Meet Carra Yoder | Business owner, Podcast Host

We had the good fortune of connecting with Carra Yoder and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carra, what do you attribute your success to?

There are a couple of essential factors behind my success. First, in June of 2021, I was placed on a SI hold and spent six days in a behavioral health center. My biggest secret, my eating disorder, was figured out from here, and I was placed into a four-month eating disorder program. This program completely changed my life. I got to heal a lot of trauma from my childhood and sort out what was best for me. I finally learned that I was the most important person and needed to focus on creating a life that propelled me forward. After the program was finished, I knew that I couldn’t go back to my 9-5 job, so with the help of some fantastic friends and family, I started my own business. Secondly, another oversized item that I finally realized about life was putting in the investment in myself. I hired a business mentor and joined her 12-week program to create a successful brand. This not only propelled me forward, but I gained confidence and found my voice.

From here, I knew I wanted to help others struggling with mental health and eating disorders to get the same life-changing help I got. I wanted to help to create a change in the conversation around mental health and eating disorders. So, I hired a podcast producer, and “The Journey Podcast with Carra Yoder” was created. I explain my journey and other people’s mental health journeys through this podcast. The first season will drop on February 20th, 2023, the start of NEDA’s National Eating Disorder Awareness Week.

Another huge aspect of this podcast is about healing through nature. I started a journey in 2019 of getting to know myself and love that person through nature. I would solo hike, camp, and backpack. This also has been completely life-changing, and through this experience, “Jumping In Solo,” a personal blog about my journey, was created. This podcast will also showcase aspects of healing through nature and others’ nature healing journeys.

I am currently working on transforming Jumping in Solo into a 501c3 nonprofit organization. JIS will help to provide grants for mental health care and wellness within the communities of women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ so that they can survive and thrive through support, education, wellness retreats, nature hikes, and peer support. JIS will address the well-being of these communities through multiple innovative, inclusive pathways, including comprehensive programs (wellness retreats, guided self-discovery exercises, wilderness education, physical movement, and storytelling), providing leadership focused on wellness, inclusion, body positivity, and nature. Also, grant programs provide financial support for those individuals experiencing a crisis and those whose mental health journeys are cut short due to health care insurance determinations. It will also be about raising awareness of the status of mental health within these communities and researching the advancement of wellness through nature, mental health, and the reduction of suicide.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
It was not an easy journey, but I wouldn’t trade anything about what I went through to get to where I am today. Before opening my own business, I worked in the veterinary field as an RVT and then in the administration of one of LA’s most prominent Specialty and Emergency animal hospitals. The veterinary field taught me a lot about life and allowed me to pursue deeper passions. Going through the eating disorder program was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do, but it changed me so much for me. I have learned that putting yourself first is the most important thing in life. I have spent most of my life putting others before myself, and after the program, I knew and learned that I had to change. Society looks at people who put themselves first as selfish, and it’s not at all. It’s essential to get anything done and done well. There always seems to be much confusion around ‘self-love’ and what level of selfishness entitles you. Many people shy away from ever putting themselves first to ensure that they aren’t what society/parents/religion/culture says is “bad.” That’s what we fear the most: being a Bad Person. That’s what I feared the most, but I have learned that lesson and know it’s not selfish. Your most significant strength is to love yourself and put yourself first. I want the world to know that loving yourself and putting yourself first is ok. For the first time in my life, at the age of 36, things are finally happening, all because of this. So don’t be afraid.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Because I am a huge nature geek, I would take them to all my favorite nature spots. I would take them on a drive through the Angeles National Forest and then on the PCH. I love that you can hike anywhere in this city and still feel like you are not technically in the city. I am not from here, so being able to drive an hour and be in the mountains, desert, or on the beach is fantastic. I also love being in such proximity to state and national parks.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My friends and family have been a massive support for me. My brothers especially. They have been my rock and biggest supporters for the past two years. I also want to thank Leslie Levito, my business mentor, for propelling me forward!

Website: www.thejourneypodcastcy.com

Instagram: @thejourneypodcastcy

Twitter: @thejourneypodcy

Other: Carra’s Podcast on Twitter @thejourneypodcy, Instagram @thejourneypodcastcy, Facebook: The Journey Podcast with Carra Yoder, Tiktok (coming soon), and Youtube (coming soon) Carra’s Blog on Twitter @jumpinginsolo, Instagram @jumpinginsolo, Facebook: Jumping In Solo, and Tiktok @jumpinginsolo Carra’s Business on Twitter @EncompassingE, Instagram @encompassingcreative, Facebook: Encompassing Creative Endeavors, and Tik Tok (Coming Soon)

Image Credits
Tami Rae Loaded Canon