In this episode: Discover why finding your people isn't about networking harder or waiting to be invited — and how to start showing up for a community that will change your life, with Jessica Olson, founder of the Creative Life Podcast.

Jessica Olson spent nearly a decade living abroad — Sweden, South Korea, Argentina, Saudi Arabia — not by accident, but by necessity. When the job market collapsed in 2009 and a professor told her to just go, she went. What she found in those countries, particularly in the radical hospitality of South Korea, changed everything she thought she knew about community. When she returned to Omaha in 2018 and watched the pandemic hollow out the arts scene she loved, she didn't just mourn it — she built something. The Creative Life Podcast started as a hobby, a love letter to Nebraska creatives, but became a vehicle for Jessica to do what she does best: open doors for others the way doors were opened for her. In this conversation, we talk about what real community actually requires (hint: it's not networking), how Jessica shows up to events alone — intentionally — and why your boundaries might be isolating you more than protecting you.

If you've ever felt socially rusty, new to a city, or like you're doom-scrolling instead of doing the thing — this episode is your permission slip to show up.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Jessica's transformation from lonely expat to intentional community builder didn't happen overnight — it started with learning to survive as an outsider and choosing to bring those lessons home.
• The difference between networking and friendship: "Networking is, 'What can I get from you?' Friendship is, 'Who can I be to you, and who can you be to me?'"
• How to actually find community in your city: reset your algorithm, use search terms for events you care about, find the person who knows everything — and then buy the $10 ticket.
• Why Jessica goes to events alone on purpose, and how she uses that to model for her audience that you can show up solo and still opt into connection once you get there.
• If your boundaries are keeping you isolated, they may not be protecting you — they may be preventing your growth. Relationships are mirrors, and you can't grow without them.
• You don't have to show up at 100%. Jessica shows up tired, stressed, happy, and everything in between — because community can't be built on a representative. Show up as your real self, or you'll burn out.
• What every single participant in Jessica's doctoral research mentioned without being asked: physical wellness. Movement isn't just self-care — it may be the most underrated resilience tool we have.

CONNECT WITH JESSICA

Website: thecreativelifepodcast.com

Instagram: @thecreativelifepodcastomaha

Connect with Teresa

• Join the Becoming Obsessed Playground, the weekly email for curiosity-led women building a life they love.
• Instagram: @becomingobsessedpod and @teresaajean
• Leave a review on Apple or Spotify Podcasts. Reviews are the biggest thank-you, and reviews help ambitious women find the show.
• Website: teresaajean.com

Topics: how to find community as an adult, building community after COVID, showing up when you don't want to, community over networking, creative community Omaha, women in tech, women abroad, resilience, personal growth for ambitious women, curiosity-led living, building a life you love, how to make friends as an adult, overcoming isolation, authentic showing up, expat experience, arts community, personal growth podcast for ambitious women

Mentioned in this episode:

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Foreign, You're gonna have to be brave and show up.

I can tell you so many different ways to find events, but if you don't buy that $10 ticket, if you don't go to that free event, if you don't sign up for that contract, you're still scrolling, you still haven't gotten off the couch.

That's actually the biggest barrier is you're going into new space and for many people, they're going into an alone.

So many of the events that I feature, I'm going to them alone.

And I'm doing intentionally because I want people to know that, yes, I showed up alone, but I didn't stay alone.

I had the choice to opt into community once I got there.

Welcome to Becoming Obsessed, where curiosity leads you to a life you love.

I'm Teresa Stasny, and after over a decade of traveling the world, working with small business owners, and creating a couple businesses of my own, I know a thing or two about playing by your own rules.

It's not always easy and it's often messy.

It can be hard, especially, especially if you're doing it alone.

I've seen way too many incredible women shoot for the stars only to burn out along the way.

Or worse, live on default and never chase their dreams.

We're done with all of that.

Together, we're gonna challenge what keeps us stuck and figure out what it takes to live a life we truly love.

Today, we are becoming obsessed with, and I should say just staying on the topic of community.

And what many of you prob don't know is I actually helped start a podcasting community right here in Omaha.

And while I can't take credit for all of the community here, we have so much podcasting community in Omaha that you wouldn't even imagine.

We do now have a little side of our own called Omaha Loud, where we are working to get more people to try podcasting, be a guest and just creating a space to connect people who are podcasting.

One of those incredible women that I met at one of those events is our guest today.

I am so excited to welcome you to the podcast, Jessica.

Jessica Olson is the founder of the Creative Life Podcast, a visual podcast that focuses on highlighting creatives from Nebraska.

Jessica is a published writer and researcher.

She combines her educational background, technical savvy, and insight into the creative process to support creatives at every part of their journ.

And I have to say, as soon as you walked into Omaha Loud, I was like, okay, who is this woman?

I want to be her friend.

Your joy just radiates and then we did a little activity where we were doing, like, practice podcasting.

And I was like, okay, I just learned like, four things.

So welcome to becoming obsessed.

Thank you.

I appreciate this, Teresa.

And then also, I just have to say to your guests, your audience, I mean, you guys have a wealth of knowledge here with Teresa, and I really thank you because you made what is called, you know, we have first space, the second spaces, third spaces, four spaces.

But you are really championing, once again, our podcast community.

And there is actually a local influencer in Omaha.

She was like, hey, I think you should go to this.

You have a podcast and you're always talking about community.

This woman, they're creating it.

Go over there.

So I think it's really brave to create something like that.

So I am really happy that Omaha has you.

We are grateful for you.

And thank you so much for letting me come on today's show.

Well, I want to know, to kick us off just a little bit about your story, how you identify as a creative.

I know the podcast isn't your full time gig, so how did you get to this place of having the podcast and being so connected to Omaha's creative community?

So in order to talk about this, I have to talk about a core memory.

And when I was in grade school, there was the national Broadway tour of Annie.

It came to Omaha, Nebraska, and my aunt took me, and I loved annie Gordon.

Like, Ms. Hannigan.

Oh, my goodness, I love you, Mrs. Hannigan.

Like, that was my whole thing.

I talked like Ms. Hannigan when I was a kid.

I just loved her.

So the fact that we were able to go see this show, it blew my mind that people could do this.

Like, it doesn't just exist on tv.

I didn't know that it existed on stage too.

That core memory has really influenced who I am today.

And I just embrace the arts from a very young age.

I did improv Troops.

My first time getting published.

I was actually in high school.

I had an English teacher.

He's like, hey, you're actually pretty good at this.

Like, you should publish.

Like, oh, no, I'm never sharing my work with the world.

And then I did a lot of fiction press for those that like to do fanfiction.

I was huge on there doing that.

Like, you could be kind of anonymous and writing all these characters.

So I actually went to college for business.

I was really good at business, wanted to be a lawyer.

And about halfway through, I said, you know, this just isn't serving me.

I really want to go back to my creative side.

I really love that.

And so when I was an undergrad, I actually had the opportunity to work for a submission board for a literary arts journal.

And one of the things that I kept seeing coming in were people with work.

It felt like they gave me 100%, but only 10% of it was good, and they were getting rejected.

I was like, man, if someone had just worked with this artist, this creative, they could have gotten into this journal.

And so working at that journal ended up working for a small press publisher.

And then I started working for the writing center in college.

I mean, unemployment was, like, about 11% at that point, and there were no jobs, so I had to regroup.

And I ended up moving from Florida back to Nebraska.

And one of my professors, like, you need to go abroad.

So I spent about 10 years abroad.

And being abroad has really helped shape what I think about community.

And the reason why is because I had to be an outsider.

And whenever I went to these different countries, like Sweden, South Korea, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, I had to find community to survive, to be resilient.

There just were no shared spaces.

There was no community.

There was no arts as the way we knew it.

And then when it came back, guess what?

People weren't showing up.

These venues were empty.

And I was like, hey, hold on.

This is not my Omaha.

I know what my Omaha is.

And so I said, jessica, if you see a problem, you can't just say that there's a problem.

You have to get in there.

And that's why I started the podcast.

It was just a hobby to say, I believe in the creative industry, and I want to be a patron.

I want to buy season tickets, I want to show up at these events, and I want to create this podcast.

So that's just a little bit about me, Teresa, and how I got here on this beautiful winding road.

Oh, my goodness, there's so much I want to get into, but there's so many, even just parallels.

But something I said so often is, if you want something, just go build it.

And in Omaha, Nebraska, people want to have things.

Here, we have a lot more than people think.

And even people that are local, oh,.

All the time, people are like, we have that.

And like, yes, we have that here.

You don't even have to travel.

It is here.

20 Minutes on interstate.

Yeah, like you said, it's 20 minutes away, maximum, anywhere you want to go.

But it is.

It's like in Omaha, the barrier is so much lower than a lot of places to show up, but also to do something, to create something.

But there's something in your story that popped out a couple times that I think is so beautiful.

You mentioned you had an English teacher say, you're really good at this.

You should pursue this.

You should get published.

And then another person, I think you said, a professor, speak into your life of, maybe you should go abroad.

Maybe you should go see the world.

It's so different than a lot of times when we hear somebody's story, we remember the negative things somebody said to us.

And for most of us, like, probably we heard a lot of negative and a lot of positive, but it's like the story we held on to.

And I think it's so beautiful that it's like somebody spoke into your life and you used it to propel yourself forward.

I have had the privilege, the beautiful privilege of having champions in my life and actually listening to sound advice.

So I am the type of person, I do like to ruminate on things, but.

But if someone has sage advice, I will listen.

I will meditate on it, ruminate on it.

I'm very whimsical.

I'm very innovative.

I have, like, a kid's heart.

Like, I have a daughter.

And sometimes I don't know if I'm more of the kid or if she is and having that childlike curiosity, and it hasn't been burned out of me.

That's also why I'm open to the feedback.

Like, a teacher is like.

Even though I'm like, I'm hesitant, like, oh, I don't want to do that.

I don't know, put myself out there, then people can critique me.

And he was just like, hey, that's part of the art.

And guess what?

I'm here.

If something bad does happen, it doesn't happen alone.

And even with my Lao Shi, he was just like, you should go abroad.

And I told him, I have been told that people are racist and I shouldn't go abroad.

He's like, you know nothing.

He's like, just listen to me.

Just go.

And I did.

And it was beautiful.

Actually did an international dance competition in China, won a friendship award.

So it was a great experience.

Okay, I'm going to need to hear that story sometime.

Yes, yes, yes.

I'll show you Some video you mentioned,.

Really finding community abroad and how that is something that it's almost survival.

You have to find those people.

You have to have somebody to talk to.

What are some of the communities when you were traveling that stick out to you the most?

Oh, South Korea, the hospitality and that family mentality, and just the community in South Korea, I think it's unmatched.

I had never experienced that level of kindness before in my life from strangers.

So I went to teach abroad.

I had an English degree.

The teacher who I was replacing went on vacation and didn't leave their key.

So I didn't have an apartment for the first two weeks.

And so I had to stay in a hotel.

And I just remember the teachers from the school coming every day.

There was somebody to come talk to me, make me food, invite me to their families.

So from the very beginning, I was integrated into the culture just because I know where to go.

I didn't have a phone.

I was young.

I was like, oh, phone?

Who needs a phone abroad?

And then finally the school's like, jessica, you need a phone, because nobody could get a hold.

But really, truly, that is what really taught me about community.

And that community doesn't have to look like you.

Community is showing up, it's investing.

Like, there were times when I would go on vacations with my coworkers because they have these different cultural holidays.

And yeah, they were like, hey, Jessica, are you going to come with us?

You know, make lunar moon cakes, do all these things.

Making kimchi, really just rolling up my sleeves.

Because it's one thing to be invited into community, it's another thing to show up.

So post Covid, I realized I can take those lessons from South Korea, Korea, and I can apply it here because I know what it's like to now be one that's invited into a door.

And now I also have to be a door for others to come in.

That's so beautiful and makes me very curious what your take on Omaha is.

So you said you're from Nebraska, went to Florida, went abroad, you're back in Omaha.

Yes.

And by choice.

Yeah.

I want to hear your take on why you're here.

Yes.

So when I was a kid, my dad moved us up here for work.

So I consider Omaha to be home.

I mean, oh, my core memories are from here, so I just.

I call it home.

So I was married formally with my spouse, and we were deciding to start a family.

I said, hey, we're in Sweden.

This is a wonderful place.

Great benefits.

I mean, they have amazing benefits.

But we had no family.

He didn't have his support structure there.

He only had one sibling.

I didn't have any support structure there.

I had no family.

And one thing I knew about, bringing children to this world, I was like, okay, we need community.

And the only place I could think of was Omaha.

I said, omaha is the perfect place.

Omaha has a place where I can.

Because I was transitioning from education into technology.

I wanted to do data science and be a scrum master, things of that nature.

So I took two years to convert from education into technology.

I was like, I can do that in Omaha, Omaha, Silicon Prairie, I can do this.

It has arts, it has education, great schools, beautiful community.

So we made the decision and we moved over here, and it was the right decision.

And you're very connected with the podcast and your Instagram.

I know you.

You are out in the community.

You are showing up.

You are now championing all of the arts and creatives and different communities we have in Omaha.

What are some of your favorites or the ones that people maybe don't know about that you're like, why people should know about this one.

Okay, so I'm going to talk about one of my biases, and then I want to talk about the community that I'm now in.

And so one of my biases was I always thought that being a patron or donor was elitist.

There are the people who donate and support the arts, and then there's people who are in the arts, and then there's people who just go to the shows.

So for the last, I would say three to four years, I go to about five to six annual events, fundraisers, things of that nature.

Omaha Community Playhouse on Friday, I'm actually going to Opera Omaha to theirs.

And what I have learned is that it is a community of people who deeply love the arts and they are heavily invested in Omaha, the success here.

And so they're giving regardless if it's $10 or, you know, $10,000 or beyond that.

What it is is it's a true faith investment in the artist here.

So last year, I was able to go to the anniversary dinner for the Holland, and they were talking about the Keystone family, this couple.

They're no longer with us, but why they really wanted to make the Holland Center.

And then hearing about the history of how they went to go find people to partner with them and the fact that the Tanaska center is opening.

There's things that are opening in that Holland center that they will never see.

But there's this generational benefit and people who are patrons.

They believe in generations.

And I just thought that at first, once again, I had a bias.

I was like, oh, this is so elitist.

And why am I getting invited?

Why am I getting invited into this room?

So I've been going there for the last several years, and I realized that actually I belong in this room because I have the same passion as all of these people.

I want us to be the preeminent destination for creativity.

Okay, you've convinced me.

I'm in.

Okay, you're on my list now.

Teresa.

Yes.

When we talk about, like, a gala or something fancy, like Omaha can't handle some of my outfits sometimes.

So we need the places and spaces, something you do so well.

And I said at the top of this episode that when we were doing the practice podcasting at Omaha Loud, what we were doing is basically pairing people.

It's like, okay, you interview, interview, and you're the guest.

And it was like a seven minute flash round, and you were interviewing somebody who had never guested or podcast before, but was getting into it, maybe had recorded an episode or two and something that even, like, just throughout this conversation so far, I feel is this word I'm going to come back to of champion.

And during that seven minute episode that we recorded live, somebody was describing a creative work that they want to work on.

And you did such a beautiful job of saying, you know, that could be controversial.

Some people might not want to read that, but here's why I think everyone should read it.

And it elevated the whole room.

And just even now, you're like, okay, who can I bring into this room?

Who can I champion?

How can I push Omaha and just the creatives and the art scene here further?

I want to give you your flowers because I love that so much and I love that energy that just radiates from you.

Well, I appreciate it.

Thank you so much for calling out and seeing that trait in me.

It is something that is very dear to me.

So thank you for saying that.

Now, I want to talk about this because it's one of those things that I think we need to bonk ourselves over the head with, which is showing up actually being like, okay, I made plans.

Yeah, I'm on the couch now, and I don't want to get up and get ready and go, but somebody's got to be in the room.

Somebody has to show up.

How do we get ourselves to actually follow through and be that villager and inconvenience ourselves to just show up for the community, for the creatives?

All right, Teresa, I Have every barrier impediment possible to not show up.

I have every excuse.

I work full time.

I have a demanding job.

I am a single parent.

I have a small child, I have a dog.

I am going through my dissertation process 7ish weeks I'm defending for my thesis to get my doctorate.

I literally have every single barrier.

But I show up and I don't take that lightly.

In high school, I had a Spanish teacher and she was giving me some advice before I went to college.

She said, jessica, during the week you study hard, do all your homework.

She said, when it turns Friday, you turn Friday.

I remember her so well from high school.

And I just had that mentality like, jessica, you actually do have time.

Because Theresa, I'll tell you, like scrolling and being on the phone, like, yeah, I've fallen trapped to the dopamine cycle as well.

And I'm like, oh my gosh, I actually do have time.

If I did a time inventory, I have an hour to show up for this event.

And many times I go to events, I don't stay the whole time.

If there's a conference and it's eight hours, maybe depending on who the organization is and if I'm a volunteer, I might stay the whole eight hours.

I don't think in binary terms of I can or I can't.

What I think about is what do I need so I can.

And so what do I need to show up?

Well, one, I have to make sure that I'm on top of it at work and that I'm able to decompress.

I have a high stress job.

Two, I need to make sure that my daughter is safe.

There is absolutely no way that I can go have fun if my child is not safe.

So that means making sure they're fed and they're with someone I trust and that my child knows that I'm present and I actually give her the option to come with me.

There are many times people are like, you brought your kid?

Why wouldn't I bring my kid?

I asked her if she wanted to come and she said yes.

And if she doesn't want to come, then I find care.

And then as far as schoolwork, I wake up at four something in the morning, I'm doing work.

So Theresa showing up, it is hard.

That is why community is so important.

Because the people who do show up, they are the foundation of what that community looks like.

And so you will see some repeat faces.

You have to welcome those new faces.

And then they'll always be people who are seasonal.

So I Say grace and understand yourself and say no more than you say yes.

But would you say yes to.

It needs to be a real yes.

What is it that you get out of it for showing up because you're putting so much effort in to show up?

I am an extrovert.

So one, just biologically being in community around people, it fills my cup.

I have a true extrovert.

But two, I am a very affectionate person and I'm a person who's very sensory based.

So if I am on the phone and I'm talking like, dating is really hard for me.

That's why I'm not even on the apps, because I can't relate if I'm swiping or if I'm on there, I can't.

But if I'm in person with you, I can remember so many things.

Like for example, for the Omaha Loud podcast, I remember where people were sitting in that room.

I remember Katie Noel sitting on that couch.

I remember where everybody was because I'm a sensory based person.

So showing up actually helps my memory, it helps me retain images, it helps me deepen my emotions.

And I get more out of it than probably that person that I showed up for because one, they're filling my emotional cup, they're filling my need as an extrovert and I'm feeling comforted.

I can give people hugs or I can just sit down.

I went to old school Shakespeare.

I sat down at a table by myself and then there were a couple people who came and sat next to me.

And then I had my alone time, but then I had my community time.

It was perfect.

So I get a lot out of it.

I feel like I'm taking notes because it is such a good reminder of you don't have to show up the same every time.

No.

Oh my gosh, no.

I show up tired, I show up happy, I show up sad, I show up stressed.

I show up everything.

Because you can't build community with fakeness.

There are some people, when I see them, they just have a glass face.

I have no idea what is happening underneath there.

So, for example, I went to Mothers Will Save Us at Luly Creative House and it was beautiful because it was just a room of women.

Most of them were creatives, most of them were entrepreneurs.

We were talking about real stuff like, hey, what happens when you have burnout from a business?

Like, I can't have a fake glass exterior.

Talking about things that really impact me.

So I think that's great, Theresa, that you just pointed that out because that is part of community, too.

We do not want your representative.

Your representative will burn you out.

Oh, my gosh, I'm obsessed with you, Jessica.

I really, really am.

Everything you say, I'm like, that's a good sound bite.

I love you're a girl's girl.

That's why I like you.

You have that energy.

You are for the people.

And I love it.

And I will say too, I was not always.

I definitely in the past five years, one, decentered Ben and two, I was like, oh, we have to be a girl's girl.

Like, it doesn't happen by accident.

No one in our culture is, like, promoting that.

But we have to do it for each other.

So, yes, absolutely, you're right.

And I can see it.

I'm like, yes, yes.

Celebrate your wins.

Celebrate your growth in life.

Something else I've had to work on is what you were just saying too, of showing up when you don't want to.

I think a few years ago, and maybe even it was like Covid or pre Covid, we started to do a thing where we protected our peace too much and still people talk about it.

To me, it was this like, almost anti community.

Like, yes, protect yourself from harmful situations 100%.

But if you just kind of don't feel like it, or you're kind of tired, or now you're doom scrolling and can't get off the couch, that's where I've had to learn.

Like you said, some days I feel like crap and you show up anyway.

And I'm also an extrovert.

So, Jessica, when I go, I usually feel better.

It is so surprising.

Yes.

Because there are some times when I just have real life stress and I do carry it in my shoulders.

So I take yoga and Pilates to help push that out.

My Pilates teacher, she's always like, shoulders are not earrings.

I'm like, but you're right.

You have to show up.

You have to be authentic.

And I remember the protector piece.

And I am all about boundaries.

But if your boundaries isolate you, you can't grow because relationships are mirrors to yourself.

For example, I'm a mother, and I know now what's in my cup when she is acting out.

How long does it take for me to run out of patience?

Well, that's how much patience was in your cup.

How do I respond to anger or emotions of another person?

And so, once again, community, to me, it's a mirror.

And I totally get what you're saying about the whole protect your piece, cut them off, no new friends.

I'm like, no, honey, I love making friends and I keep my old ones too.

Everybody gets to come unless you opt out.

Yes, opt out, but otherwise we're all going get on the train.

You're still on my phone.

I might randomly call you or text you.

I might say, hey, Theresa, you said that you wanted to go get that sparkly dress.

It's ready.

Well, something that I can just hear is somebody's listening and being like, you know what, Maybe I have protected my piece to isolation or, I mean, a lot of adults, it's just, how do we make friends?

And my question is whether it's in Omaha or somewhere else.

If somebody isn't plugged in at all yet, how can they start to find events and start to find the community to step into and to show up for?

So I would think, actually Instagram's my best friend.

I changed my algorithm and who I follow on Instagram, so I have a personal account and have a business account account.

But when I was really doing a lot of research for the podcast or whenever I just want to go out and do something, there's a bit, right?

There's all these things.

But I realized that if you are in a loop, like the algorithm has put you in a loop, you'll never be open to it.

So the content that it feels keeps you on the app, it's just going to keep replaying it by repeat.

So if you are a social media person, I think that it does have a time and a place and this is where it excels.

Connection finding places to leave the digital to enter into the analog experiences.

So for example, if it's giving you ads and you don't like it X out of it, don't recommend.

But then use the search terms to say, for example, I like pop ups, so I want to do a vintage pop up.

Type in vintage pop up, see what happens and look at all the posts that are showing up.

And there's always an influencer, there is always an event, someone who's covering events.

Yelp is great.

Figure out who's on the Yelp crew.

Woman who told me about you, she's on the Yelp crew and she's like, she knows everything.

So you gotta find a person who knows everything.

And then guess what, you're gonna have to be brave and show up.

I can tell you so many different ways to find events, but if you don't buy that $10 ticket, if you don't go to that free event, if you don't sign up for that contract, you're still scrolling you still haven't gotten off the couch.

And I think that that's actually the biggest barrier, is you're going into new space, and for many people, they're going into it alone.

So many of the events that I feature, I'm going to them alone.

And I'm doing that intentionally because I want people to know that, yes, I showed up alone, but I didn't stay alone.

I had the choice to opt into community once I got there.

And you have to know what it means to be a friend and not network.

Networking is very different.

Networking is, what can I get from you?

What can you do for me?

Friendship is, who can I be to you and who can you be to me?

So very different.

I love that distinction.

That's my personal mantra.

That's a good one, Jessica.

Well, we're gonna change directions because I want to hear more about your dissertation.

You told me a little bit about it, and you said that it is women in tech who are abroad.

And my ears instantly popped up as somebody who has been a digital nomad who's been building tech for the past two years and is a woman.

Tell me more about this dissertation and what you're really researching and looking into right now.

So I am in the interdisciplinary leadership program at Creighton University, and I mentioned earlier in the podcast that I was in education, and then I made a transition to tech.

Well, when I was a child, I really liked computers.

My family was early adopters of it.

Like, we always had technology around.

I remember being on different places and kind of, like making my own little MySpace page, things of that nature, just having fun.

Well, then I learned to have math, and I was, like, terrified of math.

I couldn't stand math.

I was like, oh, my gosh.

And I remember a teacher saying, like, are you okay?

I'm back to class.

I will help you.

So it was just daunting.

It was so scary.

But then I was working at Saudi Arabia, and the school needed to go digital.

So I saw the writing on the wall.

I said, actually, technology is not going to be optional.

It's optional now, but it's not going to be optional in the future.

And I like to ride waves.

And I said, my career, I can go so much further in tech.

But what I did not know, Teresa, was about the barriers in tech.

I didn't know how hard it was for women in tech.

Nobody told me that.

They just said, you know, get your data science degree, get your product owner, get your Scrum master, do Java, do full stack.

I even learned Cobalt.

I Did all these things.

And then I got there with all this information, all these certifications, went into information security.

And I did not realize the barriers.

And I also realized that we have so much of our workforce that's underutilized.

And I know a lot of people do a gender lens about women versus men, but I think it's even beyond that.

Nebraska, if we want to still be silicone prairie, if we want to be industry leaders, if we want to be emerging in tech, we have to have a strong workforce because people, talented individuals are going to go to the coast or they're going to go down to Texas.

Okay, we have no ocean, we have no mountains, we have a dirty river, we have amazing arts, we have good food.

But we have to keep talent here.

And if we're underutilizing a demographic, it's to our detriment.

And so my whole entire dissertation is about looking at, well, who has to be the most resilient in it.

Imagine you have compounded factors and look at those women that are advancing their careers.

So that's why I focused on women that are working abroad.

One, they're working in another country, which, Theresa, you and I know, there are so many factors to working abroad.

The loneliness, the isolation, the finding community, the different languages, the different culture.

And they're working in tech.

So they have all the barriers of tech, plus this added barrier of working in another country.

But there are still some women who are advancing.

I want to talk to those women and I want to know, how in the world are you doing it?

And that's what my whole study is about.

And I have talked to some fantastic women and they've given me ideas I didn't even think about.

So right now I'm working on the manuscript.

I'm going to submit it.

Hopefully it gets published in a journal because we focus a lot on the problem, but we don't focus on the solutions enough.

And so that is what I'm hoping to do with this, is to find the solutions.

Now we can apply it.

Once again, I'm hyper focused on Nebraska.

I want us to employ this first.

We're going to do this and we're going to have an advantage.

Is there any findings so far that you can share?

So I will give the caveat that I haven't been peer reviewed and I haven't defended my thesis.

So there's still some back and forth.

But I will share one moment where I had to give reflection on myself and I had this aha moment of, oh, I do that too.

So I Didn't have this direct question, but every single participant brought it up in one way, shape or form about physical wellness, the way that they respond to stress, to stressors in their environment.

A lot of them shared that they are working out, they're walking, they're exercising, they're doing some kind of physical wellness.

And I was like, how come I never thought about that as helping resiliency or reducing stress?

Like, well, how does that connect to advancing your career?

That's so strange after the first person.

Then after the second person I'm like, that's weird.

Then after a couple more people keep bringing that up, I'm like, there must be something there that's connected to wellness and women and releasing stress.

So that was an aha moment that I'm actually going back to the research on and now I'm looking more into wellness and how that deals with building resiliency.

So not a full vice refining, but more so just of an aha moment for me.

I didn't even think about it.

It wasn't even in my purview to think about wellness and pull it into the study in that way.

You have my wheels turning now too.

Because in my own life, I mean, talk about multi hyphenate of like have a podcast, have a marketing agency, build tech as part of the marketing agency, be the fractional CMO for different companies.

But it is, it's like it's so easy for me to get overwhelmed and jumbled and have things just kind of get stuck where it's hard to kind of keep pushing and working out walking like my partner and I try to walk every day.

Thank God for him because he gets me on the walks more often than I maybe would myself.

But walking and yoga and just I think there's a few pieces for me.

One is just the physical movement, but two, it's like the mind body connection gets me out of the overwhelm in my head.

But then like we were talking about showing up, getting myself off the couch, go do the hard thing.

And for me, the hard thing is the transition.

Like the hardest part about everything in my life is the transition.

And so just exercising that muscle of getting up to do the thing when I don't want to, when I'm tired, when the weather is not as sunny as I'd like it to be, when yoga feels too hard, I do power life.

So when I say yoga, I don't mean like just the mind body connection.

It is like heated with weights, like we are working.

It's a signal for me When I have not been hitting my steps, when I have not been working out, I always know.

It's like I'm way too stressed.

And what came first, the chicken or the egg?

Who cares?

These two things go hand in hand for me.

Yeah.

And now that's a really great observation, Teresa, Especially.

Okay, so now I know exactly what kind of yoga class you're coming to.

It's hot.

It's like, what, 90 degrees in there is sweating.

And, yes, you have to get in contact with yourself.

You're coming down.

Probably there's hormonal changes or getting out of the high cortisol that you're right in, the fact that you can feel it when you're not doing it.

But then also, I think it builds discipline.

Like you said, you have to do it, and you have a good partner.

He's showing up for you.

He's making sure you get out there.

He's like, it's okay.

It's not raining.

Jessica and I are recording at, like, 7:00pm and so we actually went on our walk before this, and we had about four miles, a little under four miles, because I was like, I have to get out of the day.

I ended my day with doing tech stuff, which is actually probably like, the thing that lights me up the least.

When it doesn't work and you're just like, want to shake the computer?

And you're like, why just work.

I needed to leave that energy behind.

Go walk, get in a better.

Just like, kind of like, let things flow away so that I could show up to this and be like, okay, let's chat.

Let's talk.

It's a reset.

Okay, with that, I do have a few final questions for you.

And I want to know when it comes to entertainment, and it doesn't just have to be showing up local.

Maybe it is concerts, plays, or even podcast shows.

What are you currently obsessed with in the realm of entertainment?

Okay, I love snail mail clubs.

I don't know if you watch.

They have all these, like, cute reels and snail mail club creators, and they have, like, this is how I'm creating the snail mail club.

And it's not like, entertainment, but I love watching them create these mail clubs, and I do the unboxing and things of that nature.

Okay, that is a bonus.

I know this is a hot take, but what I'm obsessed with, I am always obsessed with musicals.

I sing Hamilton.

I sing Phantom of the Opera.

I sing Hadestown.

I am obsessed with musicals.

And I am so happy that Phantom of the Opera is coming back to Omaha next year.

Then Hamilton's coming back, but it's coming to Lincoln.

And then I've seen Hadestown like, four times, so I plan on seeing it again.

And I am obsessed with musicals.

I can listen to them at work, sing them around the house.

My daughter actually knew Wicked before she even saw the movie.

Because I play the soundtrack that much.

It was embarrassing.

We went to the movie.

I was like, wait, you know this?

She's like, yeah.

Like, I've been hearing this since I was in your belly, you know?

She's like, how would I not know that's Galinda?

How would I not know that's Elphaba?

And you literally sing it all the time.

I was like, man, I am obsessed.

Like, this is bad.

Passing down the love for the arts, I can get behind that all day.

You'll probably find this funny.

It's a little bit of an embarrassing story, but I went to Hamilton a few years ago with my family, and previous to actually seeing it, I had somehow my whole life thought Hamilton and Hamlet were the same thing.

I love you already.

I love you.

I see where this is going.

Keep going.

And so I honestly had kind of struggled with Shakespeare, and so I was kind of like, I don't know about this, but my sister then was sending me songs from the Hamilton soundtrack.

Now the end of the conclusion is that I'm obsessed.

I love Hamilton so much.

I will listen to that soundtrack.

I will watch it on Disney.

Last thing I will will say about Lin Manuel Miranda is Moana Encanto.

My literal favorite Disney movies.

And I need them to remake Moana 2.

Lin Manuel Miranda style.

Love the girls that did it.

I, like, watched it.

I don't know.

It was probably just a reel on them, like writing one of the songs.

Yes.

And I need the Lin Manuel Miranda version.

I need that Moana2 energy.

Those are both great musical scores and stories.

He's a great story writer.

And it's layered.

You can pay attention to one character each time you watch it, and it feels like a different movie.

And I think that's a great trait of story writers, is that they can write in parallels and different layers, and it never gets old.

Yeah, he's a great writer.

I'm gonna do that.

I'm gonna pay attention to a different character.

I just watched this weekend Encanto, and the reason I love both of those two movies so much as well is they're not a love story.

Like, we're not a little lost princess that has to find a man to come save us.

They Are strong women, girls, if we're being honest, that are figuring it out and like figuring it out for their family and dealing with the pressures that so many of us feel of being a perfectionist.

And I feel like they're so relatable.

Like you said, the story is just.

It's there and it's so good.

If anybody hasn't seen them, literally go block off your whole Saturday, Hamilton.

Like, all of them.

We gave you permission to stay on your couch to do this, but then you got to get back out.

You and I are showtuned girls.

We're going to do one of their brunches.

They have one coming up at noma, the North Omaha Music and Art Center.

They're doing a whole new happy hour series there.

Anyways, we're going to find one.

We're going to go because they have so many good venues that they collaborate with.

Just in the scheme of life.

Jessica, what are you most obsessed with right now?

Well, I mentioned the snail mail clubs.

I actually want to start one.

I have a grand idea to start one.

I have been watching them.

I'm like, you know what?

They're missing something.

And I'm always like that.

I'm always like, there's a gap.

And once I find a gap, I fixate on it.

Because I'm like, well, if I found the gap, I might be able to find the solution.

And if I can't find the solution, that's okay, I'll give up.

But I feel like there's actually something here, and so I'm brewing something in the background.

I'm a person who just tries things if it doesn't work.

But okay, so I am obsessed with snail mail clubs.

I truly am.

With that teaser of what may be yet to come.

Jessica, what is the best way for somebody to connect with you and to follow the Creative Life podcast?

Absolutely.

So we have a website, www.thecreativelifepodcast.com.

We are also on Instagram.

I know a lot of people are like, they want to go viral.

They want tons of people.

Hey, I'm giving you this invitation.

If you show up, you're showing up as community.

So I want to give you this Instagram handle, and I want you to actually show up.

Like, I don't care if you unfollow me.

Sometimes people unfollow me.

I love it because I only want intentional followers.

I do not want the whole ocean.

I just want this beautiful, vibrant community that loves Nebraska art and wants to be connected to it.

So Instagram is at the Creative Life Podcast Omaha.

Come follow.

Come join.

Like it.

Repost, Share.

I would say the people that do engage, they engage a lot, and I love it.

There's like, five people that watch every story because you can see, I'm like, man, you know what?

Like, they are showing up.

They like it.

I feel like I should shout them out one day because I'm like, they literally watch every single thing, and we're not even related.

So that's how I know that it's working.

Because if it's your aunt or your dad or somebody, it's like, okay, well, thank you for showing up.

But, you know, maybe you can gift them the first five snail mail.

Oh, I know, right?

And you know what's also really cool?

Because, you know, you're talking about obsessed.

I am obsessed with the fact that creatives, they have been really open to me, like, in these spaces, especially as people who are listening, who don't see, you know, I am a woman.

I am a person of color.

And I know there are a lot of barriers, even in the arts for people who have my demographic markers.

But I will say that Nebraska has been very open.

Like, there have been people at organizations that have reached out to talk to me.

There is an executive at one of the big organizations.

When she sees me, she introduced me to people.

She's like, hey, Jessica's building this, and we're inviting her here because she's trying to build her audience.

There are people like that in the community.

I'm also obsessed with our creatives here in that the fact that I have enjoyed the open doors, and I definitely know that that is a privilege, and I am obsessed with the kindness the Midwest.

Nice.

Well, I'm so glad that you came back to Omaha and that you showed up to Omaha Loud.

So now I'm like, we're friends.

It's official.

Yes.

Now that I know that you love musicals and you dress up, and plus, I just like that you do champion women.

You champion people.

So when I think of you, I think of a community builder.

You are more of a, hey, we are powerful together.

Now let's move together.

So that's why I respect you and I like you.

Oh, my gosh, Jessica, you're going to make me blush.

Thank you.

You should blush, girl.

Well, you're still listening and hanging out with us, and I know you want to come see us at an event, because look at how much fun we are.

So go follow the Creative Life podcast, find Jessica, send her a dm.

Go watch her stories all the way through and then find me at Becoming Obsessed Pod on Instagram.

Send me a dm.

If you're in Omaha, we can find an event.

We can help help you get into something fun.

And if you're not, then you just learned some tips on how to show up for your community.

And one way that you can show up for our community is to send this episode to a friend.

It helps get the word out and then give us five stars.

Leave a review, leave a comment.

Because we're on a mission to help more people live a life that they truly love.

Okay, y', all, let's go get obsessed.

You're still listening.

Listening.

Which means this episode connected with you.

And I want to know how.

Send me a DM on Instagram Becoming Obsessed Pod.

Then send this episode to a friend.

If you know someone who is building a life that they love or they're feeling a little stuck and might just need a nudge, send this to them.

Then rate and review.

Because it also helps us get the word out.

And as you know, we're on a mission for more people to live a life they truly love.

Love.

All right, let's go get obsessed.