Is AI going to save the world, or end it? Cheech and Nibby aren't tech people — but even they can't ignore that artificial intelligence might be the biggest change catalyst of their generation. This Kitchen Table Talk splices two conversations recorded eight months apart: one from early in their AI learning curve, one from now, after Cheech started running her business daily with Claude as a working partner. Between the two, they cover what large language models actually are (spoiler: it's math, not magic), the real costs — job displacement, environmental impact, data privacy, AI-induced psychosis — and the real upside, like building a website in 40 minutes or finally getting unstuck on dinner. They land on the question underneath it all: what do you protect as uniquely, unreplaceably yours? Pull up a chair for a conversation about change, technology, and staying human inside the runaway train.



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EP 30 | Kitchen Table Talk: Riding the AI Wave Without Getting Pulled Under

What if asking for help isn't a sign that you're failing but one of the clearest signs that change is already occurring?

In this Tactical Bite (really it’s more of a meal) style episode, Cheech reflects on a recent injury that forced her to confront a lifelong pattern of hyper-independence. From the vulnerable process of admitting she needed help to discovering the unexpected joy of receiving it, she shares how one ordinary life event reshaped her understanding of resilience, identity, and community.

Together, you'll explore the hidden beliefs that make asking for support feel unsafe, why many of us equate self-reliance with worth, and how not asking for help may be your ego masquerading as self reliance. Along the way, Cheech offers practical tools for recognizing your own barriers, identifying safe people, asking more clearly, and practicing receiving in small, meaningful ways.

This episode is an invitation to rethink strength, not as carrying everything alone, but as having the courage to let yourself be supported. Join us in the process of change.



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Tactical [Meal] Bite | Why is Asking for Help So Hard? 

In this guest spot on the Jack of All Trades Podcast, Chiara and Isa open up about the journey behind The Ripple Affect, from the intuitive moment that sparked its creation to the ongoing evolution of what it means to build something aligned, honest, and impactful.

The conversation weaves through early identity, career shifts, and the often nonlinear path of finding work that truly fits. They share how the podcast became more than just a project, it became a mirror for their own growth, challenging them to confront old patterns, redefine success, and lean into vulnerability in a new way.

With humor and realness, they explore the tension between control and trust, perfection and progress, and independence and community.

This episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to create from a place of authenticity and leaves listeners with a grounded reminder that meaningful change doesn’t happen all at once, but through consistent, imperfect, and deeply human steps forward.



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Guest Spot | The Conversation That Started The Ripple Affect

Ever feel like you're doing everything right and still getting nowhere? Job applications disappearing into the void, ghosted at every turn, and the quiet erosion of "not enough" slowly creeping in — yeah, that's what this episode is about. In this special Kitchen Table Talk episode of The Ripple Affect podcast, your hosts Cheech and Nibby finally do the thing they probably should have done a long time ago: pull their producer, Michelle Asaro, out of the shadows and sit her at the table where she belongs.

Michelle is a Los Angeles based project manager specializing in video production and social media, but as you’ll hear – she’s so much more. She’s an artist, dancer, teacher, producer, writer, podcast host, and overall brilliant mind. 

This convo is honest and wide-ranging, but centers on professional transition – the broken job-search system, its uncanny parallels to the entertainment industry, and how sustained uncertainty chips away at identity and self-worth. Together, the trio explore authentic self-care vs. the wellness industry's version of it, nervous system regulation as the real measure of resilience, finding small wins that actually count, and the underrated power of returning to the things that make you feel like yourself again.

By the end of this one, you'll have real language for what that in-between season actually feels like — plus a few grounded tools for staying regulated when the world keeps ghosting you back.

Pull up a chair and join as at the table.



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Kitchen Table Talk | Career Limbo, Real Talk & the Woman Who Makes This Podcast Happen

In this Tactical Bite episode of The Ripple Affect podcast, co-host Isa “Nibby” explores the neurobiology behind habit formation and why our brains naturally automate repeated behaviors. Drawing from psychological research, habit-based coaching, and her own personal experiments, she breaks down why habits exist in the first place and how understanding the brain’s drive for efficiency can help us reshape our daily routines.

Nibby walks listeners through a simple, actionable framework for building new habits or replacing old ones. From choosing a habit rooted in personal meaning, to visualizing the long-term impact of change, to starting with just five minutes a day, the episode emphasizes a small-changes approach that makes growth more sustainable. She also introduces the “crowding method,” habit tracking strategies, and accountability techniques that help reinforce consistency.

This episode offers a practical roadmap for anyone looking to create lasting change in their life. By the end, listeners will walk away with clear steps to begin forming meaningful habits, along with a deeper understanding of how small actions—done consistently—can reshape identity and behavior over time.



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Tactical Bite | The Brain’s Habit Loop: How to Work With It, Not Against It

In this Sofa Series episode of The Ripple Affect Podcast, your co-host Chiara, Cheech, sits down with voice and presence coach Ryan O’Shea for a conversation that moves far beyond vocal technique. What begins as a discussion about voice work unfolds into an exploration of embodiment, nervous system regulation, and the science of human connection.

Ryan shares how his training in Fitzmaurice Voicework and Organic Intelligence reframed communication as a holistic, self-organizing system—one rooted in complexity science, mindfulness, and pleasure. Together, they unpack the I-SOMA framework, the power of “orientation” as a grounding practice, and why focusing on what feels good isn’t indulgent—it’s strategic. They explore hustle culture, burnout, fight-flight-freeze responses, and the importance of making micro-changes that honor your thresholds instead of overriding them.

If you’ve ever struggled with self-criticism, over-efforting, or feeling disconnected from your own voice—this episode offers both philosophical depth and practical tools. You’ll walk away with a new understanding of presence, a gentler approach to change, and a clearer sense of what it means to ask: What actually matters to me?

Connect and coach with Ryan O'Shea |  IG @voiceandspeechwithryan  | https://www.voiceandspeechwithryan.com/



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Sofa Series | The Voice as a Path to Presence, a conversation with Ryan O'Shea

In this Kitchen Table Talk-style episode of The Ripple Affect, hosts Cheech and Nibby drop in for a real-time check-in and update on the layered reality of making big life decisions. From navigating identity shifts in early motherhood to post-grad uncertainty and the internalized pressure to “get it right,” this conversation explores how old patterns of control, shame, and productivity show up when the stakes feel high.

Together, they reflect on their evolving relationships with mental health support, including therapy and medication, and the stigma that often accompanies both. The episode touches on permission to slow down, the emotional toll of trying to hold it all together, and the healing power of self-compassion and honest dialogue.

For anyone feeling the tension between who they’ve been and who they’re becoming, this one offers warmth, resonance, and a gentle reminder: you don’t have to do it all alone.





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Medication & Mental Health: A Candid Check-In | A Kitchen Table Talk

In this Sofa Series episode of The Ripple Affect Podcast, Cheech sits down with Akashic Records teacher and practitioner and longtime friend Helen Vonderheide for a conversation that moves through healing, embodiment, and trusting the unseen layers of self. With over a decade of experience teaching and guiding others in Akashic work, Helen brings a grounded and intelligent approach to what can often feel like an abstract or “woo-woo” realm.

Together, they explore the Akasha as a living relationship—one that’s more about accessing inner truth than seeking answers. The conversation weaves through Helen’s evolution as a teacher, her journey into somatic and ancestral healing, and how working with the Records has shaped her relationships, location, and sense of purpose. They also reflect on what it means to engage this work ethically, with integrity and curiosity, especially in times of personal or collective transition.

Whether you’re familiar with the Akashic Records or hearing about them for the first time, this episode invites you to consider what’s possible when you meet change with presence, compassion, and a willingness to trust your own unfolding.

Explore further with Helen Vonderheide at www.helenvonderheide.com [https://www.helenvonderheide.com] .



And as always...

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Sofa Series | Demystifying the Akashic Field: The Akashic Records, Somatic Experiencing, and Ontological Frameworks with Helen Vonderheide

This episode is the Re-Release Holiday Bonus from season 1 of The Ripple Resource series. As the year winds down, hosts Cheech and Nibby gently explore how the holidays can be meaningful, connective, and joyful — and how they can also be emotionally heavy, overwhelming, and complicated. This episode is offered as a gift — to listeners and to ourselves — with the intention of building emotional resilience, self-awareness, and supportive boundaries during the holidays..

Through a candid, interview-style conversation that breaks from the show’s usual format, the sister duo reflect on their own holiday experiences and share honest insights around family dynamics, holiday stress, and staying grounded in who you are amid heightened expectations. Rather than offering rigid advice, this conversation invites greater awareness, autonomy, and compassion as you move through the season.

If the holidays feel hard this year, you’re not alone. This episode is a reminder that your mental health matters, your experience is valid, and you get to decide what the season looks like for you. Tune in for a thoughtful, supportive conversation designed to help you navigate the holidays with a little more ease, intention, and internal harmony.

Happy Holidays from all of us at The Ripple Affect.



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BONUS for the Holidays | Re-gifted, Re-release, Ripple Resource

In this PSA-style bonus mini episode, your co-hosts Cheech and Nibby (Chiara and Isa) share a behind-the-scenes update that’s been months in the making: The Ripple Affect Podcast has officially launched a Patreon! With their signature humor and heartfelt clarity, the sisters break down why this next step matters, how it supports the sustainability of the show, and what it offers their growing community — including long-awaited show notes and a collection of never-before-heard “Lowdown” recordings. It’s an honest conversation about connection, intention, and the value of building outside the noise of social media.



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PSA | We Launched a Patreon! Here’s Why It Matters

An original podcast about change from two grounded and growth-seeking sisters who explore and share ancient wisdom and modern information.

The Ripple Affect (@rippleaffectpod) · Zencastr

The Ripple Affect (@rippleaffectpod)

Two grounded and growth-seeking sisters created a podcast to explore CHANGE. Chiara and Isa, or Cheech and Nibby as you’ll soon come to know them, invite you in on a mutual process of self discovery through exploring ancient wisdom and modern information; all while not taking themselves too seriously.

By synthesizing and sharing helpful ideas from subjects ranging from neuroscience to donuts, your hosts deliver a guided pathway to integrate, grow, and transition for the curious person to make impactful shifts in their lives and affect the ripple of change in the world.

Each episode is a deep dive in the form of either compelling sibling convos, interviews with great minds, or tactical advice with research-backed tools designed to enhance your agency and deepen your capacity to embrace uncertainty. 

Hit subscribe to join the clan, and get new episodes every Tuesday. Head to www.rippleaffectpod.com [http://www.rippleaffectpod.com/] for show notes, resources, and DM @rippleaffectpod on IG for more ways to connect.