What does it mean to reflect on the life paths we didn’t take? In this deeply engaging episode, Emily Paulsen and Janet Alexandersson explore the concept of the “ghost ship life”—those alternate futures we let sail away—and the profound insights they can offer.

Janet, a creative force and founder of Piggy Bank Legal, joins Emily for a heartfelt conversation about curiosity, creativity, decision-making, and what it means to live intentionally. Drawing inspiration from Cheryl Strayed’s “The Ghost Ship That Didn’t Carry Us,” they consider how choices shape our identities, the courage to follow your instincts, and the power of letting go of the “what ifs.”

This conversation isn’t just about asking big questions—it’s about discovering how to honor the life you’ve chosen, celebrate its unique beauty, and create meaning in every step forward. So, what’s your ghost ship life? And how does it shape the one you’re living today?

Key Takeaways:

• Curiosity as a Compass: How embracing curiosity can guide our choices and deepen our understanding of ourselves and others.

• The Art of Letting Go: Why acknowledging the “ghost ships” of our lives can help us embrace our current path with more clarity and gratitude.

• Intentional Living: Practical ways to align your decisions with your values while exploring alternate paths through imagination and reflection.

• Reframing Relationships: From friendship to community, how meaningful connections can take many forms beyond traditional family structures.

• Decision-Making Frameworks: Janet’s approach to navigating crossroads with courage, curiosity, and a willingness to grow.

**The article referenced in this episode can be read here: https://therumpus.net/2011/04/21/dear-sugar-the-rumpus-advice-column-71-the-ghost-ship-that-didnt-carry-us/

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Host Emily Paulsen is an accomplished entrepreneur and happily childfree woman shining a light on the often overshadowed childfree-by-choice perspective. Whether interviewing innovative experts or positioning leaders to scale through her Brand Studio, Electric Collab, Emily’s power lies in allowing people to feel seen and celebrated for who they are . She’s spent years honing the ability to deeply understand and amplify others in an honest, high-impact way.

Learn more about Emily on her website: www.curiouslifeofachildfreewoman.com

And connect with her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curiouslifeofachildfreewoman/

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The guest on this episode is Janet Alexandersson, a creative at heart – sprouting new side and art projects every year. She is also the founder of the boutique law firm Piggy Bank Legal. She helps professionals add revenue streams through licensing by offering a unique combination of business advisory and legal services. Janet is celebrating 20 years as a lawyer and loves to chat about entrepreneurship, licensing, creativity and philosophy.

Learn more about her work on her website: janetalexandersson.com.

In this powerful episode of Curious Life of a Childfree Woman, Emily Paulsen sits down with Alexandra Raquel, an ordained priestess, ceremonialist, and ethical messaging strategist, to delve into what it truly means to live in harmony with our authentic selves. Together, they explore “soul work”—the process of reconnecting with our deepest inner voice and intuition—and how tuning into this wisdom can guide us toward a life of balance, fulfillment, and purpose.

Alex shares her insights into balancing masculine and feminine energies, living in sync with nature’s rhythms, and embracing rest and community as integral parts of a healthy, aligned life. Through a conversation that bridges ancient wisdom and modern challenges, Emily and Alex invite listeners to rethink productivity, embrace self-care as a form of resistance, and honor the cyclical nature of both their own energy and the world around them.

For anyone curious about reconnecting with a deeper sense of purpose or interested in moving away from the hustle mindset, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on leading a life that feels both intentional and inspired.

Key Takeaways

• The Power of Soul Work: Soul work means strengthening our “soul’s voice”—our inner compass that connects us to both our truest self and the wisdom of the earth.

• Balancing Energies: Healthy balance between feminine and masculine energies helps us create a life in which structure and flow can coexist.

• Reclaiming Rest: Rest is a critical part of nature’s cycle and, by extension, our own.

• The Importance of Community: Living in harmony with ourselves often means coming together with others.

• Redefining Success and Productivity: Alex invites us to challenge society’s traditional notions of productivity and achievement, emphasizing a more holistic, well-being-centered view of success that nourishes both the self and the world around us.

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Host Emily Paulsen is an accomplished entrepreneur and happily childfree woman shining a light on the often overshadowed childfree-by-choice perspective. Whether interviewing innovative experts or positioning leaders to scale through her Brand Studio, Electric Collab, Emily’s power lies in allowing people to feel seen and celebrated for who they are . She’s spent years honing the ability to deeply understand and amplify others in an honest, high-impact way.

Learn more about Emily on her website: www.curiouslifeofachildfreewoman.com

And connect with her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/curiouslifeofachildfreewoman/

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The guest on this episode is Alexandra Raquel (Alex). She is on a mission to bring women to a place and life of deep belonging and connectedness through soul work. She's an ordained Priestess and Ceremonialist born of mixed Quechua and Canadian settler lineage, who's been leading transformative sacred women’s circles and Ceremony for over a decade, and offering beyond quantum healing 1:1 Ceremonial Soul Journeys for 4 years.

Alex is also a word witch and messaging strategist specializing in HIGH CONVERTING & ETHICAL messaging and copy that's emotionally resonant and regulating. She works with ambitious female founders who want profit & impact — without sacrificing their commitment to walking their business path in a good way. Alex has an undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies, an MPhil in Development Studies. She's a global nomad by lineage and nature, having lived on 4 continents and speaking 4 languages.

Alex currently lives and works on the shared territory of the Haudenosaunee, the Mississsauguas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, and the Wendat peoples, now known as Tsi Tkoróntõ aka Toronto, where she lives with her family.

Connect with Alex on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alex_inessence/

Curious Life of a Childfree Woman, hosted by Emily Paulsen, is a podcast for people who favor questions over convention. Where unexpected choices are celebrated instead of shamed, and where we feel free to have honest conversations through the lens of a happy, child-free life.

This is not about comparison; it’s about possibility.

In each episode, Emily welcomes guests who are pushing boundaries, taking risks, and redefining what it means to lead a fulfilling life. From sustainability and finance to personal growth and creative innovation, conversations are equally steeped in optimism and open thinking.

Whether you are childfree by choice, circumstance, still navigating that chapter, or a parent seeking a space where kids are not the center of the conversation - you are welcome here. Let’s get curious, together.