Bonus Episode: Becoming the Artist of Your Own Life: Aileen Xu on Embracing Your True Identity and Creativity

What does it really take to create your dream life? In this episode, Erika interviews Aileen about the story behind her success—from feeling invisible to inspiring millions through her creativity. They talk identity shifts, getting zero views, and staying true to your dreams—even when no one else sees the vision yet. If you’ve ever felt unseen, this conversation is your reminder: you can always become the artist of your own life. Erika Casupanan is a media personality, keynote speaker and host of the award-winning podcast, Happy to See Me. She was the first Canadian to win the U.S. reality show Survivor. She uses her platform to spotlight and inspire people who have felt overlooked and underestimated. TIMESTAMPS 0:00 - Hair Color as Identity 5:08 - Feeling Underestimated 7:35 - Breaking the Praise Cycle 11:59 - From Music to Self-Love 17:05 - The Early Days of Lavendaire 19:47 - The Pressure of Social Media Metrics 21:55 - Staying Neutral Through the Ups and Downs 24:10 - Moments That Made It All Worth It 27:26 - Living as an Artist of Life 32:15 - Listening to Your Intuition 34:36 - Human Design 36:20 - The Key Questions Aileen Asked Herself 38.22 - Last Message FOLLOW ERIKA • Website • Instagram • Podcast SUBSCRIBE TO THE LAVENDAIRE LIFESTYLE • Apple Podcasts • Spotify • YouTube LAVENDAIRE • YouTube • Instagram