The Prolific Hub Podcast
The Prolific Hub Podcast is a digital archive of all things life, personal development, spirituality & creativity.
The Prolific Hub Podcast
Ep. 44 | From Teacher to Creative Entrepreneur: Tasia Marie's Art & Wellness Journey
Tune in us as we sit down with Tasia Marie, a former educator and the innovative force behind the brand troiscoeurxviii. Tasia opens up about the emotional rollercoaster of leaving her teaching career to pursue her passion in art, fashion, and wellness. She shares the raw truths about the challenges, self-doubt, and small victories that come with building a brand from the ground up. It's a candid look into the entrepreneurial journey, shedding light on the perseverance and grit required to succeed.
Learn more about "Stay W.E.T."—a metaphor that embodies the essence of being Wild, Emotionally Intelligent, and Thriving. Tasia shares personal anecdotes about the importance of emotional intelligence and self-discovery, highlighting how creativity serves as a therapeutic outlet. From journaling to beach visits and rewatching favorite TV shows, Tasia discusses the habits that support emotional resilience. This episode is a heartfelt journey through personal growth, creativity, and mental wellness, emphasizing the significance of normalizing conversations around mental health.
More from Tasia:
- Follow Tasia/troiscoeurxviii on IG: @_trois_ & @_troiscoeurxviii_
- Follow Tasia/troiscoeurxviii on TikTok: @_troiscoeurxviii_
- TikTok video played in episode!
- Get your art, jewelry & fashion troiscoeurxviii.com!
- Read the blog post!
- Watch this episode on YouTube!
Are you a creative, solopreneur or entrepreneur who’d like to be featured on The Prolific Hub Podcast? Let us know here!
Theme Music:
She No Dull Beat by Nana Kwabena
Festivities in Belize by RAGE Productions
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Get your custom pieces by troiscoeurxviii on troiscoeurxviii.com!
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Hey friend, welcome back to the show. Welcome back to the Prolific Hub podcast. I'm your host, aaliyah Cheyenne, and I'm so excited today to be joined by my sister, tasia Marie. Now, all of the OGs of the podcast remember Tasia. Tasia was one of the original co-hosts of the show and I'm so excited that she's back for this episode to talk more about her creative endeavors, her brand, her art, her clothing line, her jewelry, her vision for her afterschool program and we talk a little bit about the larger vision for the prolific hub of which this podcast is named after. So, without further ado, let's jump into the episode. Hey friend, welcome back to the podcast. I'm your host, aaliyah Cheyenne, and I'm so excited today to be joined by my sister and one of the former co-hosts of the show, tasia.
Aliya Cheyanne:Co -hosts of the show. This is going to be a fun episode. I'm excited to jump into all of your creative projects and what you got going on and I'm so glad to have you back on the show. And on, and I'm so glad to have you back on the show. And, yeah, I usually jump in with guests with an introduction, but my sister y'all all of the OGs of the pod know and recognize this face, this voice. So I'm going to leave it there and I'm going to kick it over to you to introduce yourself. I always like to ask guests to let the world know how you want to be seen and known today. So let us know, yeah.
Tasia Marie:So, hey y'all, I'm Tate Marie. I am a former educator. Now I am entrepreneur-ish, Still finding my way. I'm trying to build my brand out Twacore X-V-I-I-I or Twacore18. And it basically consists of art, fashion and wellness. So that's it Left the education realm, went into the creator realm, finding myself in this creative realm, and, yeah, it's a journey, To say the least.
Aliya Cheyanne:Yeah, and really diving into it more fully, because you were still creating while you were educating. You're just kind of doing it more as like like a side thing, like people start off doing like a side hustle and now you're doing it as the main thing, which is really cool. So how has the transition been from like education and teaching to now pursuing your craft full-time?
Tasia Marie:oh man like a roller coaster. Um, to be honest with you, like some days are highs like a roller coaster. Um, to be honest with you, like some days are highs, like a lot of days are lows. Some days are like what the fuck am I doing? Do I need to tuck my tail and go back to teaching? Um, yeah, it's a hell of a journey.
Tasia Marie:Like I'm not gonna lie, I've doubted myself a majority of the time, um, in what I've done, but I just keep reminding myself that, god don't make no mistake, like everything happened the way it happened for a reason. So I just need to get on it, be on my shit, like my creative shit, because now I'm actually given the opportunity, the space, the time to create um, which I had that like roadblock, that creator's lock, while I was teaching um, and I still feel like I kind of have a block, but I'm now like I'm starting to get back into the flow of things. So, yeah, different, it's a journey. It's it's a very questionable journey. I ain't gonna lie, I've applied to a teaching job or two um, because I'm thinking like, damn, I may need to go back to work and like still do this on the side, but I need something coming in while I'm putting out. So there's that, yeah.
Aliya Cheyanne:Yeah, for sure. I think part of it too is like and we've talked about this before, like you and I, but I also hear it a lot among a lot of entrepreneurs Like we kind of live in a time now where it's glorified a lot and in a lot of ways, we're seeing a lot of people who have already done this for a long time before. We're seeing like their successes now. But the way it reads is that anybody could do it tomorrow and sometimes it takes a little bit more time for sure, and it is a journey Like every entrepreneur or creative I've spoken to or seen talks about how things ebb and flow, like it comes in waves, and it's about learning to be in flow and ride the wave and doing what you need to do.
Aliya Cheyanne:But I think it is a really good opportunity to just pour into your creative bag and like have the space and the freedom to create, because a nine to five will drain all of your energy. You gotta have a certain type of commitment and dedication, really build something like in tandem with working like a primary job, like using your five to nine or you're like six to nine in the morning, whatever, why is you know, like it's a balancing act and we don't live in a society that makes it easy to start your own thing. So I commend you for jumping into your creative bag and like trying something new and starting your own thing. So yeah, gracias.
Tasia Marie:Yeah.
Aliya Cheyanne:So I feel like, girl, I don't know if it's like a speech impediment or what it is, but every time I try to say, every time I try to say toi core, you got it, that's it right. Okay, I feel like I have to think about it. So if you see me, if you see me pause, every time it's because I'm thinking about it in my head, okay so let's take it all the way back to the beginning, beginning.
Aliya Cheyanne:Beginning what inspired you to create twa, core xvii, um? What inspired you to create it? Like what was kind of the kickoff? That was like I want to start doing this art, I want to start doing this clothing line, I want to start doing all this stuff and put it under the umbrella of this brand. What was the inspiration?
Tasia Marie:Word. So Trois Corps was the initial brand. Trois like three is my favorite number. Trois is French, corps is heart, so like three, heart like three is my favorite number. Twa is French core is heart, so like three, heart, sweetheart, little plain words. Twa core XVIII is the rebrand, so that's the rebrand that I kind of kicked off last year. Um, but what inspired me to start? It was actually just creating my own abstract piece, like. It was a time in 2018 when I first thought of the brand where I was just having a really low moment and I got a canvas and I just bought like five different colors and I painted like some real abstract shit and when I posted it, everyone was like yo, that's so dope, that's so this. I was like, oh wow, people really like my weird shit. Like OK, so I just started like creating. I actually sold a few pieces, like was commissioned to create a few pieces, so I was like.
Tasia Marie:OK, I think this is something that I could do. I always wanted to do a clothing line, like ever since I was younger. I always used to like draft little shirts and shit. So I was just like, hey, let's do a T-shirt line. I tried my hand at a T-shirt line but I wasn't really being serious about it. I just created a few pieces for myself and that was it.
Tasia Marie:But, like now with the rebrand, it's art, fashion and wellness. So of course, the abstract art is still there, which I need to get back on. The fashion would be what I have now. So currently I'm only selling like short sets, so it's the tee and the short, and then I also have tees. But in the future I do plan to build out like sweatsuits, five panel hats, crewnecks, hoodies, all of that good stuff. I actually want to do like a full blown fashion line. I just need to. I need to get with the right folk. And then wellness Everyone needs wellness in their life and wellness is what are you doing to keep yourself uplifted? So I wanted to make sure, in the brand twa core it's three. So art, fashion, wellness, um, and the wellness can consist of art. It consists of fashion.
Tasia Marie:Uh, I have an after-school program that I want to kind of. I try. I was going to pilot it when I was in my former lifetime of teaching. However, that environment got a little bit too hectic for me so I left before I could actually pilot it. But I have the curriculum written out and everything. I have a pitch that I will be emailing out to different principals in different schools here, that I will be emailing out to different principals in different schools here. So it's an after-school program that focuses on SEL skills, social-emotional skills for kids. So using art as a leverage for social-emotional skills.
Tasia Marie:How do you express yourself? Like? A lot of people don't know how to express themselves verbally. So, artistically, you can express yourself Like everyone's, like, oh, I'm not, an'm not an artist, nigga. Have you been to a museum? Like I be going to some museums and seeing dots on canvases and I'm like that's deep, that's deep. So we're all artists. There are various ways for us to express ourselves, and I just want to show young adults and adults as well that we can express ourselves through art. It doesn't have to be you don't have to be a Picasso or you don't have to know how to draw portraits Like. But how do you express yourself through art, any form of art at that?
Aliya Cheyanne:Yeah, I love that. I feel like the nature of the human spirit is creative, so I love that you're like pulling in and enveloping like all these different qualities and areas under the brand. Um, I think art is important. I love art as like a spectator and as a creator in my own way. But I also think wellness is so important, like emotional wellness and like being able to self-regulate and co-regulate with others, like with community, is really important. And fashion is fun. Like a lot of these kids, all they care about is what they wear. So I think it's so, yeah, I think it's so cool to like fold all those different elements in and tie it into the brand, like the representing three and then having those three pillars is really cool. So, yeah, I love that. Yes, ma'am, thank you. Thank you for sharing.
Aliya Cheyanne:Okay, so we kind of talked about like what inspired you and what kicked off even wanting to create the brand and doing all of these things. So I think that's really cool. But I would love for you to talk about you know just kind of what it feels like to create, because one thing I'm really focused on these days is being present and I feel like in the moment of creating something with your own hands and, like you know, putting something out into the world that you thought about in your mind, that you actually made material, is really cool. So can you talk a little bit about your process of creating and like what that actually feels like when you're doing it?
Tasia Marie:So, like my process is all over the place sometimes. Um, like I said, I've definitely had a creator's law, so you know um that I've recently let go of basically all my art. Um.
Aliya Cheyanne:I still have six pieces hanging up in my house.
Tasia Marie:Yeah, it's so like, yeah, I'm glad that you still have those pieces. I have like very few pieces, um, but I literally let go of all my art. So that was almost uh, what am I trying to say? That was like a relief of some sort. Right, that was definitely a release, um, but, like, when I create I don't.
Tasia Marie:Sometimes it comes to me in a dream, like I'll wake up in the morning and just be like, for example, like a few weeks ago, I had a dream that I created these tapestry pants, like swap core tapestry pants, like with the fringes on the side, like I had the whole fit and I was at homecoming Howard homecoming. So I was like I woke up and I was just like, oh shit, tapestry pants, tapestry crop top, like I just wrote it down. I'm like, okay, I got to create that, so now I got to get that tapestry blanket created so I can create my pants. But, like, other times it's literally just me being like OK, I have a lot of shit on my mind. Let me just sit in front of the canvas and put my paintbrush to it with the color and however it goes, it goes. And then other times it's kind of like OK, well, I do have this series that I want to work on, for example, like I had the um, the twa core heart series, where I wanted just comes from pure randomness, like it's a bit of chaos in my head, but it's artistic chaos, so I just try to put that to the canvas or put it to my clothing or try to just ride it out.
Aliya Cheyanne:Yeah, I feel like part of what I'm actually hearing, like the feeling is that it might feel like a little bit therapeutic, like I know you mentioned the word release for like letting go of pieces, but I imagine there's like a release that happens too when you're actually putting paint to canvas. So I think that's cool too. And, yeah, I feel like art can definitely be an expression for like sorting through what's in our minds and in our heads. So I think it's a cool way to channel that energy out Definitely and like make, make something of it. And you shouted out howard, because you are howard graduate.
Aliya Cheyanne:But one thing I'm you, yeah, I was gonna do it, but then I'm like I didn't go to howard, so I don't want anybody to tell me I was like I didn't graduate from there, but you did. And something I remember about like pieces you've done in the past which you may or may not bring back, I don't know is that you did pieces for different sororities and fraternities and I know there were some complexities around that, but I imagine that if those things are sorted out, that's something you can channel and do again for anyone who might be listening, who might be, you know, in a frat or in a sorority, so definitely.
Tasia Marie:Those are a few commission pieces. Like a few people came to me and they were like hey, you know, I wanted to do something different for my soror, you know, for my frat brother, like can you create something? And I'm like hell, yeah, I said yeah, I said create that um, which I had a whole lot of fun creating those pieces. But you know, with um licensure and all of that other stuff, like when I posted it to Etsy, um, somebody tagged me like I had actually sold a few pieces to a few sigmas, um, and then, like after my third piece sold, like Etsy wrote me and they were like you know, copyright infringement. And I was just like oh shit, ok, sorry, got to take all this down. But if you do want something custom made for your soror or your frat brother, you know, hit me up on the side being mindful of these freaking loophole loopholes that people have to jump through just to be creative is something to keep in mind.
Aliya Cheyanne:But I imagine that, like, if stuff like that gets sorted out, that's something you could do again and if anybody anyone who has those pieces still or anyone who may get pieces like that in the future it really will be one of a kind like it'll be really neat. You're really not gonna get that anywhere else, so at all at all. Yeah, that's the dope part about it. So we've talked a lot about all the different creative avenues that you have with your brand, with your work, from the clothing to the art, to the jewelry, to the fashion, like all of those things. But what are some like practical things that you've done recently to help further, like, establish your brand and your business?
Tasia Marie:So, first of all, I finally got an LLC.
Aliya Cheyanne:Congratulations.
Tasia Marie:Man, thank you. Got an LLC, got my EIN, uh, because I actually want to start selling at, like fleet markets and I realized, like to sell at a fleet market, I needed to create an actual business. Um, so I did that. And then also like joining groups, so I've moved to an undisclosed location and I've joined, like different vendor groups, different art groups, just to kind of get into those realms and get my name out. And also paying for ads on like Instagram, facebook TikTok. On like Instagram, uh, facebook TikTok, like I'm noticing that, yes, I'm paying for ads and yes, I'm getting views because, like, one of my views on TikTok was up to like 5k. Um, but just because you get views doesn't necessarily mean that you're gonna get by.
Tasia Marie:So yesterday I actually went to the tattoo shop. I got my brand tatted on me, my new brand, along with stay wet and like, as I was talking to the tattoo artist about it, because he was like what is this like? Stay wet, swat chorus. Yeah, I, and I was explaining it to him and he was like yo, like, all you need is like the right person, the right connection, like, for your brand to take off, like a picture with the right person. Send your art, send your clothing to the right person and they post it and boom, it takes off. And I was like bruh, like that is what I'm aiming for right now, because as much as I'm paying for these ads like yeah, I'm getting views and I'm getting a follow or two, um, but I want that to eventually turn into like commission pieces that people are asking for, or even custom um clothing pieces that people are asking for yeah, and knowing that, like paying, paying for ads doesn't necessarily translate to like support in any real kind of way.
Aliya Cheyanne:So be mindful about how you're using your resources in that way is important. But I completely agree with the tattoo artist, because I've definitely told you before to send pieces people you know, um.
Aliya Cheyanne:So I think it's like it's transformative. I do not remember the name of this particular artist it it was a very random TikTok scroll but the video I saw was talking about how he managed to get his art in front of a rapper and sneak his way into a party basically that he wasn't invited to, but he just was like, oh, I sent this piece of art to the rapper and, you know, I got invited and somehow he was able to bypass security and everybody else, get into the party, get a picture next to the piece of art with the rapper, and that totally transformed his career. So I definitely think it's. I agree with that Getting it to the right person who is willing to share it and put other people on can be transformative. So I want to witness that greatness happen for you. It to the right person who is willing to share it and put other people on can be transformative.
Aliya Cheyanne:So I I want to witness that greatness happen for you.
Tasia Marie:So yeah, we are counting on that happening. Look, i'ma lean up. We are counting on that, especially like to ronnie henson. Like she's been focusing in, like keying in on like mental health and mental wellness. So, yeah, I'm gonna definitely see if I could send her a few pieces like and see how we do okay, let this be an accountability thing.
Aliya Cheyanne:Let this episode be an accountability thing. Like taraji is going to get some of your art. Okay, all right. So you briefly mentioned stay wet, but talk to us a little bit more about that. So, for folks who don't know what that means, who might be thinking one way and that's not necessarily the way we talking about, can you let folks know what stay wet is all about?
Tasia Marie:So stay wet is one of my clothing brand lines and it's basically fashioning mental wealth and mental wellness. So I wanted to play on something sexual, because when people see the shirt like, for example, I'm wearing one right now, so they say wet and everyone's like stay wet. What does that mean? And I'm like not what you think, ha ha ha. So the wet actually stands for wild, emotionally intelligent and thriving. So stay wet. How do you stay wet? How do you stay wild?
Tasia Marie:When we think about wild, like we're thinking about young kids being wild. But young kids being wild is, in a sense, is them being free. And when you're free you're able to be your true selves. And when you're emotionally intelligent, you can decipher, like, what is worth playing on your mental and what is not. So if you're emotionally intelligent, then you're thriving because you're not worried about things that don't have to take up your mental.
Tasia Marie:And I'm saying this as a person who is healing each day and I come to you 1% better than I was yesterday and I'm not going on Like I have my moment, like I'm grown, and we know how to be emotionally intelligent in some situation and in some like we just don't.
Tasia Marie:But like, what are you doing to stay wet? Like, how are you taking care of your mental wealth? Because, for me, leaving teaching was me staying wet, like I knew that it came to a point where I no longer wanted to do it. It didn't bring me joy, it was bringing me down more than it was uplifting me. So me stepping away was me staying wet, like I was trying to make sure I was staying wild, emotionally intelligent and thriving not to say that these have been the best periods, but that is one thing that was really tearing me down. Um, that I was able to, like, really take a step back and be like I don't need this, I don't need this, and I'm thankful that I have the support system ie you and mommy that I was able to actually step away from it.
Aliya Cheyanne:Yeah, I think that's so good, and you actually introduced Stay Wet on a previous episode of the podcast I think it was like episode 21, when we had come back earlier this year and you introduced it. I think we ended that episode with that. So it's definitely a concept that you put out into the world before and that you're like uplifting and affirming. I love the shirt and I love the concept. And when I think about the wild, I also think about women, because I'm in a space now where I'm leaning more into women, who are in their, like, creative bag and their free bag and their wild woman embodiment bag. So when I hear wild, I also think about, you know, just a liberated woman or liberated person too. So I love that too, and you already know I'm super supportive of, like, the emotional intelligence component, because that's super important.
Aliya Cheyanne:And just what does thriving look like to each of us as individuals? Like thriving? It looked different to all of us, like I know I'm thriving when I wake up with ease, I got a plan for my day, I'm not stressed or worried about certain things because I feel good. I know I'm not thriving when I'm off balance. So I think that's so good and I love that and thank you for sharing one of the ways that you've embodied that by walking away from an environment, in a situation that no longer served you in that season, and pursuing other avenues, and you know, I think that's important. What are some other sort of like just habits or practices that have been supporting you to stay wet?
Tasia Marie:So I've actually caught myself journaling more, and not even necessarily writing, because I realized, like writing I'm like yo, as a society we've moved so far when it comes to technology like writing now actually hurts my damn hand when I'm journaling, so half the time I want to journal and I'm just like my hand hurts.
Tasia Marie:So I've been journaling in good notes, like on my computer. Okay, yeah, um, in addition to journaling, like I've, jewelry is also a part of the fashion, um, so I've been creating like beaded jewelry pieces, just trying to create honestly, and I wanted to move, like I wanted to be around beach, water, palm trees. So on days when I'm feeling like super duper, stressed out, I have an umbrella in the back of my car and a mat, duper stressed out, I have an umbrella in the back of my car and a mat. So I'll literally just drive to the beach, stake my umbrella, lay my mat out and literally just sit there and look at the way, listen to the waves, look at the waves I'm not really fucking with the water, though, cause the shark's been on 10, like I'm good, um, yeah, but yeah, like just getting out there trying to be near water, trying to create journaling, rewatching old ass shows. I'm currently on how to Get Away with Murder.
Aliya Cheyanne:I went for that. It's Scandal how to Get Away with Murder. Yes, I clean sugar now get away with murder.
Tasia Marie:Yes, I clean sugar. Now I'm just like I'm about to start re-watching um handmade sale again, because that's exactly where we're going, uh, so I just want to be prepared where we've been and where we're going again. Yeah, so, but yeah, that that's really it.
Aliya Cheyanne:Yeah, I love all of those.
Tasia Marie:Honestly really trying to set my emotions and not set my emotions in a negative way, because I can really get to a really negative space and I can set my emotions and just be a festering little piece of shit, but actually recognizing my emotions and being able to pull myself out of it like yeah, yeah, so, yeah, yeah, feeling you're feeling you're feeling some in that era too.
Aliya Cheyanne:I also love all of those habits like if I journal, it has to be paper you know I created one.
Aliya Cheyanne:Like I use mine, I use others. It has to be paper, but I totally get like the digital era that we're in. I think iPhone also released like a journaling app too. So if you're using GoodNotes, you can use the journaling app like just in iPhone. Whatever your Notes app, whatever works for you. Like I have moments where I don't write anything, I might make a voice note on my phone and, like you know, listen to it later like just thoughts. So I think just getting those things out is really cool and I definitely feel like being in water is 110,000% a spiritual experience, if you let it be on. Thinking about floating, even if I'm not floating, thinking about how I feel just floating in water and like being just surrounded by it and like staring at the sky is a spiritual experience to me, so I know the importance of that.
Aliya Cheyanne:Just the sound of the water, the ocean is glorious, so I get it yes.
Tasia Marie:Yeah, even though it's summertime now more bodies are at the beach, but still, like I found like I dropped a pin too Like I found a perfect part of the beach where, like, not so many people are there and the parking is free.
Aliya Cheyanne:I'll be out there. Nice, yeah, nice, nice. I love that. So what are you most excited about in terms of your creative journey right now? I know there are a lot of things in creation underway, all those things but what excites you the most about your creative journey in this moment?
Tasia Marie:um, my fashion line, man, it's like I'm actually really excited about this fashion line because this is something that I've been thinking um, like plotting on, for so long and now it's finally coming to fruition. No, I I may not have 100K sales I may not have any sales, not yet but the fact that I've been able to actually create it. Like I found vendors because initially it was literally me making, like, this shirt that I'm wearing. I literally bought the fabric and made it myself and after making like four of them, I was just like, nah, it's gotta be an easier way. So, finding vendors that actually sell what I want or close enough to what I want and I can tailor it. Um, and also the jewelry piece like I'm excited I've made a few beaded, uh, bracelets. I'm getting into necklaces. Um, I'm gonna get into earrings and all that other cool stuff. But jewelry is another thing that I do want to get into.
Aliya Cheyanne:I love that.
Aliya Cheyanne:Yeah, sounds really fun and really yeah I'm excited on you for that gracias, all right, so we talked a little bit about all of those different elements of your campaign, like, say, what your curriculum, like, all these different things are under this umbrella, this vision, this legacy that you're really building, because creativity can be legacy, to like something that stays behind long after we're gone, like something that shifts the cultures. So I think just the social, emotional element, um, and tying art into that of your work, like that through line, for yourself, is a healing modality, but also for the people who interact with your work, um, and I think that's legacy though yeah but we also talked about another vision once upon a time on the podcast and we gotta talk about it.
Aliya Cheyanne:We gotta talk about it we gotta talk about it.
Aliya Cheyanne:so we talked about it a little bit before, so let's just revisit it a little bit now. So we talked about the food, something that we had dreamed up and that may still be one day Will's part of why yeah, girl, I have my moments where I'm trying to get out of the country. Another episode, another conversation. But we also talked about, just you know, the rebranding of this pod like to align with that vision for the larger hub. So we had talked about the hub being a space for creatives, like a safe for creatives, so that people who art could come and do their art and display their work.
Aliya Cheyanne:Podcasts would come record their episodes, people could write to our authors to come and have a space to write, just creating this massive hub for all kinds of theaters, and then we talked about it and then we didn't talk about it too much. So I guess, just to revisit it, the status is that it's still a vision.
Tasia Marie:It is. It's definitely still a vision, like, and I be, I ain't gonna lie Like, some mornings I wake up and I'm like God. Like God, I know you do not give us visions bigger than what we can do. Well, what the fuck? Like I really like, when I stopped teaching, like, and I came your way, I really was like, yeah, we about to get this hub started.
Tasia Marie:And then, like, the reality started to set in and it was like shit, we don't come from a line of millionaires where we could just lean on a family member and be like, hey, can you give me a little loan of a million dollars so we can, like, get a place and get this started? Um, but nonetheless, like I really still believe that the hub will happen. Like I really I still want a storefront, like, even if it's just a storefront that's slight, because the smallest thing can build to something bigger, um, eventually. So, even if it is just a storefront where niggas come and like, pick up art pieces and buy shirts, like, I still would love to have a room in the back where a few nights out of the week there can be art classes and a few days like there are podcasters coming in and recording, or even artists coming in and recording their music. Um it it's still. It's still there. Like I see it. I see it so, like we've just branched, we branched off, but it's still be honest.
Aliya Cheyanne:It's kind of hard to really 150 commit to those kind of endeavors and creative projects when our minds are like worried about other things, um, yeah, so it's kind of hard to commit to that. But, like I've told you before too, um and I'll also say it here I just also feel like we needed space to work on our own creative projects, because it's a lot to do everything one time. It's a lot to start multiple things at one time Very overwhelming.
Aliya Cheyanne:I have heard very overwhelming, but I've also heard serial entrepreneurs say got to get one thing off the ground and get it off the ground well before you start worrying about the next thing time. It's important that we get other things off of the ground first and then revisit that, because sometimes if you've gone 50, 11 things at one time, it's hard to do one well and successfully and they'll all fail but.
Aliya Cheyanne:I still, yeah, I still stand by the fact that like that is a vision that I also like desire and I want to make a reality and make real and, like I've said before, on this show too, I want a nice, well-oiled machine that works, that I don't necessarily have to be there all the time after a certain point, once it's off the ground and doing well, because I want the flexibility and the freedom to do other things and be other places. So I think about that a lot too. But, yeah, it's still all under the same umbrella and even with this podcast and with this show, it's still like a digital archive of creators, of entrepreneurs, of solopreneurs, of people who are working on self-improvement and all of those things in life. So you know, we'll at least have some presence in the digital space before the physical thing happens, but it is yeah, yeah, it definitely will I love that, yeah, we're building and making these other pieces stronger before we come and like pour into the hub.
Aliya Cheyanne:So yeah, one thousand percent, we will still got a draft business plan somewhere. So I would love to know, like you know, what is this current season of life teaching you right now, as you're pouring into your creativity, as you're in the throws transition, like, what is life teaching you right now?
Tasia Marie:Life is teaching me a lot about myself, like I'm not a bitch ass nigga, like I'm stronger than I. Like I'm stronger than I think I am, like for real, because it's like it's definitely been a mental wealth journey. Um, yeah, because I've had quite a few lows and like there are a lot of days where I'm just like what was me? Like, what am I doing? What is the purpose? Why am I even here? Like, and I find myself asking myself that question a lot more often, like why am I here? But there's a reason, um, and I've been discovering just more about myself, like more about my creativity, more about my tenacity and a whole lot about myself, like when I tell you like I've been trying to sit in my emotions and figure things out, like even relationships. Like I've just been trying to look outside of myself, um, yeah, and actually realize my faults and what I can do better to move forward, and not trying to sit in guilt and pity, um, but trying to use that to feel me to move forward. So now I'm I'm still learning, and there's this next tattoo that I want to get. It's a Japanese um belief. Uh, it's called Kaizen. So stated every day, we're just getting better, even if it's one percent better. Like every day we progress, we do better. So that's it. So some mornings I wake up and I'm ready to fuck the world like a walking erection In a good way. Other days, I'm just laying there like, okay, I woke up again. What I'm about to do today, okay, but like realizing that there is a higher purpose and there is a reason why I'm here. Like, and actually a few of my former students, like a few more of my former students, have been hitting me up and I realized, like damn t Tasia, you low key kind of, you kind of did have an impact. Like yeah, actually, yeah, listen, they did actually listen. And like they actually did like you.
Tasia Marie:Nah, like, because my last year in teaching that was very hard for me Like I was literally bullied, yeah, by a student yeah, they're friends, friends and it was just like what the fuck man, why am I doing this? Like I'm already dealing with shit outside on my own and then I come to work and I have to deal with this. Like fuck this and fuck these kids. Um, and I really went through that period. But now I'm just like damn, like no, it's not fuck these kids. Like I really was having a moment and I really need to step away, not to say that I necessarily want to go back to teaching, especially not where I'm currently at. I don't want to teach here, especially not health like I was. So like in dc I taught human sexuality, like it was such an open range, like I'm learning to appreciate um, dc teaching in DC versus teaching elsewhere, um, in the south, because you are more open and more free to teach things. Like you know, you can't even say gay here, um, so oh god, it's different.
Aliya Cheyanne:You know, you can't even say gay here. So, oh God, yes, it's different.
Tasia Marie:Yeah, it's different. Yeah, I'm slowly but surely learning my power, learning who I am. This season is really about realizations and growth.
Aliya Cheyanne:Yeah, I love that. I think it's also like just taking into account, like, whatever the circumstances may be, like whatever you're processing, whatever you're feeling and as you're sitting with that, like working through that with support or on your own, like you know, as yourself is really important, and being mindful how that like energy exudes, because sometimes, when we're not like feeling at our peak or at our top of our game or at our best, like that translates a lot to yeah, you know the environment around us or the people around us. So I think this season is also like leaning into that. I feel like I'm also personally in my own season I say this all the time on the show that I'm like trying to learn more about embodiment and like sitting with my emotions and my feelings in my body instead of trying to like immediately suppress them and get over them.
Aliya Cheyanne:Like actually sit in it and feel it because that's important, even when it's scary, even when it's not great, even when it's chaotic, even when it's dark. Allow myself to feel it because I'm realizing that at my big age, feeling certain feelings feels real foreign to my body because I hadn't done that for so long. Feels real foreign to my body because I hadn't done that for so long. So when I sit in certain emotions or feelings, it actually feels like terrifying, like sometimes it feels like the world is going to end because I just don't know how to regulate, because I haven't allowed myself to do that before, and now I'm like exercising that muscle to be able to do that and know that I can survive it.
Aliya Cheyanne:And it's not the end of the world, right? You know, even when it's, you know the scary things or the hard things or the angry things. You know, like, whatever the case may be. So, yeah, season is teaching us a lot, but I, I'm, I commend you, like we set out on a mission for 2024 and this year to like pour into our creativity and our bags. I commend you for really doing that for yourself, really doing that for your clothing line, your jewelry, your art and like all of that. So that's really exciting.
Tasia Marie:Thank you, boo. I commend you too for real Like because the podcast you've really done a tremendous job. Like I was just like I don't want to do the pot anymore, like, but you like taken, you've really taken it and made it yours and I truly love what you've done. The vision Like I see what you were talking about, but I truly feel like that was your journey to take. Yeah, oh yeah.
Aliya Cheyanne:I feel that way too. For sure, um, I say all the time, I probably wouldn't have started by myself if, like, we all hadn't like started together. But yeah, I feel like throughout the course of it, it kind of became more and more apparent to me that I, like I was probably most interested, like most committed to like really doing it and like growing it and, um, with all of us starting it together, that created the journey for me to be able to do it now. So I, everything happens for a reason and I think you know I've spoken about the evolution many times and it will continue to evolve.
Aliya Cheyanne:Because, who knows, bro, like sometimes I look at these other shows and they're like at episode, like 100 and something or 300 and something, and I'm just like I have a lot of ideas. I don't know that they amount to like something, but you know I'll do it for as long as I get so called to do it. So, thank you. So I would love to know what advice you might have for a fellow creative, as someone who has taken the leap of faith, as someone who has jumped into the unknown, for another creative out there who might be listening, who's considering taking the leap of faith, jumping into the unknown. What advice would you offer them?
Tasia Marie:Um, be like Nike and just do it Like I'm. Like I said before, like I'm thankful I have the support system that I do, because you and mommy have definitely made it easier for me to just be like. I can step away from teaching and dive into this Like there's been no judgment from you nor mommy, and you two are my support system, so that's all who I really care about when it comes to opinions. But like, do it Like it doesn't matter. And I know I find myself saying a lot like at my big age, like I'm doing this and you know I'm doing that.
Tasia Marie:Sometimes we have to forget what society is telling us we should be doing and when we should be doing it and at what age, and do what the fuck you want to do. Like, because we're constantly living our lives for either societal norms or like familial norms or what other people want us to do. Most of us aren't really living in our truth. So, yes, if it is in your bone like, if it's in your mind every day to create, like and you have the space and the opportunity to step away from your nine-to-five, do it like, do it and dive fully into your creativity. Now take a break after you step away from your nine five, because I definitely needed time to decompress after I stepped away from the teaching realm.
Tasia Marie:Um, yeah, but just do it like it's nothing but the time, like only God knows what's gonna happen in January. Only God knows what's gonna happen in November, um, and only God knows what's gonna happen January. So we have nothing but right now to actually do what we want to do. So if you are a creator, please be creative. Don't let that nine to five stifle that creativity, because there's a space for all of us. Shit, I'm looking at work from home jobs now, just so that I can still create and be at home while I'm creating. Like I said, I've applied for a few teaching jobs, but not at the top of my list to teach here, but if I can get a work from home job, that would be amazing. So I can still create, you know, while I'm in my home space can still create, you know, while I'm in my home space.
Aliya Cheyanne:Yeah, yeah, one thousand percent. And like you know, if you're committed to creating, like doing it in tandem with whatever else you have to do to survive this capitalist hellscape um, yeah, is it is important, like if you have to do it around that job, that's, that's okay too, until eventually, hopefully, you're able to pour fully into your thing and really grow that and build that and it supports you and meets all your needs. So I love that advice. I love all the little like yo. I've been cracking up in this episode because you keep saying like yo. I've been cracking up in this episode because you keep saying like. You keep saying like these little things that are so funny to me. But yeah, I don't want to be like Nike, just do it.
Tasia Marie:I have it tatted on me, shit, just do it. Sometimes I have to look down at my leg and be like bruh.
Aliya Cheyanne:Just do it, just do it just do it, just do it, just do it. I love that. Well, any last thoughts Anything we didn't cover that you would love to share, about just your brand, your work, anything that we didn't touch on that you want to share.
Tasia Marie:We've been recessing and everything but like. Just to reiterate mental wellness is your health. I just want more people to realize that we need to treat our mental health like we treat our physical health, Because if you were sick in the house like coughing up gook and phlegm and had a temperature of 102, you would take your ass to the urgent care. But a lot of us really just sit in silence and don't tell anyone when we're feeling at our lowest lows. Treat your mental health like you would treat your physical health. Reach out to somebody, talk to somebody.
Tasia Marie:I know a lot of times I don't say too much because I don't want to be a burden on anyone, and a million and one times you have reminded me that it is never a burden like to express how you're feeling. Um, so if you're going through anything like, please find your person and talk to them. Uh, create, do whatever it is that you need to bring yourself out of that funk, but just keep reminding yourself to stay wet, yes, and not just in a sexual way. Okay, yes, but stay wild, stay emotionally intelligent, stay thriving. Like, how do you stay wet? That's really it.
Aliya Cheyanne:Yeah, I love that. Thank you for that, boo. You made a dope ass Tik TOK recently. Further explaining stay wet. I think I'm going to add that to the, to the, to the episode, so people can tune in and like, hear it, and make sure that I link it so that they can go see it and watch it as well. Thank you for sharing that. Yeah, I guess to end on a high note, um, what is something that's bringing you joy doesn't have to be work related. It's making you happy.
Tasia Marie:in this season um, something definitely making me happy my bicycle. My dog, yes, um, even though she gets on my last nerve like a lot of days, like she gets my ass up and she gets me moving, like, and she just reminds me like there's lice. So my vicey poo, my frenchie, is bringing me joy.
Aliya Cheyanne:Yeah, okay, I love that.
Tasia Marie:Let people know where they can find you and support me where I can find me on. You can definitely find me on IG. It is underscore twi core S-V-I-I-I underscore, and twi T-R-O-I-S core, c-o-e-u-r all one word. Or you just follow my main page it's twi, underscore twi, and I also have a website, it is twicoresviiicom. I'm on TikTok, I'm on Facebook, all under the twi core mantra. So yeah, holler at me under the twa core mantra.
Aliya Cheyanne:So, yeah, holler at me. Yes, I love that and I will make sure to link all of that in the show notes. To close us out, I am going to play that incredible TikTok that you created for folks to listen to and thank you so much for coming back to the show to share more about what you've been up, to, thank you and to talk about all of your creative adventures. So, yeah, thank you and love you and can't wait for this episode to drop. I love you, I appreciate you. Yes, I appreciate you too.
Tasia Marie:I created Stay Wet to solicit conversation, Explicit conversations, Explicit conversations about mental wealth. When you see the phrase stay wet, some minds may go straight to something sexual, and I wanted to use this to my advantage. So let's talk about staying wet. Are you staying wild, emotionally intelligent and thriving All pieces to maintain mental wellness.
Tasia Marie:We feel so free to talk about everything but mental wealth. It's like a taboo. We just brush under the table. But the same way that Salt-N-Pepa said, let's talk about sex, let's talk about staying wet. How do you stay wet when I say wild? Wild is attached to being young and free, something we all need to stay true to our core. Being emotionally intelligent means that you make the decisions of what will and won't affect you, which builds on your mental wellness. And if you're wild and emotionally intelligent, you're thriving. All we can do is aim to thrive and make sure we're using the proper tools to stay above. So staying wet is not just a fashion statement. It's a statement about the state of mental wealth. Let's keep the conversation out loud so we can normalize speaking about our mental wellness. So I ask you, how do you stay wet?
