You know those people who conquer anxiety by throwing affirmations at it like they’re in a spiritual dodgeball game? Well, Gabby Bernstein just flipped the script. In a recent episode of Dear Gabby, she revealed an unexpected truth: Anxiety isn’t the enemy—it’s actually trying to protect us.
Yes, that jittery feeling that crashes your chill and hijacks your focus is actually your brain’s way of keeping you safe. As Gabby puts it: “Anxiety is a first responder to fear. It’s like an overenthusiastic watchdog, always on alert for danger—even when there isn’t any.”
Gabby got real about her own struggles, revealing, “I lived with an undiagnosed anxiety disorder for most of my life, stemming from childhood trauma.” Anxiety became her constant companion—but not in a comforting way, but more like a pushy friend who thinks they’re helping by texting you 47 times to remind you not to forget your passport.
Through therapy, self-help practices, and medication, Gabby discovered something profound: “Anxiety was protecting me from deeper feelings of terror, inadequacy, and unworthiness.” In other words, the anxiety wasn’t the core problem. It was the smoke alarm going off, warning her about the emotional fire underneath.
Gabby’s game-changing method for dealing with anxiety? Stop fighting it and start checking in with it. Here’s her four-step process, as laid out in her book Self Help:
Feeling skeptical? Fair. But Gabby swears by these simple techniques, and frankly, they’re easier than trying to meditate when your brain’s doing parkour.
By treating anxiety like a protective part of ourselves—not a defect—we shift from battling it to understanding it. “You can’t force anxiety to go away. But you can build a relationship with it, and that’s where the relief comes in,” Gabby explained.
The takeaway? Anxiety doesn’t have to run the show. It’s just a scared little part of you, waving its arms and yelling, “Watch out!” Next time it appears, don’t roll your eyes or reach for the wine. Try Gabby’s check-in method, breathe through it, and see what your anxiety’s really trying to tell you.
“The way out is to go in,” Gabby says.
Left brained versus right brained, logic versus intuition, analytical versus creative—some say you can’t have both. Then there’s Kara Bothers, president of Starface World, the skincare company that is revolutionizing the beauty industry. Under her leadership, Starface has expanded to 20,000 retail locations and grown revenue from $5 million to $90 million in just four years.
As a teenager, Brothers loved creating her own business ventures to make extra money. She was a dog walker and had a house cleaning business. She was also the girl who loved to draw and create ideas. The goal was to combine her business acumen with creativity.
“My sweet spot is right in the middle. Some days, I lean one way, and some days, I lean the other,” Brothers says. “It’s that marriage of both of those that is exciting and hard.”
After a decade at Google, a career coach introduced her to Starface founder Brian Bordainick, who took a chance on her. Four years later, she’s thriving as president, navigating what were once uncharted C-suite waters. Brothers recently joined Balanced Black Girl host Lestraundra Alfred to talk about her executive journey at Starface, intentional leadership, prioritizing balance, and building a brand.
Brothers challenges the idea that high-powered women can’t achieve balance. “I believe so strongly in balance. I always have in every stage of my life.”
Despite her “big, sexy job,” Brothers maintains her focus on family, creative projects, and relationships. She continually evaluates her priorities by asking, “What are the things you’ll care about for the rest of your life?”
Each week, Brothers conducts weekly self-check-ins to ensure she’s addressing each priority: relationships, creative projects, and health. “Checking in with yourself is the key to finding balance,” Brothers says. “I am a person who needs balance. I go to sleep early and won’t answer Slack at night. There’s something about that balance that helps me to thrive.”
She models this balance for her team and sets that precedent: “I speak a lot about that balance with my team. I genuinely believe we are better in a steady state.”
Starface is transforming skincare with its hydrocolloid pimple patch that quickly heals blemishes (you’ve probably even seen some of your favorite celebs rocking those cute stickers out in public). Brothers joined as SVP of Strategic Initiatives in 2020. One year later, she was promoted to president, having honed her leadership skills after building her career in digital advertising, Google, and AI.
As a first-time executive leading a viral skincare company, Brothers relies heavily on intuition. “I brought my gut reaction and decisiveness to this role, even in the face of complete uncertainty,” Brothers says.
Brothers also approaches leadership with realism. “Perfection is not my goal; it’s not about always getting it right,” she says. “I knew if I ever got this opportunity, I was going to be the leader that I always wanted.”
She embraces being a lifelong learner and believes it’s critical to surround yourself with a team who will help you learn and move forward. “The mindset of a student is important. I am always looking for help and a teacher in all forms—a therapist, a coach for business, a coach for my mindset. I believe in having a team.”
As Starface scales, Brother admits the need for more processes and protocols but keeps human relationships at the top of her priorities. Interpersonal relationships are key to driving a healthy culture.
She laughs at the idea of a corporate environment that removes humanity from the workplace: “The hierarchy, the lack of transparency, the fronting you have to do—it makes me want to laugh.”
Even with the pressures of a big title, Brothers says she prioritizes laughter. “I wanna laugh, and I wanna play. I approach a lot of things at work with ease and try to teach my team to do the same.”
The company launched a new product, the star balm, in August 2024. As Starface continues to grow, Brothers is welcoming experimentation: “We have been adding ingredients and colors. We are just kind of playing, testing, and learning, which has bred a culture of innovation.”
Fertility—it’s a topic that can feel as complex as your skincare routine but with way higher stakes. Whether you’re actively trying to conceive, thinking about it for “someday,” or just trying to understand your body better, the conversation around fertility is often riddled with myths, outdated advice, and some seriously frustrating “just relax and it’ll happen” takes.
The Ritual podcast recently featured functional medicine expert Dr. Robin Berzin and wellness advocate Hannah Bronfman. Their discussion was refreshingly honest, sometimes heartbreaking, and filled with eye-opening insights worth sharing.
But first, a quick reality check: Fertility is deeply personal. What works for one person might not work for another, and while functional health approaches can be powerful, they’re not magic. It’s always best to consult with your doctor before making any changes.
If you’ve heard that fertility plummets at 35, congratulations—you’ve been fed a myth. “We’ve been given a story that you don’t need to worry about your fertility until you’re over 35, and then suddenly it’s all downhill. Neither of those things are true,” Dr. Berzin says. While age does play a role, it’s only one piece of a larger puzzle.
For example, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the leading cause of impaired fertility, and it has more to do with metabolic health than age. “PCOS is largely a blood sugar issue,” Dr. Berzin explained. Addressing blood sugar imbalances through diet, exercise, and sometimes medications like progesterone can dramatically improve fertility outcomes.
For perspective, some women in their 40s experience hyperfertility—about 3 percent of all women—resulting in an “unfussy womb” that can time both pregnancy and periods down to the minute. The idea that you become a dried-up old crone that can only release dust from your ovaries on your 35th birthday is, to put it bluntly, bullshit.
Bronfman’s journey to motherhood took three years, multiple fertility treatments, and a whole lot of resilience. After months of “normal” tests, she finally learned she had an MTHFR genetic variant—something that affects how the body processes certain nutrients. “That was eye-opening,” she said. “It changed the way I was taking supplements and trying to support myself.”
Dr. Berzin echoed this frustration with the “unexplained infertility” label: “Women come in struggling with fertility, and no one’s looked under the hood. Sometimes the answer isn’t obvious, but often there are things we can address—blood sugar, autoimmune issues, nutrient deficiencies, even environmental factors like microplastics.”
Functional health—which takes a whole-body approach to wellness—can be a game-changer when it comes to fertility. It’s not about replacing IVF or medical treatments but about optimizing your body so those interventions are more likely to work.
Dr. Berzin recommends starting with the basics:
No fertility conversation is complete without acknowledging the emotional toll. Bronfman’s first pregnancy—conceived with the help of Clomid—ended in miscarriage. “It was devastating,” she shared. “I didn’t understand why I felt so much shame, and there wasn’t a community I could turn to.”
That experience pushed her to share her journey publicly, creating a ripple effect of openness. “The responses I got showed me how many people were suffering in silence. It turned into a healing process for me too,” she said.
Ready to take charge of your fertility—whether you’re actively trying or just curious? Here’s where to start:
If you’re in the thick of it—charting cycles, taking supplements, peeing on sticks—know this: You’re not alone, and you’re not broken. Fertility is complex, sometimes maddeningly so, but there are options, support systems, and small steps that can make a real difference.
Or, as Bronfman put it: “I had to flip the script for myself. If this was my new narrative, I was going to own it. And that mindset shift—plus a little science and a lot of self-care—changed everything.”
As each generation ages into their parenting era, parenting styles may shift slightly, or change drastically. Each generation cares about different things. They reflect this in everything they do from how they parent, how they spend their time, how they shop, and more!
Millennials are the most populous generation alive today, which means they have a ton of buying power. Millennial moms, specifically, are responsible for $2.4 trillion in spending in America. Can you believe it?
If you’re looking to engage millennial moms, whether with content or product lines, it’s super helpful to understand what millennial moms actually care about. So today, we’re going to talk about what millennial moms really give a f*ck about, so that you can offer them exactly what they need!
Millennial moms are moms born between 1981-1996. As a generation, millennials are values-driven, tech-savvy, and resourceful. They may get a bad rep in the media for being obsessed with avocado toast & iced coffee, but let’s be real that way of thinking is sooooo 2017. We’re way past that!
To learn more about who millennial moms are, you’ve got to know what they care about. This will help you get a clear picture of who you’re marketing to.
Millennial moms prioritize the emotional wellbeing of those around them especially their kids.
In fact, Inclusive Market Research Group conducted a study in 2023 that found nearly three-quarters of millennial moms ascribe to the same parenting style called authoritative parenting. This style features warm, nurturing interactions, clear boundaries, and explanations of discipline.
Basically, millennial moms want to raise kids who are mentally strong and respectful of the people around them. They believe that is accomplished by giving kids space to process their feelings, while still maintaining firm boundaries.
If you see someone in the grocery store looking intensely at food labels, chances are high that you’re looking at a millennial mom.
Millennial moms are purchasing more organic and locally sourced foods than the generations before them. As a whole, millennial moms want to know that their food is nutritious and safe. Many millennial moms can be weary of processed foods and opt for more whole food options instead.
You can speak to these concerns by providing ways for millennial moms to feel safe about the food situation. There are lots of ways to do that! You can provide helpful information about food, such as how to find toxic ingredients in food, how to keep picky eaters healthy, or how to eat clean while on the go. You can also provide products that are unprocessed and toxin-free.
Millennial moms like brands that have an authentic narrative. They want the brands they shop to be exactly what they say they are (and no greenwashing, please!). They often feel drawn to brands that align with their values and can connect emotionally, especially when a brand’s narrative resonates with their own experiences and aspirations.
If you’re wondering how to build an authentic brand, look no further! We’ve got the details here.
According to Motherly’s 2024 State of Motherhood Report, 82% of millennial moms are part of the workforce, whether full-time, part-time, or seeking work. 28% of those moms are working more than 40 hours. Millennial women in general are more likely to participate in the workforce than the women who came before them.
As a result, millennial moms have less and less time for themselves and their families. So, they really value any way that you can give time back to them. This can look like helping them manage work-life balance, addressing mom guilt in the workplace, or creating a product that saves them time. E-commerce platforms are especially huge for millennial moms, as it allows them to buy things from home.
It can be hard to balance friendship as a mother. You’ve suddenly got a lot of new responsibilities on your plate that require your full attention. Managing a friendship or ten in the middle of that can be incredibly difficult.
Still, millennial moms generally will put in the effort to cultivate healthy friendships. Whether those are friends they had before they became a mother, friends they became a mother with, or new friends they met after being a mom, each friendship serves a vital purpose.
Motherhood can be draining even when it’s fun! That’s why millennial moms need friendship to fill their buckets and make them feel like a whole person, not just a mother.
Brands can support mothers in this area by sharing information on how to make mom friends. Or, you can create a way to make mom friends more easily. Social media or apps like Bumble BFF can be a great place to start!
Everyone goes through seasons of life that affect their availability for their friends. As a mom, if you’re finding yourself lonely for any reason, these podcasts for moms will remind you that you’re not in this by yourself. Whether you’re looking for motivation, empowerment, “me” time, or just a friend who gets it, we’ve got you covered.
Millennial moms are like the queens of resilience and resourcefulness when it comes to parenting. They’re not just going to sit around feeling like sh*t; they’re going to do something about it.
But what they’re going to do depends on who they are. There’s a lot of ways to feel like sh*t, and a lot of ways to get out of that rut. It could be making themselves feel beautiful again after having a baby, practicing meditation for easier interactions with their kids, or finding ways to tackle mom guilt.
No matter what problem a millennial mom is facing, she’ll go after it until she solves it. And, as a brand, you have the opportunity to provide solutions that support and help those millennial moms out.
Since millennial moms have so much buying power in today’s economy, focusing on what they care about is a smart move for your brand. Plus, we love millennial moms! We want to see them absolutely thriving. We hope you can get them there!
And, if you’re a millennial mom, your baby simply needs this “Cried Today” onesie. It’s so cute and most likely? It’s so true, too. Plus, you can get a matching crew for when you didn’t cry! (Or when you, like, barely cried. It still counts!)
Are you a millennial mom? Let us know what you look for in a brand down below!
We all have secrets. Some are harmless—like buying fancy oat milk and decanting it into the cheaper brand’s carton—while others could shake the very foundation of your relationship. The latest episode of Girls Gotta Eat dove deep into this topic.
Rayna Greenberg and Ashley Hesseltine didn’t hold back from discussing what people hide from their partners. Botox? A classic. As one host noted, “I’d never tell my partner, he would kill me if I did that.” This reveals something deeper: Why are we lying about something as harmless (and, let’s be honest, as common) as a little needle to the forehead? It’s not just about wrinkle-smoothing—it’s about control, shame, and internalized double standards. If your partner thinks Botox means you’ll look like Jocelyn Wildenstein, maybe it’s time for a little education session rather than subterfuge.
As Ashley quipped, “Men hear ‘Botox’ and think ‘filler,’ like I’m gonna walk in looking like a Bratz doll.” Meanwhile, maybe you’ve had it for years, especially if you suffer from migraines, and he’s none the wiser.)
Another big secret people keep? Money. And it ranges from the mundane (“I totally bought that on sale” when it was full price to the potentially marriage-ending (hiding debt). The podcast touched on this, with one listener confessing, “I’ve been hiding how much I’ve been spending on coffee every week.” If your latte habit is the hill your relationship dies on, that’s not love—that’s financial micromanagement.
But financial infidelity is real. When it escalates to secret credit cards and maxed-out accounts, you’re not just hiding purchases—you’re eroding trust. As Rayna put it, “There’s a difference between ‘I got Starbucks three times this week’ and ‘I’m $20,000 in debt and you don’t know it.’”
Let’s talk about porn, masturbation, and those little fibs we tell to avoid awkward conversations. The pod revealed that plenty of people—yes, even in happy relationships—hide their solo habits. One woman admitted, “I’ve been faking orgasms for years, and I’m too deep in to confess now.”
Honey, no. This is not a Grey’s Anatomy episode—you can’t flatline your sexual happiness for the sake of someone else’s ego. As Ashley wisely noted, “If you’re pretending, you’re just robbing yourself. Your partner doesn’t get better, and you’re stuck in orgasm purgatory.”
What’s acceptable to keep private? Here’s the breakdown straight from the Girls Gotta Eat wisdom vault:
Okay to Keep Private:
Not Okay to Hide:
As Ashley summed up perfectly: “If you’re hiding it because you think they’ll judge you, that’s a relationship issue. If you’re hiding it because you know it’s wrong, that’s a you issue.”
Look, relationships aren’t built on brutal honesty 100% of the time. Do you really need to tell your partner every time you’re annoyed by how they load the dishwasher? No. (Do you want to be right, or do you want to be happy? Loading the dishwasher differently isn’t going to matter in five years. I promise.) But if you’re consistently hiding things out of fear, shame, or guilt, it’s worth examining why.
As Girls Gotta Eat reminded us, the healthiest relationships aren’t built on perfection—they’re built on trust, laughter, and the occasional secrets about how much those shoes really cost. (But seriously, maybe tell him about the Botox. He’ll survive.)
Let’s talk about one of the biggest energy sucks: the desperate, clawing need to be right. You know the feeling—that self-righteous fire when your roommate swears she didn’t leave the bathroom light on (she totally did) or when your boyfriend insists the capital of Vermont is Montpelier, and you’re already Googling it because you just know he’s wrong. (It is Montpelier, by the way.)
But here’s the thing—being right isn’t the same as being happy. The latest episode of the Oddvice podcast laid it all out, with Alex Koot and Kristen McAtee exploring how the ego’s obsession with correctness can torpedo relationships, peace of mind, and, frankly, your ability to enjoy brunch without debating whether the restaurant is actually in Silver Lake or technically Echo Park.
“You ever catch yourself halfway through an argument and think, ‘What the hell am I even fighting for?’ Like, girl, the stakes are literally zero,” Kristen said on the pod. And yet, there we are, bickering over how to load a dishwasher.
The Oddvice hosts aren’t alone in their wisdom. Dr. Harriet Lerner, a clinical psychologist and author of The Dance of Anger, explains that the need to be right often comes from anxiety and insecurity. We dig our heels in because admitting we’re wrong feels like admitting we’re less than. But it’s not.
Studies back this up. Studies published in the Journal of Positive Psychology found that participants who intentionally chose happiness over correctness in their daily interactions reported higher overall life satisfaction and lower stress levels. Shocking—people enjoyed life more when they weren’t constantly trying to one-up their partners in trivia.
Even the Gottman Institute, the gold standard for relationship research, has found that successful couples often “agree to disagree.” Dr. John Gottman’s famous “magic ratio” for happy relationships (five positive interactions for every negative one) hinges on partners letting go of petty battles and focusing on connection instead.
The podcast got real when Alex shared a story about a workout class—you know, the kind where some dude grabs the heaviest kettlebell to “prove” something. “He was literally struggling so hard, the kettlebell flew out of his hand,” she said, laughing. “And when the instructor suggested a lighter weight, he doubled down—’No, I got it.’ Like, sir. Do you? Do you ‘got it’? Because your dignity is currently rolling across the floor with that kettlebell.”
This is what the need to be right does. It takes a situation where you could laugh, learn, or let go and turns it into a battleground. You might “win” the argument, but you lose the vibe. And let’s be honest—who wants to lose the vibe?
How do we stop ourselves from jumping into every debate like it’s the final round of a reality TV competition? Here are a few tips—straight from the Oddvice chat and backed by psychology:
Ultimately, the need to be right isn’t about truth—it’s about ego. As Kristen said, “Half the time, I don’t even care about the facts—I just don’t want to feel stupid. But, like, clinging to my ‘rightness’ makes me look way dumber.”
So, the next time you’re about to pop off—whether it’s about the “right” way to pronounce acai or the exact number of times Ross and Rachel broke up—ask yourself: Do I want to be right, or do I want to be happy?
Choose happy. It’s cuter. Trust me.
We all want relationships with deep connections and unbreakable bonds. Everyone wants Travis Kelce to their Taylor Swift, Tom Holland to their Zendaya, or Justin Bieber to their Hailey. However, relationships this special don’t just pop up overnight—developing true intimacy takes time, patience, and strategy! Plus, relationships naturally thrive when you dig past the surface level and get to the nitty-gritty stuff. This episode of It’s Not That Deep talks allll about it.
One of the best ways to grow a strong connection with your partner is by asking them those vulnerable, intimate questions. As you both share your answers, you’ll get to know each other on a much deeper level, which will hopefully help strengthen your bond into becoming the ultimate #couplegoals. If you’re wondering where to start and which questions to ask, we’ve got you covered. Today, we’re sharing a round-up of all of our fave juicy relationship questions to get you and your partner talking.
Still in need of more inspo for questions to ask your partner about sex and intimacy? We’ve got a few podcast episodes up our sleeve that will help you out. Check out this episode of this episode of The Ins and Outs with Ruby and Megan, this episode of Oddvice, and this episode of Him & Her Show.
Everyone loves a partner with ambition and these questions will show you if your partner is one. Plus, if you’re interested in talking about the future, sharing the answers to these questions can help you be a better partner and/or spouse! Also, don’t forge to listen to this episode of We Met At Acme to find out how to keep the spark alive as your relationship progresses.
A relationship where both parties can be vulnerable with each other is an example of what a healthy relationship looks like. For more pointers, listen to this episode of We Met At Acme
Another way to have deep conversations is to listen to podcasts that really make you think. For this set of questions in particular, check out this episode of Almost Adulting.
You need great communication to start a relationship, build a relationship, and, most importantly, maintain a relationship. Listen to this episode of House Guest for more on healthy communication and green flags.
Deep convos are all about being super transparent and vulnerable with your partner. Check out the episode of Looking Up called Radical Transparency + Relationship Resiliency for more!
As much of ourself as we dedicate to our partners, it’s important to still show up for yourself. To better understand each other, find out ways your partner shows up for themselves, too. Learn more about growing in relationships with the Him & Her Show.
Honestly, a fun way to feel connected is to sit down with your partner and listen to one of our top podcasts for couples! What better way to spend quality time together?
These definitely aren’t first-date questions for couples, but they are great to ask when things are getting serious. If you and your beau are considering children, listen to this episode of Him & Her Show about pregnancy and parenthood! And if you’re on the hunt for more parenting podcasts in general, you have to check out Milk Drunk and Raising Good Humans. Both podcasts have tons of episodes on balancing parenting and a romantic relationship.
Often, lack of trust is because of a past hurt. If either of you are dealing with the trauma of a bad break-up where your trust was violated, listen to the Him & Her Show episode called Cheating, Infidelity, & How To Move Forward After A Bad Break Up.
Speaking of past relationships… there is probably a lot to unpack there. Don’t be afraid to have these conversations! They can help bring you closer together. For more on resolving past conflict and moving on from it, listen to this episode of Him & Her Show!
Remember, asking these questions isn’t just about getting answers; it’s about understanding your partner on a deeper level. The goal is to build the kind of emotional intimacy that lasts for the long run, because that’s what really matters. The more willing you are to dig deeper with your partner, the stronger the foundation of your relationship will be. So, don’t be afraid to really dig deep! Plus, how fun of a date night would it be to sit down and just run those all of the questions we listed?
Check out the Dear Media blog for anything from love life advice to health and wellness tips. And, don’t forget to check out the DM shop for tons of must-haves! You need this “Luckiest Girl” mug, since you’re the soon-to-be luckiest girl for having that open and honest relationship people only dream of.
Balanced Black Girl host Les Alfred is popping in your podcast queue this week with a bonus episode and exciting news: After nearly 300 episodes and 10 years, she’s pivoting from exclusively wellness content.
“For me, 2025 is going to be a year of exploration and finding what is interesting to me and bringing forth different topics, different formats, experimentation, and having wellness be a part of the story, but not having it be the whole story,” Alfred explains.
Since launching in 2014, Alfred has created content about the core pillars of being well: movement, nutrition, self-expression of feelings, and community. (The podcast was nominated for an NAACP Image Award this year for outstanding podcast under the lifestyle/self-help category.) While she will still talk about these topics, Alfred explains, “Balance just doesn’t fit the podcast anymore. I am not balanced, and I am finally ready to admit that I am simply not.”
Starting in March, Balanced Black Girl, will be changing its name and refocus on entrepreneurship, business, and exploring the minds and habits of successful women charting their own paths.
Listen to the episode below for more details about the rebrand and what’s next.
In this bonus Balanced Black Girl episode, Alfred opens up about her year in New York, the lessons she’s learned, and her professional identity crisis. 2024 marked her first full year living in New York (after four years in Los Angeles). It also was her one-year anniversary as a full-time self-employed podcaster.
“The truth is I don’t have it all together. I don’t have all of the answers. That is very much a season of life that I’m in right now,” she shares.
Though she began as a wellness content creator in 2014, her interests have evolved. “I feel like the space that I started in no longer fits who I am anymore. Candidly, I don’t fully know what’s next. It doesn’t mean that I don’t still love wellness. I just don’t want to talk about wellness trends or fitness.”
Alfred explains that she’s tired of being pigeonholed and wants to branch out in an authentic way. She’s also wrestled with doubts and if she has anything meaningful to offer. She’s asking some big questions right now: What’s next? What do I like? What do I not like? But ultimately, she is ready to embrace her own evolution.
Alfred shares that she is both scared and excited for the big change. “I am really excited to be able to evolve and to give myself the freedom and the permission to explore new formats, conversations and ideas. I’m really excited to bring each and every one of you along. So this is really an evolution that I want everyone to be a part of.”
The one word that best describes her new vision is “refreshing.” “My goal is to make the brand more positive and happy. Sometimes, when it comes to wellness, people want to focus so much on the hard parts. I cannot tell y’all how many pitches I get every single week where all they want to talk about is trauma and like traumatic things happening to Black women.”
Instead, Alfred aims to tell stories about Black women that are positive and highlight how multifaceted the community is. “I want to highlight the lucky, blessed, and incredible humans that we can all be. It’s going to be a lot of similar types of conversations, but approached in a new way that really highlights more of the goodness of our lives, as opposed to all of the barriers that we need to overcome.”
Alfred wants anyone who is in the process of emerging into a new version of themselves to know that they are not alone. “I’m so sorry that I don’t have any tips or tricks or advice for you quite yet,” she laughs.
She is determined to embrace the pivot despite the fear: “I want to inspire you if you have been feeling a call to move a little bit differently or to jump on a new idea. Sometimes, it can be really scary to make changes and embrace pivots. As multifaceted human beings and people who often have multifaceted brands, we get to be whatever we want to be. I hope that me taking creative risks inspires you to take creative risks.”
Keep up with Alfred and what’s next by subscribing to the podcast and following her on TikTok on Instagram for all the behind-the-scenes tea. You can get the sneak peeks as to what’s coming!
If there’s one thing we can count on from Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin, it’s content. In the latest episode of Let’s Not Talk About The Husband, we got a little bit of everything: celebrity name-dropping, Hollywood history lessons, existential musings, and, most importantly, fart machine pranks on a serious AMC drama set, Mayfair Witches.
Ted Levine, aka Buffalo Bill from The Silence of the Lambs, one of the most unsettling screen villains of all time, plays Harry Hamlin’s father in Mayfair Witches. Which, okay, sure, let’s just throw those two in a supernatural Anne Rice series and see what happens.
Apparently, what did happen: Harry deciding that the best way to wrap his scenes with a Hollywood legend is to derail an emotional moment with a fart machine.
“I got Ted Levine because he plays my dead father in Mayfair Witches,” Harry explained, in what was definitely one of the more unexpected mid-podcast confessions.
Lisa, of course, was already rolling her eyes because she knew where this was going.
“The very last scene we were doing together,” Harry continued, “I taped the fart machine to the table that he was sitting at. We went all through his close-ups, got to mine, and I had the little button in my pocket. Just as we got to my big speech, I pressed the button.”
The results? Cinematic gold.
“The whole set went crazy,” Harry said, clearly proud of himself. “And I said, ‘Ted, what did you have for lunch?’ And he goes, ‘What? That wasn’t me!’ And then I pushed the button again.”
Lisa, ever the voice of reason (and barely contained secondhand embarrassment), interrupted: “Why do people think that is so funny? And you in particular right now are cracking up. We can actually see your teeth, which hardly ever happens.”
That’s right—Harry Hamlin, usually stoic and reserved, was grinning ear to ear over his Mayfair Witches fart prank.
The best part? Ted Levine wasn’t even mad. “At the end of the scene, after the whole thing happened and they had to cut the camera and everything, he was just like, ‘That wasn’t me.’”
Can Mayfair Witches 2 please release the blooper reel? It belongs to the people.
While Ted Levine was getting ambushed by pranksters, Alexandra Daddario was causing an entirely different kind of on-set disruption. Harry revealed a moment when her intense screen presence nearly derailed his ability to do his job.
“We’re doing a scene where we’re talking to each other,” Harry said. “And I’m looking right in her eyes as I’m talking to her, and all of a sudden, I had to say, ‘Cut, cut, cut, cut. I’m sorry. I have to spend a few minutes with these eyes before I can do it on film.’”
Lisa completely understood:“I know it. Every time I watch the show, I literally fall into her eyes. They’re just so mesmerizing.”
Apparently, the last time Harry encountered a stare that powerful was when he met Bo Derek.
“The only other person who had eyes like that was Bo Derek,” he said. “I remember meeting Bo for the first time—she was good friends with Ursula [Andress, Harry’s ex and the mother of his son]—and I’ll never forget looking into her eyes. You just fell into them.”
Next: a little detour into some classic Hollywood messiness. Harry Hamlin has stories, and Lisa knows exactly how to drag them out of him.
Did you know that Bo Derek’s ex-husband, John Derek, was never technically divorced from Ursula Andress?
Lisa, of course, was delighted by this information.“Oh, whatever, you just let the cat out of the bag,” she said.
Harry, meanwhile, remained blissfully unbothered. “Well, I don’t know. I’m not sure. You’d have to go back and find the paperwork, but I’m not at all convinced they ever got divorced.”
This naturally led to a discussion about Ursula’s high-profile relationships.
“She was with John Paul Belmondo after John Derek,” Harry said. “And before that, she dated James Dean.”
Lisa, unable to contain herself, gasped. “She dated James Dean?”
“Oh yeah,” Harry said, cool as ever. “And then Elvis Presley gave her a car.”
This, as you can imagine, sent Lisa spiraling.
“What?! Elvis gave her a car?”
“Yeah,” Harry said. “A really fancy BMW. I think there were only three made. She kept it in storage in Van Nuys, and when I met her, she said, ‘Oh, I have this great car in storage.’ But she never paid the storage bill, so the guy finally took the car.”
Lisa, understandably horrified, could barely process what she was hearing.
“Wait. The storage guy took the Elvis BMW?”
“Yeah,” Harry confirmed. “Because she never paid the bill.”
In conclusion, a lucky storage unit owner has a one-of-a-kind BMW gifted by Elvis Presley to a Bond girl somewhere out there. And Ursula Andress did not care.
What a legend.
Between the fart pranks, Alexandra’s hypnotic gaze, and the unexpected Hollywood history lesson, this episode of Let’s Not Talk About The Husband was, in a word, chaotic.
And honestly, we wouldn’t want it any other way.
Lisa and Harry may have been arguing about shopping habits (“The RealReal has a permanent appointment at our house every two weeks!” Harry complained). Whether Lisa ever gives him enough back rubs (spoiler: she does not), but the love is undeniable.
They’re ridiculous, hilarious, and the kind of couple you want to eavesdrop on at dinner. And luckily for us, we get to listen in every single week!
If you’re not already watching Mayfair Witches 2, what are you waiting for? Because if this is what’s happening off-camera, just imagine what’s going down on it.
Shiny and sparkly is Sami Berstein Spalter’s default setting when she shows up in the world. Of course, she has her share of bad days, but the Transform podcast co-host is working on embracing joy and loving her true self, all while empowering other women to do the same.
You may know Sami as a fitness influencer, the co-founder of wellness brand, FORM, or as the other half of “the Samis” (with her best friend, Sami Clarke). Spalter describes herself as a simple woman. She likes to keep her fashion and nutrition straightforward—typically 50% protein, 25% vegetables, and 25% carbohydrates. “If I were a food, I would be a rotisserie chicken,” she says.
In the latest With Whit podcast, Spalter shares her wellness journey and the path to authentic living. She gets real about knowing her body, embracing cravings and having fun with food, and her favorite types of movement.
Port and Spalter have been longtime online fans of each other, so the two podcast hosts connecting IRL was truly an overflow of joy and warmth. Tune into the full episode of With Whit here.
In 2017, Spalter moved to Los Angeles to start an influencer marketing agency with her brother. Although she was not passionate about the work, she was excellent at it. The opportunity opened doors and allowed Spalter to meet tons of people.
Instead of focusing on her next career move, Spalter turned inward. “I asked myself, ‘What do I need right now?’ I was overweight my entire life. Living in LA, you get a taste of the spectrum of what wellness can look like.”
Spalter recalls being so disconnected from her body prior to her weight loss. She fully committed to her wellness journey. “I wanted to make wellness my job. Here I am 85 pounds lighter, six years later, and now running a wellness company.”
Her journey began with CrossFit before transitioning to online workouts, where she discovered her now co-founder, Sami Clarke, through YouTube. After being introduced by their boyfriends (who were middle school friends), the two became best friends.
Four years into their FORM business, Spalter advocates for strength training. “I love lifting, but I think a lot of women get caught up not wanting to bulk or get intimidated. So I love hearing stories from our community who have been transformed by it because that’s me.
The online fitness and wellness platform has most recently expanded to include activewear. “We wanted to have a true 360 wellness experience. The biggest standout about Transform is being in a community of women who want to better themselves. We couldn’t find our perfect activewear brand, so we created it,” Spalter says.
In high school, Spalter shares she tried every fad diet out there: Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, and Smart for Life. Today, she is open about her journey to losing 85 pounds and redefining her relationship with health.
Spalter explains that extreme restrictions aren’t sustainable. “Those things don’t last. They work temporarily.” For Spalter, that was the keto diet, which helped her lose nearly 50 pounds but ultimately affected her mental health. “I was living in a box. I was a prisoner to a plan that was no grains, no carbs. Fruit was off limits. I could not even go out to a restaurant.”
Over the years, Spalter has learned what works best for her as far as nutrition and movement. She advises anyone on a journey to master their personal wellness to embrace trial and error. “Be able to come back to self and say ‘That’s great for you, but not for me.’ My superpower is checking in with myself. You have to get to know yourself,” Spalter says.
Spalter kicked off 2025 with a profound experience at the Hoffman Institute, where she reconnected with what makes her shine after struggling with self-doubt. Following her mother’s death, she booked a spot at the Hoffman Institute a year in advance.
The seven-day retreat was an opportunity to work through grief and align your body, spirit, intellect, and emotions (aka your inner child). “This process showed me who I am when I am spirit led, which is how I try to show up in the world now,” Spalter says.
Spalter says her time at the Hoffman Institute was rewarding and also the hardest things she’s ever done. After years of not seeing her true self, Spalter shares that she has done and continues to do self-work. She focuses on removing bad patterns that dim her light. “What I lead with now is shining as bright and sparkly as I can so everyone can meet me there.”
Let’s talk about your story. You know, that wild, messy, beautiful rollercoaster of experiences that made you who you are today? Yeah, that one. The one you downplay because it doesn’t match someone else’s highlight reel. Here’s the truth: Your story matters. And if you’re not telling it, you’re not just selling yourself short—you’re keeping the world from a perspective it needs.
This little sermon was inspired by a recent episode of The Skinny Confidential Him & Her podcast, in which Lauren and Michael Bostick sat down with Donald Miller, creator of Building a StoryBrand. If you’re side-eyeing the idea of storytelling being relevant in 2025, let us hit you with a few insights from that conversation.
“If you haven’t communicated what problem you solve, it’s very hard for people to figure out why you matter” Miller says. Now, you’re probably thinking: “I’m not a brand. I’m not selling anything.” But, you are the brand. Your story is how people understand you—whether you’re building a business, landing a job, dating, or just trying to connect with fellow humans.
Miller illustrated this with two chefs at a party. One says, “I’m an at-home chef. I come to your house and cook.” Cool, but yawn. The other says, “You know how families don’t eat together anymore, and when they do, it’s never healthy? I’m an at-home chef who fixes that.” Boom. Chef #2 is getting all the bookings because she framed her story around solving a problem—even if the “problem” is just surviving another Tuesday night without DoorDash.
Takeaway: Whether you’re pitching a side hustle, applying for a job, or just introducing yourself at brunch, don’t just say what you do—say why it matters. What problem are you solving? What itch are you scratching? What vibe are you bringing?
Here’s the counterintuitive part: According to Miller, the biggest mistake people make when sharing their story is trying to be the hero. “The customer should be the hero,” he explained. You need to position yourself as the guide.”
Think about it. If you’re always the show’s star, it’s hard for others to see how you fit into their story. That’s why brands like Dave Ramsey crush it—he’s not just a finance guru; he’s the guide who helps you defeat the villain (debt) and live happily ever after (debt-free).
Takeaway: Writing a dating profile, a LinkedIn summary, or just explaining what you do at a party? Frame it like this: “I help [person] do [thing] so they can [win].” Like, “I help women stop undercharging for their work so they can get the bag and the respect they deserve.” It’s giving fairy godmother energy—and it works.
“Most businesses fail not because their product isn’t good enough, but because they make their customer think too much,” Miller says. The human brain burns 600-800 calories a day just thinking (shocking, given how much time we all spend doom-scrolling TikTok). If your story isn’t clear and simple, people will mentally swipe left.
Miller shared how Spectrum Brands boosted sales of fish tanks by 99% just by slapping three words on the packaging: “Kids love aquariums.” No long pitch, no jargon—just a direct hit to the brain’s “this will make my life easier” button.
Takeaway: When you tell your story—whether it’s for a brand, a project, or yourself—make it stupid simple. Ask yourself: Would my distracted, wine-sipping bestie get it in under 10 seconds? If not, trim the fat.
Alright, you’re sold. You’re ready to tell your story. But how do you do it without sounding like you’re auditioning for a TED Talk? Here’s the Miller-approved breakdown:
If you’re still sitting there thinking, “But my story isn’t that interesting,” consider this: The brands, influencers, and leaders you love didn’t succeed because they were the smartest or the prettiest. They succeeded because they made you feel seen, heard, and understood—and they did it by telling their story in a way that made you the hero.
“If you can own a problem and talk about it clearly, it’s the fastest way to grow a brand—or a life,” Miller says.
So, what’s your story? What problem are you helping people solve? And when are you finally going to stop gatekeeping the magic that is you? The world’s waiting—mic drop optional.
Reality TV stardom wasn’t in Whitney Port’s original career plan. The fashion designer, author, wife, and mom, known from MTV’s The Hills and The City, recently opened up on Coming in Hot with Caroline Baudino about how reality TV impacted her life and the unexpected path that led her from fashion intern to the woman she is today.
“When you’re on reality TV you have to pretend we care about things more than we actually do for the sake of having a successful TV show,” Port says. “That got tiring for me, which is why I didn’t have a long career in it and why I was the friend and not the main character.”
Port also opens up about her childhood, career transitions, and balancing work with family life. Tune into the latest Coming in Hot episode for a heartfelt conversation about strong family bonds, handling negativity, and navigating infertility and surrogacy.
As a student at University of Southern California, Port knew she was passionate about fashion. After applying for a fall internship at Teen Vogue, she got a call from MTV about a reality TV show highlighting four young women in Los Angeles pursuing different industries. Port submitted a casting interview, and before she knew it, she had an on-camera interview with West Coast editor, Lisa Love. Port got the internship and the rest was history.
For young women starting their careers, Port advice is to fake it until you make it. “I was so young and naive, but ignorance is bliss,” she says. “There’s so much you may not know going into it. Come in with confidence, as a ‘yes person,’ and willing to learn. Don’t come off as a know-it-all or like you’re overcompensating. Be hungry.”
There’s currently a Reddit poll for the next Real Housewives of New York cast, and fans are voting for Port. Despite the flattery, she says she would never return to reality TV. “My family is too important for me, and no amount of money is worth it.”
Growing up, Port’s mom was an art teacher, and her dad worked in manufacturing and licensing in the fashion industry. Port is one of five kids, and her mom went back to work when her youngest sibling started school.
Port credits her parents with modeling what a strong family bond looks like. “My parents were the best. I had an amazing childhood. My mom was home with us, and she was very present. My dad did drop-off, and my mom did pickup. She was cooking dinner every single night. Saturday night my parents had date night—every single Saturday night at the Cheesecake Factory in Brentwood.”
This upbringing shapes how Port and her husband, Tim Rosenman, parent their son. “They have set the stage for what is important for me and how I want Sunny to be. I want him to be an affectionate, loving person.”
It also instilled her work ethic. “My dad went to work every single day, dropped us off, and came home right before dinner. My mom was super important in seeing a woman who could do it all. That work ethic was in my blood. It’s not the norm.”
Port’s mother was her first fashion influence: “She had these long t-shirt dresses that were button-down, stripped, and ribbed. She loved dressing up, and she loved dressing me and my sisters. She had four girls. We were all matching, and we were all in some variation of the same outfit. It has a color story.
Once Port started dressing herself, she loved it. “Fashion was always fun for us. I always cared about what I was wearing.” This love propelled her through roles at People’s Revolution, Teen Vogue, Dianne von Furstenberg, and working for Kelly Cutrone.
She launched her own fashion brand while filming The City. Her father helped her after she moved back home, but after he passed away, Port says she couldn’t do it anymore.
Today, Port consults and designs for other companies, but she doesn’t miss having her own line. “I don’t want all the pressure, the rat race, the seasons. I do love designing and the creativity, and I always want that to be a part of my career.”
On building a career as she ages and as a working mom, Port says, “The truth is all we have is now. Age comes with so much more experience. I feel like I am so much more equipped to do any job now than I was at 25 years old.”
Port’s son, Sonny, was born in July 2017. Throughout her pregnancy journey, Port had six miscarriages. After speaking with her doctors, Port learned that she has chromosomal issues. After trying to conceive, she got really sick and hit a rock bottom after facing the anxiety of carrying and the fear of loss. Her husband, Tim, suggested surrogacy.
“I was like, ‘Thank God.’ I needed someone to take the pressure off me and help me get this done,” Port says.
Her husband encouraged her to accept the help and that “it is a privilege to accept help.” Now, Port is in the process of reviewing surrogacy profiles. She is excited and grateful for this option that will protect her mental health. “I realized I did not need to force myself down a road where I was starting to lose myself in order to do this.”
Port has been open about her surrogacy decision: “I’ve been going through this process for such a long time that I really have gotten to a place of peace with it. I have a child. I have the love of my life. Anything else would be a blessing.”
From her reality TV days, Port advises young women dealing with bullying to tune it out and focus on their happiness. “If you don’t know me, then what you say cannot have so much weight. You don’t know everything is going on, so why would I allow your words to make me feel bad?”
While the online chatter has been mostly positive, Port has faced her fair share of online negativity. She has been open, particularly on her podcast With Whit, about her personal struggles with eating, nutrition, and body issues. She has learned to set boundaries. “Now when I want to talk about vulnerable or hot-button topics, I put it out there. Then, I take some space from it before I look at the comments,” Whitney says.
She encourages women to be vulnerable and put their stories out into the world. “Put it out there for yourself, not for what people are going to say in response.”
