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THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING

It’s the FINAL episode of This is Life Unfiltered, my podcast! I’ve grown so so much through this show, met so many new friends, and most importantly, inspired many of you to get out of your comfort zone like I have. I go into detail during this episode of what has stemmed me to stop the podcast. One of the main reasons is that when I landed my show Fearless Everyday on Radio Disney, podcasts blew up between 2018 and 2019. I had launched TILU in 2017, and the time that I spent making the Radio Disney show a success I missed out on the moments I could’ve made TILU HUGE. It’s huge now! But I want more success from it, and that’s why I’m walking away to launch something new.

The most incredible part of life is that you can constantly reinvent yourself over and over. Try it.

You can continue to listen to all past 131 episodes on every streaming platform. I’ll see you on The New Unfiltered!

This is Life Unfiltered Podcast · This Isn’t The End, It’s Just The Beginning

Taking Time Off To Regroup Made Me Realize THIS

Earlier this month I found myself getting extremely depressed and unmotivated. I’ve struggled with mental health my whole life but it seemed even more difficult for me to handle, suddenly. This is not uncommon to many in a time of confusion in the world.

If you struggle with existing mental health battles in your daily life, I can’t remind you enough that this will pass and life WILL get easier. I flew home to Connecticut and regrouped for 2 weeks, taking Instagram off of my cell phone and focusing on why I even started my company: not because I wanted to be successful, but because I wanted to help people overcome the trials and tribulations of life. COVID-19 is another example of a moment in your life you will overcome in your business and personal life. 

Never again in your life unless you actively choose to slow down will the world allow you to. You’ll get caught back up in dinner plans, changing the world, having a family, working…and right now you don’t have to do all of those tasks on your daily checklist. Having let the internet be a major part of my career for the past 10 years, it was so freaking nice to sit back and not post anything about what I was doing. EVEN if social media isn’t a part of your daily life, I can’t tell you enough how good I felt taking multiple days off. I grounded myself in ways that I haven’t, I felt less anxious even on the days when I didn’t meditate, and I felt happier.

Some more positive aspects behind taking time off of work:
  • You can actually commit to your personal achievements (no matter what) because you have time to clear your head
  • You'll be able to filter your values and focus on what leads you toward your objectives
  • You can change your belief system in order to make it easier to achieve your goals, and therefore find the right approaches and ways to make them real
You may not have the opportunity to take 1 week off of work, but you definitely have the opportunity to take a step back from social media. Try it!

129: Sustainable Swimwear with Hulya Swim Founders

As I begin to wrap up production on over 2 years of my podcast to pursue a new show, I’m interviewing a few founders before it officially ends. Hulya Swim founders Christina Firestone and Hannah Patten join me today, two girls my age who are changing the swimwear industry. I never knew how important sustainable style was until I found Hulya. Not only that, but the only swimsuit I’ve EVER worn that wasn’t a one piece swimsuit is from Hulya. For whatever reason, I feel so comfortable and confident in all of their styles to the point of comfort where I’ll wear the swimsuit tops as actual tops. How cool is that?

Listen down below! #livelifeunfiltered

Sustainable Swimwear with Hulya Swim

Simple Business Ideas For College Students

small business ideas

You’re at home, you’re bored, and you’re wondering what to do and how to get your next pay check. Trust me, every single young person I’ve spoken to over the past few weeks is struggling with the same thing. Part of me is too, battling how to continue to inspire you when I feel like everyone and their dad hasn’t felt inspired since January!

Just because you’re home doesn’t mean you have to be doing everything or nothing. I want to start off this post by reminding you that just because everyone is saying you should start some type of company or proceed with an idea doesn’t mean that it’s right for you. If you’ve felt the urge to do something, one of the below ideas could be a fit.

Start a Tumblr. One thing I love about Tumblr is that it’s easy to make connections from there. Whether you’re pinning content from someone else or pinning your own pictures, there’s little intimidation like there is on Instagram, and you can virtually meet new people. If you want to know how to come up with the right idea, click here. The expectation that you have to have a meaning behind everything you post on a blog or Tumblr isn’t true – sometimes you actually find your purpose more by posting anything that inspires you.

Start an Upwork or Fiverr account. In my Master Class, I talk often about how easy it is to make residual income by making a profile on one of those sites. You may be good at making pictures on Canva, you may be good at writing, or you may be good at tweeting. Either way, you can make money and learn a talent easily on either site.

TAKE A COURSE! Learn something! You can take the master class with me and I can walk you through some other ways I virtually made money when I was first starting out, but there’s a ton of other courses at there to educate you. If you’re deciding not to go back to college in the fall, don’t fall into the comfort of taking a gap year just because it’s easy. If you’re not going to be learning anything at college, try to do something every week where you learn something new.

126: KELLY RUTHERFORD

kelly rutherford

Hi! I’m talking about what’s been going on in my life along with some inspirational tips from Gossip Girl star Kelly Rutherford whom I interviewed on an Instagram Live video a few months ago. There are changes coming to this podcast and my brand and I hope you enjoy this new chapter in my life!

 

I Need A Change.

Alexa Curtis

COVID is making me feel a little nutty, I’m not going to lie. There are moments where I’m so into staying home, being alone, working from home, and there are moments where I feel incredibly lost, annoyed, bored and sad. If you’re someone who struggles with anxiety and depression without a quarantine, I feel for you. I’m in the same boat, and everyday is a new struggle that can bring new hope or new sadness.

For a while, pre-COVID, I’ve been feeling bored of my podcast. If you’re not familiar with the show, it’s called This is Life Unfiltered, and it’s the show that I initially started with friends of mine when I was living on the East Coast. After 126 episodes, 2+ years, and the experience that TILU has brought me from the amazing founders and friends I’ve met, to the personal experiences I’ve been able to share with you have shaped the way I view my brand. Many good things come to an end because there’s something way better to come. That’s how I feel about the show right now, which is why I’ve decided to stop This is Life Unfiltered after the next 5 episodes air over the next month that I have in the vault.

I’ll be launching a new show called UNFILTERED with my best friend Alix, which will be very different than This is Life Unfiltered. For so long I’ve been eager to share more of my life in an even more unfiltered fashion, and I have no doubt this show will do that and give me the fire I need back to feel inspired while I’m home all of the time.

I won’t delete any existing episodes from TILU and I’ll still be actively speakers to new founders, but this show will be edgier, more fun, and honestly – funnier. Because how badly do we all need to laugh right now? I know I do.

Xo,

Alexa

Episode 125: KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING #BlackLivesMatter

It is crucial that you and me continue the conversation surrounding Black Lives Matter in the community and in your life. There has been so much discussion surrounding the movement on social media, but what matters is what happens now. Since COVID-19 began, I’ve received so many emails from many of you who have started websites or programs for young people. Two of those stood out to me: Solely Sunshine, founded by a 16-year-old, and the Quaranteen Collection, founded by an 18-year-old in Connecticut.

I virtually sat down with both of them for a new episode of my podcast This is Life Unfiltered, out now. Listen below!

 

Black Lives Matter: Danielle Geathers, MIT First Black Student President

I have decided to take a vow of silence in posting any content not related to Black Lives Matter, and I hope you’ll join me. Today I’m joined by black activist and 20-year-old MIT student & President Danielle Geathers to discuss the movement, her role, and how you can get involved if you’re not colored.

Listen below and join in on the conversation on social media, daily, starting at 12 PM PST on IG Live!

Activist Danielle Geathers

Parents, 3 Ways To Talk To Your Kids About Racism

I want to preface this conversation by saying that I despise President Trump, and I’m not a Republican. My opinions may be different than yours, but I hope you appreciate the opinion of whoever you are deciding to follow right now.

how to talk with kids

During this time, and this #BlackOutTuesday, I want to encourage you to continue the conversation about racism with your friends and children.

My friend from Boston Kate posted this video I really enjoyed watching.

During every talk I have with parents, even if it’s on social media and mental health, I always preach the importance of starting the conversation about sensitive topics from a young age. I have encouraged my sister (who is black) to begin the conversation with both of my nephews (who are under 3) NOW, not later.

Though her son is a baby, the conversation should begin then. If you enable your child to get to high school without discussing race, sex, and body image with them, they may become the bully.

If your children are young, you don’t have to show them the most severe forms of racism injustice. Watching the video of George Floyd brought me to tears, and I don’t think very young kids need to see the pain in his eyes and the utter evil in the cops. That being said, there are podcasts, movies, and books that you can read with your children. Even one podcast or mini discussion per week (or day!) can enable your children to start to ask questions and become well-versed on the topic.

If you’re at a park or a grocery story, ask your child (whatever race they may be) how it feels to be around people who are of different colors. Encourage them to say hi, become friends, and wave to everyone. The discussion of racism begins with you, mom and dad. You have the power to completely change the way your children think from a young age. Keep a circle of people of ALL COLORS around you.

If you’re a parent in a PTA meeting surrounded by only white people, raise your hand and ASK why there is no one of color in the room.

“Are you scared”

“Would it offend you if someone of color is here”

“What does it show our kids if no one of color is in this room

Take your stand. If no one else is willing to stand up, then I pray you will.

I am obviously not a fan of Trump or a Republican, but I believe that regardless of what party you choose to follow, there are people who are colored and are in power we should be inspiring our kids to follow. One person who comes to mind is Michelle Obama, who is seriously my inspiration.

That could be Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, or Martin Luther King for you. Compile clips of people in power who are right in their approach (like Barack and Michelle Obama) and have also done things poorly like Trump or Amy cooper,

Ask your children to determine which statement is right and which is wrong. Let them ask questions.

Be the voice for the next generation before they can stand up on their own, please.

WHAT YOU CAN DO RIGHT TO HELP RACIAL INJUSTICE

help fight racial injustice

During this #BlackOutTuesday, I want to remind you that posting a black square on social media is one thing. What happens tomorrow and afterward is what counts.
 
Your voice matters, and now is the time to speak up about the injustices you are witnessing.
 
I will continue to post resources on Life Unfiltered with Alexa that empower you to become involved in the movement, donate, and speak up.
  1. Google whether your local police department currently outfits all on-duty police officers with a body-worn camera and requires that the body-worn camera be turned on immediately when officers respond to a police call.
  2. More and more stories of black folks encountering racism are being documented and shared through social media — whether it’s at a hotel, with the police, in a coffee shop, at a school, etc. When you see such a post, call the organization, company, or institution involved to tell them how upset you are.
  3. Work on ensuring that black educators are hired where black children are being taught.
  4. Start a protest or a group at your school, even if that may be virtually. You don’t need to be Black to do that.
  5. SUPPORT BLACK BUSINESSES.
  6. DONATE TO NAACP, REFORM, INNOCENCE PROJECT, GEORGE FLOYD FOUNDATION & THE PLETHORA OF OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO ARE CONSTANTLY HARMED WHO ALSO HAVE GO FUND ME PAGES. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED.
  7. Do not defund police stations. There are truly police officers out there, we have to believe, who care for the people. Defund the NRA, Trump, and the police stations who have high numbers of racial injustice and crime inside the stations occurring. Get out the BAD and replace the with the good.
  8. Find and join a local “white space” to learn more about and talk out the conscious and unconscious biases us white folks have. If there’s not a group in your area, start one.

FOR ABOUT 100 MORE WAYS YOU CAN GET INVOLVED, CLICK HERE.