Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Zen Ase. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Zen thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

In 2017, stressed out and contemplating early retirement from teaching ( which could have been financially disastrous), I began performing as Zen at the Sugar Hill Lounge on Poetry Lounge Sundays. It was supposed to be a hobby. But at a different open mic, the owner approached me asking if I would curate an actual poetry show with a flyer and an itinerary. I’d never done anything like that. Yet I took a risk, and asked him to give me a month. In September 2018, I launched, not only a show, but a platform for artists of many flavors – Laughz and Lyrics, now entering its 6th year.

During quarantine, I took a risk and created The Zennurgy Podcast which is now ranked in the top 10% globally.

I also took a risk when I published 5 books, 4 of which became Amazon best sellers.

I also took a risk by becoming a consultant that provides breathwork, meditation, qi gong, journaling and other writing workshops.

Ultimately, I believe risk taking is how we challenge ourselves and grow, how we truly evolve and fulfill our potential and how we positively impact others.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I began journaling in elementary school and have been hooked o writing ever since. But life has a way of derailing our passions. My family believed writing wasn’t “a real job”, so they discouraged it. I became a teacher instead and didn’t write for 17 years. But I decided to reclaim myself and my lost dreams after my divorce in 2014. First, that meant writing, then performing, then podcasting, then workshops.
I transformed from a woman with low self esteem who didn’t know herself to a woman who was transforming herself yearly.
I had found my voice and my purpose.

Get Zenned. Stay Zenned. Spread Zen was my first mantra encapsulating the focus of my live comedy, music and poetry shows.

Get Zenned- find peace, calm, centeredness, focus, fun, expression, motivation- get your heart and mind right.

Stay Zenned- enact rituals, build relationships, create a healthy, fulfilling, happy lifestyle.

Spread Zen- share what you have with others, impact your circle of influence with positivity.

The show has been a springboard for mental health and social justice initiatives to the point that I received a Congressional Award for activism.

The Zennurgy Podcast continues that work. It’s taglines are “Enhance your life! Impact your circle!” And
“Small Changes! Big Results!”

The podcast has three missions: self care, self development, self empowerment.

The 130 episodes include interviews with guests of all disciplines, recorded Laughz and Lyrics shows, and released audiobook excerpts from my memoir. Bonus episodes include affirmations, meditations, poetry, and book talks by mental health authors.

I offer a variety of services. I can be booked as a voice over artist, spoken word artist, motivational speaker, event host, workshop consultant and panelist. I offer inspirational merchandise and have 5 books for sale:
*2 memoirs focusing on my personal healing journey,
*a children’s book focusing on self love with embedded affirmations,
* a guided journal and
*a planner with self care, self empowerment and self development tools.

My history includes 30 years in the educational field. I am a survivor of domestic violence and sexual assault. I am an activist.

I also have learned to heal from repeated losses. I am a Phoenix, an alchemist who has transformed pain to power and teaches others to do so as well.

I bring all that background to my writing, speaking, and workshops.

Have you ever had to pivot?

My business was based on live shows. In 2020, during quarantine, those ceased. Knowing I would lose all momentum and my audience if I couldn’t find a different way to connect, I brainstormed what I had that quarantine had not stolen.

My voice.
Soft skills I could continue developing
My mindset
Books
Poetry
My audience

I used the journaling I’d been doing since 5th grade to list every self development topic that came to mind. I decided to name the podcast Zennurgy. We all had an URGE for ZEN, which I was defining as wellness through fulfillment and alignment. We want to be our best selves without feeling stressed and overwhelmed through the process.

That would be my focus: real people discussing their real goals, transformation, obstacles, setbacks and triumphs. Motivation that we could all improve…. together. A motley of humanity sharing that little changes led to big results.

The pivot made my audience international, led to books, workshops and totally transformed the direction of my life.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My goals are summed up in my mantras. My creative journey is to use art to make sense of the world around me and to alchemize it. An alchemist believes within lead (undesirable things) the building blocks for gold exist. Deeper than finding a silver lining, an alchemist can literally take waste and nurture a garden that produces nourishment.

We are not what happens to us. We are how we see and use what happens to us.
The blues, the negro spirituals reflect this: beauty from ashes.

Contact Info:

• Website: Https://linktr.ee/zenase
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/zenasepoetry
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/awakenedverses
• Twitter: Zennurgy3
• Other: zapohtx@yahoo.com