Show Summary

What happens when a sporty car, a four-day course, and a clear vision collide? You get Joan Nordemann’s inspiring story.

In this episode, Joan shares how one invitation in her twenties changed the trajectory of her entire life. From visualizing her dream car to building a life aligned with purpose, integrity, and joy, Joan walks us through the real (and sometimes raw) journey of learning, unlearning, and becoming.

We explore:
✨ The moment that introduced her to the Law of Attraction
✨ Why clarity, not just vision boards, is the real secret sauce
✨ How “driving” her dream car—but not owning it—taught her a lesson in specificity
✨ The power of journaling, gratitude, and internal alignment
✨ Her transition from receptionist to radio sales rep (and meeting her husband!)
✨ Why mindset work isn’t optional if you want real change
✨ How she’s still navigating life with grace after the loss of her husband

Joan’s warmth, humor, and unwavering commitment to her growth will leave you asking, “What do I really want?” and “Am I clear enough to receive it?”

🔔 Watch now and get ready to reframe your own possibilities.

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that unlock the life you were meant to live.

Bio

The oldest daughter of 7 children in a family of Dutch immigrant parents, Joan grew up on a dairy farm. Though they didn’t have much financially, they always had fresh food, warm clothing, and a roof over our heads. Until she was older, she did not know how fortunate or wealthy she really was.

Still close to her family, she talks with two of her siblings regularly.

She truly had many interesting experiences in life. Including having to basically start over financially a few times and with her husband. They built a few businesses, including her own sales and marketing business that she still runs from home after 29 years.

She and her two sons own and operate a ferment on premise winery, as well. They even own some real estate and have done very well in financially over the years.

She likes to tell everyone “I have a grade 12 education and a triple PHD in life.” Her greatest success is her family, especially after being told she couldn't have children.

She is mother of two sons who are part of a blended family of four. They all get along and enjoy getting together to do fun things, including travel.

Want to learn more about exploring what it means to live a fulfilling life?
Subscribe to the YouTube channel here.

🔍 In this episode, Erin shares her powerful journey of self-discovery and personal growth, revealing that tenacity—not quick fixes—became the true secret to her success.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

The Search for Quick Fixes: Erin reveals her decades-long quest to find the "one thing" that would fix her problems, only to discover that growth comes from consistent effort, not magic solutions.

From Defining Problems to Creating Solutions: After becoming an expert at identifying her issues, Erin shares how she finally learned to focus on creating the life she wanted instead of dwelling on what was broken.

The Bankruptcy Lesson: Hear about Erin's journey from quitting her corporate job for her "destiny," losing her house, and what she learned from hitting rock bottom.

The Podcast Journey: 15 years and many personal development programs later, Erin describes how launching this podcast finally brought together all her seemingly disconnected experiences and skills.

Breaking Through Limiting Beliefs: Discover how Erin's Buddhist practice helped her recognize and overcome the deep-seated belief that she was "broken" and unworthy of success.

The Power of Perspective: Through powerful personal examples, Erin illustrates how seeing situations from multiple viewpoints—including her parents' divorce and life challenges—transformed her understanding.

The Tenacity Formula: "No matter how many times I fail. No matter how embarrassed I feel. No matter whether or not any of you give 2 shits about what I have to say. I keep fucking going."

You can find my book - Hate Your Way to Happiness on Amazon here.
https://a.co/d/bZ3bTdZ


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Episode Overview
In this transformative conversation with Effie Cao, we explore her journey from being a high-achieving digital nomad to finding authentic peace through surrender. Effie shares how a debilitating bout with COVID forced her to confront her identity and discover the power of Buddhist practices in her darkest moments.

Key Highlights
- How a severe COVID experience became the catalyst for Effie's spiritual awakening
- The challenge of losing your identity when you can no longer "perform"
- Trading one form of performance for another in the digital nomad lifestyle
- Finding true freedom beyond the "hustle culture" mentality
- The power of Buddhist practice in facing life's challenges
- Learning to embrace the shadow self through surrender

Effie's Journey
- From corporate New York life to global digital nomad adventures
- Realizing she was still "performing" even in her new free lifestyle
- The three-month health crisis that changed everything
- How she found herself through Buddhist meditation when nothing else worked
- Moving from superficial practice to deep spiritual commitment

Practical Wisdom on Compassion
- Compassion as action rooted in bringing out the best in ourselves and others
- How to show kindness to yourself during your darkest moments
- Creating safe spaces for growth and exploration
- The balance of wisdom and kindness in true compassion
- Why coddling isn't compassion - empowering others instead

Finding Your Way
- Recognizing when you're replacing one set of limiting behaviors with another
- The courage to face your struggles with humor and self-compassion
- Understanding that spiritual growth is never "finished"
- The liberation that comes with taking responsibility for your life
- Remembering that "life is a game that is challenging - and that's exactly the point"

Effie Cao's Bio
Effie is a Chinese Mahayana Buddhist practitioner and life coach who integrates spiritual wisdom, compassion, and personal transformation into every aspect of her work. She currently lives near the Temple of the Universe, founded by Michael Singer, author of The Surrender Experiment, where she continues her spiritual practice among a community of seekers.

Before becoming a coach, Effie worked in New York in management consulting, learning & development, and corporate training within the education and tech sectors for over a decade.

After leaving the conventional corporate world, she spent about two years living and traveling around the world, deepening her focus on self-development and conscious living.

Want to learn more about exploring what it means to live a fulfilling life?
Subscribe to the YouTube channel here.