Rocky K: Hello, and welcome back to the Soul Knowledge Podcast. This is Rocky with Tune Into Wellness. And today I have a really special guest, a dear friend, a dear person with me today. It's Jodi. and she owns the villa here in Virginia Beach. It's a beautiful place. And if anybody came to the garden party last year, it is where I hosted it. She is the owner. And she is sensational and I'm so excited to bring her on. Jodi, hi. Why don't you good? How are you? Yay, good. I'm so excited to have you. Could you just give my audience just a little introduction about who you are and what you do?
JODIE MICHÉLE: Hi, how are you? I'm great, I'm so great, thank you. course. my name is Jody Michelle. I'm the owner of the villa and co-founder of a women's leadership group called Elevate. And we at the villa we host weddings and events and parties and birthday parties and retirements and it's an event venue basically and we just party.
Rocky K: I love that. Yes, that's awesome. And anybody that does not know about the villa, it is gorgeous. And you would not think that you're in Virginia Beach in this place. It looks it's literally a villa like you're in Italy somewhere, somewhere very magical and enchanting. So and that is the beautiful bat drop drop that you have on. So for those that are getting the videos, yes, that's your little outdoor space and it is so pretty. So
JODIE MICHÉLE: thank you. yeah. we just loved having you here too and you and your group of of girls. Just amazing, wonderful community that you're building. Thank you for supporting us.
Rocky K: thank you. I do have I do have a really great community. I love I love my people and I love that the people that do show up for me are just like the best kind of humans and you are grouped into that category too, just so you know.
JODIE MICHÉLE: thank you, thank you so much.
Rocky K: so I want you to tell me a little bit more about your group elevate. So I know your venue is gorgeous and I can sit here and tell everybody how beautiful it is, but they really just need to go in there and see it and book an event there. But I want to hear more about your elevate.
JODIE MICHÉLE: the reason I think the villa kind of came into existence, so it was actually my husband's marketing firm. And when COVID hit and everybody started scattering and and nobody came to the office, you know, our our space was empty for a year. And it was kind of like down on the knees moment. What are we gonna do with the space? How are we gonna how are we gonna make the mortgage? All all of the things. And so I had been doing a deep dive on the human relational value in in gatherings and having not just events or parties, but how to really engage in more of a an event that's all about connection, that's all about the human relational value of it, like how we care for each other, how we welcome each other, how we make an event feel like you know we belong, how we create a moment that's unforgettable, that just really is deeper than just. The surface level. And so when you know, when it was this moment that we were trying to figure out what to do with the space, I said, I would really like to use it to help service this part of who I am and who I want to share with the world. And so my husband was just so incredibly gracious, and he was like, Go for it. And so we're going on four years now. And you know, I think it was just so well received by the community. I never never really expected it would be so so heavy wedding and you know a lot of like these really intimate weddings but that's kind of the space that we've carved out for ourselves and it's really it's really spectacular. So we do all kinds of events but but weddings that those magical moments, yeah.
Rocky K: I love that. And I guess that is another good thing to come out of COVID because I always try to look for the good that comes out. And I'm gonna say your space is one of those like gems that came out because I can only imagine if your husband just continued to use that as his business, we wouldn't know about this like beautiful place that's here in Virginia Beach. So Yaya
JODIE MICHÉLE: thank you. I think it's just, you know, I think it's a platform on the way of my journey into really what I am supposed to do here and what what I'm supposed to share. so
Rocky K: Mm.
JODIE MICHÉLE: it's just it's an honor to be kind of the steward of this magical place, but it it also is cultivated by the love and the care and the energy that all of the people that come into here and and share this space with us. So but I really like to share more about how to cultivate an experience, how to really have moments that are really meaningful and personalized that you know touch the soul. and there are a lot of different pathways to do that. So I would like to be teaching and sharing that in the future.
Rocky K: Yeah, I I love that you said that, you know, you're feeling like that's part of like your big purpose and gathering people. And I know when I came in, you know, to get ready for the garden party, you have so much thought and creativity into how things Are orchestrated to make it such a memorable event. And I think that's something really beautiful because, you know, a person like me, I'm just like, yay, let's go. Like, let's have fun. Everybody, you know, put on your pretty dress and like, let's go. And you paused that. And I I love that you did because you brought in so much more thought and you gave me that moment to pause and to bring a lot more thought into.
JODIE MICHÉLE: Hehehehe
Rocky K: my process as well. And I think that's a big thing just in general that we always take that pause and put a little bit more thought and feeling and meaning. And you're definitely somebody that's really goes to those details. And I adore that and I admire that. And I'm so glad that our community has somebody like you doing that and and really understanding how important it is to gather and to connect.
JODIE MICHÉLE: No what?
Rocky K: and having these like really beautiful details to bring people together.
JODIE MICHÉLE: Thank you so much. I think one of my favorite parts and what we really dug in on your event was the flow. where everything's gonna land, how how can we get people chatting with each other in a very organic way that that you know that makes them feel comfortable. And I think a lot of that comes from the fact that I'm a bit of an introvert. well I am an introvert. And I to get me to a party, you know, I think I have I think I have to run this place in order to get me to a party because I'm just not that. I just I'd rather be at home with my dogs you know and you know, then than be out and doing all the dress up all to me that's a lot of work. so it's
Rocky K: Fair enough.
JODIE MICHÉLE: I guess more of a but maybe the introvert's way of hosting because it's all about the welcoming and the caring of the guests and you know, putting in like those details that really are that make people feel comfortable in a very natural way where it's structured but there's like freedom within that structure to adapt and and to make connections so that when you leave you feel like you really got to know somebody.
Rocky K: Yeah. And I I think that's the introverts way, you know, they they want those deeper, more soulful connections, right, with people. And so you having that introvert in you is what makes what you do so magical and really so beautiful because you are setting the stage for those really magical connections. So I love that. I love it.
JODIE MICHÉLE: Thank you.
Rocky K: So now you started the villa and now you've been hosting events and you actually got best wedding venue in Virginia Beach, am I right? Or is
JODIE MICHÉLE: So actually recently got recognized in two separate magazines. So there was the Coastal Virginia Weddings magazine where we were nominated as the best bridal shower venue I think in the area. And then we also got an award for in Virginia Living Magazine for top vendor. Yeah. Yeah.
Rocky K: Okay. Well that's exciting. Those are some really amazing events.
JODIE MICHÉLE: you know, I love those those recognitions are so meaningful and and they can you know help to give you a little bit more visibility I guess for lack of a better word. But it's really the it's really the the care. You know, I I think I kind of run the venue almost like it's my home. And so the the people that come and have events here, they're they really become like family. We have this wall of fame down the down the hallway. And it just it's really about them and about caring for them and about creating a an experience that they'll remember forever. So
Rocky K: Absolutely.
JODIE MICHÉLE: through that I think you really develop these interesting, incredible relationships that are so unique and valuable and unforgettable.
Rocky K: So was there an event or something that happened or is it just something that just kind of sporadically happened that drew you to wanting to gather people and finding those connections that way? Was there any like specific event or time?
JODIE MICHÉLE: You know, I think it started just in my childhood. We would have these spaghetti night dinners every Thursday night. And it started in my dad's on my dad's side of the family. It started with my grandmother, so it's been ongoing for like 70 some years now. And my dad is one of six, so I had all of these cousins and aunts and uncles that were also doing spaghetti night in in their family, and we didn't live close to family, but I knew that some
Rocky K: Mm, mm.
JODIE MICHÉLE: Somewhere else, you know, somewhere across the country, one of my all of my aunts and uncles and all of my dad's side of the family were doing that. And it was just, it made me feel connected to to you know on a bigger scale to my family, but also around the table, those spaghetti nights and having that tradition and that ritual was really important to kind of who I became because I think around the table, you know, having those conversations, looking each other in the eye, sharing in in food and breaking up bread and and those kind of it's kind of to me it's a s there's a spiritual element there when you are just you have nowhere else to be other than sitting with the people around the table. I think you start to uncover deeply who you are and you learn a lot about each other. And so I think that's where it all started for me. And it's just been I guess that's where I find myself and that's where I find the richness and beauty of others too around the table.
Rocky K: I love that. Out of curiosity, do you have Sunday spaghetti dinner traditions in your home?
JODIE MICHÉLE: yeah, so yeah, it continues on. The the spaghetti nights, absolutely.
Rocky K: Okay. I love that. I love that. Are you are you Italian by chance?
JODIE MICHÉLE: No, I'm not. I'm a hodgepodge of just probably everything else. but my husband is, my daughters look you know, they're they're plucked from that Italian heritage. They look just just like him, but
Rocky K: No? Okay. My Yeah. My I yeah. I asked 'cause my husband's Italian and they always had Sunday dinners at grandma's house until she passed away. And then after she passed, my aunts did it until my grandfather or his grandfather it's his grandfather were my grandparents too, but his grandfather passed and then i it's kind of dwindled away and it's sad. So when I go home I don't have those Sunday spaghetti dinners and they They really were amazing. And, you know, some so many people say like, you know, your family, like they're kind of your village, right? And I I'm a military family. well, my husband and I, our our family is a military. So we kind of move around and we we create new families everywhere we go. So I have a lot of family and they're kind of spread out, but my my blood family, you know, coming home to all of that, it's always so special, you know, to have those dinners and like had grandma's pasta and just it's just that like magical having like someone make you a dinner with so much love and you know the tradition behind it too think really just makes things feel more more soulful and and deepens that connection to the people in the room, right?
JODIE MICHÉLE: Yes. Well you'll have to come over for we'll we'll have to do one together. How about? How about that? Let's let's do it. Let's do it. Let's have a big spaghetti night dinner.
Rocky K: I'm in. I'm in. Yes, I love it. Yeah. I I have done I did lasagna and I invited my close friends here that I call my family and I did that one time and I was hoping to make it a tradition, but I our kids were a little busy, and so now that I'm gonna be an empty nester, I was like, I might have to like bring that back up with all of My friends, because it's we're all empty nesters, you know, coming up here. So here it goes.
JODIE MICHÉLE: I'm on my first year through the emptiness team. So not well. Not well. It was so hard. It was so hard. It was so hard for me personally. I know there are so many, you know, it it can be whatever it is, but for me, you know, that noise, there's something comforting about just having them.
Rocky K: Yeah, how'd that go for you? Not well, no. You're you're supposed to give me hope, Jody. Yeah. Mm.
JODIE MICHÉLE: knowing that they're, you know, safe and in their bed and and and it's you know, it's a but it's a great new journey and they're doing amazing things and I couldn't be, you know, more amazed by
Rocky K: Yeah. Yeah, a hundred percent.
JODIE MICHÉLE: what they're doing in the world. So that's that's why we have children, so that they can go give their offering to what they're supposed to do. but yeah, that shift is hard. They're both home for the summer now and it's just been so glorious.
Rocky K: Yeah. Yeah, yes. Yeah. I was I have both my girls in the house right now, until the beginning of August. And so I'm just like, I'm hanging on. I don't I don't know what next year is gonna bring. Like I know she's playing field hockey, so I get to go watch her on weekends. So maybe that'll soften it for a little while. At least the first semester. Mm-hmm.
JODIE MICHÉLE: Make them. Yeah, you just come find me. We'll we will take a walk, we'll go grab coffee, we'll do something. But yeah, just sit work your way through it, yeah. It'll be great.
Rocky K: Yeah. Yeah. Yes. I love that. Yeah. I mean, and and so much of what we do as mom I mean, that's such a big part of who we are in our existence. And I mean, you think about us as moms and even what you do at the villa, you know, we're catering, we're helping, we're lifting people up like our children, but you know, but then we're bringing these people together to make these little magical memories and moments with our children, you know.
JODIE MICHÉLE: Mm-hmm.
Rocky K: when they were little, like you think about all the fun things that you probably did with your girls. you have all girls, am I right? I'm thinking that yeah, okay, you have two girls just like me. And I mean, I would do so many different fun things to make our little like gatherings and our connections deeper and more magical and fun. And now I guess I do it with adults.
JODIE MICHÉLE: Two girls, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I think I do too. Yeah. We just shifted we shifted that over. Yeah, you're exactly right. That's hysterical.
Rocky K: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I was like, and now I just do it for adults. I wonder if they would watch some Barbie movies with me. That was a tradition the girls and I had. We would a new Barbie movie came out every six months and so we would get jammies
JODIE MICHÉLE: Ha ha ha. my gosh, gee, you're so funny.
Rocky K: And we would have a slumber party in the living room and we would watch the new movie because my husband was military, so he was gone a lot when my girls were little. So that was like something really magical. And if we were walking through Target and we saw the new movie came out, we would like, grab that. I'm like, let's go get some jammies and like we would have the best time. And I love those darn Barbie movies. I know. Yeah.
JODIE MICHÉLE: That's so funny. Yeah, you can just have a Barbie marathon. like every every Saturday over the summer, you know, until August. Just go just have Barbie night. That's really sweet. Yeah, we all have those like really, you know, those moments that you know that you want to make memories. and usually they're just so simple, you know.
Rocky K: Yeah, there you go. Yeah, let's let's just watch Barbie movies. Mm. Yeah, Yeah. they are. They're beautiful. so you had told me about your group, your leadership group that you have put together called Elevate. I would love for you to tell me a little bit more about that. And I I would love to I would love to know how it started. Like what was the the birth like thought? Like what what made this happen?
JODIE MICHÉLE: huh. Well, I had always dreamed to utilize the villa as a you know, a service to the community and in a lot of different ways. And so we do that in quietly and in a lot of different ways, but I also wanted to create something that was really specific about leadership for for women in particular. And I ran into An old friend and she she actually runs a tech company here in town called Eastern Data and she had the same vision for it. And so we said, let's do this, let's make it happen. and we did. And it was just about we just had our first meeting a couple of months ago. We'll have our we do it quarterly. and it's just really about nurturing and mentoring leadership for anybody that's interested in that part of themselves that wants to be educated and learn more about that. really, really beautiful group of women that we have really diverse in age group and in all of the things. So it's very, very meaningful to me to help be in a space where we can know, nurture the gifts of the of the women that are younger than us and older than us and all in between caring for each other in this very supportive loving group.
Rocky K: Yeah, I love that. And I actually really love I'm seeing so many different groups of of women start to gather to support each other, you know, and I feel like e you know, and maybe you can you can correct me, but I feel like as we were younger, it was always like we were like competing with each other. And now I I'm finding that women are like really wanting to gather, connect, support. And they're not looking at each other as competition, but as like friends and, you know, equals and helping each other through like lift them up. And I I'm personally I'm a big fan of that. I don't know, did you notice that too? Like
JODIE MICHÉLE: I think that you know, I think it's always been there. I think we're seeing it more visibly now. But I I think that having relationships and recognizing that we all have different gifts and we're all kind of great you know doing our own thing and whatever scope that develops into, you know, we just want to encourage and and care for each other. Yeah, but I love seeing I love seeing women in business and otherwise just supporting each other. Absolutely. It's such a good thing.
Rocky K: I agree. And, you know, bringing up strong leaders, you know, it's just gonna continue to expand that really great energy. You know, I'm all about like elevating the vibe, you know, of ourselves and the people around us and just watching that ripple effect just going out to everybody around there. so I I am a fan. So I love that you're doing this.
JODIE MICHÉLE: Mm-hmm.
Rocky K: if people wanted to join this, what what would be the best way for them to connect with this group?
JODIE MICHÉLE: you know, we're on social media, Instagram and LinkedIn. LinkedIn is really the kind of place where we where we live, under
Rocky K: And what is that?
JODIE MICHÉLE: Yeah, so it's elevate women in leadership.
Rocky K: Elevate women in leadership and you're both on Instagram and on LinkedIn. Is that what you said? Okay, perfect. Well, we're gonna make sure we get that information to go into the show notes as well. so people can connect to you that way and see you and and join. And do you host some there at the villa? Is that where you always meet? well then everybody should just go just so they can see
JODIE MICHÉLE: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah, we do. Absolutely. Yeah. It's amazing. we have such a great time. Yeah, it's amazing. It's amazing. Yeah.
Rocky K: Yeah. I love that. Yeah. And I was like, and if there's boys listening and they want to go, you have to put a wig on or something. You have to pretend you're a girl at least. No. You did?
JODIE MICHÉLE: No, we had a we had a couple of guys show up for our last one and we absolutely embrace and come on, come on in. Yeah, absolutely. Mm-hmm.
Rocky K: I love this. Beautiful. That's amazing. That is so awesome. That's so great. Well, I I love that for you. is there anything else that you're like feeling like you want to share, like soul level, purpose, or just anything that's like coming to your heart?
JODIE MICHÉLE: Hmm. You know, I just think on the daily, you know, we're exposed with so much information, right? We're totally kind of overwhelmed with the streaming of ads and news and negative things. And it's really hard to settle into knowing there's so much good. And but when I look around in this community, when I see what's what's going on kind of in in you know, I live in Virginia Beach and Virginia Beach, but really this, you know, this whole hand joint collective, it's quite an incredible place to live. I think that, you know, we don't all of the care and the love and the kindness don't don't make headlines, but they are the I think the foundation of this town and and this area. And I think we've just been so incredibly blessed to have so many amazing men and women in the military to you know support our country and to to do incredible things and Just so grateful to live here and to know so many different kinds of people.
Rocky K: Yeah. It really is like a great kind of melting pot, but it feels like very small town, even though it is a r really a big city, right? And it has a very small town feel though, I say. I always tell people I think Virginia Beach is the largest small town I've ever I've ever been around. So I'm like everybody everybody knows everybody, I feel like, in some way, if not like they're like the
JODIE MICHÉLE: That's so true. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Rocky K: You know, you ever play that game Seven Degrees to Kevin Bacon? Like you have to like connect a different actor to Kevin Bacon and you have to try to connect him within seven movies or something. So my god. All right, I gotta I gotta explain this then real quick so people aren't like questioning me. So seven degrees to Kevin Bacon. So you would like name an actor and then you would have to connect
JODIE MICHÉLE: No, I've never played that. Okay.
Rocky K: Like so I I remember doing Merrill Streep and I was just like, or let's do what was Clint Eastwood is who I did. It's Clint Eastwood to Kevin Bacon. And I was just like, Clint Eastwood played in the movie. Bridges of Madison County with Meryl Street and Meryl Street played in what's that River Wild or something with Kevin Bacon. And so there was like the two degrees, but you could like do as many degrees like movies like if you went Sylvester Sallone, you just connect Sylvester Sallone to a person in a movie and then so on so until you could get to Kevin Bacon. So played those games. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We would give people Yeah. we would do while we I know I don't know, but that's what we played in the lines like
JODIE MICHÉLE: It was like literally just Kevin Bacon, nobody nobody else. It was seven degrees just Kevin Bacon. And you tried to figure out how you get from one actor to Kevin Bacon. That's How did Kevin Bacon feel about that?
Rocky K: waiting for Cedar Point up in Ohio, a massive amusement park. But while we waited for hours in line for a roller coaster, we would play Seven Degrees to Kevin Bacon. And so anyways.
JODIE MICHÉLE: We need to find s seven degrees Daraki. I love that. This is so funny.
Rocky K: There we go. Yes, in Virginia Beach. That is the new game, is seven degrees Taraki. I like that. Either way, so Virginia Beach is a very big town that feels very small. So, it there is
JODIE MICHÉLE: It does. She's growing so fast. She's growing so fast. But I just I think, you know, it does. It it it keeps this really great energy. Mm-hmm.
Rocky K: Cheers, yeah. It does, it does, it really does. And there's such strong connections. I know, especially like in the wellness, the wellness area of Virginia Beach, like there's so many great businesses here and everybody's so supportive of each other. Even though we're doing like the same stuff or similar real similar stuff, like like I'm friends with them. Like I love them and I'm like, here, like go go to this person's stuff and you know think that's how we we should operate. Like we are helping and supporting because because somebody's gonna go to somebody else's meditation, it's not taking away from my meditation. Like I'm it's giving people more options and there's more things and they can experience a connection on a deeper level, you know, or in a different way than I can do. Am I right?
JODIE MICHÉLE: I 100% agree because I think we all come at it from our from our own experiences, from our own viewpoint. you I don't think that you know, there are a lot of copycats of each other. You're gonna operate the way that it is authentic to you, and I think that that is so important. I think the wellness community here is amazing, so so wonderful. Yeah, and I find that too about the hospitality industry. my gosh, so many brilliant creative artists and so many, you know, so many makeup.
Rocky K: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
JODIE MICHÉLE: already so many so many different vendors so many catering teams just really doing beautiful work in the community so it's really fun to be able to work you know with other local businesses and help lift them up and you know support each other it's just a really great community to have a business and just to live here
Rocky K: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I actually just did an event with people that are in the wedding industry, which is pretty much the same thing as you. and I got to work with them and talk to them. And they it was like a big monthly event that they do. And I was one of the people that came in there to help support them, just like grounding them and helping them get techniques to keep everybody calm and relaxed
JODIE MICHÉLE: brilliant,
Rocky K: in a wedding situation, right? Because you think about all the emotions
JODIE MICHÉLE: yes, yes.
Rocky K: that are there. And so I was just giving them really simple grounding techniques. So and if you're listening to this and you want simple grounding techniques, go back two episodes. There is a short episode of grounding and it's super quick, super easy. And it's actually what I taught all of them that evening. Just how to recenter. And so you you're staying true to you and authentic to you, even though things are like
JODIE MICHÉLE: Really.
Rocky K: probably going eighty different directions, you know. You think about how chaotic and crazy events can be, right? And just finding that center, finding that calm.
JODIE MICHÉLE: Yeah. Well yeah, 'cause there is a production element to a wedding. Like you've got a team of people, you've got all of these vendors that are coming in and doing all of these all of these different tasks. And normally that's not how we operate on the daily. Like when we have a party, it's usually just, you know, we're throwing a party at our home or whatever. So it is very different on top of the fact that you are getting married, you know. So I always think it's really interesting when brides come in and they and you know you've known them a certain way, but when they come in on their wedding day and the energy that they have, I am going to recommend your grounding techniques to them because it is so important. And that's the kind of space that you know I want to create here or want to have here. I always just want them to be able to, you know, it can Be such a whirlwind, and I just want it to be peaceful and calming, and I I want them to remember it. I want it to be euphoric, but at the same time, you have these great memories of it. I don't want it just to pass you by. so we try to slow things down, like you know, yeah, grounding.
Rocky K: Right. Yeah. I think that's so important, especially because, you know, I I know brides go in with very certain expectations of what's gonna happen that day. And sometimes things don't go exactly as planned, You know, I told the wedding planners I was like, things did not go for my wedding how it was supposed to. My dad stepped on my train and almost ripped it off my dress. Whoops. even though we warned him.
JODIE MICHÉLE: Ha ha.
Rocky K: Do not step on the train. The train will be there. Just pause until she walks by. there are pictures of me like flailing and going backwards. No, I did not. I'm thank God I have a really strong core, right?
JODIE MICHÉLE: Did you fall? Okay. Yes. yeah, you're right. there's there's always something that goes wrong.
Rocky K: Yeah.
JODIE MICHÉLE: my sister is she's getting married and I'm like, okay, so this is just expect that something's gonna go wrong, but you know, we're just gonna roll with it. You just you just do. And I I think that, you know, if you can not let the bride find out about what what might have gone wrong behind the scenes,
Rocky K: You magnify it. You fix it. Yeah. I my wedding also I lost the diamond out of my engagement ring between the ceremony and the reception. So but it actually ended up being a really great mistake or mess up because when they sent the the heaters for the food to venue, they sent the wrong size so they couldn't heat the food up easily.
JODIE MICHÉLE: my gosh.
Rocky K: And so they were putting like one tray of food at a time into this oven. And it was taking a really long time because I had over 300 people at my wedding. so my mom was so grateful that we were late to the reception because I lost the ring or the diamond and we couldn't find it. And I was crawling around the hotel on my hands and knees in my wedding dress, sobbing
JODIE MICHÉLE: a big wedding. my gosh.
Rocky K: looking for my diamond, but I found it. So I did. Yeah. But we were like out in the hallway and then my h husband realized he didn't bring a hotel room key. So it was like a delay getting into the room. And so we had to go up to the thing and he's like, Well, I don't have my ID on him, but he has his military uniform 'cause he got married in his uniform. He's like, I there's my name. I'm getting married. Like I didn't bring my wallet with me and
JODIE MICHÉLE: You did at in the hotel room?
Rocky K: So they gave him a key and then once we got in, but it was like a two-floor hotel room. And we were like out on the balcony over the water. Like it was I was like there was a lot of things going through my brain at that point, but I was like literally in the hallway in the hotel crawling and my bridesmaids and groomsmen, we were all on our hands and knees crawling.
JODIE MICHÉLE: I don't I know, right? my gosh. And you found it. That's amazing. That's found it. Yeah.
Rocky K: we found it. And so then I found my brother in law was like, You're not drinking tonight, right? And he's like, No And it was like in a in an envelope in a ziploc and I'm like, This is for you, I'll get it tomorrow.
JODIE MICHÉLE: I'm gonna go have fun. Yeah. my gosh. What a story.
Rocky K: so either way, events, but like I've been married now for almost twenty four years. So sometimes things go wrong, but it happens the way it's supposed to, and it doesn't mean that it's like an omen, right? Like if you would have thought like my wedding it was an omen that like it was gonna be a bad mar no, nope. We just kind of went with the flow of it, right? So yeah, yeah.
JODIE MICHÉLE: No. Mm. Yeah, when you find your person, I think you just find your person. Yeah.
Rocky K: Yeah, absolutely. So, well, before we get off, I gotta ask you my question that I ask all of my clients, or not all my clients, you're not my client, all my people on on this podcast. So what is one moment in your life that you tuned in and felt like your life was guiding
JODIE MICHÉLE: Okay. Okay. I'll be client. I kind of always feel that there's something bigger. You know, there's a kind of a gravitational pull that's leading me to something. So, so many good moments. I think connecting with Shanna Tatum, who's the co-founder of Elevate, when we just kind when our forces came together and we were like we both have this kind of same vision and this is how we really want to execute it and this is how we want to bring it to our community. think we're we were very much in line with that. So I think that's more of a recent one, but it was it's so powerful. elevate is is so meaningful in what it can do and how it can transform lives, you know, to just and and a community that lifts each other up. So so good.
Rocky K: I love that. and I I'm excited to meet her. And when do you guys meet next? What's the date that you guys meet?
JODIE MICHÉLE: Yeah. is Thursday, I believe that's July twenty-third, Thursday, July twenty-third here. Yeah, and we have a little sign-up sheet on LinkedIn that you can just connect with. Yeah.
Rocky K: Okay, awesome. That's perfect. Well, awesome. I will be out of town in Ohio at that time. So I'm gonna have to look for your next quarter one. But I hope those that are listening definitely goes and heads over and and joins this event because one, you want to go into the space, but two, what incredible women and it sounds like you're doing really beautiful things. And I'm excited for the next quarter one so that I can join and get into this. I mean, 'cause I I love the leadership, you know, I I teach it with my Reiki master, the embodied leader, you know, I that's a part of when they do the Reiki master training with me as the embodied leader, you know, and just having yes.
JODIE MICHÉLE: beautiful. Yeah, we all have it within us. You know, we all have that that leadership and somebody is is watching you, somebody's mentoring after you, you know, somebody's looking up to you if you're the best at something or if you're really good at something. There is somebody watching you trying to learn from you. I think that we all have to be aware of that, that we do have we carry that power. and we have to be very conscientious with it and and lead by example, you know. And I just wanna go back to what you said earlier. It's you're going home to Ohio, make sure you have a spaghetti night or throw a spaghetti night Sunday supper.
Rocky K: Well, we're having Isidorous graduation party up in Ohio for my family. So there will be there will be a gathering, just probably not spaghetti. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. Well, Jody, thank you again so much for joining me today. For all that you do in our community, you know, and just I I mean
JODIE MICHÉLE: Okay. Well it'll feel like that. It'll feel like those family gatherings. There's nothing like it. There's always, you know, always fun.
Rocky K: I adore you. I adore your work. I love that we have, you know, developed a friendship and a connection and I look forward to our next garden party in September.
JODIE MICHÉLE: I can't wait. Yes, I'm always here to support you. Thank you so much. I really appreciate it, Reggie. Take care.
Rocky K: Yes. Yeah. Yes. Awesome. Thank you.
JODIE MICHÉLE: Hi, how are you? I'm great, I'm so great, thank you. course. my name is Jody Michelle. I'm the owner of the villa and co-founder of a women's leadership group called Elevate. And we at the villa we host weddings and events and parties and birthday parties and retirements and it's an event venue basically and we just party.
Rocky K: I love that. Yes, that's awesome. And anybody that does not know about the villa, it is gorgeous. And you would not think that you're in Virginia Beach in this place. It looks it's literally a villa like you're in Italy somewhere, somewhere very magical and enchanting. So and that is the beautiful bat drop drop that you have on. So for those that are getting the videos, yes, that's your little outdoor space and it is so pretty. So
JODIE MICHÉLE: thank you. yeah. we just loved having you here too and you and your group of of girls. Just amazing, wonderful community that you're building. Thank you for supporting us.
Rocky K: thank you. I do have I do have a really great community. I love I love my people and I love that the people that do show up for me are just like the best kind of humans and you are grouped into that category too, just so you know.
JODIE MICHÉLE: thank you, thank you so much.
Rocky K: so I want you to tell me a little bit more about your group elevate. So I know your venue is gorgeous and I can sit here and tell everybody how beautiful it is, but they really just need to go in there and see it and book an event there. But I want to hear more about your elevate.
JODIE MICHÉLE: the reason I think the villa kind of came into existence, so it was actually my husband's marketing firm. And when COVID hit and everybody started scattering and and nobody came to the office, you know, our our space was empty for a year. And it was kind of like down on the knees moment. What are we gonna do with the space? How are we gonna how are we gonna make the mortgage? All all of the things. And so I had been doing a deep dive on the human relational value in in gatherings and having not just events or parties, but how to really engage in more of a an event that's all about connection, that's all about the human relational value of it, like how we care for each other, how we welcome each other, how we make an event feel like you know we belong, how we create a moment that's unforgettable, that just really is deeper than just. The surface level. And so when you know, when it was this moment that we were trying to figure out what to do with the space, I said, I would really like to use it to help service this part of who I am and who I want to share with the world. And so my husband was just so incredibly gracious, and he was like, Go for it. And so we're going on four years now. And you know, I think it was just so well received by the community. I never never really expected it would be so so heavy wedding and you know a lot of like these really intimate weddings but that's kind of the space that we've carved out for ourselves and it's really it's really spectacular. So we do all kinds of events but but weddings that those magical moments, yeah.
Rocky K: I love that. And I guess that is another good thing to come out of COVID because I always try to look for the good that comes out. And I'm gonna say your space is one of those like gems that came out because I can only imagine if your husband just continued to use that as his business, we wouldn't know about this like beautiful place that's here in Virginia Beach. So Yaya
JODIE MICHÉLE: thank you. I think it's just, you know, I think it's a platform on the way of my journey into really what I am supposed to do here and what what I'm supposed to share. so
Rocky K: Mm.
JODIE MICHÉLE: it's just it's an honor to be kind of the steward of this magical place, but it it also is cultivated by the love and the care and the energy that all of the people that come into here and and share this space with us. So but I really like to share more about how to cultivate an experience, how to really have moments that are really meaningful and personalized that you know touch the soul. and there are a lot of different pathways to do that. So I would like to be teaching and sharing that in the future.
Rocky K: Yeah, I I love that you said that, you know, you're feeling like that's part of like your big purpose and gathering people. And I know when I came in, you know, to get ready for the garden party, you have so much thought and creativity into how things Are orchestrated to make it such a memorable event. And I think that's something really beautiful because, you know, a person like me, I'm just like, yay, let's go. Like, let's have fun. Everybody, you know, put on your pretty dress and like, let's go. And you paused that. And I I love that you did because you brought in so much more thought and you gave me that moment to pause and to bring a lot more thought into.
JODIE MICHÉLE: Hehehehe
Rocky K: my process as well. And I think that's a big thing just in general that we always take that pause and put a little bit more thought and feeling and meaning. And you're definitely somebody that's really goes to those details. And I adore that and I admire that. And I'm so glad that our community has somebody like you doing that and and really understanding how important it is to gather and to connect.
JODIE MICHÉLE: No what?
Rocky K: and having these like really beautiful details to bring people together.
JODIE MICHÉLE: Thank you so much. I think one of my favorite parts and what we really dug in on your event was the flow. where everything's gonna land, how how can we get people chatting with each other in a very organic way that that you know that makes them feel comfortable. And I think a lot of that comes from the fact that I'm a bit of an introvert. well I am an introvert. And I to get me to a party, you know, I think I have I think I have to run this place in order to get me to a party because I'm just not that. I just I'd rather be at home with my dogs you know and you know, then than be out and doing all the dress up all to me that's a lot of work. so it's
Rocky K: Fair enough.
JODIE MICHÉLE: I guess more of a but maybe the introvert's way of hosting because it's all about the welcoming and the caring of the guests and you know, putting in like those details that really are that make people feel comfortable in a very natural way where it's structured but there's like freedom within that structure to adapt and and to make connections so that when you leave you feel like you really got to know somebody.
Rocky K: Yeah. And I I think that's the introverts way, you know, they they want those deeper, more soulful connections, right, with people. And so you having that introvert in you is what makes what you do so magical and really so beautiful because you are setting the stage for those really magical connections. So I love that. I love it.
JODIE MICHÉLE: Thank you.
Rocky K: So now you started the villa and now you've been hosting events and you actually got best wedding venue in Virginia Beach, am I right? Or is
JODIE MICHÉLE: So actually recently got recognized in two separate magazines. So there was the Coastal Virginia Weddings magazine where we were nominated as the best bridal shower venue I think in the area. And then we also got an award for in Virginia Living Magazine for top vendor. Yeah. Yeah.
Rocky K: Okay. Well that's exciting. Those are some really amazing events.
JODIE MICHÉLE: you know, I love those those recognitions are so meaningful and and they can you know help to give you a little bit more visibility I guess for lack of a better word. But it's really the it's really the the care. You know, I I think I kind of run the venue almost like it's my home. And so the the people that come and have events here, they're they really become like family. We have this wall of fame down the down the hallway. And it just it's really about them and about caring for them and about creating a an experience that they'll remember forever. So
Rocky K: Absolutely.
JODIE MICHÉLE: through that I think you really develop these interesting, incredible relationships that are so unique and valuable and unforgettable.
Rocky K: So was there an event or something that happened or is it just something that just kind of sporadically happened that drew you to wanting to gather people and finding those connections that way? Was there any like specific event or time?
JODIE MICHÉLE: You know, I think it started just in my childhood. We would have these spaghetti night dinners every Thursday night. And it started in my dad's on my dad's side of the family. It started with my grandmother, so it's been ongoing for like 70 some years now. And my dad is one of six, so I had all of these cousins and aunts and uncles that were also doing spaghetti night in in their family, and we didn't live close to family, but I knew that some
Rocky K: Mm, mm.
JODIE MICHÉLE: Somewhere else, you know, somewhere across the country, one of my all of my aunts and uncles and all of my dad's side of the family were doing that. And it was just, it made me feel connected to to you know on a bigger scale to my family, but also around the table, those spaghetti nights and having that tradition and that ritual was really important to kind of who I became because I think around the table, you know, having those conversations, looking each other in the eye, sharing in in food and breaking up bread and and those kind of it's kind of to me it's a s there's a spiritual element there when you are just you have nowhere else to be other than sitting with the people around the table. I think you start to uncover deeply who you are and you learn a lot about each other. And so I think that's where it all started for me. And it's just been I guess that's where I find myself and that's where I find the richness and beauty of others too around the table.
Rocky K: I love that. Out of curiosity, do you have Sunday spaghetti dinner traditions in your home?
JODIE MICHÉLE: yeah, so yeah, it continues on. The the spaghetti nights, absolutely.
Rocky K: Okay. I love that. I love that. Are you are you Italian by chance?
JODIE MICHÉLE: No, I'm not. I'm a hodgepodge of just probably everything else. but my husband is, my daughters look you know, they're they're plucked from that Italian heritage. They look just just like him, but
Rocky K: No? Okay. My Yeah. My I yeah. I asked 'cause my husband's Italian and they always had Sunday dinners at grandma's house until she passed away. And then after she passed, my aunts did it until my grandfather or his grandfather it's his grandfather were my grandparents too, but his grandfather passed and then i it's kind of dwindled away and it's sad. So when I go home I don't have those Sunday spaghetti dinners and they They really were amazing. And, you know, some so many people say like, you know, your family, like they're kind of your village, right? And I I'm a military family. well, my husband and I, our our family is a military. So we kind of move around and we we create new families everywhere we go. So I have a lot of family and they're kind of spread out, but my my blood family, you know, coming home to all of that, it's always so special, you know, to have those dinners and like had grandma's pasta and just it's just that like magical having like someone make you a dinner with so much love and you know the tradition behind it too think really just makes things feel more more soulful and and deepens that connection to the people in the room, right?
JODIE MICHÉLE: Yes. Well you'll have to come over for we'll we'll have to do one together. How about? How about that? Let's let's do it. Let's do it. Let's have a big spaghetti night dinner.
Rocky K: I'm in. I'm in. Yes, I love it. Yeah. I I have done I did lasagna and I invited my close friends here that I call my family and I did that one time and I was hoping to make it a tradition, but I our kids were a little busy, and so now that I'm gonna be an empty nester, I was like, I might have to like bring that back up with all of My friends, because it's we're all empty nesters, you know, coming up here. So here it goes.
JODIE MICHÉLE: I'm on my first year through the emptiness team. So not well. Not well. It was so hard. It was so hard. It was so hard for me personally. I know there are so many, you know, it it can be whatever it is, but for me, you know, that noise, there's something comforting about just having them.
Rocky K: Yeah, how'd that go for you? Not well, no. You're you're supposed to give me hope, Jody. Yeah. Mm.
JODIE MICHÉLE: knowing that they're, you know, safe and in their bed and and and it's you know, it's a but it's a great new journey and they're doing amazing things and I couldn't be, you know, more amazed by
Rocky K: Yeah. Yeah, a hundred percent.
JODIE MICHÉLE: what they're doing in the world. So that's that's why we have children, so that they can go give their offering to what they're supposed to do. but yeah, that shift is hard. They're both home for the summer now and it's just been so glorious.
Rocky K: Yeah. Yeah, yes. Yeah. I was I have both my girls in the house right now, until the beginning of August. And so I'm just like, I'm hanging on. I don't I don't know what next year is gonna bring. Like I know she's playing field hockey, so I get to go watch her on weekends. So maybe that'll soften it for a little while. At least the first semester. Mm-hmm.
JODIE MICHÉLE: Make them. Yeah, you just come find me. We'll we will take a walk, we'll go grab coffee, we'll do something. But yeah, just sit work your way through it, yeah. It'll be great.
Rocky K: Yeah. Yeah. Yes. I love that. Yeah. I mean, and and so much of what we do as mom I mean, that's such a big part of who we are in our existence. And I mean, you think about us as moms and even what you do at the villa, you know, we're catering, we're helping, we're lifting people up like our children, but you know, but then we're bringing these people together to make these little magical memories and moments with our children, you know.
JODIE MICHÉLE: Mm-hmm.
Rocky K: when they were little, like you think about all the fun things that you probably did with your girls. you have all girls, am I right? I'm thinking that yeah, okay, you have two girls just like me. And I mean, I would do so many different fun things to make our little like gatherings and our connections deeper and more magical and fun. And now I guess I do it with adults.
JODIE MICHÉLE: Two girls, yeah. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I think I do too. Yeah. We just shifted we shifted that over. Yeah, you're exactly right. That's hysterical.
Rocky K: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I was like, and now I just do it for adults. I wonder if they would watch some Barbie movies with me. That was a tradition the girls and I had. We would a new Barbie movie came out every six months and so we would get jammies
JODIE MICHÉLE: Ha ha ha. my gosh, gee, you're so funny.
Rocky K: And we would have a slumber party in the living room and we would watch the new movie because my husband was military, so he was gone a lot when my girls were little. So that was like something really magical. And if we were walking through Target and we saw the new movie came out, we would like, grab that. I'm like, let's go get some jammies and like we would have the best time. And I love those darn Barbie movies. I know. Yeah.
JODIE MICHÉLE: That's so funny. Yeah, you can just have a Barbie marathon. like every every Saturday over the summer, you know, until August. Just go just have Barbie night. That's really sweet. Yeah, we all have those like really, you know, those moments that you know that you want to make memories. and usually they're just so simple, you know.
Rocky K: Yeah, there you go. Yeah, let's let's just watch Barbie movies. Mm. Yeah, Yeah. they are. They're beautiful. so you had told me about your group, your leadership group that you have put together called Elevate. I would love for you to tell me a little bit more about that. And I I would love to I would love to know how it started. Like what was the the birth like thought? Like what what made this happen?
JODIE MICHÉLE: huh. Well, I had always dreamed to utilize the villa as a you know, a service to the community and in a lot of different ways. And so we do that in quietly and in a lot of different ways, but I also wanted to create something that was really specific about leadership for for women in particular. And I ran into An old friend and she she actually runs a tech company here in town called Eastern Data and she had the same vision for it. And so we said, let's do this, let's make it happen. and we did. And it was just about we just had our first meeting a couple of months ago. We'll have our we do it quarterly. and it's just really about nurturing and mentoring leadership for anybody that's interested in that part of themselves that wants to be educated and learn more about that. really, really beautiful group of women that we have really diverse in age group and in all of the things. So it's very, very meaningful to me to help be in a space where we can know, nurture the gifts of the of the women that are younger than us and older than us and all in between caring for each other in this very supportive loving group.
Rocky K: Yeah, I love that. And I actually really love I'm seeing so many different groups of of women start to gather to support each other, you know, and I feel like e you know, and maybe you can you can correct me, but I feel like as we were younger, it was always like we were like competing with each other. And now I I'm finding that women are like really wanting to gather, connect, support. And they're not looking at each other as competition, but as like friends and, you know, equals and helping each other through like lift them up. And I I'm personally I'm a big fan of that. I don't know, did you notice that too? Like
JODIE MICHÉLE: I think that you know, I think it's always been there. I think we're seeing it more visibly now. But I I think that having relationships and recognizing that we all have different gifts and we're all kind of great you know doing our own thing and whatever scope that develops into, you know, we just want to encourage and and care for each other. Yeah, but I love seeing I love seeing women in business and otherwise just supporting each other. Absolutely. It's such a good thing.
Rocky K: I agree. And, you know, bringing up strong leaders, you know, it's just gonna continue to expand that really great energy. You know, I'm all about like elevating the vibe, you know, of ourselves and the people around us and just watching that ripple effect just going out to everybody around there. so I I am a fan. So I love that you're doing this.
JODIE MICHÉLE: Mm-hmm.
Rocky K: if people wanted to join this, what what would be the best way for them to connect with this group?
JODIE MICHÉLE: you know, we're on social media, Instagram and LinkedIn. LinkedIn is really the kind of place where we where we live, under
Rocky K: And what is that?
JODIE MICHÉLE: Yeah, so it's elevate women in leadership.
Rocky K: Elevate women in leadership and you're both on Instagram and on LinkedIn. Is that what you said? Okay, perfect. Well, we're gonna make sure we get that information to go into the show notes as well. so people can connect to you that way and see you and and join. And do you host some there at the villa? Is that where you always meet? well then everybody should just go just so they can see
JODIE MICHÉLE: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah, we do. Absolutely. Yeah. It's amazing. we have such a great time. Yeah, it's amazing. It's amazing. Yeah.
Rocky K: Yeah. I love that. Yeah. And I was like, and if there's boys listening and they want to go, you have to put a wig on or something. You have to pretend you're a girl at least. No. You did?
JODIE MICHÉLE: No, we had a we had a couple of guys show up for our last one and we absolutely embrace and come on, come on in. Yeah, absolutely. Mm-hmm.
Rocky K: I love this. Beautiful. That's amazing. That is so awesome. That's so great. Well, I I love that for you. is there anything else that you're like feeling like you want to share, like soul level, purpose, or just anything that's like coming to your heart?
JODIE MICHÉLE: Hmm. You know, I just think on the daily, you know, we're exposed with so much information, right? We're totally kind of overwhelmed with the streaming of ads and news and negative things. And it's really hard to settle into knowing there's so much good. And but when I look around in this community, when I see what's what's going on kind of in in you know, I live in Virginia Beach and Virginia Beach, but really this, you know, this whole hand joint collective, it's quite an incredible place to live. I think that, you know, we don't all of the care and the love and the kindness don't don't make headlines, but they are the I think the foundation of this town and and this area. And I think we've just been so incredibly blessed to have so many amazing men and women in the military to you know support our country and to to do incredible things and Just so grateful to live here and to know so many different kinds of people.
Rocky K: Yeah. It really is like a great kind of melting pot, but it feels like very small town, even though it is a r really a big city, right? And it has a very small town feel though, I say. I always tell people I think Virginia Beach is the largest small town I've ever I've ever been around. So I'm like everybody everybody knows everybody, I feel like, in some way, if not like they're like the
JODIE MICHÉLE: That's so true. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Rocky K: You know, you ever play that game Seven Degrees to Kevin Bacon? Like you have to like connect a different actor to Kevin Bacon and you have to try to connect him within seven movies or something. So my god. All right, I gotta I gotta explain this then real quick so people aren't like questioning me. So seven degrees to Kevin Bacon. So you would like name an actor and then you would have to connect
JODIE MICHÉLE: No, I've never played that. Okay.
Rocky K: Like so I I remember doing Merrill Streep and I was just like, or let's do what was Clint Eastwood is who I did. It's Clint Eastwood to Kevin Bacon. And I was just like, Clint Eastwood played in the movie. Bridges of Madison County with Meryl Street and Meryl Street played in what's that River Wild or something with Kevin Bacon. And so there was like the two degrees, but you could like do as many degrees like movies like if you went Sylvester Sallone, you just connect Sylvester Sallone to a person in a movie and then so on so until you could get to Kevin Bacon. So played those games. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We would give people Yeah. we would do while we I know I don't know, but that's what we played in the lines like
JODIE MICHÉLE: It was like literally just Kevin Bacon, nobody nobody else. It was seven degrees just Kevin Bacon. And you tried to figure out how you get from one actor to Kevin Bacon. That's How did Kevin Bacon feel about that?
Rocky K: waiting for Cedar Point up in Ohio, a massive amusement park. But while we waited for hours in line for a roller coaster, we would play Seven Degrees to Kevin Bacon. And so anyways.
JODIE MICHÉLE: We need to find s seven degrees Daraki. I love that. This is so funny.
Rocky K: There we go. Yes, in Virginia Beach. That is the new game, is seven degrees Taraki. I like that. Either way, so Virginia Beach is a very big town that feels very small. So, it there is
JODIE MICHÉLE: It does. She's growing so fast. She's growing so fast. But I just I think, you know, it does. It it it keeps this really great energy. Mm-hmm.
Rocky K: Cheers, yeah. It does, it does, it really does. And there's such strong connections. I know, especially like in the wellness, the wellness area of Virginia Beach, like there's so many great businesses here and everybody's so supportive of each other. Even though we're doing like the same stuff or similar real similar stuff, like like I'm friends with them. Like I love them and I'm like, here, like go go to this person's stuff and you know think that's how we we should operate. Like we are helping and supporting because because somebody's gonna go to somebody else's meditation, it's not taking away from my meditation. Like I'm it's giving people more options and there's more things and they can experience a connection on a deeper level, you know, or in a different way than I can do. Am I right?
JODIE MICHÉLE: I 100% agree because I think we all come at it from our from our own experiences, from our own viewpoint. you I don't think that you know, there are a lot of copycats of each other. You're gonna operate the way that it is authentic to you, and I think that that is so important. I think the wellness community here is amazing, so so wonderful. Yeah, and I find that too about the hospitality industry. my gosh, so many brilliant creative artists and so many, you know, so many makeup.
Rocky K: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
JODIE MICHÉLE: already so many so many different vendors so many catering teams just really doing beautiful work in the community so it's really fun to be able to work you know with other local businesses and help lift them up and you know support each other it's just a really great community to have a business and just to live here
Rocky K: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I actually just did an event with people that are in the wedding industry, which is pretty much the same thing as you. and I got to work with them and talk to them. And they it was like a big monthly event that they do. And I was one of the people that came in there to help support them, just like grounding them and helping them get techniques to keep everybody calm and relaxed
JODIE MICHÉLE: brilliant,
Rocky K: in a wedding situation, right? Because you think about all the emotions
JODIE MICHÉLE: yes, yes.
Rocky K: that are there. And so I was just giving them really simple grounding techniques. So and if you're listening to this and you want simple grounding techniques, go back two episodes. There is a short episode of grounding and it's super quick, super easy. And it's actually what I taught all of them that evening. Just how to recenter. And so you you're staying true to you and authentic to you, even though things are like
JODIE MICHÉLE: Really.
Rocky K: probably going eighty different directions, you know. You think about how chaotic and crazy events can be, right? And just finding that center, finding that calm.
JODIE MICHÉLE: Yeah. Well yeah, 'cause there is a production element to a wedding. Like you've got a team of people, you've got all of these vendors that are coming in and doing all of these all of these different tasks. And normally that's not how we operate on the daily. Like when we have a party, it's usually just, you know, we're throwing a party at our home or whatever. So it is very different on top of the fact that you are getting married, you know. So I always think it's really interesting when brides come in and they and you know you've known them a certain way, but when they come in on their wedding day and the energy that they have, I am going to recommend your grounding techniques to them because it is so important. And that's the kind of space that you know I want to create here or want to have here. I always just want them to be able to, you know, it can Be such a whirlwind, and I just want it to be peaceful and calming, and I I want them to remember it. I want it to be euphoric, but at the same time, you have these great memories of it. I don't want it just to pass you by. so we try to slow things down, like you know, yeah, grounding.
Rocky K: Right. Yeah. I think that's so important, especially because, you know, I I know brides go in with very certain expectations of what's gonna happen that day. And sometimes things don't go exactly as planned, You know, I told the wedding planners I was like, things did not go for my wedding how it was supposed to. My dad stepped on my train and almost ripped it off my dress. Whoops. even though we warned him.
JODIE MICHÉLE: Ha ha.
Rocky K: Do not step on the train. The train will be there. Just pause until she walks by. there are pictures of me like flailing and going backwards. No, I did not. I'm thank God I have a really strong core, right?
JODIE MICHÉLE: Did you fall? Okay. Yes. yeah, you're right. there's there's always something that goes wrong.
Rocky K: Yeah.
JODIE MICHÉLE: my sister is she's getting married and I'm like, okay, so this is just expect that something's gonna go wrong, but you know, we're just gonna roll with it. You just you just do. And I I think that, you know, if you can not let the bride find out about what what might have gone wrong behind the scenes,
Rocky K: You magnify it. You fix it. Yeah. I my wedding also I lost the diamond out of my engagement ring between the ceremony and the reception. So but it actually ended up being a really great mistake or mess up because when they sent the the heaters for the food to venue, they sent the wrong size so they couldn't heat the food up easily.
JODIE MICHÉLE: my gosh.
Rocky K: And so they were putting like one tray of food at a time into this oven. And it was taking a really long time because I had over 300 people at my wedding. so my mom was so grateful that we were late to the reception because I lost the ring or the diamond and we couldn't find it. And I was crawling around the hotel on my hands and knees in my wedding dress, sobbing
JODIE MICHÉLE: a big wedding. my gosh.
Rocky K: looking for my diamond, but I found it. So I did. Yeah. But we were like out in the hallway and then my h husband realized he didn't bring a hotel room key. So it was like a delay getting into the room. And so we had to go up to the thing and he's like, Well, I don't have my ID on him, but he has his military uniform 'cause he got married in his uniform. He's like, I there's my name. I'm getting married. Like I didn't bring my wallet with me and
JODIE MICHÉLE: You did at in the hotel room?
Rocky K: So they gave him a key and then once we got in, but it was like a two-floor hotel room. And we were like out on the balcony over the water. Like it was I was like there was a lot of things going through my brain at that point, but I was like literally in the hallway in the hotel crawling and my bridesmaids and groomsmen, we were all on our hands and knees crawling.
JODIE MICHÉLE: I don't I know, right? my gosh. And you found it. That's amazing. That's found it. Yeah.
Rocky K: we found it. And so then I found my brother in law was like, You're not drinking tonight, right? And he's like, No And it was like in a in an envelope in a ziploc and I'm like, This is for you, I'll get it tomorrow.
JODIE MICHÉLE: I'm gonna go have fun. Yeah. my gosh. What a story.
Rocky K: so either way, events, but like I've been married now for almost twenty four years. So sometimes things go wrong, but it happens the way it's supposed to, and it doesn't mean that it's like an omen, right? Like if you would have thought like my wedding it was an omen that like it was gonna be a bad mar no, nope. We just kind of went with the flow of it, right? So yeah, yeah.
JODIE MICHÉLE: No. Mm. Yeah, when you find your person, I think you just find your person. Yeah.
Rocky K: Yeah, absolutely. So, well, before we get off, I gotta ask you my question that I ask all of my clients, or not all my clients, you're not my client, all my people on on this podcast. So what is one moment in your life that you tuned in and felt like your life was guiding
JODIE MICHÉLE: Okay. Okay. I'll be client. I kind of always feel that there's something bigger. You know, there's a kind of a gravitational pull that's leading me to something. So, so many good moments. I think connecting with Shanna Tatum, who's the co-founder of Elevate, when we just kind when our forces came together and we were like we both have this kind of same vision and this is how we really want to execute it and this is how we want to bring it to our community. think we're we were very much in line with that. So I think that's more of a recent one, but it was it's so powerful. elevate is is so meaningful in what it can do and how it can transform lives, you know, to just and and a community that lifts each other up. So so good.
Rocky K: I love that. and I I'm excited to meet her. And when do you guys meet next? What's the date that you guys meet?
JODIE MICHÉLE: Yeah. is Thursday, I believe that's July twenty-third, Thursday, July twenty-third here. Yeah, and we have a little sign-up sheet on LinkedIn that you can just connect with. Yeah.
Rocky K: Okay, awesome. That's perfect. Well, awesome. I will be out of town in Ohio at that time. So I'm gonna have to look for your next quarter one. But I hope those that are listening definitely goes and heads over and and joins this event because one, you want to go into the space, but two, what incredible women and it sounds like you're doing really beautiful things. And I'm excited for the next quarter one so that I can join and get into this. I mean, 'cause I I love the leadership, you know, I I teach it with my Reiki master, the embodied leader, you know, I that's a part of when they do the Reiki master training with me as the embodied leader, you know, and just having yes.
JODIE MICHÉLE: beautiful. Yeah, we all have it within us. You know, we all have that that leadership and somebody is is watching you, somebody's mentoring after you, you know, somebody's looking up to you if you're the best at something or if you're really good at something. There is somebody watching you trying to learn from you. I think that we all have to be aware of that, that we do have we carry that power. and we have to be very conscientious with it and and lead by example, you know. And I just wanna go back to what you said earlier. It's you're going home to Ohio, make sure you have a spaghetti night or throw a spaghetti night Sunday supper.
Rocky K: Well, we're having Isidorous graduation party up in Ohio for my family. So there will be there will be a gathering, just probably not spaghetti. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. Well, Jody, thank you again so much for joining me today. For all that you do in our community, you know, and just I I mean
JODIE MICHÉLE: Okay. Well it'll feel like that. It'll feel like those family gatherings. There's nothing like it. There's always, you know, always fun.
Rocky K: I adore you. I adore your work. I love that we have, you know, developed a friendship and a connection and I look forward to our next garden party in September.
JODIE MICHÉLE: I can't wait. Yes, I'm always here to support you. Thank you so much. I really appreciate it, Reggie. Take care.
Rocky K: Yes. Yeah. Yes. Awesome. Thank you.
