Finding True Beauty and Balance in Leadership w/ Erika Johnson

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Erika Johnson: So beauty is surface.
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Erika Johnson: It's skin deep, and we all need to understand that it doesn't matter how
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Erika Johnson: much Botox filler, ice facing we're going to age.
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Erika Johnson: So you need to find beauty from within and
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Erika Johnson: exude that.
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Erika Johnson: You know?
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Erika Johnson: Beauty is, bringing someone behind you and and encouraging them.
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Erika Johnson: Beauty can show up in so many different ways.
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Erika Johnson: It's not just vanity.
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Erika Johnson: And being around these women who are drop dead gorgeous and then you see
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Erika Johnson: that we all have our insecurities, but then just persevering, pushing and
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Erika Johnson: encouraging each other through that, you know, that's beauty.
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Lisa Nichols: It takes something a little more to lead with impact.
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Lisa Nichols: I'm Lisa Nichols, author of Something Extra, and this podcast
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Lisa Nichols: was inspired by our daughter, Allie, whose additional chromosome has shaped
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Lisa Nichols: how I see people in leadership.
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Lisa Nichols: Each episode features conversations with inspiring leaders from around the world
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Lisa Nichols: about what truly defines how they lead and serve others.
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Lisa Nichols: If you enjoyed today's conversation, please consider leaving a five
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Lisa Nichols: star review.
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Lisa Nichols: It helps more people discover the show.
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Lisa Nichols: And if you'd like to go deeper, my book, Something Extra, is available on
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Lisa Nichols: Amazon and through other major book retailers.
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Lisa Nichols: From the world of national gymnastics in the Miss Missouri stage to the front
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Lisa Nichols: lines of community revitalization, Erica Johnson is a Saint Louis
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Lisa Nichols: powerhouse dedicated to building a healthier, more equitable future.
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Lisa Nichols: She is the founder of Juice EJ, a wellness brand born from her
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Lisa Nichols: family's personal health journey.
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Lisa Nichols: Please join me in welcoming an entrepreneur and advocate who proves that
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Lisa Nichols: true beauty is found in the legacy we leave for others, Erica Johnson.
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Lisa Nichols: Well, Erica Johnson, welcome to the Something Extra
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Lisa Nichols: podcast.
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Erika Johnson: Thank you for having me.
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Erika Johnson: It's a pleasure.
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Lisa Nichols: I am so excited to make this happen with you.
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Lisa Nichols: And you and I met recently
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Erika Johnson: Yes.
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Lisa Nichols: At the Sofia Awards.
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Lisa Nichols: And, Erica I mean, what an amazing organ.
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Lisa Nichols: I left there so inspired at what Dawn Price has built.
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Erika Johnson: Absolutely incredible and just such a room of dynamic powerful women.
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Erika Johnson: It was just an honor to be a part of it.
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Erika Johnson: Absolutely.
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Lisa Nichols: I agree.
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Lisa Nichols: I agree.
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Lisa Nichols: And for those listeners who don't know,
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Lisa Nichols: the Sofia project, they are mentoring, I think Dawn said, about fifteen
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Lisa Nichols: hundred inner city girls right now.
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Lisa Nichols: They pair them with mentors.
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Lisa Nichols: And so many of the girls were participating that day, and
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Lisa Nichols: I was so impressed.
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Erika Johnson: Yeah.
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Lisa Nichols: Absolutely.
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Lisa Nichols: Their speaking skills and their presence.
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Lisa Nichols: Right?
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Lisa Nichols: Absolutely.
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Lisa Nichols: And I was just thinking to myself, we need more mentors.
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Erika Johnson: Yes.
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Erika Johnson: We do.
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Erika Johnson: Especially here in our great city of Saint Louis.
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Erika Johnson: So, you know, you and I, it's an honor to be able to be
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Erika Johnson: a part of it and see how we can further get involved.
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Erika Johnson: So
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Lisa Nichols: Mhmm.
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Lisa Nichols: No doubt.
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Lisa Nichols: You know?
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Lisa Nichols: And it's just so funny because you and I were sitting at the same
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Lisa Nichols: table, Erica.
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Lisa Nichols: We never met before, but there was an instantaneous
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Lisa Nichols: connection.
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Lisa Nichols: And, you know, I think I think a lot of it's our faith,
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Lisa Nichols: and I wanna talk about that, because I know faith is important to you,
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Lisa Nichols: and it's everything for me.
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Lisa Nichols: So, we'll talk about that.
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Lisa Nichols: But, you know, let's let's let's dive on in.
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Lisa Nichols: My goodness.
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Lisa Nichols: I I was I was as I was preparing for today's interview,
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Lisa Nichols: I'm thinking, you know, you've gone from gymnastics to journalism
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Lisa Nichols: to pageantry to entrepreneurship.
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Lisa Nichols: You have done a lot.
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Lisa Nichols: You're like a renaissance woman.
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Erika Johnson: I am a serial entrepreneur.
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Erika Johnson: Yes.
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Erika Johnson: I am.
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Lisa Nichols: You are.
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Lisa Nichols: Well, let me ask you this, and then I'm gonna ask you about each
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Lisa Nichols: one of those things.
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Lisa Nichols: You know, what is the thread that connects all of those things
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Erika Johnson: for you?
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Erika Johnson: Right timing.
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Erika Johnson: God's divine timing.
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Erika Johnson: I would say every single venture that I have had has
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Erika Johnson: been just anointed, and maybe I met someone or there was the right
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Erika Johnson: circumstance and, you know, it just presented itself and took off.
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Erika Johnson: So
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Lisa Nichols: That's that's amazing.
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Lisa Nichols: Well, you were a young gymnast.
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Lisa Nichols: I know that you trained for, like, ten years, you know, at a
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Lisa Nichols: very high performing level.
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Lisa Nichols: Tell me about how that shaped you as a young girl, and then I
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Lisa Nichols: would love to hear from you, Erica.
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Lisa Nichols: What are some of those character traits that you learned through gymnastics
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Lisa Nichols: and and working that hard that you still carry with you today in what
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Lisa Nichols: you're doing?
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Erika Johnson: Absolutely.
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Erika Johnson: So, you know, I feel like any individualized sport is
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Erika Johnson: gonna really just shape you and mold you because you're accountable to yourself.
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Erika Johnson: There is no one else to blame if you fall short.
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Erika Johnson: It's literally on your own shoulders.
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Erika Johnson: So, I trained for ten years under Scott and Debbie Cusimano out
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Erika Johnson: at Jim Quarters Gymnastics Center where I competed nationally.
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Erika Johnson: And I would definitely say the friendships, the relationships, the
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Erika Johnson: discipline,
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Erika Johnson: just my level of ambition to persevere through pain and injury has definitely
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Erika Johnson: shaped me to be the woman that I am today.
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Erika Johnson: So I'm very, very grateful to them for their love.
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Erika Johnson: I mean, I trained so much.
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Erika Johnson: They became my extended family, you know, at five years old,
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Erika Johnson: between five and and and I'm sorry.
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Erika Johnson: Yeah.
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Erika Johnson: Five and and fifteen.
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Erika Johnson: That was just such a big instrumental part of my life.
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Erika Johnson: And eating with them, I had to to do my homework at the gym.
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Erika Johnson: It was four hours a day of training, and, you know, you're traveling
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Erika Johnson: with the team.
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Erika Johnson: So it just it literally becomes your extended family.
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Lisa Nichols: Mhmm.
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Lisa Nichols: I'm I'm glad that you mentioned that because I was gonna ask you, how
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Lisa Nichols: many hours a day did you train?
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Lisa Nichols: So you went to school.
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Lisa Nichols: Right?
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Lisa Nichols: And then you went to the gym, and you trained for four hours.
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Lisa Nichols: I mean, how many days a week, Erica?
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Erika Johnson: Monday through Friday, four hours.
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Erika Johnson: And then Saturday, I trained from nine to one.
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Erika Johnson: And then I did private lessons after that.
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Lisa Nichols: My goodness.
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Lisa Nichols: What were your dreams?
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Lisa Nichols: Were you hoping to go to the Olympics?
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Erika Johnson: I did.
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Erika Johnson: I really wanted to.
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Erika Johnson: My family really wanted that for me.
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Erika Johnson: God had other plans, and I don't, you know, ever disagree with that
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Erika Johnson: plan.
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Erika Johnson: I had some injuries that really just became debilitating.
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Erika Johnson: I I still deal with the back injuries to this day.
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Erika Johnson: But, again, just the relationships I fostered, I'll have forever in the
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Erika Johnson: memory.
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Erika Johnson: So
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Lisa Nichols: That's so beautiful.
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Lisa Nichols: Well, tell me about those injuries.
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Lisa Nichols: You know, what did that I mean, because let me ask you this.
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Lisa Nichols: Because a lot of high performing individuals, a lot of times, tie their
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Lisa Nichols: identity to what they do and their performance.
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Lisa Nichols: Right?
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Lisa Nichols: It's kind of a performance.
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Lisa Nichols: Yeah.
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Lisa Nichols: I've had to I've had to, unravel some of that myself,
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Lisa Nichols: you know, as I've gotten older.
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Lisa Nichols: But was your identity tied to that at all?
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Lisa Nichols: And if it was, what did that moment feel like, Erica, when you were
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Lisa Nichols: when you had the injury and you had to step away?
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Erika Johnson: You are tied to it because it is it is such a big part
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Erika Johnson: of you.
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Erika Johnson: You know, I remember being so young and, like, my Halloween
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Erika Johnson: candy was was almost monitored and micromanaged.
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Erika Johnson: And, you know,
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Erika Johnson: when you cannot do something that you see as your whole entire future,
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Erika Johnson: it's, it plays on your mental.
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Erika Johnson: I feel like we see this a lot with, you know, athletes, especially, like,
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Erika Johnson: the NFL players because, you know, in reality, a lot of them come
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Erika Johnson: from, you know, just poverty,
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Erika Johnson: driven circumstances.
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Erika Johnson: And so that's their way out, and an injury is everything that that could
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Erika Johnson: ruin their future, their their financial future.
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Erika Johnson: So it is very hard to begin to identify as
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Erika Johnson: as something else when that's all you really know for an extended period of
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Erika Johnson: your life.
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Lisa Nichols: Mhmm.
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Lisa Nichols: Yeah.
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Lisa Nichols: I I I agree.
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Lisa Nichols: I've I've seen the same thing.
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Lisa Nichols: And like I said, I've had to do my own internal work as
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Lisa Nichols: I've as I've, gotten a little bit wiser.
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Lisa Nichols: You know, that it's not I said your identity is not what you do.
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Lisa Nichols: It's really who it's not that's not who you are is what you do.
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Lisa Nichols: Right?
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Lisa Nichols: And I think that, is an important
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Lisa Nichols: journey to go through.
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Lisa Nichols: You know, what helped you let let's talk about this because I know,
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Lisa Nichols: like, in, twenty twenty two, your dad went through difficult health
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Lisa Nichols: journey.
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Lisa Nichols: Yeah.
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Lisa Nichols: Right?
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Lisa Nichols: And and, again, God used that, right, to kind
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Lisa Nichols: of alter and even what you're doing today.
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Lisa Nichols: Can you take us into that season?
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Lisa Nichols: And just what caregiving in that season,
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Lisa Nichols: you said you kinda felt like you lost yourself a little bit.
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Erika Johnson: Yeah.
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Erika Johnson: I did.
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Erika Johnson: I think anyone who has has cared for a loved one to that extent
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Erika Johnson: can relate because your needs become the back burner.
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Erika Johnson: So working out, just just the simple things, keeping your
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Erika Johnson: house cleaned and eating right.
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Erika Johnson: You're you're in survival mode at that point.
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Erika Johnson: And myself, my family, we were just trying to survive.
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Erika Johnson: My dad was diagnosed in twenty twenty two with amyloidosis, and
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Erika Johnson: there is not a lot of medical data on the type that he had.
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Erika Johnson: He had, severe amyloidosis that attacked his heart, liver, and lungs,
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Erika Johnson: which is very rare.
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Erika Johnson: Typically, it, identifies in one vital organ, so
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Erika Johnson: you can only do two transplants at one.
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Erika Johnson: So he ended up getting a heart and a liver, and then they treated
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Erika Johnson: the lungs, but it was just such a long recovery process.
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Erika Johnson: He had to learn how to walk, talk, swallow.
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Erika Johnson: I mean, his fine motor skills were completely gone.
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Erika Johnson: He couldn't even brush his teeth.
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Erika Johnson: So it turned our family just completely into his caregivers.
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Erika Johnson: And so, again, just I did lose myself for a bit, but
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Erika Johnson: I found myself as well.
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Erika Johnson: So it's it's the blessing that he's here.
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Erika Johnson: I my faith never faltered.
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Erika Johnson: My my family's faith never faltered.
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Erika Johnson: Even when people were saying, we've never seen this.
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Erika Johnson: We don't really know.
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Erika Johnson: He's a case study.
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Erika Johnson: You know, just be prepared.
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Erika Johnson: I didn't allow my mind to go there.
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Erika Johnson: Mhmm.
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Erika Johnson: I believe in God.
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Erika Johnson: I also believe in in the universe.
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Erika Johnson: And so every day, you know, I fasted.
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Erika Johnson: I I will talk about it now.
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Erika Johnson: I I privately fasted for the public reward, but I also
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Erika Johnson: did my three six nine method in my journal.
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Erika Johnson: So every single day, I would write my dad's gonna have a successful heart
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Erika Johnson: and liver transplant, and I didn't allow any negative thought, any negative
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Erika Johnson: person into my ether during that time.
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Erika Johnson: And today, he is back golfing and happy and healthy.
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Erika Johnson: So yeah.
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Lisa Nichols: Wow.
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Lisa Nichols: Thank god.
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Lisa Nichols: Thank god.
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Lisa Nichols: Well and I'm just thinking, you know, Erica, as you were saying that it
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Lisa Nichols: attacked his heart, his liver, and his lungs.
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Lisa Nichols: Right?
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Lisa Nichols: And people are like, we've never seen this before, but that didn't stop
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Lisa Nichols: God.
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Lisa Nichols: That didn't stop God.
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Lisa Nichols: This is like God's like, I got this.
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Lisa Nichols: Right?
00:10:46.275 --> 00:10:46.835
Lisa Nichols: You know?
00:10:46.835 --> 00:10:48.515
Lisa Nichols: So,
00:10:48.515 --> 00:10:51.475
Lisa Nichols: but, you know, so you you said you did find yourself.
00:10:51.475 --> 00:10:55.475
Lisa Nichols: And I know that one of the things that you did,
00:10:57.050 --> 00:11:00.570
Lisa Nichols: was, you know, entered the Miss Missouri pageant.
00:11:00.570 --> 00:11:01.370
Erika Johnson: I did.
00:11:01.370 --> 00:11:02.170
Lisa Nichols: I did.
00:11:02.170 --> 00:11:03.050
Lisa Nichols: Tell us about that.
00:11:03.050 --> 00:11:04.795
Lisa Nichols: That was twenty twenty four.
00:11:04.795 --> 00:11:05.035
Erika Johnson: Yes.
00:11:05.035 --> 00:11:06.155
Erika Johnson: That was twenty twenty four.
00:11:06.155 --> 00:11:10.155
Erika Johnson: I actually won the Miss Missouri USA People's Choice Awardee, and
00:11:10.235 --> 00:11:13.995
Erika Johnson: it was just it it almost reminded me a lot of my time as
00:11:13.995 --> 00:11:16.870
Erika Johnson: a gymnast because of the dedication and the training.
00:11:16.870 --> 00:11:17.110
Erika Johnson: Mhmm.
00:11:17.110 --> 00:11:21.110
Erika Johnson: I have so much respect for the women that enter into these pageants because
00:11:21.350 --> 00:11:24.790
Erika Johnson: you're just on the forefront, every flaw, every insecurity.
00:11:24.790 --> 00:11:28.790
Erika Johnson: You have to really know who you are, trust yourself, love yourself through it
00:11:28.790 --> 00:11:32.790
Erika Johnson: all no matter whatever the judges or, you know, the audience, the people say.
00:11:33.325 --> 00:11:35.645
Erika Johnson: But it was just such a beautiful experience for me.
00:11:35.645 --> 00:11:39.645
Erika Johnson: And, again, so many friendships, so many doors have opened.
00:11:39.645 --> 00:11:42.285
Erika Johnson: I'm eternally grateful for that.
00:11:42.285 --> 00:11:44.550
Lisa Nichols: Was it hard to say yes to that?
00:11:44.550 --> 00:11:47.910
Lisa Nichols: Because I think I think you had a friend, didn't you, Erica, if I
00:11:47.910 --> 00:11:48.950
Lisa Nichols: remember?
00:11:48.950 --> 00:11:50.870
Lisa Nichols: You had a friend that said you should do this.
00:11:50.870 --> 00:11:54.550
Lisa Nichols: I mean, was it was it hard to say yes to that?
00:11:54.550 --> 00:11:57.670
Erika Johnson: She kind of just threw me in it, and she was like, hey.
00:11:57.670 --> 00:11:59.350
Erika Johnson: You we were at her birthday dinner.
00:11:59.350 --> 00:12:02.365
Erika Johnson: She was the former Miss Missouri in twenty twenty two, and she's like, you're
00:12:02.365 --> 00:12:03.165
Erika Johnson: you're doing this.
00:12:03.165 --> 00:12:04.365
Erika Johnson: And I was like, okay.
00:12:04.365 --> 00:12:06.045
Erika Johnson: I was like, do you think I can?
00:12:06.045 --> 00:12:07.565
Erika Johnson: And she's like, absolutely.
00:12:07.565 --> 00:12:11.565
Erika Johnson: So, just having that push, you know, I I love a good girl's
00:12:11.725 --> 00:12:12.125
Erika Johnson: girl.
00:12:12.125 --> 00:12:13.890
Erika Johnson: So Yes.
00:12:13.890 --> 00:12:14.250
Erika Johnson: Yeah.
00:12:14.250 --> 00:12:15.330
Erika Johnson: Yeah.
00:12:15.330 --> 00:12:15.570
Erika Johnson: Falling.
00:12:15.570 --> 00:12:19.410
Lisa Nichols: So So you had a little bit of a push there, but, it turned
00:12:19.410 --> 00:12:20.130
Lisa Nichols: out well.
00:12:20.130 --> 00:12:24.130
Lisa Nichols: And just getting the people's choice award, Erica, come on.
00:12:24.690 --> 00:12:26.210
Lisa Nichols: That was the people.
00:12:26.210 --> 00:12:26.850
Erika Johnson: Thank you.
00:12:26.850 --> 00:12:27.330
Lisa Nichols: Voting.
00:12:27.330 --> 00:12:27.970
Lisa Nichols: You know?
00:12:27.970 --> 00:12:29.495
Lisa Nichols: It's so amazing.
00:12:29.495 --> 00:12:33.095
Lisa Nichols: So let me because this is,
00:12:33.095 --> 00:12:36.855
Lisa Nichols: I see it in young girls, you know, beauty, outward beauty.
00:12:36.855 --> 00:12:40.855
Lisa Nichols: So many girls are plagued with comparison.
00:12:41.175 --> 00:12:41.815
Lisa Nichols: Right?
00:12:41.815 --> 00:12:45.815
Lisa Nichols: And then how how is your definition how has your philosophy
00:12:47.450 --> 00:12:48.970
Lisa Nichols: around beauty evolved?
00:12:48.970 --> 00:12:52.970
Lisa Nichols: I mean, it probably evolved even during that time, but talk to
00:12:52.970 --> 00:12:54.730
Lisa Nichols: young girls about this.
00:12:54.730 --> 00:12:55.545
Erika Johnson: Mhmm.
00:12:55.545 --> 00:12:56.825
Erika Johnson: So beauty is surface.
00:12:56.825 --> 00:12:59.785
Erika Johnson: It's skin deep, and we all need to understand that it doesn't matter how
00:12:59.785 --> 00:13:03.385
Erika Johnson: much Botox filler, ice facing we're going to age.
00:13:03.385 --> 00:13:07.385
Erika Johnson: So you need to find beauty from within and
00:13:07.465 --> 00:13:08.265
Erika Johnson: exude that.
00:13:08.265 --> 00:13:12.265
Erika Johnson: You know, beauty is, bringing someone behind you and and encouraging them.
00:13:12.370 --> 00:13:14.850
Erika Johnson: Beauty can show up in so many different ways.
00:13:14.850 --> 00:13:16.050
Erika Johnson: It's not just vanity.
00:13:16.050 --> 00:13:20.050
Erika Johnson: And being around these women who are drop dead gorgeous and then you see
00:13:20.130 --> 00:13:24.130
Erika Johnson: that we all have our insecurities, but then just persevering, pushing and
00:13:24.290 --> 00:13:27.445
Erika Johnson: encouraging each other through that, You know, that's beauty.
00:13:27.445 --> 00:13:28.165
Erika Johnson: So
00:13:28.165 --> 00:13:28.885
Lisa Nichols: Mhmm.
00:13:28.885 --> 00:13:29.845
Lisa Nichols: That's good.
00:13:29.845 --> 00:13:32.965
Lisa Nichols: That is good.
00:13:32.965 --> 00:13:35.365
Lisa Nichols: How about,
00:13:35.365 --> 00:13:37.765
Lisa Nichols: you know, how about,
00:13:37.765 --> 00:13:40.690
Lisa Nichols: you know, how they see themselves with worth?
00:13:40.690 --> 00:13:41.010
Lisa Nichols: You know?
00:13:41.010 --> 00:13:44.370
Lisa Nichols: Because a lot of times, you know I mean, let let's just tie it
00:13:44.370 --> 00:13:45.490
Lisa Nichols: all together here.
00:13:45.490 --> 00:13:49.490
Lisa Nichols: Like, what we do sometimes gives us our sense of worth.
00:13:49.490 --> 00:13:52.610
Lisa Nichols: How we look gives us our sense of worth.
00:13:52.610 --> 00:13:54.875
Lisa Nichols: Talk about that a little bit.
00:13:54.875 --> 00:13:58.875
Erika Johnson: Well, you know, for me, I've I've really worked hard to master
00:13:59.195 --> 00:14:03.195
Erika Johnson: detachment detachment from validation primarily because
00:14:03.835 --> 00:14:06.475
Erika Johnson: when you need validation, you're not whole.
00:14:06.475 --> 00:14:09.320
Erika Johnson: You almost have to become indifferent to that.
00:14:09.320 --> 00:14:11.000
Erika Johnson: I am not gonna be everyone's cup of tea.
00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:13.560
Erika Johnson: My look's not gonna be everyone's cup of tea, and I am so okay
00:14:13.560 --> 00:14:14.520
Erika Johnson: with that.
00:14:14.520 --> 00:14:18.520
Erika Johnson: So I think more women really need to become comfortable in their own
00:14:18.600 --> 00:14:19.240
Erika Johnson: skin.
00:14:19.240 --> 00:14:22.280
Erika Johnson: There was a time early in my journey, I didn't even wanna leave the
00:14:22.280 --> 00:14:23.795
Erika Johnson: house without makeup.
00:14:23.795 --> 00:14:26.915
Erika Johnson: And as I as I aged, it's funny.
00:14:26.915 --> 00:14:28.835
Erika Johnson: You take better care of yourself as you get older.
00:14:28.835 --> 00:14:29.075
Erika Johnson: Right?
00:14:29.075 --> 00:14:29.875
Erika Johnson: And I'm like, wow.
00:14:29.875 --> 00:14:31.395
Erika Johnson: My skin is actually really nice.
00:14:31.395 --> 00:14:32.835
Erika Johnson: Like, I have great hair.
00:14:32.835 --> 00:14:35.875
Erika Johnson: Like, why am I not embracing myself as me?
00:14:35.875 --> 00:14:39.875
Erika Johnson: Why do I need these these outer, you know, things
00:14:40.090 --> 00:14:41.370
Erika Johnson: to make me beautiful?
00:14:41.370 --> 00:14:43.210
Erika Johnson: So yeah.
00:14:43.210 --> 00:14:44.090
Lisa Nichols: That's good.
00:14:44.090 --> 00:14:44.970
Lisa Nichols: That's good.
00:14:44.970 --> 00:14:48.970
Lisa Nichols: Well, let's go back to what you're doing today.
00:14:49.050 --> 00:14:53.050
Lisa Nichols: You guys, because of your dad, really, you started on this,
00:14:53.450 --> 00:14:55.145
Lisa Nichols: you know, what is it called?
00:14:55.145 --> 00:14:56.105
Lisa Nichols: Cold press?
00:14:56.105 --> 00:14:56.305
Erika Johnson: Yes.
00:14:56.265 --> 00:14:57.305
Erika Johnson: Cold pressing.
00:14:57.305 --> 00:14:57.865
Lisa Nichols: Yeah.
00:14:57.865 --> 00:14:58.985
Lisa Nichols: Tell us about that.
00:14:58.985 --> 00:15:02.985
Lisa Nichols: It was really how, you know, how has that mission,
00:15:03.385 --> 00:15:04.985
Lisa Nichols: really kinda shaped you and what you're doing?
00:15:04.985 --> 00:15:06.810
Lisa Nichols: Tell our listeners about that.
00:15:06.810 --> 00:15:07.290
Erika Johnson: Absolutely.
00:15:07.290 --> 00:15:11.290
Erika Johnson: So I've been juicing now for going on eleven years, and I was doing
00:15:11.290 --> 00:15:15.290
Erika Johnson: it for myself for health benefits, obviously, being a gymnast, having to always
00:15:15.290 --> 00:15:17.290
Erika Johnson: be on top of my diet.
00:15:17.290 --> 00:15:19.050
Erika Johnson: And then I would do it for family.
00:15:19.050 --> 00:15:20.410
Erika Johnson: They'd be over and they're like, oh my god.
00:15:20.410 --> 00:15:21.450
Erika Johnson: This juice is so good.
00:15:21.450 --> 00:15:24.205
Erika Johnson: And I'm like, are you guys just blowing smoke?
00:15:24.205 --> 00:15:28.205
Erika Johnson: But, you know, when I was doing the pageant, I ended up doing
00:15:28.685 --> 00:15:32.365
Erika Johnson: a charity boot camp, and we rolled out the juice just to see because
00:15:32.365 --> 00:15:33.645
Erika Johnson: the feedback had been so good.
00:15:33.645 --> 00:15:36.605
Erika Johnson: And I've been giving it to my dad while he was in the hospital
00:15:36.605 --> 00:15:38.260
Erika Johnson: waiting on his transplant.
00:15:38.260 --> 00:15:41.140
Erika Johnson: And his doctor was like, whatever you're doing, keep doing it.
00:15:41.140 --> 00:15:44.180
Erika Johnson: He's like, we have been trying to get his numbers to trend, trying to
00:15:44.180 --> 00:15:47.220
Erika Johnson: find a way to get healthy get healthy whole foods into his body that
00:15:47.220 --> 00:15:48.260
Erika Johnson: would sustain him.
00:15:48.260 --> 00:15:49.620
Erika Johnson: And his numbers were looking good.
00:15:49.620 --> 00:15:51.485
Erika Johnson: His energy was looking good.
00:15:51.485 --> 00:15:52.685
Erika Johnson: His color was coming back.
00:15:52.685 --> 00:15:54.685
Erika Johnson: And so I was like, you know, if I can do this for my
00:15:54.685 --> 00:15:58.685
Erika Johnson: dad who's got such a major catastrophic diagnosis, maybe I
00:15:58.685 --> 00:15:59.965
Erika Johnson: should roll this out to the world.
00:15:59.965 --> 00:16:03.405
Erika Johnson: And then we sold out at the boot camp within forty five minutes.
00:16:03.405 --> 00:16:04.925
Erika Johnson: Was not expecting that.
00:16:04.925 --> 00:16:06.480
Erika Johnson: Wow.
00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:06.720
Erika Johnson: Yes.
00:16:06.720 --> 00:16:09.840
Erika Johnson: I was the host of the boot camp, so my sister just took the
00:16:09.840 --> 00:16:11.840
Erika Johnson: initiative to take preorders.
00:16:11.840 --> 00:16:14.320
Erika Johnson: Mind you, this was smack in the middle of the pageant.
00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:16.880
Erika Johnson: And so I was working with a speech coach.
00:16:16.880 --> 00:16:18.945
Erika Johnson: I was working with my walking coach.
00:16:18.945 --> 00:16:20.145
Erika Johnson: I'm in the gym twice a day.
00:16:20.145 --> 00:16:23.425
Erika Johnson: I'm in this I'm doing all these different things.
00:16:23.425 --> 00:16:26.545
Erika Johnson: I did not have time to start a juice company, but we were because
00:16:26.545 --> 00:16:27.505
Erika Johnson: we had the preorder.
00:16:27.505 --> 00:16:28.625
Erika Johnson: So Nice.
00:16:28.625 --> 00:16:29.505
Erika Johnson: Yeah.
00:16:29.505 --> 00:16:31.025
Lisa Nichols: Oh my goodness.
00:16:31.025 --> 00:16:32.385
Lisa Nichols: That is so awesome.
00:16:32.385 --> 00:16:33.425
Lisa Nichols: I love that.
00:16:33.425 --> 00:16:34.305
Lisa Nichols: I love that.
00:16:34.305 --> 00:16:35.480
Lisa Nichols: Well okay.
00:16:35.480 --> 00:16:36.520
Lisa Nichols: So this is funny.
00:16:36.520 --> 00:16:40.280
Lisa Nichols: So our nutritionist, you know, had said to me, you need to start juicing.
00:16:40.280 --> 00:16:42.520
Lisa Nichols: So I have a juicer.
00:16:42.520 --> 00:16:45.800
Lisa Nichols: Tell us about this, Erica, because I'm like, wow.
00:16:45.800 --> 00:16:47.480
Lisa Nichols: It takes so many carrots.
00:16:47.480 --> 00:16:51.480
Lisa Nichols: It takes so much to just get one little glass of
00:16:51.505 --> 00:16:52.225
Lisa Nichols: juice.
00:16:52.225 --> 00:16:52.625
Lisa Nichols: Yes.
00:16:52.625 --> 00:16:56.065
Lisa Nichols: Give us give us your give us your,
00:16:56.065 --> 00:17:00.065
Lisa Nichols: secret sauce, I guess, if you will, on on how you practically
00:17:00.705 --> 00:17:01.985
Lisa Nichols: do the juicing.
00:17:01.985 --> 00:17:02.305
Lisa Nichols: Okay.
00:17:02.305 --> 00:17:06.305
Lisa Nichols: I'd love for you to talk about that. And then maybe your favorite juicing recipe.
00:17:06.920 --> 00:17:07.240
Erika Johnson: Yeah.
00:17:07.240 --> 00:17:07.880
Erika Johnson: Absolutely.
00:17:07.880 --> 00:17:10.920
Erika Johnson: So I would definitely say anyone who's juicing, whether it's home or it's a
00:17:10.920 --> 00:17:14.920
Erika Johnson: business, you have to love it because it takes
00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:18.135
Erika Johnson: time, you know, the prep cleanup.
00:17:18.135 --> 00:17:20.855
Erika Johnson: We really I don't like to use the word pride too much, but we
00:17:20.855 --> 00:17:24.695
Erika Johnson: really try to exude excellence in how we deliver our products.
00:17:24.695 --> 00:17:28.215
Erika Johnson: So we do not use any additives, any preservatives.
00:17:28.215 --> 00:17:32.060
Erika Johnson: We don't use any harsh chemicals to clean even our kitchen space.
00:17:32.060 --> 00:17:35.980
Erika Johnson: So we're soaking everything in, like, baking soda or apple cider vinegar.
00:17:35.980 --> 00:17:39.260
Erika Johnson: We typically take the skin off of the cucumbers because it's very hard for
00:17:39.260 --> 00:17:42.380
Erika Johnson: the body to digest, same with, the lemons.
00:17:42.380 --> 00:17:43.980
Erika Johnson: So it's it's very tedious.
00:17:43.980 --> 00:17:47.065
Erika Johnson: So that's why I say you have to really, really love it.
00:17:47.065 --> 00:17:49.225
Erika Johnson: A lot of people do it to make money, and let's be real.
00:17:49.225 --> 00:17:51.945
Erika Johnson: We all wanna make income in what we do.
00:17:51.945 --> 00:17:54.665
Erika Johnson: We're doing this a lot for the health benefits primarily.
00:17:54.665 --> 00:17:56.505
Erika Johnson: So,
00:17:56.505 --> 00:17:57.065
Erika Johnson: yeah.
00:17:57.065 --> 00:18:01.065
Erika Johnson: My my favorite recipe too, I would say, is the beat happy.
00:18:01.630 --> 00:18:05.550
Erika Johnson: I like it the most because we have managed to find a way to
00:18:05.550 --> 00:18:08.830
Erika Johnson: make beets not taste like earth.
00:18:08.830 --> 00:18:12.830
Erika Johnson: It's it's some beets, it's some pineapples, it's a few other good good Oh.
00:18:13.230 --> 00:18:16.775
Erika Johnson: Not just things, but that really helps to kinda cut out that beet flavor
00:18:16.775 --> 00:18:19.655
Erika Johnson: and still give you those massive cardiovascular benefits.
00:18:19.655 --> 00:18:20.055
Erika Johnson: So
00:18:20.055 --> 00:18:21.975
Lisa Nichols: So it's called beet happy?
00:18:21.975 --> 00:18:22.695
Lisa Nichols: Beet happy.
00:18:22.695 --> 00:18:23.655
Lisa Nichols: Beet happy.
00:18:23.655 --> 00:18:26.135
Lisa Nichols: Well, I, I grew up in the South.
00:18:26.135 --> 00:18:30.135
Lisa Nichols: I grew up in Kentucky, and so my mom was an excellent southern
00:18:30.210 --> 00:18:33.010
Lisa Nichols: cook, and, she pickled beets.
00:18:33.010 --> 00:18:33.410
Erika Johnson: Yeah.
00:18:33.410 --> 00:18:35.330
Lisa Nichols: And I grew up loving pickled beets.
00:18:35.330 --> 00:18:37.410
Lisa Nichols: Now it's probably got sugar in there.
00:18:37.410 --> 00:18:41.410
Lisa Nichols: Erica, that's not good for you, but, I I'll eat a beet salad
00:18:41.555 --> 00:18:42.515
Lisa Nichols: any day of the week.
00:18:42.515 --> 00:18:43.555
Lisa Nichols: I love beets.
00:18:43.555 --> 00:18:44.035
Lisa Nichols: Right?
00:18:44.035 --> 00:18:45.875
Lisa Nichols: So,
00:18:45.875 --> 00:18:46.355
Lisa Nichols: I love that.
00:18:46.355 --> 00:18:48.275
Lisa Nichols: So where can you find the juice?
00:18:48.275 --> 00:18:52.210
Lisa Nichols: Do you order online, or where is it?
00:18:52.210 --> 00:18:55.890
Erika Johnson: So we have a store on Main Street, the heart of historic Saint Charles,
00:18:55.890 --> 00:18:56.370
Erika Johnson: Missouri.
00:18:56.370 --> 00:19:00.370
Erika Johnson: So our address is two fifteen North Main Street, Saint Charles, Missouri
00:19:00.530 --> 00:19:01.810
Erika Johnson: six three three zero one.
00:19:01.810 --> 00:19:04.690
Erika Johnson: And then we're also online on our Instagram, so we have a lot of
00:19:04.690 --> 00:19:06.315
Erika Johnson: people that will message us.
00:19:06.315 --> 00:19:10.155
Erika Johnson: Again, like I mentioned, we have not mastered, and we're not really looking to
00:19:10.155 --> 00:19:13.515
Erika Johnson: put any type of preservative in our juice that we don't really ship.
00:19:13.515 --> 00:19:14.075
Erika Johnson: We can't.
00:19:14.075 --> 00:19:18.075
Erika Johnson: It's just so expensive because after five days, any juice
00:19:18.315 --> 00:19:21.780
Erika Johnson: anywhere that you go and you see that's still on the shelf, the enzymes
00:19:21.780 --> 00:19:22.820
Erika Johnson: are already breaking down.
00:19:22.820 --> 00:19:26.500
Erika Johnson: And I I'm not knocking any of these other juice companies, but the point
00:19:26.500 --> 00:19:30.500
Erika Johnson: in cold pressed juice is to really get the nutritional, value of it.
00:19:30.580 --> 00:19:34.020
Erika Johnson: So our Instagram is juice e j by erika j.
00:19:34.020 --> 00:19:37.935
Erika Johnson: So you can always DM us, swing by the store, and, yeah.
00:19:37.935 --> 00:19:39.775
Lisa Nichols: I'm I'm gonna come check it out.
00:19:39.775 --> 00:19:43.375
Lisa Nichols: I'm gonna go I'm thinking I better come get my juice from you because
00:19:43.375 --> 00:19:46.335
Lisa Nichols: I'm just not sure I have the the patience.
00:19:46.335 --> 00:19:49.935
Lisa Nichols: I mean, it it is it is fun, but it is it's detailed, you
00:19:49.935 --> 00:19:52.870
Lisa Nichols: know, and it does take a lot of time.
00:19:52.870 --> 00:19:53.430
Lisa Nichols: Gosh.
00:19:53.430 --> 00:19:56.230
Lisa Nichols: Erica, I've got so many more questions for you, but we do need to
00:19:56.230 --> 00:19:59.910
Lisa Nichols: take a quick break, and then we'll be right back with Erica Johnson on
00:19:59.910 --> 00:20:02.070
Lisa Nichols: the Something Extra podcast.
00:20:02.070 --> 00:20:06.070
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Lisa Nichols: Welcome back, everyone, to the Something Extra podcast with my friend, Erica
00:20:36.085 --> 00:20:36.725
Lisa Nichols: Johnson.
00:20:36.725 --> 00:20:40.725
Lisa Nichols: So, Erica, I have absolutely loved our conversations so far.
00:20:40.805 --> 00:20:44.805
Lisa Nichols: And I know that from studying you and reading about you, preparing
00:20:44.965 --> 00:20:48.900
Lisa Nichols: for this interview today, that you're very passionate about food deserts.
00:20:48.900 --> 00:20:49.700
Erika Johnson: Oh, yeah.
00:20:49.700 --> 00:20:50.740
Erika Johnson: Very much so.
00:20:50.740 --> 00:20:52.020
Lisa Nichols: Tell me more about that.
00:20:52.020 --> 00:20:53.460
Lisa Nichols: We have a lot of food deserts.
00:20:53.460 --> 00:20:54.020
Lisa Nichols: Right?
00:20:54.020 --> 00:20:54.420
Erika Johnson: Yeah.
00:20:54.420 --> 00:20:57.620
Erika Johnson: Saint Louis has a huge deficit of food deserts.
00:20:57.620 --> 00:21:00.980
Erika Johnson: So before I, you know, obviously, have my juice company, I was doing real
00:21:00.980 --> 00:21:04.980
Erika Johnson: estate, and I was, specifically rehabilitating
00:21:05.045 --> 00:21:09.045
Erika Johnson: Saint Louis City because there are so many just derelict rundown buildings, and
00:21:09.605 --> 00:21:12.885
Erika Johnson: that creates dangers for, you know, our children when you're living next to an
00:21:12.885 --> 00:21:14.245
Erika Johnson: abandoned building and whatnot.
00:21:14.245 --> 00:21:18.245
Erika Johnson: So not only that, really just trying to stimulate tax dollars and whatnot.
00:21:18.840 --> 00:21:22.040
Erika Johnson: But while I was down there, I would notice there was nowhere for me
00:21:22.040 --> 00:21:25.320
Erika Johnson: to really go and get healthy foods as a as a lunch option, and
00:21:25.320 --> 00:21:26.520
Erika Johnson: that frustrated me.
00:21:26.520 --> 00:21:29.755
Erika Johnson: Here I am, like, well, we pay our tax dollars as well.
00:21:29.755 --> 00:21:33.035
Erika Johnson: You know, why is there not an organic section in the snooks or in
00:21:33.035 --> 00:21:34.315
Erika Johnson: the local grocery store?
00:21:34.315 --> 00:21:38.315
Erika Johnson: So, yeah, it's it's it's definitely an issue that needs to be further
00:21:38.555 --> 00:21:39.115
Erika Johnson: addressed.
00:21:39.115 --> 00:21:39.755
Erika Johnson: So
00:21:39.755 --> 00:21:41.035
Lisa Nichols: Well, what do we need to do?
00:21:41.035 --> 00:21:43.980
Lisa Nichols: I mean, what what can we do, Erica?
00:21:43.980 --> 00:21:44.780
Erika Johnson: Advocate.
00:21:44.780 --> 00:21:48.460
Erika Johnson: Advocate and and, you know, write to the right people.
00:21:48.460 --> 00:21:52.460
Erika Johnson: Like myself, I was out rehabbing these these neighborhoods, creating the tax dollars,
00:21:53.260 --> 00:21:55.100
Erika Johnson: fighting for the tax abatements.
00:21:55.100 --> 00:21:56.620
Erika Johnson: At the time, our current mayor of St.
00:21:56.620 --> 00:22:00.620
Erika Johnson: Louis, Kara Spencer, was the alderwoman in the ward where I was rehabbing,
00:22:01.765 --> 00:22:04.645
Erika Johnson: my homes, and she just really went to bat for me in helping me
00:22:04.645 --> 00:22:08.645
Erika Johnson: get, maxed, you know, benefits on on the tax abatements because
00:22:09.220 --> 00:22:13.220
Erika Johnson: these homes were imploding, crumbling at the foundation, and sometimes the
00:22:13.220 --> 00:22:15.140
Erika Johnson: city would only wanna give me fifty percent.
00:22:15.140 --> 00:22:16.180
Erika Johnson: And I'm like, hey.
00:22:16.180 --> 00:22:17.620
Erika Johnson: You know, we're rebuilding this community.
00:22:17.620 --> 00:22:18.500
Erika Johnson: We need we need help.
00:22:18.500 --> 00:22:19.300
Erika Johnson: We need support.
00:22:19.300 --> 00:22:22.820
Erika Johnson: So like I mentioned earlier, just reaching back and helping someone.
00:22:22.820 --> 00:22:26.820
Erika Johnson: So I am just forever grateful to care care for extending her hand and
00:22:26.855 --> 00:22:29.895
Erika Johnson: her resources to help, you know, execute my vision.
00:22:29.895 --> 00:22:30.295
Erika Johnson: So
00:22:30.295 --> 00:22:30.695
Lisa Nichols: Mhmm.
00:22:30.695 --> 00:22:33.055
Lisa Nichols: Are you still doing that to this day, Erica?
00:22:33.055 --> 00:22:33.975
Erika Johnson: I'm not.
00:22:33.975 --> 00:22:36.455
Erika Johnson: I love, love, love rehabbing.
00:22:36.455 --> 00:22:38.520
Erika Johnson: However, it is very tedious.
00:22:38.520 --> 00:22:39.480
Lisa Nichols: Mhmm.
00:22:39.480 --> 00:22:42.920
Erika Johnson: And right now with the juice, I find a lot of joy, and it
00:22:42.920 --> 00:22:43.880
Erika Johnson: still is helping.
00:22:43.880 --> 00:22:44.520
Erika Johnson: So
00:22:44.520 --> 00:22:46.040
Lisa Nichols: Absolutely.
00:22:46.040 --> 00:22:48.120
Lisa Nichols: Well, tell me this.
00:22:48.120 --> 00:22:52.120
Lisa Nichols: What what do you think like, when when you're thinking about a
00:22:52.120 --> 00:22:56.120
Lisa Nichols: underserved community, what might people not really
00:22:56.185 --> 00:22:56.745
Lisa Nichols: understand?
00:22:56.745 --> 00:22:57.625
Lisa Nichols: We've done a lot.
00:22:57.625 --> 00:22:59.785
Lisa Nichols: Are you familiar with Lucas Ruggley?
00:22:59.785 --> 00:23:00.105
Lisa Nichols: Mhmm.
00:23:00.105 --> 00:23:02.985
Lisa Nichols: Shout out to Lucas Ruggley with Love the Lou.
00:23:02.985 --> 00:23:03.625
Erika Johnson: Oh, I would
00:23:03.625 --> 00:23:05.065
Lisa Nichols: love to hear that.
00:23:05.065 --> 00:23:07.385
Lisa Nichols: Amazing things.
00:23:07.385 --> 00:23:09.400
Lisa Nichols: Goodness gracious.
00:23:09.400 --> 00:23:13.400
Lisa Nichols: Oh, I mean, we've there's, the Tabernacle Community Development
00:23:13.640 --> 00:23:14.120
Lisa Nichols: Center.
00:23:14.120 --> 00:23:15.800
Lisa Nichols: How about that, Andre Alexander?
00:23:15.800 --> 00:23:17.400
Lisa Nichols: Do you know him, Erica?
00:23:17.400 --> 00:23:17.800
Erika Johnson: It is.
00:23:17.800 --> 00:23:18.120
Erika Johnson: Yes.
00:23:18.120 --> 00:23:18.760
Lisa Nichols: Yes.
00:23:18.760 --> 00:23:19.320
Lisa Nichols: Amazing.
00:23:19.320 --> 00:23:21.160
Lisa Nichols: But they're doing a lot of that.
00:23:21.160 --> 00:23:25.160
Lisa Nichols: But what what do you think people might not really understand about
00:23:25.555 --> 00:23:27.635
Lisa Nichols: these underserved communities?
00:23:27.635 --> 00:23:29.635
Erika Johnson: I don't think they understand the need.
00:23:29.635 --> 00:23:31.555
Erika Johnson: You know?
00:23:31.555 --> 00:23:35.555
Erika Johnson: I, for a while, have done charity events with the Urban League where
00:23:35.570 --> 00:23:38.930
Erika Johnson: they have blessed me to be able to use their facilities to house my
00:23:38.930 --> 00:23:40.210
Erika Johnson: charity events.
00:23:40.210 --> 00:23:44.210
Erika Johnson: And the very first year that I did it, I gave away laptops and
00:23:44.690 --> 00:23:48.645
Erika Johnson: propane fire tanks that you would see, like, out on the patios and whatnot.
00:23:48.645 --> 00:23:51.445
Erika Johnson: And it didn't register to me that that's not what they need.
00:23:51.445 --> 00:23:54.565
Erika Johnson: So we need to really identify the need and then execute.
00:23:54.565 --> 00:23:58.565
Erika Johnson: So the years following that, I really prioritized understanding
00:23:58.885 --> 00:24:00.085
Erika Johnson: what they said I took notes.
00:24:00.085 --> 00:24:00.965
Erika Johnson: They needed socks.
00:24:00.965 --> 00:24:03.640
Erika Johnson: They needed, you know,
00:24:03.640 --> 00:24:05.880
Erika Johnson: yeah, basic living essentials.
00:24:05.880 --> 00:24:09.880
Erika Johnson: And so we can't help if we're not doing our due diligence and
00:24:09.880 --> 00:24:12.920
Erika Johnson: and and asking and then, again, executing on it.
00:24:12.920 --> 00:24:13.320
Erika Johnson: So
00:24:13.320 --> 00:24:13.720
Lisa Nichols: Yeah.
00:24:13.720 --> 00:24:14.520
Lisa Nichols: That's so good.
00:24:14.520 --> 00:24:16.275
Lisa Nichols: I love what you just said.
00:24:16.275 --> 00:24:18.835
Lisa Nichols: Because I think a lot of times, we assume.
00:24:18.835 --> 00:24:19.555
Lisa Nichols: We assume.
00:24:19.555 --> 00:24:21.955
Lisa Nichols: We assume and presume what is needed.
00:24:21.955 --> 00:24:22.435
Lisa Nichols: Right?
00:24:22.435 --> 00:24:25.555
Lisa Nichols: But you've gotta talk to people.
00:24:25.555 --> 00:24:28.035
Lisa Nichols: You've got to actually,
00:24:28.035 --> 00:24:32.035
Lisa Nichols: build relationships and understand what the needs are because
00:24:32.046 --> 00:24:33.451
Lisa Nichols: we can't Yeah.
00:24:33.451 --> 00:24:36.961
Lisa Nichols: We're not gonna we're not gonna, hit the mark.
00:24:36.961 --> 00:24:37.313
Lisa Nichols: Right?
00:24:37.313 --> 00:24:41.313
Erika Johnson: And a lot of times, you know, if we're being honest, if
00:24:41.525 --> 00:24:44.685
Erika Johnson: it doesn't affect us directly, sometimes we become oblivious.
00:24:44.685 --> 00:24:47.805
Erika Johnson: And I think as a people, that's how we better ourselves.
00:24:47.805 --> 00:24:51.005
Erika Johnson: That's how we better the communities that we live in by sometimes going out
00:24:51.005 --> 00:24:54.445
Erika Johnson: of our comfort zone to address these issues.
00:24:54.445 --> 00:24:57.805
Erika Johnson: I have so much love and respect for the Chris Long Foundation, him and
00:24:57.805 --> 00:24:58.605
Erika Johnson: his wife, Meg.
00:24:58.605 --> 00:25:02.410
Erika Johnson: Chris was our former, Rams, NFL player.
00:25:02.410 --> 00:25:05.850
Erika Johnson: He has an organization that I would love for so many people to to
00:25:05.850 --> 00:25:06.970
Erika Johnson: get involved with.
00:25:06.970 --> 00:25:08.170
Erika Johnson: It's called the little I'm sorry.
00:25:08.170 --> 00:25:08.810
Erika Johnson: Not the little bit.
00:25:08.810 --> 00:25:11.875
Erika Johnson: They're the, ed zone, but they partner with the little bit.
00:25:11.875 --> 00:25:15.875
Erika Johnson: And so they have now put lockers into underserved,
00:25:15.955 --> 00:25:18.035
Erika Johnson: schools, and these lockers are incredible.
00:25:18.035 --> 00:25:22.035
Erika Johnson: So they're filled with toiletries, coats, all sorts of things.
00:25:22.035 --> 00:25:23.635
Erika Johnson: And these children don't have to ask.
00:25:23.635 --> 00:25:26.130
Erika Johnson: They can just go into the locker, get what they need.
00:25:26.130 --> 00:25:28.850
Erika Johnson: They don't have to feel embarrassed or ashamed.
00:25:28.850 --> 00:25:31.250
Erika Johnson: They literally can just go and go about their day.
00:25:31.250 --> 00:25:35.250
Erika Johnson: And, you know, Chris has made it his business to make sure that
00:25:35.330 --> 00:25:36.290
Erika Johnson: children are comfortable.
00:25:36.290 --> 00:25:40.290
Erika Johnson: You know, think about children that may not have deodorant or toothpaste.
00:25:40.305 --> 00:25:43.425
Erika Johnson: They're not gonna be confident in school, which means they're not gonna be, you
00:25:43.425 --> 00:25:44.385
Erika Johnson: know, paying attention.
00:25:44.385 --> 00:25:47.905
Erika Johnson: Or if they're hungry, you're not paying attention because your mind is elsewhere, but
00:25:47.905 --> 00:25:51.580
Erika Johnson: he has really made it his business to create a safe space for these
00:25:51.580 --> 00:25:52.140
Erika Johnson: children.
00:25:52.140 --> 00:25:53.740
Erika Johnson: So there's some great organization.
00:25:53.740 --> 00:25:54.140
Erika Johnson: We just
00:25:54.140 --> 00:25:54.780
Lisa Nichols: I love that.
00:25:54.780 --> 00:25:56.220
Lisa Nichols: Good.
00:25:56.220 --> 00:26:00.220
Lisa Nichols: Well and then something that you just said, Erica, just made me think.
00:26:00.540 --> 00:26:03.305
Lisa Nichols: You said Chris partnered
00:26:03.305 --> 00:26:06.345
Lisa Nichols: with a we we've done a lot, technology partners.
00:26:06.345 --> 00:26:09.305
Lisa Nichols: Like, our team has gone and volunteered for a little bit, and we always
00:26:09.305 --> 00:26:11.465
Lisa Nichols: love love the little bit foundation.
00:26:11.465 --> 00:26:12.025
Erika Johnson: Amazing.
00:26:12.025 --> 00:26:16.025
Lisa Nichols: But sometimes, you don't have to do you know, collaboration
00:26:16.345 --> 00:26:18.690
Lisa Nichols: is really important in this space, I believe.
00:26:18.690 --> 00:26:19.650
Lisa Nichols: Right?
00:26:19.650 --> 00:26:20.530
Erika Johnson: It is.
00:26:20.530 --> 00:26:21.090
Erika Johnson: Yeah.
00:26:21.090 --> 00:26:25.090
Erika Johnson: We, Veroni is is powerful as our partners and and those
00:26:25.170 --> 00:26:27.810
Erika Johnson: who we we we do partner up with, you know.
00:26:27.810 --> 00:26:31.810
Erika Johnson: And, again, it's just asking and and seeing what the need is because
00:26:32.125 --> 00:26:33.405
Erika Johnson: that's how we get things done.
00:26:33.405 --> 00:26:34.445
Erika Johnson: So Mhmm.
00:26:34.445 --> 00:26:37.005
Lisa Nichols: Well, I love I love everything that you've done.
00:26:37.005 --> 00:26:40.605
Lisa Nichols: I mean, you've got such a just a very I can just tell such
00:26:40.605 --> 00:26:41.405
Lisa Nichols: a giving heart.
00:26:41.405 --> 00:26:45.405
Lisa Nichols: And that I'm sure, Erica, you know, a lot of that spans
00:26:45.725 --> 00:26:49.725
Lisa Nichols: from your comes out of your faith and what you believe,
00:26:50.150 --> 00:26:52.310
Lisa Nichols: you know, is how we're to treat one another.
00:26:52.310 --> 00:26:52.630
Lisa Nichols: Right?
00:26:52.630 --> 00:26:53.590
Lisa Nichols: Our neighbor.
00:26:53.590 --> 00:26:54.150
Erika Johnson: Yeah.
00:26:54.150 --> 00:26:56.790
Erika Johnson: And God doesn't bless us to to not bless others.
00:26:56.790 --> 00:26:57.910
Erika Johnson: You know?
00:26:57.910 --> 00:26:58.470
Erika Johnson: Yeah.
00:26:58.470 --> 00:26:59.990
Erika Johnson: That's how he wants it to be.
00:26:59.990 --> 00:27:01.375
Erika Johnson: So yeah.
00:27:01.375 --> 00:27:03.135
Lisa Nichols: Well, tell me a little bit about your faith.
00:27:03.135 --> 00:27:05.535
Lisa Nichols: Did you grow up in a faith filled family?
00:27:05.535 --> 00:27:06.015
Erika Johnson: I did.
00:27:06.015 --> 00:27:06.655
Erika Johnson: Yes.
00:27:06.655 --> 00:27:08.495
Erika Johnson: Faith is definitely at the heart.
00:27:08.495 --> 00:27:09.935
Erika Johnson: Grandparents were deacons.
00:27:09.935 --> 00:27:12.175
Erika Johnson: My dad is a deacon.
00:27:12.175 --> 00:27:13.135
Erika Johnson: It's just in us.
00:27:13.135 --> 00:27:16.970
Erika Johnson: You know, we grew up in a Baptist church and then transitioned briefly to
00:27:16.970 --> 00:27:19.450
Erika Johnson: nondenominational and back to Baptist.
00:27:19.450 --> 00:27:23.450
Erika Johnson: However, I believe God comes you know, however you wanna identify,
00:27:23.610 --> 00:27:24.250
Erika Johnson: God is God.
00:27:24.250 --> 00:27:26.330
Erika Johnson: And
00:27:26.330 --> 00:27:26.810
Lisa Nichols: yeah.
00:27:26.810 --> 00:27:28.490
Lisa Nichols: It's not about a denomination.
00:27:28.490 --> 00:27:28.970
Lisa Nichols: Right?
00:27:28.970 --> 00:27:30.985
Lisa Nichols: It's about a relationship.
00:27:30.985 --> 00:27:31.945
Lisa Nichols: That's right.
00:27:31.945 --> 00:27:33.385
Lisa Nichols: That's so good.
00:27:33.385 --> 00:27:37.385
Lisa Nichols: Well, you know, I mean, you do have a journalism degree,
00:27:37.625 --> 00:27:41.625
Lisa Nichols: and I know that you've had the opportunity to interview some really iconic
00:27:41.785 --> 00:27:42.585
Lisa Nichols: people.
00:27:42.585 --> 00:27:43.385
Lisa Nichols: Right?
00:27:43.385 --> 00:27:46.780
Lisa Nichols: Ozzie Smith, Orlando Pace, Nelly.
00:27:46.780 --> 00:27:50.780
Lisa Nichols: You know, how have you used your voice intentionally in those spaces?
00:27:51.500 --> 00:27:54.300
Erika Johnson: So I would love to just set it straight.
00:27:54.300 --> 00:27:56.540
Erika Johnson: I actually do not have my journalism degree.
00:27:56.540 --> 00:27:58.460
Erika Johnson: I was thrown into journalism.
00:27:58.460 --> 00:28:00.460
Lisa Nichols: Oh, I can see a pattern here.
00:28:00.460 --> 00:28:02.485
Lisa Nichols: You've been thrown into a a lot of things.
00:28:02.485 --> 00:28:03.285
Lisa Nichols: I know.
00:28:03.285 --> 00:28:03.525
Erika Johnson: Yeah.
00:28:03.525 --> 00:28:06.165
Erika Johnson: Someone said they're like, you're very articulate.
00:28:06.165 --> 00:28:07.125
Erika Johnson: I love your look.
00:28:07.125 --> 00:28:09.125
Erika Johnson: I want you to, you know, try this.
00:28:09.125 --> 00:28:13.125
Erika Johnson: And I did an interview and it went very well, and they hired me.
00:28:14.230 --> 00:28:15.750
Erika Johnson: Oh my goodness.
00:28:15.750 --> 00:28:16.150
Erika Johnson: Yeah.
00:28:16.150 --> 00:28:18.230
Erika Johnson: Getting to work with Ozzy Smith.
00:28:18.230 --> 00:28:18.950
Erika Johnson: Oh my goodness.
00:28:18.950 --> 00:28:21.990
Erika Johnson: Such a humble, humble giant.
00:28:21.990 --> 00:28:25.750
Erika Johnson: And with his wife, Yolanda, I I just love when I have the opportunity
00:28:25.750 --> 00:28:26.955
Erika Johnson: to engage with them.
00:28:26.955 --> 00:28:30.235
Erika Johnson: Neli also doing incredible things here with, you know, St.
00:28:30.235 --> 00:28:32.715
Erika Johnson: Jude's and all of that.
00:28:32.715 --> 00:28:36.715
Erika Johnson: Orlando Pace, another person who's just very philanthropic
00:28:36.795 --> 00:28:37.755
Erika Johnson: doing great things.
00:28:37.755 --> 00:28:40.630
Erika Johnson: So it's it's a it's it's a pleasure.
00:28:40.630 --> 00:28:42.550
Lisa Nichols: Oh, that is awesome.
00:28:42.550 --> 00:28:44.790
Lisa Nichols: Well, tell me about this.
00:28:44.790 --> 00:28:47.430
Lisa Nichols: You know, today we have all these influencers.
00:28:47.430 --> 00:28:51.110
Lisa Nichols: You know, we consider you an influencer, Erica.
00:28:51.110 --> 00:28:54.515
Lisa Nichols: But how what is the responsibility that comes with that?
00:28:54.515 --> 00:28:58.435
Lisa Nichols: I mean, when you've been given a platform like you have Yeah.
00:28:58.435 --> 00:29:02.435
Lisa Nichols: There is definitely influence that's happening and impact that's happening.
00:29:02.995 --> 00:29:06.995
Lisa Nichols: But what is the responsibility that, you also carry?
00:29:07.380 --> 00:29:11.140
Erika Johnson: You know, the term fiduciary, it's like we owe that to our our people.
00:29:11.140 --> 00:29:15.140
Erika Johnson: And we are we've been blessed with that platform
00:29:15.620 --> 00:29:18.180
Erika Johnson: and to misuse it is is just wrong.
00:29:18.180 --> 00:29:22.155
Erika Johnson: So to me, being affluent comes with balance.
00:29:22.155 --> 00:29:26.155
Erika Johnson: And, you know, I spoke earlier about the art of detachment, being able
00:29:26.635 --> 00:29:30.635
Erika Johnson: to confidently detach from situations and circumstances that are
00:29:30.635 --> 00:29:34.635
Erika Johnson: not serving your highest calling, that are not going to be beneficial to you,
00:29:35.660 --> 00:29:39.660
Erika Johnson: understanding that you do not have to say yes to every commitment,
00:29:40.220 --> 00:29:43.820
Erika Johnson: because how can you be a leader if you're not self preserved?
00:29:43.820 --> 00:29:44.380
Erika Johnson: You know?
00:29:44.380 --> 00:29:48.380
Erika Johnson: So really just being intentional with your yeses and and
00:29:48.565 --> 00:29:51.045
Erika Johnson: okay with sometimes having to say no.
00:29:51.045 --> 00:29:52.565
Erika Johnson: But yeah.
00:29:52.565 --> 00:29:55.205
Lisa Nichols: You're speaking my language
00:29:55.205 --> 00:29:59.205
Lisa Nichols: because every yes comes at the opportunity of something else.
00:29:59.660 --> 00:30:00.140
Lisa Nichols: Right?
00:30:00.140 --> 00:30:03.340
Lisa Nichols: And I I just think I've said this so many times.
00:30:03.340 --> 00:30:07.340
Lisa Nichols: I think, like, for a leader, one of the most important qualities, Erica, is
00:30:07.420 --> 00:30:08.540
Lisa Nichols: discernment.
00:30:08.540 --> 00:30:09.420
Erika Johnson: It is.
00:30:09.420 --> 00:30:11.260
Lisa Nichols: Because there's a lot of good.
00:30:11.260 --> 00:30:11.820
Lisa Nichols: Right?
00:30:11.820 --> 00:30:12.860
Lisa Nichols: But you want the best.
00:30:12.860 --> 00:30:16.265
Lisa Nichols: You want the the the things that only you can do and the things
00:30:16.265 --> 00:30:20.265
Lisa Nichols: that are, like you said, that are in alignment with
00:30:20.265 --> 00:30:21.785
Lisa Nichols: how you've been called.
00:30:21.785 --> 00:30:22.185
Erika Johnson: Yeah.
00:30:22.185 --> 00:30:23.145
Erika Johnson: Right?
00:30:23.145 --> 00:30:24.105
Erika Johnson: That's my prayer.
00:30:24.105 --> 00:30:27.065
Erika Johnson: You know, a lot of people and I'm not saying I don't pray for
00:30:27.065 --> 00:30:31.030
Erika Johnson: other things, but, typically, the the fundamental base of my prayer is wisdom and
00:30:31.030 --> 00:30:34.550
Erika Johnson: discernment because the wisdom and discernment, you can do so much.
00:30:34.550 --> 00:30:36.790
Erika Johnson: You can avoid so many pitfalls.
00:30:36.790 --> 00:30:37.430
Erika Johnson: So
00:30:37.430 --> 00:30:37.910
Lisa Nichols: Yes.
00:30:37.910 --> 00:30:41.505
Lisa Nichols: I could not agree more.
00:30:41.505 --> 00:30:41.745
Lisa Nichols: Yeah.
00:30:41.745 --> 00:30:42.705
Lisa Nichols: This is good.
00:30:42.705 --> 00:30:44.225
Lisa Nichols: Let me ask you a question.
00:30:44.225 --> 00:30:46.065
Lisa Nichols: If someone,
00:30:46.065 --> 00:30:50.065
Lisa Nichols: is listening today and they feel like they've lost themselves
00:30:50.465 --> 00:30:54.465
Lisa Nichols: or maybe they feel stuck or maybe they feel, you know, let's
00:30:54.625 --> 00:30:58.625
Lisa Nichols: call it a wilderness, You know, what what would you want
00:30:58.740 --> 00:31:00.180
Lisa Nichols: them to hear?
00:31:00.180 --> 00:31:02.500
Lisa Nichols: How do they get themselves out of that?
00:31:02.500 --> 00:31:06.500
Erika Johnson: I had someone actually call me for mentorship about this very thing.
00:31:06.740 --> 00:31:09.380
Erika Johnson: I encouraged them to fast.
00:31:09.380 --> 00:31:11.785
Erika Johnson: There's so much power in that.
00:31:11.785 --> 00:31:14.905
Erika Johnson: When my dad was diagnosed,
00:31:14.905 --> 00:31:18.665
Erika Johnson: we treated him over the course of two years with one set of doctors
00:31:18.665 --> 00:31:21.625
Erika Johnson: until my mother advocated and said, you know, hey.
00:31:21.625 --> 00:31:23.305
Erika Johnson: We we need a different set of eyes.
00:31:23.305 --> 00:31:27.270
Erika Johnson: And we got to this other set, and they said, your dad, if he
00:31:27.270 --> 00:31:31.030
Erika Johnson: has what we believe he has, he has three months, maybe.
00:31:31.030 --> 00:31:32.390
Erika Johnson: He's at risk for sudden death.
00:31:32.390 --> 00:31:36.390
Erika Johnson: And so I understood the dire need for to hear God's
00:31:36.470 --> 00:31:40.205
Erika Johnson: voice, and so I immediately went to a fast.
00:31:40.205 --> 00:31:41.485
Erika Johnson: I gave up music.
00:31:41.485 --> 00:31:42.445
Erika Johnson: I gave up food.
00:31:42.445 --> 00:31:46.445
Erika Johnson: I gave up everything pretty much that was of the flesh, and I said,
00:31:46.445 --> 00:31:48.605
Erika Johnson: god, this is my ask in that.
00:31:48.605 --> 00:31:52.605
Erika Johnson: And for him to deliver on something that was, again, just unheard
00:31:52.765 --> 00:31:55.430
Erika Johnson: of, and, I do have to share this.
00:31:55.430 --> 00:31:58.630
Erika Johnson: The day that my dad got his organs, his heart went into AFib, and
00:31:58.630 --> 00:32:01.430
Erika Johnson: they actually had to resuscitate him.
00:32:01.430 --> 00:32:04.390
Erika Johnson: And the doctor came in, he said, we've reached the point of no return.
00:32:04.390 --> 00:32:07.590
Erika Johnson: He said, so if we don't get organs, you guys need to get prepared.
00:32:07.590 --> 00:32:09.885
Erika Johnson: You may have, you know, a day, a few hours.
00:32:09.885 --> 00:32:13.325
Erika Johnson: And I remember sitting at my dad's bedside, and I said, okay, god.
00:32:13.325 --> 00:32:14.205
Erika Johnson: I've done everything.
00:32:14.205 --> 00:32:15.405
Erika Johnson: I surrender.
00:32:15.405 --> 00:32:17.325
Erika Johnson: We got organs that night.
00:32:17.325 --> 00:32:18.365
Lisa Nichols: Wow.
00:32:18.365 --> 00:32:21.725
Lisa Nichols: Wow, Erica.
00:32:21.725 --> 00:32:25.725
Lisa Nichols: So That's a beautiful thank you for sharing that.
00:32:25.820 --> 00:32:27.180
Lisa Nichols: You've done everything.
00:32:27.180 --> 00:32:27.900
Lisa Nichols: You've fasted.
00:32:27.900 --> 00:32:28.460
Lisa Nichols: You've prayed.
00:32:28.460 --> 00:32:32.460
Lisa Nichols: You've scripture tells us that, right, to fast and pray.
00:32:34.060 --> 00:32:34.460
Lisa Nichols: Yeah.
00:32:34.460 --> 00:32:37.660
Lisa Nichols: And and just like, god, I've done it.
00:32:37.660 --> 00:32:40.815
Lisa Nichols: Everything that I know that you've called me to do, and the rest is
00:32:40.815 --> 00:32:41.775
Lisa Nichols: up to you.
00:32:41.775 --> 00:32:42.255
Lisa Nichols: Yeah.
00:32:42.255 --> 00:32:44.495
Erika Johnson: He may not deliver when we want.
00:32:44.495 --> 00:32:44.975
Lisa Nichols: Yeah.
00:32:44.975 --> 00:32:45.935
Lisa Nichols: The timing.
00:32:45.935 --> 00:32:46.815
Erika Johnson: But he delivers.
00:32:46.815 --> 00:32:47.375
Erika Johnson: Yeah.
00:32:47.375 --> 00:32:48.255
Erika Johnson: He does.
00:32:48.255 --> 00:32:49.295
Erika Johnson: The neck of the hour.
00:32:49.295 --> 00:32:51.375
Erika Johnson: So yeah.
00:32:51.375 --> 00:32:54.015
Lisa Nichols: Well, that is where our faith is strengthened.
00:32:54.015 --> 00:32:55.000
Lisa Nichols: You know?
00:32:55.000 --> 00:32:55.320
Lisa Nichols: Right?
00:32:55.320 --> 00:32:59.160
Lisa Nichols: I mean, if we could see it, if we could see everything that's that's
00:32:59.160 --> 00:33:01.400
Lisa Nichols: gonna happen, that's not faith.
00:33:01.400 --> 00:33:01.800
Lisa Nichols: Yeah.
00:33:01.800 --> 00:33:02.760
Lisa Nichols: It's sight.
00:33:02.760 --> 00:33:03.240
Lisa Nichols: You know?
00:33:03.240 --> 00:33:05.560
Lisa Nichols: Walking by sight instead of walking by faith.
00:33:05.560 --> 00:33:07.240
Lisa Nichols: So I just love that.
00:33:07.240 --> 00:33:09.305
Lisa Nichols: Thank you so much for sharing that.
00:33:09.305 --> 00:33:12.745
Lisa Nichols: Well, I'm gonna do, like, a really fun little lightning round here for you.
00:33:12.745 --> 00:33:14.905
Lisa Nichols: Just a couple of,
00:33:14.905 --> 00:33:17.705
Lisa Nichols: quick questions, and then I wanna talk about something extra.
00:33:17.705 --> 00:33:18.985
Lisa Nichols: K.
00:33:18.985 --> 00:33:22.180
Lisa Nichols: One word that describes your current season.
00:33:22.180 --> 00:33:23.140
Erika Johnson: Oof.
00:33:23.140 --> 00:33:24.580
Erika Johnson: Light.
00:33:24.580 --> 00:33:24.980
Erika Johnson: Light.
00:33:24.980 --> 00:33:25.620
Erika Johnson: Light.
00:33:25.620 --> 00:33:26.340
Erika Johnson: Yes.
00:33:26.340 --> 00:33:26.740
Erika Johnson: Mhmm.
00:33:26.740 --> 00:33:28.180
Lisa Nichols: Oh, I love that.
00:33:28.180 --> 00:33:30.500
Lisa Nichols: You wanna elaborate on that at all?
00:33:30.500 --> 00:33:32.980
Erika Johnson: I feel light because, again, I've just I've released.
00:33:32.980 --> 00:33:34.660
Erika Johnson: I've detached.
00:33:34.660 --> 00:33:38.445
Erika Johnson: I am so comfortable with myself and who I am.
00:33:38.445 --> 00:33:39.405
Erika Johnson: I feel light.
00:33:39.405 --> 00:33:40.685
Lisa Nichols: Oh, that's beautiful.
00:33:40.685 --> 00:33:42.285
Lisa Nichols: Love it.
00:33:42.285 --> 00:33:44.765
Lisa Nichols: Favorite way to recharge?
00:33:44.765 --> 00:33:45.805
Erika Johnson: Meditation.
00:33:45.805 --> 00:33:46.685
Lisa Nichols: Meditation.
00:33:46.685 --> 00:33:47.245
Lisa Nichols: Okay.
00:33:47.245 --> 00:33:48.125
Lisa Nichols: Good.
00:33:48.125 --> 00:33:51.610
Lisa Nichols: A person who inspires you deeply.
00:33:51.610 --> 00:33:52.410
Lisa Nichols: My mother.
00:33:52.410 --> 00:33:53.210
Lisa Nichols: Your mom.
00:33:53.210 --> 00:33:55.050
Lisa Nichols: Oh, tell me about your mom.
00:33:55.050 --> 00:33:58.490
Erika Johnson: Oh, she is a rock star.
00:33:58.490 --> 00:33:58.730
Erika Johnson: Yeah.
00:33:58.730 --> 00:34:01.690
Erika Johnson: My mom, you know, really getting to see how she showed up as a
00:34:01.690 --> 00:34:05.665
Erika Johnson: mother, as a woman of God through the tough seasons has just been so
00:34:05.665 --> 00:34:08.385
Erika Johnson: aspirational to me in life.
00:34:08.385 --> 00:34:09.105
Erika Johnson: Amazing mother.
00:34:09.105 --> 00:34:09.985
Erika Johnson: She's a nurse.
00:34:09.985 --> 00:34:12.385
Erika Johnson: She still finds time to give back.
00:34:12.385 --> 00:34:13.745
Erika Johnson: She's involved in church.
00:34:13.745 --> 00:34:15.105
Erika Johnson: She just she gets it done.
00:34:15.105 --> 00:34:15.905
Erika Johnson: So
00:34:15.905 --> 00:34:16.385
Lisa Nichols: yeah.
00:34:16.385 --> 00:34:17.720
Lisa Nichols: That's wonderful.
00:34:17.720 --> 00:34:18.040
Lisa Nichols: Yeah.
00:34:18.040 --> 00:34:21.160
Lisa Nichols: I mean, you've got a model, a living model right in front of you,
00:34:21.160 --> 00:34:24.200
Lisa Nichols: Erica, right, in how to to live as a woman of God.
00:34:24.200 --> 00:34:25.240
Lisa Nichols: That's beautiful.
00:34:25.240 --> 00:34:26.360
Lisa Nichols: What's your morning routine?
00:34:26.360 --> 00:34:30.360
Lisa Nichols: Do you have a daily habit or daily routine that you go through?
00:34:30.360 --> 00:34:31.975
Lisa Nichols: We wanna hear it.
00:34:31.975 --> 00:34:33.095
Erika Johnson: I definitely do.
00:34:33.095 --> 00:34:35.815
Erika Johnson: For me, I get up before my feet hit the ground.
00:34:35.815 --> 00:34:39.815
Erika Johnson: I'm definitely giving gratitude to God just for even waking up such a blessing.
00:34:40.775 --> 00:34:43.820
Erika Johnson: I spend some time with myself, quiet reflection.
00:34:43.820 --> 00:34:46.460
Erika Johnson: I've spent some time with my dog, walk him.
00:34:46.460 --> 00:34:50.140
Erika Johnson: I ice my face almost every morning.
00:34:50.140 --> 00:34:51.260
Lisa Nichols: You ice your face.
00:34:51.260 --> 00:34:52.140
Lisa Nichols: What does that mean?
00:34:52.140 --> 00:34:54.700
Lisa Nichols: I've never had anybody say they ice their face.
00:34:54.700 --> 00:34:57.225
Lisa Nichols: Give us give us your trade secret.
00:34:57.225 --> 00:34:57.465
Erika Johnson: Yes.
00:34:57.465 --> 00:34:59.865
Erika Johnson: The icing of the face closes the pores.
00:34:59.865 --> 00:35:01.625
Erika Johnson: It, like, shrinks your pores.
00:35:01.625 --> 00:35:05.625
Erika Johnson: And it's, it's also known to help with, like, any acne or any,
00:35:06.425 --> 00:35:07.625
Erika Johnson: hyperpigmentation.
00:35:07.625 --> 00:35:09.610
Erika Johnson: So it just keeps our skin youthful.
00:35:09.610 --> 00:35:09.930
Lisa Nichols: Okay.
00:35:09.930 --> 00:35:13.050
Lisa Nichols: So do you put ice on your face, or do you like a really
00:35:13.050 --> 00:35:13.770
Lisa Nichols: cold cloth?
00:35:13.770 --> 00:35:14.250
Lisa Nichols: Or what
00:35:14.250 --> 00:35:14.730
Erika Johnson: is that?
00:35:14.730 --> 00:35:17.770
Erika Johnson: Going to a submerged ice bath.
00:35:17.770 --> 00:35:18.730
Lisa Nichols: Ice bath.
00:35:18.730 --> 00:35:19.690
Lisa Nichols: Oh my goodness.
00:35:19.690 --> 00:35:23.690
Lisa Nichols: I've got a friend that has a cold plunge in her bathroom.
00:35:24.265 --> 00:35:26.905
Lisa Nichols: And, you know, she's like, I do the cold plunge.
00:35:26.905 --> 00:35:30.105
Lisa Nichols: And I'm like, oh, I don't know so much about that, but I know
00:35:30.105 --> 00:35:31.785
Lisa Nichols: the health benefits are Oh, yeah.
00:35:31.785 --> 00:35:32.825
Lisa Nichols: Really good.
00:35:32.825 --> 00:35:33.305
Lisa Nichols: Alright.
00:35:33.305 --> 00:35:35.465
Lisa Nichols: So give your face an ice bath.
00:35:35.465 --> 00:35:38.490
Lisa Nichols: I'm gonna remember that one.
00:35:38.490 --> 00:35:42.490
Lisa Nichols: I know that you are high growth mindset.
00:35:42.570 --> 00:35:44.330
Lisa Nichols: How do you personally learn?
00:35:44.330 --> 00:35:46.970
Lisa Nichols: How do you personally grow, Erica?
00:35:46.970 --> 00:35:50.970
Erika Johnson: I I listen more than I talk, especially in specific
00:35:51.175 --> 00:35:54.295
Erika Johnson: rooms because we're not gonna learn if we're just yapping.
00:35:54.295 --> 00:35:58.295
Erika Johnson: You gotta sometimes be quiet, be that fly on the wall, and observe.
00:35:58.375 --> 00:36:02.375
Erika Johnson: So that and, I don't I I believe
00:36:02.455 --> 00:36:03.415
Erika Johnson: in downtime.
00:36:03.415 --> 00:36:05.220
Erika Johnson: I don't believe in idle time.
00:36:05.220 --> 00:36:09.220
Erika Johnson: So I will take the time to rest and recharge, but, you know, I'm
00:36:09.220 --> 00:36:13.220
Erika Johnson: not gonna fill my my my valuable time with aimless
00:36:13.700 --> 00:36:14.100
Erika Johnson: chatter.
00:36:14.100 --> 00:36:17.940
Erika Johnson: I typically like to podcast or read or get in nature.
00:36:17.940 --> 00:36:18.925
Erika Johnson: So yeah.
00:36:18.925 --> 00:36:19.565
Lisa Nichols: Okay.
00:36:19.565 --> 00:36:20.605
Lisa Nichols: That's good.
00:36:20.605 --> 00:36:21.405
Lisa Nichols: I love that.
00:36:21.405 --> 00:36:22.845
Lisa Nichols: That is a beautiful phrase.
00:36:22.845 --> 00:36:26.845
Lisa Nichols: You believe in downtime, not idle time,
00:36:27.645 --> 00:36:28.845
Lisa Nichols: and there is a difference.
00:36:28.845 --> 00:36:32.845
Lisa Nichols: So the downtime would be your reading of a book or taking a walk
00:36:33.005 --> 00:36:34.060
Lisa Nichols: in nature.
00:36:34.060 --> 00:36:34.380
Lisa Nichols: Right?
00:36:34.380 --> 00:36:38.380
Lisa Nichols: But it's not just sitting, scrolling through social media Yeah.
00:36:38.620 --> 00:36:40.700
Lisa Nichols: Or scrolling through the television.
00:36:40.700 --> 00:36:41.100
Erika Johnson: Yes.
00:36:41.100 --> 00:36:42.940
Erika Johnson: I think we we we all do.
00:36:42.940 --> 00:36:46.940
Erika Johnson: We're in the times where social media is so relevant, but I
00:36:47.075 --> 00:36:51.075
Erika Johnson: do believe we have to compartmentalize that into a fraction of the day.
00:36:51.155 --> 00:36:52.675
Erika Johnson: It cannot consume a day.
00:36:52.675 --> 00:36:54.595
Erika Johnson: And that requires discipline to say, okay.
00:36:54.595 --> 00:36:58.035
Erika Johnson: My my five or my fifteen minutes, whatever that looks like for you, that's
00:36:58.035 --> 00:36:58.435
Erika Johnson: it.
00:36:58.435 --> 00:36:59.395
Erika Johnson: That's it.
00:36:59.395 --> 00:37:00.850
Erika Johnson: That's detachment.
00:37:00.850 --> 00:37:01.890
Lisa Nichols: So That's so good.
00:37:01.890 --> 00:37:02.930
Lisa Nichols: So good.
00:37:02.930 --> 00:37:05.410
Lisa Nichols: What are you most excited about right now?
00:37:05.410 --> 00:37:07.490
Lisa Nichols: The Juice Company?
00:37:07.490 --> 00:37:08.130
Erika Johnson: Yes.
00:37:08.130 --> 00:37:08.770
Erika Johnson: I am.
00:37:08.770 --> 00:37:11.970
Erika Johnson: I mean, like I mentioned, we we have the store on Main Street.
00:37:11.970 --> 00:37:15.970
Erika Johnson: We moved from Fox Park, and Main Street is just it's
00:37:16.035 --> 00:37:18.035
Erika Johnson: so much organic natural foot traffic.
00:37:18.035 --> 00:37:19.955
Erika Johnson: There's so many festivals.
00:37:19.955 --> 00:37:23.315
Erika Johnson: It's just a very exciting time to see what this next chapter will look
00:37:23.315 --> 00:37:23.955
Erika Johnson: like for us.
00:37:23.955 --> 00:37:24.835
Erika Johnson: So
00:37:24.835 --> 00:37:28.835
Lisa Nichols: Oh, well, I'm excited for you, and I'm excited to come and visit.
00:37:28.915 --> 00:37:31.530
Lisa Nichols: Well, Erica, this is called something extra.
00:37:31.530 --> 00:37:35.530
Lisa Nichols: I ask every guest this question, and I'd love to hear your
00:37:35.610 --> 00:37:36.170
Lisa Nichols: answer.
00:37:36.170 --> 00:37:40.170
Lisa Nichols: What do you believe is the something extra that every leader needs?
00:37:40.810 --> 00:37:42.410
Erika Johnson: They need balance.
00:37:42.410 --> 00:37:46.410
Erika Johnson: They need balance in God, balance in family, work life,
00:37:48.015 --> 00:37:52.015
Erika Johnson: balance on what they say yes to, but balanced.
00:37:52.335 --> 00:37:53.215
Lisa Nichols: Oh, that's good.
00:37:53.215 --> 00:37:57.215
Lisa Nichols: I've never had anybody say that before out of three hundred and eighty guests.
00:37:57.615 --> 00:37:58.735
Lisa Nichols: So there you go.
00:37:58.735 --> 00:37:59.455
Lisa Nichols: I love it.
00:37:59.455 --> 00:38:00.180
Lisa Nichols: Yeah.
00:38:00.180 --> 00:38:04.180
Lisa Nichols: But, you know, I always say, you know, I talk about soul care
00:38:04.260 --> 00:38:06.980
Lisa Nichols: and self care when you can't pour from an empty cup.
00:38:06.980 --> 00:38:07.300
Lisa Nichols: Right?
00:38:07.300 --> 00:38:11.300
Lisa Nichols: And if you are out of balance, it's the the wheel on
00:38:11.300 --> 00:38:13.235
Lisa Nichols: wheels on the bus.
00:38:13.235 --> 00:38:14.355
Lisa Nichols: One of them is flat.
00:38:14.355 --> 00:38:16.515
Lisa Nichols: It's not gonna be a fun ride.
00:38:16.515 --> 00:38:16.995
Erika Johnson: Right?
00:38:16.995 --> 00:38:19.315
Lisa Nichols: So that is so good.
00:38:19.315 --> 00:38:20.995
Lisa Nichols: Well, thank you so much, Erica.
00:38:20.995 --> 00:38:22.275
Lisa Nichols: This has been so much fun.
00:38:22.275 --> 00:38:26.275
Lisa Nichols: I've enjoyed this time spending with you, and I just know that your
00:38:26.470 --> 00:38:30.470
Lisa Nichols: wisdom and your story, it's gonna help our listeners, and that's the goal.
00:38:30.550 --> 00:38:31.270
Erika Johnson: Thank you so much.
00:38:31.270 --> 00:38:33.110
Erika Johnson: It's been truly a pleasure spending time with you.
00:38:33.110 --> 00:38:34.710
Erika Johnson: I enjoyed the conversation.
00:38:34.710 --> 00:38:35.590
Lisa Nichols: You too.
00:38:35.590 --> 00:38:37.205
Lisa Nichols: Have a great rest of the day.
00:38:37.205 --> 00:38:38.485
Lisa Nichols: You too.
00:38:38.485 --> 00:38:42.485
Announcer: Something extra with Lisa Nichols is a Technology Partners production.
00:38:42.485 --> 00:38:45.605
Announcer: Copyright Technology Partners Inc twenty nineteen.
00:38:45.605 --> 00:38:49.547
Announcer: To learn more about this week's guest, check out the show notes at tpi
00:38:49.547 --> 00:38:51.787
Announcer: dot co slash podcast.
00:38:51.787 --> 00:38:55.067
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Announcer: Thank you for listening to Something Extra.