Sofia Franklyn on Bringing Your Authentic Self in Podcasting and in Life

If you have ever left a message (or a couple thousand) on unread, you’ll relate to today’s episode of Taste of Taylor. In the latest episode, radio vet and host Taylor Strecker sat down with Sofia Franklyn, host of Sofia With An F, to talk about dating, authenticity, how to break into podcasting, responding to unanswered texts (Taylor has 1,047 unread messages in her inbox at the moment), ghosting, and social anxiety. 

They jokingly rehash how they first met at a Page Six dinner in New York City, and Taylor shared that she’s a huge fan of Sofia’s podcast, having started listening during the pandemic and describing Sofia as her “guardian angel” during the time. Her favorite episode hysterically happens to be the only episode that Sofia’s mom has requested to be taken down. 

After this episode, the two officially decided that they’re new best friends. Listen to the full episode of Taste of Taylor here.

Social Anxiety and Avoidant Behavior 

Taylor and Sofia bonded over how their brains work. They both struggle with anxiety and agree that, many times, it’s a form of avoidant behavior. “People get mad at me and are like, ‘You are legitimately an asshole,’” Taylor laughs. “And I’m like no, it’s a disorder. I have anxiety.”

Sofia related to the feeling and the pressure to be “on.” In the past, with friends and previous boyfriends, she’s struggled with not wanting to respond to a text until she has something to say that is either clever, special, funny, or really thought out. “Here’s what it is. I feel like I always have to write something special back. If I can’t say something special, then, I have to think about it. But once I move on, it’s gone,” she says.

Taylor explained that it’s ironic that being social gives her anxiety because being social is her job. “I literally chose this life,” she says. 

Friendship and Expectations

The pair dove into the difficulties of friendship and misplaced expectations. Taylor shared a story of a time when she reached out to a friend who she heard was having a hard time, and the friend responded with a “you should just know” text. 

“I can’t deal with people that get their panties in a bunch over shit like that. Because I will constantly disappoint you,” Taylor says. “I will never read your mind.”

Taylor gets in trouble all the time in this area. She explained the two types of friends: The one who thinks you should just be a mind reader. The second is the friend who reaches out whenever they feel like it, even if it’s just once a year.  “Literally, there’s no in between: If you can’t pick up from where we left off 11 years ago, I just can’t,” Taylor says.

Authenticity and Podcasting

Sofia got into podcasting after working a cubicle job that she hated in Utah. She was also inspired by podcaster Annabelle DeSisto and her podcast, Adderall and Compliments. Sofia and Taylor agreed that the key ingredient to any successful podcast is authenticity. “Everybody and their stepmom has a podcast,” Taylor says. “But what separates the real ones from the bullshit is authenticity.”

She began listening to Sofia’s podcast in 2020, specifically on an episode when Sofia brought on her ex-boyfriend. “I was like, ‘This is an authentic queen: owning her shit, having an ex-boyfriend on, talking about their sexual escapades, and airing all of the dirty laundry.” 

The two got real in this conversation and discussed the difference between various illicit drugs, watching Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, and Sofia’s experience growing up in the Mormon church while attending a private Catholic school with a Jewish grandma.

When she first began podcasting, Sofia talked a lot about sex. “Back in the day, I’d say ‘Sex sells.’ I saw that work in a very substantial way, and so I think I kind of forced it.”

Today, Sofia is confident in her lane of podcasting and about what she does and does not put out in the world. Taylor capped the conversation off by celebrating Sofia’s podcast success and her authenticity. “I’m going to tell you right now that the only podcast I truly listen to is yours and Watch What Crappens.”  Listen to the full episode of Taste of Taylor for more.