The Designed Life

Hollis M. M.
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

I'm a designer, astrologer and life coach who's always seeking for deeper understanding, meaning, and beauty – and I love doing it with other like-minded friends. I created The Designed Life to help you ask the bigger questions, explore the unexamined nooks and crannies of your own habits, behaviors and choices, and inevitably start aligning your daily decisions to create a more empowered and fulfilling life. In every episode you'll find stories, resources, and contemplations, from me and other entrepreneurs, curated to help you gracefully navigate a life that comes with no guide book.

  1. 6d ago

    Eps 064: Reconnecting with the Plant World w. Amelia Andrade

    What if developing a relationship with the natural world could be less about learning everything there is to know about plants and more about slowing down enough to notice what is already around you? In this conversation, I’m joined by folk herbalist Amelia, who describes herself as someone who “nourishes the sacred and wild relationship between people and plants.” We talk about her journey from the corporate travel industry into herbalism, the dandelion that became one of her first plant allies, and what it means to relate to plants not simply as resources we consume, but as teachers, guides, companions, and members of our larger ecological community. Our conversation ultimately is about the responsibility that comes with returning to relationship with plants: understanding ecological impact, sustainability, harvesting and sourcing practices, and the ways colonialism has disrupted and erased plant traditions and the cultural knowledge held by the people who have stewarded them. We end by considering a simple but powerful practice: becoming more curious about where the plants we eat and work with actually come from. Find Amelia on her: InstagramWild Wisdom ProgramConnect with me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Life CoachingThreadsWebsiteMentioned: The Apprenticeship by Giana Cerasia

    Eps 064: Reconnecting with the Plant World w. Amelia Andrade

  2. Aug 7

    Eps 063: Which Astrological House System To Use w. Jess Ellen

    I'm joined once again by my friend and fellow astrologer, Jess Ellen, to tackle one of the most common questions we receive from students and clients: Which house system should I use? Together we explore the philosophy behind astrological house systems, how they developed, why different astrologers practice with different systems, and how both of us have expanded our own perspectives by working with charts through different lenses. Rather than trying to convince you that one system is objectively better than another, we invite you into a more curious relationship with your own chart, and with astrology itself. We also discuss how different house systems can reveal different layers of meaning, how astrology evolves alongside us throughout our lives, and why trusting your own lived experience is just as important as understanding astrological technique. Whether you're brand new to astrology or have been studying for years, this episode will help you approach house systems with greater clarity, curiosity, and confidence. This is Part 2 of Episode 57: Introduction to the Astrological Houses. If you haven't listened to that episode yet, we recommend starting there before diving into this conversation. Connect with Jess via her: WebsiteInstagramThreadsPodcast

    Eps 063: Which Astrological House System To Use w. Jess Ellen

  3. Aug 5

    Eps 062: Living the Questions & Experimenting w. Identity in Your Work

    What happens when you've built a successful business, but realize the version of yourself that built it isn't quite the version that's meant to carry it into the next decade? In this second business update, I'm sharing where I've landed after stepping back from much of my astrology content, loosening my creative structures, and spending the last several months living inside questions rather than rushing toward answers. This episode explores the tension between discipline and freedom, expertise and curiosity, identity and evolution. I reflect on how we can hold onto what is true about ourselves while allowing the ways we express those truths to evolve over time. I also share what I'm currently experimenting with in my own business, why I've intentionally slowed down before making any major changes, and how I'm learning to trust friction, uncertainty, and creative silence as necessary parts of the process. Download your free Identity Evolution workbook here.

    Eps 062: Living the Questions & Experimenting w. Identity in Your Work

  4. Jul 17

    Leo Season 2026

    Leo is fixed fire: generous, life-giving, creative, and deeply connected to purpose. At its healthiest, it reminds us that true leadership isn't about being the loudest voice in the room or seeking recognition. It's about bringing warmth to others, acting from integrity, and having the courage to be seen as we truly are. But this Leo season is about much more than personal confidence. As Jupiter moves through Leo, the lunar nodes shift into the Leo–Aquarius axis, Mercury stations direct, and we begin entering eclipse territory, a new collective storyline starts to unfold around leadership, visibility, power, and our responsibility to one another. Questions around who we trust, how we contribute, and what kind of future we're helping create become increasingly difficult to ignore. This season asks us to move beyond performative leadership and toward authentic participation. It reminds us that the antidote to fear isn't certainty—it's meaningful action. Whether that's caring for your local community, protecting what you love, expressing yourself more honestly, or taking one small step toward the future you want to live in, Leo reminds us that courage is built through practice. Between the Aquarius Full Moon, the shifting eclipse axis, Jupiter's expansion through Leo, and a series of powerful outer-planet aspects, this season becomes a bridge between personal authenticity and collective responsibility. It's an invitation to ask not only Who am I becoming? but also How do I want to lead? and What am I here to contribute? In this episode, we explore: Leo Season themesJupiter in Leo and a new chapter of leadershipAuthenticity versus performanceMercury stationing directThe Aquarius Full MoonThe lunar nodes entering Leo and AquariusThe beginning of a new eclipse storylineLeadership, power, and collective responsibilityCreative expression and purposeful visibilityWhy small acts of courage are the antidote to fearCommunity, reciprocity, and shared liberationWhat Leo season is asking of us personally and collectively Timestamps: 00:08:54 The Astrology of Leo Season: 00:10:51 Week 1 (July 22–25) 00:23:04 Week 2 (July 26–August 1) 00:23:50 Full Moon in Aquarius (6°) 00:39:00 Week 3 (August 2–8) 00:53:00 Week 4 (August 9–15) 00:58:30 Leo New Moon Eclipse 01:07:00 The Larger Collective Story: a New Era of Leadership Mentioned: Introduction to the Astrological Houses articleUnity Consciousness podcast episode

    Leo Season 2026

  5. Jul 10

    Eps 061: The Astrology of The US and The Future That Lies Ahead w. Clarissa Dolphin

    In this conversation that I'm so thrilled to have had, I'm joined by astrologer, writer, and educator Clarissa Dolphin for a wide-ranging exploration of astrology's role in understanding the collective moment we're living through. We trace Clarissa's remarkable journey into astrology – from growing up immersed in spiritual practices and pop astrology to building a thriving practice rooted in research, harmonic astrology, and cultural observation – and expand into a much larger conversation about entrepreneurship, social media, technology, and the profound societal shifts unfolding around us. We explore what it means to practice astrology in an era of rapid change. How do we talk honestly about difficult transits without slipping into fear? What responsibility do astrologers have when interpreting collective events? And how do we stay grounded, connected, and hopeful as we navigate a world that often feels increasingly uncertain? This conversation is equal parts philosophical, practical, and deeply human. If you've been wondering how to orient yourself amidst the sweeping changes of our time, I think you'll find both comfort and inspiration here. In this episode, we explore: Clarissa's lifelong relationship with astrology and the lineage that shaped her practiceHow harmonic astrology transformed her understanding of the birth chartBuilding an astrology business from the ground up and the realities of entrepreneurshipWhy social media isn't the business engine many of us were led to believe it isUranus in Gemini and the future of technology, communication, and our relationship with social mediaWhat happens to our minds—and our nervous systems—when we're constantly onlineThe fine line between honest forecasting and fear-based astrologyThe difference between natal astrology and mundane (collective) astrologyThe upcoming Mars-Uranus-Pluto configurations and why they mark the beginning of a much larger storyCommunity, innovation, and collective action in times of disruptionClarissa's upcoming What the F** USA: The Astrology Behind the Madness* podcast series and why these conversations matter now You can find Clarissa: On her websiteOn her InstagramOn Threads Connect with me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Astrology Readings // ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Life Coaching // ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack // ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pinterest //⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads //⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website

    Eps 061: The Astrology of The US and The Future That Lies Ahead w. Clarissa Dolphin

  6. Jun 26

    Eps 060: The Addicting Trap of Social Media + Why I'm Back on Instagram After 11 Months Away

    Last summer, I stepped away from Instagram. At the time, it felt like a necessary experiment, and an opportunity to understand who I was, how I created, and how I connected with people outside of a platform that had been part of my daily life for over a decade. What began as a response to creative exhaustion and ethical questions about social media quickly became a much deeper exploration of community, attention, identity, and the subtle ways these platforms shape our inner worlds. This episode is a reflection on what I learned by stepping away, why I decided to come back, and how I'm approaching social media differently moving forward. It's a conversation about creativity, consumerism, belonging, self-expression, and the very human desire to be seen and understood. Most of all, it's an invitation to consider your own relationship with social media and whether the ways you're showing up online are truly aligned with the life you're trying to build offline. In this episode, we explore: Why I left Instagram for nearly a yearThe ethical questions that initially motivated my departureWhat happened to my community, business, and relationships while I was awayAlternative spaces for connection and meaningful conversationThe impact of visual stimulation on creativity and attentionSocial media, influence, and consumer cultureThe pressure to be visible onlineCreative expression versus content creationWhy your business may not need social media as much as you thinkThe desire to be seen, known, and understoodBuilding a private inner life in a public worldHow I'm approaching social media moving forwardHow some parts of life become more meaningful when they're allowed to remain private.Mentioned Social Life by Xanthe AppleyardSupernova by Chelsea RiffeThe Apprenticeship with Gianna

  7. Jun 19

    Cancer Season 2026

    Cancer season begins in the body. After the movement, insights, and connection of Gemini season, Cancer invites us to slow down enough to feel what everything we've gathered actually means. This is a season of nourishment, intuition, emotional intelligence, and learning to trust the subtle language of the body. It's about recognizing what helps us feel safe, supported, and resourced—and building deeper relationships with those foundations. But this Cancer season arrives during a particularly intense stretch of astrology. As Mercury stations retrograde, Mars enters Gemini, Jupiter moves into Leo, and several major outer-planet alignments reshape the collective landscape, many of us may find ourselves navigating periods of uncertainty, disruption, mental overstimulation, and emotional tenderness. This season asks us to pay close attention to our needs, our reserves, and the practices that help us remain grounded when life feels unpredictable. Between the Capricorn Full Moon, the Cancer New Moon, Mercury Retrograde, Mars conjunct Uranus, and Jupiter's entrance into Leo, this season becomes a lesson in both surrender and stewardship. It reminds us that resilience isn't built by pushing harder; it’s cultivated through care, replenishment, and a willingness to honor our humanity in the midst of change. In this episode, we explore: Cancer Season themesThe Summer Solstice as a midpoint of the yearListening to the wisdom of the bodyMercury Retrograde in CancerMars entering GeminiThe Capricorn Full MoonJupiter entering LeoMars conjunct UranusChiron in Taurus and resource-based healingVenus in VirgoThe Cancer New MoonEmotional resilience, nourishment, and self-trustMajor outer planet alignments shaping the second half of 202600:00:20 Cancer Season 2026 Overview 00:04:12 What Cancer Energy Teaches Us 00:11:06 Week 1 (June 21–27) 00:17:09 Week 2 (June 28–July 4) 00:23:47 Full Moon in Capricorn 00:31:54 Jupiter Enters Leo 00:38:14 Mars Conjunct Uranus 00:44:19 Week 3 (July 5–11) 00:57:49 Venus Trine Chiron 01:01:15 Week 4 (July 12- 18) 01:03:10 New Moon in Cancer 01:07:05 Major Outer Planet Alignments & The Bigger Collective Story

    Cancer Season 2026

  8. Jun 12

    Eps 059: Recovery & Self-Trust w. Sage Rountree

    What happens when yoga becomes less about pushing harder and more about learning to rest? In this conversation, I sit down with yoga teacher, author, endurance coach, and educator Sage Rountree to explore the deeper purpose of yoga beyond the poses. Together we discuss recovery as a radical practice, the underrated value of comfort, teaching as an act of service, entrepreneurial intuition, and how yoga philosophy can guide us toward greater freedom in everyday life. Sage shares stories from her own path – from academia to endurance sports to owning and eventually releasing a yoga studio – and offers practical wisdom from her new book, Yoga Off the Mat, on bringing ancient teachings into modern life. Find Sage on: Her websiteHer InstagramHer podcastHer books Mentioned: Giana CerasiaChelsey Riffe

    Eps 059: Recovery & Self-Trust w. Sage Rountree
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

I'm a designer, astrologer and life coach who's always seeking for deeper understanding, meaning, and beauty – and I love doing it with other like-minded friends. I created The Designed Life to help you ask the bigger questions, explore the unexamined nooks and crannies of your own habits, behaviors and choices, and inevitably start aligning your daily decisions to create a more empowered and fulfilling life. In every episode you'll find stories, resources, and contemplations, from me and other entrepreneurs, curated to help you gracefully navigate a life that comes with no guide book.

Information

  • Creator
    Hollis M. M.
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    108
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Hollis M. M.
  • Show Website
    The Designed Life

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