From Tourist to Local: Reinventing Yourself

Mafe Salazar

Big life changes can feel like stepping into a new city without a plan… Exciting, overwhelming, and full of unknowns. But what if you could go from feeling like a lost tourist to navigating it all like a local?Join Mafe Salazar as she shares unfiltered stories of navigating major life transitions. Career shifts, identity changes, and stepping into new versions of ourselves. Through honest solo episodes (and the occasional guest), we’ll talk about finding your voice, taking messy action, and embracing the unknown with confidence.Let’s find your magic while figuring sh*t out!

  1. 67. How Do You Recognize Burnout When Everyone Thinks Your Business Is Thriving? with Christine Coughlin from YVR Creatives

    14 OCT

    67. How Do You Recognize Burnout When Everyone Thinks Your Business Is Thriving? with Christine Coughlin from YVR Creatives

    What if you're crushing it in your business but completely not okay behind the scenes?  Christine Coughlin, founder of YVR Creatives and community builder for female entrepreneurs, went full tilt in spring 2025—hosting multiple events a week, showing up everywhere, looking like the definition of success.  Then she hit a wall. Hard.  In this episode, Christine shares what entrepreneurial burnout actually looks like when you're living out of integrity with your values, how she recognized the signs her body was giving her, and what it takes to rebuild your business around what actually matters (even when your mentors tell you to slow down and you want to scream).  This episode is for anyone building a business while juggling family, questioning if they're doing "enough," or wondering why success feels so damn heavy. Because sometimes the most radical thing you can do is hit pause. If you're a mom building a business, a content creator drowning in the pressure to post, or an entrepreneur who looks successful on paper but feels like a mess behind the scenes—this conversation will make you feel less alone. Connect with Christine Coughlin Website | https://the-inbetween.ca/ | https://yvrcreatives.ca/ Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/iamchristinecoughlin/ | https://www.instagram.com/yvr.creatives/   Timestamps (00:00) Intro (03:28) Interview Begins - Christine's "mid-reset with a side of clarity" season (04:00) Going Full Tilt - What it looked like to do 2+ events a week in spring 2025 (06:05) What Is YVR Creatives? - Empowering female entrepreneurs through events, content creation, and community (07:04) From Stay-at-Home Mom to Blogger - "I can do more than just load a dishwasher" (08:49) The Therapist Permission Moment - "You are allowed to express yourself" and breaking free from playing small (11:31) Hitting the Wall - Living out of integrity with your values and what that actually feels like in your body (12:44) What Does Living Your Values Look Like? - Working with a trainer, reconnecting with marriage, creating white space (14:56) How Do You Feel When You're Resting? - "Rest is an action item" and managing your energy (16:43) The Guilt of Taking What You Need - Six months in Colombia and learning to sit with uncomfortable feelings (17:00) The Vancouver Creative Community - Abundance mindset and authentic connections (19:53) Practicing What You Preach - Holding space for others while going through your own messy middle (20:39) Reinventing Yourself While Being a Mom - "You're fake working. Daddy really works." (22:24) "You Love Your Computer More Than Us" - The knife-twist comments from kids and holding boundaries (24:23) Including Kids in Your Content - Consent, negotiation ($10 for Ocean Spray!), and teaching entrepreneurship (25:32) Breaking All the Content Rules - "It's all a big fake lie. Just do what feels right." (27:28) Repurposing Old Content - Not being a "dead zone on the internet" without burning out (28:01) What's Crystal Clear for Next Season? - Building the Creator Society and doing events that feel light (31:25) The Souvenir Question - The content creation bag from Costa Rica that past Christine never imagined (32:21) Where to Find Christine - The November Whistler retreat + Instagram handles Let’s Connect Website | https://mafesalazar.com/ Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/mafesalazar/ Threads | https://www.threads.net/@mafesalazar Subscribe to the From Tourist To Local Newsletter Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    34 min
  2. 66. How Do You Take Care of Yourself During Major Life Transitions? (Career, Identity, Motherhood & Everything In Between) w/ Rosa Sasges

    7 OCT

    66. How Do You Take Care of Yourself During Major Life Transitions? (Career, Identity, Motherhood & Everything In Between) w/ Rosa Sasges

    What happens when you're supposed to feel grounded but instead feel like a complete tourist in your own life? This episode features Rosa Sasges of Koquetta Accessories, who shares her journey from pandemic flower crowns to a thriving jewelry business—and more importantly, her philosophy about not waiting for "special occasions" to take care of yourself. From an earthquake in Guatemala that destroyed everything her grandparents saved, to navigating health challenges no one wanted to talk about, to transitioning from "snack bitch" to her girl era—Rosa reminds us that life IS the special occasion. Mentioned in this episode: How cultural identity shows up in business (and why "Koquetta" is the perfect name)The earthquake in Guatemala that taught Rosa's family why we shouldn't save things for "special occasions"Why Latin American beauty rituals are actually self-care, not vanityTransitioning from "snack bitch 24/7" to reclaiming yourself when both kids go to schoolThe health challenges Rosa faced in her early 30s that no one wanted to talk about—and why she decided transparency was more important than keeping quietFinding pockets of self-care even when life feels overwhelmingConnect with Rosa Website | https://koquettaaccessories.com/ Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/koquettaaccessories Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/koquettaaccessories TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@koquettaaccessories Pinterest | https://ca.pinterest.com/koquettaaccessories/ Timestamps (00:00) Intro (04:00) Meet Rosa Sasges & The Pandemic Flower Crown Origin Story (06:00) Cultural Identity - What "Koquetta" Really Means (09:00) Latin American Beauty Rituals as Self-Care (14:00) The Guatemala Earthquake That Changed Everything (16:00) Mom's Advice - Catching Your Reflection & Feeling Beautiful (17:00) Making Jewelry Inclusive & Affordable for Everyone (20:00) What Happens When Women Try On Jewelry & Light Up (22:00) What Makes Rosa Feel Most Like Herself (23:00) From "Snack Bitch 24/7" to Your Girl Era (26:00) The Version of Yourself You're Excited to Rediscover (27:00) Health Transparency - Vertical C-Sections & Hysterectomy (33:00) What Women in Transition Should Take Away (35:00) The Souvenir Question - Invest in Yourself & Don't Wait Let’s Connect Website | https://mafesalazar.com/ Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/mafesalazar/ Threads | https://www.threads.net/@mafesalazar Subscribe to the From Tourist To Local Newsletter Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    37 min
  3. 65. Where To Move for Your Next Big Transformation? A Guide to Locational Astrology with Jess Ellen

    2 SEP

    65. Where To Move for Your Next Big Transformation? A Guide to Locational Astrology with Jess Ellen

    Ever feel like you need to be somewhere else to unlock the next version of yourself? What if I told you there's actually a map for that? In this episode, I sit down with astrologer Jess Ellen to dive deep into astrocartography—the practice of using your birth chart to find locations around the world that can activate different parts of your personality and support your goals. Whether you're planning a six-month soul-searching journey (like me) or just curious about why certain places make you feel more creative, confident, or centered, this conversation will blow your mind. We cover everything from how to read those crazy lines on your astrocartography chart to what happens when you're living somewhere with no major planetary lines. Jess breaks down the difference between breadth and depth when it comes to location hopping, shares stories about Mars lines and honeymoon planning, and explains how to integrate the insights you gain from traveling to your power places. If you've ever felt called to make a big move but didn't know where to go, this episode is your reminder to trust that intuition—and maybe even find the cosmic coordinates to back it up. Mentioned in this episode: How astrocartography works and what those lines actually meanThe difference between MC, IC, AC, and DC lines and what they activateWhy longer stays create deeper psychological shiftsHow to choose between exploring multiple lines vs. going deep on oneWhat to do when you don't have major lines where you currently liveIntegration practices for when you return from your power placesConnect with Jess Ellen: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/jessellenastrology/ Spanish practice group chat (DM her to join!) Threads | https://www.threads.com/@jessellenastrology Down To Energy Podcast | https://rss.com/podcasts/down-to-energy/ Offers | Linktr.ee Substack | https://substack.com/@jessellenastrology Website | https://www.jessellenastrology.com/   Timestamps (00:00) Intro (02:07) From corporate sales to holistic life coach - Jess's transition story (06:00) Using lunar cycles as biweekly check-ins for life transitions (09:09) What to say to astrology skeptics - the car mechanic analogy (11:11) Astrocartography 101 - What those crazy lines on the map actually mean (13:13) Can you experience all your lines in one lifetime? (14:49) How to navigate overwhelm when you have too many location options (17:08) Understanding MC lines - Your identity and values in the context of work (19:15) The messy middle - What to expect during longer stays on your lines (23:25) "It always depends" - Why your current relationship with each planet matters (23:00) What happens when you don't have significant lines where you live (28:08) Breadth vs depth - Should you hit multiple lines or go deep on one? (30:45) Red flags and what lines to avoid based on your goals (32:26) When partners have completely different astrocartography maps (39:05) Cultural identity and how certain lines can amplify your heritage (43:58) How cultural identity shows up in different planetary lines (46:30) Living with the seasons as preparation for astrological awareness (51:29) Where to find Jess and the Spanish practice group chat Let’s Connect Website | https://mafesalazar.com/ Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/mafesalazar/ Threads | https://www.threads.net/@mafesalazar Subscribe to the From Tourist To Local Newsletter Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    55 min
  4. 26 AGO

    64. Real-Time Reflections: 36 Truths I Don't Have (And Why That's Perfect)

    Ready to stop waiting for perfect clarity? Send me a voice note on Instagram @MafeSalazar and tell me what permission you're still waiting for that you could just give yourself. I was supposed to come to you with 36 perfectly packaged truths for my 36th birthday, channeling my inner Grandmother Willow energy. But here's the thing - I don't have 36 neat little wisdom nuggets for you. What I do have is this messy, real-time reflection on what it actually looks like to navigate life when you're still figuring shit out. And this feels way more honest. In this episode, I'm processing out loud about the voices I've silenced (including my homesickness for SEVEN YEARS), why I've been hiding from my business content, and how a recent situationship taught me to ask for what I want unapologetically - in dating AND everywhere else. This birthday episode it's me demonstrating exactly what I teach: that your voice is how you process, claim, and own your story. Even when that story is about being scared, hiding, or not having it all figured out at 36. In this episode: Why being told you're "too loud" might actually be your superpowerThe connection between silencing your homesickness and silencing your voiceHow I've been hiding from my business (while creating business content by processing out loud - the irony!)The situationship that taught me to stop asking permission for what I wantWhy this messy reflection IS the contentPermission to start before you have all the answersTimestamps (00:00) Intro (01:30) The voice evolution story - Being "too loud" (03:00) Silencing the homesick voice for 7 years (05:00) The business reality check - How I've been hiding (07:30) The situationship that changed everything (10:00) Why I'm still asking permission in business (14:00) Tourist vs. Local mindset on perfection Let’s Connect Website | https://mafesalazar.com/ Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/mafesalazar/ Threads | https://www.threads.net/@mafesalazar Subscribe to the From Tourist To Local Newsletter Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    17 min
  5. 63. How to Afford Your Dream Life While Building Wealth on $47K with Charly Stoever

    12 AGO

    63. How to Afford Your Dream Life While Building Wealth on $47K with Charly Stoever

    What if I told you someone is pet-sitting in a Paris penthouse, has traveled to 38 countries, runs their own business, and has never made more than $47,000 a year? Charly Stoever is a formerly undocumented, Latinx, queer, non-binary money coach who completely changed my perspective about wealth building. While most of us are waiting to make six figures before we can "start living," Charly reverse-engineered their dream life on less than what most people pay in rent. In this episode, Charly shares how they have been able to live rent-free in places like Seattle and Paris using an app that costs $120/year, the “boring” investment strategy that built a $200K net worth, and how one of their clients found $141,000 she didn't even know she had. But here's what Instagram doesn't show you—the real emotional cost of living differently than everyone around you, and why building wealth can sometimes feel lonely and sad. If you want to twerk your way to early retirement, you need to hear this conversation. ✨Mentioned in this episode: The $120/year app that can replace rent entirely (Trusted House Sitters)Why "boring" index fund investing beats day trading and cryptoHow to find "forgotten" money you might already haveThe emotional reality of building wealth when no one around you gets itConnect with Charly Website | www.unicornmillionaire.com Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/travelercharly Threads | https://www.threads.com/@travelercharly TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@travelercharly Podcast | https://unicornmillionaire.com/category/podcast/ Timestamps (00:00) Intro (02:03) Meet Charly (02:39) Section 1: The Money Wake-Up Call (08:10) Smart Lazy Investing Strategy (11:28) The $141K Bomb- The client with $141K sitting in an old 401K (15:10) Section 2: The Pet-Sitting Discovery (18:15) The Financial Impact (20:32) Section 3: The Health Reality Check (24:19) The Loneliness of Success (27:14) The Independence Mindset (30:24) The Souvenir Question (32:15) Final Thoughts Let’s Connect Website | https://mafesalazar.com/ Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/mafesalazar/ Threads | https://www.threads.net/@mafesalazar Subscribe to the From Tourist To Local Newsletter Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    34 min
  6. 62. How to Date Yourself in Times of Transition: Romanticizing Your Own Damn Life

    5 AGO

    62. How to Date Yourself in Times of Transition: Romanticizing Your Own Damn Life

    🎁 Want to get first dibs on my upcoming offers?! Slide into my DMs and get ALL the details https://www.instagram.com/mafesalazar/ 🎁 In this solo episode, Mafe gets real about what it's like to be "officially homeless" and navigating a major life transition. From missing her dog Abby (who she calls her true home) to living in a full house after years of having one human roomie, she's learning what it really means to date yourself all over again. In this episode, we dive into:  ✨ What "dating yourself" looked like before vs. during a major transition ✨ Why your dog might be more "home" than any apartment ever was ✨ How to fall in love with your business ideas (and when to break up with them) ✨ The art of setting boundaries when everything feels chaotic ✨ Building a business that supports the life you actually want - not just any life ✨ Why sometimes you have to leave home to really come back to yourself This isn't about having it all figured out. It's about showing up messy, honoring what you actually value, and learning that the relationship with yourself becomes everything when life gets chaotic. Because the only way to figure things out… is to start moving. Timestamps (00:00) Intro  (01:36) The real talk about missing Abby - Why she's not just my dog, she's my HOME  (02:34) How I'm learning to date myself all over again (5 key strategies)  (02:34) Strategy #1: Getting obsessive about solo time in a full house  (03:15) Strategy #2: Making time for what actually matters (even when it's hard)  (04:05) Strategy #3: Falling in love with your ideas & knowing when to break up with them  (04:49) Real example: How I pivoted when my weekend ideas felt icky  (06:01) Strategy #4: Building a business that supports the life you actually want  (07:02) Strategy #5: Getting back to my morning magic (even when missing my dog)  (08:00) The bigger picture - What this transition is teaching me about my values  (08:27) Why Vancouver is home & sometimes you have to leave to come back to yourself  (08:47) Your challenge - How will you date yourself this week?  (09:29) First look at upcoming launches - Podcast Reset & mini audits  (10:35) Wrap up Let’s Connect Website | https://mafesalazar.com/ Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/mafesalazar/ Threads | https://www.threads.net/@mafesalazar Subscribe to the From Tourist To Local Newsletter Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    11 min
  7. 61. Why AI is Like Training Wild Mustangs (And How to Make It Work for Your Business)

    30 JUL

    61. Why AI is Like Training Wild Mustangs (And How to Make It Work for Your Business)

    This week I sit down with Christiane Witt from Soul Soothing Co to explore how entrepreneurs can use AI to scale their businesses without losing their soul. Christiane - who has never been employed, calls this her “last season” of entrepreneurship, shares revolutionary insights about treating AI like training wild horses and why most people are using these tools completely wrong. ✨ Mentioned in this episode The Horse-to-AI Connection: Why AI is like a mirror that reflects what you give itAI as a Creative CatalystSoulful Business SystemsStrategic AI ImplementationThe Future of Work and AIScaling Without Losing Your SoulConnect with Christiane Witt Website | https://soulsoothingbusiness.com/ Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/soulsoothingbiz Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/soulsoothingbusiness/ LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/soul-soothing-business/ Timestamps (00:00) - Intro (02:39) - Meet Christiane: Last Season vs. First Season Entrepreneur (06:57) - Why Horse Training Translates to Business (and AI) (08:20) - From Wild Mustangs to Business Boundaries (09:19) - AI as a Mirror: The Creative Catalyst Concept (10:09) - "I Go as Deep as You Do" - The ChatGPT Revelation (15:43) - Internal Family Systems + Effortless Mindfulness Framework (20:08) - The Edit Process: Making AI 100% You (31:20) - Soulful Scaling: What It Actually Means (32:31) - The Monday Morning Test for Client Success (35:44) - Will AI Replace People? The Three Categories (39:00) - From Busyness to Creativity: The Great Liberation (40:27) - Example: $200K to $1M While Working Less (42:06) - "Search More, Try Harder" - Getting Better AI Output (46:22) - Put Systems and AI in Place BEFORE You Scale (48:42) - From Formal German to Travel Planning: Practical AI Uses (50:01) - AI Finding Brain Tumors and Supporting Mental Health (50:39) - Personal Example: Using AI for Guilt and Therapy Prep (52:07) - ChatGPT's Cheerleader Problem: Ask for Critical Feedback (52:55) - Voice Feature: Learning German with AI (54:44) - Travel Planning with AI Constraints (55:15) - New Career: Contextual Engineer for Location-Independent Entrepreneurs (56:34) - Where to Start: Don't Follow Every AI Tool (58:40) - Find Your One Frustrating Task and Start There (59:16) - Souvenir Question: Stop Fighting with Yourself (01:01:11) - Where to Find Christiane: Soul Soothing Business Let’s Connect Website | https://mafesalazar.com/ Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/mafesalazar/ Threads | https://www.threads.net/@mafesalazar Subscribe to the From Tourist To Local Newsletter Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    1 h y 5 min
  8. 60. How Did Steph Wharton Create 58 New Memories in 6 Months?

    22 JUL

    60. How Did Steph Wharton Create 58 New Memories in 6 Months?

    What if working just two days a week while making 58 new memories in six months wasn't a just a crazy dream? Steph Wharton, founder of the Speaker Movement and fellow Latina entrepreneur, completely rewrote the rules of business success. Steph went from seven years of corporate burnout to building a thriving community for underrepresented speakers - all while prioritizing family time and sustainable visibility. We dive deep into her journey from Argentina to Canada, feeling invisible in white-dominated entrepreneurship spaces, and how she created her own room when she couldn't find where she belonged. This conversation will challenge everything you think you know about hustling, success, and what it actually means to use your voice. What You'll Learn: How to transition from burnout to sustainable business practicesWhy "impact over reach" beats follower counts every timeThe real strategy behind working less while growing moreHow to embrace your speaker era (even without traditional stages)Why making your own rules is the ultimate business strategyConnect with Steph:  Website | https://stephwharton.com/ Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/stephwharton_/ Threads | https://www.threads.net/@stephwharton_ YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@stephwharton Mentioned in This Episode: The Speaker Movement directory and communitySustainable visibility strategiesPublic speaking as a marketing toolPlus, enjoy some adorable Golden Retriever interruptions from Abby - because real life happens during real conversations! Timestamps: (00:00) - Intro (02:05) - Meet Steph: From Argentina to Corporate Burnout (05:25) - The Traditional Route Trap for Immigrants (09:18) - Moving to BC: Redefining Success (12:45) - What Success Really Looks Like Now (18:38) - The 58 New Memories Experiment (22:32) - What "Speaker Era" Actually Means (29:24) - Steph's Favorite Part of Her Story (32:00) - Creating Safe Spaces for Underrepresented Voices (36:35) - Sustainable Visibility: The How-To (44:03) - The Speaker Movement: 5-Year Vision (47:01) - Souvenir Question: A Tattoo for Past Steph Let’s Connect Website | https://mafesalazar.com/ Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/mafesalazar/ Threads | https://www.threads.net/@mafesalazar Subscribe to the From Tourist To Local Newsletter Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    50 min

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Big life changes can feel like stepping into a new city without a plan… Exciting, overwhelming, and full of unknowns. But what if you could go from feeling like a lost tourist to navigating it all like a local?Join Mafe Salazar as she shares unfiltered stories of navigating major life transitions. Career shifts, identity changes, and stepping into new versions of ourselves. Through honest solo episodes (and the occasional guest), we’ll talk about finding your voice, taking messy action, and embracing the unknown with confidence.Let’s find your magic while figuring sh*t out!