Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Utley
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was working in a corporate job and suffering from severe burnout. I realized I was spending my free time trying to “escape” from my life. I decided that I needed a creative hobby to help me discover what I actually enjoyed doing. I made a list of things I enjoyed doing and at the top of the list was “Have interesting, outside of the box conversations with new people” so I decided to create a podcast. This was 6 months ago when I was doing a lot of profound healing work and I wanted to share my mental health journey to inspire others. I decided to find other people who had overcame a lot of adversity, so that they could share their stories as well. I found that I really enjoyed talking to people and identifying with their experiences. As my personal perspective has evolved, so has the podcast. When I first began this project, I was focused on my healing, but was still carrying a lot of anger and resentment about the things that had happened to me. As I have reached new levels of peace, I wanted to share the stories of the healers and coaches that helped me along my way. Season Two of Unplugged With Taylor started in November 2024 and has shifted focus from the “story” to the next chapter. I want more people to understand what it means to heal you mind, body, and spirit, the three parts that work together to make us who we are.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Aside from the typical bumps in the road around lighting, sound, and editing, starting this podcast has been the best shadow work for me. Its shown me my feelings of “not enoughness” and how many masks I wear to appease other people. At first I worried about saying the wrong thing or not knowing enough research about a topic. I wanted to always have the perfect response to every thing a guest would say. I have since realized that the point of following my intuition to find the best guests is so that they can teach me new things along with the listeners, I just have to show up with my natural curiosity and ask questions. Then I realized it was hard for me to make “casual” content because I didn’t feel comfortable being ‘unpolished’ on camera or being silly. I was worrying too much about being taken seriously or being judged. The more I practiced showing my sillier side, the more I couldn’t get enough of being free from the weight of other people’s opinions. My newest challenge is showing up in my feminine and even being ‘sexy’ without a fear of judgement. Not because I want attention, but because it is a part of me and I want to embrace it without feeling shamed. All of these thoughts are nothing more than a product of the conditioning that this society puts on us and the greatest gift this project is giving me is permission to be myself.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I host a wellness podcast that focuses on healing your mind, body, & spirit. As the wellness movement gains momentum, there are aspects of it being dismissed by many because we have been told these ideas are ‘woo-woo’ and have been criticized by modern medicine as pseudoscience. When in fact, many of these practices have been used by indigenous and Eastern cultures for centuries. Reconnecting with my soul has changed my life for the better, even though I was previously agnostic. I want to reach people who think the way I use to and help them see how healing it is to explore and embrace spiritual practices that resonate with you.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I believe the expression “When the student is ready the teacher will appear” Focus on your inner belief system and shadow work. The right opportunities and lessons will come to you! You do not have to go searching for them. Keep an open mind and when something does not go as planned ask, “what is this teaching me?”
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @unpluggedwithtaylor
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Unpluggedwithtaylor
- Other: Tiktok: @unpluggedwithtaylor
