About
Alyssum Pohl
I want the world to be a better place. Let's do this together. After years of frustration in my professional life, but otherwise leading a fairly happy life, I realized that I am most fulfilled I when I do exactly what feels good at a deep soul level, no matter what society or family values suggest are the 'best' decisions. I gave a TEDx talk about innovation told through contortion; I became the 2nd woman to solo kayak the Mississippi River from source to sea, documenting plastic waste and water quality along the way; and now I am helping others realize their best and most authentic selves. This is incredibly fulfilling work.
Experience
Rewriting my resume
Sometimes I feel like I've lived several lifetimes because of the myriad esoteric experiences I've had. Here are some. These reflect what I'm most proud of much more than my 'professional resume'.
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Important dates in my life
2017-Present
Fully committed to Awaken Authenticity! Also working on another, related book.
2015-Present
Writing a memoir. Based on the story of paddling the Mississippi, this memoir will tell the story of my life. Have you ever written a book? It's fricken hard!
June 26 - Nov 4, 2015
Solo kayaked the Mississippi River from source to sea, documenting plastic waste and water quality. Paddle On!
Summer 2011
I realized I was an artist, no matter how much I tried to keep it 'just a hobby'. I had always thought that artists were so brave and audacious to claim the title, but I realized that I wasn't just creative on demand...I was creative all the time whether I meant to be or not. This was scary and relieving and freeing.
April 2011
I pulled together a TEDx Monterey talk about innovation...but I made it a story-telling-through-contortion performance.
1982-2012
I was in school for 30 years. Montessori pre-school and elementary, home schooling when I lived on a sailboat with my family for a year, public school for middle school in the inner city and in Eastern Kentucky, Catholic high school, University of Kentucky where I was in the Gaines Fellowship and got a BS in biology, four painful years in veterinary medical school, two marvelous years in Monterey California getting a masters degree in international environmental policy. I'm a total nerd, but I think I'm done for a while.