Beyond the Self with Africa Brooke

• #092 - Storytelling as resistance, wild tea, deep friendship, and fighting to remember - w/ Rui Liu

  Oh my goodness. This conversation is everything I needed, and more.I’m joined by one of my best friends and favourite humans on this planet, the incredible Rui Liu, a child of tea and founder of Grass People Tree. We went beyond what you might expect from a conversation that centres tea (though we go deep into that too). We found ourselves going into culture, identity, ancestry, friendship, artistry, business, beauty, rebellion, ritual… all of it.We talk about Rui’s childhood in rural China, her unexpected leap into the fashion world, and how tea became the anchor that brought her back home. To herself, to her people, and to a way of life rooted in reverence. We unpack what it means to create from truth, to honour your roots while navigating the modern world, and to stay close to the quiet, sacred things even when life gets loud. I'M SO EXCITED FOR YOU TO DIVE INNNN!I especially wanted Rui to tell us all the story behind building Grass People Tree. And to go into the details of why GPT is beyond being a brand, but more of a living archive of oral histories, indigenous knowledge, and living tea. We explore the difference between tea that is alive versus tea that’s been industrialised, and how language, story, and care make all the difference.This was one of the most expansive, soul-shifting conversations I’ve ever had. Guys, I honestly felt like we were sitting in a temple, laughing and crying and remembering the parts of ourselves that are often forgotten in the rush of it all.I just know you will love where we took this! She's also kindly given us a 10% DISCOUNT (use code AFRICABROOKE) when you buy yourself some tea from the GPT website, below. Make use of it, and you'll see why I drink this tea each time I sit down to connect. Resources Mentioned:The Roots of Tea (A Self-paced Course) - I have to say it again, this offering is phenomenal! Grass People Tree JournalGET IN TOUCH WITH RUI:Website: Grass People Tree (discount code AFRICABROOKE for 10% off)Instagram: @grasspeopletree / @rui.raeEmail: [email protected] Mentioned:The Roots of Tea (A Self-paced Course) - I have to say it again, this offering is phenomenal! Grass People Tree JournalIf you found this valuable - be sure to follow, RATE, subscribe, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share this podcast with your pals, family, and community - let's not withhold transformation from each other.⁣⁣⁣⁣You can also connect with me directly over on Instagram, I'd love to continue the conversation with you - @africabrooke or you can email me  (including if you have podcast episode requests) at [email protected] with the subject line 'Beyond the Self'. I can't wait to hear from you!⁣⁣⁣⁣PLEASE NOTE: I do not give advice in DM's, emails, or comments, but I'd love to hear your feedback and know what your lightbulb moments or breakthroughs were. It also lights me up when you tag me in the screenshots of you listening, do continue!

  --------  

  1:57:17
• #091 - are you 'protecting your peace' or is it just avoidance in disguise?

  I’ve been thinking a lot about the ways we convince ourselves we’re doing something noble - spiritual, even - when really, we’re just avoiding the thing that actually wants to set us free. Like last week, this conversation is personal. It’s present. And it’s pulled straight from the patterns I’ve had to face, and some I’m still facing, in real time. If you’re someone who’s ever thought or said ‘I’m just protecting my peace’ while secretly knowing that something deeper is going unaddressed, this episode is for you.I asked a confronting question:Are you protecting your peace, or is it just avoidance in disguise?And I take us all through the 8 shadowy, often socially-acceptable ways avoidance hides in plain sight. I go into how we cloak it as boundaries, empowerment, self-care, independence, or emotional intelligence.I speak about:The silent treatment as a form of self-sabotage, masked as boundary-setting.How we wear solitude like a badge of honour, when it’s actually isolation.The self-betrayal of over-compromising and calling it “keeping the peace.”The seductive nature of numbing through productivity, fitness, or “wellness.”Avoiding commitment and calling it “empowered detachment.” LOLHow refusing accountability is often disguised as “not engaging in drama.”Dodging difficult feedback under the guise of “protecting your energy.”And the ultimate intimacy-killer: withdrawing emotionally and calling it space.I loveddddd this one because I shared stories from my own life, including my past relationships, addiction, healing, and even the deeply internal narratives that still challenge me today. This episode is an invitation to look closely at the ways you might be calling something peace when it’s really just another way to avoid yourself, others, or 'the work'.If you've been telling yourself, "I’m just protecting my peace", but it doesn’t feel peaceful in your body… this one is for you.Let me know what lands. Resources Mentioned:BUY THE THIRD PERSPECTIVE NOW(also available at Waterstones, Barnes & Nobles and all major bookstores and independents - check for international delivery. Request it at your libraries too!)If you found this valuable - be sure to follow, RATE, subscribe, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share this podcast with your pals, family, and community - let's not withhold transformation from each other.⁣⁣⁣⁣You can also connect with me directly over on Instagram, I'd love to continue the conversation with you - @africabrooke or you can email me  (including if you have podcast episode requests) at [email protected] with the subject line 'Beyond the Self'. I can't wait to hear from you!⁣⁣⁣⁣PLEASE NOTE: I do not give advice in DM's, emails, or comments, but I'd love to hear your feedback and know what your lightbulb moments or breakthroughs were. It also lights me up when you tag me in the screenshots of you listening, do continue!

  --------  

  57:51
• #090 - I let myself down, this breakup was my most brutal lesson in self-integrity, pain of duality, & MORE

  WOW! I really went there with you for this one. March is here, Spring is upon us, which means my 2025 begins. I return here with fresh thoughts and an open heart. I'm learning to allow myself to share the truth of what's happening in REAL TIME, instead of only sharing retrospectively, and as a very reflective but also private person - this feels exposing, yet insanely liberating. I am practicing what I preach. I am practicing courage. I am practicing brave expression. And it's making me trust my self-leadership at another level. Privately and publicly.In this episode, I decided to take you deep into the raw, painful, and necessary truth of my recent breakup. A relationship that was both my greatest teacher and my biggest test. I share what it’s like to grieve someone who is still alive (AGAIN), the profound heartbreak of loving someone deeply but knowing you cannot stay, and the brutal self-reckoning that followed. I wanted to be completely fucking open about how this experience has forced me to confront my own self-betrayal, how I shrunk myself in ways I didn’t even realise, and why I'm, having to become my own student to find my way back to integrity.Thank you for letting me go there <3Resources Mentioned:Your UNCENSORED Year: A 2.5HR masterclass with me (available now!)africabrooke.com/your-uncensored-yearThis masterclass is a call to the audacious, the curious, and the brave—to those who know they’ve been hiding in plain sight, censoring their thoughts, suppressing their greatness, and settling for “safe.” This masterclass will prepare you for the year ahead (whenever you decide your 12 months will begin) by provoking you to think bigger, become braver, and step fully into the life you’ve been avoiding. I'm excited to support you with this.BUY THE THIRD PERSPECTIVE NOW(also available at Waterstones, Barnes & Nobles and all major bookstores and independents - check for international delivery. Request it at your libraries too!)If you found this valuable - be sure to follow, RATE, subscribe, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share this podcast with your pals, family, and community - let's not withhold transformation from each other.⁣⁣⁣⁣You can also connect with me directly over on Instagram, I'd love to continue the conversation with you - @africabrooke or you can email me  (including if you have podcast episode requests) at [email protected] with the subject line 'Beyond the Self'. I can't wait to hear from you!⁣⁣⁣⁣PLEASE NOTE: I do not give advice in DM's, emails, or comments, but I'd love to hear your feedback and know what your lightbulb moments or breakthroughs were. It also lights me up when you tag me in the screenshots of you listening, do continue!

  --------  

  1:02:16
• #089 - The cost of belonging, identity, and being okay with being the unconventional one - w/ Caro Gomez

  What does belonging look like for you? Can you think of a time when you navigated the space between two cultures, and how did it shape your identity? These are themes I'm exploring today with my guest, Caro Gomez. Caro opens up about her journey of figuring out her identity and finding her place, sharing the ups and downs of blending cultures and the hurdles she jumped over. We also explore the idea of privilege, cultural pride, and the emotional rollercoaster of staying true to her roots while soaking up new freedoms.Caro's story is not just about her journey but also the universal quest for connection and being okay with being the unconventional one. Whether you’re an immigrant, someone interested in cultural dynamics, or simply a lover of inspiring stories, this episode has something for you.GET IN TOUCH WITH CARO:Instagram: @carogomez_joywitchEmail: [email protected] Mentioned:BUY THE THIRD PERSPECTIVE NOW (also available at Waterstones, Barnes & Nobles and all major bookstores and independents - check for international delivery)Join the waitlist for Dine with Your Ancestors hereGet your Mayan horoscope sign hereBe the first to know when Joy Witch's Cacao from El Salvador  lands!Caro Gomez is a visionary shaman’s apprentice of the MayaQ’eqchi’ lineage, an award-winning fashion designer, and founder of the Mayan School of Embodiment. With an ICF-accredited diploma in body-oriented coaching, she has guided hundreds of creative women to embrace their true selves. Proud of her Mayan and Spanish roots, Caro blends ancient wisdom with modern artistry, offering transformational experiences in self-discovery and expression.Her accolades include "Ones to Watch" by the Sustainable Lifestyle Awards, Fashion Designer of the Year at the 2019 LUKAS Awards, and Best Sustainable Luxury Womenswear Label in 2022 and 2023 at the LuxLife Awards. Caro is also a published author and regular speaker, with appearances at the University of the Arts, Wilderness Festival, and Tate Modern.If you found this valuable - be sure to follow, RATE, subscribe, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share this podcast with your pals, family, and community - let's not withhold transformation from each other.⁣⁣⁣⁣You can also connect with me directly over on Instagram, I'd love to continue the conversation with you - @africabrooke or you can email me at [email protected] with the subject line 'Beyond the Self'. I can't wait to hear from you!⁣⁣⁣⁣PLEASE NOTE: I do not give advice in DM's, emails, or comments, but I'd love to hear your feedback and know what your lightbulb moments or breakthroughs were. It also lights me up when you tag me in the screenshots of you listening, do continue!

  --------  

  1:24:04
• #088 - Be brave enough to ask for help!

  I know there's a sense of hopelessness in the world right now, and to be very honest, there always will be. And something that I want to do here is I don't want us to deny reality. That is not what we do. And at the same time, I want you to look at the areas of your life where you are in the driver's seat. In this episode, I want to impart my wisdom, experiences, and intellectual property and share anything I'm learning that I think could be useful for you. So tune in to hear me riff aloud about letting people fucking help you.P.S. This episode's audio is a reupload from our archives, but the insights are timeless!Resources Mentioned:BUY THE THIRD PERSPECTIVE NOW(also available at Waterstones, Barnes & Nobles and all major bookstores and independents - check for international delivery)If you found this valuable - be sure to follow, RATE, subscribe, leave a review on Apple Podcasts, and share this podcast with your pals, family, and community - let's not withhold transformation from each other.⁣⁣⁣⁣You can also connect with me directly over on Instagram, I'd love to continue the conversation with you - @africabrooke or you can email me at [email protected] with the subject line 'Beyond the Self'. I can't wait to hear from you!⁣⁣⁣⁣PLEASE NOTE: I do not give advice in DM's, emails, or comments, but I'd love to hear your feedback and know what your lightbulb moments or breakthroughs were. It also lights me up when you tag me in the screenshots of you listening, do continue!

  --------  

  16:58

More Education podcasts

Trending Education podcasts

About Beyond the Self with Africa Brooke