalmiga — and one of the few internet-savvy attorneys actually translating legalese into language you can understand. (She also loves astrology! Big plus!)

If you’re a creator, coach, course seller, influencer, or small business owner… this episode is basically your gentle (but firm) legal wake-up call.

Taylor breaks down:

* Why securing the Instagram handle is not the same thing as protecting your brand

* What most entrepreneurs forget to check before naming a podcast, course, or program

* How trademark issues usually only come up after someone gets a scary letter

* Why legal documents are written to be confusing — and who that benefits

* The checklist every online business should have (even though no two businesses are the same)

We also get into the reality creators don’t talk about publicly:

* Speech clauses in brand contracts that can legally restrict what you say online

* The financial consequences of breaching a sponsorship agreement

* Why some creators stay silent during political moments (and why it’s not always cowardice)

* The real tension between personal values and contractual obligations

Taylor also shares her perspective as a lawyer navigating a time when the legal system feels slow, reactive, and often outpaced by harm — including her thoughts on corporate PR language (including statements from companies like Home Depot) and the mishandling of sensitive document releases related to the Epstein Files.

If you’ve ever thought:

* “I formed an LLC, so I’m good, right?”

* “I’ll deal with trademarks later.”

* “That clause probably won’t apply to me.”

This episode is your sign to listen first and Google later.

Because sometimes the most radical thing you can do as a business owner… is read the fine print.