In order to have an authentic book, I knew I had to go to the depths of myself and I had to revisit all those old stories. Yeah, it was really hard at first. Kristen Merwin is a compassionate, empowering, and insightful, integrative coach. And the founder of Magic Inside, a movement dedicated to helping women and young people reconnect with their authentic selves. I will never forget the moment we were sitting on the floor of my office with all of your papers, all your ideas and creations, and all I could see was your brilliance. I was like, this woman is so brilliant. I've never had anyone that could pull out the vision. So you could see everything in that huge pile, and I remember almost being embarrassed to show you because I was like, I'm showing you the insides of my brain right now. And you were just so encouraging and inspired me. You were like, don't give up on this. Do not give up on this. What's weird is I feel like we're just beginning. I know it. It spans the globe like a super high is cold, into the eldest. And today Apple is going to reinvent the fall. It's not over until I win. The Living Your Legacy podcast for those who live to leave a legacy. That's extraordinary. The impossible. Oh, that is sensational. No, Jordan. Chicago with the lead. You said fall is about this man on the planet. You can live your dream. Welcome back to my season of Legacy Makers. I'm Kira Brinton, and I'm so excited to introduce you one of my favorite humans, Kristen Merwin. Yes. So in 10 minutes, how do we sum up Kira and Kristen? We're going to need an hour. I know. We have to begin by saying that you were my very first client to say yes to a mastermind. Yes. And I always thank you because you believed in me to say yes to my very first mastermind. And we have walked through some of the most extraordinary journeys together. Incredible. Right. I had never been in a mastermind either. I didn't even know what a mastermind was actually. So I was like, well, tell me more. And it was the biggest investment I had ever made in myself. And the business that I had dreamed of. So thank you for seeing that huge pile of papers and seeing beyond the chaos of what it was and saying yes to me. I will never forget the moment we were sitting on the floor of my office with all of your papers of all your ideas and creations. And all I could see was your brilliance. I was like, this woman is so brilliant. Thank you. And you are. And what you're doing in the world is so needed. I don't even know where to start. Where do we do? We've been everywhere together. You went to my grandparents' cabin for my first retreat. My favorite place. It was beautiful. It was. I had never had an experience like that. You probably never again. Then you came to Boise for a retreat, went to Missouri. Then you went to the sacred island just a month ago. Talk to me about some of your favorite moments in our journeys together. What I love, Kara, is that you are just having a good time wherever you are. So it doesn't matter if we're in that 10-passenger van. Right. Rollin' 12-passenger. I'm sorry. Yeah, I drive a 12-passenger van. It doesn't matter if we're in a greyhound. I mean, we just, I've never had anyone that could pull out the vision. So you could see everything in that huge pile. And I remember almost being embarrassed to show you because I was like, I'm showing you the insides of my brain right now. And you were just so encouraging and inspired me. You were like, don't give up on this. Do not give up on this. And that was in 2019. And that first retreat, one of my favorite memories, I think, is when we sat down and did a brain map. I don't know if you remember that. We sat down and you took a pen and paper and we just started writing things out. And you were so excited. And I was at first overwhelmed, but you were like, no, this is so good to have too many ideas. You know, too many. Yeah. And I love that no matter where we go, I told you on the Sacred Island, it doesn't matter where we are. I'm having just as much fun. It's so true, right? I know. It doesn't matter. It's the truth. Like really, like, sure, the Sacred Island, it brings a lot of magic and luxury is nice. But it's us wherever we are, we are bringing the sacred. Wherever we are, we're bringing the fun and we're being in creation. And so I just, I have loved walking this with you. And I love that you're on the TV show Riders Island. I love the book that you didn't go to write. The book I said, I'm not writing a book. Kara, now like, okay. And I was like, that's okay. You can still be on the show. We think you're totally new. I know. Like that's fine. Yeah, just come. It just be on the island, Kristen. It's okay. And I hadn't even gotten to the island. I mean, we were boarding the plane and I was like, I just had it completely drop in the whole thing. It's not amazing. So you wrote this children's book that is probably one of my favorites, and I'm so excited for us to publish it. Talk to me about the name of it. Magic Mountain. Based on the book's Magic Mountain stories that my grandmother would write for all of us grandkids. And it's a story of a little girl, really as a metaphor to myself as a child. And she gets lost from Magic Mountain in the story and chasing glitter. She thinks that it's glitter gold and when it rests on the ground, it's just dirt. And now she's lost. So as she's finding her way back to Magic Mountain, she has characters that begin to appear from this seven layered stone. And each character explains to her one more clue on how to get back to Magic Mountain until she reaches the end and it's dark by this point and she's scared. And the very last character appears and that's intercompass. And he says, none of these characters were coming from the stone. They're all within you. So she bows her head and closes her eyes and discovers the last step. And she slides all the way home to Magic Mountain. I can't wait to hold this book. And it has the stone that is such a beautiful visual for kids to anchor in the lessons and everything from the book. So I'm super excited. Me too. And now you have a book that's for mothers, which is really needed. Yeah. Yeah. I'm excited and a little, it's been a little overwhelming. I really, at the island. Yeah. I, in order to have an authentic book, I knew I had to go to the depths of myself. And I had to revisit all those old stories. Yeah. It was really hard at first, but it's so courageous to bring this through. Thank you. And that's what we need. We need help from others. Every one of us as mothers needs support and you have so many skills and tools that will help. I'm just so proud of you. I'm so proud of you. Thank you. Like, little did we know what we would do. We might not have said yes, either one of us had we known. I would not have. I'd be laughing for six. I'm going to go back to the laundry. I know. Never mind. Just give me some Dr. Pepper and I'll wash my soap operas. Like, really? Like, I'm so grateful that you said yes. I'm so grateful for all that we've done together. And what's weird is I feel like we're just beginning. That's what's interesting. I know it. We do. Thank you for being here today. Thank you. And thank you, everyone, for just popping in on this little moment with us. I'm so excited to get to know Kristen. I love her so damn much. And you will love her. And you will love her episode and you're going to love her on Writers Island. And you're going to want her books. So stay tuned. Be here with us. And I will see you next time on Legacy Makers.
