I’ve always been drawn to old people.

It was never like, “aww Grandpa is so cute eating his oats and grilled salmon talking about his family growing up in the depression and the wars…” although, that got me a bit too.

More than that, I respect age. Even as a kid. I thought my elders had the coolest stories in the world. They had LIVED. They were wise. They didn’t put up with bullshit, and they kept their mouth shut about enough that when they’d open it, everyone tolerated or heeded whatever they had to say. Maybe a little bit of both…

I remember the first old person I totally vibed with — aside from my Grandma Mo (Pictured left above. I had to force her to look happy for that shot LOL), who was, is and always will be my BFF.

As a kid, I was always hanging around adults. I was an only child, and we didn’t have money, so my parents and grandparents and their friends were both my nannies and my socialization. I’m not mad at it. 😇 

I went to a huge church growing up in Wisconsin, and there was an elder (we were non-denominational, so elders were simply “respected old people,” I think?) named Clark who I would sit with for hours after church just talking about life. He was kind. Like a sage. Full of wisdom. I’d just pick his brain for as long as I could until my parents literally dragged me out of that building (which always took awhile — my moms a talker…)

I respected him. He and his wife were incredible people. They fostered dozens of kids at a time from very abusive and broken homes. They did so much for the community. They were people I hoped to be like one day.

Our deep post-church life chats began when I was eight years old. We’d just sit in the giant empty congregation chapel and talk, almost like two adults who had known each other their whole lives.

One day after church, I was “eleven going on twelve” at this point — as I liked to reiterate to people who asked — and Clark came up to me at the start of church and said “Natasha, I have a word for you. It’s powerful. I’ll tell you after church.”

I remember being so excited that day all through the service. He had something for me? I felt I was always pulling stories and wisdom from him. This was a big day.

Church ended and we sat in our usual two chairs. And he looked at me, with those old, deep-set eyes and said, “The word I have for you is a prophecy. Do you know what a prophecy is?” — I nodded, envisioning some parable I once heard from the Old Testament.

He continued, “Sometimes I get visions so powerful, they nearly knock me out of my bed at night.” And then a thoughtful pause for suspense…

“Natasha, I had a vision last night that people were surrounding you asking ‘what’s the secret to your success?' You couldn’t even move — you were being swarmed. I have no idea what you’ll choose to do with your life, but no matter what it is, this will be your reality. You are a leader, and you will change a lot of lives. Never, EVER forget that.”

Wow.

The words hit me so hard I felt like both stone and a feather at the same time. Unable to move, yet completely light.

I never did forget it. I’ve actually shared this with only a handful of people my entire life. I’ve clung onto this moment whenever things get confusing or uncertain.

And I say this to you reading this too — you were meant for MORE. You don’t have to seek it. It’s just there. And it’ll find you when the time is right.

The Hustle

Clark passed away my first summer after college. I was nineteen. I was back home, working the same farm for the summer, not drinking or partying. I went to his funeral and just hugged his wife so hard, and told her Clark had completely changed my life. I just hadn’t gotten to the best part yet.

That moment really did change me. To the core.

Sometimes, just one person’s belief in you can become your north star.

This prophecy was that for me. It reminded me to never be afraid, because success would find me, or I it. And that I would use it for good. Which is the most important part.

That moment with Clark didn't just give me confidence, it gave me a framework for making decisions. When opportunities felt too big or scary, I'd remember his words about people swarming me for success advice. When paths seemed uncertain, I'd trust that whatever I chose would lead somewhere meaningful because the vision wasn't about a specific career — it was about impact.

The prophecy became my permission slip to take risks. To move to LA without knowing anyone. To start a podcast before I knew what I was doing. To say yes to opportunities that felt bigger than my current skill level. Because if Clark was right — and I never for a second questioned if he was — if I was meant to help people and change lives, then I had to trust that the path would reveal itself as I walked it.

It's not about being chosen or special — it's about recognizing that you already have everything you need inside you.

The prophecy didn't create my potential, it simply helped me see what was already there.

Every time I've doubted myself or felt lost, I remember that eleven-year-old girl sitting in those chapel chairs, and I remember that the vision wasn't conditional on me figuring everything out first.

That’s the thing about destiny. You cannot escape it. And that’s freeing.

The Chill

Now, decades later, I find myself looking for that same spark Clark saw in me when I meet other people.

It’s why the people I choose to have in my life and keep there mean so much — because truly, I fuck with people I see things in. I’m not talking about fame or ultra wealth, I mean something more.

That restless energy, that sense of someone who's meant for more but maybe doesn't see it yet. The person asking thoughtful questions at events, the one with ideas they're scared to share, the one who lights up when talking about something they're passionate about. I’m drawn to these people.

I've started telling people what I see in them, the way Clark told me. Not prophecies — I'm not claiming visions — but observations about their potential that maybe they can't see from where they're standing. I tell people when they’re spoken of highly in rooms they aren’t in.

Because sometimes all someone needs is one person to say "I see something special in you" for them to start believing it themselves.

It’s not about having all the answers or knowing your exact path. It's about trusting that you're exactly where you need to be, building exactly what you need to build, meeting exactly who you need to meet.

That prophecy taught me that our job isn't to force the vision — it's to show up fully as ourselves and let the magic unfold.

And you don't need a prophecy from an elder in a church chapel to know you're meant for something bigger. You already feel it, don't you? That restless sense that there's more out there for you. That quiet voice that whispers you're capable of more than you're currently doing.

Listen to that voice. It's never wrong.

Upcoming Shows

Friday 9/12 — Laugh Factory Chicago 7pm

Saturday 9/13 — City Comedy London 8pm

Sunday 9/14 — Angel Comedy London (time TBD)

Monday 9/15 — TBD drop-ins for NYC — peep my IG stories

September 26th — TedX Chicago

Love you all and cheers to the hustle + chill. We have big things in store.

xx NPH