October 2, 2025 • 28 mins
Meet Elizabeth Wangugi, the self-described "Business Witch Doctor" who's revolutionizing our approach to wellness through innovative experiences like nap concerts. In this deeply insightful conversation, Elizabeth shares her remarkable journey from morbid obesity to wellness entrepreneur, revealing how her 120-pound weight loss opened her eyes to the profound connection between chronic burnout and physical health.
"Obesity is a mental disorder that takes physical shape," Elizabeth explains, challenging conventional wisdom about weight, stress, and healing. Her company, Exclusive Excursions, creates transformative wellness experiences designed to "invade spaces with feeling" – specifically the calm, rest, and moderation our burnout culture desperately needs. What makes her approach truly revolutionary is her philosophy of "finessing capitalism for activism," using business as a vehicle for systemic change rather than perpetuating harmful productivity myths.
Elizabeth earned her unusual title when clients couldn't articulate exactly what transformation occurred through her work – they simply knew healing had happened. This mystery speaks to the deeper wisdom underlying her approach: that genuine healing often transcends easy categorization. "I can come and put healing in your environment where you need it," she says. "Everything else is God's mystery."
For those seeking to incorporate Elizabeth's wisdom into their lives, she offers three guiding principles: curiosity, willingness, and discipline. Together, these form the foundation of patience and sustained change. Perhaps most powerfully, she champions radical self-love as the foundation for everything else: "Nobody loves me the way I love me. I'm my sweet baby, and I really spoil me."
Ready to reimagine your relationship with rest, work, and wellness? Follow Elizabeth Wangugi's journey and discover what's possible when we prioritize genuine healing over quick fixes and productivity obsession. Contact her at thebusinesswitchdoctor@gmail.com to bring transformative wellness experiences to your organization.
She Suite Society Episode Footer
Thank you for listening to She Suite Society!
If this episode resonated with you, here's how you can help us reach more women who need to hear these stories:
🎧 Subscribe & Review
- Hit subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen
- Leave us a 5-star review and tell us which episode moved you most
- Share your favorite episodes with friends who need inspiration
💌 Share the Love
- Tag us in your stories when you're listening
- Use #SheSuiteSociety to share how these conversations impact your life
- Forward episodes to women in your life who are navigating their own journeys
🎙️ Be a Guest Do you have a story that could inspire other women? We're always looking for authentic voices from all walks of life. Email us at dalia@directpathsolutions.com or send us a DM.
Remember, your story matters. Your journey is valid. And you're not alone in figuring it out.
Until next time, keep making your life extraordinary.
She Suite Society is a community where women from all backgrounds come together to share their stories, support one another, and reveal the unfiltered reality of our lives. New episodes drop every week wherever you get your podcasts.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_01 (00:16):
Welcome to the She Suite Society, a community where
women from all backgrounds cometogether to share their stories,
support one another, and revealthe unfiltered reality of our
lives.
I'm your host and empowermentSherpa, Dahlia, and this podcast
exists to give voice and spaceto women whose experiences might
otherwise go unheard.
Today, I'm joined by L.
(00:36):
Elizabeth Wangugi, founder ofExclusive Excursions and known
as the Business Witch Doctor,whose approach to wellness
challenges everything we thinkwe know about burnout, rest, and
healing in the workplace.
Elizabeth's journey frompersonal health transformation
to creating innovativesolutions, like the Nap concert,
represents a radical reimaginingof how we address systemic
(01:00):
wellness issues.
What makes Elizabeth's work socompelling is her philosophy of
finessing capitalism foractivism.
Rather than working withintraditional wellness frameworks,
she's created experiences thatbring calm, rest, and moderation
into spaces where these conceptsare often seen as
counterproductive.
Their understanding that obesityand chronic burnout are
(01:23):
interconnected mental healthissues, requiring holistic
solutions speaks to a deeperwisdom about human well-being.
Elizabeth's title as theBusiness Witch Doctor comes from
clients who struggle toarticulate exactly what
transformation occurs throughher work.
They simply know that healinghappens.
Whether you're dealing withworkplace burnout, questioning
(01:45):
traditional approaches towellness, or seeking ways to
create systemic change throughyour work, Elizabeth's insights
offer a fresh perspective onwhat's possible when we
prioritize genuine healing overquick fixes.
SPEAKER_00 (01:59):
So how are you?
Um, well, it's the nap concertis almost here.
So the nap concert is coming.
And uh I'm definitely in my busyseason, but I'm I'm happy.
I feel like I'm like, do youever have that like feeling in
business where you're just like,I'm on the brink of something?
I don't really know what thisis, but this is that.
(02:25):
Yeah, that's how I feel rightnow.
SPEAKER_01 (02:28):
Could not agree with you more.
Where what do you feel likeyou're on the brink of?
Tell me a little bit about whereyou are in life right now.
SPEAKER_00 (02:35):
Okay, so okay.
Um, I am the owner of exclusiveexcursions, wellness events,
retreats, corporate wellnessprogramming.
Um, they call me the businesswitch doctor.
Um, and I want to live up tothat.
What I do, I mean, I'm I'mtechnically an event planner,
but what I really do is sort ofinvade a space with a feeling.
(02:58):
And I think the feeling that weall really need right now is a
lot more calm, a lot more rest,and a lot more moderation.
Just people who can have almostlike the I wouldn't even, I
wouldn't call it steeliness, butthe reserve to be moderate in
(03:21):
their action and their speech.
Um, and so that's what I do.
So um I'd been hunkering downsince last winter because my I
have like an event season, it'susually like summer, spring and
summer.
And then I sort of hunker downin event season, unless I'm
doing international retreats.
Um, but I was like sort of inhibernation last year, and I'd
(03:45):
had all these incredible justlike influences and muses, and
I'm kind of an artist anyway.
And the nap concert was born,and so this is like a live
acoustic jazz event where um,you know, it's a concert where
you get to come take a nap.
And it's also been like my debutbecause I went from being like a
(04:06):
full-time employee who just hada side hustle to now I'm like a
full-time business owner.
And my goal is to, you know,become a CEO, um, and do it in a
way that is not harmful tomyself and others, if it and
beneficial to myself and others,if it's possible.
Um, with the priority being, youknow, health and the reduction
(04:30):
of burnout.
So that's where I am, that's whoI am.
SPEAKER_01 (04:33):
Um, it's how did you get involved in this?
SPEAKER_00 (04:38):
Tell me about your former life then.
Um, so I was morbidly obese myentire life, and I was like the
front door at my highest, I waslike 325.
SPEAKER_01 (04:52):
Really?
SPEAKER_00 (04:53):
Yeah.
And I'd been in like thehospitality industry my whole
life, and I'm, you know, from asmall town.
And over COVID, like everybodyhas a COVID awakening story.
And so mine is somethinghappened.
Um, mine is that I lost over 120pounds and I've been able to
(05:14):
keep it off the whole time.
Like I, and I'll never gain itback.
Um, because I'm like in thisplace where health is very
important to me.
I think health has become reallyimportant to people, and I'm no
exception.
Um, it's come out in a verydifferent way, I think, than I
(05:34):
thought, or maybe anybody wouldthink.
But um health and well-being,holistic well-being for myself
and as many people as I caninclude in my circles is the
priority, like the imperativefor me.
SPEAKER_01 (05:50):
Yeah.
But why?
SPEAKER_00 (05:55):
Because the system is built for us to not be
healthy.
SPEAKER_01 (05:59):
Yeah.
That's not that's not far off,is it?
Yeah, that's true.
So you're you're taking controlof what you can control to um
better yourself and others in awhole perspective kind of way,
not just one facet.
Because I think a lot of peoplefocus on like losing weight or
(06:22):
exercising, but then they forgetabout the part of the mind and
the emotions.
So they completely forget abouttheir the whole aspect of a
person, not just how one lookswhat looks does does feed into
how you feel, but uh it all isone system.
SPEAKER_00 (06:41):
Yeah.
Um, I guess you know, to yourpoint, um, it can't be one
thing.
I found out that I was obesebecause I had been burnt out my
entire life.
What and yeah, and you know,weight gain is a symptom of and
obesity is also a symptom ofchronic burnout because your
(07:04):
body cannot sustain that stress,and stress is stored in fat
cells.
So it's it's incredible, likeit's your body's protecting you.
Um, and you just sort of buildthese larger and larger blankets
of protection within the body,you know.
But I do, and you know, this isjust a personal feeling.
I don't I don't want to make toomany big ripples.
(07:25):
Um, but obesity is a mentaldisorder, like morbid obesity is
a mental disorder, it takesphysical shape, but it's a
chronic mental disease.
And we, I don't know if we'requite ready for that
conversation.
I might be early for that, butum I think it's definitely a
worthy conversation.
SPEAKER_01 (07:46):
I could not agree more.
I think a lot of things go backto uh a mental state of sorts,
and that's kind of what I talkabout on these things is I like
to understand where everybodyreally originated from.
It's like, sure, you are doingall these amazing things now and
you have your own business now,but where did you start?
(08:09):
And I love the the COVIDawakening.
I'm I'm curious to know whereyou said you're from a small
town.
What small town are you from?
Where are you from?
SPEAKER_00 (08:18):
Yeah.
Oh, so I was born in Detroit,but in the backwoods of
Southeast Ohio is a town calledFrankfurt.
It's like out by the, you know,past the twin prisons out
southeast.
Um, hey y'all, listen, I'm fromthe country.
So um I grew up kind of on afarm.
I I tell you what, I didn't havemy first neighbor until I was
(08:38):
like seven or eight.
Um, and they were at least anacre away, give or take.
SPEAKER_01 (08:46):
Did you have any did you have any siblings?
SPEAKER_00 (08:48):
Like, what did you uh I do have a brother?
Uh I grew up mostly with my mom.
So it's just these two women onabout half an acre of land,
maybe a little more.
Um, and we you know grew up alittle poor.
Um, and so you know, those are alot of other factors that that
come into weight issues.
(09:10):
We weren't we didn't always haveaccess to fresh produce.
Um even though we were on thefarm, if you can imagine, even
though we lived on the farm, wedidn't always have access to
fresh, healthy foods.
So it really speaks to thesystem that we're in.
Um and while it may look likeI'm starting my own business and
(09:33):
finding my own niche, what itfeels like is I'm finessing
capitalism for activism.
SPEAKER_01 (09:41):
Ooh, I like that.
SPEAKER_00 (09:44):
I don't know.
SPEAKER_01 (09:47):
But I like that.
I like that.
Do you think you were always ofthis mindset, or is this
something you learned as timewent on?
SPEAKER_00 (09:58):
I've always been a tiny bit rebellious.
Um I think you know, there therewas uh a lot of things happened
because I I was born in thistime.
I was born in like the WWEattitude era and like off the
90s punk phase.
And so there's just a lot oflike disruption and rebellion
(10:21):
and counterculture.
And I'm not like I am too.
Like I'm all of that too, youknow.
But um why not decide to stageit for good?
Like if we're out heredisrupting, why aren't we
disrupting for the good ofhumanity?
I don't see why we're not, and Ihave this opportunity in a niche
(10:43):
to like see if I can go do it.
I gotta go do it.
SPEAKER_01 (10:48):
Yeah, I like to think that I don't think a lot
of people, at least that I'vemet anyway, are not disruptive.
I think that most of them are.
They're disruptive, but I'venever met people that were
disruptive just to be for thesake of being mean or evil.
I I heard somebody say once, andI disagree with it tremendously.
(11:12):
It wasn't in person, it was likesome podcast or something I saw.
They're like, if you look atinnately, humans want to be um
mean or take it all or whatnot.
I don't agree with that.
I think human nature really iscommunal and really is about
lifting one another up, andyou're only as good as the next
(11:33):
person next to you.
Like, you just we're allliterally trying to live
together and lift one anotherup.
I think that is our strength,and I also think that's what we
lean more into.
And I think there's a pretty bigdivide happening right now
between people that think likethat and people that think like,
no, I want it all for me, andconsumption is what they're
(11:55):
after.
What is that?
What is that called?
Like gluttony?
Is that what that is?
Is that what that means?
SPEAKER_00 (12:01):
There, you know, I've been I've been having a lot
of conversations with recoveryspecialists.
I think um one of the things wedon't talk about enough is one
of the symptoms of burnout isthat you will find addiction at
the end of burnout, you'll oftenfind addiction and it just lives
there.
Um, and so I find that I'm oftenin conversations with recovery
(12:26):
specialists who are talkingabout whether or not America,
and you know, this the system asa whole, capitalism as a whole,
but America specifically, isacting like uh a heavy user
versus an outright addict.
Um, and whether or not it'sconsumption, um, and honestly,
it's all I really all aboutdosage, I suppose.
(12:50):
There are some people who arelike, I just need to get my next
fixed.
I just need to make money, Ijust need to consume, I just
have to buy, I have to sell,like be a part of the system.
And there are some people whoare like, I don't know what else
to do, and I'm relying on thissystem.
And how do I get out?
You know, how do I get out?
Um, and they just don't knowwhat else to do.
(13:10):
Then maybe they're heavierusers.
Um, but either way, we'reobviously sort of on a slippery
slope.
Even like the Gallup polls arestarting to talk about how our
leaders in this country, thepeople who are making policy
decisions that affect oureveryday lives, are also saying
they're in mental decline.
(13:32):
So, like the people who aremaking the decisions are saying,
like, actually, I'm not okayeither.
And and those are the oneswilling to admit that we're not
okay.
SPEAKER_01 (13:43):
It's okay that we're not okay, but we have to find a
place that we're starting from.
And I think some of some of usare awakenings were the fact
that we're healing in somecapacity.
So you're caring, I like tothink of it as you know, in
elementary school, they had thatbig parachute thing that you run
on, run under.
(14:03):
And every some people got thechance to run under it, but it
only worked if everybody washolding their side of the
parachute.
So I always have I alwaysenvision it like that because
I'm a kind of a I'm a visualperson.
So if I'm holding my end of theparachute in uplifting everybody
through modes like this podcastor my voice or speaking, you're
holding your end of it by doinguh healing work.
(14:27):
But what type of healing workwould you would you say that
you're doing?
SPEAKER_00 (14:31):
Honestly, the healing work of making space,
um, it really there is nothingquite like getting in the room.
It can be anywhere between, andsome of the healing we work we
do is maybe more yoga-based,body-based, um, and ancestral
and ancient ritual based.
And some of it is just likeworkforce development, you know,
(14:53):
it's just learning etiquette inan office so that you can be
back with people again if that'swhat you want, and being
flexible as a company to letyour people be hybrid if that's
what they want.
Um, and some of it is literallyjust like having consultations
one-on-one, just like this, likeseeing what people need on an
individual level.
(15:14):
But the goal is I'm in thespace, we make the space for
that.
That's what exclusive excursionsdoes.
SPEAKER_01 (15:20):
Nice.
See, that's amazing.
Um, and I love that you I lovethat you're rebellious and that
you just decided I'm gonna goout and start this.
And you did you started this inCOVID time, is that fair to say?
SPEAKER_00 (15:35):
Yeah, so I started my business in COVID time.
At the time it was really, andmy business has always been an
expression of me.
And so um, at the time I wasreally in my in my weight loss
and athlete phase, and I'dbecome a yoga teacher.
And so the first year ofbusiness was just all like yoga
events um and just getting womentogether for their health and
(15:58):
wellness, pairing with othervendors who specializes in like
pelvic health and nutrition andbreathing correctly and where to
access, you know, clean drinkingwater, air, food.
Um, but then when we turnedbusiness to business, the sort
of the floodgates opened and itwas just like I was really able
(16:20):
to attack burnout in a systemicway.
And it became like how how do weaddress burnout?
One of the largest contributorsis not just stress at work, but
lack of quality sleep at home,which is something you can't fix
in the office.
So, how do we talk about that?
And that's how the nap concertwas born.
(16:41):
And so we just keep being moreand more creative and fun, um,
and bringing creativity and funback into the workplace.
SPEAKER_01 (16:50):
Right, which is in our lives.
How did you get to be known asthe business witch doctor?
SPEAKER_00 (16:57):
So um it sort of your question about like what it
is I do became such a mystery tome and everyone else.
I on the whole, I can be calledlike a consultant and an event
planner.
I'm a consultant, I'm an eventplanner.
Um, but when I started goinginto companies, and especially
when I started taking on theclients, I was like, I don't
(17:20):
really know how to describe whatmy business does.
And event planner is boring, youknow, consultant, you can't
really say what that they do.
So I was just like, how, how doI tell people what I do?
And a friend of mine was justlike, Well, have you tried
asking your past customers?
Like, what do they say you do?
(17:42):
Um, and so I was like, okay, Iwould have these events, I would
plan these, you know, retreats,I would speak with my clients,
and then I would get on video,like, okay, what just happened?
Can you tell me what you justexperienced?
And then none of them knew,like, none of them even knew
(18:03):
what I did.
They the word transformation wasum sort of said a lot.
Like a lot of people was justlike, it was really a
transformative experience, buttheir experiences were so unique
and individual that it justbecame like I can, I, I cannot
describe what I do.
(18:25):
I am the witch doctor.
I know I can do it.
I can come and put healing inyour environment where you need
healing.
That I can do, but everythingelse is a mystery.
It's God's mystery.
Oh, I'm not sure.
All I can tell you is you reallywant to get in the room.
Like I'm not trying to sellFOMO, but you want to get in the
(18:48):
room.
Trust.
SPEAKER_01 (18:49):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
Absolutely.
I think that is so cool.
I love that you've embraced thatas um, you've you seem to have
found yourself.
And I hate to say you were everlost, but you mentioned when,
and I don't disagree, I uhburnout and stress can lead to
(19:11):
so many different things.
Um, and that's ultimately whatput weight on for you.
Um, I was the opposite, if it'shelpful to know.
I was the I can't control mysurroundings and I'm so stressed
out, so I'm just not going toeat.
I did the whole opposite thingwhen I was growing up.
So I was very anorexic.
It took me a long time to breaka hundred pounds, and it's not
(19:35):
because of body image issues oranything like that.
It it was all about control, allabout control.
Trying to control myenvironment, which speaks to the
mental issue of it all, right?
Uh, so as we come back tofinding ourselves, um for you,
was that difficult, or what didthat journey look like for you?
SPEAKER_00 (20:01):
I mean, completely honest, I'm still on it.
I'm still, you know, this is alifelong thing.
This is a whirlwind romancethat's gonna last the next 80
years, I hope, you know?
Yeah, um, so I can be I can betwo things.
I can be really proud of whoI've become, I can be really
excited on who I'm becoming, andI can be patient for the whole
(20:23):
process, you know.
SPEAKER_01 (20:24):
I can be patience is not easy.
I have all the so how do youhave patience?
Is this what you learned whenyou became yoga?
Because I I can take all theadvice you got to give on
learning patience.
SPEAKER_00 (20:41):
I tell you what, I don't know if I'm listening to
to all the young women outthere, I don't know if this is
good or bad, but if you want tolearn patience, get married
because my husband taught mepatience.
Well, that's why I got divorced.
(21:02):
Um, you know, um in yoga, inyoga, we call it surrender.
You have to be willing to letwhatever happens happen without
control.
And sometimes it's amoment-to-moment breath to
breath sort of thing.
(21:22):
Like sometimes it's a breath tobreath sort of thing, like
relinquishing control.
Um but as I practice, I buildthat muscle and I learn patience
and I learn patience with otherpeople.
Um so again, I don't know ifthat's good or bad.
Sometimes people will see yourpatience and go, oh, I can cross
(21:43):
your boundaries just for fun.
So also have boundaries.
Yeah.
Um, but definitely learn toexercise that muscle because
you're gonna need it.
Like you're gonna need it.
SPEAKER_01 (21:57):
Yeah.
I will say for me, I've neverquite grasped the concept of
patience, but what I've graspedin turn is my curiosity.
So people think I'm paying,people think I'm patient, but
I'm not really patient.
I just learn to um convert it tojust being a little bit more
curious.
So if I take more time to justtry to understand something or
(22:20):
to hear from that perspective orto to to learn, it's not quite
patience, but it does work as agood substitute while you're
trying to learn.
SPEAKER_00 (22:30):
I would argue that it is patience.
Um let me not counteract you,but like I would argue that not
only for me, all that patienceis is curiosity and willingness.
Am I willing to just see whathappens next?
I'm curious enough, but am Iwilling?
And that's all patience is.
So I would say no, you have it.
Like you have it definition.
SPEAKER_01 (22:51):
I like your definition.
Curiosity and willingness ispatience.
That's super helpful.
Um, well, in the interest oftime, because normally I try to
keep these about 30 minutes, Iend every episode about the
same.
unknown (23:04):
Okay.
SPEAKER_01 (23:05):
That is even though the whole episode ends up being
advice, uh, it is what piece ofadvice could you give to
listeners for either how how youlive or maybe a mantra you live
by, what piece of advice do youfeel that they need to hear in
this moment?
SPEAKER_00 (23:27):
Curiosity and willingness.
Um curiosity and willingness andand discipline.
And discipline also.
If you can live, those are thoseare my big three, those are like
my only three.
Well, love, also love.
Um, but if you have curiosityand willingness, then honestly,
(23:47):
you're just out here gettinginto antics, seeing what you're
even can do, like seeing whatGod will even let you do.
Um, and and discipline will helpyou run it for longer.
Like if you have discipline,you're always setting like like
if you have discipline, thencurrent you is always setting
yourself up for future you.
And I love me the most.
(24:09):
So I'm gonna set myself up forfuture me.
Um and love because yeah, Imean, it starts from me.
I love me the most.
Like I'm my sweet baby, but fromthere, my cup is very full to
love on everyone else, too.
SPEAKER_01 (24:20):
So oh, I love that.
I love that.
And you're good at filling yourown cup.
SPEAKER_00 (24:27):
Oh my, listen, nobody loves me the way I love
me.
I'm uh nobody's up here, so theydon't know.
But I love me the most, like Itake care of me.
I'm I'm I'm my sweet baby, andso I really spoil me, kind of
actually.
SPEAKER_01 (24:43):
Yeah, I love that.
I think a lot more people needto adopt that mentality because
we're so busy trying to give toother people that you forget
about yourself.
I mean, how many times do youhear even little kids say that?
Um, when you ask, like, who doyou love?
They forget to name themselvesor who's the most important,
they forget to add themselves,and you're so busy pointing at
(25:04):
everybody else that you forgetabout you first.
SPEAKER_00 (25:08):
I woo me the way that men woo women before they
actually catch them.
That's the way I take care of meall the time.
SPEAKER_01 (25:16):
Like, oh, I love that.
I love that.
Um, that is awesome.
Well, thank you for sharing youradvice, your space, your time
with us.
I really, really appreciate it.
Um, is there any anything elseyou want listeners to know about
you?
SPEAKER_00 (25:35):
Um, follow me, like, share, subscribe, talk about me
behind my back.
Um, it's budget season.
Like it's um, I'm I'm pitched,I'm pitching, I'm chasing
pitching.
So um, Elizabeth Wonguki and thebusinesswitch doctor at
gmail.com, get at me.
I love this.
Thank you so much.
SPEAKER_01 (25:53):
Thank you so much, Dahlia.
Thank you so much.
What strikes me most aboutElizabeth's approach is how
she's transformed personalhealing into systemic change.
Her recognition that qualitysleep can't be fixed in the
office, leading to the creationof nap concerts where people can
rest to live acoustic jazz,shows what innovation looks like
when it's rooted in genuineunderstanding of human needs.
(26:16):
Elizabeth's redefinition ofpatience as curiosity and
willingness resonates deeplybecause it reframes patience
from passive waiting to activeengagement with uncertainty.
Her emphasis on building thismuscle through practices like
yoga and surrender offers apractical path for those of us
struggling with the discomfortof not knowing what comes next.
(26:37):
I'm particularly moved by hercommitment to self-love as the
foundation for everything else.
Her reminder that taking care ofyourself first isn't selfish.
It's what allows you to trulylove others, challenges the
martyrdom culture that oftensurrounds wellness and
caregiving work.
Elizabeth's work demonstrateswhat's possible when we stop
accepting burnout as inevitableand start creating spaces where
(27:00):
rest, healing, and genuinewellness can flourish.
Her ability to put healing inyour environment where you need
healing speaks to a differentway of approaching both business
and life.
For those of you feeling burnedout by traditional approaches to
wellness or seeking ways tocreate meaningful change through
your work, Elizabeth's journeyproves that transformation is
(27:20):
possible when we're willing toembrace mystery, prioritize
genuine healing, and finesseexisting systems for the greater
good.
If today's conversation inspiredyou to reconsider your
relationship with rest,patience, or self-love, share it
with someone who needs to hearit.
Remember, the Sheet SuiteSociety exists to amplify
women's voices from all walks oflife, proving that healing and
(27:41):
activism can work hand in hand.
Until next time, this is yourhost Dahlia reminding you that
your life is your message to theworld.
Why not make it extraordinary?
Welcome to the She Suite Society, a community where
women from all backgrounds cometogether to share their stories,
support one another, and revealthe unfiltered reality of our
lives.
I'm your host and empowermentSherpa, Dahlia, and this podcast
exists to give voice and spaceto women whose experiences might
otherwise go unheard.
Today, I'm joined by L.
(00:36):
Elizabeth Wangugi, founder ofExclusive Excursions and known
as the Business Witch Doctor,whose approach to wellness
challenges everything we thinkwe know about burnout, rest, and
healing in the workplace.
Elizabeth's journey frompersonal health transformation
to creating innovativesolutions, like the Nap concert,
represents a radical reimaginingof how we address systemic
(01:00):
wellness issues.
What makes Elizabeth's work socompelling is her philosophy of
finessing capitalism foractivism.
Rather than working withintraditional wellness frameworks,
she's created experiences thatbring calm, rest, and moderation
into spaces where these conceptsare often seen as
counterproductive.
Their understanding that obesityand chronic burnout are
(01:23):
interconnected mental healthissues, requiring holistic
solutions speaks to a deeperwisdom about human well-being.
Elizabeth's title as theBusiness Witch Doctor comes from
clients who struggle toarticulate exactly what
transformation occurs throughher work.
They simply know that healinghappens.
Whether you're dealing withworkplace burnout, questioning
(01:45):
traditional approaches towellness, or seeking ways to
create systemic change throughyour work, Elizabeth's insights
offer a fresh perspective onwhat's possible when we
prioritize genuine healing overquick fixes.
SPEAKER_00 (01:59):
So how are you?
Um, well, it's the nap concertis almost here.
So the nap concert is coming.
And uh I'm definitely in my busyseason, but I'm I'm happy.
I feel like I'm like, do youever have that like feeling in
business where you're just like,I'm on the brink of something?
I don't really know what thisis, but this is that.
(02:25):
Yeah, that's how I feel rightnow.
SPEAKER_01 (02:28):
Could not agree with you more.
Where what do you feel likeyou're on the brink of?
Tell me a little bit about whereyou are in life right now.
SPEAKER_00 (02:35):
Okay, so okay.
Um, I am the owner of exclusiveexcursions, wellness events,
retreats, corporate wellnessprogramming.
Um, they call me the businesswitch doctor.
Um, and I want to live up tothat.
What I do, I mean, I'm I'mtechnically an event planner,
but what I really do is sort ofinvade a space with a feeling.
(02:58):
And I think the feeling that weall really need right now is a
lot more calm, a lot more rest,and a lot more moderation.
Just people who can have almostlike the I wouldn't even, I
wouldn't call it steeliness, butthe reserve to be moderate in
(03:21):
their action and their speech.
Um, and so that's what I do.
So um I'd been hunkering downsince last winter because my I
have like an event season, it'susually like summer, spring and
summer.
And then I sort of hunker downin event season, unless I'm
doing international retreats.
Um, but I was like sort of inhibernation last year, and I'd
(03:45):
had all these incredible justlike influences and muses, and
I'm kind of an artist anyway.
And the nap concert was born,and so this is like a live
acoustic jazz event where um,you know, it's a concert where
you get to come take a nap.
And it's also been like my debutbecause I went from being like a
(04:06):
full-time employee who just hada side hustle to now I'm like a
full-time business owner.
And my goal is to, you know,become a CEO, um, and do it in a
way that is not harmful tomyself and others, if it and
beneficial to myself and others,if it's possible.
Um, with the priority being, youknow, health and the reduction
(04:30):
of burnout.
So that's where I am, that's whoI am.
SPEAKER_01 (04:33):
Um, it's how did you get involved in this?
SPEAKER_00 (04:38):
Tell me about your former life then.
Um, so I was morbidly obese myentire life, and I was like the
front door at my highest, I waslike 325.
SPEAKER_01 (04:52):
Really?
SPEAKER_00 (04:53):
Yeah.
And I'd been in like thehospitality industry my whole
life, and I'm, you know, from asmall town.
And over COVID, like everybodyhas a COVID awakening story.
And so mine is somethinghappened.
Um, mine is that I lost over 120pounds and I've been able to
(05:14):
keep it off the whole time.
Like I, and I'll never gain itback.
Um, because I'm like in thisplace where health is very
important to me.
I think health has become reallyimportant to people, and I'm no
exception.
Um, it's come out in a verydifferent way, I think, than I
(05:34):
thought, or maybe anybody wouldthink.
But um health and well-being,holistic well-being for myself
and as many people as I caninclude in my circles is the
priority, like the imperativefor me.
SPEAKER_01 (05:50):
Yeah.
But why?
SPEAKER_00 (05:55):
Because the system is built for us to not be
healthy.
SPEAKER_01 (05:59):
Yeah.
That's not that's not far off,is it?
Yeah, that's true.
So you're you're taking controlof what you can control to um
better yourself and others in awhole perspective kind of way,
not just one facet.
Because I think a lot of peoplefocus on like losing weight or
(06:22):
exercising, but then they forgetabout the part of the mind and
the emotions.
So they completely forget abouttheir the whole aspect of a
person, not just how one lookswhat looks does does feed into
how you feel, but uh it all isone system.
SPEAKER_00 (06:41):
Yeah.
Um, I guess you know, to yourpoint, um, it can't be one
thing.
I found out that I was obesebecause I had been burnt out my
entire life.
What and yeah, and you know,weight gain is a symptom of and
obesity is also a symptom ofchronic burnout because your
(07:04):
body cannot sustain that stress,and stress is stored in fat
cells.
So it's it's incredible, likeit's your body's protecting you.
Um, and you just sort of buildthese larger and larger blankets
of protection within the body,you know.
But I do, and you know, this isjust a personal feeling.
I don't I don't want to make toomany big ripples.
(07:25):
Um, but obesity is a mentaldisorder, like morbid obesity is
a mental disorder, it takesphysical shape, but it's a
chronic mental disease.
And we, I don't know if we'requite ready for that
conversation.
I might be early for that, butum I think it's definitely a
worthy conversation.
SPEAKER_01 (07:46):
I could not agree more.
I think a lot of things go backto uh a mental state of sorts,
and that's kind of what I talkabout on these things is I like
to understand where everybodyreally originated from.
It's like, sure, you are doingall these amazing things now and
you have your own business now,but where did you start?
(08:09):
And I love the the COVIDawakening.
I'm I'm curious to know whereyou said you're from a small
town.
What small town are you from?
Where are you from?
SPEAKER_00 (08:18):
Yeah.
Oh, so I was born in Detroit,but in the backwoods of
Southeast Ohio is a town calledFrankfurt.
It's like out by the, you know,past the twin prisons out
southeast.
Um, hey y'all, listen, I'm fromthe country.
So um I grew up kind of on afarm.
I I tell you what, I didn't havemy first neighbor until I was
(08:38):
like seven or eight.
Um, and they were at least anacre away, give or take.
SPEAKER_01 (08:46):
Did you have any did you have any siblings?
SPEAKER_00 (08:48):
Like, what did you uh I do have a brother?
Uh I grew up mostly with my mom.
So it's just these two women onabout half an acre of land,
maybe a little more.
Um, and we you know grew up alittle poor.
Um, and so you know, those are alot of other factors that that
come into weight issues.
(09:10):
We weren't we didn't always haveaccess to fresh produce.
Um even though we were on thefarm, if you can imagine, even
though we lived on the farm, wedidn't always have access to
fresh, healthy foods.
So it really speaks to thesystem that we're in.
Um and while it may look likeI'm starting my own business and
(09:33):
finding my own niche, what itfeels like is I'm finessing
capitalism for activism.
SPEAKER_01 (09:41):
Ooh, I like that.
SPEAKER_00 (09:44):
I don't know.
SPEAKER_01 (09:47):
But I like that.
I like that.
Do you think you were always ofthis mindset, or is this
something you learned as timewent on?
SPEAKER_00 (09:58):
I've always been a tiny bit rebellious.
Um I think you know, there therewas uh a lot of things happened
because I I was born in thistime.
I was born in like the WWEattitude era and like off the
90s punk phase.
And so there's just a lot oflike disruption and rebellion
(10:21):
and counterculture.
And I'm not like I am too.
Like I'm all of that too, youknow.
But um why not decide to stageit for good?
Like if we're out heredisrupting, why aren't we
disrupting for the good ofhumanity?
I don't see why we're not, and Ihave this opportunity in a niche
(10:43):
to like see if I can go do it.
I gotta go do it.
SPEAKER_01 (10:48):
Yeah, I like to think that I don't think a lot
of people, at least that I'vemet anyway, are not disruptive.
I think that most of them are.
They're disruptive, but I'venever met people that were
disruptive just to be for thesake of being mean or evil.
I I heard somebody say once, andI disagree with it tremendously.
(11:12):
It wasn't in person, it was likesome podcast or something I saw.
They're like, if you look atinnately, humans want to be um
mean or take it all or whatnot.
I don't agree with that.
I think human nature really iscommunal and really is about
lifting one another up, andyou're only as good as the next
(11:33):
person next to you.
Like, you just we're allliterally trying to live
together and lift one anotherup.
I think that is our strength,and I also think that's what we
lean more into.
And I think there's a pretty bigdivide happening right now
between people that think likethat and people that think like,
no, I want it all for me, andconsumption is what they're
(11:55):
after.
What is that?
What is that called?
Like gluttony?
Is that what that is?
Is that what that means?
SPEAKER_00 (12:01):
There, you know, I've been I've been having a lot
of conversations with recoveryspecialists.
I think um one of the things wedon't talk about enough is one
of the symptoms of burnout isthat you will find addiction at
the end of burnout, you'll oftenfind addiction and it just lives
there.
Um, and so I find that I'm oftenin conversations with recovery
(12:26):
specialists who are talkingabout whether or not America,
and you know, this the system asa whole, capitalism as a whole,
but America specifically, isacting like uh a heavy user
versus an outright addict.
Um, and whether or not it'sconsumption, um, and honestly,
it's all I really all aboutdosage, I suppose.
(12:50):
There are some people who arelike, I just need to get my next
fixed.
I just need to make money, Ijust need to consume, I just
have to buy, I have to sell,like be a part of the system.
And there are some people whoare like, I don't know what else
to do, and I'm relying on thissystem.
And how do I get out?
You know, how do I get out?
Um, and they just don't knowwhat else to do.
(13:10):
Then maybe they're heavierusers.
Um, but either way, we'reobviously sort of on a slippery
slope.
Even like the Gallup polls arestarting to talk about how our
leaders in this country, thepeople who are making policy
decisions that affect oureveryday lives, are also saying
they're in mental decline.
(13:32):
So, like the people who aremaking the decisions are saying,
like, actually, I'm not okayeither.
And and those are the oneswilling to admit that we're not
okay.
SPEAKER_01 (13:43):
It's okay that we're not okay, but we have to find a
place that we're starting from.
And I think some of some of usare awakenings were the fact
that we're healing in somecapacity.
So you're caring, I like tothink of it as you know, in
elementary school, they had thatbig parachute thing that you run
on, run under.
(14:03):
And every some people got thechance to run under it, but it
only worked if everybody washolding their side of the
parachute.
So I always have I alwaysenvision it like that because
I'm a kind of a I'm a visualperson.
So if I'm holding my end of theparachute in uplifting everybody
through modes like this podcastor my voice or speaking, you're
holding your end of it by doinguh healing work.
(14:27):
But what type of healing workwould you would you say that
you're doing?
SPEAKER_00 (14:31):
Honestly, the healing work of making space,
um, it really there is nothingquite like getting in the room.
It can be anywhere between, andsome of the healing we work we
do is maybe more yoga-based,body-based, um, and ancestral
and ancient ritual based.
And some of it is just likeworkforce development, you know,
(14:53):
it's just learning etiquette inan office so that you can be
back with people again if that'swhat you want, and being
flexible as a company to letyour people be hybrid if that's
what they want.
Um, and some of it is literallyjust like having consultations
one-on-one, just like this, likeseeing what people need on an
individual level.
(15:14):
But the goal is I'm in thespace, we make the space for
that.
That's what exclusive excursionsdoes.
SPEAKER_01 (15:20):
Nice.
See, that's amazing.
Um, and I love that you I lovethat you're rebellious and that
you just decided I'm gonna goout and start this.
And you did you started this inCOVID time, is that fair to say?
SPEAKER_00 (15:35):
Yeah, so I started my business in COVID time.
At the time it was really, andmy business has always been an
expression of me.
And so um, at the time I wasreally in my in my weight loss
and athlete phase, and I'dbecome a yoga teacher.
And so the first year ofbusiness was just all like yoga
events um and just getting womentogether for their health and
(15:58):
wellness, pairing with othervendors who specializes in like
pelvic health and nutrition andbreathing correctly and where to
access, you know, clean drinkingwater, air, food.
Um, but then when we turnedbusiness to business, the sort
of the floodgates opened and itwas just like I was really able
(16:20):
to attack burnout in a systemicway.
And it became like how how do weaddress burnout?
One of the largest contributorsis not just stress at work, but
lack of quality sleep at home,which is something you can't fix
in the office.
So, how do we talk about that?
And that's how the nap concertwas born.
(16:41):
And so we just keep being moreand more creative and fun, um,
and bringing creativity and funback into the workplace.
SPEAKER_01 (16:50):
Right, which is in our lives.
How did you get to be known asthe business witch doctor?
SPEAKER_00 (16:57):
So um it sort of your question about like what it
is I do became such a mystery tome and everyone else.
I on the whole, I can be calledlike a consultant and an event
planner.
I'm a consultant, I'm an eventplanner.
Um, but when I started goinginto companies, and especially
when I started taking on theclients, I was like, I don't
(17:20):
really know how to describe whatmy business does.
And event planner is boring, youknow, consultant, you can't
really say what that they do.
So I was just like, how, how doI tell people what I do?
And a friend of mine was justlike, Well, have you tried
asking your past customers?
Like, what do they say you do?
(17:42):
Um, and so I was like, okay, Iwould have these events, I would
plan these, you know, retreats,I would speak with my clients,
and then I would get on video,like, okay, what just happened?
Can you tell me what you justexperienced?
And then none of them knew,like, none of them even knew
(18:03):
what I did.
They the word transformation wasum sort of said a lot.
Like a lot of people was justlike, it was really a
transformative experience, buttheir experiences were so unique
and individual that it justbecame like I can, I, I cannot
describe what I do.
(18:25):
I am the witch doctor.
I know I can do it.
I can come and put healing inyour environment where you need
healing.
That I can do, but everythingelse is a mystery.
It's God's mystery.
Oh, I'm not sure.
All I can tell you is you reallywant to get in the room.
Like I'm not trying to sellFOMO, but you want to get in the
(18:48):
room.
Trust.
SPEAKER_01 (18:49):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
Absolutely.
I think that is so cool.
I love that you've embraced thatas um, you've you seem to have
found yourself.
And I hate to say you were everlost, but you mentioned when,
and I don't disagree, I uhburnout and stress can lead to
(19:11):
so many different things.
Um, and that's ultimately whatput weight on for you.
Um, I was the opposite, if it'shelpful to know.
I was the I can't control mysurroundings and I'm so stressed
out, so I'm just not going toeat.
I did the whole opposite thingwhen I was growing up.
So I was very anorexic.
It took me a long time to breaka hundred pounds, and it's not
(19:35):
because of body image issues oranything like that.
It it was all about control, allabout control.
Trying to control myenvironment, which speaks to the
mental issue of it all, right?
Uh, so as we come back tofinding ourselves, um for you,
was that difficult, or what didthat journey look like for you?
SPEAKER_00 (20:01):
I mean, completely honest, I'm still on it.
I'm still, you know, this is alifelong thing.
This is a whirlwind romancethat's gonna last the next 80
years, I hope, you know?
Yeah, um, so I can be I can betwo things.
I can be really proud of whoI've become, I can be really
excited on who I'm becoming, andI can be patient for the whole
(20:23):
process, you know.
SPEAKER_01 (20:24):
I can be patience is not easy.
I have all the so how do youhave patience?
Is this what you learned whenyou became yoga?
Because I I can take all theadvice you got to give on
learning patience.
SPEAKER_00 (20:41):
I tell you what, I don't know if I'm listening to
to all the young women outthere, I don't know if this is
good or bad, but if you want tolearn patience, get married
because my husband taught mepatience.
Well, that's why I got divorced.
(21:02):
Um, you know, um in yoga, inyoga, we call it surrender.
You have to be willing to letwhatever happens happen without
control.
And sometimes it's amoment-to-moment breath to
breath sort of thing.
(21:22):
Like sometimes it's a breath tobreath sort of thing, like
relinquishing control.
Um but as I practice, I buildthat muscle and I learn patience
and I learn patience with otherpeople.
Um so again, I don't know ifthat's good or bad.
Sometimes people will see yourpatience and go, oh, I can cross
(21:43):
your boundaries just for fun.
So also have boundaries.
Yeah.
Um, but definitely learn toexercise that muscle because
you're gonna need it.
Like you're gonna need it.
SPEAKER_01 (21:57):
Yeah.
I will say for me, I've neverquite grasped the concept of
patience, but what I've graspedin turn is my curiosity.
So people think I'm paying,people think I'm patient, but
I'm not really patient.
I just learn to um convert it tojust being a little bit more
curious.
So if I take more time to justtry to understand something or
(22:20):
to hear from that perspective orto to to learn, it's not quite
patience, but it does work as agood substitute while you're
trying to learn.
SPEAKER_00 (22:30):
I would argue that it is patience.
Um let me not counteract you,but like I would argue that not
only for me, all that patienceis is curiosity and willingness.
Am I willing to just see whathappens next?
I'm curious enough, but am Iwilling?
And that's all patience is.
So I would say no, you have it.
Like you have it definition.
SPEAKER_01 (22:51):
I like your definition.
Curiosity and willingness ispatience.
That's super helpful.
Um, well, in the interest oftime, because normally I try to
keep these about 30 minutes, Iend every episode about the
same.
unknown (23:04):
Okay.
SPEAKER_01 (23:05):
That is even though the whole episode ends up being
advice, uh, it is what piece ofadvice could you give to
listeners for either how how youlive or maybe a mantra you live
by, what piece of advice do youfeel that they need to hear in
this moment?
SPEAKER_00 (23:27):
Curiosity and willingness.
Um curiosity and willingness andand discipline.
And discipline also.
If you can live, those are thoseare my big three, those are like
my only three.
Well, love, also love.
Um, but if you have curiosityand willingness, then honestly,
(23:47):
you're just out here gettinginto antics, seeing what you're
even can do, like seeing whatGod will even let you do.
Um, and and discipline will helpyou run it for longer.
Like if you have discipline,you're always setting like like
if you have discipline, thencurrent you is always setting
yourself up for future you.
And I love me the most.
(24:09):
So I'm gonna set myself up forfuture me.
Um and love because yeah, Imean, it starts from me.
I love me the most.
Like I'm my sweet baby, but fromthere, my cup is very full to
love on everyone else, too.
SPEAKER_01 (24:20):
So oh, I love that.
I love that.
And you're good at filling yourown cup.
SPEAKER_00 (24:27):
Oh my, listen, nobody loves me the way I love
me.
I'm uh nobody's up here, so theydon't know.
But I love me the most, like Itake care of me.
I'm I'm I'm my sweet baby, andso I really spoil me, kind of
actually.
SPEAKER_01 (24:43):
Yeah, I love that.
I think a lot more people needto adopt that mentality because
we're so busy trying to give toother people that you forget
about yourself.
I mean, how many times do youhear even little kids say that?
Um, when you ask, like, who doyou love?
They forget to name themselvesor who's the most important,
they forget to add themselves,and you're so busy pointing at
(25:04):
everybody else that you forgetabout you first.
SPEAKER_00 (25:08):
I woo me the way that men woo women before they
actually catch them.
That's the way I take care of meall the time.
SPEAKER_01 (25:16):
Like, oh, I love that.
I love that.
Um, that is awesome.
Well, thank you for sharing youradvice, your space, your time
with us.
I really, really appreciate it.
Um, is there any anything elseyou want listeners to know about
you?
SPEAKER_00 (25:35):
Um, follow me, like, share, subscribe, talk about me
behind my back.
Um, it's budget season.
Like it's um, I'm I'm pitched,I'm pitching, I'm chasing
pitching.
So um, Elizabeth Wonguki and thebusinesswitch doctor at
gmail.com, get at me.
I love this.
Thank you so much.
SPEAKER_01 (25:53):
Thank you so much, Dahlia.
Thank you so much.
What strikes me most aboutElizabeth's approach is how
she's transformed personalhealing into systemic change.
Her recognition that qualitysleep can't be fixed in the
office, leading to the creationof nap concerts where people can
rest to live acoustic jazz,shows what innovation looks like
when it's rooted in genuineunderstanding of human needs.
(26:16):
Elizabeth's redefinition ofpatience as curiosity and
willingness resonates deeplybecause it reframes patience
from passive waiting to activeengagement with uncertainty.
Her emphasis on building thismuscle through practices like
yoga and surrender offers apractical path for those of us
struggling with the discomfortof not knowing what comes next.
(26:37):
I'm particularly moved by hercommitment to self-love as the
foundation for everything else.
Her reminder that taking care ofyourself first isn't selfish.
It's what allows you to trulylove others, challenges the
martyrdom culture that oftensurrounds wellness and
caregiving work.
Elizabeth's work demonstrateswhat's possible when we stop
accepting burnout as inevitableand start creating spaces where
(27:00):
rest, healing, and genuinewellness can flourish.
Her ability to put healing inyour environment where you need
healing speaks to a differentway of approaching both business
and life.
For those of you feeling burnedout by traditional approaches to
wellness or seeking ways tocreate meaningful change through
your work, Elizabeth's journeyproves that transformation is
(27:20):
possible when we're willing toembrace mystery, prioritize
genuine healing, and finesseexisting systems for the greater
good.
If today's conversation inspiredyou to reconsider your
relationship with rest,patience, or self-love, share it
with someone who needs to hearit.
Remember, the Sheet SuiteSociety exists to amplify
women's voices from all walks oflife, proving that healing and
(27:41):
activism can work hand in hand.
Until next time, this is yourhost Dahlia reminding you that
your life is your message to theworld.
Why not make it extraordinary?
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.