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Interviews with creatives on the ground making art, community, and experiences in Jersey City and beyond. Hosted by Melissa Ragsdale.
Processing the Unseen - Jessica Joseph, Soul Therapy
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Jessica Joseph: [00:00:00] your resentment is an alarm going off to be like, Hey, get curious. Yeah. Get curious. Because on the other side of the resentment is joy.
Melissa Ragsdale: Mm-hmm.
Jessica Joseph: On the other side of resentment is creativity and creation and possibility and potential.
Melissa Ragsdale: You're listening to Scribbles to Sparks.
I'm your host, Melissa Ragsdale. I'm a writer, editor, and performer based in Jersey City. And in my time living here, I've been really inspired by all the people I've met who are out here making their creative visions come to life. In this podcast, I'll be talking with creatives who are on the ground making art, cultivating experiences, and building community around Jersey City and North Jersey. This is a podcast [00:01:00] for anyone who needs inspiration to go out and do the thing for anyone who loves to hear the behind the scenes of how ideas become reality. Or for anyone who's simply interested in hearing more about local art and culture. For our first episode, I'm very excited to be here in the beautiful space at Soul Therapy, a wellness center in my neighborhood, Communipaw.
And I'm talking to the founder, Jessica Joseph, who is one of my favorite people to talk with. Hi Jess.
Jessica Joseph: Hi Melissa. I love that. Thank you for having me.
Melissa Ragsdale: Oh my gosh. Thank you so much for being here and for being my first person that I'm
talking with.
Jessica Joseph: I'm so happy. Wouldn't, wouldn't be anywhere else but here.
Melissa Ragsdale: Oh, me neither.
Jessica Joseph: The way The light's coming in
Melissa Ragsdale: We're vibing. It's so nice right now.
Jessica Joseph: It is. it is.
Melissa Ragsdale: Well, so, to start, can you just give your elevator pitch for what Soul Therapy is?.
Jessica Joseph: Hmm. Elevator pitch. Listen, thank you for the opportunity to give my elevator pitch. Can I
[00:02:00] say something about elevator pitch?
Melissa Ragsdale: Okay.
Jessica Joseph: Because I don't have one. I don't have one. I don't have one.
Melissa Ragsdale: Okay.
Jessica Joseph: I want to have one. I really do. But it's evolving. Soul Therapy is evolving so much that, I'm like in the midst of change. I'm in the midst of change. So I know it's very, you know, structured and important to have something you can just explain, but I feel it's very in flow and in change.
My best, my best elevator pitch. Soul Therapy is a vision that I've had for a community for people for a really long time. This is an opportunity to offer routine and structure in community.
The background that I've came from is the gym world, and in the gym, there's a culture, there's a gym culture and you see that with, you know, any big box gym, you see it in studios, you see it, and studios, whatever [00:03:00] modality
You see this culturemin CrossFit. You see the culture in yoga studios, like the culture of each fitness, establishment is there. And coming from gym culture and studio culture, I've been designing and trying to like create something that fits what I think to be wellness and wellbeing.
.So I think Soul Therapy is taking pieces of each locations that I've experienced, wellbeing in the physical body and the physical world, and then mixing it with what I think true wellbeing is and its spiritual health and acknowledging your emotions and the things that you feel.
So taking routine and structure, and then putting it with creation. With physical movement as a modality, with yoga as a [00:04:00] modality, it could be Pilates as a modality, but I do hesitate when I say Pilates because I love yoga. But that doesn't mean that other people don't think Pilates is,something for their wellbeing. So it does. So I don't like to limit soul therapy to be just yoga and just to be a space where people practice yoga. It's yoga because I like yoga. I love it.
Melissa Ragsdale: I love that.
Well, and you're offering a lot of different experiences here. Yeah. Yeah.
Right. So you just sent out an email talking about, , you're having cultivated experiences. What else besides yoga are you bringing into this space?
Jessica Joseph: Yeah. The way that I'm feeling the expression of wellbeing over 2026 is in 2025, we did the.foundation. The foundation of your lifestyle. Wellbeing is routine. You come and do a thing for the day, you said you're gonna do it. And the day you made that commitment, you know what your intention was to do the thing to take care of yourself.
[00:05:00] And we laid that groundwork. So there's always daily classes where you come and sit in your practice, whatever that is. So that's yoga. Right now we have two residents. We have Yasmin and James. We also have the sound therapist, Kareem. They all have their opportunity to like offer their creation within Soul Therapy and having the opportunity to give them place and space to navigate their version of yoga and their version of their practice is what we were creating in 2025. Now,
In 2026, we're just gonna expand a little bit and offer creative experiences that don't just feel like movement.
Here's the thing with adding new opportunities into the studio, it depends on who shows up. Yeah.
Like there's so many times that you are told what
to do, but I want soul therapy to be a place where you [00:06:00] decide what you want to do within
it
Melissa Ragsdale: Oh, that's
Jessica Joseph: and like the true passion of whatever
you want to be able to be, , harnessed for community.
There's so
many people that have talents
and they have these skills and they've practiced these things for so long and
no outlet to share them with community. That's how I feel about yoga for
me. Like I share it because I enjoy it and I love it and I love the way that it makes me feel.
I love the way that it encourages me to dive deeper
into myself, and then that
depth that I find
within myself, I can then share
to the world and then
find people that have the same
Belief system. Like that's the, that's the biggest expression of expansion and true, like
knowing yourself to then be around your people.
I love that.
Melissa Ragsdale: I love that. I love that. I love that. So what does the name Soul Therapy mean to you?
Jessica Joseph: Mm.
Soul Therapy means therapy for the soul. As simple as that. If I'm gonna give like [00:07:00] my most
simple answer, yeah, it's therapy for the soul. , You have physical therapy, you have your workout. It's like this is the essence of dealing with
an unseen
and processing the unseen. And,
,
After years of actual talk
therapy with a therapist,
There's this level of awareness
that you have within yourself, especially if you're really doing the work and you really
can, use the
time you have with your
therapist to like
reflect on what you've been experiencing day to day and how you're handling it, and just having that support system to bounce your communication off of feels like what soul therapy is.
But energetically and spiritually
If everyone's
in the room and they're
laying with a bolster underneath their heart,
Melissa Ragsdale: mm,
Jessica Joseph: The expansion of the heart center creates an energy in the room. That is the work of soul therapy.
that's beautiful where you're, and I'll put words to it.[00:08:00]
when it's happening.
So in the room everyone lays if it's
a Monday night yin yoga class,
like they'll lay with their chest open and I will encourage
them to consider what energy center they're stimulating, what do they feel?
And in
traditional Chinese medicine, they're always talking about energy centers and
the ,
meridians of your body and how it is associated to your wellbeing and your
health. So if we hold poses for a long period of time and the heart's open, the energy in the room is
shifting. Everybody feels a little bit more loving after we finish.
Melissa Ragsdale: Yeah.
Jessica Joseph: we, that's the conversation we then are having with each other about,
, You
know, what did we just experience? So you asked me,
What do I see happening in 2026? It's being able to sit down and talk about the energy that we've experienced in, in a way that
feels
academic and, and, and something that you're learning
versus a
workout. You're [00:09:00] not coming here to workout. You've
moved your body
and had experiences physically and emotionally and spiritually throughout
your practice. You're learning something
new. You're remembering things.
you're becoming more
aware, like where do you go and talk about those things.
Melissa Ragsdale: Yeah.
Jessica Joseph: We're like opening the door for that, but like where, okay, so the door is open and now you're just like running around.
Melissa Ragsdale: Yeah. Instead, it's about opening the door and then like being in that space, that mental and physical
space together
Jessica Joseph: with language.
Melissa Ragsdale: With Language Okay.
Jessica Joseph: express what you are walking around in.
Mm. , we did a workshop, , so the workshop we were doing
in the beginning of the year, I was like, testing, right?
So this is like the creative process of soul therapy, like what makes me a creator and what makes me, , a founder and somebody that is like thinking,
,
Jessica Joseph: Like so far ahead. but also
staying present.
And I'm not afraid to fail, like truthfully. Like if it, if something doesn't go well, I'm still gonna do it, you know, I'm still gonna push through [00:10:00] it and, , make adjustments and change.
So,
A
few months ago we did like weekend retreat right? Type things. And it was so fun for me as a creative because
I said, essentially
I'm saying, I'm holding space at this period of time. This is what the theme is gonna be. Whoever's interested, like, let me know. You know,
like just throwing it
out there.
And I always love to see who says yes because then
once a person
says yes to letting me share my gifts, there is this energetic experience that happens where I'm like preparing to hold space with them and prepare for them. And
it's very subtle, but it's,
over
time. So I love when people know right away that they wanna do a thing, because then I can have longer periods of time, like planning and[00:11:00]
considering what
we can do energetically.
, There may be some superpowers that I have, there may be, I may be talking like superpower code words,
uh, energetically.
Melissa Ragsdale: I love that. Yeah. Well, I think one of the superpowers that I think that you do have is the ability to build community. Like how do you agree with that?
Jessica Joseph: What does that mean?
Like what do I, what do you see? I don't know
Melissa Ragsdale: I just, I feel like with this and with run club, which like, we'll get into that you are great at making
spaces
where people feel welcome, where people feel excited to be involved.
Yeah. Um,
Jessica Joseph: I,
yes, I think I do that.
Melissa Ragsdale: Yeah.
Jessica Joseph: I think I do that.
I do think I do that. I don't know if
I am
aware of like how.
Melissa Ragsdale: it's not a conscious thing?
Jessica Joseph: well,
okay.
I am very intentional. Like I'm not, I'm always, I always am intentional
about what I do, so it's not unconscious.
But I think [00:12:00] to
sit here and say like, oh, I do this and I do it like this and this is how I do it. And no, it's more like just who I
am. I love
that. Where wherever I go, I will do this. Yeah. You know, like this is just
like,
you know, it is just like, this is
what I do. Um, So
yes. I, I, I take that, I'll take that. This is me trying to receive
a compliment. Yeah.
Melissa Ragsdale: Yeah. It's,
Jessica Joseph: Everyone's still learning. I'm still
learning.
Melissa Ragsdale: , what would you say your superpowers are?
Jessica Joseph: Hmm. I would say,
my superpower. Is, yes.
Along the lines of building community. Yes. But there's, there's something
that is
a little bit.
deeper than that. , I
think I have the ability to, have you ever done, not your birth
chart, the other one where you like
projector, reflector, human design.
Melissa Ragsdale: Oh, I think,
Jessica Joseph: yes.
Melissa Ragsdale: I don't think I've done it, but I think I've heard of it.
Jessica Joseph: Yeah. So I just recently looked at my human design and essentially, and it gave me, it's not that it was telling me about [00:13:00] myself, but it gave me language to express what I feel that I do. If I'm in an environment, I'm going to just observe and then bring wellbeing to the environment.
Mm. I don't, you know, I'm still working out what it, my superpower, but, you know, it's a superpower. . I really just care about, like, if I sit in front of somebody, like I care, like if I'm sitting in front of somebody, I just understand that I'm sitting with a person.
Like I, I know that we're in this world and I could be anywhere in the world, but I'm here with somebody. So I like to acknowledge the people that I'm around. And I think that foundational curiosity I think that is a big factor in why people want to be in these spaces, to be seen, to be acknowledged, to be living in their life around people that acknowledge that their presence [00:14:00] is beautiful and wonderful.
That's specifically when I'm in service. But if I'm filling my cup, if I'm like pouring back into myself, I like to be silent. Mm. Yes. I don't, I'm not building community where I'm trying to fill my cup
Melissa Ragsdale: Yeah.
Jessica Joseph: In my work, I just feel like I can't be quiet in my work of service. I can't be quiet. I have to be present. But when it comes to taking care of me, I definitely notice there's a little bit of a shift where I'm more internal and want to nurture myself and like. Quietly pour water over my garden and with my own music.
And you know, like, you know, I'm like, I'm totally in my garden watering quietly because a lot of the times, like throughout what I do in service, I'm reminding people to do this practice. So I need time to do it for myself.
Melissa Ragsdale: ,
So let's get [00:15:00] into the story of how, like you went from
Jessica Joseph: before
Melissa Ragsdale: to having this studio to having Soul Therapy. So to get into your origin story a little bit, I know that you have a Bachelor of science Yes. In athletic training, and you have over a decade of experience as a personal trainer.
Jessica Joseph: Yes.
Melissa Ragsdale: And the way that I first met you is that you're the athletic director of the Grind Society, which for those who don't know, is a running and fitness club here in the neighborhood, hosted by the Grind, which is our amazing local coffee shop. So how did you get into athletics and what draws you to it?
Jessica Joseph: Yes.
I was a swimmer.
Melissa Ragsdale: Oh,
Jessica Joseph: I'm a swimmer. Yes. Shout out. Tell the swimmers out there
Melissa Ragsdale: That tracks are someone who likes quiet. Yes.
Jessica Joseph: Oh. Best sound ever.
Water.
Going past your ears in a pool. Nothing better exhaling off a flip turn. Like there's nothing better than the feeling of being in a pool. Love that. , So I swam for eight years, , competitively.
[00:16:00] Yeah. I'm a competitive swimmer. Shout out Montclair State. Shout out coach.
Jessica Joseph: yeah, definitely, definitely swimming. And my parents always asked if I wanted to be in athletics or you know, do you wanna play a sport or do you wanna do this? And I'm always like, yes I do. 'cause I love structure.
Yeah, I loved structure as a kid, I want to know that I'm going to practice on a certain day.
Like, I just like structure and I always have like foundationally, I'm a Virgo. Okay. Virgo sun. Virgo sun. Yeah.
Melissa Ragsdale: Yeah.
So you started swimming, then you went to college for athletic
Jessica Joseph: Yes. Well, I swam in college.
Melissa Ragsdale: swimming in college.
too.
Jessica Joseph: Yeah. So, , yeah, I mean it is an important part to express about my origin story to just understand
that
I've always been drawn to being in service of healing.
Mm. and
I know that [00:17:00] learning how to acknowledge my body or like find peace within myself through my physical body is a way for me to. Understand other people and how like people experience life So going to college for athletic training gave me language where I know more things about the human body than ever.
We did a cadaver lab. Like we were, yeah, like we were, we saw the human body, like we studied the human body and truly feel like when I was there it was. Learning the human body, learning how to heal the human body through modalities. And if you don't know anything about athletic trainers, they're the person that runs out on the field for like a hockey game, a soccer game.
Like if somebody needs to be taken care of a football game, you know, somebody's running out to support that person that's injured on the field. It's so they work with athletes and, , there's different levels. You can do it at high schools, you can do it at colleges, you can do it. , For professional sports like [00:18:00] you, there's really many different environments for an athletic trainer, and I just don't think that mine was traditional.
And I do believe that my education has given me the opportunity to be more of a healer and more present to heal in community because understanding the physical body in that way, and, , knowing how to push people, knowing how to pull back from pushing them. If somebody says that they're injured, I know my way around the medical healthcare system where I'm like, okay, you're going to go to see a physical therapist.
If you go to your primary care physician, they're gonna refer you in the direction that is best for them or their protocol. So there's just so many different nuances of my education that has made me more competent.
To heal and support community.
So swimming was the vessel [00:19:00] that got me into the athletic training room. Yeah. I didn't know anything about athletic training. I went to college for nutrition to start, and I knew like, Ooh, . Chemistry. Chemistry.
Melissa Ragsdale: Yikes
Jessica Joseph: like I, I knew after semester one, that's not for like, I know I will not like this the way that I felt in, um, oh, what was that class?
Oh, there was a class that I was like, if this is required for this major, I can't be here. Like, this isn't for me. Like the way that I feel, I can't remember the name of that class. Statistics.
Melissa Ragsdale: Oh yeah. Yikes.
Jessica Joseph: I said what? And I'm like, listen, shout out to the, all the statisticians out there, but I don't know if that's their name, their title. Statisticians status. Statisticians. Statistic.
Shout out
to all y'all. It wouldn't be me. Couldn't be me happy for what you do. But wow, I was lost. Yeah. Just a language. I don't know.[00:20:00]
Right. So then it got me really curious. So then I was thinking, okay, if I'm not going in this direction of nutrition, it's something about wellbeing. Yeah. There's something about wellbeing. And then at that time I was swimming more frequently 'cause I was swimming on the team and I was getting like an overuse of my biceps tendon.
It was started to be inflamed just on one side or it was just. Divine timing and fate. I don't know whichever one you wanna believe, but I, it brought me into the athletic training room and that is the moment I was like, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. There's student athletic trainers in this room
Melissa Ragsdale: Wow. That's cool.
Jessica Joseph: Supporting athletes that are participating in sports right now. So there's this like bond that happens between athlete and student, just specifically in that. So I'm clocking that energetically about like community building where you build a relationship with your athletes. [00:21:00] So I always thought that was interesting.
And then I would ask the student athletic trainers like, wait, how do I become what you are? Like how do I get there? What do I, what do, what do I have to do? Because like, I want that. Yeah, because I loved how they knew the body.
Melissa Ragsdale: Is like the connection, like the human connection that drew you to it?
Jessica Joseph: With passionate people. Like the passion of an athlete is unlike a person that is just going to a physical therapy office just because like, there's just a different level of passion and understanding and desire that they carry with themselves that I'm attracted to. Like, I love passion, I love when people care about their thing.
I love when someone gets geeked out. Like, I love that.
Melissa Ragsdale: Yeah. That's awesome.
Jessica Joseph: So getting into athletic training was that It was being around the passion, it was being around athletes, it was being around healing people that are passionate, that care and like being that [00:22:00] support system and then, you know, being relied on and being like, that's the person that's gonna help me if I need it.
So a little bit of that service that I've always had. Yeah. And then throughout college it just kind of like refined and then,, I just knew at that point working in a school system was just not for me. That three to nine or like after school till the football team leaves, like I just wasn't feeling that.
And I also am not that into professional sports where I would wanna travel with sports teams and do, that really wasn't an avenue for me. So once I finished college, I was like, okay, I have all this knowledge. But I like being around people that are passionate and athletic. How do I get around people that are passionate and athletic gyms? Yeah. What other places are people physically for their physical body, passionate and athletic or trying to be and like better themselves? So I went that direction and then did a lot of studying [00:23:00] of like strength conditioning and kettlebell training and weightlifting and down that road, so then from that, so like getting my body ripped, working for Everlast and boxing and doing all that, it was beautiful and it was such a learning curve. And that's the first place that I ever truly built community. Like through showing up weekly. Like these are the days that I'm gonna teach these classes 'cause that's group fitness.
These are the days I'm gonna teach these classes come and enjoy. Yeah.
Or, um, well there's no, or
come
on these three days or five days a week, I'm just gonna put a workout together. There's a community bonding that is like the essence of what Soul Therapy is like. I love that structure where people are coming on a day to do a thing and get better.
That is so, that's so me. , And then I also felt [00:24:00] that the, , fitness world doesn't allow you to be non-physical
Melissa Ragsdale: Mm-hmm.
Jessica Joseph: So personal training, there's this level of, I'm taking care of somebody's coming 'cause they want to change their physical body.
Melissa Ragsdale: Yeah.
Jessica Joseph: But there's more to it. Like you are not just your physical body.
And I had a moment . In those 10 years, I had a moment where I was like, oh wait, there's more than the physical body. Oh, I have a lot of feelings. Like now I'm like in my twenties. You know what I mean? Yeah. Like now I'm like getting up there. I'm like twenties, 27, 20, you know, I'm like getting into understanding frontal lobe, developing all that.
, I loved the spiritual practice that yoga offered. There's like this thing that doesn't happen in an athletic training room with athletes. They're not talking spiritually when they're trying to make goals and try, you know, they're not doing that. And in the gym culture, they're not setting intentions [00:25:00] and thinking about how, , it feels to be in the gym and how it feels to, be in a gym full of other people that are working out.
Like they just don't talk like that. , 'Cause people wanna see physical results in a physical place and I felt. A little bit disconnected from that. Like, I just didn't feel like that was the end of my search. There was still more for me to search and from there I fell in love with yoga. Like, it just felt like something I was remembering.
Oh, lovely. Yeah, I went to the Maldives. Have you ever been to the
Melissa Ragsdale: never been to the Maldives. Oh my god.
Jessica Joseph: Went to the Maldives. We did , Yin yoga on the beach, full moon gong. And it was a big gong and it was insane. It was beautiful and it was truly like life changing and a trajectory shift in my, , awareness and just like where I am in space, I took my first solo trip and, it was incredible.
It really was. So then when I [00:26:00] came back, I just felt a little bit, you know, different, just shifted a little bit more then I was locked in for yoga for years. I would take class like, the good days. I would take class like five days a week. And I was, like I said before, I'm like so quiet about it.
Like nobody knew I was practicing as much as I was practicing. I was just like nobody knew. Just saw me with my yoga mat. Like, that's it. I remember those days as like my most, , precious and memorable times. Like it truly is like such a gift to have a really great teacher around that just is committed to showing up when they said they would.
And that commitment offers you an opportunity to go deeper within yourself. It's just an incredible, , act of service and act of love. And I, that's why I think yoga teachers are so special. And I love my teacher. Like there's. [00:27:00] There's something really beautiful about someone that devotes themself to a practice and offers it regardless of, you know, what everyone else says or the evolution of life like, that's their service.
Melissa Ragsdale: I totally agree. Yeah. Once you discovered yoga, you had like kind of this internal aha moment.
Jessica Joseph: I did,
Melissa Ragsdale: it sounds like. , And then how did you go from being the student of yoga to being in like this teacher mode?
Jessica Joseph: It came from me teaching group fitness. Yeah. I remember the second time I ever taught a class and
Like the feedback I got was like. You know, you could just like talk normal, right? I was like, wait, what? What do you mean? Like, what do you mean? Because there's like this voice you think you have to do.
So once I realized that, in order for me to continue my journey and take my next step that I had to be in front of my peers and like stand up in front of my peers [00:28:00] and express whatever I have going on. And also, and also like. It was how I was making money. Like that's how I was living.
Melissa Ragsdale: there's always that,
Jessica Joseph: There's like this level of like, yeah, gotta survive. This is what I'm choosing, this is what I'm choosing to invest in. Yeah, I have no choice. Like you don't wanna be an athletic trainer at a school and apply to all these places. Well, what are you gonna do?
Yeah. You know, so it really was like, out of need and it was nerve wracking and it was scary and I was so bad. But the grace that I've received from people with a new teacher
is incredible. There's never a moment where you forget as a group fitness teacher, your first group of people that actually gave you a chance because it's so hard.
You, you are not good. Like when you first start, like you, there's just mistakes that you [00:29:00] make, especially when like the expectations are really high
You don't know certain things. And sometimes when you walk into a new place, the people that are practicing have been there longer than you,
And you're learning the nuances of the space, but they already know. So there's this level , of grace that is offered and that was so beneficial. And , once I was able to get past that and have my repetition and do it over and over again, it turned into a level of confidence of like, I can stand in front of the room and tell you anything.
What do we need to know? Like I can talk to anybody. Yeah. It's, it's that true public speaking practice. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So that was it like a need really.
Melissa Ragsdale: Well, and I think some of the work of being a yoga teacher is having to like, get up in front of people and be vulnerable a lot of the time.
Jessica Joseph: Oh, I, the, my, um, my yoga teacher says, you should always question why your yoga teacher's not oming. And I remember being like, because I wouldn't om, like I didn't om for a while, and I remember being like, [00:30:00] I'm not ready. I'm not ready. But like, the feeling I really had was, I know that if I start that it would be really hard to not do it ever again. Like if I start doing it like I'm committed to, you know, that ritual and that practice that was probably.
The initiation of being a yoga teacher, you know, like out outta everything that you do. Like being able to start class and like om in your true essence and like om intentionally and in full presence like that is your initiation into your practice. And I remember the day I did it, 'cause I've been, I was feeling the pull and I was nervous.
I was nervous, I was feeling the pull, I was nervous. So then I practiced by myself. But here's the thing, and if anybody out there is practicing oming, and I don't know, , I talk about this in class, I'm always like, don't do it if you don't want to. 'cause I know how it feels to not wanna do it. There's [00:31:00] a level of comfortability that you have when you're oming with a group of people where you're not starting it.
But you are participating in it. There's like this essence, but in a room full of strangers and you choose to om, very powerful to receive the om back.
Yeah.
Very powerful. To receive the om back and like hear the room around you and hear the people. And I have a little theory about oming.
Melissa Ragsdale: What's your theory?
Jessica Joseph: , I feel that it's an opportunity to reflect on every moment we've ever omed in our life. Ooh. Yeah. Where I feel a, uh, you know, a little deep, A little deep, A little deep. Yeah. I just feel like and also like, listen, depends on your level of practice, but if you truly om with your heart, like I just feel like that is so precious and, , vulnerable and intentional.
Melissa Ragsdale: Well, I always [00:32:00] think about whenever we om, I think about, , frequencies.
Like we're aligning on this frequency in this moment together.
Jessica Joseph: Yes.
I totally agree.
The om the om is just, it's, it's, it's a magical thing. If you don't know it or don't do it. You can read M anifest Your Destiny by Dr. Wayne Dyer. He'll explain that.
Melissa Ragsdale: So when, when did that vision of having your own studio, of having soul therapy Yeah. Come, was it, did you have, like, is there a single moment that you can think of or was it more of like a gradual thing? Um,
Jessica Joseph: Did I ever think of a place? Of course I did. I think of freedom where, you know, there's a. There's an expression of the service that I'm offering that I don't know where the container is to hold me. Like I don't know where the container is to hold my creative process. If I, if I saw it or knew it, I would have gone there to nurture it [00:33:00] and water it.
So I feel that what is being created is, is because there's nothing for this container. So I'm creating the container. Did I always know I was creating this container? I think through trial and error and continuous curiosity.
Like, I don't see what I'm, I don't see where can hold me. I've been in places and I'm like, I am, I don't feel held here. You know, like, and, and, and no shade to nobody. Like, no shade to anyone. I just don't feel like I'm fully expressed. I'm like a, a butterfly, like trying to come outta my cocoon.
I'm not fully evolved yet. I need to keep expanding and growing. And this is a representation of I'm trying to find and hold space for my expansion and for my growth. So the intention of getting a studio really came from searching for more freedom because [00:34:00] I got curious about why I was being resentful.
Melissa Ragsdale: Mm.
Jessica Joseph: And like understanding where my resentment was rooted in and rooted from, I was like, okay, so what do I actually like? Like, okay, I can acknowledge I feel resentful. Okay. I know what I don't like. What do I like? And whatever I do, like, I'm gonna keep that and get rid of the stuff I'm resentful for. And that is where the studio is created from, from a moment of like, I want to feel joy.
I wanna feel fully expressed. I want to expand. There's things that I, I know that I cannot be the person I wanna be
resentful.
Melissa Ragsdale: Uh, uh, that speaks to me so
much. Yes. Uh, in your, you wrote a letter for the like end of year party, and you said something like, resentment is a tool or it's a, it tells you something.
Yes.
Jessica Joseph: It's an alarm. It's a alarm.
Melissa Ragsdale: That's what it was.
Jessica Joseph: Yes. It's an alarm. Like your resentment is an alarm going off to be like, Hey, get [00:35:00] curious. Yeah. Get curious. Because on the other side of the resentment is joy.
Melissa Ragsdale: Mm-hmm.
Jessica Joseph: On the other side of resentment is creativity and creation and possibility and potential.
Melissa Ragsdale: That's so inspiring to me.
Jessica Joseph: It's true. You're feeling it today.
Melissa Ragsdale: I definitely am feeling it today.
Jessica Joseph: Like truthfully.
Melissa Ragsdale: So then once you had the studio Yeah. What did that feel like to be like, this is, well first of all, let's back up. Okay. You were, you had been like teaching in the park. You were like all over the place.
Yes. And then like from my point of view all around the neighborhood, these yellow signs that said yoga started popping up everywhere. Yeah. And that's when you were teaching in Gray Scale.
And then how did you get from that point where you had a bunch of, you were teaching in a bunch of places
Jessica Joseph: Yeah.
Melissa Ragsdale: To like actually having this physical space that was yours. Like, I guess, like what's the story, but also , what did it feel like to move into this new, this new world,
Jessica Joseph: um, [00:36:00] Abundance,
trusting abundance, and I know you're like abundance.
Whatever. I'm telling you, it's an essence. It's a way to live. It's a lifestyle. And there's no way you can create in lack.
You can't create in lack. So there has to be an essence of abundance that fills you day to day. You have to believe that it's possible. You have to believe in the good. You can get wrapped up in, oh, I can't woe is me.
I, you know, they did this, they did that. It's like, no, you got there because you are in faith that this is your path. You know, and it really requires you getting super serious and clear on what your service is. Like, what are you in service of? Who are you in service to? So a little bit of clarity there.
My choice to, , host classes in a photo [00:37:00] studio came from a moment of prayer where I was like, Hmm, where next? If not here, then where? Yeah. You know what I mean? Like, wait a second. So I'm resentful and I'm feeling really frustrated. So, so, so I'm saying, I'm acknowledging that I'm resentful, and I think this is where the start of change occurs,
where you notice, you acknowledge something that you've been avoiding and you're like, okay, I've been avoiding this and I see it now. Change. Like change has to come or stay the same and staying the same means you're gonna be resentful and you may start feeling sick and you may start feeling upset with people around you. You may start just changing resentment into many other different forms and putting it on other people instead of acknowledging like, Hey, I'm feeling this because I'm unhappy with what I'm choosing.
And once [00:38:00] you come into that acknowledgement of like, I have a choice, wait, the potential of my life is right in front of me. I make the choice every day how I wanna wake up.
Jessica Joseph: that's about living on an intentional life. You have to wake up and decide how are you wanna live, and that is the essence of what created this space.
Like being able to say, what is calling me? What do I know is not for me?
Melissa Ragsdale: Mm.
Jessica Joseph: Mm. Send it up. Send it up. Send it up and see. I'm a, I'm a very big believer in like listening to, like waiting. My human design says that I'm supposed to wait a moon cycle
Before I make decisions essentially because of the type of human design I have.
Melissa Ragsdale: Does that, [00:39:00] is that saying that you tend to jump into stuff, right
when you have the idea and need to roll back?
Jessica Joseph: No. No.
Melissa Ragsdale: Or is it saying that you, like you are naturally inclined to need to wait?
Jessica Joseph: wait. I need to feel,
Melissa Ragsdale: yeah.
Jessica Joseph: The idea through change. I see. And then, then decide how it fits and feels in the trajectory of what I know my intention is.
So I need to almost like. If, if a new idea comes in, it has to come in and it has to be developed over time, and I have to feel it. If it stops showing up, then okay. If it stays, okay. If it grows, okay. If it starts to feel bad. Okay. So I'm tracking the experience of like how things are landing. So, um, starting at Gray Scale was an opportunity for me to be in service to my community and also do, [00:40:00] when I was resentful, I was like, the two things I want to do is teach on Thursday, teach on Saturday, I wanna teach yoga. I, and I don't want to convince anybody if I can or can't. I wanna do it when I wanna do it, how I want to do it. And like, I don't need someone to hold me accountable to show up. I don't need a studio, , like a, to be at a yoga studio to get clientele. I've been in this industry for so long. I have a following.
I have people that are looking for me to share and, and want to receive my service. And, that's on cultivating it for years, you know, the work that with the run club and teaching yoga outside in the park for years. Yeah. Like, it's only, it's only natural that it would evolve into something, you know, you can't imagine, , doing something intentionally over and over again and for it to not turn into something beautiful like it is gonna turn into something beautiful.
And [00:41:00] I have the discipline and patience to. Wait for it to come. And I remember we would talk outside and be like, oh, it'd be so nice to be inside and we can do this all year round. It's like, I agree. Just wait. Like we need to wait. Yeah. You know, we can't rush things. And I think as creatives we often want like the album to be done already.
It's like, well you gotta make the album, you gotta make the song one and song 12. Like you gotta do all of that to have a full album. So like there's no need to rush it. Like this is the best part. And at that point, not only are you growing yourself and giving yourself space and time to evolve by showing up over and over again as a creative in your own art and your own act of service, but as a person in community, people need to see you show up consistently and see who you are over time.
Do you show up differently every time I see you? [00:42:00] Do you tend to do this? Do you tend to do that? How? What are you, what? Who are you? Like how can you assume who somebody is by meeting them two times?
You need to see them show up in their practice over and over and over again. And I would even argue that you don't even have to see them.
You could just practice next to them and know who they are.
More than, and then hear them talk a few times and express themselves a few times about something intentional and something beautiful that you can then know who they are at the core of their being. That is Soul Therapy, like that is the acknowledgement of people and expression of self.
Without feeling like you have to know and meet everyone around you. Just be in your practice and the rest will unfold and you'll feel like you're in community because there's other people choosing to do the foundational thing you wanna do.
Melissa Ragsdale: Yeah.
Yeah
Jessica Joseph: Practice
Practice passion, [00:43:00] discipline. Like that is the root of it all.
That is the root of it all.
Melissa Ragsdale: What surprised you when you started the studio?
Jessica Joseph: Meeting everybody.
Oh my gosh. Meeting everyone. Seeing all of these beautiful people just like show up, , and being able to hold space for them and like for them to blossom and flourish.
The biggest, the biggest surprise is just the support and the feeling that, , I can be of service and be supportive to. Somebody
Melissa Ragsdale: Mm-hmm. Like
Jessica Joseph: that is, that's everything to me. So that's the biggest surprise and constant. And meeting my people. Like the more I am communicating on a deeper level and expressing myself deeper and louder and, , not being afraid to share how I think and how I feel, the more I attract my people.
And that is the best feeling. It's like, oh, right. That's why everyone says authenticity. Be [00:44:00] yourself and you'll find your people. That's
it.
Melissa Ragsdale: I love that
Jessica Joseph: I
but like, I also feel like you need to be around strong people that have the ability to show you that yeah, somebody needs to show you how to be strong. Mm-hmm. Sometimes it's not, it's not for me at least, , it definitely required being taught to like stand up for myself and say no. And, , that was a big, big lesson. Therapy is good for that.
Melissa Ragsdale: Yeah.
Jessica Joseph: be like, oh, right. Why does that feel bad? Yeah.
Melissa Ragsdale: Well, and I don't, I, the more we talk about this, the more I'm getting a vision of like, oh, you put something into this space and you get something from this space.
Like, it's all about what we're giving to each other and what we're receiving in
Jessica Joseph: It wouldn't be what it is without everyone. Yeah. And when some, when there's people that are regulars that miss days and they're traveling and they're gone, it's like, it's felt like we, I feel, we feel you not being here and wanting to be here.
But I also think it's such a beautiful thing to be away from the [00:45:00] practice for a little bit. Like there's such beauty in rest. And that's what also this space is where yes, we're here to practice, but it's also has this like energy of like,
Melissa Ragsdale: yeah,
Jessica Joseph: like chill.
Melissa Ragsdale: Yeah. \
Jessica Joseph: Like walk up those stairs and take a deep breath.
Melissa Ragsdale: Yeah.
Jessica Joseph: Know what I mean? Like you better walk up those flights and then once you get here, connect to your breath. And it's such a, and you know, we can take, make this stairs so spiritual if you don't know. It takes, there's a few flights of stairs to get up to the studio, in the best way where, you know, it's, I always, I always jokingly say that it's not an easy road to your highest self.
You know, you gotta work for it. You gotta like to get to your highest self isn't gonna be easy breezy. You know, you gotta, you know, take your flights of stairs to get here. So it is so spiritual from the moment you, you on the journey to get here. And that to me is how I know that this was always waiting [00:46:00] for somebody, you know, and I'm happy that it's me.
Melissa Ragsdale: That's wonderful.
, so I know you've hosted a retreat in Mallorca before and you have a retreat in Dominica coming up.
Yeah. So what's that process like of planning a retreat?
Jessica Joseph: It requires the, the potential to not do it at some point, but then also be fully committed to doing it. Like, there has to be this play of like, yeah, if it doesn't feel right, I'm tossing it out, but if it feels right, I'm gonna keep doing it. This is like the most creative I have to be, to bring 15 people to another country and plan and experience that we're all on board safely to experience and have, and like coming together with the same intention is very, very, very challenging. It's, it's one of, it's very energetic. It's very spiritual for me,
You know, I want, I want to do it more. 'cause it's so, you know, you can make it a [00:47:00] business and you can make it serious and you can do it. And it's like, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. This, this is something I can't force. It feels like the way John Mayer expresses what an album
takes.
Like you can't just be at the, at your head and decide like, oh, I want an album.
You have to feel it full body. Like it needs to go below your head. It needs to reach your heart, it needs to touch you. And I initially was thinking that Dominica was the right location for the next retreat because that's where my dad's from, that's where my family's from. Like, what a beautiful way to bring people to an island that is so deeply rooted in my history.
And recently it's been feeling like it's not right.
Melissa Ragsdale: Really?
Jessica Joseph: Yeah.
And I just have to go with it. Like I can't, and like the people that are interested in experiencing the things that I create are just as [00:48:00] curious and encouraging me to feel it fully. Like if I don't feel it fully, they don't want me to keep going with it.
Like they're not saying yes because they want me to half-ass be in it. They want me to fully be invested in the thing happening. So, , there's so many moving parts to creating an experience for a group of people. And if one energy is not aligned, sometimes I feel like if I tell people too soon,
it
stops the, it stops the momentum.
Melissa Ragsdale: I get that way with anything I'm working on too. Like, I get, I get protective over what I'm working on.
Jessica Joseph: Mm.
Melissa Ragsdale: Mm.
Jessica Joseph: Tell me more about that. What do you mean?
Melissa Ragsdale: Like, uh, like it's hard to talk about something when it's in those early stages of
Jessica Joseph: It's almost like you shouldn't
Melissa Ragsdale: Yeah, I think so. But then, but then there has to be a point where you start talking about it.
Jessica Joseph: Yes. What is that [00:49:00] point? Yeah. Um,
Melissa Ragsdale: I
Jessica Joseph: do you know where that point is for you?
Melissa Ragsdale: I think it's something I'm working on.
Jessica Joseph: Okay. It is like finding the point. well, you
did it today.
Melissa Ragsdale: Yeah. And it felt good. Yeah. It was also hard, you know?
Yeah.
Jessica Joseph: But you knew it was time. I remember you telling me what time it would be. I remember you telling me it's gonna be on at this time.
I'm gonna be able to do it. You told me that.
Melissa Ragsdale: Yeah.
Jessica Joseph: So you knew.
Melissa Ragsdale: Yeah. But I think that's also you've, you have created like, or I guess we have a sense of trust with each other.
Jessica Joseph: Yeah. Okay. So a sense of trust. There we go. Yeah. So a sense of trust with whoever you're sharing it with. That's the importance of being authentic.
So the people around you that you're sharing things with, you have to trust them with what you're offering is and what you are creating. , So I think it's really important to have like a community of people that work with their spiritual selves and with their emotional being and, you [00:50:00] know, aligning with that foundationally so that when you are in creation, that people around you are supportive and you're not like, oh, I shouldn't share with anybody.
You're sharing it with people that will hold it.
Melissa Ragsdale: Yeah.
Jessica Joseph: And trusting that that's possible because you've been authentic to yourself and who you wanna be, and that's why these beautiful people are around you. So there's a level of like talking to the right people and you know who they are and I think there's a level of holding it in.
But I do think that, that it also comes down to like, uh, you know, you don't wanna jinx anything. . So there's, there's that. It's a felt sense for me. It's a felt sense. I don't think it's something I've ever intellectualized. It's everything of what I'm feeling. I'm feeling like, oh, I'm not feeling that, but I'm just a feeling type of person. I'm like,
Melissa Ragsdale: even when you're in that moment where you're feeling, oh, I'm not really feeling it anymore, you have this sense of, okay, I can make a change.
Yeah. And people are gonna come with me on that
Jessica Joseph: Right. Well, [00:51:00] okay. Okay. So great. I was feeling like, oh gosh, I don't think this is the right. Next move. Like the Dominica trip is not fully thought out. There's something else that's coming in that's a little bit bigger for me that I have to do, and I'm not fully sure what that is.
And I'm, you know, going to be present enough to receive it when it comes. But I have to be honest that I'm feeling the thing.
Melissa Ragsdale: Yeah. So
Jessica Joseph: I'll sit with it and I did for a while where people signed up to come and they, you know, made the investment to come do it. And, you know, I'm a woman of my word. If I say that you're gonna get a refund, like, I'm not doing it anymore.
Like, you know what I mean? Like, I'm not, I'm not feeling this, I have to be honest with you. But I even like, give myself time and give them an opportunity to sit with it and not be like, tear it out from under them, but just be like, Hey, I, I [00:52:00] was feeling it, but I'm not really. Something's up. Like something else is coming to me at this time, you know, like, we're gonna have to postpone this, but like, I love you and we'll talk soon.
Like I'll let you know when the, when it's fully flushed out. But like, I, I'm so grateful that you supported this vision from day one. Yeah. And , I don't wanna put you through me not loving something fully 'cause I know that that's what you care about. 'cause you care about me and my wellbeing and that this is a beautiful experience.
And it's a way that I protect the people that I care about, where it's like, okay, if I'm not feeling it, I'm telling you. Right? , So it's being able to be honest with that. So I will acknowledge it within myself first and be like, okay, what am I feeling? And then I say it to someone that I trust and be like, Hey, I'm thinking about this.
Like, make it true, put it into the open. Yeah. Of like I said it out loud where like I was saying it in my head for a while now, I just said it out [00:53:00] loud, you know, how did that land for me? Right? How was it received? Right. And you know, there's certain people you talk to about certain things, like, you know, so you're being, , discretionary about that.
But, then at that point, once I've said it out loud, it's like, okay, what is the deadline of communication? Like where, when are people like buying flights? When are they planning their vacation? What did they already take off of work? Like, what's the, what's the individual experience, the people that I'm communicating with?
So acknowledging, you know, their lives and that I need to tell them as soon as possible and let them know how I'm feeling. , So it's just like an, a level of integrity that you have with your consumer and the people that you hold space with and, , have contracts with, you know what I mean? Like just being honest about that.
And then once you communicate, it gets lighter. Yeah. Because it wasn't feeling good to begin with. So once you communicate things don't feel as big. Like when we [00:54:00] hold it in and we're not saying anything and we're just holding it, holding it, things get really big. But it doesn't need to be that big. If you just communicate it, it gets lighter and it gets more like, oh, space.
I've created space for me to fully feel. Yeah. And to be as a full human that says yes and says no, and like I would, the thing that I would not do is then tell them like, oh, we're gonna do it now. Yeah. Like once I've said, no, it's off. Right? Like once I've said no, like you're not, you're not gonna get a call from me.
Like, oh, it's back on. No way.
Yeah.
So there's a level of like standard and integrity that I'm upholding my practice to. And I think that's, you know, building a business and like a brand and just like being intentional about how you offer and how you communicate with your people. Yeah. So, you know, take your time in the creative process, and this is just an explanation of, you know, when something [00:55:00] doesn't feel right, how do you handle it?
Yeah.
You just gotta handle
it.
Jessica Joseph: Like let it come up. It's, it's gonna
Yeah. And you have to be a human about it. Is it
Jessica Joseph: Talk to your people. Yeah. Like, open your mouth, you know. You know what I like, say something. They, people are, people are waiting to help you.
Jessica Joseph: They're
waiting to support you. They just don't know you need it.
Yeah. So just say it.
You know, and being around really beautiful people helps. It helps when you're around some really awesome people, it's easier to speak up and share because they're not gonna hold it against you or get upset that you feeling a big feeling or reacted in a way that maybe isn't, , an expression of your highest self, but it's you evolving and, , being a version of you that you, you know, getting to a different version.
And I think holding space for people is the best thing we can do.
Melissa Ragsdale: So I have a couple questions that I think I'm gonna ask everybody. Okay. Cool. That I'm gonna end with. The first one [00:56:00] is, what books or media would you recommend to anyone who's been inspired by this conversation and wants to go deeper?
Jessica Joseph: Ooh, I know. ,
Melissa Ragsdale: I knew you would have book recommendations.
Jessica Joseph: I'm actually gonna give you a podcast recommendation. Great. There's a podcast called Wong Notes, and Corey Wong does a interview with John Mayer, and it's a two part interview. If you're in creation mode, listen to it. Oh my gosh. Incredible. Like the way that John talks about
his creative process and the questions that Corey is asking him about the creative process is.
My absolute favorite thing to listen to when I'm in creation or searching for creation. , Obviously I'm a huge John Mayer fan, so like any, I'm, I'm listening, so I'll listen. I think they're like two, two hour episodes or one two hour one, like an hour and a half or whatever. Oh, I'm listening to them like [00:57:00] on repeat, like, love it so much.
So that is like, if you are trying to get inspo for being creative, another thing that's like super mainstream ish that I love and it can be very accessible. I like listening to, .
,
Jessica Joseph: Apple Music's with Zane Lowe. His interviews with artists he has an interview series and he asks like the best questions and he like cares about the artists. So I love to listen to those, especially like creativity and I obviously, I'm saying a lot of things about musicians and artists that play music because I do think that this is, , very, parallel to, , what I think a yoga teacher does or anybody in creation does.
Then I also book recommendations if you're trying to get into spirituality, untethered soul, to tell you about the language of your mind and like what your mind is and the conversation of your mind. , I love Dr. Wayne Dyer, so. He [00:58:00] has a great morning and evening meditation that you can do with ahing and oming.
, He also has some great books. I particularly have handed out many, many copies of the Power of Intention and Manifest Your Destiny this year. I recently gave out, , who Moved My Cheese, and I love that. Like that's a book where, , if you're feeling resentment. Read it, like read it. It'll encourage you to take steps forward and to stand in change.
If you're trying to rewire your brain, Joe Dispenza, anything that he's does, it's gonna help you. Like, if you're feeling resentment a lot and like heavily, he'll help reprogram, just like getting you out of this negative or like poor me mindset of like scarcity and into a different vibration. , So Joe Dispenza is great for that.
He [00:59:00] has a great morning and evening meditation that you can do. Deepak Chopra is my teacher. He taught me what love is. So he has really great love meditations. I could keep going.
Melissa Ragsdale: It's beautiful. Wait
Jessica Joseph: the list goes on. Yeah,
Melissa Ragsdale: I knew you would have a lot, a lot on that one. So
Jessica Joseph: The list goes on.
Melissa Ragsdale: , And then for my final question, what advice would you give to someone who feels stuck Mm.
Jessica Joseph: Mm. Come to yoga
Melissa Ragsdale: That's good advice.
Jessica Joseph: advice? Um, um, what would I say? Okay. Come to Soul Therapy, number one. I got you. , But then also, you know, you don't have to, you know, come to a space to get unstuck. But as a person that loves routine and knows that I thrive there, what I've recently done for myself is give myself grace when I don't feel like doing it. I don't wanna do it right now, and when I do, I'll do it. , [01:00:00] So, you know, giving yourself grace to not look the same that you did two years ago and like, be different and let the evolution come in. And if. That means that your day to day looks a little bit different, then that's what it needs to look like right now.
But don't be hard on yourself when things don't look the way you think they should. They're exactly how they're supposed to be. And, you know, you can't, beat yourself up for being in process and being present. And then I would say the tool is, take care of yourself first and wake up and care for yourself, and then open up the arms for others, but pour into yourself early, early, early morning where you know, maybe no one else is up and you can take care of yourself.
So that's number one. That's my tool. , Decide what it is and don't miss out on yourself. [01:01:00] Like, continue it. It's important. That's important. That's like the key, but yeah. Make a routine and stick to it.
Melissa Ragsdale: I love that.
Jessica Joseph: Yeah. Make a routine stick to it, but let it be different. If it's different,
Melissa Ragsdale: Mm-hmm.
Jessica Joseph: doesn't have to be the same
Melissa Ragsdale: Mm-hmm. Every time. That's beautiful. I feel like that fits in with what you're saying too, about following your curiosity. Yeah. Yeah. That's beautiful. ,
You have tons of great classes and experiences happening here at the studio. So anyone listening should go to Soul Dash therapy studios.com. Dash
Jessica Joseph: Dashes in
Melissa Ragsdale: dash is in there, um, to look at the schedule.
Yeah. , And is there anything in particular you wanna plug?
Jessica Joseph: , You know, follow me, Jess Joseph. Underscore underscore underscore. Okay. Um, that's three underscoress. And you can follow the studio @soultherapystudios. We do a lot of different classes. We'll do workshops, we'll do, curate experiences. I [01:02:00] love to host a retreat. I love that. So, a lot of these,events that we'll be hosting over 2026 are like songs. They're like the songs to the album, and then the album would be the retreat.
Melissa Ragsdale: thank you so much, Jess.
I'm just so constantly inspired by you and.
I know everyone in our community is too, and we're all just so grateful for you, , and for everything you've given to me, to us, to the journey we're all on.
Jessica Joseph: Yeah, Yeah my pleasure.
Melissa Ragsdale: And, thanks to everyone listening, , this is just the first of many conversations we'll be having.
So please do subscribe and stay tuned for more. And take care, everyone.
Jessica Joseph: Take care.
That's our first episode of Scribbles to Sparks. So in the time it took between recording the episode and editing it and publishing it, Jess has actually put a new retreat on offer . It will be up in the Hudson Valley this May. So if you found her discussion of creating a retreat, [01:03:00] being like creating an album compelling, , be sure to go to soul-therapy-studios.com to get all the info, , and to see everything that she's doing at Soul Therapy. It's really cool and I hope that you'll check it out. I can't say it enough.
Thank you to Jessica Joseph for being our first guest on the show, and thank you for listening. . I'm really excited to be doing this and to introduce you to so many people here in the community who inspire me. If you'd like to support the show, there are a few ways you can do it.
The first one is totally free. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, whatever app you're listening to it on right now, and listen to our next episode. I am planning to release these episodes biweekly, but episode two might just come out a little early.
This is one I'm really excited for. It's a conversation with Hannah Lee, the creator of the Jersey City Cabaret. So be sure to subscribe so that you get that in [01:04:00] your feed as soon as it comes out. You can also follow on Instagram at scribbles, the number two sparks for clips behind the scenes sneak peeks.
And more just a really great way to keep up with everything I'm doing over here. The number two way to support the show, I've set up a bookshop.org storefront, , where I'm going to put any book recommendations from our guests. And I've also thrown in a few book lists of my own.
There's lots to discover there. The way bookshop.org works is if you use that storefront or the affiliate links in the description to buy a book, part of the money goes to me. So it's a win-win. You get a fun new book, your money is going to support local bookstores instead of Amazon, and a little bit of that money kicks back to me to support this show as well.
Finally number three, I have set up a Patreon for the show. I don't have any fun perks or anything like that yet, but if you see value in this [01:05:00] show and want to help make it sustainable, you can pledge a few dollars a month there. All the links to everything I've just talked about are in the show notes.
I really appreciate anything you give and especially your time and attention. Before I sign off. , I just wanted to shout out a few people who have helped make this show possible.
Many thanks to my partner Matt da Silva, who has been letting me do podcast experiments on him, uh, I mean with him for the past few months, and has been extremely supportive throughout the whole process. Thank you to Rachel Lutz for giving this episode a first listen and providing feedback. And thank you to Allie Wheeland, who has dealt out so much sage podcasting wisdom, and been an incredible sounding board throughout this whole journey.
I highly recommend listening to her podcast, The Inchident Report, if you like Formula One, and especially if you like Formula One chaos. That's it for now. This podcast was created, hosted, and produced by me, Melissa Ragsdale. The [01:06:00] intro and outro music is by Windshield. Keep your ears peeled for episode number two.
Coming to your feed soon.