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Question Everything is an invitation to dig deeper, think smarter, and rewrite the rules. In thought-provoking conversations with some of today’s most dynamic voices– from entrepreneurs and authors to politicians and celebrities – journalist Danielle Robay challenges the way we think (and what we thought we knew). Each week, she and her guests hold a mirror up to our culture, asking what works for us and what we can work to change. No topic is off limits – come curious and join Danielle every Thursday as she tackles big ideas with six little words: Can I ask you a question?
The podcast QUESTION EVERYTHING is created by PRETTYSMART. The podcast and the artwork on this page are embedded on this page using the public podcast feed (RSS).
Ken Cook is the President and co-founder of the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and has spent his life fighting for safer food, cleaner water, and tougher regulations to protect us—and our kids—from toxic chemicals. He’s reshaped U.S. food and farm policy and pushed back against the industries putting profits over people.
In this episode, he shares:
Book Rec: The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes
Check out the EWG here and their consumer guides (safer beauty, tap water, sunscreen etc) here.
Check out Ken’s Podcast “Ken Cook is Having Another Episode” here!
Danielle sits down with the powerhouse women behind 21 Seeds Tequila—Kat Hantas, Sarika Singh, and Nicole Emanuel—to reveal how they built a $160+ million brand from their kitchen. This is also happens to be Danielle’s FAVORITE (infused) tequila!
If you love entrepreneurship, tequila, brand-building, and female founders shaking up male-populated spaces, this episode is a must-listen. Find out how these women called the shots—and changed the industry.
Grab your limited edition Shot Callers card game here.
Follow 21SEEDS here
Ashlyn Harris—World Cup champion, activist, mother, and the goalkeeper with the most saves in U.S. Women’s National Team history—opens up about the reality of high-performance culture, the addiction that almost consumed her, and why she walked away from everything she built to start over. Now, she’s in a new chapter—one that includes radical self-work, protecting her peace, and an unexpected love story. In this episode, Ashlyn shares:
This is a conversation about reinvention and the radical act of choosing yourself—even when the whole world is watching.
Follow Ashlyn Harris here
Listen to her podcast “Wide Open with Ashlyn Harris” produced by iHeart Women’s Sports. New episodes drop weekly on Mondays, on the iHeartRadio app and anywhere you get your podcasts.
Asma Khan—Michelin-starred chef, activist, and the woman who turned rejection into revolution sits down with Danielle Robay. Born into an Indian royal bloodline, Asma was told from birth that she was a disappointment—too dark, too fat, too unworthy. The extended family dismissed her. She was never meant to be a leader. But that’s exactly what she became.
Now, she is the force behind Darjeeling Express, a London restaurant run entirely by South Asian immigrant women—home cooks, nannies, and housewives who had never worked in professional kitchens before.
In this episode, Asma shares:
The one sentence her sister told her as a child that changed her life forever
Why she refuses to scream in the kitchen—and what male chefs get wrong about food
How Darjeeling Express began in her home and became an international success
The painful truth about losing friends after success (and how she knew it was time to walk away)
How she convinced a banker to fund her dream—after getting laughed out of the room
The surprising person who saved her when she hit rock bottom
Why she chose to hire only South Asian immigrant women—and how they built something powerful together
Why her scars are her greatest source of power
The Hollywood A-lister who surprised her with bagels and became an unexpected friend\
Follow Asma Khan here
What does it really take to build an urgent, bold, uncompromising life? In this unfiltered conversation, Bozoma Saint John—former marketing executive at Apple, Pepsi, Uber, Netflix, and Endeavor, and now founder of Eve—shares the hard-earned lessons in life, love, and career. From working with Spike Lee to making the career-defining call that helped launch Beyoncé’s solo superstardom, Bozoma opens up about the tough decisions, defining moments, and the mindset shifts that changed everything. In this personal episode, Boz shares:
This episode is about making bold choices, owning your power, and refusing to play by anyone else’s rules. If you’ve ever questioned whether success is worth the sacrifice—or wondered how to build a career and life that’s fully yours—this conversation will change the way you think.Press play. You won’t forget it.
Follow Bozoma here.
Sign up for the Badass Workshop in your city here.
Buy Eve by Boz hair here.
Bethenny Frankel is a self-made businessperson, TV producer, podcast host, New York Times bestselling author, philanthropist, and social media force with 8.5 million followers. In this auhtentically Bethenny (unfiltered) conversation, she breaks down the mindset, business moves, and personal struggles that struggles that made her a powerhouse.
Bethenny doesn’t just play the game—she rewrites the rules. From making millions to exposing the fakeness of Hollywood, social media, and reality TV, nothing is off-limits in this no-holds-barred interview.
In this episode, Bethenny shares:
Follow Bethenny:
Podcasts:
Check Out:
Before she was producing, starring in major films, and building her media empire, Tika Sumpter was a girl from Queens with a dream but no roadmap. In this raw and inspiring conversation, she shares how grit, hustle, and self-belief took her from waiting tables in New York to making it in Hollywood. From a chance encounter that led to her first agent to the game-changing roles that finally put her on the map, Tika gets real about the double standards in the industry, creating her own opportunities, and why betting on yourself is everything.
This conversation is about trusting your instincts, pushing past rejection, and never waiting for permission.
Follow Tika on Instagram here.
Grab a copy of he new book I Got It From My Mama here.
Bestselling author Tia Williams (Seven Days in June, A Love Song for Ricki Wilde) sits down with Danielle Robay for a juicy, unfiltered conversation about love, dating, and why modern romance is more complicated than ever. From her days as the first Black beauty editor at Glamour to writing the books she wishes existed, Tia shares how her own experiences—including how dating a “charismatic psycho”—shaped her novels.
Follow Tia on Instagram
Grab a copy of Tia’s latest book Audre & Bash Are Just Friends here.
Book Reccomendation: The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
In this deeply honest episode, Jennifer Esposito, celebrated actress and the first female writer-director to step into the mafia genre, opens up about her 20-year battle against Hollywood stereotypes and systemic misogyny to bring her passion project Fresh Kills to life. From growing up in Brooklyn to being told she wasn’t “the girl next door,” Jennifer shares how resilience, rage, and relentless ambition shaped her career—and her personal revolution. Tune in as Jennifer shares:
Book Reccomendation: Long Walk to Freedom: the Autobiography of Nelson Mandela
Stream Fresh Kills now on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and Hulu!
Follow Jennifer on Instagram
If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to turn the wildest "what ifs" into reality, this episode will leave you inspired to embrace your own boldest dreams. Danielle sits down with Michelle Khare—YouTube sensation, Streamy Award-winning creator, and the woman behind the wildly popular Youtube series Challenge Accepted. Michelle shares how she’s pushed herself to the limit with challenges like escaping from a water tank Houdini-style, training with NASA, and even becoming a black belt in just 90 days, and even transforming into a Victoria’s Secret model. Together, they explore:
How to tap into your inner daredevil and confront fear.
The surprising mental and physical toll of taking on extreme challenges.
Why Michelle believes "everything you want is on the other side of fear."
How Tim Ferriss’ 4-Hour Workweek shaped her fearless philosophy.
The behind-the-scenes reality of creating high-stakes, docu-style YouTube videos.
How rejection, resilience, and resourcefulness have shaped her career.
The life lessons she’s learned from clowns, FBI hostage negotiators, and circus performers.
Book Reccomendation: The 4 Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris
Follow Michelle on Instagram
Watch Challenge Accepted on Michelle’s Youtube channel
Dr. Ellen Langer, known as the “mother of mindfulness,” and the first woman ever tenured in psychology at Harvard University and joins PRETTYSMART for an unforgettable conversation that will challenge everything you think you know about health, aging, and control over your life. With decades of groundbreaking research, Dr. Langer has reshaped our understanding of the mind’s power to transform the body and revolutionized how we approach healing, decision-making, and resilience. In this eye-opening episode, we explore:
The one phrase she lives by (it changed Danielle’s life).
Her personal stories, from her mother’s miraculous recovery from terminal cancer to the fire that destroyed nearly everything she owned—and how she found meaning and growth in both experiences.
Book Reccomendation: The Mindful Body: Thinking Our Way to Chronic Health by Dr. Ellen Langer
Follow Ellen here
Transform your life in 2025! Danielle unveils her 5-step action plan to help you make this your most extraordinary year yet. Recorded with love and intention, this episode goes beyond goal-setting—it’s about designing a life that truly lights you up. Highlights include:
This episode is packed with personal stories, research-backed insights, and practical tools to help you dream bigger, reflect deeper, and set yourself up for a transformative year. Plus, Danielle reveals her own goals, her word of the year, and the mantra guiding her into 2025.
Download your FREE 2025 Action Plan at DanielleRobay.com and let’s make this the year you go all in on YOU.
Grab the QUESTION EVERYTHING card game here!
Natasha Scott and Justine Kay, the dynamic duo behind the podcast Two Black Girls, One Rose, join us for a deep, hilarious, and thought-provoking conversation about reality TV and its impact on culture. What started as a love for shows like Laguna Beach and The Bachelor has evolved into a platform for dissecting race, relationships, and representation in pop culture. Natasha and Justine share personal stories, insights on building their brand, and why their podcast has become more than just commentary—it's a community. Whether you’re a reality TV junkie or a casual fan, this episode will leave you laughing, reflecting, and rethinking how we consume pop culture.
In this episode, we dive into:
Follow Natasha + Justine.
Book Recommendations:
Natasha: Thick: And Other Essays" by Tressie McMillan Cottom
Justine: The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin
Download your FREE 2025 Action Plan at DanielleRobay.com and let’s make this the year you go all in on YOU.
Grab the QUESTION EVERYTHING card game here!
Jessica Hoppe is a Honduran-Ecuadorian writer and creator of @NuevaYorka. She recently released her first memoir “First in the Family: A Story of Survival, Recovery and the American Dream” Today she joins PRETTYSMART and shares:
Follow Jessica Here
Buy First in the Family Here
Book Recommendation: Magical Realism by Vanessa Angelica Villarreal and Heavy by Kiese Laymon
Grab the QUESTION EVERYTHING card game here!
Download Danielle’s 2025 Goals + Manifestation Map here for FREE
Clarke Peoples didn’t set out to become a content creator—but life had other plans. The Columbia University graduate found herself gaining a massive TikTok following by vlogging her life as an Ivy League student navigating the hustle, heart, and chaos of New York City. Now, as a full-time creator, she’s sharing everything from daily routines to life-changing advice, inspiring young women to embrace confidence, curiosity, and self-empowerment, especially in their dating lives! In this candid conversation, Clarke fearlessly dives into:
Follow Clarke on IG and TikTok
Book Recs: The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore & A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beya.
Grab the QUESTION EVERYTHING card game here!
Caroline Baudino, the force behind Instagram’s Shop with Caroline and host of the hit podcast Coming in Hot, joins the pod to share her unapologetic mission to inspire us all to “Get up and get dressed.” With humor, heart, and hard-earned wisdom, Caroline dives into:
Caroline’s energy and honesty will leave you feeling inspired, empowered, and ready to tackle life on your own terms.
Follow Caroline on Instagram here!
BOOK REC: The Red Tent by Anita Diamant and The House in the Sky by Amanda Lindhout & Sara Corbett
Check out Strong Girl Publishing here.
This episode is packed with emotional stories, practical tools, and thought-provoking insights to inspire you to be more intentionally and deeply kind in your life.
Book Rec: On Being Nice by the School of Life
Follow Houston Kraft hereDid you know that almost all athletic shoes on the market have been designed, researched and tested on men? When Lindsay Housman discovered this, she and her husband, founded Hettas, a company creating running shoes optimized for women. Today, Lindsay joins the podcast to share why becoming a disruptor in this space is so important to her. We discuss:
Follow Hettas on Instagram here!
Book Rec: Strong is the New Pretty by Kate T Parker
Emily Bear captivated the world with her piano talent at just six years old. Now, at 23, she’s already a Grammy and Emmy-winning composer, producer, arranger, pianist, and singer-songwriter. Recently, she became the youngest person to score a feature film and is currently working on Moana 2. In 2022, Emily won the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album for The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical, which she co-wrote with Abigail Barlow live on social media. The album soared to #1 on the U.S. iTunes pop charts within 1.5 hours of its release and reached the top 5 albums worldwide. This year, she toured as the pianist for Beyoncé's Renaissance tour. Today, Emily shares:
The surprising moment her talent was discovered—and why she shies away from the “child prodigy” label.
Leaving home at 16 to chase her dreams in LA: the challenges, the courage, and the adventure.
How a life-changing meeting led to Quincy Jones becoming her mentor.
The journey to becoming Beyoncé’s pianist on the Renaissance Tour—and the one terrifying moment she’ll never forget.
An unexpected lesson from Beyoncé that reshaped her approach to music and performance.
The story behind The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical, and why winning a Grammy was the last thing she expected.
The struggle to be taken seriously as a young musician—and why that respect mattered to her.
Why she aims to move people to tears with her music.
Creating her own path when gigs weren’t coming—and her advice for others who want to do the same.
Breaking barriers as a woman composer—and why she proudly performs with colorful nail polish and heels!
Book Rec: Outliers by Malcom Gladwell
Dr. Jessica Shepherd is a board-certified OB-GYN and women’s health expert, dedicated to empowering women at every stage of life with a holistic approach to care.In this episode, Danielle talks with Dr. Shepherd about her newly launched book, Generation M, exploring women’s health, aging, and empowerment. Key takeaways include:
Follow Dr. Shepherd here.
Grab a copy of her book here.
Keely Cat-Wells is an entrepreneur and disability rights advocate that truly believes kindness can change the world. At 17, Keely was living her dream of attending a dance academy in London when she started experiencing health scares which led to multiple surgeries, medical malpractice and ended with a permanent ileostomy. It changed the trajectory of her life, and it led Keely to create monumental change for the disability community with the launch of her businesses C Talent and Making Space – both aimed at creating space for disabled talent. Most recently, Keely worked with disability rights advocate Sophie Morgan to get more disabled talent employed on NBC’s Paralympics coverage as well as a first look deal with Hello Sunshine. Today, on PRETTYSMART, Keely reflects on how she’s helping disabled artists and creators achieve their dreams and why starting her own business was the smartest decision she’s ever made. She shares:
Follow Keely here
Check out Making Space here
Book Rec: Driving Forwards: An inspirational memoir of resilience and empowerment after life-changing injury by Sophie Morgan
Do you have imposter syndrome? You’re not alone—70% of people will experience imposter syndrome at some point, and today, Dr. Lisa Orbé-Austin is here to help us break free. As a psychologist, imposter syndrome expert, and bestselling author of Own Your Greatness and Your Unstoppable Greatness, Dr. Orbé-Austin dives deep into how imposter syndrome shows up in our lives—and, most importantly, how we can overcome it. In this episode of PRETTYSMART, she reveals:
Follow Dr. Lisa Orbé-Austin here
Check out her latest book here
Book Rec: The First 90 Days by Michael D. Watkins
She’s a Grammy-winning, multi-platinum rapper, singer-songwriter, Emmy-nominated actor, mother, philanthropist, and entrepreneur. You know her for the iconic hit Who’s That Girl? Now, Eve is here on PRETTYSMART, ready to finally answer that question. In her new memoir, she opens up like never before, giving us an intimate glimpse into her life and journey as she shares:
Grab a copy of Eve’s Memoir “Who’s That Girl?” Here!
Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
At just 14, Taylor Hill became a full-time model, and by 18, she had booked the career-defining role of walking in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, becoming one of the youngest models to do so. Since then, Taylor has graced the covers of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar and walked for fashion powerhouses like Versace, Chanel, and Dolce & Gabbana during Fashion Weeks in New York, Milan, and Paris. Now 28, Taylor is stepping into a new chapter as an entrepreneur, launching Tate & Taylor, a brand offering a holistic shopping experience for pet owners. On PRETTYSMART, Taylor reflects on her 14-year fashion career as a supermodel and the unconditional love driving her latest venture. She shares:
Follow Taylor here
Check out Tate & Taylor here
Book Rec: Many Lives, Many Masters by Brian L. Weiss, M.D.
Is your heart the key to the transformation you’ve been seeking? New York Times best-selling author, holistic wellness expert, and nutritionist to stars like Drew Barrymore, Reese Witherspoon, and Channing Tatum – Kimberly Snyder shares insights from her latest book, The Hidden Power of the Five Hearts, which maps out a path to personal transformation that can happen almost overnight. Backed by decades of research from the HeartMath Institute, Kimberly shares:
Follow Kimberly here.
Grab a copy of Kimberly’s book here.
For over two decades, Emmy & Peabody Award winning Journalist, Sarah Spain has made her mark as a sports reporter. She’s spent over a dozen of those years at ESPN, working as a host, producer and writer. She’s also a radio host and hosts her own podcast “Good Game with Sarah Spain” on iHeart. Today she’s joining PRETTYSMART to share her journey from young athlete to award winning sports journalist. She shares:
Follow Sarah on Instagram
Listen to Sarah’s Podcast
Curious about open marriage or ethical non-monogamy? In this episode, Molly Roden Winter shares her candid journey. At 35, Molly was a happily married teacher in Brooklyn with two young sons. But one night, feeling suffocated, she walked into a neighborhood bar and found herself desiring another man. What followed transformed her life and marriage. Molly reveals:
You can buy Molly’s Book, “More: A Memoir of Open Marriage” Here
And follow her on Instagram here!
Books: A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle, Anna Karenina Leo Tolstoy
Cat Lantigua is a first-generation Dominican-American author, community architect, podcast host and creative strategist helping to build spaces that foster soul-centered conversations and a sense of belonging. Today she joins PRETTYSMART to share all about her new book “Build It and They Will Come - A Guide to Architecting Intentional Community.” She Shares:
Follow Cat on Instagram @cat.lantigua
Her book “Build It And They Will Come.” is available here!
Julie Rice and Elizabeth Cutler founded SoulCycle in 2006 along and sold it in 2011 (for approximately 90 million dollars each). Now they have launched what they are calling a workout for your relationships- Peoplehood. 60 minute guided groups where you learn to speak freely and listen deeply. Julie joins PRETTYSMART today so share both about her entrepreneurial journey and why becoming a better listener as changed the trajectory of her life. She shares:
Follow Julie here
Sign up for Peoplehood (in person or virtually) here
Nora McInerny is an author, speaker and host of “Terrible, Thanks for Asking” - a podcast that lets people be honest about the hard things in life. Nora lost her husband, Aaron when she was just 32 years old and is currently remarried and raising a blended family. Today she shares:
Follow Nora here
Grab a copy of Nora’s books here
Recommended books from Nora:
Chelsea Devantez is an Emmy-nominated writer, comedian, director, and host of the podcast Glamorous Trash. She was Jon Stewart’s Head Writer for Apple TV+'s The Problem with Jon Stewart and has also written for Not Dead Yet, Girls5Eva, and Bless this Mess, among others. Chelsea’s memoir “I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This (But I’m Going to Anyway) is out now and today she returns to PRETTYSMART to talk all about it! She shares:
Links:
Comedian, Writer and star of Saturday Night Live, Ego Nwodim, joins PRETTYSMART! She shares:
Follow Ego here
Alexandra’s Consulting Website: https://www.alexandramandersonconsulting.com/
Author of “Build Like a Woman” + award-winning, self-made serial entrepreneur, Kathleen Griffith is here. She’s sharing everything you need to know about building both a life AND a business you love!
Kathleen works with Fortune 500 brands, directing more than $500M in marketing dollars and generating more than one billion dollars on behalf of clients ranging from NIKE to NBC Sports to Verizon. Her passion is to further the next generation of women entrepreneurs and help them architect the life of their dreams.
She shares:
Follow Kathleen here
Grab her book here.
The Workout Witch, Liz Tenuto, joins PRETTYSMART to teach us how to release trauma and get rid of chronic pain through somatic exercises and therapy. With a Degree in Psychology from UCSB, somatic certifications in Feldenkrais and Pilates with a specialization in injuries & pathologies, and 15 years of teaching experience, she's been changing the conversation around how trauma and anxiety affect the body for 15 years. She shares:
What it means if you scroll on your phone for an hour at night
Her personal journey with chronic pain and how she discovered somatic exercises.
Why any pain longer that does not heal after 3 months is trauma stored in the body.
Signs you have stress stored in your body.
How to differentiate stored trauma from muscle injury
What a functional freeze is and signs that you are in one (and why it often mimics depression)
What parts of the body different emotions are stored in.
Why there’s an overlap between signs of ADHD and nervous system dysregulation from trauma.
Revenge Sleep Procrastination: What it is and what it means for your nervous system.
Why you should stop doing cold plunges.
Follow Liz on Instagram
Explor Liz’s Online Courses
Friendship coach and author of “Fighting for Our Friendships,” Danielle Bayard Jackson, joins the pod to share practical strategies and thoughtful insights to help us in every area of our friendships. We discuss:
Follow Danielle here.
Grab her book here.
Heidi Clements is a 63 year old writer, clothing enthusiast, storyteller. She’s also the incredible and inspiring @WelcometoHeidi on Instagram where she doles out no nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is life advice to her half a million followers who are mostly in their 20s and 30s. Today she joins PRETTYSMART to share her story + some of the lessons she’s learned in each decade. We discuss:
Follow Heidi on Instagram
Minnesota native Brianna Brown Keen is an award-winning actress who has worked for over two decades in Hollywood with projects ranging from top grossing feature films, to Emmy-winning television shows, to indie projects she has produced. She is often recognized for her roles on Dynasty, Devious Maids, General Hospital & Homeland, Netflix’s hit series Outer Banks.
Brianna is the founder and CEO of the 501c3 non-profit organization The New Hollywood— dedicated to supporting socially conscious storytellers and changemakers thru grants, goals, and mentorship. Brianna is the Chair Ambassador for the National Women’s History Museum. She is also a public speaker on the topic, “Manifesting Your Mission”, and she offers in-person and online workshops, retreats as well as small group accountability coaching using the method within her book, Manifesting Your Mission.
Brianna has her own podcast, Manifesting Your Mission. Check it out here! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/manifesting-your-mission-with-brianna-brown-keen/id1680967142
Alyssa Nobriga is a licensed Clinical Somatic Psychotherapist and lifecoach - today she’s joining PRETTYSMART to share the keys to having healthy, powerful, vibrant and fulfilling relationships.
We discuss:
Follow Alyssa here
Erica Malbon is the visionary co-founder behind the esteemed lifestyle brand Malbon Golf and the luxurious spa and wellness boutique, The Now. With an innate talent for identifying untapped opportunities and trusting her instincts, Erica has consistently achieved success in her entrepreneurial endeavors.
Today she shares:
Follow Erica on Instagram @EricaMalbon
When you were a teenager, who was advocating for you? Meet Chelsey Goodan, the advocate for teenage girls. With over a decade of experience, she's empowering girls to unlock their potential in her new book, "Underestimated: The Wisdom and Power of Teenage Girls." Whether you're healing the teenager inside of you, or caring for a teenage girl, Chelsey's insights will help you connect with this crucial stage of life, fostering healing and empowerment for all.
Today she shares:
Follow Chelsey on Instagram @chelseygoodan and grab her book here!
Actress, Emmy Award-Winning host and New York Times Bestselling Author of “Worthy, Jada Pinkett Smith offers an intimate look into her life and the honest, inspirational, and sometimes painful lessons she’s learned along the way. It was a beautiful conversation, but the moment that stuck out the most is when she said this: “My biggest art form is how I live my life. We are all walking pieces of art”. She shares:
Follow Jada on Instagram @jadapinkettsmith and grab her book here!
Actress, model, founder and editor in chief of The Cool Mom Co, Lizzy Mathis joins PRETTYSMART. She shares candidly about:
Follow Lizzy here!
Listen to The Cool Mom Code Podcast:
TIKTOK SHOP (QUESTION EVERYTHING CARD GAME)
Career transitions are an emotional rollercoaster, especially with today's uncertain job market. Lauren McGoodwin, Founder of Career Contessa, joins us to offer invaluable insights on navigating these shifts. Today she is empowering all of us with her tangible takeaway that will change your life! Today we dive into:
Follow Lauren on Instagram @CareerContessa and check out her podcast Career Contessa.
TIKTOK SHOP (QUESTION EVERYTHING CARD GAME)
Kate Bowler, Ph.D. is a 4x New York Times bestselling author, award-winning podcast host, and professor at Duke’s Divinity School. She was diagnosed with stage IV cancer at just 35 years old and while she was in treatment (and not expected to survive), she wrote two best-selling memoirs. Her latest book, “Have a Beautiful Terrible Day” is out now! Today she shares:
Follow Kate here.
Grab a copy of her new book here!
TIKTOK SHOP (QUESTION EVERYTHING CARD GAME)
Activist, writer, author and founder of #1000BlackGirlBooks, Marley Dias, is here! She shares:
Other than your parents, who has most impacted your life? For me, Steve Carlston is that person. He didn’t just change my career, but he changed my life. Steve is the Senior Vice President and General Manager of Los Angeles Fox Owned Stations. HIs incredible broadcasting career spans four decades. He is a media veteran, an impactful leader, and lives a life rooted in connections. I’m excited to share a conversation with you, with someone who has shared so much with me.
Today we cover:
Living a connected life
How being of service provides the most connection to others
How diversity is an opportunity to learn and celebrate others
What makes us each unique
The most important decision we make in our lives
Why Steve prays and his relationship to God
Why it’s important to be firmly rooted when you are young
Understanding your parents as you get older
How Steve has impacted Danielle’s life
To connect with Steve on LinkedIn, check him out here!
What are red flags that you aren’t financially compatible with your partner? What is the most productive + thoughtful way to have money conversations? What questions should you be asking? And then here’s my biggest question: Are you supposed to merge money? What are the benefits of that versus keeping your money separate? I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS!
Farnoosh Torabi is here to answer them all! Farnoosh is one of America’s leading personal finance authorities — she’s hooked on helping you live your richest, happiest life.
Her award winning podcast So Money has over 30 million downloads, where she has had deep conversations about money with accomplished people like Arianna Huffington, Queen Latifah and Tony Robbins. She has written multiple books, her latest just dropped: A Healthy State of Panic: Follow Your Fears to Build Wealth, Crush Your Career and Win at Life. The New York Times calls her advice, “perfectly practical.
I was excited to be on her podcast this week talking about money– the good, the bad and the…oops! Check out the episode here.
Connect Farnoosh on Instagram
Grab a copy of her new book!
Whether you are in a relationship, married, or single, more and more women are finding agency with their fertility by freezing their eggs (and embryos). I recently shared my personal journey with egg freezing on Instagram and am doing a much deeper dive in this episode. I learned SO MUCH (and I learned alot from the women who had been through it and DM’ed me tips– all of which i’m sharing on this episode. Today I’m diving into the facts, myths and most important questions you need to know about the process and the results of egg freezing!
Colleen and Cassidy Coughlin are the mother-daughter duo behind OVA Egg Freezing Specialty Center. Colleen is the Founder & CEO, who for over 30 years, has been a prominent leader in the field of IVF and Reproduction, helping thousands of patients become parents. Cassidy is her IVF-born daughter (born in her own lab!) and the center’s Program Manager.
Today they share a wealth of knowledge, including:
Follow OVA Egg Freezing Specialty Center on Instagram @ovaeggfreezing
When you trust in the universe, the universe rewards you. Dellara Gorjian is a prime example of the beauty that can unfold when you are living a truly authentic life. The law school alum and immigration law advocate turned content creator (aka, our TikTok “legal baddie”) has cultivated a community of over 1.4 million. She keeps it real, raw and spiritual.
Today she shares:
Follow Dellara on Instagram @dellara
Burnout is on the rise worldwide—and reports say that there are two groups that are the most burnt out: Gen Z/ young millennials and women. This week we are hearing from an ambitious woman who experienced burnout firsthand, this is her story: Stacie Brockman with us, a serial entrepreneur, passionate investor, dedicated board member, co-founder of Métier Creative and founding member of Coveteur. In 2019, Stacie founded PLZ&THX, a brand incubator and accelerator. Stacie is a marketing mastermind who earned respect in the industry for her disruptive marketing approach and her innate ability to find the white space– clients like CHANEL, Tiffany & Co, Disney, Dior, and Lauryn Hill (to name a few!) Stacie opens up about how her ambition and perfectionism led to burnout and the life-changing steps she has taken to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
Today she shares:
Connect with Stacie on Instagram @staciebrockman
Learn about her new venture: PLZ&THX.com
Rainesford Stauffer is an accomplished author and journalist, contributing to renowned publications such as the New York Times, The Cut by New York magazine, WSJ Magazine, Teen Vogue, Vox, and The Atlantic, to name a few. In her latest book, “All the Gold Stars,” she explores how the cultural, personal, and societal expectations around ambition are driving the global burnout epidemic.
Speaking to Rainesford inspired me to share my own experience with burnout. I hope this conversation sparks your reflection on your own ambitions.Today we chat about:
Where the attachment to ambition comes from
How ambition manifests and why ambition is deeply personal
The connection between burnout and exhaustion
Why ambition is a privilege
Why you can do less work and still be ambitious
The ebbs and flows of ambition
The link between loneliness and ambition
Why the term “self-made” is a fallacy
When ambition can become harmful
Why it’s difficult to have unconditional self-worth and self-esteem
Follow Rainesford on Instagram @rainesford_stauffer and grab her book here!
The word gratitude is derived from the Latin word gratia, which means grace, graciousness, or gratefulness (depending on the context).
I think about gratitude like this: Grace is an extension of gratitude and the more grateful we are the more grace we lead with.
Gratefully, today Kimberlee Soo shared a beautiful gratitude meditation with us. Kimberlee is a writer and private yoga instructor based in Los Angeles. Kimberlee has practiced yoga and meditation for over thirty years and began teaching in 2021, taking on private clients shortly thereafter. She is passionate about walking alongside those who wish to dynamically evolve and expand their knowledge of self through mindful modalities and dedicated to humans finding their authentic voice. She recently executive produced her first film short, The Model and one of her first short stories can be found in the anthology Briefly Knocked Unconscious by a Low-Flying Duck which just celebrated its 10thanniversary in print (Elephant Rock Books). Kimberlee collaborates as an editor and story developer, primarily with memoirists.
Kimberlee’s teachings have personally helped me find gratitude in the present moment. Not for what I have or how I feel, but for what I am. My hope is that through this meditation she can help you find what it is you’re seeking.
Ever wonder why your work environment is toxic? Or why your boss is such a terrible leader? Do you know what to look for or ask in a job interview to understand a company’s culture? Social psychologist Susanna Kislenko is the authority on leadership, red flags and toxicity in the workplace. She’s a Doctor of Philosophy who focuses on leadership, researching, and supporting founder leadership in the startup environment and currently serves as the Skoll Centre Postdoctoral Fellow, specializing in Leading for Impact at Oxford University's Saïd Business School. Today she shares:
How to determine leadership style
Why highly sensitive people make great leaders
Why great leaders have a strong mind-body connection
The #1 complaint people have about their jobs
What makes a workspace safe and the qualities of a great leader
How to determine the type of leader someone will be
Which red flags to look out for when interviewing at a company
How to assess a company’s culture
The right questions to ask to land the job
Her unfiltered thoughts about people online sharing their leadership philosophies
The biggest red flag that you should be wary of
Love bombing at work and why sometimes you should be wary of the company’s perks
Follow Susanna on Instagram @susannakislenko
Find your forever pieces @jennikayne and get 15% off with promo code PRETTYSMART at jennikayne.com/PRETTYSMART! #jennikaynepartner Get up to 50% OFF @honeylove by going to https://www.honeylove.com/PRETTYSMART #honeylovepodJenni Kayne is the founder + designer of her namesake brand Jenni Kayne: a California lifestyle brand that inspires women to live well every day. Her clothing, home decor, accessories (her candles are amongst my favorite) and overall aesthetic has become known amongst celebrities as one that never goes out of style. Today she shares:
Follow her on Instagram @JenniKayne and @JenniKayneHome
Cleo Wade is the New York Times bestselling author of “Heart Talk.” Cleo knows we are living in a tender time. Her new book “Remember Love” offers words that she hopes will help people find light in periods of lostness and love after heartbreak. Cleo joins Danielle today for a heartfelt conversation. She shares:
Follow Cleo on Instagram @CleoWade and check out her new book “Remember Love: Words for Tender Times” out now!
Va$htie Kola is known as “downtown’s sweetheart.” What does that nickname mean? It depends on who you ask. She’s a New York-based DJ, Director, Filmmaker, Designer, Creative Consultant, DJ and style icon whose influence has been felt far and wide. She has emerged as a role model for young tastemakers.” In other words, she’s kind of like the OG influencer. And she broke barriers in 2010 when she became the first woman ever to craft a collaborative Air Jordan sneaker! Today she shares:
Follow Va$htie on Instagram @Va$htie
Get 15% off OneSkin with the code PRETTYSMART at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod
Get 10% off your first order sitewide with code PRETTYSMART at OSEAMalibu.com.
Taryn Delanie is a content creator, comedian and beauty pageant winner! She holds titles! She was crowned Miss New York 2022 and was the first runner-up in the 2022 Miss America competition. Her viral TikTok sketches as heaven’s receptionist caught the attention of millions. Today she’s sharing:
Follow @taryndelaniesmith on Instagram and @taryntino21 on TikTok!
If you’re someone who doesn’t cook or doesn’t know how, you might think that the kitchen is the most intimidating place in the world. But today’s guest, food personality, former chef, former food editor at Bon Appétit, and NYT bestselling author Molly Baz says it doesn’t have to be. Her entire goal is to inspire a new generation to find joy in the kitchen and take pride in putting a home-cooked meal on the table. In her new cookbook “More is More,” Molly is helping us learn the foundational tools to become a better cook. Danielle + Molly discuss:
In the past 20 years, the Internet has developed a culture of its own. And one woman who has been at the forefront is Taylor Lorenz, a Tech Journalist, Content Creator, and the Author of the new book “Extremely Online: The Untold Story of Fame, Influence, and Power on the Internet.” With the distinction of being recognized as one of Fortune’s 40 Under 40 leaders in Media and Entertainment, Taylor possesses a deep understanding of how digital culture has shaped our lives. Today, she shares:
Follow Taylor on Instagram @taylorlorenz and preorder her book Extremely Online, here!
Elaine Welteroth is many things, including inspiring. She’s a New York Times Bestselling Author, Award-winning Journalist, former editor-in-chief of “Teen Vogue,” TV host, mother and wife. We dive deep into her book “More than Enough,” and today Elaine shares:
What does greatness entail?
How to maximize the mountain climbing phase of life
Why celebrate the little wins can make all the difference
Why she struggled with feeling not enough and too much
Being a deep-end friend (versus a shallow end friend)
Having big expectations of friendships + being let down sometimes
How to tap in to your ‘zone of genius’
The importance of community and the solo journey (seasons)
Her experience with the urgency on the call of her life
Leaving her dream job because she was being called to pursue something else (and how she knew)
Having the courage to ask for more money
The scariest and smartest things she did in her career
Giving herself a promotion
The importance of creating boundaries from naysayers
Where her most creative ideas come from
More insight into one chapter in her book that she’s NEVER talked about
Her light and the relationship that dimmed her big/bright aura!
Recognizing when love is not love
Follow Elaine on Instagram @elainewelteroth and check out her book More Than Enough!
In this episode of The Head Start: Embracing the Journey, Nora dives into the ever-blurring lines between work and life. Nora has made a career of sharing moments from her life to connect with others. That makes it nearly impossible to have any sort of separation between her work and life. She speaks with guest Winnielyn Bautista about how she tries to find and set boundaries between her career and personal goals amid the constant threat of a migraine attack. Winnielyn shares her thoughts on how to navigate difficult conversations with bosses and co-workers, especially when you might not feel comfortable sharing personal details - a situation those living with Chronic Migraine know all too well.
Jessica Bennett has spent her award-winning journalism career focusing a gender lens on social issues and culture — from the persistence of workplace inequality, to cultural trends like Playboy magazine to rebrand and the evolution of Miss America, to the ripple effects of #MeToo. She was the first-ever gender editor of The New York Times and is the author of two bestselling books, Feminist Fight Club: A Survival Manual for a Sexist Workplace (HarperCollins) and This Is 18: Girls’ Lives Through Girls’ Eyes (Abrams). She is an adjunct professor of journalism at NYU. Fun fact: She once wrote a viral piece about her Resting Bitch Face.
In 2021 Jessica wrote a piece that I have been thinking about since then. It was title, Speaking of Britney … What About All Those Other Women? Monica Lewinsky. Janet Jackson. Lindsay Lohan. Whitney Houston. We are living in an era of reappraisals. It questioned if we were rethinking how we treated the the “wild" girls of the 90’s and 2000’s—Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Pamela Anderson, Monica Lewinsky. We break it down and discuss how we are treating women in the media today and what that means for how we see ourselves and each other.
Follow Jessica on Instagram here
Listen to Jessica’s new podcast: inretropod.com
Why is talking about money more taboo than talking about our sex lives? Vivian Tu wants to break that cycle! As a former Wall Street Trader, Vivian believes everyone should talk more about personal finance. She’s everyone’s Rich BFF creator, breaking down personal finance and investing in simple, fun, and digestible content. If money and personal finance overwhelm you and don’t know where to start, Vivian’s got your back - she breaks down steps to get you started on the road to financial literacy and success. Today she shares:
The biggest factor shaping our POV on money
What she learned NOT to do from Chad + Brad on Wall Street
Is dating with money in mind an good or bad thing to do?
The people who are surprisingly bad with their money
How everyone (including you!) can get rich and the resources to get started
How to set yourself up for long-term success (even in a recession!)
Why you need to ask for a raise every year
The mistakes Vivian sees millennials make with money
The shocking cost of being a woman
Finances in relationships and talking about money with a (potential) partner
Her perspective on splitting rent with a partner
Her thoughts on women buying luxury items
The one item in your bedroom you should not skimp on
Follow Vivian on Instagram @your.richbff and click here to preorder her book, “Rich AF: The Winning Money Mindset That Will Change Your Life
Comedian + actress Amanda Seales (Insecure) is coming out with a new comedy special–one she wrote, produced, starred in and financed!! Do you know hard that is?! She joins Danielle today for an unfiltered conversation about her long career in Hollywood (the great + the challenging), Hollywood hierarchy, why people forget the entertainment business is a business, and her new unapologetically political comedy doc “In Amanda We Trust.” Today she shares:
What staying the course + resilience in your career really looks + feels like.
Her unfiltered thoughts on the Screen Actor’s Guild and Writers Guild Association strikes impacting Hollywood
Why co-hosting The Real was her last effort to be a part of “the system”
She reveals the co-star she dated on the set of Insecure
Her opinion on friendships with the cast of Insecure + coworkers in general
The story of financing her new standup special “In Amanda We Trust: An Unapologetically Political Comedy Doc” and why it was a game changing
Being brutally honest with herself about what she can handle, and what she can’t
Why the U.S is at a critical time in our political history
She reflects on her miscarriage shortly after her departure from The Real and how it reframed her thinking about what to do next
Her unfiltered thoughts about her social media following and what people project onto her
Follow Amanda on Instagram @amandaseales and check out her comedy special “In Amanda We Trust” on August 18 exclusively at InAmandaWeTrust.com
Entrepreneur Nancy Twine was a VP at Goldman Sachs when she tragically lost her mom. That incredible loss prompted her to start thinking about how she wanted to spend her time. She had childhood memories making beauty products in the kitchen with her chemist mother and decided she was going start a clean haircare line.Today she is the founder and CEO of Briogeo. Today she shares:
Follow Nancy on Instagram @NancyTwine and check out her site here!
Hitha Palepu is a proclaimed multi-hyphenate; she’s a mother, entrepreneur, content creator, investor, author, and speaker. As the CEO of Rhoshan Pharmaceuticals and partner in Adama Ventures, she is focused on empowering women to advocate for themselves when it comes to their health. Today she shares:
Follow Hitha on Instagram @HithaPalepu and grab her book here! https://tinyurl.com/3s7p3pcc
Writer, Editor, Podcast Host, and most importantly, Sarah Michelle Gellar Historian, Evan Ross Katz has an unfiltered conversation about pop culture, internet culture, and of course celebrities! Today he dishes all about:
What drew him to Hollywood
The jobs not listed on his resume
Standom and who he thinks has the most emphatic fandom
How to write a great cold email
Why he believes in protecting celebrities
Why celebrity news culture is shifting
His thoughts on internet culture
What’s going down in his DMs
He gives his candid thoughts on the etiquette of gossip, AI and its impact on culture, the performance of celebrity and Nepo babies
He also reveals the surprising celebrity that loves to gossip, the celeb who blocked and unblocked him(!) and the person who influenced both of our careers
Follow Evan on Instagram @evanrosskatz and check out his podcast Shut Up Evan!
Sinead Bovell is a consultant turned model turned futurist who loves to talk tech. She founded Waye a community preparing everyone for the future of work and life with advanced technologies. Through meaningful conversations, Sinead is making waves and shifting the perspective on who should be talking tech and who should be listening. Today we all need to listen to this impactful conversation about our future with AI.
Sinead shares valuable insights covering many topics, including:
Follow Sinead on Instagram @SineadBovell
Actress + author Constance Wu (“Crazy Rich Asians” and “Hustlers”) joins the podcast to have a raw and unfiltered conversation about the scenes that make up her life and the stories told in her memoir, “Making a Scene.” Today she shares:
Follow Constance on Instagram @ConstanceWu and grab her book here!
Through the story of VIVA, an erotic magazine for women created by Bob Guccione (founder of the men’s magazine Penthouse), we are getting a history lesson today on FEMINISM! First wave, second wave, third wave, fourth wave? What does it all mean and where are we now?
A little background: While VIVA was created by one of the most prominent figures in adult entertainment, it was staffed by female writers and editors and featured groundbreaking full-frontal male nudes, writing by feminist icons like Betty Friedan and profiles of literary legends like Maya Angelou. Its cover stars include Bianca Jagger and Shelley Duvall. Anna Wintour was even VIVA’s fashion editor at one point. But what is originally conceived as a high-end, progressive, sexual utopia for women… doesn't quite turn out that way.
Jennifer Romolini is an award-winning writer, editor, and author of "Weird in a World That's Not: A Career Guide for Misfits" and the upcoming memoir, “Ambition Monster” (Atria Books, 2024). A longtime media executive, Romolini is the host of Crooked Media’s latest series “STIFFED”, which tells the true story of VIVA, one the first erotic magazines for women, and co-host of the “Everything is Fine” podcast with former Lucky Magazine editor-in-chief, Kim France. She started her career as a magazine fact checker working at Talk, Lucky, Glamour, Cosmo, and Allure. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, ELLE, Vogue, Fast Company, and many magazines that no longer exist.
Listen to STIFFED (iHeartPodcasts + Crooked Media production)
THANK YOU to our fantastic sponsor Green Chef: Use code prettysmart50 to get 50% off plus free shipping!! https://www.greenchef.com/
Sara Riff is a fashion veteran and Global Director of Entertainment Relations for Jimmy Choo. She is also host of the podcast “Having it All and Other Lies” and a founding member of the nonpartisan organization dedicated to creating a cultural shift around voting and civic engagement, I am a voter. Today she’s sharing:
Follow her on instagram @sara_riff
Special Drop! Listen to Chasing Sleep here: https://link.chtbl.com/a_-vQyo6
Katie Lowes + Adam Shapiro explore the fascinating relationship with sleep and the far-reaching effects of sleep on our quality of life. Through engaging conversations with sleep experts and everyday people, they’ll uncover the intriguing connections between sleep and intimacy, parenting, creativity, work, and even our dreams. The podcast aims to help listeners understand the importance of getting quality sleep and how to get more of it.
Internationally acclaimed artist, poet, author, comedian, and speaker, Alok Vaid Menon joins PRETTYSMART! They share:
Follow Alok on Instagram here!
We talk frequently about what it means to be a mother on this podcast. But what about what it means to be a father? And how do our relationships with our father’s impact us? Co-host of the Today show, anchor at NBC and author of the book "Pops: Learning to Be a Son and a Father." joins PRETTYSMART to talk about fatherhood, parenting and what his relationship with his dad has taught him about himself. He shares:
Follow Craig on Instagram @craigmelvinnbc and grab his book here!
Thank you to today’s podcast partner: OUAI: 15% off site wide when you use the code: PRETTYSMART
Nine months before Rosa Parks kicked off the bus boycotts, Claudette Colvin was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. She was fifteen. In 1912, women’s rights activists organized a massive march in support of women’s suffrage. Leading them up Fifth Avenue in Manhattan was not one of the mothers of the movement, but a teenage Chinese immigrant named Mabel Ping-Hua Lee. Half a century before the better-known movements for workers’ rights began, over 1,500 girls—some as young as ten—walked out of factories in Lowell, Massachusetts, demanding safer working conditions and higher wages in one of the nation’s first-ever labor strikes.
The untold story of the people who have helped spark America’s most transformative social movements throughout history: teenage girls. Young women have been disenfranchised and discounted, but the true retelling of major social movements in America reveals their might: they have ignited almost every single one.
Mattie Kahn is an award-winning writer and editor. Her work has been published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, Vox, and more. She was the culture director at Glamour, where she covered women’s issues and politics, and a staff editor at Elle. She joins the pod to talk all about her new book, “Young and Restless: The Girls Who Sparked America’s Revolutions.”
She shares:
Follow Mattie on IG @matkahn
Get a copy of Mattie’s book here
Vaulted affiliate program for you to sign up through: https://vaulted.com/gold-affiliate-program/
POP STARS x FEMINISM: Today we will explore the stories of pop stars who have left an indelible mark on women and feminism. We are diving into their groundbreaking songs, their personal journeys, and the cultural shifts they've inspired. We are going through the eras. How did their music, their life experiences, their clothing/makeup, the way they dance and the way they talk about sex impact culture at the time? And did feminism become commodified? Is it a requirement to be a feminist if you’re a pop star? We are going through the eras: Diana Ross, Cher, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Spice Girls, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Pink, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Lana Del Ray, Katie Perry, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, Lizzo, Due Lipa, Billie Eilish.
Breaking it all down is Audra Heinrich, a writer + reporter who who specializes in feature writing about politics, entertainment, and cultural moments and movements. Her work has been published in: Rolling Stone, The Washington Post, Teen Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, ELLE, Bustle, Them., Cosmopolitan, Glamour. She holds an M.A. in American Journalism from New York University and a B.A. in English Literature and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies from The Ohio State University. In addition to her writing career, she has also amassed years of experience as a part-time political organizer. After co-founding the New York City chapter of Women’s March in 2017.
And you all know writers are MY pop stars, so Audra is a pop star in my eyes. Follow here here:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/audraheinrichs/
Website: https://www.audraheinrichs.com/
Sex therapist Vanessa Marin and her husband, Xander join PRETTYSMART to discuss their mission to help people have more (and better!) sex. They share:
Follow Vanessa and Xander on IG Here
Buy their book “Sex Talks: The Five Conversations That Will Transform Your Love Life” Here
Vaulted affiliate program for you to sign up through: https://vaulted.com/gold-affiliate-program/
Cozy Earth: Up to 35% off site wide when you use the code PRETTYSMART
Aurora James, founder of the luxury brand Brother Vellies + the 15 Percent Pledge joins PRETTYSMART to share stories, lessons from her new memoir “Wildflower.” She shares:
Grammy Award–winning artist Kelly Rowland and educator Jessica McKay join the podcast to talk about motherhood and share their children’s book Always with You, Always with Me. They discuss:
Order their children’s book Always with You, Always with Me: https://www.amazon.com/Always-You-Me-Kelly-Rowland/dp/0593465512
Thank you to today’s podcast partner: OUAI: 15% off site wide when you use the code: PRETTYSMART
Vaulted affiliate program for you to sign up through: https://vaulted.com/gold-affiliate-program/
Author Angela Garbes joins the pod today to dive deep into her book “Essential Labor: Mothering as Social Change” and discusses the economic, political and ideological systems that have shaped the way our society sees care work. She shares:
Follow Angela: https://www.instagram.com/angelagarbes/
Buy Angela’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Essential-Labor-Mothering-Social-Change/dp/0062937367
Thank you to today’s podcast partners!
Worried about a friend? Or unsure of how to support someone going through a hard time? In honor Mental Health Awareness month, Danielle partnered with LaurelBox to create a free digital download to help us connect with and support friends going through a hard time. Here are 15 Questions: FREE DIGITAL DOWNLOAD: HTTPS://WWW.LAURELBOX.COM/PRODUCTS/GRIEF-SUPPORT-GUIDE-FREE-DIGITAL-DOWNLOAD
Laurel Box is a female founded business – created by cousins Denise Wolfe and Johanna Mutz. They create heartfelt, personalized sympathy gifts for people who’ve experienced loss, to help nourish the hearts and support people going through a difficult season of life. We discuss:
Shop LaurelBox: https://www.laurelbox.com/
Follow LaurelBox: https://www.instagram.com/laurelbox/
Danielle Prescod is the author of the bestselling book Token Black Girl and cofounder of 2BG Consulting which aims to help fashion and beauty brands and influencers on their anti-racism journeys.
Before she moved out of NYC to New Orleans and published her book, she was a fifteen-year veteran of the beauty and fashion industry, most recently the style director of BET.com and previously held positions at Nylon, Elle, InStyle.
She went to school in Greenwich, Connecticut, and was one of just three Black girls in her graduating class. She writes: “I remember that the reality of Blackness settled onto me like a terminal illness. I desperately wondered how I could get rid of it so I could just be like everyone else. It distressed me that I would never be ‘cured’ of it and could never escape it.” She says it all got worse when she went to work in the fashion and beauty space. Her dieting became an eating disorder and her trendy workplaces re-created the racial traumas of her youth.
So much of Danielle’s book is about identity— the one you assume but also the one the world assumes for you. She writes “Your identity and self-awareness evolves slowly over time, both subtly and overtly in how you decide to show up in the world. But it can also be dictated, unfairly at times, by how the world sees you. that’s especially true “if you find yourself to be a woman – and even more so if you find yourself to be a woman of color.”
Follow @danielleprescod and on TikTok @danielleprescod7
Purchase her book: bit.ly/3BxvshU
Hollywood stylist and co-founder of “The Period Company,” Karla Welch joins PRETTYSMART to share her journey as both a stylist to the stars and as an entrepreneur. She shares:
Follow Karla: https://www.instagram.com/karlawelchstylist/?hl=en
Support The Period Company: https://tinyurl.com/mryab98t
Danielle’s 1st Look Episode (NBC): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbOfn0nJN2A&t=247s
https://theouai.com/: Use code PRETTYSMART for 15% off your entire purchase
Steph Jagger is a bestselling author, life coach, and speaker. Her grandmother had dementia and her mother, early onset Alzheimer’s. Steph says “my biggest fear is the fact that I live inside of a lineage of forgetfulness. I don’t want to forget. I want to remember.” We spend decades building a life and wanting to remember it all. We save photos, we take home movies. In her new memoir Everything Left to Remember, she explores what’s left when our memories are taken from us. We discuss:
Buy Steph’s Book: https://tinyurl.com/339zppbn
Follow Steph: https://www.instagram.com/stephjagger/
Thank you to our sponsor of this episode: GREENPAN: go to GreenPan.us and use promo code PRETTYSMART and you’ll receive 30% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER plus free shipping on orders over $99.
April Showers is the first female, Black-owned business to own a licensed character brand in a major retailer. She is the creator of Afro Unicorn, a brand designed to represent the uniqueness of women and children of color in a truly diverse and inclusive fashion, selling apparel and accessories to toys, puzzles, books and more. Today she shares:
World Renowned Psychic Medium and Best-Selling Author Rebecca Rosen joins PRETTYSMART to talk about her new book, “What’s Your Heaven: 7 Lessons to Heal the Past and Live Fully Now.” She shares:
Follow Rebecca Rosen on Instagram at www.instagram.com/mediumrebeccarosen
Buy Rebecca’s book What’s Your Heaven: https://tinyurl.com/45w42fyu
Adriana Carrig founded the original word bracelet– Little Words Project. What started in her parents basement has now grown to 40 employees, 7 locations, and huge brand collaborations with companies like Nike, Barbie, WNBA, Dunkin Donuts. Just like so many great companies, Adriana’s was started from pain– she was bullied as a young person and wanted to inject the world with some more kindness. Although the company has grown and changed, that mission of kindness has sustained throughout. Despite doubters, Adriana hasn’t changed her core perspective in the last decade of building her company. By staying true to her brand’s values and taking bold, strategic risks, she’s been able to serve the original customers who keep the brand growing year-after-year. She shares
Why do women cheat? Author, journalist, podcast host of the new series She Wants More, Jo Piazza tries to uncover the truth behind women’s infidelity. Danielle and Jo listen to several clips of women’s stories of affairs and discuss:
Listen to "She Wants More" on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-she-wants-more-107769177/
Follow Jo Piazza: https://www.instagram.com/jopiazzaauthor/?hl=en
What happens WHEN WOMEN LEAD? What are the key commonalities of female leaders who thrived in spite of the challenges? Can some of your weaknesses actually trun into your greatest strengths? CNBC’s Senior Media & Tech Correspondent Julia Boorstin wrote a book about it. She spoke with more than 120 female leaders, from Goop’s Gwyneth Paltrow, Bumble’s Whitney Wolfe Herd, Jenn Hyman (Rent The Runway), Lena Waithe and more to determine their strategies for success.
Julia’s had her finger on the pulse of tech and business as a correspondent for more than two decades. She launched and oversees the CNBC Disruptor 50. Currently CNBC’s Senior Media & Tech Correspondent, she’s also been a fixture at CNN Headline News. She’s even worked for the State Department and Vice President Al Gore’s domestic policy office. Needless to say, Julia understands leadership. She shares:
Buy Julia’s Book: When Women Lead: https://amzn.to/3ekjT4Y
How do you get to where you want to go—the dream job, the dream life? That’s a big question we all ask ourselves. We know WHERE we want to go, but don’t always know HOW to get there. Via engaging stories of some of the most successful people in the world as well as practical advice from Matt’s own successes and failures, this book shows you how to win. The title speaks to a major theme in the book—overcoming fear. Matt explains how to break the patterns holding you back, and go after what it is you truly want. He says you must “burn the boats”.
Matt is an entrepreneur who has reached the pinnacle of 5 industries (Founder RSV, Investor (Gary Vee’s largest investor), Guest Shark on Shark Tank, and executive fellow at Harvard Business School). You would probably never guess that he dropped out of high school. Matt shares:
Buy Matt’s Book Burn The Boats: https://tinyurl.com/bdzfvh55
Follow Matt: https://www.instagram.com/mhiggins/
With 1.6 Million followers, TikTok star Tefi Pessoa has built a community where she has become famous for her thoughtful and heartfelt advice on love, mental health, heartbreak and more. There’s a reason she’s been called the internet’s BFF. Today she joins PRETTYSMART to delve deep into all things love, dating and heartbreak. She shares:
We often frame modern relationships through a transactional lens, but what if instead of concerning ourselves with what we can get from somebody we ask ourselves what we can give? Rachel Rischall believes generosity for generosity’s sake is ultimately the best way to form strong, valuable relationships. A 20-year vet in public relations, Rachel is the founder of Three PR (she's an EXPERT). She says her superpower is she can and will talk to anybody. She’s an expert on finding ways to connect and help others. In the end, everybody comes out ahead. Rachel shares:
After this interview aired I got messages from women all over the country. It seemed to have a domino effect inspiring book clubs, and other interviews with Alicia! Her book changed me and it gave me so much joy to hear that this conversation changed so many of you too. As it was one of the earliest episodes of the pod I felt it deserved a re-air: Award Winning Journalist + MSNBC Anchor Alicia Menendez explains how The Likeability Trap can keep women from achieving their ambitions. Women are stuck in an impossible bind known as the Goldilocks Conundrum: be nice, but not too nice. Talk about what you bring to the table without sounding like you’re bragging. Strong women are often criticized for being cold, while warm women may be seen as pushovers.“ The constant chatter of how women lead impedes them from leading. In trying to be everything all at once women are straight up exhausted”. But in being aware of The Likeability Trap, we can push up against it. Alicia gives us tactical tools to be more practiced in leadership, how to receive feedback, break free of the trap, and succeed as you are.
LANGUAGE + POWER, GENDER, RACE: Linguist and writer Amanda Montell is here to discuss reclaiming gendered insults, cursing, women's linguistic innovation, sexism in our language and owning your own voice. She is the author of two critically acclaimed books, Wordslut: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language and Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism She is also a creator and host of the hit podcast, Sounds Like A Cult. Today she joins PRETTYSMART to expand on her book Wordslut. She wants you to feel empowered by language instead of silenced by it.
She shares:
Follow Amanda here: https://www.instagram.com/amanda_montell/
Co-Founder of Betches, the hugely popular female-founded and led media and entertainment brand, Sami Sage is here to share her story from how Betches went from an idea one night in college to a full blown media company. She shares:
Actor, dancer, choreographer and star of the hit Starz drama P-Valley, Nicco Annan is bringing his magic to PRETTYSMART today. The Detroit-born actor refused to conform to a Hollywood template and instead has made a name for himself by embracing his individuality and following his intuition. His portrayal of Uncle Clifford (the revolutionary + beloved character) has earned him critical acclaim as well as nominations from the NAACP and independent spirit awards. Danielle + Nicco discuss:
Mimi Bouchard is a meditation teacher, wellness influencer, and founder of Superhuman App. Listen to this walking meditation (and conversation with Mimi) to manifest the energy of your future— “you are a lucky person”.
In 2017, the former US Surgeon General called loneliness a public health epidemic. It’s been compared to a crisis on the scale of opioids or obesity. Some studies equate the health effects of loneliness with that of smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Julie Schechter is helping to fight the loneliness epidemic. She is the CEO and co-founder of Present and Small Packages, two companies focused on building stronger relationships and connections in a digital world. She provides insight on the modern paradox of technology: how something meant to bring us closer together has led to a lonelier population. Julie explains:
Love Wellness founder + former star of Laguna Beach and The Hills Lo Bosworth is here to share her wellness journey and how it inspired her to help others do the same. She shares:
-Where do our 'happy hormones" come from?
-The chronic health problems she faced + how it took 18 months for her to get a proper diagnosis.
-How healing her gut healed her anxiety, depression and many other health issues (vitamin deficiencies can result in anxiety + depression)
-How our gut health is connected to our vaginal and brain health.
-Supplements 101 - where to start if you want to heal your gut.
-How being on MTV turned out to be a blessing (even if it made her cry).
-The struggles she faced being a reality TV star.
-Why she was inspired to start her company Love Wellness
Purchase Love Yourself Well: https://tinyurl.com/4vu2492d
Shop Love Wellness: https://likeshop.me/lovewellness
Follow Lo: https://www.instagram.com/lobosworth/
Atsuko Okatsuka is a standup comedian who was named one of the Top 10 Comics to Watch in 2022 by Variety. Her hilarious videos on social media have garnered her millions of views and her HBO special premieres on December 10th. Today she joins the pod and shares:
Marcy Blum and Jess Conroy have each revolutionized the wedding industry in their own exceptional ways. Marcy is an internationally sought-after event planner and entertaining expert with 30 years of experience throwing innovative and ground-breaking events. Jess is the founder and CEO of Carats & Cake, a financial operating system created for the events industry. These women each have tackled a different piece of the $60 billion-a-year wedding industry pie, but their creativity and uniqueness have earned them both respect in their field. Today we cover:
The Kardashians are in the business of “getting us talking”— also known as the business of being famous. How have they impacted our society + culture? Has it been a net positive or net negative? And is that ‘power’ waning? Writer and cultural critic, Kimberly Nicole Foster joins the podcast to break it all down with me. We discuss many aspects— race, gender, greed, parenting, business, hair + makeup + fashion trends.
We discuss:
Olivia Culpo and her sisters Aurora and Sophia are about to become America’s newest reality TV family, in their TLC show “The Culpo Sisters.” Today they’re sitting down together to share:
Sami Miró went from a tech startup to founding her own vintage brand, Sami Miro Vintage - a black female-owned clothing company whose ethos was founded on eco-consciousness. SMV has been featured as the “it” sustainable brand in numerous publications such as Vogue, CFDA, Forbes, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, and more. In 2021, Miró was one of five designers recognized and awarded a grant by the CFDA and Fashion Trust US. Today’s she’s sharing:
Fortune is a comedian, writer and actor. Her new comedy special, Good Fortune, just released on Netflix (it was filmed in Chicago!) You have seen her previously on Chelsea Lately, The Mindy Project, and her stand-up debut on Last Comic Standing. She also hosts a podcast, “Sincerely Fortune,” with her wife Jacquelyn Smith. Fortune is so funny and sincere. We spoke about:
WATCH: Fortune's Netflix Special 'Good Fortune' out now
Follow Fortune: https://www.instagram.com/fortunefeimster/
Jemele is an Emmy-winning sports journalist, who spent 12 years with ESPN. She’s a contributing writer for The Atlantic, host of the Spotify podcast, “Jemele Hill is Unbothered” and her memoir “Uphill” will be released on October 25th. Today she’s sharing:
“Think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.”
Tembi Locke is the New York Times bestselling author of her memoir From Scratch, and an actor, producer, and screenwriter. From Scratch is a Reese’s Book Club pick, an Audie Awards Best Audiobook Finalist, and a Goodreads Best Books Finalist. Along with Reese Witherspoon and Hello Sunshine, Tembi serves as an executive producer and co-writer for the Netflix limited series inspired by her book. Tembi shares:
“If you give people your time and your spirit, you make an impact.” Katie Lowes is an actor, theatre director, and key member of the Shondaland crew, with significant roles on Scandal (Quinn Perkins) and Inventing Anna. Katie and her husband, Adam Shapiro, are founders and directors of Los Angeles’s IAMA Theater Company. But her rise to TV fame didn’t happen overnight. She’s been at it for years, on a path filled with setbacks, odd jobs and the inevitable imposter syndrome. So how did she spin her struggles into a flourishing career in Hollywood? Katie brings an honest, vulnerable and hilarious voice to the podcast, sharing:
Chelsea Devantez is a comedian, Emmy-nominated writer and host of the podcast “Celebrity Book Club” where she dissects celebrity memoirs. She recently served as the head writer on “The Problem with Jon Stewart.” Today she she shares:
“You write your eulogy with the pen of your life.” Rabbi Steve Leder, is a best-selling author and Senior Rabbi at the Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles who has been named one of the most influential Rabbis in America. His most recent book, “For You When I am Gone” teaches us how to write an ethical will (outlining 12 questions to ask), a letter to loved ones that helps them understand what we have learned about how to live a meaningful life. He shares:
Professor Cassie Mogilner Holmes is a professor of marketing and behavioral decision making at UCLA Anderson School of Management and author of Happier Hour: How to Beat Distraction, Expand Your Time, and Focus on What Matters. Today she joins the pod to share ways that we can all become more time rich and lead happier, more fulfilling lives. She shares:
Caroline Stanbury is a Bravo TV Star (Real Housewives of Dubai), podcast host of Divorced Not Dead”, entrepreneur, wife, mother of 3 and philanthropist. She is known for her quick wit, zest for life, and British candor. We came to know her as the breakout star of Ladies of London in 2014. Fans loved Caroline for the same reason they love her podcast and romantic + business advice: she lives unapologetically.
In this episode she shares how she has manifested the life she is living. She even gives me some dating advice. This episode is really fun— I can’t wait for you to hear from Caroline on how she is determined to live life to its fullest potential!
Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolinestanbury/?hl=en
Sarah Landry is a hugely successful digital creator, body positivity advocate and podcaster known as “The Birds Papaya.” She has more than 2 million Instagram followers and one of the most popular body positive accounts on social media. She’s shares:
Kaylin Marcotte reinvented the jigsaw puzzle when she launched her company ‘Jiggy’ on 2019. The direct-to-consumer puzzle company features art by emerging female artists, and specially formulated puzzle glue, allowing you to frame your puzzles after you make them; JIGGY puzzles are art - in pieces. At just two years old, JIGGY is already a cultural phenomenon, loved by Kacey Musgraves, Chrissy Teigen, Allison Williams, Sophia Bush, Demi Lovato, and more.
Actress + Activist Emmanuelle Chriqui shares her journey to Hollywood and passion for philanthropy:
Dr. Mondo is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Mental Stregth Coach, and founder and CEO of Cheatcode (a nonprofit determined to end stigma and increase access to mental health services in underserved communities). He works with high performing people– athletes, celebrities and executives— to unlock their peak mental performance. He shares:
Rachel Simmons is a bestselling author, educator and executive coach who has been studying girls for more than two decades. Today she’s sharing:
Carissa Schumacher is a renowned psychic medium, a full-body channel for Yeshua of Nazareth, empathic intuitive and sacred ceremony facilitator. Today she shares:
How she discovered her intuitive gifts and why it took her a while to embrace it.
How each of us can strengthen our own intuition and find our purpose.
How she became a channel for Yeshua (Jesus) and what she’s learned from him.
The differences between manifestations and revelations and why we should focus more on the latter.
Why we’ve become a more ego focused society and ways we can all work to become less ego-centric
Why forgiveness and empathy are important but why we must become more merciful and compassionate to see changes in the world
Fashion designer, influencer, podcaster and star of ‘The Hills’ and ‘The City’ Whitney Port is here today.
She shares:
Ellen Vora, MD attended Columbia University for medical school and received her BA in English from Yale University. She’s a board-certified psychiatrist, acupuncturist, yoga teacher, and author of The Anatomy of Anxiety: Understanding and Overcoming the Body's Fear Response.
Follow Dr. Ellen Vora: https://www.instagram.com/ellenvoramd/?hl=en Purchase Anatomy of Anxiety: https://tinyurl.com/2er3dby4
As we watch a war in Ukraine unfold before our eyes, there is one woman who believes that while humans are responsible for all war we are also the only ones with the power to stop it. Dr. Samantha Nutt is the founder of Warchild USA, an organization that aims to help children in war torn communities taking a long term approach to breaking the cycle of poverty and violence. Dr. Nutt has worked in dozens of conflict zones and is a leading voice on current affairs, international aid and foreign policy. Dr. Nutt has worked with children and their families at the frontline of many of the world’s major crises – from Iraq to Afghanistan, Somalia to the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sierra Leone to Darfur, Sudan. Today she is here to share her experiences and help educate us on what we must know about when it comes to war and ways we can help stop the cycle of war around the world.
She shares:For more information on Dr. Nutt or ways to get involved with War Child please visit www.warchildusa.org or www.samanthanutt.com
Talking to 3 influencers who found major internet fame during the pandemic. While different in what they share online, Corporate Natalie, Dom Roberts and Pinky Patel have one thing in common: Today they are each sharing how they went viral, what they learned from putting themselves out there, and how they look at their brands now.
Co-founders Melissa Mash, Jessy Dover and Deepa Gandhi of the handbag line Dagne Dover have built a brand with a cult-like following and they’re here today to share some of their insights, lessons and tips in entrepreneurship and working as a team. They share:
Stacy London is one of America’s foremost style experts known for the TLC Show ‘What Not To Wear.’ She’s also a 2x best selling author. She spent the last five years creating and pitching TV shows about women in their 40s - only to be told that her ideas weren’t sexy. She was told nobody would watch them. Her lightbulb moment came as she started feeling the impact of perimenopause. She realized she wasn’t prepared for it… because NOBODY talks about it. Now - Stacy is a CEO of a company called State of Menopause and is ready to talk aging, transitions, menopause and more.
She shares:
Today we are speaking with of the most successful porn actresses of all time. With over a decade of experience in an industry that generates $12 billion dollars annually, Candice Horbacz. (whose film name is Eva Lovia) is here to answer any question you have ever had about porn or the adult film industry. We also have an in depth conversation about sex + relationships that I found mind and heart expanding.
Reshma Saujani is a leading activist and the founder of Girls Who Code + the Marshall Plan for Moms. She has spent more than a decade building movements to fight for women and girls’ economic empowerment, working to close the gender gap in the tech sector, and most recently advocating for policies to support moms impacted by the pandemic. Reshma is also the author of the international bestseller Brave, Not Perfect, and her influential TED talk, “Teach girls, bravery not perfection” has more than five million views globally. She’s here today to talk about her newest book, Pay Up - The Future of Women and Work (Out March 15th) and she’s sharing:
Buy Reshma’s New Book Pay Up: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Pay-Up/Reshma-Saujani/9781982191573
Follow Reshma on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reshmasaujani/
Drag is an art form that has existed since ancient times and has recently rocketed to mainstream popularity. Drag is a gender-bending art form in which a person dresses in clothing and makeup meant to exaggerate a specific gender identity, usually of the opposite sex. In many ways, it’s is about confidence and self expression; it’s about unleashing the magic that makes you, you. What can EVERYONE learn from mapping into that? Bob the Drag Queen is here today opening all about life both in drag and out of it. Bob won the title of “America’s Next Drag Superstar” on season 8 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” has had multiple acting roles for HBO, Netflix, Sony Tristar, MTV, and VH1 and now hosts HBO’s first unscripted show, “We’re Here.”
Connect with Bob The Drag Queen: https://www.instagram.com/bobthedragqueen/
Dr. Aliza Pressman is a Developmental Psychologist, child behaviorist, parent educator and mom of two herself. She also hosts the Raising Good Humans Podcast and has a large celebrity following who look to her for parenting guidance - Jennifer Garner, Julianna Margulies, Drew Barrymore, Jesse Williams, Cleo Wade to name a few, .Today she’s here to share tips that will make you a better parent and a better communicator in all of your relationships. We discuss:
Ginger Zee is the first ever female chief meteorologist at a major network. She reports the nation’s weather for “Good Morning America” and is also the managing editor of the climate unit at ABC News (you’ve also seen her on Dancing with the Stars). She’s chased her fair share of weather events through the years- hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and wildfires. But it was weathering a more personal storm that took her on a journey of self discovery. Ginger wrote openly about her mental health struggles in her first memoir ‘Natural Disaster’ revealing that after getting her dream job at ABC she checked herself into a mental health hospital. But Ginger says ‘Natural Disaster’ barely scratched the surface. In her follow up memoir - ‘A Little Closer to Home’ Ginger is digging even deeper and telling us all about finding ‘the calm after the storm.’ We discuss:
Produced by Dear Media.
Angela Yee holds her own as a radio DJ, and the only female co-host on the syndicated radio morning show “The Breakfast Club.” She had an unexpected launch into radio, but she’s proven with her work ethic and hustle that she’s a force - and voice - worth listening to.
Today Angela shares:SOCIAL MEDIA:
Instagram: @angelayee Twitter: @angelayee Facebook: @teamyee
Produced by Dear Media.
Produced by Dear Media.
Produced by Dear Media.
Produced by Dear Media.
What does it mean to be Man Enough? Today we are digging in with Justin Baldoni. You probably know Justin from his role as Rafael Solano on the massively popular series ‘Jane the Virgin’, or as a director of the acclaimed film Five Feet Apart. He is on a mission to ‘undefine masculinity’— strip away unhealthy expectations and create more space for men (and everyone else) to fully be themselves.
In his book Man Enough’, which has evolved into a podcast community, he shares stories of how society rarely provides space for men to be whole. Today Justin shares his own hurt and the learnings that have come from those experiences. We talk about:
Produced by Dear Media.
Marianna Hewitt is one of the OG influencers with over 1 million followers, was named WWD Beauty Inc's Influencer of the Year, and cofounder of the successful clean skincare brand Summer Fridays. Today she’s here to give both some insight and inspiration. We talk about:
Produced by Dear Media.
Produced by Dear Media.
Elise Loehnen is the host of the podcast “Pulling a Thread” and helped turn “Goop” - Gwyneth Paltrow’s wellness newsletter into a multi-million dollar company. Previously, she was at Condé Nast Traveler and the Deputy Editor of Lucky Magazine. She’s ghost written 12 books (5 NYT bestsellers) including ones for Ellen Degeneres and Lauren Conrad . Elise is an intellectual giant- obsessed with words, culture, systems, how we fit into them + can transcend them. Today she shares a bit of her inspiring journey and what she’s learned along the way. We discuss:
Produced by Dear Media.
Shan Boodram is a certified sex educator dating coach and relationship expert with over 70 million views on YouTube and 500,000 followers on Instagram. She’s passionate about helping others in their relationships and sex lives but she is also honest, fun and sincere in her approach. Today she’s answering some of the sex questions women are too embarssed to ask! We talk about:
Produced by Dear Media.
Produced by Dear Media.
Produced by Dear Media.
Produced by Dear Media.
Produced by Dear Media.
Produced by Dear Media.
Produced by Dear Media.
Founder and CEO of Rizos Curls, Julissa Prado built a curly hair empire with grit, sacrifice, passion and hustle. She shares how she built the multi-million dollar business with products now in Target and Ulta from her own kitchen. What started as a personal mission to reclaim her natural hair, turned into a beauty brand with a cult following of nearly 300k followers on instagram and community events that sell out in each city she visits. She says “learning to love my hair was the first step to learning to love myself. And I just feel so honored to play some kind of small role in that journey for other women.” Julissa shares how she engages and builds that community and how listening to consumers is what’s helped her brand become so wildly successful. She is full of life, positivity and of course, amazing hair tips!
Produced by Dear Media.
Need Advice? YouTuber, producer, host, (and my friend and former coworker at Clevver) is someone I often turn to and today she is here for you-- answering your questions from Instagram on friendships, relationships, how to handle toxic people (her answer isn’t what you might think!), if pulling a J.Lo + Ben is a good idea and more. She shares her perfect solve to fix any bad mood in minutes and gives really great advice on how to find gratitude and balance in this new WFH world we are living in. I'm so excited to share some of her gifts with you and I hope you gravitate toward her tender heart + honesty + sage wisdom as much as I did.
Produced by Dear Media.
Produced by Dear Media.
54% of women say they would rather be hit by a car than considered fat. How can we strike the balance of realistically caring how we look, and not having to care about how we look? Danielle + Dr. Renee Engeln, award winning psychology professor at Northwestern University and the author of Beauty Sick break down society’s fixation with PRETTY. Engeln reveals how the cultural obsession with women's appearance is an epidemic that harms women's ability to get ahead and to live happy, meaningful lives. She offers the possibility of practical solutions that help girls and women overcome negative attitudes and embrace their whole selves, transform their lives, claim the futures they deserve, and, ultimately, change their world. This is the author and book that inspired the PRETTYSMART podcast!
Produced by Dear Media.
Ankur Jain is a 31-year old entrepreneur who left Silicon Valley for a clear purpose- to create companies that solve problems affecting us everyday like healthcare, student loans, rent, housing affordability, child and home care. Richard Branson said: “Ankur has a rare ability to take on complex societal issues and come up with simple, practical solutions that make you wonder how no one has done this before.” And Branson is right; Ankur is a world changer. Now the founder and CEO of a VC, Kairos HQ, he built his first company at 11 years old and at 26, sold a company to Tindr. We talk about the launch of two recent start ups Bilt + Rhino; both are trying to save you money on rent. We also chat about the financial future for millennials, the barrier to home ownership and the long term effects of that, space travel, when he gets his best ideas, the simple question people forget to ask when starting a company. He also lets us in on his biggest entrepreneurial secret.
Produced by Dear Media.
Catt Sadler, journalist, tastemaker, host of It Sure Is A Beautiful Day shares it all- the joyful, the difficult, and honest feelings about about love, divorce, therapy, family, relationships, career, equal pay, and the lessons she’s learned along the way. She talks about growing up in Indiana, what she’s learned from her failed relationships and the importance of sitting with yourself. She shares about her decision to leave E! And who she consulted with (including Jennifer Lawrence and Gwyneth Paltrow!) and reflects on that choice four years later. She talks about getting matching tattoos with her mother, raising her two sons, and her incredibly close relationship with her ex and his new wife. We also discuss her new project, Mid-Life and what she’s learning about this stage of life. Of course we talk fashion and her must-haves (and what style she wishes would disappear!), why Johnny Depp was her most memorable interview and the best Hollywood party she’s ever attended. If you want more Catt, check out her podcast It Sure Is A Beautiful Day right here with Dear Media.
Produced by Dear Media.
When I think about young people changing American society, I think about Nadya Okamoto. She is a 23 year-old menstrual activist, Harvard grad, and founder of August, a lifestyle brand working to reimagine periods. At 16 she founded PERIOD, the largest youth-run non profit org in women’s health (which distributes menstrual hygiene products and advocates for ending what is known as the tampon tax, published a book Period Power: A Manifesto for the Menstrual Movement. She was the youngest Asian American to run for public office in US history. She’s in adidas ads with Pharrell, she was on Teen Vogues 21 under 21 list, Forbes 30 under 30, Bloomberg 50 “Ones to Watch”, Instyle, Glamour, and and People Magazine's versions of Women Changing the World lists i’ve never read off a longer intro, and it’s not liek you can cut any of that out ….. She’s astonishingly accomplished for a person of any age. But Nadya’s drive to make a difference is undoubtedly fueled in part by her own trauma (TRIGGER WARNING*), she describes living through homelessness, abuse, and sexual assault.
Produced by Dear Media.
Founder of the Instagram phenomenon News Not Noise and former CNN White House correspondent Jessica Yellin has become known as the go to independent news source online. Just as her handle suggests, she delivers the news without the noise and her steady handed approach has reached nearly half a million followers online. Jessica and Danielle talk about how and why Jessica left her once dream job at CNN just two months after being promoted to start her own news platform, and the surprising celebrity women who helped share her platform with the world (spoiler- Amy Schumer is one of them)! We talk about the outrage in television news, what she has learned from working in Washington, what she’s learned from the generation of women before and after her, and the importance of doing good and doing well. Also, how would the news be different if more women were informing it? TDLR: Jessica is a woman whom I look up to very much. She follows her intuition + works tirelessly for what she believes in. After the episode you can find Jessica on Instagram @JessicaYellin
Produced by Dear Media.
Joanna Griffiths built KNIX, a $100 million dollar bra + underwear empire with just $20,000 dollars. Knix is an innovative undergarments brand for women of all shapes, ages, sizes and skin tones. Their mission is to redefine intimates, which began with the revolutionary leakproof underwear. We discuss what women actually want from their undergarments, why trying them on is such a vulnerable experience, and she dives into the ins and outs of her business. We talk about the first steps she took after she first came up with the idea, how she dealt with her own inner critic, her decision to completely pivot her distribution model after finally finding her footing, and how she learned to own her power and title as CEO even when she didn’t necessarily feel like she earned it. We talk about the genius Knix advertising campaigns and the decisions she’s made along the way to maintain such an authentic and empowering brand that speaks to women of every age, shape, size and skin color. Joanna is proof to me that you can do really well + do good.
Produced by Dear Media.
How would you live your life if you knew you would keep getting better with age? Iconic American fashion designer Norma Kamali shares the lessons she’s learned through each decade. Now 75 years old, Norma is teaching us how we can all age with power, and why the concept of anti-aging and aging gracefully is offensive. She shares the unexpected way she began her career as a designer in the 1960’s- when it was a man’s game - and where she found the courage to live unconventionally at a time that was just not done (she wore mini dresses!). She shares how we can find gratitude in everything, especially the hardships. She shares the importance of making decisions that are in line with your purpose. We discuss how she came to her decision to not have kids and what it means to not hit the traditional benchmarks society puts on women. We talk about how a psychic told her she would meet her soulmate at 65-- and it turned out to be true-- but you won't see her wearing a wedding dress to her wedding this summer!
Produced by Dear Media.
R&B Singer/songwriter Sinéad Harnett opens up about her journey to become a superstar— her new album Ready Is Always Too Late just dropped and was lauded by Elton John. We talk about the biggest lessons and hardships she faced along the way, how she dealt with imposter syndrome when she was starting out, the best advice she ever got from singer Khaled, and why she never planned on “making it” when she was a young girl growing up in the UK. We also talk about who she would take as her date to the Grammy’s, why you might not want to go on vacation with her and the hidden blessing that’s come from the pandemic.
Produced by Dear Media.
Journalist, former CNN Anchor, and author of The Huddle, Brooke Baldwin shares the importance of a HUDDLE- how women unlock their collective power by coming together with a mission. She shares how her interviews with Ava Duvernay, Reese Witherspoon, Stacey Abrams, Karlie Kloss, Shannon Watts are real life examples of the power of huddling + she lets us in on how to start finding our own huddle. We talk about female mentorship, or lack thereof, the loneliness that can accompany your 20s, how the MeToo movement changed the course of her life, the impact of her fairy godmother Diane Von Furstenburg, and the smartest decision she ever made (it’s not what you think)!
Produced by Dear Media.
Do you ever feel like the pursuit of "self care" is never ending, and even at times, unachievable? What is self care? Leigh Stein, author of the novel “Self Care” and I, dive into the commercialization of self care and wellness and the rebrand of the diet industry. We also discuss the lingering effects of the once-idealized Girl Boss ideology, the concept of “Lean In” and the gap that exists between male and female entrepreneurs.
Produced by Dear Media.
If you don’t know know what to do—just ask Chinae Alexander. Host of the advice podcast, “Press Send” and social entrepreneur Chinae Alexander is here to dish advice on all of your questions! She’s answering YOUR relationship, friendship, and career questions. We talk all about how to set boundaries with negative friends, deal with difficult sisters, negotiate a raise, work through with body image questions, cheating (or what to do if your significant other is constantly liking other girls pics on IG!) and discuss if its okay to have platonic friendships with the opposite sex while in relationship. We also dish on the best things to watch when we are feeling lonely, the books Chinae thinks everyone should read, and of course, the smartest decision she ever made! Press Play on this one, you won't be disappointed!
Produced by Dear Media.
Zoe Lister Jones is an actress, writer, and director. You’ve seen her in Life in Pieces, Whitney, and New Girl. In 2017, she made her directorial debut with her indie film Band Aid, where she hired an all female crew-- the first for a feature film. She deep dives into the auditioning process, shares a funny audition horror story, talks about her SNL audition and why Fred Armison had her name in his phone before they ever met. She explains her love for Timothee Chalamet, talks openly about her relationship with her body and her hope for the next generation of girls. Zoe is honest, smart, and pretty determined to make an impact in whatever she throws herself into.
Produced by Dear Media.
What does it mean to be deeply—actively kind? Houston Kraft spent his career studying kindness, wrote a book about it, and is sharing all of the answers. We talk about the importance of going beyond practicing “confetti kindness” (random acts of kindness), how to really show up for people in need, kindness in leadership + business, how to be a more actively and deeply kind person, and his thoughts on if “nice guys finish last”. You might think you are practicing kindness, but Houston shares some tips and tools to help us look inward to see if we are practicing kindness in the ways that make the greatest impact and change.
Produced by Dear Media.
Sheria Irving is an actress and founder of the non-profit mentorship organization Shaping Her Earth. She simply...radiates. Before she took a step out on faith to live her dreams as an actor, she was a New York public school teacher! She shares how we can redefine fear and go after our dreams when there is no blueprint. She also reveals the unexpected person who inspired her to leave her job to pursue acting. We also discuss her pinch me moments in her acting career, the life changing lesson she learned from Billy Porter, the importance of mentorship in our lives, especially for women of color. And she leaves us with some tools--affirmations she uses daily to believe in herself and inspire her mentees.
Produced by Dear Media.
Do some of the clues to our mental health- anxiety, depression and stress lie in our family’s history? If you’re triggered by something and can’t figure out why, Dr. Wasserman says the answer might lie in your family history. An emerging line of research is exploring how historical and cultural traumas such as oppression, genocide, racism, poverty, and financial instability can affect people’s children for generations. Dr. Melissa Wasserman, is a clinical psychologist who specializes in PTSD, military behavioral health, and couple/family psychology, and formerly worked at UCLA where she worked as a trauma therapist. She explains the effects it has on us, how research suggests that trauma may even alter our genes, and trauma as it relates to the current pandemic and how it might affect future generations. We discuss how to spot the signs, what we can learn from our ancestors' and Dr. Wasserman gives questions to ask yourself to explore your own generational trauma/s.
Produced by Dear Media.
Karamo is the most comfortably vulnerable person I’ve ever known. He’s also an amazing host, one of Queer Eye’s Fab Five, an author, activist and also - the most fun. He’s opening up about his harrowing struggles with domestic violence (he owns being the abuser in his relationships), coming out to his family, drugs, attempted suicide, complete lack of self love and how he got to where he is now - radiating self love, positivity and abundance. We of course also talk fame - how he shot up to over a million IG followers overnight, who he photobombed at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, and what happened when he met Oprah. He shares how he learned to do the work to be the best version of himself and gives specific tips for you to do the same. If you’re doubting yourself in any way, hit play and trust there is something here to lift you up and inspire you on your own journey.
Produced by Dear Media.
Daniela Pierre Bravo made it—against all odds. She is a highly accomplished TV producer for MSNBC’s “Morning Joe" and writer, co-author’ing Earn It! With anchor Mika Brzezinski. She’s also a DREAMER (DACA). Originally from Chile, Daniela was raised in a small, rural town in Ohio and found out when she was a teenager that she was undocumented--- forced to live in the shadows. But she is the living, breathing example of ‘make no excuses’. Daniela explains how she managed to graduate college (finding endless side jobs that paid in cash), what happened when she crashed her car (no insurance), and the crazy lengths she went to to get a job with Diddy’s Bad Boy Entertainment in NYC when she wasn’t even allowed on a plane. Daniela also shares how she overcame self limiting beliefs, gained financial stability, and how she now helps other women do the same with her new mentorship platform Acceso Community.
Produced by Dear Media.
Are you a ‘moody' person? If you’ve ever found yourself thinking “why can't I just be happy?” Or if you’ve ever felt frustrated and can’t pinpoint why, this episode is for you. Instead of judging or criticizing our moods, Lauren Martin, founder of the successful Instagram account Words of Women and author of The Book of Moods, teaches us how we can harness our moods and use them to our benefit. Lauren has this very unique ability to unpack emotions, and moods that can feel hard or even embarrassing to talk about. She takes us through her own journey and self-awareness, which in turn allows us to reflect on our own as she speaks on navigating friendships, relationships, family, career as a moody woman. We also discuss the ups and downs of Instagram, the key to having a successful career and the unique challenges we face when it comes to our female friendships.
Produced by Dear Media.
How did Hip Hop become a men’s sport? And what do we miss as consumers + audience members when we don’t include women in the story of Hip Hop? Danielle chats with Hip Hop historian and author of The Motherlode: The 100+ Women Who Made Hip Hop Clover Hope to discuss the stories, contributions, and difficulties for stars who pioneered the genre like Da Brat, Lil Kim, Queen Latifah, Eve, Nicki Minaj, Cardi B. We talk about sexual liberation versus exploitation, and the evolution of the movement into a business. Rapper Kierra Luv joins the conversation to talk about what it’s like to be a woman in Hip Hop currently, who she looked up to, how Cardi B helped put her on the map, and the book that changed her life.
Produced by Dear Media.
How did Rebecca Minkoff go from selling a t-shirt to millions in annual revenue, in 900 stores worldwide? The founder of the global fashion brand candidly shares the biggest lessons + challenges she faced over the past 16 years of running her own business- the high moments and the hard ones, even revealing her biggest regret. She talks through how she funded the brand initially, why she named it RM, what she wishes she knew early on, and opens up about how even recently she had a real lack of faith in herself (and how she overcame it). She reveals what she thought success would look like versus what it feels like. Rebecca gives us a preview of her upcoming book FEARLESS: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage and Success, and has an unexpected interpretation of the word fearless. She explains why learning to say “f*ck It to fear" was the biggest contributor to her success. We of course talk fashion, (what staples every woman needs in her closet, her favorite piece of all-time), how she integrated technology into fashion and became a first-mover in several spaces like Instagram and Only Fans, why she started Female Founder Collective (brilliant idea!), her number one tip for negotiation, parenting, and her unexpected tip for finding true love!
Produced by Dear Media.
Check out PRETTY SMART, hosted by Danielle Robay - coming to Dear Media on February 25th!
Produced by Dear Media.
En liten tjänst av I'm With Friends. Finns även på engelska.