The Power of "Y" Podcast with Yvette Simpson

Yvette Simpson
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Through my journeys, I have learned that what matters comes down to three things purpose, power, and asking the question, why. In this podcast series, we are going to talk about power. What is power? What happens when we use the power that we have? We are also going to talk about purpose, what it means to leave a legacy, and what that means for the world around us. If you are curious, and inquisitive and want to learn more about the why of life, please subscribe to this podcast.

  1. 12/30/2024

    The Power of Planning

    As we approach the new year, we explore ways to make sure we are planning and prioritizing what we want for next year and the years ahead, and take the real steps to make that happen. We delve into what it means to “Plan your work…Work your plan.” Question Why Why is it so tough to plan ahead? Even more, how do we do the real work of sticking to the plans we make? Three Points on Why This Matters Life comes at you fast. There is only so much time, and you can’t make more.  The world needs purposeful people.  Having a plan can release the stress of knowing what comes next. Make a plan. I share why I create 3-, 5-, and 10-year plans for every program or project I build and how I’ve helped others do the same. Pour the Glass Are you someone who makes plans and leaves it on the shelf? Do you have goals and dreams that have never come to fruition because you didn’t plan for them at all? Three Tips on How to Do the Thing It must be your plan, not someone else’s.  It has to be something you are willing and able to do.  When it doesn’t work, you have to be willing to adjust, and maybe even let it go.  Homework  As we prepare for the start of the new year, begin to plan and make a commitment to take the real steps to make it come to pass. Don’t let another year go by without living your purpose fully.  Encouraging Word It may feel daunting, but you can do it. The journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step. Additional resources:  Link to my website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠yvettesimpson.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Link to the book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠authoryvettesimpson.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Link to my IG page @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠theyvettesimpson.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and  DM us your comments and show ideas @powerofypodcast Show credits: Producer: Nathan Ivey IG/FB @nathaniveycreative

    20 min

  2. 12/16/2024

    The Power of Giving

    This episode is for anyone who wants to find a way to give a different gift this holiday season. To focus on time and experiences over gifts, and to learn how to get back to the true reason for the season — hope, joy, peace, and love. We delve into why it may be more significant to give your presence than a present.  Question Why: Why do we focus so much on giving presents and not our presence? Why do we continue to forget the true reason for the season? My insight on how I navigate this season as someone who is not a gift-giver, but instead someone whose love language is quality time.  Three Points on Why This Matters Since the pandemic, people have been feeling more overwhelmed and lonely than before. Giving your time and attention to people you care about may be more valuable than a physical gift. Time is the one thing that you can’t make more of. Your wisdom, insight, care, and compassion can’t be replicated or placed on a shelf for someone to buy. It is the one gift that only you can give.  The Christmas season is about the birth of Christ and the sacrifice that he would make to save humanity. The true gift was God giving the gift of his son — and the love, joy, peace, and hope that that gift represents. Three Tips on How to Do the Thing Check your motivation when giving a gift to someone — is it about you or is it about them? Have you considered what they would want? Would your time be a better present than the actual present? Think about the ways you receive love. What are the things that matter most to you? Were they things or were they memories and experiences with people you love? Consider creating new holiday traditions that are about time together rather than physical things.  During this holiday season, ask the people you love what they value from you. Is it the things you give or the time you spend? Pour the Glass The challenge is when the gift is a replacement for something else. Is this me compensating for something that I know that I’m not able or willing to give? What would happen if we got back the heart of it — giving yourself rather than a physical gift? Homework  Focus on giving your time and energy to someone you love this holiday season. You are the present that they want to receive. And if you do give a physical gift — let it be something truly special, something that only you can give and that the person will truly value and appreciate.  Encouraging Word Things are disposable, but you are irreplaceable. You are the gift that keeps on giving. So enjoy the experiences of this holiday season and the memories that you will make with those you love —— they will last a lifetime.

    12 min

  3. 12/02/2024

    The Power of Reflection

    This episode discusses the importance of taking time, slowing down, and reflecting on this year. Reflecting can be tough because it requires that we see ourselves truthfully, which is tempting to avoid, particularly those parts that aren’t so positive or perfect. Together, we learn how to begin the ritual of reflection so that we can make the coming year even better by improving on our wins and growing from our losses.  What you can learn about the importance of reflecting on yourself and your life from Snow White, the Evil Queen & the Magic Mirror.  Question Why Why is it so difficult to take stock of our lives? What would happen if we spent a bit more time thinking and a little less time doing? I share my process of reflecting at the end of the year and why it’s such an important ritual to prepare me for the year coming, with a sense of soberness and optimism, and to think about how life changes from year to year.  Three Points on Why This Matters Reflection and rest are both self-care and acts of resistance, especially in our go-go-go, do-do-do society.  Standing still, looking back, and learning should be on your list of “goals” “priorities” and “to-dos” if you want to achieve balance, harmony, and success. Spanish philosopher George Santayana said, if you don’t know your history, you will surely repeat it. So take the time to truly understand the lessons that this year has taught you to avoid repeating the mistakes in the future. You can’t know where you are going if you don’t know where you have been. The key to charting your future is by looking at your past.  Every year, something happens that shapes our world in a way that demands reflection and adjustment. It could be something good, like a marriage or having a child or it could be a loss. If you don’t take the time to revisit and consider the ways your world has changed, you may be chasing dreams from 5 or 10 years ago, or responding to the person you were then rather than who you are now. Pour the Glass There are times when we refuse to look back because we are afraid of what it will reveal. We just don’t want to face the truth, especially our losses, mistakes, and failures. But it is the looking back that is the lesson — you simply can’t confront what you don’t face. So face it.  Three Tips on How to Do the Thing Take some time over the holiday season to look back on your accomplishments and mistakes. Don’t judge them, but try to understand them.  Give yourself grace for the things you didn’t do well this year; and pledge not to make the same mistakes again.  Spend more time celebrating your wins and growth areas than you spend replaying your losses and setbacks. It is far more rewarding and impactful to amplify and multiply your successes than dwelling and doubling down on your losses. Homework  Take some time before the ball drops to get quiet and reflect on this year. Meditate, journal, nurture yourself, rest, and recharge as you prepare for the year to come.  Encouraging Word Don’t be afraid of your reflection. It reveals the truth — the good, the bad, and the ugly. But it is that revelation that can help you learn and grow, and in some cases accept the things about yourself that you wish weren’t true.  Additional resources:  Link to my website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠yvettesimpson.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Link to the book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠authoryvettesimpson.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Link to my IG page @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠theyvettesimpson.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and  DM us your comments and show ideas @powerofypodcast Additional resources:  Link to my website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠yvettesimpson.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Link to the book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠authoryvettesimpson.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Link to my IG page @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠theyvettesimpson.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and  DM us your comments and show ideas @powerofypodcast Show credits: Producer: Nathan Ivey IG/FB @nathaniveycreative

    18 min

  4. 11/18/2024

    The Power of Gratitude

    This episode is all about being grateful for what you have. As we approach the time and season that is often more about buying things, let’s focus on the importance of gratitude, and appreciating what we have already. This is the time to take a moment to be grateful for the people and things you have in your life; the experiences you get to have, and the life you get to live.  Question Why: Why is gratitude something we have to practice? How does being grateful impact your perspective and relationship to your life and the world around you? Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. The food, fellowship with family and friends, and time to slow down and appreciate all the things and people in my life. Because of this, I try my best to really take the time to enjoy it and resist the temptation to skip Thanksgiving and rush to Christmas, focusing more on appreciation than acquisition.  Three Points on Why This Matters: 1. Gratitude helps you see what is going well in your life, rather than what isn’t working or what is negative. 2. Gratitude when expressed externally, is a two-way street. The more you give, the more you get.  3. Gratitude reminds you what is important. Gratitude has to be personal to you. And it should be more than material. What would it look like to share publicly, in your own words, your appreciation for the non-material things: love, life, health, family, friends, your gifts, your compassion, your generosity? We often don’t appreciate these things until we lose them.    Three Tips on How to Do the Thing: Change  your “gots” to “gets.” Create a gratitude practice — journaling, meditation, and get in the posture of appreciation. Express your gratitude externally, reminding people what they mean to you.  Homework: As you gather around the table with people you love next week, be sure to tell the people you love how much you value them, and how much they mean to you. Encouraging Word: Look at your life and be grateful for what you have, even as you look to make it better.  Additional resources:  Link to my website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠yvettesimpson.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Link to the book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠authoryvettesimpson.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Link to my IG page @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠theyvettesimpson.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and  DM us your comments and show ideas @powerofypodcast Show credits: Producer: Nathan Ivey IG/FB @nathaniveycreative

    15 min

  5. 11/04/2024

    The Power of Choice

    In this episode, we explore the power of choice on the eve of Election Day in the United States.  Learn how to make decisions, even when it’s tough, and that not making a decision is a decision, which has consequences that may be far worse than making a choice, even if it isn’t perfect or ideal.  Question Why: Why don’t we own our power to choose what we do with our lives? How might your life be different if you decided to choose how you live it? Why not voting is a privilege that most people cannot afford, especially those who fought to exercise that right in the past. Three points on why this matters: 1. The power to choose is one of the most foundational and fundamental freedoms of being a human.  2. Your life, your future, your trajectory is within your control.  3. If you want to change the world, you will have to make choices, especially when you don’t want to. It’s often the toughest choices that are the hardest to make, that matter the most and have the biggest impact on your life.  Politics, like life, is not an all-or-nothing proposition. If you’re first choice for dinner, or body wash, or a car or a house, you make the next best choice.  Pour the Glass Moment: The toughest decisions to make are often those that have the greatest impact on our lives. You don’t absolve yourself of the consequences by not making a choice. Three Tips on How to Do the Thing 1. Start by removing avoidance [not making a choice] from your list of options.  2. Understand that perfection is not the goal; progress is the goal.  3. Make the best choice for you based on what you know and need right now.  Homework: Take some time this week and think about all the choices you GET to make. Commit to making the best decision you can based on what you know now. If you are in the US, go and vote tomorrow, if you haven't already. Encouraging Word: Relish in the fact that we all get the right to choose, which is a privilege.  Additional resources:  Link to my website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠yvettesimpson.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Link to the book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠authoryvettesimpson.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Link to my IG page @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠theyvettesimpson.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and  DM us your comments and show ideas @powerofypodcast Show credits: Producer: Nathan Ivey IG/FB @nathaniveycreative

    12 min

  6. 10/21/2024

    The Power of Fear

    This episode delves into the ways that fear keeps us from doing the things we are meant to do for ourselves and the world. Learn about when fear is useful and when it is destructive and how to change your relationship to fear so that you can do and accomplish all the things you desire and share your gifts with the world. Question Why: Why is it so difficult to overcome our fears? How can we change our relationship with fear so that we can get unstuck and move forward? Learn how my fears as a child kept me from doing things like cartwheels, roller skating, swimming, and riding a bike. Why this matters: Fear as a protection is a good thing; but when it keeps you from doing things that build you up and make you better. Fear doesn’t create; it only destroys.  Fear is not real; it only appears to be real. Separate the real from the unreal and move forward. Are you still having a boogeyman experience that is holding you back? Are you worried about something that may not ever happen? Fear and worry don’t change the outcome; they are wasted emotions.  How do you get in the right relationship with fear? Don’t let it control you. Instead, you keep fear under your control. Pour the Glass Moment: Fear can be scary, but you can reframe it. When I wear a costume at Halloween, it’s my way of reclaiming a holiday I avoided because of fear. How to do the thing:  Do not run away from fearful things. Look at them, take a deep breath, analyze the situation, and try to find a solution.  Change your relationship to fear. See it as protection when necessary, but don’t allow it to keep you from pursuing positive things in your life.  Identify the opportunities that you have lost because of your fear. What has fear cost you? Encouraging Word: Fear is False Evidence Appearing Real. It isn’t real. It just looks that way. Don’t continue to allow fear to keep you from a life of purpose and fulfillment.  Additional resources:  Link to my website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠yvettesimpson.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Link to the book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠authoryvettesimpson.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Link to my IG page @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠theyvettesimpson.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and  DM us your comments and show ideas @powerofypodcast Show credits: Producer: Nathan Ivey IG/FB @nathaniveycreative

    15 min
  7. The Power of Change

    10/07/2024

    The Power of Change

    In this episode, we explore the idea of change as a natural and evolutionary part of life, like the seasons and time change naturally. We discuss how to embrace change, make change our friend and not an enemy, and how the world can benefit from that.  I love the fall in the Midwest because of the visible changing of seasons and how that relates to how we, as people change. What I gained by releasing control and perfection and embracing change in this recent stage of my life as I began my purpose and reinvention journey. Question Why: Why do we resist change? What would happen if we saw change as like nature, a part of life? Three points on why this matters: The only constant is change, so you should make it work for your benefit.  Evolution is a natural part of life, so we should ride the wave rather than resist it [the Jheri curl story]. The world needs people who are ready to change, to change the world. What the pandemic taught us about adapting and embracing the new, and how people who have done that have changed the world in the process. What we can all learn from my grandmother’s evolution story at the later stages in her life. How she pushed past her fear and discomfort to embrace a new life and make a new friend.  Pour the Glass Moment: Change can be difficult, but we have to move forward. Staying in one place and not evolving can be worse. Even if you don’t change, the world will change around you and leave you behind. Three Tips on How to Do the Thing: Change one thing. Change is overwhelming because we try to take it all on at the same time. Change doesn’t have to be big, so start with one thing. Distinguish yourself [who you are] from other things about you — your perspective, viewpoint, etc. You will still be you, even as you evolve. Begin to look at change as good. Change is about your perspective. Change your “gots” to “gets.” It’s a process. It doesn’t have to be perfect. You just have to start. Homework: Make a list of all the things in your life that you want to change. Make a list and start with just one. Encouraging Word: You can learn to embrace change. You can evolve. You have to change your relationship to change and begin to see change as good. Additional resources:  Link to my website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠yvettesimpson.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Link to the book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠authoryvettesimpson.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Link to my IG page @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠theyvettesimpson.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and  DM us your comments and show ideas @powerofypodcast Show credits: Producer: Nathan Ivey IG/FB @nathaniveycreative

    19 min

  8. 09/23/2024

    The Power of Freedom

    In this episode, we are joined by ACLU New Jersey President Amol Sinha to talk about the important work he is doing, using the law, advocacy, and organizing to secure freedom for all. Amol shares his childhood sense of the injustice he witnessed in his hometown in New Jersey, specifically the inequity he observed living between two communities separated by race and class and what they taught him about systemic racism and oppression and his own identity and place in the “hierarchy.”  Illustrative Example: We have an over-incarceration problem in this country. Learn about the importance of decarceration, specifically during the COVID-19 pandemic as the ACLU worked to prioritize a group of people who were not thinking about, those who are incarcerated, and the public health and racial justice issues that arose there. Amol shares his work creating the model which led New Jersey to the lowest rate of decarceration in the country with similar reductions in crime and recidivism. Why Does it Matter: People review security and freedom as opposed, but you can be safe and free at the same time. People who wield power often use it to oppress. The Rule of Law has been used to oppress than to liberate. The importance of elevating collective power over individual power — and where beloved communities can hold power rather than reserving power for the few. Why we should be striving to live up to the ideals of freedom, and how we reclaim those words for ourselves. Pour the Glass Moment: The “tough on crime” narrative that has taken hold is very harmful to the work of securing freedom for those who are incarcerated and oppressed. It has been used by both sides of the aisle. Instead, Amol recommends that we follow the data rather than furthering that narrative.  We should also raise the bar for what democracy looks like and the language and rhetoric we accept from our leaders. Amol shares all the tools that he uses at the ACLU to move the needle on the work of securing freedom. How We Do the Thing:  ACLU is everywhere, so reach out to your affiliate and connect with them to volunteer or donate. Support the Clemency Project: Advocate for and organize your governor to use their power of clemency as a decarceration tool as they have done in New Jersey. Learn more about and support the other issues and challenges that the ACLU is working on immigrant rights, book bans, DEI, and LGBTQ+ advocacy. Encouraging Word: When his work is done, Amol wants to see HOPE as a common sentiment across all communities, especially those who have felt hopeless and that their prosperity (not just financial) is reachable. It shouldn’t be a far-off dream for kids to see and experience life and the world fully. When we have achieved freedom for all, we should have people entering communities that in the past they wouldn’t have before, without fear. It would be great to eliminate prisons in certain jurisdictions and have a larger conversation about how we have used prisons as a tool of oppression.  Connect with Amol: Twitter: @aclunj and @AmolSinha | Instagram: @aclunj | Facebook: @aclunj | LinkedIn: @aclunj and @AmolSinha Additional resources:  Link to my website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠yvettesimpson.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Link to the book: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠authoryvettesimpson.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Link to my IG page @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠theyvettesimpson.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and  DM us your comments and show ideas @powerofypodcast Show credits: Producer: Nathan Ivey IG/FB @nathaniveycreative

    36 min
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About

Through my journeys, I have learned that what matters comes down to three things purpose, power, and asking the question, why. In this podcast series, we are going to talk about power. What is power? What happens when we use the power that we have? We are also going to talk about purpose, what it means to leave a legacy, and what that means for the world around us. If you are curious, and inquisitive and want to learn more about the why of life, please subscribe to this podcast.

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