Is it ever okay to be unproductive? Absolutely. In fact, it can recharge you, combat work-life imbalance, prevent mental and physical burnout, and even foster creativity. Turning off the “always on” work culture is exactly what we dive into on today’s episode with my fellow Berkeley Bear, Talia Caldwell. She also drops some gems on pouring back into yourself, navigating sacrifices for success, practicing gratitude, building a tribe, and supporting black female writers. 

Proud, black LA native and former pro athlete, Talia Caldwell attended UC Berkeley, where she was the first women’s basketball player admitted to the Haas School of Business. Her basketball achievements include a PAC-12 Championship, a Women’s Final Four, and taking “traveling with the ball” to a new level—playing internationally for several years. Off court, you can still find Talia making headlines, as a NY Times contributor. Presently, she is a screenwriter and attends the USC School of Cinematic Arts, enjoys boxing, loving people, and investing in (black) communities. 

Please enjoy!

What we discuss:

00:25 Intro

04:52 Being busy vs. being productive

09:55 Starting ‘Echo Park Fund’ during the pandemic 

16:00 Like basketball, life has quarters

17:29 Pouring back into yourself

19:36 Healthy boundary-setting

23:09 “You’re poor because you’re lazy” is a fallacy

26:30 Finding the best way to decompress

29:10 Setting up conditions for success includes sacrifices

33:47 Prayers, affirmations, gratitude

41:09 Honesty Is always healthier in the long run

42:21 Building a tribe based on energy, honesty, vulnerability, & humanity 

47:55 Understanding vs. agreeing

49:58 Be delusional about life

53:23 Don’t “go with the flow” 

55:59 Talia’s call to action: research black female writers

Episode Resources:

• Talia Caldwell | Instagram | Twitter | Website
• NY Times article: Why the WNBA Loved Kobe Bryant
• Donate to The Echo Park Fund 
• The Firecracker Foundation
• Poet/Writer: Nikki Giovanni

I genuinely appreciate your time and support, whether it’s through listening, sharing, leaving an honest review, or donating. A special thanks to my partner in life, Jeannette, my fantastic editor, Phil, today’s guest, Talia, and of course, YOU—the curious and thorough type that drives growth from an idea and dream into something massive that moves the world. Until next time…

Want to connect further? Follow me on Instagram!