Please, BARE With Me
My intention for this space is to serve as an invitation to embrace vulnerability and creative expression as a source of strength.
I’ve wrestled with doubt, detoured through uncertainty, and found solace in therapy, solitude, and nature. These experiences taught me that transformation isn’t about perfection—it’s about showing up, embracing the unknown, and honoring the stories that shape us.
My enrichment offerings are my way of sharing that truth and inviting others to join me in building a more thoughtful, expressive, and connected world.
Let’s explore what it means to live boldly, out loud - together.
The Courage to Connect: Why Pleasure-Centered Enrichment Experiences Are Essential for Our Wellbeing
In a recent interview, Deion Sanders (Coach Prime) and Dr. Bryant unpacked a deeply human challenge: the tension between protecting oneself and opening up to real connection. Sanders candidly shared how his past heartbreaks led him to guard his heart, illuminating a struggle that so many face: the fear that vulnerability will cost us more than it will give.
This dialogue struck a chord with me, as it echoes the very reason my first sonic experience was entitled “Please, BARE With Me: An Invitation to Celebrate Vulnerability and Resilience” and why I'm on a mission to champion pleasure-centered enrichment experiences. These are gatherings that invite people to unravel, reconnect, and engage with life fully without fear of emotional exposure.
The Art & Science of Connection
During 'My Year of Kintsugi' a year-long mental health and research sabbatical, I stepped away from my faculty role to redefine my relationship with wellbeing, creativity, leadership, and innovation. I uncovered something both deeply personal and widely universal:
Humans don’t just want connection, we need it. But without safe, fulfilling, and reciprocal spaces, many of us shut down rather than risk being hurt.
The U.S. Surgeon General’s report on loneliness confirmed what I had already discovered through lived experience and my previous work as an executive matchmaker: our health, happiness, and even longevity are directly tied to our ability to form meaningful, real relationships. Eventbrite’s "Fourth Spaces" report further underscored that people are craving gatherings where they can be present, feel deeply, and experience joy with others outside of transactional interactions. I share more of my observations on fourth spaces here.
Pleasure as a Pathway to Transformation
Pleasure-centered enrichment experiences are a response to this crisis of disconnection. These spaces don’t just entertain or distract—they nourish. They are intentionally designed to:
Encourage openness by lowering our emotional walls through joy, creativity, and shared experience.
Provide a sense of belonging where people can be seen, heard, and valued without pretense.
Activate self-awareness & growth which helps us reclaim parts of ourselves that we’ve buried under "productivity" and "performance."
Unlike conventional networking events or wellness retreats that focus on "self-improvement" from a place of deficiency, pleasure-centered enrichment experiences frame connection, creativity, and self-exploration as acts of abundance. These are not spaces where we force ourselves to be more, do more, or prove more. Instead, they are spaces where we reclaim our right to simply be.
Reimagining How We Gather
When I think about leaders who embody the spirit of pleasure-centered enrichment and radical self-expression, I think of women like Cami Arboles who uses movement as an artistic and sensory practice, inviting us to feel at home in our bodies as well as Iman Europe who transforms emotions into sonic experiences that offer healing and affirmation.
Your Invitation to Experience More
We often think of self-love as a solo journey. But in reality, love, especially love for ourselves, is learned, felt, and affirmed in community. So, I’ll leave you with this:
What would change if you gave yourself permission to experience life more fully...to be present, to release, to reconnect with joy?
Let’s continue this conversation in the comments below.
Tune in to my first sonic experience as well as my latest episode and let’s explore how embracing pleasure, connection, and emotional courage through self-expression can transform the way we lead, create, and build community.
The Corruption of Consumerism: Eroding Intuition, Creativity, Well-Being, and Innovation
From the glow of movie screens to the endless scroll of social media, consumerism is more than just what we buy—it’s what we believe.
In a world saturated with advertisements and relentless marketing, consumerism has become more than just an economic activity; it's a cultural force shaping our identities, desires, and behaviors. While consumption is an integral part of modern life, the pervasive nature of consumer culture can have profound impacts on our intuition, creativity, well-being, and capacity for innovation.
The Subtle Erosion of Intuition and Creativity
From a young age, individuals are bombarded with messages dictating ideals of beauty, success, and happiness. This external influence can drown out inner voices, leading to a diminished sense of self and intuition. For example, the rise of social media influencers has created a landscape where curated lifestyles become benchmarks for personal aspirations. Research indicates that both Gen Z and Millennials place high importance on the authenticity of influencers, yet the constant exposure to idealized images can blur the lines between genuine self-expression and consumer-driven identities.
Moreover, consumerism often promotes passive consumption over active creation. The emphasis on acquiring the latest products can stifle individual creativity, as people may prioritize fitting into prescribed molds over exploring unique expressions. This shift not only affects personal development but also hampers societal innovation.
Impacts on Well-Being
The relentless pursuit of consumer ideals can lead to adverse health outcomes. The Global Wellness Institute reports that the wellness economy, encompassing sectors like beauty, anti-aging, and fitness, reached a market size of $4.4 trillion in 2020. While this reflects a growing interest in wellbeing, it also underscores the commercialization of health, where wellness becomes another product to consume rather than a holistic state to achieve.
Economic Implications
On a broader scale, consumerism influences economic structures and labor markets. The focus on mass production and consumption can lead to unsustainable practices, affecting both the environment and economic stability. Conversely, economies that encourage innovation and creative problem-solving tend to experience more sustainable growth. Research from Harvard Business School highlights that environments fostering teamwork and idea-sharing see increased productivity, suggesting that moving beyond consumerist mindsets can lead to more robust economic outcomes.
‘Nosedive’ promo asset for the Netflix series “Black Mirror”
Cultural Reflections
Popular media often mirrors and critiques consumer culture. The Netflix series "Black Mirror," particularly the episode "Nosedive," portrays a society obsessed with social ratings, reflecting the extremes of consumerist values infiltrating personal identity and societal interactions. Artists like Dechii and Billie Eilish challenge traditional norms by rejecting stereotypical images of beauty, creativity, and success, encouraging authenticity over conformity.
A Path Forward: Reclaiming Self and Society
To counteract the corrosive effects of consumerism, individuals and communities can:
Cultivate Mindfulness: Engage in practices that enhance self-awareness, helping to distinguish between intrinsic desires and externally imposed wants.
Foster Creativity: Encourage activities that promote creation over consumption, such as art, writing, or community projects.
Redefine Success: Shift societal values to honor wellbeing, relationships, and personal growth rather than material accumulation.
Support Authentic Media: Engage with and promote content that values genuine expression over commercial interests.
By acknowledging and addressing the pervasive influence of consumerism, we can reclaim our intuition, nurture our creativity, enhance our well-being, and foster a culture of true innovation.
The Future of Community & Marketing: Why ‘Fourth Spaces’ Are the Key to Connection & Wellbeing
For decades, the conversation around gathering has been focused on where we meet: coffee shops, gyms, coworking spaces. Now however, as we move deeper into a digitally fluid world, the why behind our gatherings is becoming even more important.
Enter Fourth Spaces™ which is a term coined in Eventbrite’s latest Fourth Spaces Report, which highlights the evolving ways Gen Z and Millennials are blending their online and offline lives. Unlike traditional third places (think cafes and community centers), Fourth Spaces are designed to facilitate deep, shared experiences based on passion, identity, and wellbeing.
Photo Credit: Madelin Bolhman x Hardwater Cocktail Room - Bentonville, AR
The Rise of Fourth Spaces: From Online Spectators to IRL Participants
Today’s young adults have spent years curating online personas, diving into niche interests, and forming digital communities. But now, they’re seeking more: a way to bring those digital passions into real-life, immersive, multi-sensory environments. According the Eventbrite’s report:
95% of 18- to 35-year-olds want to explore online interests through in-person events.
73% are drawn to communities that offer a sense of belonging and identity.
64% attend events specifically to make new friends.
Photo Credit: Lewa Adewumi x Abike Ade
Designing for Pleasure: The Next Frontier in Fourth Spaces
Photo Credit: Koen
That’s why I’m designing offerings like ‘Unwind’ and Dancing With The DJ. My vision is these carefully curated offerings will serve as a multi-destination, pleasure-based enrichment experience, leveraging multi-sensory design, immersive storytelling, and will be tailored to each location’s unique cultural, artistic, and wellness landscape, in an effort to create experiences that:
Strengthen emotional wellbeing through curated, real-world gatherings.
Redefine community-building by blending digital engagement with tactile, in-person interactions.
Drive marketing impact through intimate, high-touch experiences that resonate emotionally.
But what does a pleasure-centered Fourth Space actually look like in practice?
The New Playbook: Crafting Multi-Sensory, Story-Driven Experiences
Photo Credit: Brandon Frias x Los Angeles Tea House
Looking at Eventbrite’s research, we see six major experience categories driving the Fourth Space movement:
Culinary Circles – Supper clubs, themed dinner parties, and chef-led pop-ups that transform food into a creative social experience.
Live Social Clubs – Music, comedy, and performing arts events that blur the line between audience and performer.
Game-Based Gatherings – Interactive trivia nights, esports tournaments, and retro gaming events fostering strategic play and collaboration.
Creative Expression Labs – Hands-on workshops for painting, pottery, photography, and other artistic exploration.
Fandom Festivities – Watch parties, cosplay events, and creator meetups that bring online fan communities to life.
Healthy Hangouts – Group wellness experiences like hiking clubs, sound baths, and sober-curious social gatherings.
The common thread?
These experiences all tap into pleasure, curiosity, and connection which are fundamental human drivers that brands, creative curators, and community leaders must embrace to stay ahead in the experience economy.
The Business Case for Pleasure-Based Fourth Spaces
Brands like Nike and Sephora have already begun experimenting with multi-sensory marketing activations, but there’s still massive untapped potential in designing pleasure-centered experiences that foster deeper human connection and brand affinity.
72% of Gen Z and Millennials prioritize experiences over material goods.
Experiential marketing campaigns generate 2x higher brand engagement than traditional digital advertising.
79% of young adults prefer events that combine multiple interests, creating richer, more dynamic experiences.
I see Fourth Spaces as the ultimate intersection of storytelling, enrichment, and emotional connection, not just a place to gather, but a platform for self-discovery, creativity, and transformation.
Photo Credit: Dominique Crenn
What’s Next? Let’s Create the Future
As Fourth Spaces redefine how and why we gather, the key question becomes:
How can we co-create immersive, pleasure-based experiences that align with this cultural shift?
The opportunity is wide open for wellness and pleasure-based educators, creatives, brands, and experience designers to shape this next era of connection. Whether through immersive storytelling, sensory-driven environments, or wellbeing-focused activations, those who innovate in this space will not only capture attention but cultivate lasting, purpose-driven communities.
If you’re interested in designing Fourth Spaces that enrich lives, deepen engagement, and drive meaningful impact, let’s connect. Drop a comment or reach out—I’d love to build with you.
Pleasure as Liberation (Part 2): Channeling My Inner Audre
Encapsulate Studio - Santa Monica, CA
"The erotic is a measure between the beginnings of our sense of self and the chaos of our strongest feelings." – Audre Lorde
If you’re like me, you might have been taught - directly or indirectly - to see pleasure as something external, something we must earn, something grand, something reserved for later.
But what if pleasure was an everyday practice? What if, instead of being a reward, it was a way of living?
This was the heart of my conversation with Crystle Johnson on We Ain’t Dying For This podcast, where I explored Pleasure as Liberation and reflected on how reclaiming pleasure has reshaped my identity, my work, and my sense of self.
Who Is Marisha?
I used to define myself by what I did—my titles, my achievements, the roles I played for others. But I am unlearning that.
I am a truthteller, a visionary, a human doing my best to milk the experience we call life. I am chronically thoughtful, deeply intentional, and endlessly curious about how we can craft spaces that honor the unseen, the mystery within ourselves and each other.
If I must give myself a title, I am an educator turned experience designer and storyteller. But beyond that, I am someone experimenting with artistic expression - written, sonic, aromatic, and visual - to disentangle myself from societal expectations and fully embrace my inherent identity as a creator.
I am audacious. I am unconventional. And I am in the midst of a love affair with pleasure, not as indulgence, but as liberation.
The Lies We Tell Ourselves About Pleasure
Too many of us have been fed myths that keep us disconnected from pleasure. Here are a few:
We don’t have time for pleasure.
The truth? We don’t have time not to prioritize pleasure. When we push it aside, we push aside the very energy that sustains us.
Instead of thinking of pleasure as something that requires extra time, what if we wove it into the lives we’re already living?
We must grind, struggle, or accomplish before we can enjoy pleasure.
Society has conditioned us to believe that suffering earns us the right to rest. But pleasure is not a reward—it is a necessity.
What if we stopped delaying joy and allowed ourselves to experience it in real-time?
Pleasure must come from outside of us—a lover, an experience, a destination.
Pleasure is not something we wait to be given; it is something we cultivate.
When we reclaim pleasure as an internal resource, we stop outsourcing our joy and begin accessing it at will.
Pleasure is always sexual.
While erotic energy is powerful, pleasure extends far beyond the bedroom.
It is the warmth of the sun on your skin, the rhythm of a song that moves you, the deep exhale of a moment fully lived.
Pleasure must be extravagant to be real.
True pleasure is often found in the simplest moments.
The scent of a favorite candle. The sound of laughter. The texture of a soft fabric.
New Truths to Embrace
Pleasure is a practice, not a reward.
Pleasure is fuel, not a distraction.
Pleasure is power, when we claim it, we reclaim ourselves.
How Pleasure Transformed My Life
Photo Credit: Shereen Jenkins x Ms. Marisha
I lived for external validation. I sought control. I avoided vulnerability.
But something was missing.
When I started prioritizing pleasure, my world expanded. My senses sharpened. My emotions became clearer. I began experiencing life in a way I had never allowed myself to before.
I realized there was more to self-care than just pushing my body to be strong. Pleasure taught me softness, intimacy with myself, connection with others, the ability to be deeply present in the textures, sounds, and scents that soothed my soul.
Pleasure, in many ways, was my liberation. It helped me articulate my needs, honor my desires, and trust my inner wisdom, even when it led me into unknown territory.
A Treasure Chest Inventory: Reclaiming Pleasure
For those struggling to feel deserving of pleasure, I offer this:
Imagine yourself as a treasure chest. Within you are all the beliefs, values, and narratives you’ve collected over time. Some are precious. Others? Burdensome.
Take inventory:
What stories about pleasure are you carrying?
Who placed them there?
Which ones still serve you? Which ones don’t?
Through this practice of non-judgmental reflection, we begin to reclaim pleasure on our terms.
Why Pleasure-Centered Experiences Matter Now More Than Ever
This journey is why I am designing ‘Unwind’ which is a multi-sensory, pop up series of immersive, pleasure-centered enrichment experiences.
Each activation will be tailored to its city’s unique cultural, artistic, and wellness landscape while aligning with the vision of restoration, self-discovery, and connection. Through guided sensory explorations, storytelling, and more, Unwind invites us to slow down, reconnect with ourselves, meet new people, and rewrite our narratives around pleasure as a lifestyle.
These spaces matter now more than ever because in our world of rapid change, emerging technologies, and societal shifts, one thing remains true: our ability to access pleasure shapes our ability to lead, create, and innovate.
Self-Guided Exercise: Welcome Pleasure In
If pleasure feels foreign to you, start here:
Define what pleasure means to you. What sensations, emotions, people, places, and practices bring you pleasure?
Create a Pleasure List. Write down experiences that evoke pleasure, or ones you’ve been curious about but never explored.
Set Pleasure Dates. Commit to engaging in these experiences more often. Whether solo or with others, prioritize them.
Form a Pleasure Accountability Community. Surround yourself with people who encourage pleasure, rest, and authenticity.
Closing: A Reflection on Pleasure as Power
Photo Credit: @Goddusrising x Ms. Marisha
Pleasure is not a luxury. It is a homecoming.
Audre Lorde reminds us that "the erotic is the nurturer and nursemaid of all our deepest knowledge." When we embrace pleasure, we embrace our deepest selves.
So, I’ll leave you with this:
What would your life look like if you stopped waiting for pleasure and started welcoming it?
Pleasure as Liberation (Part 1): Reclaiming Joy, Freedom & Self-Belonging
Photo Credit: @Goddusrising x Ms. Marisha
I don’t know about you, but I used to believe that pleasure was something to be earned. That joy was a reward for hard work, that rest required justification, that indulgence was a distraction from purpose. But what if pleasure isn’t a luxury but instead the pathway to freedom? What if allowing myself to enjoy, to feel, to lean into what brings me pleasure was the most radical act of self-liberation I could choose?
My Year of Kintsugi was the first time I truly explored these questions. This year of intentional disruption, while uncomfortable and came with many sacrifices, was my radical act of choosing pleasure. This was not as a fleeting escape, but as an intentional and restorative way of being. Like many of us, I spent my entire life pushing forward, hustling, striving for an ideal of success, but when I stepped away from the conventional way of life to disrupt my own patterns, I began to shatter the idea that fulfillment and impact comes solely from doing and achieving. I gave myself permission to redefine success: not as productivity, but as presence.
And in that presence, I found pleasure.
Camelback Mountain - Phoenix, AZ
Pleasure as a Disruption
When I stepped away from academia a year and a half after returning to in-person instruction (following the pandemic), I wasn’t just taking a break. I was disrupting a deeply ingrained cycle, one that glorified burnout and minimized rest, one that equated struggle with strength, a badge of honor, worthiness. I chose instead to explore what pleasure could look like when it wasn’t conditional.
How I’ve Integrated Pleasure as Liberation in My Life
I let my body move in ways that felt intuitive, whether that was dancing, hiking, or simply lying or playing in nature.
I indulged in creativity without agenda, writing, creative direction, designing sonic experiences, not for an audience, but for myself.
I sought intimacy in deep conversations, coffee shop encounters, first dates, and phone calls with [geographically] distant friends; not as a performance, but as a space where I could be fully seen and received.
I allowed slowness to be sacred, resting not because I was exhausted, but because I deserved to be well, replenished, and quite frankly this is how I become more creative and efficient.
Each of these acts became a reclamation, a reminder that pleasure is not an afterthought, but a birthright and a power source. In the poetic and wise words of activist, writer, and proponent of pleasure (the erotic) Audre Lorde shares, “When we live outside ourselves, and by that I mean on the external directive only, on what is expected of us rather from our internal knowledge and needs, when we live away from those erotic guides from within ourselves then our lives are limited by external and alien forms and we conform to the needs of a structure that is not based on human need, let alone any individuals.”
When we embrace pleasure, we remind the world (and ourselves) that we are more than what we do. We are beings worthy of joy, intimacy, creativity, and deep satisfaction.
The 4 Personas: Reimagining My Own Story
Photo Credit: Maria Joyner x Ms. Marisha
My journey into pleasure as liberation also meant stepping into self-expression in ways that once felt inaccessible or uncomfortable. My boudoir photo series, The 4 Personas, was a direct response to years of societal conditioning that told me who I should be and how I should exist in my body – what path my life should take.
Through this creative immersion, I didn’t just pose for a camera, I reclaimed ownership of my narrative. I depicted myself in ways that honored my softness, my sensuality, my strength. I illustrated not just my survival, but my thriving, my evolution. It was a visual manifesto: I am allowed to take up space. I am allowed to enjoy this moment, this body, this life.
Pleasure is the Path, Not the Prize
Lake Castiac - Los Angeles County
I used to think I had to achieve something before I could deserve pleasure. Now, I understand that pleasure itself is the achievement. It is the act of honoring oneself, of trusting oneself, of choosing joy without apology.
So I ask you:
How do you allow yourself to experience pleasure?
What does pleasure as liberation look like in your life?
How often do you let pleasure be the reason, not just the reward?
Drop your reflections in the comments.
Bumble Love, Learning & Brand Growth: A Valentine’s Day Masterclass
Bumble’s Honey Ambassadors program is a masterclass in career-connected learning, offering students real-world experience in brand marketing, content creation, and community building.
Photo Credit: Ms. Marisha’s Bumble Bizz profile photo
Imagine this…
It’s Valentine’s season, and college campuses are buzzing with talk of love, dating, and friendship. Enter Bumble’s Honey Ambassadors, armed with customized Valentine’s Day activations that blend digital storytelling with real-world engagement.
They launch an on-campus campaign called #LoveOutLoud, encouraging students to share stories of meaningful connections—romantic, platonic, or professional—via social media. Ambassadors distribute Bumble-themed Valentine’s cards with QR codes leading to the app, host “Swipe Right for Career Advice” networking events, and partner with local cafes for “Buy One, Match One” coffee promotions. The result? Increased app downloads, meaningful conversations, strategic partnerships, and a dynamic learning experience for students navigating digital marketing, community engagement, and experiential branding.
This is career-connected learning in action—where students build professional skills while brands gain authentic, grassroots exposure. And it’s exactly why more companies should follow Bumble’s lead in integrating education with business strategy.
In today’s rapidly evolving world of work, the most successful companies aren’t just selling products or services; they’re shaping culture, fostering community, and creating career pathways for the next generation of talent.
Aside from my startup impact relations agency - ZENtertainment™ Enterprises - what’s one brand leading this charge?
Bumble.
Photo Credit: Bumble
Bumble’s Honey Ambassadors: A Blueprint for Career-Connected Learning
The Bumble Honey Ambassadors program is more than just a brand advocacy initiative—it’s an experience design masterclass in career-connected learning. By providing college students with real-world marketing, content creation, and community engagement opportunities, Bumble has built a powerful talent pipeline while empowering young professionals with tangible, transferable skills.
Photo Credit: Bumble
The Future of Work: Experience-Driven, Socially-Connected, and Brand-Integrated
Bumble’s success story offers three key insights into the future of work:
Learning by Doing – Traditional education is shifting toward experience-first models, where students gain skills by actively working on projects. Bumble’s ambassador program serves as a compelling case study of how companies can embed hands-on learning within brand-building efforts.
Community as Currency – In today’s digital landscape, career growth is increasingly tied to networks and brand affiliation. Bumble isn’t just creating customers; it’s cultivating a community of brand advocates who develop critical marketing and engagement skills through real-world applications.
Authenticity & Purpose-Driven Work – Gen Z and Millennial professionals prioritize purpose and alignment over traditional career trajectories. Bumble’s brand mission—centered on fostering meaningful connections—resonates with young professionals seeking work that integrates social impact with skill-building.
Why More Companies Should Follow Bumble’s Lead
Photo Credit: @HailiAndRicky x Ms. Marisha
For educators, workforce leaders, and brands alike, Bumble’s Honey Ambassadors program is a call to action. It underscores why career-connected learning must be a cornerstone of the future of education. By designing experiences that empower young adults with practical, resume-worthy skills, companies can build brand loyalty, drive innovation, and prepare the next generation for the workforce of tomorrow.
Let’s Build the Future of Work—Together
I’m passionate about advocating for career-connected learning experiences that integrate storytelling, experience design, and professional development. If you’re a brand looking to cultivate the next wave of talent through immersive and strategic career-building programs, let’s connect. The future of work is experiential, connected, and driven by purpose—and I’m here to shape it.
Photo Credit: @HailiAndRicky x Ms. Marisha
As a former educator, I bring these skills to the forefront of my new direction in experience design and storytelling. If you’re a socially responsible brand or purpose-driven organization looking to create fresh and relevant content-driven experiences that inspire, provoke, teach, and deliver meaningful impact, I’d love to explore collaboration. Let’s connect and make magic happen. Tag, you’re it!
From Educator to Experience Designer: Why the Future Needs Us
In a 2025 marketing landscape driven by immersive experiences, authentic storytelling, and community-centered design, here’ a question worth pondering:
Who better to lead the charge than educators?
Photo Credit: UsabilityGeek
In a 2025 marketing landscape driven by immersive experiences, authentic storytelling, and community-centered design, here’s a question worth pondering:
Flyer promoting virtual enrichment experiences curated by Ms. Marisha and hosted by Teach For America to develop social emotional wellness and combat teacher burnout.
As brands race to create deeper connections through experience design and storytelling, they must recognize the untapped potential of professionals who’ve spent their careers crafting meaningful, transformative moments both in-person and virtually. The pivot from education to either experience design, content creation and marketing isn’t just logical; it’s essential. Companies and organizations seeking freelancers or full-time talent for these roles should actively prioritize candidates with an education background for their unparalleled ability to engage, challenge, teach, and empower.
Let’s dive into five key characteristics that make educators the ultimate content creators and experience designers, especially in light of 2025 trends:
1. Thinks Like an Educator: In today’s world of brand activations and experiential marketing, content isn’t just consumed—it’s experienced. Just as educators design lesson plans to resonate with diverse learners, experience designers craft moments that educate, delight, and inspire. Think about brands like IKEA, who recently launched its "Hus of FRAKTA" popup on London’s Oxford Street dedicated to its iconic blue, sustainable shopping bags - encouraging creative, shareworthy social moments or moments to interact IRL with that brand helping to drive brand visibility, engagement and awareness. These campaigns don’t just sell products; they highlight values, inspire action, and build loyalty—precisely the kind of outcomes educators excel at creating.
2. Speaks with Clarity and Flair: In 2025, communication is no longer just about being heard; it’s about being remembered - just like this 3:46 Instagram Volvo ad shot by Hoyte Van Hoytema, the cinematographer of Interstellar and Oppenheimer. The best experiences and marketing content combines clarity with creativity, just like a great classroom lesson. Educators have mastered this balance, often presenting complex ideas in digestible, engaging formats. Companies like HubSpot, known for their clear, actionable content marketing strategies, thrive because they adopt an educator’s mindset—breaking down big ideas into relatable, actionable insights.
3. Masters Resourcefulness: Creative resourcefulness is the secret weapon of both educators and marketers. In a world where AI and other emerging technologies are reshaping how brands interact with audiences, knowing how to adapt and leverage tools is critical. Educators—accustomed to operating within constraints—bring unparalleled creativity to the table. Look at Stich Fix, Sephora and Ulta Beauty who are creating interactive experiences for their audiences. Stich Fix leverages AI to curate personalized clothing recommendations based on customer profiles while Sephora and Ulta Beauty offer virtual try-on features using AR technology for makeup products. Such innovations require the resourceful, forward-thinking mindset educators bring.
My Spotify Wrapped banners for a peek into my listening habits, top artists and songs from 2024.
4. Sets Goals and Tracks Progress Data-driven decision-making is the cornerstone of effective marketing in 2025. Educators already have experience setting learning objectives, measuring progress, and iterating strategies to improve outcomes. Take Spotify’s Wrapped campaign launched by former intern Jewel Ham: its success lies in the brand’s ability to track user data and create personalized, shareable content that resonates deeply. Similarly, educators are trained to analyze data and refine their approach—a perfect match for the metrics-driven world of content creation.
5. Knows Their Audience Inside and Out Personalization remains the dominant trend in marketing. Just as educators tailor lessons to meet the needs of individual students, skilled experience designers, content creators, and marketers curate offerings that feel uniquely crafted for their audiences. Consider Cleo, an AI-powered app that acts as Gen Z’s personal finance assistant, which uses an authentic voice through relatable memes, imagery, and slang. This requires deep empathy and understanding—qualities at the core of every educator’s skill set.
As a former educator, I bring these skills to the forefront of my new direction in experience design and storytelling. If you’re a socially responsible brand or purpose-driven organization looking to create fresh and relevant content-driven experiences that inspire, provoke, teach, and deliver meaningful impact, I’d love to explore collaboration. Let’s connect and make magic happen. Tag, you’re it!
Purposefully Pursuing Pleasure: Centering Courage, Connection, and Creativity
It all begins with an idea.
The Golden Rejoining: My Year of Kintsugi
I’ve been practicing intentional disruption. While I never officially announced this outside of the conversation I had with my former director, two years ago, I took a leap many would consider unconventional. I stepped away from my faculty role at a top university and declared a personal sabbatical: My Year of Kintsugi. Inspired by the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold, this year became a metaphor for my own journey, where during this time, I began to learn more about my own fragmented life experiences weave their lessons into a renewed narrative that reflected purpose, compassion, and beauty.
This year-long practice allowed me to confront my wounded inner child, unlearn shame, and embrace radical self-acknowledgement while I frequently sat in solitude, savored nature, and experimented with creative expression. A symbolic moment during this transformation was when I coordinated a boudoir photo shoot—a vulnerable act that celebrated my resilience and redefined how I viewed old versions of myself. Voice journaling and other forms of artistic expression amidst serene landscapes prompted me to repair the fractured pieces of my story that took place during key moments in my life.
This process taught me a profound truth: life’s contrasts —our undesirable or seemingly unrepairable broken moments—are the foundation of our beauty. They are the stories that make us whole. The stories that make us human.
This deeply personal experience set the stage for something greater: a movement to normalize the pursuit of pleasure as a foundational pillar for wellbeing, creativity, connection, and innovation.
Purposefully Pursuing Pleasure Defined
Pleasure is not frivolity; it is fuel. It is the spark that ignites creativity, connection, and resilience. ‘Purposefully Pursuing Pleasure’ is more than indulgence; it’s an intentional choice to infuse joy, depth, and restoration into our daily lives.
For me, ‘Purposefully Pursuing Pleasure’ means intentionally choosing people, places, platforms, and practices that evoke unconditional love, curiosity, safety, and flow. It’s about self-accountability and designing a life that is both restorative and inspiring, anchored in the belief that our wellbeing is the foundation of our contributions to the world.
Science supports this: pleasure is tied to dopamine release, which enhances motivation, learning, and emotional resilience. Studies in psychology and neuroscience reveal that positive experiences improve cognitive function, deepen interpersonal relationships, and foster innovation. When we approach pleasure as purposeful, we build the capacity to face challenges with courage and compassion, transforming pleasure into a tool for personal growth and societal impact.
From Educator to Experience Designer: A Call for Intentional Disruption
As an educator, I valued the structured learning environments I facilitated. But through my sabbatical, I’ve learned the power of stepping off the beaten path and discovered a broader calling: to become an example, a collaborator, and fellow human exploring what life has to offer beyond professional accomplishments. Leaving academia to immerse myself in pleasure-driven exploration was an intentional disruption—a choice to break free from the hustle mentality and redefine success.
In this new creative chapter, I’ve embraced storytelling and experience design as powerful vehicles to nurture curiosity, courage, and creativity. Whether curating intimate workshops on sensual awakening or developing traveling, multi-sensory experiences, my mission remains the same: to cultivate spaces where people feel seen, safe, and inspired to grow while making new connections.
Pleasure, when pursued with purpose, is transformative. It’s the antidote to burnout, a catalyst for innovation, and a bridge to meaningful relationships. This realization birthed Purposefully Pursuing Pleasure – a series of enrichment offerings I’ve been designing to explore how pleasure can revolutionize how we live, learn, lead, and love.
The Case for Purposeful Pleasure in Our Collective Future
Our society often undervalues pleasure, treating it as secondary to productivity. But in truth, pleasure is a necessity, not a luxury. Pleasure isn’t just personal,it’s pivotal to our collective wellbeing. By redefining its role in our lives, we unlock opportunities to:
Innovate: Pleasure activates areas of the brain associated with idea generation and problem-solving.
Connect: Shared pleasurable experiences build empathy and foster stronger relationships.
Lead: Leaders who embrace pleasure as a personal wellbeing practice are more emotionally intelligent and they inspire trust, collaboration, and resilience in their teams.
Wellbeing: Intentionally pursuing pleasure helps us release trauma, break cycles of shame, and rediscover joy. Cultivating joy and intimacy reduces stress and improves mental health.
These principles form the foundation of my Purposefully Pursuing Pleasure enrichment offerings. While still in development and more details on how to enroll will be available soon, I can share that my offerings blend experience design, storytelling, and scientific research to explore how pleasure can reshape how we live, learn, love, and lead. Additionally, by redefining pleasure, we create a world where flourishing is not reserved for the few but accessible to all.
Themes and Benefits: Embracing Intentional Disruption
This journey is guided by themes that reflect the essence of purposeful pleasure:
Intentional Disruptions: Stepping away from “business as usual” to reflect and realign.
Pleasure Redefined: Embracing joy and connection as vital to success and wellbeing.
Sabbaticals for Self-Acknowledgment: Creating space to honor life’s transitions.
Storytelling & Experience Design: Using narrative and sensory experiences to process our lived experience and cultivate community and creativity.
By leaning into these practices, we can collectively reimagine leadership, education, and innovation, creating a world where pleasure becomes a catalyst for progress.
A Call to Journey Together
As I navigate this evolving path into my next chapter, I am no longer just an educator, nor am I here to serve as your guru, influencer, or expert. I am a guide, a collaborator, and fellow human navigating life’s complexities alongside other impact-minded explorers interested in uniting with me in embracing life’s golden rejoining. Through my ‘Purposefully Pursuing Pleasure’ experiential offerings, I challenge you to define and pursue intentional disruption in a way that allows you to experience the freedom in reimagining your relationship with pleasure, vulnerability and resilience. Together, we’ll explore how intentional disruptions can unlock courage, creativity, and connection in every aspect of our lives.
Let us honor our fragmented life moments and rediscover the beauty in becoming.
A Vision for the Future
So, I leave you with this invitation:
Dare to pause. Explore what lights you up. And never hide from what makes you the beautiful work of art that you are.
The golden rejoining begins here, but this is only the beginning. Please, BARE With Me.