May 29, 2025 • 44 mins
In today’s episode, we’ll be talking about neurodivergence — a term that’s become more widely used in both clinical and social contexts to describe the natural variation in how people think, learn, and experience the world.
In this powerful and honest episode, we sit down with Ayumi Moore a content creator who discovered she is autistic in adulthood.
She shares her personal journey toward a late diagnosis — a path that’s becoming increasingly common as more adults seek answers after years of masking or having their traits misunderstood. She tells us how this diagnosis reshaped her understanding of herself and what it means to navigate the world of content creation through a neurodivergent lens.
From burnout to breakthroughs, this conversation sheds light on the challenges—and unexpected gifts—that come with creating in a world not always built for neurodivergent minds.
For anyone on a similar path or supporting someone who is, here are some helpful platforms dedicated to autistic adults in the U.S.:
Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) – Advocacy, education, and resources by and for autistic people.
Asperger/Autism Network (AANE) – Support groups, coaching, and tools for autistic adults and their families.
Autism Speaks – Adult Services – Resources on employment, housing, and community living.
Know more about Ayumi Moore:
Connect with me at:
Instagram:
Book a wellness retreat at:
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Elizabeth Vajello (00:00):
Welcome to the Holistic Self-Love podcast.
I'm Elizabeth Vajero, a lifecoach here to help you build
healthy habits for real change.
Join me as we explore practicalways to reduce your stress, find
balance, and feel your bestevery day.
Elizabeth Vallejo (00:17):
Welcome to the holistic Self-Love podcast.
I am so excited because as youknow, on this podcast, we like
to interview people that haveinspirational stories, and we
like to teach everybody newmodalities and new ways that
they can help themselves andkind of, you know, better their
life.
So I'm so excited to be joinedby IMI Moore today.
(00:39):
IMI has a very, very inspiringstory.
We actually met in my firstretreat ever.
And I don't know what it wasabout her, but on our last day,
on our last hour, I just lookedat her and I just started crying
and it was my retreat.
And I was the facilitator.
Um, now that I've gotten to knowher a little bit more and, um,
really gotten to know herthrough her social media,
(01:00):
because I, OMI is a contentcreator.
I realized why that is.
And it's because she is soauthentic, so authentically
herself.
And for some reason, my nervoussystem just felt safe to just
break down in that hallway toyou and just start crying and.
Turns out we had a lot of thingsin common that we didn't even
know we had.
So IMI was born in Japan, whichI think is incredible.
(01:22):
Um, at 18 years old, you joinedthe army and served our country,
which is incredible, incrediblyinspiring.
Um, during COVID, she decided totransition into content
creating.
And then at 30 years old wasdiagnosed with autism.
So welcome to the HolisticSelf-Love Podcast, Imi, Thank
(01:43):
you so much for being here.
Ayumi Moore (01:45):
Thank you for having me.
Elizabeth Vallejo (01:48):
Um, I was so excited to sit down with you
because, you know, to bediagnosed at 30 is incredible.
Um, but not just that, you know,I don't think a lot of people
understand what beingneurodivergent is.
I am also neurodivergent and wetend to share a lot of
characteristics.
And I don't think peopleunderstand that.
I think we live in a little bitof a culture where people are
(02:09):
like, am I autistic?
Am I not autistic?
So I kind of just wanna dive inand start with that.
How did you even Think to getyourself diagnosed.
Like, did you have like thing,traits that you noticed in
yourself?
Ayumi Moore (02:22):
Um, yeah, so I have a daughter, and my oldest
daughter, Was struggling withher mental health for a very
long time and Doctors couldn'tfigure it out They're giving her
every diagnosis under their,under the Sun and I just knew it
(02:42):
wasn't right.
It didn't sound like her Um, SoI had to do my own research and
I found that Autistic traitsthat she had are sounds just
like her So I suggested to thedoctors like how about we do an
evaluation for autism.
Um, and that's when she gotdiagnosed right away.
(03:04):
to like, It was pretty easy.
Um, it just took a long time forthem to even think about that
because females have differenttraits than males.
And, uh, I you then I researchedmore and come to find out women
have different traits thanlittle girls.
(03:25):
So.
Yeah, that's, at the beginning,I'm like, I can't have autism
because I don't do what shedoes, but after watching other
women my age or in theirtwenties and thirties who got
diagnosed recently, um, I.
I learned that we have differenttraits than children.
Of course, children arechildren, so they show their
(03:48):
feelings differently than howwomen are.
So, we might be more quiet orhave Severe anxiety or we stem a
different way versus a littlegirl.
They might cry if they'reoverstimulated versus us.
We're like, we'll just stayhome.
Elizabeth Vallejo (04:02):
I think it's funny that you said that because
at the retreat, when we met, youcame up to me at one point and
you said, I'm just really quiet,but I'm having a really great
time.
And I was like, I didn't evennotice that.
Like, and just for some likebackstory, um, IMI came to The
Anchor and she was part of a, wewere launching The Anchor.
So it was you and many otherinfluencers.
(04:24):
And as you know, influencerstend to be very animated and
take up a lot of space in theroom.
IMI was not like this.
Um, sometimes I'm like, oh mygosh, she's just over there
hanging out.
And turns out you were creatingcontent.
And I had no idea.
Until I saw you post it.
And I'm like, oh, that's whatshe was doing.
But I never once thought like,oh, why is she so quiet or
(04:45):
anything like that?
I was just like, oh, she's.
a very elegant put togetherwoman that just is observing all
of us.
I'm like, oh my God, she'sliterally taking
Ayumi Moore (04:54):
I get put together.
That's so funny.
Elizabeth Vallejo (04:58):
but you totally were.
Your outfits were on point.
You were never late.
You weren't sloppy.
You know, you and m sharedsomething where we both don't
drink.
So you were never like out ofcharacter.
You were just, you know, to me,you seemed extremely elegant and
like put together.
And you know, me, girl, I usedto, I used to work in fashion.
So I noticed all of your things.
I was like, I know, all.
(05:19):
I know everything she's wearing,but you said something and I
just recently went through thisand we haven't even spoken about
this where I was strugglingwith, um, the doctors wanting to
diagnose my daughter witheverything and I knew, like, I
knew in my soul.
I knew in my heart'cause I haveA-D-H-D-I, I am dyslexic.
I have PTSD.
I have all the things.
(05:40):
I.
And I knew that that was notwhat she had and I was, you
know, they were so quick tomedicate her and I kept going.
Nope.
I need another doctor.
I need another doctor.
I need another doctor untilfinally somebody heard me and
she did not have a DHD, Youknow, what I'm saying she did
not have all the things thatthey wanted to put her on.
And I was like, for me, I'vebeen medicated since I was, I
(06:02):
was medicated from 19 to 34.
And I didn't want that for herand I have now been nine years
with no medication and able to,uh, handle all of my, I don't
even like to call them symptomsor tr they're my superpower, you
know, like, I use them becauseour, we just learn differently
and we use a different side ofour brain and society isn't
(06:24):
built for that.
So I love that.
You like, honored yourintuition, which is the way that
I, as a life coach, I'm like,oh, she was listening to her
intuition.
Um, but I wanted to ask, like.
Once you got that diagnosis, notjust for your daughter, but for
you, like, did you feel a senseof like, Oh,
Ayumi Moore (06:41):
Oh yeah, I, oh yeah, I felt, um, it was a
mixture of emotions.
First I was sad for my daughterbecause at the time I didn't
know how, I'm like what did I dowrong when I was pregnant?
Like, there's so many thoughts,you know, like, oh, is it?
Is there my fault or she has tolive with this forever?
Um, you know, I was ignorant anddidn't know much about it.
(07:03):
Just sounded scary at the time.
And, um, after I got diagnosedand everything's clear, I was
like, oh yay, now I'm validatedfor everything.
I was feeling with parents andrelationships, like, I knew that
there was something differentabout me.
that I knew why I had issueswith communications and like,
(07:25):
big emotions.
is because I had.
you know, I have a neurologicaldisorder and it's, not my fault.
outta my control.
That's why I struggled inschool.
I mean, I have a learningdisorder too, dyslexia.
Um, so it just all makes sense.
And I was just like, Oh, I'm notstupid.
I'm not crazy.
(07:45):
I'm not, you know, all thesenegative things.
And then I was like, okay, timeto research.
So I bought a whole bunch ofbooks, started following a whole
Creators with the samediagnosis, and I feel like I'm
not alone anymore.
I used to feel alone, like I'mthe only person on the planet
who is different and just Thinksdifferently and talks
(08:06):
differently, but no, I'm not.
There's other people out therebut the same Neurological
disability or disorder if youwanna call it or superpower, you
know um, I think it's asuperpower too because honestly,
um, I have so many cool thingsin Ways to see the world in a
(08:30):
creative way that a lot ofpeople don't And,
Elizabeth Vallejo (08:34):
Like what?
Ayumi Moore (08:35):
like, um, I don't fit in, I guess, like the social
norms.
I never did.
I never, I felt like, um, youknow, as far as like gender
roles and stuff like that, I'mvery open.
I'm very open.
um, I'm very open.
(08:55):
I think I.
women could do anything theywant People could date whoever
they want like I don't care I'malmost like love is love So i'm
just very like I don't know openI am compared to maybe
neurotypical people um,
Elizabeth Vallejo (09:12):
Yeah.
Ayumi Moore (09:12):
so things like that and I just am gifted in
different ways that other peopleAren't able to easily catch on.
Like I could play an instrumentlike this.
I could learn
Elizabeth Vallejo (09:24):
Even being dyslexic.
Wait, can you read music?
Ayumi Moore (09:28):
Yeah,
Elizabeth Vallejo (09:29):
I had a hard time with that because I I kind
of feel what you're saying.
Like, I could I mean, and you'veexperienced it.
Like, I'll put a retreattogether.
I'll put an event together.
And I look at people.
I'm like, I, how do you not seethis?
How do
Ayumi Moore (09:41):
exactly.
It's not
Elizabeth Vallejo (09:43):
but I.
yeah, but like, you know, I'm,I'm a, I'm a kid.
I was born in the eighties,raised in the nineties, And,
They used to tell my mom, like,oh, she's just really lazy.
And it was like, oh, no, I wasnot lazy.
If anything, my brain was onoverload trying to understand.
I would get home exhausted.
And, um, you know, when you saidhow you started researching, I
(10:06):
think the one thing when mydaughter got diagnosed was that
I, I just threw myself intolike, how do I understand her
brain because I wish somebodywould've understood my brain
when I was little, you know, sonow it's like, when she goes
through anything, like, you talkabout big emotions, right?
Like, when she goes through bigemotions, um, I try to see,
(10:26):
well, where's her head at, youknow, like, where, what is she
going through right now?
And then I put myself in herposition and then I like to play
a game with her where I'm like,okay, is this your logic brain?
is this your logical brainthinking like our emotions, but
it also helps me because I feellike, like, when I told you, I
have a lot of the same traits.
I get overstimulated veryeasily.
(10:47):
I don't like certain fabrics.
I don't like certain noises.
Like, if we're in the car andyou're on TikTok, I will pull
over and drop you
Ayumi Moore (10:54):
Oh, saying, I hate that.
Elizabeth Vallejo (10:56):
we're
Ayumi Moore (10:57):
watch videos when I'm driving.
I hate
Elizabeth Vallejo (11:00):
no.
And it's like, and then peop I'mtrying to, I'm trying to keep us
alive in this vehicle.
Like, I can't hear anything butthe radio.
Um, so in a lot of ways, I feellike I can, um, I can relate to
a lot of people.
And the thing that you saidabout feeling like you belonged,
like you found your people, thatis so important as humans.
(11:20):
Like, that's why, that's whyretreats are so important.
Religions are so important.
That's why people need AAbecause we need to feel like we
belong.
And sometimes when we'reneurotypical, um, I felt like I
was alone my whole life.
I felt like, why, why don't Iunderstand these directions?
Why can't I take tests properly?
But then I'm great at all thecreative stuff.
(11:41):
So it never made sense, youknow?
So I love that you said thatbecause that is, um, I think
it's something to do also withlike, And I wanna talk about
your parents, right?
Because we're both, well, youweren't born here.
I'm first generation born here.
So I come from immigrant parentsand it is.
Completely different.
Like they don't know what A DHDis.
(12:03):
They don't know dyslexia.
Um, they don't understandemotions.
Ayumi Moore (12:08):
They don't,
Elizabeth Vallejo (12:10):
So how did you navigate through that?
Because I do know that yourparents are like a really big
part of your life.
Ayumi Moore (12:18):
Uh, I kind, well now, I just accepted it.
I'm like, it is what it the, itis.
They're old school.
They, back then, they're, theywere born in the fifties and
sixties, So, my parents areolder.
So, um, they More educated whenit came to neurodivergent
people.
What a DH is?
A DH, D is?
What is autism?
(12:40):
Even if I explain it to them,it's just like, you guys look
normal to me.
You know, it's just.
it's not cooking, you know, soI'm just like, it is what it is.
I can't change that.
So, um, of course I looked backand I told my parents like, why
didn't you see any of thesesigns?
Like they told me I couldn'tread, I.
(13:01):
they told me I couldn't do math.
They had to put me in special ededucation classes.
Um, I couldn't make friends likewhat they're like, well, you're
pass, like barely passing.
I mean, hey, you did get herback.
So, um, they're just like, Wedidn't see it.
We're old school.
We didn't know.
And you know, I'm not taking itpersonal.
It's not like they try to, um,not look into it, but they had
(13:24):
no idea.
I'm their first kid.
So they
Elizabeth Vallejo (13:27):
Oh, you're the oldest.
So how do they, how do you seethem moving differently with
your kids than they did withyou?
Ayumi Moore (13:36):
Nothing.
Nothing,
Elizabeth Vallejo (13:37):
Nothing, they're just,
Ayumi Moore (13:38):
nothing.
I told them, I'm like, you know,she does, she does this because
she's autistic.
You know, I'll talk about mykids and they're just like,
they're bad.
Elizabeth Vallejo (13:49):
Yeah.
yeah, I do get that a lot.
I get a lot.
uh, I mean, my parents are alittle softer with the
grandchildren, but I I like totend to remind them, like, thank
you for your parenting advice.
But, like, I ended up in rehaband so we're gonna do things
differently this time.
And'cause I, I have a hard timewith, like, the gentle
parenting, like, sometimes I'mlike, did I gentle parent too
(14:09):
hard?
And I think me and you havetalked about this before.
like, Our kids are spoiled.
Like, I don't even wannasugarcoat it spoiled.
And I'm like, did I, did Igentle parent too hard?
But like, she has needs that Ididn't have when I was little,
or maybe I did.
And they, and, and now they'relike traumas.
Because nobody was payingattention or listening to me,
(14:30):
but so I do try and give myselfa lot of grace and going back to
the fitting in.
I feel like everything happensin the universe for a reason.
I think you know that about meand I think I was supposed to
break down that day for youbecause I didn't realize how
much I needed to relate tosomebody in the next coming
months because I remember I usedto text you outta nowhere and be
(14:51):
like, I'm gonna kill my kid.
I'm gonna kill my kid and you'dbe like, I'm gonna kill mine
too.
And we just related on adifferent level to where, you
know, my girlfriends don'talways understand what I'm going
through or, you know, also, youknow, the overcompensation of
like, it's literally just me andher.
It's always been me and her.
And I overcompensate for likethat missing piece of her life
(15:14):
that, you know, maybe her otherparent is in everything she
needed.
So I, when I try to tell myparents that they're like, no,
she's just spoiled.
Like.
You know, but, um, I, I do wannaget to your content creating
because I think it's so powerfulthat you have this platform and
this voice and not like goingback to the universe.
(15:34):
Because I do have a questionabout autism.
You said that you have problemswith big feelings, right?
Like I wish, imi.
Okay.
I wish, because my feelings areso big that they consume me.
This is why I became a lifecoach.
Like, I wanna help peoplebecause the anxiety just wakes
me up in the morning, It doesn'tlet me sleep.
I have such big feelings that Ifeel like sometimes it's like
(15:56):
subtitles are coming out and youcan hear my thoughts.
So, I wonder, in your traits,does this let you like, do
things without overthinking themand just like, be bold?
Ayumi Moore (16:11):
No, it's the opposite.
I do have big feelings.
I do.
Yeah.
I
Elizabeth Vallejo (16:16):
Oh,
Ayumi Moore (16:16):
big feelings.
I'm just saying, um, I met likeI, versus a child having big
feelings, how they express itversus adult.
I,
Elizabeth Vallejo (16:24):
Oh
Ayumi Moore (16:25):
I have huge feelings.
Elizabeth Vallejo (16:28):
yeah.
Ayumi Moore (16:28):
have severe anxiety.
I have, I don't know how I'm notdrinking and doing anything
because, because man, if thatwas anyone else, they're
probably a drug addict oralcoholic because I have severe
anxiety.
I have severe, um, I'm just beentold my entire life.
You're so emotional.
You're so sensitive I couldbreak down, cry, scream, get
(16:51):
mad.
I have a short temper.
The past couple years, I'm muchbetter.
Elizabeth Vallejo (16:57):
I love that.
Ayumi Moore (16:58):
good.
It was not good.
Elizabeth Vallejo (17:01):
So then tell me how you became a content
creator.
Because, I, and then I'll, I'lltell you a little bit how I,
after, how I managed thosethings, because I, I just
couldn't go through life likethat.
But I wanna know how did youhave like, the balls to just
start content creating?
Like, how did it happen?
Ayumi Moore (17:19):
I always had big dreams.
ever since I was a kid, I'mlike, I wanna be a star.
I wanna be a singer, I model,something, um, a doctor, a
dentist, you know, I was gonnado that, gonna medical school
during COVID, but consecrationstarted popping off, but my
friend, she suggested it.
(17:40):
She has a, um, a teenager at thetime.
And she's like, Hey, like.
My daughter watches theseinfluencers, these YouTubers.
They're like 19 and they makemillions of dollars.
She's like, I think you shoulddo it.
Like, why not try it?
You could make it the potentialof these youngins.
You know, and I'm just like,that doesn't sound too bad.
You know, I'm like,
Elizabeth Vallejo (18:00):
Yeah.
It sounds great.
Ayumi Moore (18:02):
it sounds great.
So I looked into it and, youknow, researching.
I'm like, wow, these people aremaking millions of dollars.
I'm like, okay, I need to dothis.
So I'm, I just.
Started making a YouTube channelan Instagram from scratch, and I
just didn't know what I wasdoing'cause I have no friends in
(18:22):
content creation, so I'm justliterally copying what everyone
is doing, and I'm getting noviews, no following, and, you
know, um, I technically startedthis like around 2017 18, like
not full time, but just tryingto,
Elizabeth Vallejo (18:38):
yeah.
Ayumi Moore (18:39):
trying to Figure it out, you know, so I started
around 2017 18 while I'm incollege.
full-time college trying tobalance both and It wasn't going
good It was very cringey.
It was very lame.
It was very a hard watch I can'teven they're deleted that's how
bad they were but
Elizabeth Vallejo (18:58):
Oh my God.
I was about to say, I'm gonna goback and look at them.
Ayumi Moore (19:01):
They're gone because I am not going to punish
myself like that.
So 2020 is when COVID hit andthat's when TikTok started
getting bigger and I'm gettingmore, you know, practice.
I'm doing more research.
I am figuring out that.
Oh, you gotta have a niche.
Oh, you gotta, you know, youjust can't post videos and just
(19:23):
call it a day.
And just, you know, I'm likedoing research.
I'm reading, I'm watchinghundreds of videos on how to
grow, how to become a contentcreator.
And that.
my year when I gained over ahundred thousand followers.
Um, and I started to understandhow this career work instead of
(19:44):
just
Elizabeth Vallejo (19:44):
So what's your niche?
What was your first, what wasthe first image that you had of
like your niche?
Ayumi Moore (19:52):
My first niche was family, I believe.
Elizabeth Vallejo (19:54):
Okay.
Ayumi Moore (19:55):
Yeah, it was like husband and kids.
Mostly my kids.
We got like the most views whenit's like,
Elizabeth Vallejo (20:04):
Well, cause they're really cute.
Ayumi Moore (20:06):
Oh, thank you.
But Sky was really good atlip-syncing.
So Sky will like lip sync allthe TikTok trends.
a hundred thousand views, ahundred thousand millions.
And She
Elizabeth Vallejo (20:15):
Wow.
Ayumi Moore (20:15):
three Like three at the time.
So she was killing it and youknow, she's neurodivergent too.
So she was going viral for beingable to lip sync better than
adults, like these skits andstuff,
Elizabeth Vallejo (20:28):
I love
Ayumi Moore (20:28):
she'll get it on the first, second try.
It was very gifted.
Elizabeth Vallejo (20:32):
Wow.
That's incredible.
Okay.
So you started off as family.
So your audience has literallyjust gone through an entire
journey with you, right?
Because now you are not marriedand it's just you and the girls.
And I mean, that's how I metyou.
Um, actually I met you on avideo call where you were moving
into your house and you stilllike stopped.
(20:54):
It was like a crazy day and youstopped to take this meeting and
I'm like, she is such a boss.
Like
Ayumi Moore (20:58):
Oh
Elizabeth Vallejo (21:00):
yeah, You are moving into the house that you
just moved out of.
Mm-hmm.
Ayumi Moore (21:03):
I was literally telling the movers this and this
while I'm having the meeting,like, all right, move it over
there.
That's so crazy.
You have
Elizabeth Vallejo (21:10):
Yeah.
So I met you as like fullysuccessful, like, but there is a
whole backstory to how thathappened.
And like, that's what a lot ofpeople I think don't realize.
And it's funny how the universeworks because, um, I just
listened to Mel Robbins podcast,which is my absolute favorite.
It's like the best way to wakeup.
And she was talking about howshe researched her podcast for
about two years.
(21:30):
And it's not about, um,thinking, you know, how to do
everything it's about, you know,Yes, copying other people that
are successful because nobodycould be you because there are I
mean we have a mutual friend Umlauren romero who hers is
family.
That's her niche and you guysare completely different
Ayumi Moore (21:49):
Yes.
Elizabeth Vallejo (21:50):
But you're doing the same thing, and you're
both hilarious, and you're bothconstantly on my top, because I
just adore both of you.
Um, so, how did you, how did youget comfortable being so
vulnerable?
Like, one, with the kids, right?
Because now you're exposing thekids.
And, and by the way, um,everybody that's listening, her
kids are incredible.
Um, sometimes I think, like, Oh,my God, she's gonna be a little
(22:14):
batty because did she just like,read?
did she just read you and thenyou posted it?
I'm like, I love how she justhumbled her.
What was it today where she waslike, she was like, uh, you
should clean your camera.
Ayumi Moore (22:26):
Oh yeah,
Elizabeth Vallejo (22:27):
Clean your phone.
Ayumi Moore (22:28):
yeah, she said, wash your phone girl.
I said, okay, I'll put in adishwasher.
Elizabeth Vallejo (22:34):
Yeah.
That is what you said.
Um, so what was it that allowedyou to be so vulnerable and
like, and even today, you'resuper vulnerable, like with, um.
The way that you create content,like what made it so easy for
you?
And I asked from somebody whodoes have really big feelings.
So I'm wondering, how do youmanage all of that?
I,
Ayumi Moore (22:55):
Man,
Elizabeth Vallejo (22:57):
I.
Ayumi Moore (22:57):
oh, I try my best to talk about topics that are
not controversial, that I won'tregret in the future.
And won't affect my kids.
So I'm very careful.
Um, I also try to talk abouttopics that will help people
(23:18):
like sharing my story or sharingmy experiences or just being
vulnerable.
of Like, look, my life isn'tperfect.
I'm struggling right now.
This is happening.
My finances aren't the best.
You know, like I try to just bevulnerable and to show that
social media is not real.
Like I don't care how nicesomeone's house is, how nice
their car is.
It's not real.
(23:39):
everybody's not gonna show whenher, you know, a girl and her
husband are fighting andarguing.
Like they see these couples andthey think they're perfect.
They see me and my ex, theythought we were the perfect
couple, but behind the scenes itwas not nowhere
Elizabeth Vallejo (23:54):
because you had a, you also had a very
public breakup and like, I seeit as like, Oh my God, she,
cause that's when I met you wasafter that.
And I was like, I.
She bounced back amazing, butwhat people don't see exactly
because we had texts back andforth where you're like, I've
been crying all day.
Like, that's what people don'tsee.
Um, I, um, I started thispodcast actually, because my, I
(24:20):
was, I contacted my ex-husband'sex Um, if I felt very strongly
in my soul that I had to reachout to her.
so my ex-husband's recent ex.
And that's actually our firstpodcast.
And, um, you know, I, I think aswomen, we always wanna sit down
and kind of talk to our ex's ex,especially when we have shared
(24:41):
experiences, but I kind of askedmyself and had a lot of
meditation and prayer over, isthis gonna help other people?
Is this gonna hurt my kids?
Because I share, you know, hisdaughter is still my
stepdaughter.
She's still a very big part ofmy life.
She's been to my retreats.
Um, and at the end of the day,what I got back, because, you
know, prayers, when you talk toGod, meditations, when he talks
(25:02):
back to you, and what I keptgetting was, you need to tell
this story because you have tohelp people one day and you
can't, um, you know, I sit andI, As a life coach, I work with
like 15 to 20 women a week andwe talk about heavy shit, but I
don't talk about it on mysocials and I rarely will say
certain words.
(25:23):
Like, you know, narcissist isnot a word that I normally say.
And when I sat down with afriend of mine.
To help put this podcasttogether.
She's like, but this is what youdo.
You help people get through, youknow, you're neurodivergent, you
help your clients get throughthat, but you've also been
through a lot of abuse, whetherit was financial narcissistic,
like you need to start talkingabout these things.
And I wanna always keep it likeso classy.
(25:45):
and like, am I gonna be proud ofmyself?
And I realized, Oh no, I couldtalk about this hard shit.
and be proud of myself in fiveto 10 years.
Like I'm not trying to ruinanybody's life.
I'm not trying to At the end ofthe day, if you don't wanna look
bad, don't do bad shit.
Seriously, if you don't want twoof your exes getting together,
(26:07):
and recording a podcast, don'tbe whatever it is.
We, yeah.
So, um, another thing I reallyadmired about you I don't wanna
talk a lot about it cause we'renot here to like talk about
boys, but what I really admiredabout you is like you really
did.
Hold your tongue up until today.
(26:28):
Like, how do you having such bigfeelings?
Like, do you see a therapist?
Do you like what is it that youdo to take care of yourself?
Because you know being diagnosedgoing through a public breakup
Raising two little ones on yourown.
Like, how do you how does IMItake care of imi?
Ayumi Moore (26:50):
Oh yeah, but that's something that I struggle with,
but um, therapy, therapy was mybiggest thing that I did after
the divorce.
I was getting therapy prior todivorce.
I've always been going totherapy, like most of my adult
life, but of course after thedivorce.
The.
Divorce.
I tried to be very consistent.
(27:12):
So like weekly I did that andthen I did family therapy with
my kids.
So twice, two to three times aweek I was seeing therapy with
myself and my kids to make suremy kids are okay.
So that was one way.
Another way was, I wasjournaling, I was working out, I
was going on vacation, I went tothe retreat.
Um, so traveling, vacation,Doing hobbies, like I'm like,
(27:35):
I'm gonna find myself'cause Ilost myself in the marriage.
I'm gonna find myself.
I'm gonna dance again.
I took dance classes.
I started skateboarding.
I started doing fashion again.
I just love fashion, but I was,you know, lost and wasn't doing
things that I love.
So I just started focusing onthings that I loved again.
I started hanging out withfriends.
(27:58):
I started doing things that Iwouldn't normally do, like going
out with my friends, um, youknow, things like that.
So, just, Focusing on thingsthat I love, making sure my
mental health is okay so my, Icould take care of my kids to
the best of my ability, makingsure they're okay.
Making sure they go on tripswith me, making sure we have
(28:22):
bonding quality time together.
So that's what I did.
I think basically like justshifting away from caring so
much about what others think andmaking everybody else happy.
I'm like, I gotta make myselfhappy.
I gotta take care of myself anddo everything that I always
wanted to do that I couldn't.
I'm gonna do it now.
Elizabeth Vallejo (28:42):
Yeah, and now you got, uh, weekends free.
Ayumi Moore (28:47):
Weeks.
Elizabeth Vallejo (28:49):
Oh, you guys do one week on one week off.
Ayumi Moore (28:51):
Yes.
But I, he only
Elizabeth Vallejo (28:54):
Oh.
Ayumi Moore (28:54):
his biological daughter.
Elizabeth Vallejo (28:57):
Yeah, you still have the oldest one, but
it is it is sometimes easier.
And I find, like, especiallywith, like, clients that are
going through that where they'relike.
You know, my teenager needed memore than I, than I knew.
And once the little one went tohi, his dad's like, Oh my God, I
had so much time with myteenager.
I don't know anything about thatbecause my daughter is literally
the star of this house in thecenter of my universe.
(29:18):
And I'm like, sometimes I'mlike, I'm allowed to say no.
Um, I am.
Yeah.
Even to her, I'm a big believerin therapy.
I think everybody I go totherapy.
Um, I have done family therapywith my daughter and it was like
twice a week and it was, it's,it gets really intense.
But I feel like, yeah, and Ifeel like it's such a beautiful
way for us to have just like asafe space.
(29:40):
Um, I mean, that's what I do asa life coach is I create a safe
space for people.
So most of my clients havetherapists and they see their
therapist on a Monday andthey'll see me on a Tuesday and
it works really, really greattogether.
Especially if you're doing anysort of trauma therapy, like
EMDR, it goes really great withcoaching.
Um, but I did wanna talk aboutthe retreat because you're
(30:01):
right.
You came to the retreat you werein this like moment of like
transition and you were like,you have no idea how much I need
this.
So what are some things that youmaybe took from the retreat that
someone that's never been to aretreat?
Because that's, that's thewhole, that's my whole Dharma,
right?
Is I create these retreatsbecause I wanna teach people all
these modalities I wannaintroduce them to them and then
(30:24):
I want them to come home withwhatever works for them.
So for someone that's like neverbeen to a retreat, what do you
think you could tell them tolike expect or what you got out
of it?
Ayumi Moore (30:36):
I felt like it was like a detox, like a cleanse.
It was amazing from mentally,physically, spiritually.
I.
It was the perfect time,honestly.
like when I came to
Elizabeth Vallejo (30:48):
And you weren't even supposed to come.
That's how
Ayumi Moore (30:50):
I
Elizabeth Vallejo (30:50):
the
Ayumi Moore (30:50):
oh yeah!
Elizabeth Vallejo (30:51):
works.
You were a last minute add-on.
I feel like I I remember addingyou on like three weeks before
to the point that our mutualfriendly set didn't even know
when she was coming.
Ayumi Moore (31:02):
I know, it was so, she, I was like, girl, it's in
two days, she's like, oh, I didit back.
But yeah, it it, it's, it wasthe perfect time, and I know,
even for Lasette.
You know how she had herspiritual awakenings and stuff
like that, and seeing hergrandpa, spoke to her grandpa
who passed away, and when I tellyou when she came back to Vegas,
(31:24):
she was a different person.
Hitting the gym, I don't know ifyou remember, literally dieted,
hit the gym, was journaling,killing it, got a six pack,
like, she definitely
Elizabeth Vallejo (31:35):
She was like snatched after that.
Ayumi Moore (31:37):
I'm telling you, she transformed after that
retreat, like, she did betterthan me, I was still going
through a lot of things, she didbetter than me, but, um, it was
just amazing, like, I needed itso much, and during that time,
during the retreat, I was stillnot who I am today, like, I was
still transitioning, stillquiet, still not open with who I
(32:00):
really am, I'm a totallydifferent person then but you
know it takes a long time toheal after being in a situation
for 10 years.
So I was still you know not myblossom butterfly or flower that
I am today.
That's another reason why Iprobably why I was still quiet
because you know I had a lot of
Elizabeth Vallejo (32:20):
Yeah.
You were
Ayumi Moore (32:22):
and Oh yeah, processing.
I was shy and I'm thinking aboutmy kids.
I'm moving.
Um, it was just a lot going on,but it, it it really was a big
step on who I am today, likethat transformation, that
Elizabeth Vallejo (32:36):
Oh my god, I love
Ayumi Moore (32:37):
cleanse.
Oh yeah.
It was great.
Elizabeth Vallejo (32:39):
And that's the thing about healing too,
right?
Because you had a reallybeautiful experience, which I
actually, which is you got to gowith your best friend.
Lisa is literally your bestie.
It's not even for show.
I have two best friends comingum, on my retreat next week, and
this is their second retreatwith us, and they come together.
And, you know, I like to tellpeople, All the time that like
(33:00):
healing does not there's no pathand there's no, like, we can't
compare because Lizette isliterally my MVP.
Like, I constantly bring her upwhere I'm like, okay, she came
in and she's just like a ball ofenergy.
And I did not expect her life tochange.
But something about me is thateveryone that comes to my
(33:20):
retreats, I stay in contact witheverybody, like, whether I'm
like, Following you guys on yoursocials that I'm your biggest
fans or like, we have drop-insessions where we just wanna see
what's going on or like, youknow, um, Danny, the one from
Miami, she just launched herpodcast.
Yeah, and she, like, asked me tocome and do the meditation, but
like, our schedules didn't workout.
(33:41):
I just got her baby's bur aChristmas card and she sent me a
goodie bag from everything fromher lunch party.
Like.
I don't think that it's acoincidence that we meet, and I
think that, yeah, so for me it'sreally important, so seeing her
thrive and the way that Lisathrived was so beautiful to
watch, and even like today, Ithink we had a call last month,
(34:03):
or right before Christmas, likeshe's becoming a grandmother, by
the way, like the hottestgrandmother I've
Ayumi Moore (34:08):
Oh yeah.
Oh, yeah.
Elizabeth Vallejo (34:10):
Yeah.
And I am like, I, uh, first ofall, I love following you guys
because when you guys are conwhen you have friends that are
content creators, I wanna dropin and be like, wait, did that
just really happen?
Ayumi Moore (34:20):
Oh, yeah.
Elizabeth Vallejo (34:22):
Or like, I'll constantly call Lauren and be
like, wait, what's the surprise?
She's like, okay, I'll tell you,but don't say anything.
Ayumi Moore (34:27):
Right.
Elizabeth Vallejo (34:28):
I'm like, That's how I keep tabs on you
guys is like, cause you guys arevery, very vulnerable.
Um, how do the kids feel aboutbeing on camera?
Because you're telling me sky'sbeen on camera since she was
little and now she's in herraging teen years or she's a
preteen going into them, right?
Ayumi Moore (34:44):
Sky, uh, kind of.
She's gonna be nine soon.
Elizabeth Vallejo (34:48):
Oh, I'm sorry.
No, your oldest.
How old is your oldest?
Ayumi Moore (34:51):
She's 14 gonna be 15.
So she's a teenager.
teenager.
She's
Elizabeth Vallejo (34:55):
girl.
Yeah, that's like the, these arebeen the scariest years of my
life.
Um, how does she feel aboutbeing on camera?
Ayumi Moore (35:03):
She loves it.
She wants to be an actress or acontent creator when she grows
up.
So she's like, She loves it.
She just doesn't like mycontent.
Elizabeth Vallejo (35:13):
Oh yeah.
No.
'cause we're cringey.
Mm-hmm.
Ayumi Moore (35:15):
like my content.
So, um, you know, she thinksmine is cringey, blah, blah,
blah.
So she's at the age where she'sjust like in her room 24 7.
So she's not on camera.
Like she used to be where shewas young and okay.
Like now she's just like, I'mjust gonna be watching TV or on
my phone or, you know, checkedin my room.
So now Sky is more, you know,like, let's do the, um, we
(35:35):
listen, we don't judgechallenge.
Let's do this.
Like she's Now she's want to goon the camera and all that
stuff, but Yuri loves it.
That's what she wants to do.
She has done commercials.
She has been on Nickelodeon, andCox Cable, like she apps, um,
Sky.
It just depends how she feels,but I don't ever force them to
do anything, like that's thelast thing I want them to do.
(35:58):
Plus, I'm kind of like shiftingaway, putting them on social
media as much because there aremean comments.
They're old enough to read.
They don't have social media,but, you know, people from their
school might tell'em one day, soI'm just very careful and
limiting putting my kids onsocial media all the time.
If it's an innocent video wherewe're sharing a moment, that's
fine.
You know, those don't go asviral as a skit where crazy
(36:23):
people will say crazy things.
So, I'm just focusing on mebeing the brand this year.
But, overall When they wanna beon my video, I'll let them go
ahead.
Sure.
The audience
Elizabeth Vallejo (36:35):
I love that because that that was literally
my next question.
What is next for imi?
Like, what is it that, you know,is your niche still family?
'cause I see your niche.
First of all, I get a lot ofinspiration from you.
I'll be like, where did you getthat?
You're like, the link is in thebio.
I'm like, Oh,
Ayumi Moore (36:52):
Everything's in my bio.
Elizabeth Vallejo (36:54):
I love it.
And no, you, first of all, youjust posted some lights for your
house.
I'm like, was all up in thatlink.
I was like, how do I get theselights?
Because they were so cute.
You do have like impeccable, um,taste, not just in home, not
just in fashion, but like yourhouse.
I think I sent you a text acouple months ago where I'm
like, I know your house smellsincredible.
I could see it.
Ayumi Moore (37:14):
Oh yeah, you said that.
You sure did.
I tried to.
I love Things that smell good.
Elizabeth Vallejo (37:21):
who doesn't.
So what is next for you?
Ayumi Moore (37:24):
What is next for me?
So nobody knows this really Soeverybody This is It's still VIP
Elizabeth Vallejo (37:33):
Okay.
I love it.
Just for my listeners.
Ayumi Moore (37:37):
Yes, just for your listeners.
Um so Social media is veryUnpredictable.
Okay, Tiktoks about to be goneand that's my biggest pain
platform
Elizabeth Vallejo (37:48):
Jesus.
Ayumi Moore (37:49):
That's where I get all my brand deals is TikTok.
That's where I have my biggestfollowing, you know, almost
700,000 followers and that'sabout to go goodbye.
So since last year I decidedthat I'm gonna do real real
estate.
Um, just to have, a backup justto have another source of income
(38:11):
because Man, let me just tellyou my income got cut by like 70
last year So i'm like this isnot gonna work The, in like the
year prior.
I was killing it making sixfigures a month now it Not even
close.
So, um, it's it's very scary andi'm like, okay, I have to do
something I can't do a nine tofive'cause I can't afford where
(38:33):
i'm living with a nine to fiveUnless I'm a surgeon and I can't
become a surgeon overnight.
Elizabeth Vallejo (38:37):
yeah, no, it's too late for us.
Ayumi Moore (38:40):
it's too late for us.
So now that, you know,entrepreneurs make lump sums of
money, and it's very hard to gobackwards from that.
So I'm like real estate.
I love real estate.
I always wanted to become arealtor.
I, I've done real estateinvesting before.
So I'm like, perfect.
I could become a realtor and doluxury, Real estate while doing
(39:00):
investment properties as well asas having assets.
So that is my next Project isgetting my license this year As
soon as possible when thingsslow down'cause life has been
crazy.
I have boxes all around me.
You guys can't see
Elizabeth Vallejo (39:16):
Oh, yeah, because you just moved.
Ayumi Moore (39:18):
I just moved so Ignore my ugly background.
I'm fighting for my life rightnow.
So yeah, that's my And youtubeyoutube and instagram like i'm
trying to grow those platforms.
So yeah, just a new career pathand I think it's better to have
multiple sources of skills and
Elizabeth Vallejo (39:37):
Yes.
Ayumi Moore (39:38):
because you never know, you know,
Elizabeth Vallejo (39:40):
are, yeah, no, you never know.
So are you going to document allthis?
Are you gonna show us how you'regonna be a real estate agent?
Like, are you gonna give us tipsand tricks?
Am I gonna see your wardrobe?
Because you already have all the
Ayumi Moore (39:52):
already know I'm about to be the flyest real
estate agent.
I'm telling y'all
Elizabeth Vallejo (39:57):
And in Las Vegas.
Ayumi Moore (39:59):
in Las Vegas.
I'm trying to get the Raiders.
Y'all need a house.
Elizabeth Vallejo (40:03):
Yes,
Ayumi Moore (40:04):
Y'all need a house?
I got you.
So You know hollywood is comingto vegas in the next couple
years.
So i'm like perfect celebrityclient So i'm like, let me get
this going now so I can get mycelebrity clientele up But that
is my goal selling sunset lasvegas, whatever you wanna call
it
Elizabeth Vallejo (40:22):
she is ready to audition, ladies and
gentlemen.
She is prepared.
Ayumi Moore (40:26):
And uh, yeah, I am going to document it.
I'm gonna i'll probably evendocument me going to school and
Elizabeth Vallejo (40:33):
I love that.
Yes, please.
Ayumi Moore (40:35):
Yeah, I guess I'm gonna
Elizabeth Vallejo (40:36):
I, I feel like, I feel like this is so
good because I.
You know, you know what it'slike to rebuild your entire
career to have to rebrandyourself like teach us How
because a lot of people don'tknow how to do that and like to
me in my head That's likeanother one of your superpowers.
Like, do you know how brave itis to go?
I cannot do a nine to five.
(40:57):
A lot of people don't evenbelieve that.
I've met people that are sotalented and are so scared, so
scared to live their Dharma.
And I think when you were at theretreat, the last meditation
that we did,'cause I love to endthe retreats this way was to how
find your Dharma meditation.
Right?
And I get people that get soemotional because they hate
(41:17):
their job and they know whatthey wanna do, but they're so
scared to take that leap.
So you have been so inspiring.
Like, I know you're gonnainspire people with this
conversation.
You inspired me.
I'm sitting here going like, doI need another job?
But I don't because I've takenon I've I have too many jobs.
I have too many jobs.
Um, But thank you so much forsitting down with me and for
(41:39):
just telling us our, your story,'cause it is so inspiring.
And we didn't even get into,like, you being in the army.
We didn't get into so manythings, which just means you're
gonna have to come back.
And, um, yeah, and then I would,You know, I always like to love
to stay in touch with you, butI'm gonna now start sending you
a whole bunch of self-love stuffbecause I know you need it.
(41:59):
The life coach in me.
I am your, I'm your unofficiallife coach.
And And I'm probably gonna startsending you all of that stuff.
Yeah.
No, if you let me love you, Iwill literally smother the
people in my life.
So I have to be very carefulwith that because I have very
big feelings.
I know.
Right.
And it's and I think that'swhat's so hard.
I think that's why I related toyou so much because.
It is not easy in these streetstrying to raise little girls.
(42:21):
And, you know, there's, there'snot a lot of us that are doing
it with so much, which is somuch.
So when you meet another momlike that, I'm, I mean, cause
you'd be in shock.
You're just getting into itright now.
But I have little girls thatcome over here and their parents
don't even know where they are.
What I am watching my kid whenthe second she leaves this, I
know exactly where she is at alltimes.
So I love meeting moms like me,me.
(42:45):
seeing me and other moms.
I love it.
And you were there for me when Idon't even think you knew how
powerful you were.
Those times I texted you and Iwould voice note you and you
were always answering soquickly.
So I am as a fan of yours, I'mso excited to see what's coming
and I'm so excited to, cause Iknow you're gonna succeed.
Um, tell the listeners wherethey can follow you so that they
(43:07):
can continue to be inspired.
And you know what?
Give us your TikTok becauseTikTok might still be a thing.
Ayumi Moore (43:12):
okay, so my TikTok is imi more,
Elizabeth Vallejo (43:16):
Okay.
Ayumi Moore (43:17):
and YouTube is IMI official.
Elizabeth Vallejo (43:20):
Awesome.
And we're gonna link all of thisin the, in the little bio down
so everybody can find you.
And thanks again so much forbeing here.
We're gonna have to do thisagain.
Ayumi Moore (43:29):
Oh yeah, thank you so much for having me.
I had a great time.
Elizabeth Vallejo (43:32):
Okay.
Elizabeth Vajello (43:34):
Okay.
Now for the legal stuff, youknow the important things that I
have to say, this podcast is foreducational and entertainment
purposes only.
I'm just a life coach, not alicensed therapist.
Not a licensed psychotherapist.
This is not a substitute foradvice from a doctor, therapist,
or any other qualified expert.
Got great.
(43:55):
See you in the next episode.
Welcome to the Holistic Self-Love podcast.
I'm Elizabeth Vajero, a lifecoach here to help you build
healthy habits for real change.
Join me as we explore practicalways to reduce your stress, find
balance, and feel your bestevery day.
Elizabeth Vallejo (00:17):
Welcome to the holistic Self-Love podcast.
I am so excited because as youknow, on this podcast, we like
to interview people that haveinspirational stories, and we
like to teach everybody newmodalities and new ways that
they can help themselves andkind of, you know, better their
life.
So I'm so excited to be joinedby IMI Moore today.
(00:39):
IMI has a very, very inspiringstory.
We actually met in my firstretreat ever.
And I don't know what it wasabout her, but on our last day,
on our last hour, I just lookedat her and I just started crying
and it was my retreat.
And I was the facilitator.
Um, now that I've gotten to knowher a little bit more and, um,
really gotten to know herthrough her social media,
(01:00):
because I, OMI is a contentcreator.
I realized why that is.
And it's because she is soauthentic, so authentically
herself.
And for some reason, my nervoussystem just felt safe to just
break down in that hallway toyou and just start crying and.
Turns out we had a lot of thingsin common that we didn't even
know we had.
So IMI was born in Japan, whichI think is incredible.
(01:22):
Um, at 18 years old, you joinedthe army and served our country,
which is incredible, incrediblyinspiring.
Um, during COVID, she decided totransition into content
creating.
And then at 30 years old wasdiagnosed with autism.
So welcome to the HolisticSelf-Love Podcast, Imi, Thank
(01:43):
you so much for being here.
Ayumi Moore (01:45):
Thank you for having me.
Elizabeth Vallejo (01:48):
Um, I was so excited to sit down with you
because, you know, to bediagnosed at 30 is incredible.
Um, but not just that, you know,I don't think a lot of people
understand what beingneurodivergent is.
I am also neurodivergent and wetend to share a lot of
characteristics.
And I don't think peopleunderstand that.
I think we live in a little bitof a culture where people are
(02:09):
like, am I autistic?
Am I not autistic?
So I kind of just wanna dive inand start with that.
How did you even Think to getyourself diagnosed.
Like, did you have like thing,traits that you noticed in
yourself?
Ayumi Moore (02:22):
Um, yeah, so I have a daughter, and my oldest
daughter, Was struggling withher mental health for a very
long time and Doctors couldn'tfigure it out They're giving her
every diagnosis under their,under the Sun and I just knew it
(02:42):
wasn't right.
It didn't sound like her Um, SoI had to do my own research and
I found that Autistic traitsthat she had are sounds just
like her So I suggested to thedoctors like how about we do an
evaluation for autism.
Um, and that's when she gotdiagnosed right away.
(03:04):
to like, It was pretty easy.
Um, it just took a long time forthem to even think about that
because females have differenttraits than males.
And, uh, I you then I researchedmore and come to find out women
have different traits thanlittle girls.
(03:25):
So.
Yeah, that's, at the beginning,I'm like, I can't have autism
because I don't do what shedoes, but after watching other
women my age or in theirtwenties and thirties who got
diagnosed recently, um, I.
I learned that we have differenttraits than children.
Of course, children arechildren, so they show their
(03:48):
feelings differently than howwomen are.
So, we might be more quiet orhave Severe anxiety or we stem a
different way versus a littlegirl.
They might cry if they'reoverstimulated versus us.
We're like, we'll just stayhome.
Elizabeth Vallejo (04:02):
I think it's funny that you said that because
at the retreat, when we met, youcame up to me at one point and
you said, I'm just really quiet,but I'm having a really great
time.
And I was like, I didn't evennotice that.
Like, and just for some likebackstory, um, IMI came to The
Anchor and she was part of a, wewere launching The Anchor.
So it was you and many otherinfluencers.
(04:24):
And as you know, influencerstend to be very animated and
take up a lot of space in theroom.
IMI was not like this.
Um, sometimes I'm like, oh mygosh, she's just over there
hanging out.
And turns out you were creatingcontent.
And I had no idea.
Until I saw you post it.
And I'm like, oh, that's whatshe was doing.
But I never once thought like,oh, why is she so quiet or
(04:45):
anything like that?
I was just like, oh, she's.
a very elegant put togetherwoman that just is observing all
of us.
I'm like, oh my God, she'sliterally taking
Ayumi Moore (04:54):
I get put together.
That's so funny.
Elizabeth Vallejo (04:58):
but you totally were.
Your outfits were on point.
You were never late.
You weren't sloppy.
You know, you and m sharedsomething where we both don't
drink.
So you were never like out ofcharacter.
You were just, you know, to me,you seemed extremely elegant and
like put together.
And you know, me, girl, I usedto, I used to work in fashion.
So I noticed all of your things.
I was like, I know, all.
(05:19):
I know everything she's wearing,but you said something and I
just recently went through thisand we haven't even spoken about
this where I was strugglingwith, um, the doctors wanting to
diagnose my daughter witheverything and I knew, like, I
knew in my soul.
I knew in my heart'cause I haveA-D-H-D-I, I am dyslexic.
I have PTSD.
I have all the things.
(05:40):
I.
And I knew that that was notwhat she had and I was, you
know, they were so quick tomedicate her and I kept going.
Nope.
I need another doctor.
I need another doctor.
I need another doctor untilfinally somebody heard me and
she did not have a DHD, Youknow, what I'm saying she did
not have all the things thatthey wanted to put her on.
And I was like, for me, I'vebeen medicated since I was, I
(06:02):
was medicated from 19 to 34.
And I didn't want that for herand I have now been nine years
with no medication and able to,uh, handle all of my, I don't
even like to call them symptomsor tr they're my superpower, you
know, like, I use them becauseour, we just learn differently
and we use a different side ofour brain and society isn't
(06:24):
built for that.
So I love that.
You like, honored yourintuition, which is the way that
I, as a life coach, I'm like,oh, she was listening to her
intuition.
Um, but I wanted to ask, like.
Once you got that diagnosis, notjust for your daughter, but for
you, like, did you feel a senseof like, Oh,
Ayumi Moore (06:41):
Oh yeah, I, oh yeah, I felt, um, it was a
mixture of emotions.
First I was sad for my daughterbecause at the time I didn't
know how, I'm like what did I dowrong when I was pregnant?
Like, there's so many thoughts,you know, like, oh, is it?
Is there my fault or she has tolive with this forever?
Um, you know, I was ignorant anddidn't know much about it.
(07:03):
Just sounded scary at the time.
And, um, after I got diagnosedand everything's clear, I was
like, oh yay, now I'm validatedfor everything.
I was feeling with parents andrelationships, like, I knew that
there was something differentabout me.
that I knew why I had issueswith communications and like,
(07:25):
big emotions.
is because I had.
you know, I have a neurologicaldisorder and it's, not my fault.
outta my control.
That's why I struggled inschool.
I mean, I have a learningdisorder too, dyslexia.
Um, so it just all makes sense.
And I was just like, Oh, I'm notstupid.
I'm not crazy.
(07:45):
I'm not, you know, all thesenegative things.
And then I was like, okay, timeto research.
So I bought a whole bunch ofbooks, started following a whole
Creators with the samediagnosis, and I feel like I'm
not alone anymore.
I used to feel alone, like I'mthe only person on the planet
who is different and just Thinksdifferently and talks
(08:06):
differently, but no, I'm not.
There's other people out therebut the same Neurological
disability or disorder if youwanna call it or superpower, you
know um, I think it's asuperpower too because honestly,
um, I have so many cool thingsin Ways to see the world in a
(08:30):
creative way that a lot ofpeople don't And,
Elizabeth Vallejo (08:34):
Like what?
Ayumi Moore (08:35):
like, um, I don't fit in, I guess, like the social
norms.
I never did.
I never, I felt like, um, youknow, as far as like gender
roles and stuff like that, I'mvery open.
I'm very open.
um, I'm very open.
(08:55):
I think I.
women could do anything theywant People could date whoever
they want like I don't care I'malmost like love is love So i'm
just very like I don't know openI am compared to maybe
neurotypical people um,
Elizabeth Vallejo (09:12):
Yeah.
Ayumi Moore (09:12):
so things like that and I just am gifted in
different ways that other peopleAren't able to easily catch on.
Like I could play an instrumentlike this.
I could learn
Elizabeth Vallejo (09:24):
Even being dyslexic.
Wait, can you read music?
Ayumi Moore (09:28):
Yeah,
Elizabeth Vallejo (09:29):
I had a hard time with that because I I kind
of feel what you're saying.
Like, I could I mean, and you'veexperienced it.
Like, I'll put a retreattogether.
I'll put an event together.
And I look at people.
I'm like, I, how do you not seethis?
How do
Ayumi Moore (09:41):
exactly.
It's not
Elizabeth Vallejo (09:43):
but I.
yeah, but like, you know, I'm,I'm a, I'm a kid.
I was born in the eighties,raised in the nineties, And,
They used to tell my mom, like,oh, she's just really lazy.
And it was like, oh, no, I wasnot lazy.
If anything, my brain was onoverload trying to understand.
I would get home exhausted.
And, um, you know, when you saidhow you started researching, I
(10:06):
think the one thing when mydaughter got diagnosed was that
I, I just threw myself intolike, how do I understand her
brain because I wish somebodywould've understood my brain
when I was little, you know, sonow it's like, when she goes
through anything, like, you talkabout big emotions, right?
Like, when she goes through bigemotions, um, I try to see,
(10:26):
well, where's her head at, youknow, like, where, what is she
going through right now?
And then I put myself in herposition and then I like to play
a game with her where I'm like,okay, is this your logic brain?
is this your logical brainthinking like our emotions, but
it also helps me because I feellike, like, when I told you, I
have a lot of the same traits.
I get overstimulated veryeasily.
(10:47):
I don't like certain fabrics.
I don't like certain noises.
Like, if we're in the car andyou're on TikTok, I will pull
over and drop you
Ayumi Moore (10:54):
Oh, saying, I hate that.
Elizabeth Vallejo (10:56):
we're
Ayumi Moore (10:57):
watch videos when I'm driving.
I hate
Elizabeth Vallejo (11:00):
no.
And it's like, and then peop I'mtrying to, I'm trying to keep us
alive in this vehicle.
Like, I can't hear anything butthe radio.
Um, so in a lot of ways, I feellike I can, um, I can relate to
a lot of people.
And the thing that you saidabout feeling like you belonged,
like you found your people, thatis so important as humans.
(11:20):
Like, that's why, that's whyretreats are so important.
Religions are so important.
That's why people need AAbecause we need to feel like we
belong.
And sometimes when we'reneurotypical, um, I felt like I
was alone my whole life.
I felt like, why, why don't Iunderstand these directions?
Why can't I take tests properly?
But then I'm great at all thecreative stuff.
(11:41):
So it never made sense, youknow?
So I love that you said thatbecause that is, um, I think
it's something to do also withlike, And I wanna talk about
your parents, right?
Because we're both, well, youweren't born here.
I'm first generation born here.
So I come from immigrant parentsand it is.
Completely different.
Like they don't know what A DHDis.
(12:03):
They don't know dyslexia.
Um, they don't understandemotions.
Ayumi Moore (12:08):
They don't,
Elizabeth Vallejo (12:10):
So how did you navigate through that?
Because I do know that yourparents are like a really big
part of your life.
Ayumi Moore (12:18):
Uh, I kind, well now, I just accepted it.
I'm like, it is what it the, itis.
They're old school.
They, back then, they're, theywere born in the fifties and
sixties, So, my parents areolder.
So, um, they More educated whenit came to neurodivergent
people.
What a DH is?
A DH, D is?
What is autism?
(12:40):
Even if I explain it to them,it's just like, you guys look
normal to me.
You know, it's just.
it's not cooking, you know, soI'm just like, it is what it is.
I can't change that.
So, um, of course I looked backand I told my parents like, why
didn't you see any of thesesigns?
Like they told me I couldn'tread, I.
(13:01):
they told me I couldn't do math.
They had to put me in special ededucation classes.
Um, I couldn't make friends likewhat they're like, well, you're
pass, like barely passing.
I mean, hey, you did get herback.
So, um, they're just like, Wedidn't see it.
We're old school.
We didn't know.
And you know, I'm not taking itpersonal.
It's not like they try to, um,not look into it, but they had
(13:24):
no idea.
I'm their first kid.
So they
Elizabeth Vallejo (13:27):
Oh, you're the oldest.
So how do they, how do you seethem moving differently with
your kids than they did withyou?
Ayumi Moore (13:36):
Nothing.
Nothing,
Elizabeth Vallejo (13:37):
Nothing, they're just,
Ayumi Moore (13:38):
nothing.
I told them, I'm like, you know,she does, she does this because
she's autistic.
You know, I'll talk about mykids and they're just like,
they're bad.
Elizabeth Vallejo (13:49):
Yeah.
yeah, I do get that a lot.
I get a lot.
uh, I mean, my parents are alittle softer with the
grandchildren, but I I like totend to remind them, like, thank
you for your parenting advice.
But, like, I ended up in rehaband so we're gonna do things
differently this time.
And'cause I, I have a hard timewith, like, the gentle
parenting, like, sometimes I'mlike, did I gentle parent too
(14:09):
hard?
And I think me and you havetalked about this before.
like, Our kids are spoiled.
Like, I don't even wannasugarcoat it spoiled.
And I'm like, did I, did Igentle parent too hard?
But like, she has needs that Ididn't have when I was little,
or maybe I did.
And they, and, and now they'relike traumas.
Because nobody was payingattention or listening to me,
(14:30):
but so I do try and give myselfa lot of grace and going back to
the fitting in.
I feel like everything happensin the universe for a reason.
I think you know that about meand I think I was supposed to
break down that day for youbecause I didn't realize how
much I needed to relate tosomebody in the next coming
months because I remember I usedto text you outta nowhere and be
(14:51):
like, I'm gonna kill my kid.
I'm gonna kill my kid and you'dbe like, I'm gonna kill mine
too.
And we just related on adifferent level to where, you
know, my girlfriends don'talways understand what I'm going
through or, you know, also, youknow, the overcompensation of
like, it's literally just me andher.
It's always been me and her.
And I overcompensate for likethat missing piece of her life
(15:14):
that, you know, maybe her otherparent is in everything she
needed.
So I, when I try to tell myparents that they're like, no,
she's just spoiled.
Like.
You know, but, um, I, I do wannaget to your content creating
because I think it's so powerfulthat you have this platform and
this voice and not like goingback to the universe.
(15:34):
Because I do have a questionabout autism.
You said that you have problemswith big feelings, right?
Like I wish, imi.
Okay.
I wish, because my feelings areso big that they consume me.
This is why I became a lifecoach.
Like, I wanna help peoplebecause the anxiety just wakes
me up in the morning, It doesn'tlet me sleep.
I have such big feelings that Ifeel like sometimes it's like
(15:56):
subtitles are coming out and youcan hear my thoughts.
So, I wonder, in your traits,does this let you like, do
things without overthinking themand just like, be bold?
Ayumi Moore (16:11):
No, it's the opposite.
I do have big feelings.
I do.
Yeah.
I
Elizabeth Vallejo (16:16):
Oh,
Ayumi Moore (16:16):
big feelings.
I'm just saying, um, I met likeI, versus a child having big
feelings, how they express itversus adult.
I,
Elizabeth Vallejo (16:24):
Oh
Ayumi Moore (16:25):
I have huge feelings.
Elizabeth Vallejo (16:28):
yeah.
Ayumi Moore (16:28):
have severe anxiety.
I have, I don't know how I'm notdrinking and doing anything
because, because man, if thatwas anyone else, they're
probably a drug addict oralcoholic because I have severe
anxiety.
I have severe, um, I'm just beentold my entire life.
You're so emotional.
You're so sensitive I couldbreak down, cry, scream, get
(16:51):
mad.
I have a short temper.
The past couple years, I'm muchbetter.
Elizabeth Vallejo (16:57):
I love that.
Ayumi Moore (16:58):
good.
It was not good.
Elizabeth Vallejo (17:01):
So then tell me how you became a content
creator.
Because, I, and then I'll, I'lltell you a little bit how I,
after, how I managed thosethings, because I, I just
couldn't go through life likethat.
But I wanna know how did youhave like, the balls to just
start content creating?
Like, how did it happen?
Ayumi Moore (17:19):
I always had big dreams.
ever since I was a kid, I'mlike, I wanna be a star.
I wanna be a singer, I model,something, um, a doctor, a
dentist, you know, I was gonnado that, gonna medical school
during COVID, but consecrationstarted popping off, but my
friend, she suggested it.
(17:40):
She has a, um, a teenager at thetime.
And she's like, Hey, like.
My daughter watches theseinfluencers, these YouTubers.
They're like 19 and they makemillions of dollars.
She's like, I think you shoulddo it.
Like, why not try it?
You could make it the potentialof these youngins.
You know, and I'm just like,that doesn't sound too bad.
You know, I'm like,
Elizabeth Vallejo (18:00):
Yeah.
It sounds great.
Ayumi Moore (18:02):
it sounds great.
So I looked into it and, youknow, researching.
I'm like, wow, these people aremaking millions of dollars.
I'm like, okay, I need to dothis.
So I'm, I just.
Started making a YouTube channelan Instagram from scratch, and I
just didn't know what I wasdoing'cause I have no friends in
(18:22):
content creation, so I'm justliterally copying what everyone
is doing, and I'm getting noviews, no following, and, you
know, um, I technically startedthis like around 2017 18, like
not full time, but just tryingto,
Elizabeth Vallejo (18:38):
yeah.
Ayumi Moore (18:39):
trying to Figure it out, you know, so I started
around 2017 18 while I'm incollege.
full-time college trying tobalance both and It wasn't going
good It was very cringey.
It was very lame.
It was very a hard watch I can'teven they're deleted that's how
bad they were but
Elizabeth Vallejo (18:58):
Oh my God.
I was about to say, I'm gonna goback and look at them.
Ayumi Moore (19:01):
They're gone because I am not going to punish
myself like that.
So 2020 is when COVID hit andthat's when TikTok started
getting bigger and I'm gettingmore, you know, practice.
I'm doing more research.
I am figuring out that.
Oh, you gotta have a niche.
Oh, you gotta, you know, youjust can't post videos and just
(19:23):
call it a day.
And just, you know, I'm likedoing research.
I'm reading, I'm watchinghundreds of videos on how to
grow, how to become a contentcreator.
And that.
my year when I gained over ahundred thousand followers.
Um, and I started to understandhow this career work instead of
(19:44):
just
Elizabeth Vallejo (19:44):
So what's your niche?
What was your first, what wasthe first image that you had of
like your niche?
Ayumi Moore (19:52):
My first niche was family, I believe.
Elizabeth Vallejo (19:54):
Okay.
Ayumi Moore (19:55):
Yeah, it was like husband and kids.
Mostly my kids.
We got like the most views whenit's like,
Elizabeth Vallejo (20:04):
Well, cause they're really cute.
Ayumi Moore (20:06):
Oh, thank you.
But Sky was really good atlip-syncing.
So Sky will like lip sync allthe TikTok trends.
a hundred thousand views, ahundred thousand millions.
And She
Elizabeth Vallejo (20:15):
Wow.
Ayumi Moore (20:15):
three Like three at the time.
So she was killing it and youknow, she's neurodivergent too.
So she was going viral for beingable to lip sync better than
adults, like these skits andstuff,
Elizabeth Vallejo (20:28):
I love
Ayumi Moore (20:28):
she'll get it on the first, second try.
It was very gifted.
Elizabeth Vallejo (20:32):
Wow.
That's incredible.
Okay.
So you started off as family.
So your audience has literallyjust gone through an entire
journey with you, right?
Because now you are not marriedand it's just you and the girls.
And I mean, that's how I metyou.
Um, actually I met you on avideo call where you were moving
into your house and you stilllike stopped.
(20:54):
It was like a crazy day and youstopped to take this meeting and
I'm like, she is such a boss.
Like
Ayumi Moore (20:58):
Oh
Elizabeth Vallejo (21:00):
yeah, You are moving into the house that you
just moved out of.
Mm-hmm.
Ayumi Moore (21:03):
I was literally telling the movers this and this
while I'm having the meeting,like, all right, move it over
there.
That's so crazy.
You have
Elizabeth Vallejo (21:10):
Yeah.
So I met you as like fullysuccessful, like, but there is a
whole backstory to how thathappened.
And like, that's what a lot ofpeople I think don't realize.
And it's funny how the universeworks because, um, I just
listened to Mel Robbins podcast,which is my absolute favorite.
It's like the best way to wakeup.
And she was talking about howshe researched her podcast for
about two years.
(21:30):
And it's not about, um,thinking, you know, how to do
everything it's about, you know,Yes, copying other people that
are successful because nobodycould be you because there are I
mean we have a mutual friend Umlauren romero who hers is
family.
That's her niche and you guysare completely different
Ayumi Moore (21:49):
Yes.
Elizabeth Vallejo (21:50):
But you're doing the same thing, and you're
both hilarious, and you're bothconstantly on my top, because I
just adore both of you.
Um, so, how did you, how did youget comfortable being so
vulnerable?
Like, one, with the kids, right?
Because now you're exposing thekids.
And, and by the way, um,everybody that's listening, her
kids are incredible.
Um, sometimes I think, like, Oh,my God, she's gonna be a little
(22:14):
batty because did she just like,read?
did she just read you and thenyou posted it?
I'm like, I love how she justhumbled her.
What was it today where she waslike, she was like, uh, you
should clean your camera.
Ayumi Moore (22:26):
Oh yeah,
Elizabeth Vallejo (22:27):
Clean your phone.
Ayumi Moore (22:28):
yeah, she said, wash your phone girl.
I said, okay, I'll put in adishwasher.
Elizabeth Vallejo (22:34):
Yeah.
That is what you said.
Um, so what was it that allowedyou to be so vulnerable and
like, and even today, you'resuper vulnerable, like with, um.
The way that you create content,like what made it so easy for
you?
And I asked from somebody whodoes have really big feelings.
So I'm wondering, how do youmanage all of that?
I,
Ayumi Moore (22:55):
Man,
Elizabeth Vallejo (22:57):
I.
Ayumi Moore (22:57):
oh, I try my best to talk about topics that are
not controversial, that I won'tregret in the future.
And won't affect my kids.
So I'm very careful.
Um, I also try to talk abouttopics that will help people
(23:18):
like sharing my story or sharingmy experiences or just being
vulnerable.
of Like, look, my life isn'tperfect.
I'm struggling right now.
This is happening.
My finances aren't the best.
You know, like I try to just bevulnerable and to show that
social media is not real.
Like I don't care how nicesomeone's house is, how nice
their car is.
It's not real.
(23:39):
everybody's not gonna show whenher, you know, a girl and her
husband are fighting andarguing.
Like they see these couples andthey think they're perfect.
They see me and my ex, theythought we were the perfect
couple, but behind the scenes itwas not nowhere
Elizabeth Vallejo (23:54):
because you had a, you also had a very
public breakup and like, I seeit as like, Oh my God, she,
cause that's when I met you wasafter that.
And I was like, I.
She bounced back amazing, butwhat people don't see exactly
because we had texts back andforth where you're like, I've
been crying all day.
Like, that's what people don'tsee.
Um, I, um, I started thispodcast actually, because my, I
(24:20):
was, I contacted my ex-husband'sex Um, if I felt very strongly
in my soul that I had to reachout to her.
so my ex-husband's recent ex.
And that's actually our firstpodcast.
And, um, you know, I, I think aswomen, we always wanna sit down
and kind of talk to our ex's ex,especially when we have shared
(24:41):
experiences, but I kind of askedmyself and had a lot of
meditation and prayer over, isthis gonna help other people?
Is this gonna hurt my kids?
Because I share, you know, hisdaughter is still my
stepdaughter.
She's still a very big part ofmy life.
She's been to my retreats.
Um, and at the end of the day,what I got back, because, you
know, prayers, when you talk toGod, meditations, when he talks
(25:02):
back to you, and what I keptgetting was, you need to tell
this story because you have tohelp people one day and you
can't, um, you know, I sit andI, As a life coach, I work with
like 15 to 20 women a week andwe talk about heavy shit, but I
don't talk about it on mysocials and I rarely will say
certain words.
(25:23):
Like, you know, narcissist isnot a word that I normally say.
And when I sat down with afriend of mine.
To help put this podcasttogether.
She's like, but this is what youdo.
You help people get through, youknow, you're neurodivergent, you
help your clients get throughthat, but you've also been
through a lot of abuse, whetherit was financial narcissistic,
like you need to start talkingabout these things.
And I wanna always keep it likeso classy.
(25:45):
and like, am I gonna be proud ofmyself?
And I realized, Oh no, I couldtalk about this hard shit.
and be proud of myself in fiveto 10 years.
Like I'm not trying to ruinanybody's life.
I'm not trying to At the end ofthe day, if you don't wanna look
bad, don't do bad shit.
Seriously, if you don't want twoof your exes getting together,
(26:07):
and recording a podcast, don'tbe whatever it is.
We, yeah.
So, um, another thing I reallyadmired about you I don't wanna
talk a lot about it cause we'renot here to like talk about
boys, but what I really admiredabout you is like you really
did.
Hold your tongue up until today.
(26:28):
Like, how do you having such bigfeelings?
Like, do you see a therapist?
Do you like what is it that youdo to take care of yourself?
Because you know being diagnosedgoing through a public breakup
Raising two little ones on yourown.
Like, how do you how does IMItake care of imi?
Ayumi Moore (26:50):
Oh yeah, but that's something that I struggle with,
but um, therapy, therapy was mybiggest thing that I did after
the divorce.
I was getting therapy prior todivorce.
I've always been going totherapy, like most of my adult
life, but of course after thedivorce.
The.
Divorce.
I tried to be very consistent.
(27:12):
So like weekly I did that andthen I did family therapy with
my kids.
So twice, two to three times aweek I was seeing therapy with
myself and my kids to make suremy kids are okay.
So that was one way.
Another way was, I wasjournaling, I was working out, I
was going on vacation, I went tothe retreat.
Um, so traveling, vacation,Doing hobbies, like I'm like,
(27:35):
I'm gonna find myself'cause Ilost myself in the marriage.
I'm gonna find myself.
I'm gonna dance again.
I took dance classes.
I started skateboarding.
I started doing fashion again.
I just love fashion, but I was,you know, lost and wasn't doing
things that I love.
So I just started focusing onthings that I loved again.
I started hanging out withfriends.
(27:58):
I started doing things that Iwouldn't normally do, like going
out with my friends, um, youknow, things like that.
So, just, Focusing on thingsthat I love, making sure my
mental health is okay so my, Icould take care of my kids to
the best of my ability, makingsure they're okay.
Making sure they go on tripswith me, making sure we have
(28:22):
bonding quality time together.
So that's what I did.
I think basically like justshifting away from caring so
much about what others think andmaking everybody else happy.
I'm like, I gotta make myselfhappy.
I gotta take care of myself anddo everything that I always
wanted to do that I couldn't.
I'm gonna do it now.
Elizabeth Vallejo (28:42):
Yeah, and now you got, uh, weekends free.
Ayumi Moore (28:47):
Weeks.
Elizabeth Vallejo (28:49):
Oh, you guys do one week on one week off.
Ayumi Moore (28:51):
Yes.
But I, he only
Elizabeth Vallejo (28:54):
Oh.
Ayumi Moore (28:54):
his biological daughter.
Elizabeth Vallejo (28:57):
Yeah, you still have the oldest one, but
it is it is sometimes easier.
And I find, like, especiallywith, like, clients that are
going through that where they'relike.
You know, my teenager needed memore than I, than I knew.
And once the little one went tohi, his dad's like, Oh my God, I
had so much time with myteenager.
I don't know anything about thatbecause my daughter is literally
the star of this house in thecenter of my universe.
(29:18):
And I'm like, sometimes I'mlike, I'm allowed to say no.
Um, I am.
Yeah.
Even to her, I'm a big believerin therapy.
I think everybody I go totherapy.
Um, I have done family therapywith my daughter and it was like
twice a week and it was, it's,it gets really intense.
But I feel like, yeah, and Ifeel like it's such a beautiful
way for us to have just like asafe space.
(29:40):
Um, I mean, that's what I do asa life coach is I create a safe
space for people.
So most of my clients havetherapists and they see their
therapist on a Monday andthey'll see me on a Tuesday and
it works really, really greattogether.
Especially if you're doing anysort of trauma therapy, like
EMDR, it goes really great withcoaching.
Um, but I did wanna talk aboutthe retreat because you're
(30:01):
right.
You came to the retreat you werein this like moment of like
transition and you were like,you have no idea how much I need
this.
So what are some things that youmaybe took from the retreat that
someone that's never been to aretreat?
Because that's, that's thewhole, that's my whole Dharma,
right?
Is I create these retreatsbecause I wanna teach people all
these modalities I wannaintroduce them to them and then
(30:24):
I want them to come home withwhatever works for them.
So for someone that's like neverbeen to a retreat, what do you
think you could tell them tolike expect or what you got out
of it?
Ayumi Moore (30:36):
I felt like it was like a detox, like a cleanse.
It was amazing from mentally,physically, spiritually.
I.
It was the perfect time,honestly.
like when I came to
Elizabeth Vallejo (30:48):
And you weren't even supposed to come.
That's how
Ayumi Moore (30:50):
I
Elizabeth Vallejo (30:50):
the
Ayumi Moore (30:50):
oh yeah!
Elizabeth Vallejo (30:51):
works.
You were a last minute add-on.
I feel like I I remember addingyou on like three weeks before
to the point that our mutualfriendly set didn't even know
when she was coming.
Ayumi Moore (31:02):
I know, it was so, she, I was like, girl, it's in
two days, she's like, oh, I didit back.
But yeah, it it, it's, it wasthe perfect time, and I know,
even for Lasette.
You know how she had herspiritual awakenings and stuff
like that, and seeing hergrandpa, spoke to her grandpa
who passed away, and when I tellyou when she came back to Vegas,
(31:24):
she was a different person.
Hitting the gym, I don't know ifyou remember, literally dieted,
hit the gym, was journaling,killing it, got a six pack,
like, she definitely
Elizabeth Vallejo (31:35):
She was like snatched after that.
Ayumi Moore (31:37):
I'm telling you, she transformed after that
retreat, like, she did betterthan me, I was still going
through a lot of things, she didbetter than me, but, um, it was
just amazing, like, I needed itso much, and during that time,
during the retreat, I was stillnot who I am today, like, I was
still transitioning, stillquiet, still not open with who I
(32:00):
really am, I'm a totallydifferent person then but you
know it takes a long time toheal after being in a situation
for 10 years.
So I was still you know not myblossom butterfly or flower that
I am today.
That's another reason why Iprobably why I was still quiet
because you know I had a lot of
Elizabeth Vallejo (32:20):
Yeah.
You were
Ayumi Moore (32:22):
and Oh yeah, processing.
I was shy and I'm thinking aboutmy kids.
I'm moving.
Um, it was just a lot going on,but it, it it really was a big
step on who I am today, likethat transformation, that
Elizabeth Vallejo (32:36):
Oh my god, I love
Ayumi Moore (32:37):
cleanse.
Oh yeah.
It was great.
Elizabeth Vallejo (32:39):
And that's the thing about healing too,
right?
Because you had a reallybeautiful experience, which I
actually, which is you got to gowith your best friend.
Lisa is literally your bestie.
It's not even for show.
I have two best friends comingum, on my retreat next week, and
this is their second retreatwith us, and they come together.
And, you know, I like to tellpeople, All the time that like
(33:00):
healing does not there's no pathand there's no, like, we can't
compare because Lizette isliterally my MVP.
Like, I constantly bring her upwhere I'm like, okay, she came
in and she's just like a ball ofenergy.
And I did not expect her life tochange.
But something about me is thateveryone that comes to my
(33:20):
retreats, I stay in contact witheverybody, like, whether I'm
like, Following you guys on yoursocials that I'm your biggest
fans or like, we have drop-insessions where we just wanna see
what's going on or like, youknow, um, Danny, the one from
Miami, she just launched herpodcast.
Yeah, and she, like, asked me tocome and do the meditation, but
like, our schedules didn't workout.
(33:41):
I just got her baby's bur aChristmas card and she sent me a
goodie bag from everything fromher lunch party.
Like.
I don't think that it's acoincidence that we meet, and I
think that, yeah, so for me it'sreally important, so seeing her
thrive and the way that Lisathrived was so beautiful to
watch, and even like today, Ithink we had a call last month,
(34:03):
or right before Christmas, likeshe's becoming a grandmother, by
the way, like the hottestgrandmother I've
Ayumi Moore (34:08):
Oh yeah.
Oh, yeah.
Elizabeth Vallejo (34:10):
Yeah.
And I am like, I, uh, first ofall, I love following you guys
because when you guys are conwhen you have friends that are
content creators, I wanna dropin and be like, wait, did that
just really happen?
Ayumi Moore (34:20):
Oh, yeah.
Elizabeth Vallejo (34:22):
Or like, I'll constantly call Lauren and be
like, wait, what's the surprise?
She's like, okay, I'll tell you,but don't say anything.
Ayumi Moore (34:27):
Right.
Elizabeth Vallejo (34:28):
I'm like, That's how I keep tabs on you
guys is like, cause you guys arevery, very vulnerable.
Um, how do the kids feel aboutbeing on camera?
Because you're telling me sky'sbeen on camera since she was
little and now she's in herraging teen years or she's a
preteen going into them, right?
Ayumi Moore (34:44):
Sky, uh, kind of.
She's gonna be nine soon.
Elizabeth Vallejo (34:48):
Oh, I'm sorry.
No, your oldest.
How old is your oldest?
Ayumi Moore (34:51):
She's 14 gonna be 15.
So she's a teenager.
teenager.
She's
Elizabeth Vallejo (34:55):
girl.
Yeah, that's like the, these arebeen the scariest years of my
life.
Um, how does she feel aboutbeing on camera?
Ayumi Moore (35:03):
She loves it.
She wants to be an actress or acontent creator when she grows
up.
So she's like, She loves it.
She just doesn't like mycontent.
Elizabeth Vallejo (35:13):
Oh yeah.
No.
'cause we're cringey.
Mm-hmm.
Ayumi Moore (35:15):
like my content.
So, um, you know, she thinksmine is cringey, blah, blah,
blah.
So she's at the age where she'sjust like in her room 24 7.
So she's not on camera.
Like she used to be where shewas young and okay.
Like now she's just like, I'mjust gonna be watching TV or on
my phone or, you know, checkedin my room.
So now Sky is more, you know,like, let's do the, um, we
(35:35):
listen, we don't judgechallenge.
Let's do this.
Like she's Now she's want to goon the camera and all that
stuff, but Yuri loves it.
That's what she wants to do.
She has done commercials.
She has been on Nickelodeon, andCox Cable, like she apps, um,
Sky.
It just depends how she feels,but I don't ever force them to
do anything, like that's thelast thing I want them to do.
(35:58):
Plus, I'm kind of like shiftingaway, putting them on social
media as much because there aremean comments.
They're old enough to read.
They don't have social media,but, you know, people from their
school might tell'em one day, soI'm just very careful and
limiting putting my kids onsocial media all the time.
If it's an innocent video wherewe're sharing a moment, that's
fine.
You know, those don't go asviral as a skit where crazy
(36:23):
people will say crazy things.
So, I'm just focusing on mebeing the brand this year.
But, overall When they wanna beon my video, I'll let them go
ahead.
Sure.
The audience
Elizabeth Vallejo (36:35):
I love that because that that was literally
my next question.
What is next for imi?
Like, what is it that, you know,is your niche still family?
'cause I see your niche.
First of all, I get a lot ofinspiration from you.
I'll be like, where did you getthat?
You're like, the link is in thebio.
I'm like, Oh,
Ayumi Moore (36:52):
Everything's in my bio.
Elizabeth Vallejo (36:54):
I love it.
And no, you, first of all, youjust posted some lights for your
house.
I'm like, was all up in thatlink.
I was like, how do I get theselights?
Because they were so cute.
You do have like impeccable, um,taste, not just in home, not
just in fashion, but like yourhouse.
I think I sent you a text acouple months ago where I'm
like, I know your house smellsincredible.
I could see it.
Ayumi Moore (37:14):
Oh yeah, you said that.
You sure did.
I tried to.
I love Things that smell good.
Elizabeth Vallejo (37:21):
who doesn't.
So what is next for you?
Ayumi Moore (37:24):
What is next for me?
So nobody knows this really Soeverybody This is It's still VIP
Elizabeth Vallejo (37:33):
Okay.
I love it.
Just for my listeners.
Ayumi Moore (37:37):
Yes, just for your listeners.
Um so Social media is veryUnpredictable.
Okay, Tiktoks about to be goneand that's my biggest pain
platform
Elizabeth Vallejo (37:48):
Jesus.
Ayumi Moore (37:49):
That's where I get all my brand deals is TikTok.
That's where I have my biggestfollowing, you know, almost
700,000 followers and that'sabout to go goodbye.
So since last year I decidedthat I'm gonna do real real
estate.
Um, just to have, a backup justto have another source of income
(38:11):
because Man, let me just tellyou my income got cut by like 70
last year So i'm like this isnot gonna work The, in like the
year prior.
I was killing it making sixfigures a month now it Not even
close.
So, um, it's it's very scary andi'm like, okay, I have to do
something I can't do a nine tofive'cause I can't afford where
(38:33):
i'm living with a nine to fiveUnless I'm a surgeon and I can't
become a surgeon overnight.
Elizabeth Vallejo (38:37):
yeah, no, it's too late for us.
Ayumi Moore (38:40):
it's too late for us.
So now that, you know,entrepreneurs make lump sums of
money, and it's very hard to gobackwards from that.
So I'm like real estate.
I love real estate.
I always wanted to become arealtor.
I, I've done real estateinvesting before.
So I'm like, perfect.
I could become a realtor and doluxury, Real estate while doing
(39:00):
investment properties as well asas having assets.
So that is my next Project isgetting my license this year As
soon as possible when thingsslow down'cause life has been
crazy.
I have boxes all around me.
You guys can't see
Elizabeth Vallejo (39:16):
Oh, yeah, because you just moved.
Ayumi Moore (39:18):
I just moved so Ignore my ugly background.
I'm fighting for my life rightnow.
So yeah, that's my And youtubeyoutube and instagram like i'm
trying to grow those platforms.
So yeah, just a new career pathand I think it's better to have
multiple sources of skills and
Elizabeth Vallejo (39:37):
Yes.
Ayumi Moore (39:38):
because you never know, you know,
Elizabeth Vallejo (39:40):
are, yeah, no, you never know.
So are you going to document allthis?
Are you gonna show us how you'regonna be a real estate agent?
Like, are you gonna give us tipsand tricks?
Am I gonna see your wardrobe?
Because you already have all the
Ayumi Moore (39:52):
already know I'm about to be the flyest real
estate agent.
I'm telling y'all
Elizabeth Vallejo (39:57):
And in Las Vegas.
Ayumi Moore (39:59):
in Las Vegas.
I'm trying to get the Raiders.
Y'all need a house.
Elizabeth Vallejo (40:03):
Yes,
Ayumi Moore (40:04):
Y'all need a house?
I got you.
So You know hollywood is comingto vegas in the next couple
years.
So i'm like perfect celebrityclient So i'm like, let me get
this going now so I can get mycelebrity clientele up But that
is my goal selling sunset lasvegas, whatever you wanna call
it
Elizabeth Vallejo (40:22):
she is ready to audition, ladies and
gentlemen.
She is prepared.
Ayumi Moore (40:26):
And uh, yeah, I am going to document it.
I'm gonna i'll probably evendocument me going to school and
Elizabeth Vallejo (40:33):
I love that.
Yes, please.
Ayumi Moore (40:35):
Yeah, I guess I'm gonna
Elizabeth Vallejo (40:36):
I, I feel like, I feel like this is so
good because I.
You know, you know what it'slike to rebuild your entire
career to have to rebrandyourself like teach us How
because a lot of people don'tknow how to do that and like to
me in my head That's likeanother one of your superpowers.
Like, do you know how brave itis to go?
I cannot do a nine to five.
(40:57):
A lot of people don't evenbelieve that.
I've met people that are sotalented and are so scared, so
scared to live their Dharma.
And I think when you were at theretreat, the last meditation
that we did,'cause I love to endthe retreats this way was to how
find your Dharma meditation.
Right?
And I get people that get soemotional because they hate
(41:17):
their job and they know whatthey wanna do, but they're so
scared to take that leap.
So you have been so inspiring.
Like, I know you're gonnainspire people with this
conversation.
You inspired me.
I'm sitting here going like, doI need another job?
But I don't because I've takenon I've I have too many jobs.
I have too many jobs.
Um, But thank you so much forsitting down with me and for
(41:39):
just telling us our, your story,'cause it is so inspiring.
And we didn't even get into,like, you being in the army.
We didn't get into so manythings, which just means you're
gonna have to come back.
And, um, yeah, and then I would,You know, I always like to love
to stay in touch with you, butI'm gonna now start sending you
a whole bunch of self-love stuffbecause I know you need it.
(41:59):
The life coach in me.
I am your, I'm your unofficiallife coach.
And And I'm probably gonna startsending you all of that stuff.
Yeah.
No, if you let me love you, Iwill literally smother the
people in my life.
So I have to be very carefulwith that because I have very
big feelings.
I know.
Right.
And it's and I think that'swhat's so hard.
I think that's why I related toyou so much because.
It is not easy in these streetstrying to raise little girls.
(42:21):
And, you know, there's, there'snot a lot of us that are doing
it with so much, which is somuch.
So when you meet another momlike that, I'm, I mean, cause
you'd be in shock.
You're just getting into itright now.
But I have little girls thatcome over here and their parents
don't even know where they are.
What I am watching my kid whenthe second she leaves this, I
know exactly where she is at alltimes.
So I love meeting moms like me,me.
(42:45):
seeing me and other moms.
I love it.
And you were there for me when Idon't even think you knew how
powerful you were.
Those times I texted you and Iwould voice note you and you
were always answering soquickly.
So I am as a fan of yours, I'mso excited to see what's coming
and I'm so excited to, cause Iknow you're gonna succeed.
Um, tell the listeners wherethey can follow you so that they
(43:07):
can continue to be inspired.
And you know what?
Give us your TikTok becauseTikTok might still be a thing.
Ayumi Moore (43:12):
okay, so my TikTok is imi more,
Elizabeth Vallejo (43:16):
Okay.
Ayumi Moore (43:17):
and YouTube is IMI official.
Elizabeth Vallejo (43:20):
Awesome.
And we're gonna link all of thisin the, in the little bio down
so everybody can find you.
And thanks again so much forbeing here.
We're gonna have to do thisagain.
Ayumi Moore (43:29):
Oh yeah, thank you so much for having me.
I had a great time.
Elizabeth Vallejo (43:32):
Okay.
Elizabeth Vajello (43:34):
Okay.
Now for the legal stuff, youknow the important things that I
have to say, this podcast is foreducational and entertainment
purposes only.
I'm just a life coach, not alicensed therapist.
Not a licensed psychotherapist.
This is not a substitute foradvice from a doctor, therapist,
or any other qualified expert.
Got great.
(43:55):
See you in the next episode.
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