The Big Vag Energy Podcast

Chess Galea & Alex Gillam

THE BIG VAG ENERGY PODCAST, co-hosted by Chess and Alex, serves up candid conversations that matter to women about women. We explore the realities, frustrations and success stories of females in the 21st century with topics ranging from fighting for equality to being your own boss. We deconstruct what’s going on in pop culture, current events, and our own experiences, as well as those of the badass women we feature. Follow us on Instagram @thebigvagenergypod Email us thebigvagenergypodcast@gmail.com read less
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Episodes

Girls Fight Back: Personal Safety & Empowerment
Nov 27 2023
Girls Fight Back: Personal Safety & Empowerment
Another Monday, another Big V Energy episode! Today we have the privilege of speaking with the award-winning international speaker, trainer, and personal safety expert Nicole Snell! Nicole is a specialist in sexual assault prevention education, gender-based violence prevention, and boundary setting. She is the CEO of Girls Fight Back, a world-renowned personal safety and empowerment self-defense program with the mission of teaching women, girls, and people of all gender identities everywhere how to be their own best protector.  Nicole is an NACP Credentialed Victim Advocate and a Credentialed Empowerment Self-Defense Professional. She speaks to women and gender-inclusive groups at colleges, high schools, the US Military, Fortune 500 companies, corporations, outdoor groups, and more both domestically and abroad. Nicole has facilitated Sexual Assault Prevention workshops at over 90 military installations worldwide and has completed over 400 speaking engagements globally. She has personally trained over 150,000 people and her company, Girls Fight Back has trained over 1 Million people! In this episode, we speak to Nicole about Girls Fight Back, which aims to make violence prevention an approachable topic for diverse communities. She shares how she came to work in personal safety and sexual assault prevention education, strategies that can be implemented to enhance personal safety, and her own experiences with self-defense. Have some thoughts on the episode that you want to share? Hit us up on Insta ⁠@thebigvagenergypod⁠ Make sure to click that "Subscribe" or "Follow" button so you get updates to our latest and greatest episodes. Thank you for listening and keep channeling that Big Vag Energy!
From Fame to Rock Bottom to Self-Respect & Love: Eva Avila's Sobriety Journey
Sep 25 2023
From Fame to Rock Bottom to Self-Respect & Love: Eva Avila's Sobriety Journey
Happy Monday Everyone! Today we're chatting with Eva Avila, a talented singer hailing from Canada who has been captivating audiences with her voice since she could speak. At the age of 19 in 2006, Eva auditioned for the fourth season of Canadian Idol on CTV and emerged as the winner, propelling her into the spotlight. This achievement paved the way for two successful albums with Sony BMG: "Somewhere Else" (2006), certified GOLD and featuring a song produced by Cyndi Lauper, and "Give Me The Music" (2009), recorded in Los Angeles and showcasing Eva's songwriting talent. Eva's journey continued with four chart-topping radio singles, including a Platinum hit in Canada and a Juno Award nomination. She became the face of renowned brands like Maybelline NY, Spring Shoes, and Sony Electronics. A pinnacle moment arrived when Eva was selected as the opening act for Beyoncé during her 2009 Canadian tour, "I Am... Sasha Fierce." Eva also left a lasting impression by performing at the closing ceremonies of the Vancouver Olympics in 2010 and drawing a crowd of over 50,000 at her 90-minute solo show during the Gatineau hot air balloon festival. Eva’s versatility extends to TV, film, and commercials, including roles in "The Bold Type" and an upcoming role in the film "Autumn and the Last Jaguar" slated for early 2024. We could add more of her accolades but you get the picture! In today’s episode, Eva walks us through her early love of music and how it evolved into a successful career, particularly as she rose to fame following her win on Canadian Idol and the whirlwind that followed. Eva opens up to us about the circumstances that led to the change in her relationship with alcohol, how she regained control of her life and became sober, and the personal growth she has since achieved. She is a strong advocate for mental health and sobriety and speaks openly and candidly about these topics on social media. Eva is now bringing her phenomenal singing talent to Brit Floyd, a Pink Floyd tribute band, that has been touring in the US and Canada, with plans to tour Europe and the UK in the autumn of 2024.  To keep up with Eva's incredible journey, follow her on Instagram: @evaavilaofficial Resources: SMART RecoveryAlcoholics AnonymousAl-Anon for Familys and Friends of AlcoholicsParents of Addicted Loved Ones Eva's favourite sobriety Instagram accounts: @happiestsober @findingmyselfsober  @1000hoursdry @kelz_living_well @bethbowen_ @youdonthavetodrink @thisnakedmind @recoveryisthenewblack @theretiredpartygirl @holly @mommydoesnotneedwine @sobermomsquad @sober.poweredA Eva's recommended books about alcohol addiction and recovery: The Unexpected joy of being sober (Catherine Gray)Sunshine warm sober (Catherine Gray)This naked mind (Annie Grace)Quit like a woman (Holly Whitaker) Drinking… a love story (Caroline Knapp)  Have some thoughts on the episode that you want to share? Hit us up on Insta ⁠@thebigvagenergypod⁠ Make sure to click that "Subscribe" or "Follow" button so you get updates to our latest and greatest episodes. Thank you for listening and keep channeling that Big Vag Energy!
Revolutionizing Date Night and Becoming an Entrepreneur: Nadia Barbosa
Jun 26 2023
Revolutionizing Date Night and Becoming an Entrepreneur: Nadia Barbosa
Happy Monday, everyone!  Get ready for a game-changing date night experience! Today we’re sitting down with Nadia Barbosa, co-founder of Tandem Experiences – the ultimate solution for stress-free, unforgettable dates! Say goodbye to boring routines and hello to exciting adventures whether you’re in the early stages of dating or in a long-term relationship. Tandem is a new date-planning application that combines the best local events, mouthwatering food, and thrilling activities Toronto has to offer, so you don’t have to worry about the planning. It’s literally date night made easy and let's face it, we all crave excitement and variety in our relationships. In this episode, we’ll be diving into Nadia's journey as an entrepreneur, building a successful business from scratch, and the obstacles she faced along the way. We'll also uncover the secrets behind Tandem's genius concept, perfect for those seeking fresh ideas and unique experiences in the dating world. Tune in as Nadia shares her market research findings, uncovering fascinating insights into people's date-planning behaviors and attitudes. You can download Tandem Experiences on the App Store here and Google Play here. Check them out on Instagram and TikTok while you’re at it too @tandemexperiences  Have some thoughts on the episode that you want to share? Hit us up on Insta @thebigvagenergypod Make sure to click that "Subscribe" or "Follow" button so you get updates to our latest and greatest episodes. Thank you for listening and keep channeling that Big Vag Energy!
Disrupting the Condom Market and Breaking the Stigmas of Safe Sex: Jems Condoms
Apr 24 2023
Disrupting the Condom Market and Breaking the Stigmas of Safe Sex: Jems Condoms
Happy Monday friends! Our guests today are Yasemin Emory and Whitney Geller, life-long friends and co-founders of Jems Condoms which they launched in April 2021.  While looking for contraception options between pregnancies, Yasemin and Whitney noticed a void in the condom aisle - traditional condom packaging reflects an outdated notion of sexuality.  Everything from the unappealing packaging to the messaging that speaks primarily to an imagined heterosexual cis-male consumer it was clear to them that the condom brands lacked thoughtfulness as to how vast and varied the audience is. They also noticed the lack of clean, transparent ingredients with condoms.  Cue Jems being born. From the purposeful inviting design and messaging that reinforces Jems is for everyone to the non-toxic clean ingredients used in the product, they have completely challenged the condom market and it’s no wonder Jems is growing rapidly in popularity - now being sold in Whole Foods in Canada and Target in the United States alongside hundreds of other stores. Vegan, gluten-free, and cruelty-free, Jems is a condom made with intention. We talk to the pair about the importance of inclusivity, driving meaningful change - particularly during a time when STI’s are on the rise, breaking the stigmas of safe sex, and so much more. Have some thoughts on the episode that you want to share? Hit us up on Insta @thebigvagenergypod Make sure to click that "Subscribe" or "Follow" button so you get updates to our latest and greatest episodes. Thank you for listening and keep channeling that Big Vag Energy!