Miami Living Magazine features the best Miami has to offer. Click on any magazine below and enjoy. You can download our free app on iTunes. Ideal for iPad and iPhone users.
Issue link: https://digital.miamilivingmagazine.com/i/1532631
Miami Living(ML): You’ve worn many hats throughout your career—educator, dancer, coach, creative director, philanthropist, and now podcaster. How have these diverse experiences shaped the way you approach the themes of self-discovery and empowerment on ‘The Know with Nikki Spo’? Nikki Spoelstra: It’s important for me to note, first, that I used to feel a lot of insecurity around this. I think that many people in the generations that came before mine were wholly dedicated to their crafts and careers for the entirety of their lifetimes. People chose their professions, and many of them admirably dedicated their entire lives to those professions and found much success. As a result, those (singular) careers became defining elements of their identities. So for a while, I felt a lot of shame around my desire to move in different directions, professionally. Since starting my podcast in 2021, I’ve come to embrace the concept that all of my life experiences have led me to one common mission, which is to help people. And that feels very good and pure to me. The themes of self-discovery and empowerment I approach on the show are an almost in-real-time account of my own personal growth arc, which I believe my community enjoys sharing and experiencing alongside me. ML: Your podcast has received remarkable recognition, including nominations for the People’s Choice Podcast Award and the Gracie Awards. How has your personal journey influenced the kind of content and conversations you prioritize on your show? Nikki: I have experienced the tremendous healing power of community and shared experience in my recovery journey. Over many years of personal therapy and group recovery sessions, I realized that talking about things openly can create space for more growth, especially when shared with other safe individuals. Self-awareness, honesty, vulnerability, and humility are all antidotes for shame. For me, releasing shame gives me more access to spiritual freedom, acceptance, love, and trust in myself and Source (God/Universe/etc.). I realized that my pain wasn’t as unique as I originally thought it to be. I was not special in my suffering, even though I felt isolated and alone. The truth is, people everywhere are experiencing pain and suffering – it’s just packaged differently. Because of this realization, I decided to have vulnerable conversations in front of people IRL and in front of strangers online. ML: You’ve been through some incredibly transformative experiences, from overcoming personal challenges to embracing sobriety and motherhood. What’s been the most surprising lesson you’ve learned about yourself along the way? Nikki: It sounds really harsh, but the most shocking (though not surprising?) lesson I have learned is that no one is coming to save me. There is no “knight in shining armor” coming to rescue me. I’m Her. I’m the knight in the fairytale. I came to understand that I am the hero of my own story and I get to write and rewrite my narrative as many times as I need or want to. I realized that my resilience and tenacity through hardship (and joy) are unwavering, and it is for the simple fact that I LOVE… living. Even when things are hard.