In this episode, Juliana — apprentice to Julia and guest host — sits down with JR Rice, a Black man, writer, teacher, event host & curator, and spoken word artist, born and raised in Oakland, California. JR works with students navigating homelessness, immigration pressure, incarceration, and trauma — and he meets them there through the radical act of storytelling.

This conversation moves through what it means to teach identity through writing, why vulnerability has to come from the teacher first, and how story has always been the way humans pass down what matters. JR also speaks honestly about his own path — being fired for trying to unionize, living with bipolar disorder, a serious heart procedure that changed how he moves through life — and what he's learned about legacy, self-care, and not giving up.

Links & Resources

• JR's debut novel Broken Pencils — available on Amazon and at local bookstores
• Upcoming poetry collection I Was, Am, and Will Be — out June 2025
• JR's website: jrrice.com
• JR on Instagram & TikTok

Learn more about The School Without Walls:

• Get your free guide: 10 Questions to Ask Your Soul Self
• Enroll in The Magical Papers
• Schedule a free Cafecito y Chisme Call with Julia
• Learn more about Master Alma Class (MAC) sessions
• Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

Production assistance from Podlad.com and Daypack Digital. Artwork by Olivia Dancel. Dragonfly art by Soul Creative Design.

This month, we begin walking with the Queen archetype—the one who stands in her glory and knows who she is. When we understand the archetype we lead with, comparison falls away, and our nervous system begins to settle. You are not here to become someone else. You are here to remember who you already are.

Learn more about The School Without Walls and the Dragonfly Guides:

• Get your free guide: 10 Questions to Ask Your Soul Self
• Enroll in The Magical Papers (50% off until February 28th with code BIRTHDAY50)
• Listen to Diamond Dragonfly's Message
• Schedule a free Cafecito y Chisme Call with Julia
• Learn more about Master Alma Class (MAC) sessions
• Explore The School Without Walls
• Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

Production assistance from Podlad.com and Daypack Digital. Artwork by Olivia Dancel. Dragonfly art by Soul Creative Design.

Today we are happy to share Julia Carmen's conversation with Kevin Chung on the Standout Creatives Podcast. This is a conversation about business, creativity, and what it means to stand out without selling your spirit. Together they explore visibility, identity, belonging, and the difference between branding as performance versus branding as truth. This episode is an invitation to create from the soul — not from fear.

Connect with Kevin:

• Standout Creatives
• Standout Creatives Podcast
• Standout Authors on Substack

Learn more about The School Without Walls and the Dragonfly Guides:

• Get your free guide: 10 Questions to Ask Your Soul Self
• Schedule a free Cafecito y Chisme Call with Julia
• Learn more about Master Alma Class (MAC) sessions
• Explore The School Without Walls
• Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

Production assistance from Podlad.com and Daypack Digital. Artwork by Olivia Dancel. Dragonfly art by Soul Creative Design.