Intentional Improv + Human Design for Public Speaking with Jamie Clark
EPISODE #38: Intentional Improv + Human Design for Public Speaking with Jamie Clark
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In this episode, Leah brings on Jamie Clark, an improviser, to talk about all things improv and how human design can be used in improv. They discuss all of the following:
05:25 Jamie’s journey with improv
21:23 Inner child work
29:51 Public speaking
48:01 Human design in improv
53:16 How you can work with Jamie
Leah, 5/1 Sacral Generator, and Jamie, 6/2 Emotional Manifestor, discuss how you can use your human design type to thrive when improvising. Jamie breaks down all of the pieces of improv on a deeper level. Leah and Jamie explore the best way to live in alignment with your human design system by healing and being able to put yourself out there.
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RESOURCES MENTIONED:
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IG: @thedesignofyou / @leahmccloud
Intro/Outro song is 6am by Young Mooski
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
[00:00:00]
Jamie: And so I'm just noticing, I mean, improv is incredible for entrepreneurship too. Because it's teaching you how to make mistakes over and over again. And that is what entrepreneurship is. Wow. Yeah, but I'm noticing, okay, so I'm starting to experience this nausea because I'm expanding in my business and I'm working with these high ticket clients and I'm putting myself out there in a way that I haven't before.
[00:00:56]
Leah: Welcome back to another episode of The Design of You. I'm very excited for today's episode. I am talking to my friend Jamie, who I met in the human design space. And this episode is very unique because we're talking about a topic that I feel like I've never heard before. Listen to a podcast related to probably people listening have it's not something that I am super familiar with, but it's about improv and using our voice. And I'm talking to a manifesto today, which again, Jamie, you guys will love her. Her and I actually met through taking a human design training together. And I just, yeah, became into her energy. I followed her on Instagram right away and I just loved, I just loved getting to know her and we've just stayed in touch via Instagram DMs as we all do.
[00:01:44]
Leah: And yeah, she is just such a powerful manifester. I love. The way that she speaks. I love the way that she shares. She has such great insights into human design and she is into improv and it's a big part of what she does. And, uh, Jamie today shares a really beautiful story of how she really refound her voice by getting into improv.
[00:02:07]
Leah: And it's just such a manifestor story, such a really cool. use of Finding kind of your voice in the world and I I truly just was in awe and I didn't know what to expect when we initially went into recording because I didn't know a lot about improv and I learned so much and I I just became fascinated with the idea of everything and um, you know, Jamie is incredible. She has lots of offerings and so we'll link some of her offerings down below so you guys can follow her and get to know what she does. And yeah, I am not going to spend too much time today telling you everything about the episode because you guys are going to listen to it. So Yeah, without further ado, let's get into the episode with lovely Jamie Clark and enjoy.
[00:03:06]
Leah: All right, guys, I am here today with Jamie Clark, who has just become a friend of mine. We did a human design training together last summer, and we followed each other, and I just loved being in her world. Jamie she is a 6/2 emotional manifester, and We just got along, and it's funny because those of you listening probably know or have talked about this a little bit, uh, is that I somehow attract manifestors into my life, I don't know why as a generator, but I just, yeah, we just vibed in the DMs, you know, goes down in the DMs, and we've just kept in touch, and it's been really cool to watch Jamie Step into her world in a human design in the human design space, but also in other realms.
[00:03:52]
Leah: I mentioned at the beginning that she does improv and what she calls intentional improv. So Jamie is here today to talk to us about. The way that she kind of merges these things together and just open up our, this audience into a new world that I know I'm unfamiliar with. And yeah, it's just a gift to have her here. So thank you, Jamie. Uh, thanks for being here.
[00:04:15]
Jamie: Yeah. Oh my gosh, thank you so much. And I have to say, Leah, I was so grateful that you were so receptive to me coming on the show. I remember, and you know, and we talk about this in human design, how manifestos are meant to inform and inform, inform, inform. And I remember sending you voice notes saying, I'm doing this thing and it's intentional and it's It's inner child work and it's improv and it's, it's not quite clear yet, but I'm coming forward and I hope that's okay. And you said, perfect. See on the podcast. Here's my link.
[00:04:43]
Leah: Instant, sacral response. I was like, yes.
[00:04:46]
Jamie: Yeah. And it felt so good to be received in that way and not have to share all the tiny details about it because I'm still forming it. And it felt so natural for us to come together in this way. So I'm really, I'm really happy to be here.
[00:05:00]
Leah: Oh thank you so much and truly honestly, like I don't need to know what something's gonna be the details If I get a sacred yes for something then i'm all in on it and I really try and honor that and that's how it was And just knowing you too the the little bit that I do because I don't feel like I know you Like super well, but the little bit that we've gotten to chat, I just know that you're someone I want around. So I was like, yeah, come on the podcast. How can I support you? And how can you support us? There's so much that we can learn from you. So let's hear about what are you up to? Tell us everything about your journey and anything that feels relevant.
[00:05:37]
Jamie: Yeah, absolutely. So if we were to rewind the tape all the way back to when I was a little kid, like eight big glasses, bangs, I looked exactly the same, just a miniature version of me with like cute panda shirts. And I was really boisterous and very outgoing and loved being around people. And I was looking at this thing from kindergarten, you know, how your teachers will write notes and give you grades on things like that. Mine said, Jamie is a very popular student and she loves to talk to people. And so it was like the straight A, I know it was so good.
[00:06:16]
Jamie: Uh, it was a straight A kid, all these things. And where I struggled was in person, right? When I met somebody, I was really shy. And so through the years, uh, you know, fast forward the tape to middle school, high school, I was so shy. I was really afraid to use my voice, did not. Beak in front of people, which I imagine you remember middle school and how uncomfortable it can be, huh? Totally. So continue to, you know, move the tape along. I get to my early twenties. I'm in a corporate career. I'm working for this amazing liberal company. It's so fun. I'm coaching new leaders on their strengths. I'm stepping more into my power. I move out to Reno, Nevada to help build a company there. And I didn't know anybody.
[00:07:06]
Jamie: I didn't have any friends. And so I had friends through the company, but I was really looking to find community. And so at that time, did you ever watch the show Broad City by any chance?
[00:07:16]
Leah: Oh my gosh. Do I watch Broad City? That is Zander and I's one of our favorite shows. Well, I watched it in college and just binged it with my roommates and I got him turned on to it. And we like, I'm not even exaggerating, watched it just the other night. Like every, we put, it's like our, You know, the office, like a lot of people put that on as background noise. We have brought city on constantly.
[00:07:36]
Jamie: Perfect. Okay. Excellent. And so you get it. And so, and I love parks and rec. That's one of them. That's my repeat show that I have on background. And so Amy Poehler was the one that produced broad city. So I remember watching that show. I was in Reno and got down such a deep rabbit hole about where these girls came from and how funny they are and learned that they came from an improv background.
[00:07:59]
Jamie: Oh, wow. Yep. Their sketch comedy is trained in Chicago and Amy Poehler is a huge improv teacher. She's incredible. She's a great improviser. If anyone's interested, definitely Google her improv because it's hilarious. So I know I went really far back in this story, but it's important.
[00:08:16]
Leah: No, I mean, I want all of it. So we have all the time.
[00:08:20]
Jamie: Good. So I am Googling and I'm thinking, Oh my gosh, that sounds absolutely terrifying. There's no way in hell I can do that. I'm the shy, like all these limiting beliefs and stories. Right. And so continue to watch broad city and slowly started to get interested in improv. I Googled improv classes in Reno, Nevada, and there is this one website and it was super tiny.
[00:08:46]
Jamie: And what came to be Reno improv. But they practiced in the basement of another theater. And I thought, hmm, okay, maybe. It took me, I mean, I don't drink very much anymore, but I had to have three beers before I signed up. You know? And so, right? You know, it just happened. And so, I was, you know, And so I took this one improv class and same thing, was so nervous, walked out of every class thinking, Oh my gosh, I'm so dumb.
[00:09:14]
Jamie: I messed up. I, but had so much fun, like connecting with people and all these things. And so, one improv class turned into two. We slowly got out of the basement of the other theater and started building our own space. Wow. So we got, it was awesome. It was so much fun. We gutted this old t shirt shop and turned it into a theater and painted the walls and made curtains and built the stage and all these things. And so alongside my corporate career, I started teaching and coaching improv. And so I'll pause there. How familiar are you with improv? I mean, you love Broad City and Parks and Rec. So I'm curious your experience with improv.
[00:09:55]
Leah: Yeah. So I mean, no experience. Here's what I know about improv. Okay. So when I worked my corporate job, which is a big part of my story, one of the guys that I worked really closely with at my corporate job did improv after work or on the weekends. And so That's all I know. Like, I understand that improv is when you, like, it kind of reminds me of stand up comedy, but it's just someone's getting up there and kind of improvising. And then I also think of, what was that show? Whose line is it anyway? Yeah. Yeah. I, my dad, I think loved that show growing up, but I just remember that show.
[00:10:33]
Leah: Actually, I forgot all about that show. And then I was on TikTok recently and there was one of their little skits up on TikTok. And I was like, oh my gosh, blast from the past. Like it like reminded me of my childhood. And so then I went to this account, watched like probably 10 videos of whose line is it anyway? And I was like, this was a lot funnier when I was younger, but like, this is still really good.
[00:10:55]
Jamie: Totally, totally, totally. I have, I too have been down that TikTok rabbit hole. And so in the improv world, there's Two kinds of improv. There's short form, which is like whose line is it anyway, where you're playing games and making jokes. And then there's long form improv, where it's the same thing. You're getting a suggestion from the audience, but you're performing a skit or a scene that's more like Seinfeld or Parks and Rec. And you're having a conversation between two people. And then hopefully the audience is laughing. Okay. And so the, at Reno Improv, the, the most, for the most part, the style that we do is long form improv.
[00:11:35]
Jamie: So, um, and that, that'll help frame this conversation a little bit more. And so let's see. So I was, I'm like thinking about where I am in the tape. We had, oh, I had, we were building the improv theater. And so I was teaching and coaching and performing and mind you, I had been this very, very shy person prior to that.
[00:11:56]
Leah: Which is so funny. I cannot even imagine you being shy. Like the little bit that I know, like that I've gotten to know you, you were just that you're such a manifester.
[00:12:03]
Jamie: Thank you. I appreciate that. But it's in my chart too. You know, thinking about the line too, that shyness, boldness piece. Yep. It still comes out. And so I was, um, building this improv theater and having so much fun with my friends and then also building my corporate career on the side, coaching leadership and, you know, really stepping into my strengths in that way. And I kept thinking, okay, these two worlds need to come together somehow. And, you know, thinking about the skills of improv.
[00:12:37]
Jamie: It's hard. It's scary. You know, you think about stand up comedy and you say, okay, Leah, you're going to get up on stage and you're going to try and make people laugh. How's it going to go? And so and think about what happens in your body. Like, are you tightening up right now? What can you imagine?
[00:12:52]
Leah: I would get up there and be like, I'm supposed to make you guys laugh and I don't know how, so laugh at me. Like, that's what I would say. I would have no idea what to do. I'm also not very, I'm funny in a sarcastic way, not a, like making, you know, jokes.
[00:13:07]
Jamie: Right. And so, and I, I disagree with that. I think you're very funny. However, giving yourself permission to just notice, okay, people are afraid to go stand up in front of people and tell jokes. It's even scarier to get up on stage and have no plan. Right? So all you're getting from the audience is a suggestion. Wow. And so terrified, like I feel myself getting goosebumps. And even now it's like, Oh my gosh, what the hell am I going to say? Yeah. And so, was doing all these things and I started to see how that could translate to the corporate environment.
[00:13:45]
Jamie: Right. And so the improv piece of it of I was in corporate meetings and I was presenting things. And if I had a PowerPoint next to me, I'd be great. Kind of, I would still be a little bit nervous, right? The embodiment and the somatic experience of that. But the second that somebody asked me a question and I didn't know what to say, and I had to go off script, I clammed up. Yeah. And so I was teaching improv. Yeah. In corporate settings and thinking, okay, I'm getting good at this because I'm playing these games and practicing improv over and over again of making mistakes. And so and laughing my ass off along the way, right? It's so silly. It's so dumb. I have, I'll tell more about intentional improv, but I have a cohort right now that I'm working through and it's just the silliest thing.
[00:14:33]
Jamie: It's so fun to play games and make jokes and laugh at each other and laugh with each other and really unlearn that it's not okay to be silly. So in my corporate career great company had so much fun, right? But it wasn't quite it. And you know, this with your corporate experience, I imagine it wasn't quite the right set. Yeah.
[00:14:55]
Leah: Yeah, exactly. Right.
[00:14:57]
Jamie: Right.
[00:14:57]
Leah: It’s just, yeah. And so I was like, I'm different. Like, I always say, like, I feel bad saying this. I'm like, I'm better than this, but not like better, like in a, You guys suck kind of way. I was just like, I just, there's bigger things for me than here. Yeah, you had more to share.
[00:15:10]
Jamie: Yeah. So started dabbling and bringing some improv into corporate, and it was so fun. I would run workshops and exercises and help new leaders with this skill. But what I noticed is that the second that you said improv, people would run for the hills. And they were afraid to use their voice in that way. And when we think about the manifesto impact and human design, we often see things so much earlier than others. Right. And so I was bringing this and people were like, ah, like, no, like some people liked it. Right. But it, the world just wasn't quite there yet. Yeah. And so I was like, okay, that's cool. All good.
[00:15:51]
Jamie: Like, whatever. I'm having fun. Like, it was fine. And so it was getting to the point. This was um, 2019, 2020, where obviously the world was shutting down. And I was at the point where I was like, this is such a good business idea. And I cannot get over my fear of quitting. I can't like, this is so good. Anybody that I talked to about this, anybody that I was referencing, anybody that took a workshop of mine was like, this makes so much sense, Jamie. This is some like, do it. And there was just this fear. Right. And I imagine I'll pause. I imagine that you experienced that in your business, right? When you were starting to, yeah, this year of being seen or whatever it was.
[00:16:31]
Leah: Oh yeah, it's so funny because I, right before this, I was on someone else's podcast talking about, it was like a course creator, like business podcast. So I basically talked about business the whole time. And so we talked a lot about that story of yeah, moving from your corporate job to what, doing what you want to do. It's terrifying. It's yeah, it's very scary.
[00:16:53]
Jamie: Yeah. It's so scary. And for the human design nerds that are listening, my spleen is wide open. I don't have any gates in there. And so what I noticed was I was getting afraid and feeling the fears of other people. Don't start a business. It's what are you talking about? It's 2020. It's a pandemic. You can't start a business cling to your corporate job, all these things. And so I re I was like, I, this is bullshit, frankly. I don't know if this, like I am meant for more, I meant for something bigger. I've proven it out in my corporate career. And then also in this coaching space in improv, I would watch these like shy little theater kids come in and not say a word. And then by the end of six weeks, be making people laugh on stage every single weekend.
[00:17:40]
Jamie: It's huge. Right. And so I kept going, I was like, okay, like something has to change. And so I found inner child work through a whole nother story. We could be here for hours, but found this mentor and not Perry. She's amazing. She's an Israeli woman. She's had her business for eight years training camp for the soul. I took her 90 day transformational program and realized, Oh, this is a lot. This I have a lot of limiting beliefs and a lot of reparenting that my little one that seven year old version of me with the bangs and the panda shirts and the boisterous loud voice didn't get in her older years. Right. And so trap like went through her program, and then ended up. And also at this time I had really wanted to travel in a camper van. Randomly, you know, and so I was like, I'm not ready to start.
[00:18:35]
Leah: A lot of people in 2020 had that feeling. I think.
[00:18:39]
Jamie: And I was like, this is like, I'm like, I, I, this is a great idea, but I like little Jamie, the younger version of me wants to travel and explore and play. I'd been in a corporate role since graduating college. I went right into corporate. I'm right into this nine to five. And so I was like, this is not what I want to be doing with my life at all. Like I love the, the job's great, but I'm not meant to be at a desk nine to five. Nobody is nobody. And so I was still working for the nine of five and I was like, I'm going to go travel in a camper van and like, didn't really tell anybody.
[00:19:15]
Jamie: But it was like flew to the East coast, got the van and then traveled across the country and did my corporate job, which is fine. And then ended up at the training camp for the solar retreat. Oh, amazing. And I'm not, Oh my gosh, she's incredible. I work with her now. We co lead part of her company, her coaching certification. Well, it's amazing. Look at that. It's so good. Yeah. You'll following your intuition. Yeah. I want to connect you to, um, cause. You would like each other for sure. But on the last call, I said, you know, I'm not, I'm an improv teacher. And she goes, I love improv. And so she was like, let's connect. And so I got to the retreat and then I got to lead an improv workshop one night.
[00:19:55]
Leah: Wow. Oh my gosh. That's just, look at the serendipity. Like, okay. Cause I talk a lot about following your. intuition and like really just trusting yourself and of course human design is a beautiful tool that allows us to do that and I love stories like this because it's like you ever if you ever listen to people's stories where these little like synchronicities happen it's because they're just working with their energy so I love hearing this happen for you because it's like you were able to then it's like all of these doors just open when you just took a chance on yourself you know
[00:20:28]
Jamie: Yeah, totally. I'm so happy you said that. And for her, it was an immediate sacred. Yes. She's a generator. Oh my gosh. And so, and so I this workshop, oh my gosh, this retreat is absolutely amazing. If you're interested in our child work, it's, it's so phenomenal. I moved through so much. I taught this improv workshop and it was incredible. It, I mean, I, it was like, I had, I'd had hours and hours of teaching workshops and doing them online and working with veterans associations and working in corporate, and I've worked with kids before with improv. And this workshop. I've never seen people become more vulnerable so quickly. And I imagine that a big reason why that happened was because we were going through deep transformational healing and healing our inner child and expressing and giving ourselves what we didn't get.
[00:21:23]
Jamie: And then to do that, and then to turn around and see, Oh my gosh, these are all my new best friends. And I get to play with them. And so I still get goosebumps thinking about it. It was so special. And so I realized, I said, Oh, there's something here. And so there, it, it's, and when we think about divine timing and when things happen in a certain way, it made perfect sense that the improv business didn't take off before I found inner child work. And so that was, and so I realized, oh, okay, I, and so, but I wasn't quite ready yet, right? Because I had experienced it. I had been taken through inner child work myself, but what I want and what I was interested in is helping people through that process and then introducing improv on the back end. Wow. So intentional improv, I had the improv piece.
[00:22:15]
Jamie: I didn't have the intentional piece quite yet. I love that. And so thank you. And so for the next two years or so, I, was I became certified in that modality. It's so, and we could talk about that forever, but it's really an opportunity. It's a modality where we sit with people and they go back into past memories and really heal their inner child and give them space to express and say what they needed from mom and dad. Wow. So I've been trained in that and now I lead workshops and retreats with training camp for the soul. I'll actually be in California in a couple of weeks, so we'll have to connect. Gosh, please. Yes, I would love to. Okay. Yeah, totally. And so now, so fast forward to a couple months ago I realized, okay, I have the school, the skills now, right?
[00:23:08]
Jamie: I have the intentional piece. I've taken human design classes. I now understand. And when you think about human design, the deconditioning process that adds another layer. And so both of those things together, it's really what I'm after and what I'm helping people with an intentional improv is that fear of using your voice. And stepping into authenticity. And so for the last month or so, and I, I mean, I just launched this business. I have so much experience in the world. I have almost 12 years of personal development experience now, which is wild and professional experience in coaching and corporate environments. But this is really the accumulation of everything that I've learned.
[00:23:50]
Leah: Wow. I'm so excited for you because I, I truly think that when we, when it comes to like business and selling things and you know, stuff like that, it, it really is being an embodiment of what you do, you know, like, and I love your story about, okay, so I had the improv piece, but there was something missing. And so then you, You just follow your heart, you're interested in someone's work, you take a program, you know, you're like, I want to live in a camper van, and, you know, you're, so, then all these doors open for you, and then you find, oh, this is that missing piece that I needed, and, and then you get into human design and learn so much about deconditioning.
[00:24:29]
Leah: Which is huge for anything when it comes to inner child work and deconditioning may as well be the same, like, the same thing. And so now it's like, you're at this place where you're building this beautiful program, taking all of these things that you've learned, and you're such an embodiment of all of it. Even, you know, we could probably dive into this, which I don't know if you'd want to, but earlier when you were saying, you know, as a child, you had this moment where you were like shy and didn't speak, which in any human design people listening. So Jamie has a defined throat. She only has a defined throat and a defined solar plexus.
[00:25:02]
Leah: And it's through the channel of openness, the 22 to 12. And she's got in her throat. She's got one tooth. She's got. Five gates to find. So she's got a very active throat. So I can imagine those years where you weren't using your voice, that was very just detrimental to your authenticity and your soul
[00:25:22]
Jamie: Yeah. Very painful. And it's fascinating because it, you know, it wasn't from my mom. And that's like, so I remember very clearly my, when I was little, we would be in the grocery store or, you know, taking a walk or whatever. And people would look at me and say, Oh, she's shy. And my mom would step in and say, she's not shy. And she would not let them label me. And she was so patient with me. And she tells this ridiculous story. Do you remember those ball pins? Like the ball pens at McDonald's or at the mall with all the play things? Yes. She said this one time when I was a toddler and this would happen frequently, she would take me to the mall and I would just sit on the side and like, wanna go in, but be too scared.
[00:26:10]
Jamie: And she would just sit next to me and coach me and hold space for me. And my mom's incredible. And so by the end, I'd be like, okay, I'm ready. And she's like, Jamie, we got to go, babe.
[00:26:22]
Leah: Like, no, I'm not going to leave. Like I'll jump in. And then I promise.
[00:26:25]
Jamie: I'll do it. And so, and so we think about inner child work. Sometimes we think that we have to put our parents on trial and we're making them wrong, but we learned some from my parents. Specifically. I learned a lot of beautiful things. There are just a couple of pieces that I needed to unlearn. And so my mom is absolutely incredible. She's probably listening to this. And so she I love you. She's traveling to in her RV with my dad.
[00:26:54]
Leah: Oh my gosh. I love that. Yeah, amazing. She sounds incredible.
[00:26:58]
Jamie: She's awesome. And so in the work that I do, we really look at our parents as what we saw from them, what we felt from them or what we heard from them. And so what I heard from my mom in this example was you're brave. You can do it. You're not shy. Energetically. What I felt from her was support. You can do it. I love you. I can do it. But what I saw from her. She's actually a woman. And the only thing she was afraid of was her being shy.
[00:27:25]
Leah: Oh, so she wouldn't have jumped in.
[00:27:28]
Jamie: Right. And so she and her life. And we've had this conversation is. And I won't go into, cause it's her story to tell. Right. But she was afraid to use her voice in some circumstances. Just like any woman from that generation. Think about, I mean, think about your mom, think about what that generation of women went through. In order to get to where we are now. And so it's not their fault. Their, their job is done. She's set. And so it's really getting clear on my mom did an incredible job raising me the best she could with the tool she had. And so the thing for me to unlearn. was that it is okay to use your voice and go out and play in the playpen.
[00:28:09]
Leah: Wow because she is incredible. And so because she didn't do that and you have such high regards for her, then maybe I'm afraid of this too, because you know, yeah. So I love going down this work in this world. I've done a little bit of inner child work and I, and I love what you said, because I think. The, when I first got into it, the putting your parents on trial piece was huge for me. And my dad listens to my podcast pretty regularly. And so if he's listening like, Hi dad.
[00:28:37]
Leah: He may know this, but like, I, I definitely put like both my parents on trial, like in my brain. And even my partner knows this because there was like a really like deep thing that I had to move through with a lot of things. With my childhood, and I think the deeper I got into it, there was a exercise. I did an inner child. There was a girl and Oprah actually, and it was an old video. I found. And I watched this girl talk about inner child and so I did this sort of like meditation and I was bawling at the end of it.
[00:29:04]
Jamie: Is it the street one? You're walking down the street and you try and like, I don't know. We'll get into it.
[00:29:08]
Leah: Yeah. You like grab your bag. You're leaving home. That one. Yes. And I realized actually that like there was so much about my childhood that was amazing through that, which is interesting because I think it was mostly the opposite, but I think I had like some other things on my mind. And that inner child work actually made me have the most amount of gratitude I felt for my like upbringing. So it's such a beautiful tool because you like un, like you said, unlearn some of like maybe the things that you were feeling and there's way more to it because I've not done any like formal program or anything really deep into it's very generalized for me. So you just even saying that example, you already have me just so intrigued on more of this work.
[00:29:51]
Leah: But I do want to talk about public speaking because you talk a little bit about improv being related to public speaking. And I imagine in this work you know, cause not everyone maybe is like wanting to become an improv or do improv on the side. Like a lot of it is probably skilled. Skills related to their jobs, or just fears that they have with dead using their voice and lots of ways. So talk a little bit more about that.
[00:30:15]
Jamie: Yeah, absolutely. And that was it's so funny that you say that because that's where I was getting stuck prior to this. I was attracting people that wanted to do improv. That's not who I want to do it. You know what I mean? And so it was helping people see the through line between the skills that you learn in an improv environment and then translating it to public speaking and translating it to even podcasting and feeling really comfortable using your voice. And so public speaking is one of the number one fears out there. It's something like 80 percent of the world has a fear of public speaking, whether that be a slight fear or I'm never going to get on a stage. You're absolutely crazy. And a lot of women really, really struggle with it. And so for me, the people that I'm interested in working with and the people that I'm working with currently have some shit to say.
[00:31:09]
Jamie: Yeah, they have some shit to say and some things to do in this world, and they they're already the experts and things they already know their craft. They're incredibly skilled. Maybe they're artists or designers or, you know, high level entrepreneurs or women in corporate that are ready to elevate to the next level, but they're afraid. And there's something underneath that. And so through intentional improv, it's really two pieces. It's the intentional side of things, right? So inner child work and human design and uncovering the fear and then feeling the fear and then building the skill set on the aftermath of improv learning to fail. Like, I gotta tell you, there is nothing like getting on stage and telling a joke or making a comment and thinking that the audience is going to laugh and it is crickets.
[00:32:00]
Leah: I literally can't imagine that. Would, I would cry . I would cry. Yeah.
[00:32:05]
Jamie: I just, and I, I have to say, I used to get nauseous before every show. I was so nervous and I, oh my gosh. And so, but I learn You're building the muscle. Yeah. You're building the muscle of like, you're like, oops, like we're going down with the ship. And that's where improv really differs from stand up, which you mentioned earlier, because stand up is a solo sport. It's one to many, and you're telling a joke and you're hoping for the best and, you know, feeling into the crowd. But improv is collaborative. You have a team, you have a group of four or five, maybe even two people, and you're creating something and then people are watching. And so that's another beautiful thing about it. And so when you're thinking about public speaking, we often think of it as one to many. But ultimately learning the skill of improv and learning how to co create with your audience while you're speaking, you start to say, Oh, this is landing.
[00:33:00]
Jamie: This isn't this work. That did not work. I'm not going to do that again. And you take it much less personally. I'm so curious about your experience with public speaking, if you're afraid of it, if you've been afraid of it in the past.
[00:33:13]
Leah: Yeah, definitely have been afraid, definitely have moments where I wasn't afraid. So I feel like my relationship with public speaking is all over the place. This is a good timing of an episode because I have felt a little bit of a lack of self esteem lately, and it's interesting because I do have a defined you know, will, heart, ego, center. So, me, like, there's been something showing up for me where I feel like my self esteem has gone down. And, and I do think it's related to my voice. So it's, so I feel like my relationship with public speaking is kind of all over the board. So to give you some insight in high school, I was, I was class president one year and I was student council president. So I gave at my graduation, I gave a speech to about 2000 people.
[00:33:57]
Leah: And I also like MC'd one of the biggest sort of productions we do in high school, which was, it's called Mr. GQ, which was like this show for just like, basically the popular hot guys in the school to like, they bring in like a girl and then they do this like skit thing. It's, it's really fun. But I, I'm seed that one year and, you know, being student council president, I, you know, ran the student council meetings. And, and so there were moments where I didn't, I wasn't afraid to use my voice, but there were moments where I then like, there was other times where I was like, I remember we had a What's it called a pep rally before a football game and I had to go in front of the entire school in the We were in like our basketball court I guess and you know this the bleachers were on each side and I'm standing there and I have a piece of paper and I Was shaking this piece of paper so hard And I had to say one line.
[00:34:52]
Leah: It was like I said one line and then I passed the mic and someone else did and I Remember a kid that I went to high school with in the hallway after saying like, oh leah, like were you scared? Oh, no Yeah, and I was like because the football team was right in front of me And I was like, oh my fucking god like I was so embarrassed and I just basically wrote that off in my head and I do that with like a Situation like that i'm like i'm just gonna pretend like that didn't happen. Yeah, and I never heard about it again, but Who knows? And then I will say in the college, I don't think I got, I was fine with public speaking again. Like I, I've always held leadership, leadership positions in my life. So I was like I was in the PR public relations student society of America.
[00:35:32]
Leah: I held a leadership position where I would like get alumni to come and speak about their experience in the world. And so I would introduce them. No problem with that. You know, so I have, I've had moments where I feel like it was harder for me and then it was better for me and then in my corporate job. I never had issues in my corporate job giving a presentation. I never felt too scared, but my thing with public speaking, and this is a really good exercise I found through a podcast I was listening to and I'll say it cause you might be familiar with this, but basically I say lots of ums and likes and you'll, I'll even do it right now because that's just how I talk and so that's been something I'm naturally trying to move through and having a podcast has been great for me to, Practice a little bit, but, but yeah, and then, you know, I haven't given a public speech in a minute.
[00:36:18]
Leah: Probably the last time was a year and a half ago. My dad runs this charity or my, I should say my dad and my brother in law and my sister run it together and they do a golf outing every year. And it's just friends and family, but there's probably a hundred people and I'll do the prizes after with the mic. And so that's probably the last time I've really public spoke, but yeah. So all that to say is that like, I feel like I've been okay with it, but then I have moments where I'm really afraid. And like Sunday, I gave a talk to some people about human design and I was really nervous. And so I just think lately I've been moving through this blockage and I can't quite figure out where it's coming from. Yeah. So I'm just kind of giving you a lot of information and maybe it's perfect.
[00:36:57]
Jamie: Yeah, no, it's great. yeah. Thank you so much for sharing so vulnerably. And so first I just want to validate that. Okay. Yeah, it's fine. It's perfect. This is coming up for a reason in this moment, and it's not that toxic. Like everything happens for a reason. Like, that's not it. It's just noticing that this part of you is coming up to heal in this moment where you've been doing human design for years. And in this one talk this weekend, you notice the nerves come up. And so what I find in my question for you is, you know, when you're thinking about this experience in high school, Oh.
[00:37:33]
Jamie: With this 16 year old little man. Yeah. That like is coming from his own wounding and probably liked you and all these, right. And so that doesn't excuse anything, but that right. And so, well, yeah, with it, whatever. And so you blocked it out. You've blocked your, I want to pretend this didn't happen. And that was a wonderful coping skill in the moment because look how far you've come. And if you go back to that, that moment and really consider what it was, what that was like for little Leah, like the younger version of yourself, you know, to go up and to say the one line in front of everybody. And you're so nervous and your hands are shaking, but you did it and you're proud of her. And then afterwards in front of all the cute football players, this dumb ass, like makes a comment.
[00:38:20]
Jamie: And so logically we know that this person has no effect on your life. But the five year old version of yourself doesn't get that. And so giving time and space and if we ever connect in this way, what I take clients through. is really giving them the opportunity to revisit that younger version of themselves in a safe and trauma informed and very emotionally expressive way. What did that little version need to hear? How did she need to express? What did, what was not okay for her to say in that moment? Was she pissed off at this dude? Was she like, fuck you? Yeah. Or was she like, Oh my gosh, I'm so sad. I want to cry. And I just want to hold up in the curb and a ball and someone hold me.
[00:39:00]
Leah: Yeah, I think I did. I think I got in my car and cried. I think because it was right at the end of the pep rally and I think I went home and like cried for a little bit and I was like Okay, and I gave that was right Like, you know, a few months before I gave my graduation speech, but I remember thinking about that so much before my graduation speech. And you know what, now that we're talking, I remember my internship that I did for my corporate job, the end of our internship, we had to give a speech. It was like all the higher ups and I worked for this big fortune 500 company and like, you know, the CEO watched it and they watched all the interns give a presentation because it was a part of like potentially you getting a job.
[00:39:38]
Leah: And it's so funny because I'm, I'm now thinking about all because as you're, as we're talking, I'm like all the times I've like public, like, what are the biggest moments that I've done public speaking. And I remember that speech. Speech. I get up and, or I, well, I'm preparing all week and I am terrified. And what's interesting is maybe I'm more afraid of it than I thought because that evening I, or the evening before I threw up and I thought I was very sick. And I remember being like, I have to cancel this. Like I have a flu, but I didn't actually feel ill. But even until right now, did I realize that that was probably nerves?
[00:40:13]
Leah: Like I didn't think it was nerves then. I thought it was actually sick. So I remember I went in and I gave my speech, I did my presentation. It was fine. It was like, I think it was like 10 minutes. It was very easy. And I get done in. I went home. I told my boss, I was like, I, like, I'm sick because I thought I had the flu, but I remember getting home and just being like, I'm just really tired. And you know, I was exhausted, but I think it was probably the buildup now that we're talking right now. I think I was nervous and I puked. Yup.
[00:40:41]
Jamie: Yup. Welcome.
[00:40:43]
Leah: And I did not know those were actually nerves. So I think I just was trying to write it off as like, I'm sick. Maybe I was trying to get out of it, but I literally threw up like a few times.
[00:40:52]
Jamie: Yeah, totally. And our body knows. Your body didn't feel safe. And so it expelled it and that happens in my work all the time. It's insane. How are not insane rather it's really interesting and wild how the body chooses to release and somatic practices. Sometimes it's purging. Sometimes it's burping. I burp a lot in my work, which I'm not, I'm choosing to accept, but it is not a pretty thing and people yawn and cry and tear and often we don't know why that's happening. It is just the body is somatically releasing something.
[00:41:29]
Leah: Oh, wow. I burp all the time when I record my podcast. Like I have to pause it constantly. And I just thought it's because I drink a lot of LaCroix.
[00:41:36]
Jamie: Yeah, it might be. It might be some of that, but it's just, you're moving energy when I'm supporting clients. And I like to give people a heads up about that. And it's actually so funny. I just, a quick side note. So in Aaron's membership. Claire Jones, we do readings in front of other people to get practice. And so a couple of months ago, I did a partnership reading with two women and in front of everybody, they all turned their cameras off and witnessed it.
[00:42:04]
Jamie: And then it went awesome. It was so fun. We all cried. And then Ended. Thank you. And we ended it and they left and Erin came on and she said, how did you do? How do you feel? And I said, great. And I let out the biggest burp.
[00:42:18]
Leah: Wait, I love that so much.
[00:42:20]
Jamie: And then I had to, and everyone just looked shocked because it's, it's a different container, right? It's a, people don't, aren't used to that. And I had to explain that I do emotional somatic embodiment practices and I burp when I'm releasing energy.
[00:42:33]
Leah: Yeah, how funny. Who knew that? Like that, no one, I didn't know that
[00:42:37]
Jamie: Yeah. Yeah. It's wild. And I see that in clients all the time. And yeah.
[00:42:43]
Leah: Wow. And it's interesting. Cause like when I was doing my, I was doing a mediumship mentorship this year. And one of the things that when we would kind of like relax and like sit back before I would start to channel, it I would yawn and I would, like, get so, like, all of a sudden I'd feel this just like, oh my gosh, like, I was so, I'm like, I'm gonna fall asleep and she's like, you're yawning because your body is, like, actually relaxing itself.
[00:43:07]
Leah: Yeah. Because you're never relaxed.
[00:43:09]
Jamie: Yeah. Hmm. And so that's the thing. And so in this work, it's noticing, okay, you're never relaxed. So my nervous system is dysregulated. Where did I learn that it wasn't okay to relax and looking with curiosity of what is my mom's relationship to relaxing, but it's my dad's relationship to relaxing for better or for worse, or however you ended up noticing those things that you took on and that are now playing out in your life in a way that's not serving you, Wow.
[00:43:40]
Leah: I think I need this program because you just saying that I'm like, Huh, wow. There's a lot that I'm learning right now about my own life and why I react to things as a way that I do. Also, this has such an impact on your relationships. Cause as you're saying this, I'm like, Oh, that's why Zander's always like, why do you like, why do you have to do that to relax or, you know, cause his childhood was very different than mine. So wait a minute.
[00:44:05]
Jamie: Yeah. Yeah. And that and you get to explore that with your partner and your friends and all these things. And it's one of those things that once you see it, you are, it's hard to unsee it, or rather, you know, for thinking about a different way to phrase that once it becomes in your awareness, it's challenging to not.
[00:44:22]
Jamie: Be aware of it. Yeah, but it can be so useful and to really bring it back to public speaking. Think about how you may be interacting in the world or going to this human design talk and feeling nervous and potentially not being relaxed. And in the past throwing up from it or shaking and then your body, even though logically, you know that it's a different situation, your body doesn't know that your body is back in that high school version of you. And I used to throw up all the time from it. It was awful. I would, I would get nauseous before every improv show. And it's actually really interesting without going into too much detail. And now that I'm launching this company, some of that nausea is coming back. And so I'm just noticing, I mean, improv is incredible for entrepreneurship too.
[00:45:11]
Jamie: Because it's teaching you how to make mistakes over and over again, and that is what entrepreneurship is. Wow, yeah, but I'm noticing. Okay, so I'm starting to experience this nausea because I'm expanding in my business and I'm working with these high ticket clients and I'm putting myself out there in a way that I haven't before.
[00:45:28]
Leah: Yeah, new level new devil has been such a quote that I've lived by in entrepreneurship. It's like every new place I'm going, every new height that I take in my business, there is a new problem, a new thing to like uncover. And it's also about problems from other things. It's like, in like inward issues, like mental things that I am working through, mental blocks from my life or somatic blocks from my childhood. It's like, every time I go somewhere new, it's like. I've always said this. Entrepreneurship is signing up for the deepest amount of shadow work and the deepest amount of inner child work that you will ever do in your life. No, seriously, because if you're doing, you know, if you're working your corporate job and you're, you know, going along, whatever, you're just, you know, kind of showing up.
[00:46:13]
Leah: It's, it's like, you know, you're doing the work, whatever, like you're kind of moving about your day. No, I find that if you're in that position and you're a leader and you do this deeper work, that's how you'll excel in that job. But when you're an entrepreneur, it's like, Do or die a little bit, right? Like, it's like, this is my thing. Like, I gotta make this work. And so you're learning so much. And so you're starting to go, okay, I know that this is what it would take to be successful, but why can't I do those things? Like, what is blocking me right now for being that version of me that I need to be? And so then you're meeting these demons of like, Oh my gosh, like.
[00:46:47]
Leah: My, my bear, my mom, like she wouldn't jump, you know, headfirst, but like, I really want to, so like, where is that coming from? And so you're experiencing all these things and, and you're learning so much about like, what holds you back and when, you know, what are your habits and your texts, you know? And so for you, it's like I love this work because you approach it in such a unique angle where you're like, okay, like, how can we, How can we play around with this? How can we learn how to work with these uncomfortable energies, figure out where they come from, and then, you know, play and have more fun and then become better, become a better public speaker.
[00:47:27]
Jamie: Yeah, exactly. Totally. And you know, I've been, I left corporate two years ago at this point, which is absolutely wild. And now I'm going back into corporate environments. And that's part of the services that I provide is go in as a speaker or consulting or coaching. And it's wild how many people in that environment aren't thriving because there's something in the way and so use and I really use my corporate time as almost a training ground or a playground to start doing the things that I wanted to be doing in the world. I was bringing in human design very slyly. Yeah. All these things, and so, and improv, and so, but it's, it's building the safety in your body to move forward no matter what career path you have. Do you
[00:48:11]
Leah: think that human design, because you mentioned this being a part of this program you're building, do you think human design will always be a big part of what you do in these containers?
[00:48:20]
Jamie: It's a good question, and I don't know how to answer it. Because I, and so I'm running my beta cohort right now for I'm in, it's a seven week program and then I'm intending on launching it in early 2024 to a wider audience. And I'm including it this time around. We're doing a session around human design and I think it, it, I don't know. And if I did know, I'd say maybe because it just depends on the audience, right? It's so people, if I say human design, you know, you walk down the street and many people don't know it. But if you say fear of public speaking, how many people are saying yes. And so I think that for the right audience, it makes sense to bring in human design.
[00:49:02]
Jamie: And also I am a human design reader. I do sessions. We'll link it down below. Yeah. Yeah. Thank you so much. But I actually don't give a shit what your chart says. Like I, so I'm a manifester, right? And so I'm here to have impact and move people forward and really let them see a new way of being. I do not care if you are a projector that acts like a generator, a generator that acts like an MG, somebody that wants to be a manifester, I care so much more about your lived experience and experimenting with something. And so to me, if I'm thinking about human design, sometimes it, it's, it's not limiting, but I just don't care, you know, and I, and I'm like, okay, great. Like, and I can, I can get a sense from people energetically, you know, I get into this space with you and I didn't know you have a defined heart, but I knew.
[00:49:48]
Jamie: Yeah. You know what I mean? I was like, Oh, I'm so excited to go run and do my business now that I'm working with Leah. And so I think that there's an element where I am so grateful that I went through the extensive training that I did with Aaron Claire Jones, and I did a ton of self study before that, because it's allowing me to be open to the possibility of human design, but I am not dogmatic about that approach.
[00:50:10]
Leah: Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. And I appreciate that too, because that is something that I will say as well, like with when it comes to human design, like, for example, like, you know, on Instagram, there's like, the trolls are like, you're not saying this, right? Or, right. Oh, my gosh, design in a certain way. And I get this a lot, because I'm definitely like, I take a poppier angle. Yeah. And it's so funny, because my, My response is like, am I helping someone? Like, am it at the end of the day, is someone becoming a better version of them? And if that answer is yes, I don't care how that was delivered to them. If it was, you know, me saying gut feelings or sacral authority or saying like, you know, voice versus self projected, you know what I mean?
[00:50:51]
Leah: So, so yeah. So I appreciate that as well. And um, it's so interesting too, to hear like, you know, your ties and stuff. Cause I think like you said, it's such a beautiful tool for. Those ways in which of, you know, deconditioning, whether you're using that language or not, it's just an added bonus of you being able to look up their chart and go, okay, you know, this is a piece or a part that like potentially could be you know, adding to this. But also I love what you were saying too, because you spoke it like a true six yourself because you were six too, like the way you also shared it. I was like, yeah, that's so six line energy. But
[00:51:22]
Jamie: I love that. Yeah, and then the last thing that I'll say about that because we could talk about that for a very long time. Yeah Is it's been very interesting stepping into the human design space as a manifester and as a sex on the roof. And also, I mean, I have gay, we won't go into the details, but my energy is very individual. I'm meant to mutate. I'm here to change things up. And every time I see people now that are, Speaking into a very specific opinion, one way or another in the human design space. I just look at that as their conditioning. And so, right. You know, think about the trolls and think about the people that have this very intense way of being. Yeah. Maybe they have a defined head and they might be right in circumstances, but what was their mom like? Where did they learn that you had to follow the rules?
[00:52:11]
Jamie: Yeah. What was their dad like? How did they interact with other people? And so it's been really interesting to look at it from the inner child reparenting perspective of, okay, this person, if they are getting incredibly worked up around what is it called? An Instagram post? Babe, that is some wounding and I am here for it to hold you in that. Yeah.
[00:52:31]
Leah: Oh, I love that. I was just going to say definitely like your open mind. Most people maybe have a defined mind. Oh my gosh. I love it so much. I'm also, I have an undefined mind and head as well. So I, I'm very kind of just, yeah, all over the board with it. It's yeah. I, I just love having you here and getting to chat with you because You just, you're, you are so in alignment for me and it feels good to be around people who are in alignment. And it's also just really cool to hear your story and how all these things link together. And I feel like we could be talking for at least three more hours, probably even longer if we wanted to, but maybe we'll save that for when you're out in California and maybe we can get together. But what are some ways that people can work with you?
[00:53:16]
Leah: I know you mentioned, you know, so we have this program that's that you're building you also have human design reading. So just share all of the areas and places that people can find you. And I'll make sure it's all linked down below too.
[00:53:28]
Jamie: Yeah, absolutely. So there's a lot of ways to work with me. I will also say that I am a manifester and this may change in a couple months. Right. So I would say who know, like, yeah, I've got a lot of creative urges. So the most immediate way to work with me right now is. On Instagram, sunflower vigilante, where I share inner child work and human design. I just put together a mini course, but it's so fun. We go into each center and then another way to work with me is through intentional improv, so you can follow me on Instagram and I have a lot of exciting things coming between workshops and launching this group program for the founders round.
[00:54:10]
Jamie: Likely early 2024. And what I'm most passionate about in that space is going into corporations and going back to corporate and sharing this work. I can come in as a speaker. I can come in to do coaching or consulting. And so the best way to connect with me there, and I I'm curious what your audience thinks about this is LinkedIn. And so if I can just get on my, My microphone for a couple of minutes or hopefully just a minute. LinkedIn is the place it just is. Right. And so think about the people that are on LinkedIn that are networking and looking for new opportunities and hating their jobs and knowing that they're meant for more and they're putting their self themselves out there and they're getting terrified and they don't think that they're good enough. And so there are a small group of thought leaders on LinkedIn right now that are sharing their perspective. And we'll, we'll talk another time about getting you on LinkedIn.
[00:55:04]
Leah: I don't do anything on LinkedIn know. I recently was like, I hate this. I hate this website after I left my corporate job. Yeah. Oh, it's like, everyone's just talking about how great they are.
[00:55:13]
Jamie: And it's like, right. Sharing like, congratulate me on my new job, whatever. Yeah. And so that platform is shifting into more of a thought leadership space. Ooh, I love this. Right. And so we get to be the new leaders in that space and we get to be working with qualified clients that are interested in the growth and interested in the change and ready to move forward. And so I've invested in training in this. And so please, if you're listening to this and want to connect, you can find me uh, if you search, I almost said Google, which was not right there to Jamie Clark, LinkedIn, and we'll include that in the show notes too. Nothing.
[00:55:53]
Leah: Yay. Well, everyone is going to be running to work with you because I think I'm about to be joining one of your programs. 'cause I truly feel like I need the inner child blockage in my voice help in lots of ways. So very excited to have you here and for you to share with us everything you have going on and. Excited to see what it evolves to on Instagram and on LinkedIn. I'll, I'll definitely go give you a follow. I haven't been on there in a minute, but I will definitely take the time to maybe start paying attention because now I'm curious what's happening in that space. So thank you for sharing your beautiful spirit with us, Jamie. You are amazing.
[00:56:32]
Jamie: You’re so welcome. Thank you for having me. I feel very lit up by your energy. Yeah, I am. I'm gonna go where I've got lots of things that I want to work on today. So it feels so good to be here. Perfect.
[00:56:42]
Leah: Thank you so much.
