In this episode, Jiggy shares her upbringing in a very traditional Korean family, where her traumatic experiences and emotions were not to be spoken of and where expectations of excellence were of the utmost importance. She talks about the effects that this had on her growing up. After she moved to the United States, she was practicing her english in an online chat room, and came across the words "gay", "lesbian" and "bisexual" which led her to discovering an identity that she felt connected to. She shares how she bravely told a few friends when she was young and received homophobic responses that cost her most of her friendships. Jiggy shares how she eventually ended up attending Pennsylvania State University, and discovered another set of new words - "vulnerability", "self awareness" and "empathy". It would be her time attending some gen-ed classes that ended up changing the trajectory of her life. It opened up a whole new space that she never knew existed and one that went against everything she'd been taught as a young girl. A space where emotional intelligence set her on a healing journey.
Jiggy is a youth motivational speaker and mental performance coach helping high school and college students increase the longevity of their performance and demand for excellence. Along with her storytelling, Jiggy brings awareness to the importance of mental health and burnout prevention, and teaches practical strategies for students to implement. Jiggy believes that in order to obtain sustainable performance and excellence, we must be both self-disciplined and self-compassionate; both hard working and effectively resting.
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Candace Dunaway is the host of The Spiritual Cupcake Podcast, a heart-centered space for healing, growth, and high-vibe living. She’s also a teacher, a nature lover, and a creative soul who finds deep joy in life’s simplest moments.
Candace sees the world through rainbow-colored glasses—always searching for the silver linings, even in life’s stormy skies. For her, happiness isn’t a far-off destination, but something woven into the everyday magic of life.
Her love for the outdoors inspired The Mild Side of Wild, a video series that encourages others to step outside and reconnect with nature’s wisdom—a free gift that’s always available.
Whether she’s wandering through the woods, recording a podcast episode, or laughing with a stranger-turned-friend, Candace thrives on meaningful connection. She treasures hearing people’s stories and perspectives, especially when they come from unexpected paths.
Forever dreaming, always creating, she’s endlessly exploring new ideas and projects. Guided by wonder, curiosity, and the belief that beauty is everywhere, She’s here to connect, to let go, and to expand—one inspired moment at a time.
