Let’s talk about thongs, grief, people-pleasing, and the radical act of not going to the damn party. In this episode, I unravel why I stopped molding myself into someone else’s ideal — whether it was for a man, a friend, or an aesthetic. I also talk about loss, what a photographer taught me about timing, and why your “no” doesn’t need an excuse (or a follow-up text). If you’ve ever contorted yourself to be chosen, approved of, or invited — this one's for you. Also, RIP to the thong I wore once i...
Jul 02, 2025•28 min
This week, I’m talking about what it feels like to be unwanted—by men, by friendships, by jobs, by the popular girls with the trendy names who never wanted to sit with you at lunch. I share what growing up as the daughter of Chinese immigrants taught me about invisibility, advocacy, and watching my mom try to return a pot to Kmart in broken English while I stood there, 7 years old, already learning what it means to feel small. I talk about how I’ve slowly learned that just because someone doesn’...
Jun 25, 2025•36 min
She’s 32, never had a boyfriend, and just dropped thousands to fund her own proposal — hotel, flowers, the ring he gave her. Meanwhile, he’s out here liking thirst traps and asking her for money for designer watches. In this episode, I unpack the heartbreak of watching someone you love choose delusion over dignity — and why trying to save them might actually be a way of avoiding your own sh*t. Also in this episode: • The difference between generosity and desperation (and how thin the line can be...
Jun 19, 2025•25 min
On this week's episode, former director of Betches Media turned content creator Nicole Pellegrino shares her journey as we delve into her candid and often humorous takes on marriage, millennial life, and her rescue doLouie. She opens up about the impact of her mom's passing, her parents' divorce, and why she strives never to take life too seriously, because, in her words, "we're all just floating on this rock." Follow Anna: https://www.instagram.com/maybeboth/ https://www.tiktok.com/@maybeboth h...
May 19, 2025•1 hr 20 min
Fashion and beauty influencer, Kristina Zias, dives into her 13-year journey from being called 'cringe' to becoming a body positivity queen featured on The Drew Barrymore Show and People Magazine. We discuss juggling motherhood, cross-country move, and running her own business and why her delusional confidence has led her to achieving (and running!) races and experiences she never thought she once could. Follow Anna: https://www.instagram.com/maybeboth/ https://www.tiktok.com/@maybeboth https://...
May 13, 2025•1 hr 20 min
This week, I'm joined by comedy powerhouse Zarna Garg as she recounts her transition from practicing law (where her clients mostly ended up in jail) to becoming one of Variety’s '10 Comics to Watch.' Known for her razor-sharp wit, cultural insights, and brutally honest takes on life as an immigrant mom, Zarna dishes on her zig-zag journey. Imagine litigating to realizing you’re better at telling jokes about your mother-in-law than getting people out of jail. Add 16 years as a stay-at-home mom in...
May 05, 2025•59 min
From his humble beginnings playing with Barbies, dealing with bullies, and rocking TJ Maxx instead of Abercrombie, Bran shares how he went from the "fat, poor, gay kid" to our internet gay bestie. Bran recounts his first Grindr hookup (complete with crabs) and dishes on his modern-day love life: think more situational-ships than relationships. We get real about his epic mental health breakdown, panic disorders, and how therapy and meds turned things around. Now, he's all about self-love, spreadi...
Apr 28, 2025•55 min
My guest this week, Noelle Downing, shares her journey of finding joy and purpose after experiencing significant loss at a young age. Despite the loss of her mother to cancer at age seven and her father to a heart attack at age sixteen, Noelle has cultivated a life filled with optimism and creativity. She talks about her early beginnings as a content creator, her side hustles, and the perseverance that led to her success. Noelle also discusses her spiritual beliefs, the impact of her parents' de...
Apr 21, 2025•57 min
Comedian, social media sensation, and bestselling author Anna Akana joins me this week as she discusses her journey from dealing with the tragic loss of her sister to suicide to becoming a comedian where she found solace in making others laugh. We dive deep into the challenges of dating in LA, dealing with grief, the quirks of menstrual products, and the importance of allowing yourself to be bad at something before you get good. Plus, you'll laugh at some truly unexpected places, like when we di...
Apr 14, 2025•47 min
Creator of Pilates Body Hotties and former Love Is Blind cast member Raven Ross joins me this week to talk about her transformative journey from a self-described shitshow to the wellness maven she is today. Raven reflects on life in her early twenties working three jobs, the impulsive decision to join 'Love is Blind,' and navigating public scrutiny while staying true to herself. She delves into her early passion for pilates, her struggles with body image and eating disorders from her dance caree...
Apr 07, 2025•43 min
Picture this: I'm chilling (or warming really) in a swanky Utah hotel room, staring at a scenic snowy mountain while my outdoor gas fireplace blazes away because I couldn't figure out how to turn it off. I'm here on a brand trip, but before this, I was in LA for a memorial. Some heavy stuff has been on my mind: the sudden loss of loved ones, the meaning of life, and what's truly important. Spoiler: It's not meeting work deadlines. I'm also grappling with our existence, the supernatural, and what...
Apr 03, 2025•23 min
Jenny Yang has tried to save the world in many ways, but for now, she's saving us all with a little bit of humor. Named as one of Variety's top 10 comics to watch. Jenny talks about her transition from her slam poetry days and a high-stress career in politics to comedy. She shares how her upbringing as an Asian American immigrant shaped her path and her passion for representation in Hollywood. Jenny opens up about personal struggles during the pandemic, including the loss of her father and copin...
Mar 31, 2025•1 hr 13 min
I'm scared of K-12 kids, having kids, and having kids who might get bullied. Unpacking all of the above on this week's solo episode after an encounter with Girl Scouts selling cookies and why I think I'd be capable of murder (under the right circumstances! It's a joke - don't come after me FBI!). I tackle listener voicemails about toxic friendships (not all friends are forever) and family dramas. Stick around for my reflections on death and celebrating life, and why flying back to LA for a famil...
Mar 27, 2025•49 min
On this week's episode, podcaster and wellness coach Ashley Lemieux opens up about the heartbreaking loss of her unborn son to sepsis in 2020 and how she turned her grief into a mission to help others. Ashley talks about her hit podcast 'Healing Her,' her social media channels, and her bestselling books, all aimed at supporting people navigating some of the most heartbreaking moments of their lives. She also shares personal stories about her faith journey, body positivity, and how her relationsh...
Mar 24, 2025•1 hr 28 min
We're talking DIY pest control, why owning a home is (kind of) a scam (that I willingly participate in and have a love/hate relationship with), and why it's a privilege to be able to try at all, even if you fail. I discuss why we need to make it more socially acceptable for women not to be motivated by some higher "purpose" other than making a living, and I answer a listener's question about what to do when you're tired of dating and don't feel like you're making any progress. Lastly, I rant abo...
Mar 20, 2025•31 min
This week, I'm joined by founder and self-proclaimed candle snob, Lindsay Silberman. From her ambitious beginnings as a magazine editor to pivoting into the world of social media influencing and entrepreneurship. Lindsay reflects on her career in the evolving magazine industry and how being hit by a car in 2018 gave her a new lease on life. She takes us through the highs and lows of launching her candle brand, Hotel Lobby Candle, during the pandemic and how she met her husband and business partn...
Mar 17, 2025•1 hr 20 min
On this week's solo episode, I'd like to remind that you that for every time I thought my life was ending in my twenties, it didn't. And so, if my dramatic ass can recover from every breakup, career failure, and cringeworthy moment I've lived through, so can you. I welcome you into the chaos of my inner world because even your queen biddie can get caught up in what's next versus what is now. I read some juicy secrets from you guys on this week's IG stories (a 51-year-old educator turned luxury e...
Mar 13, 2025•41 min
On this week's episode, we dive into the life of powerhouse entrepreneur and NYT bestselling author, Loren Ridinger, who shares her story of building a global business empire with Market America and Shop.com alongside her late husband, JR. The conversation explores 'Life After Rejection,' as Lauren recounts their early years, falling for JR despite his initial disinterest, and their shared vision that transformed into a legacy. Lauren recounts meeting JR at the age of 18, the challenges they fac...
Mar 10, 2025•45 min
It turns out I didn't need a higher dosage of my Zoloft, I just needed eight hours of sleep. Speaking to you from Florida, I'm sharing all my thoughts this week on prioritizing yourself and why taking a step back can sometimes be the only way forward. We're taking a deep dive into the awkward realm of friendship breakups, why it's important to know the difference between someone who wants to be friends with you and someone who wants to be friends with you in order to use you, and why learning to...
Mar 06, 2025•50 min
This week, I sit down with Radhi Devlukia, a New York Times bestselling author, wellness influencer, and entrepreneur, about her journey from being a dietitian to becoming a holistic wellness advocate. Radhi delves into her upbringing in the UK, her career transition from aspiring pediatrician to dietitian following her mother’s advice, and her subsequent interest in Ayurveda. She highlights the importance of making small, sustainable changes for better health, discussing practices like breathwo...
Mar 03, 2025•52 min
It's a mini solo this week because I not only left a coffee curdling in my closet for four days, I'm also losing my voice. We're diving into the madness of weddings this week - from extortionate bachelorette parties to bridezilla friends and how to handle those years when you feel like you're blowing all your free time and life savings on wedding-related events. I talk about the importance of setting boundaries and the liberating joy of saying 'no,' which reminds me to also, say 'no' to recordin...
Feb 27, 2025•17 min
On this week's guest episode, I'm joined by Joanne Lee Molinaro, aka The Korean Vegan, who reveals her journey from courtroom drama to cooking fame. With nearly 5 million followers, she's not just whipping up vegan delights but also running marathons, publishing NYT bestsellers and winning awards (ahem, hello James Beard). Joanne gets real about growing up as a child of North Korean immigrants in suburban Illinois, feeling like an outsider, and why she chose her first career in law. She opens up...
Feb 24, 2025•1 hr 9 min
We lost power for 40 hours in 18 degree weather! On this week's solo episode, I muse on how losing power reinforced the fact that I will never like camping and why my version of being "outdoorsy" involves a screened-in porch and a temperature controlled room nearby. We dive into why your comfort zone is killing your potential, and why you shouldn't settle for what's familiar just because the unfamiliar gives you heebie jeebies. I dive into your voicemails on whether you might be mistaking drama ...
Feb 20, 2025•47 min
Our favorite influencer who makes us all feel better about sh*tting on influencers, Hayden Cohen (aka @hayderz), shares his journey on this week’s episode from handling social media for brands to becoming a social media sensation himself. Since 2020, Hayden has been known for his humorous and all-too-accurate impersonations of influencers, reminding us that it pays to take life a little less seriously sometimes. Hayden discusses his early days of content creation, the chaos of his days behind-th...
Feb 17, 2025•1 hr 13 min
In this week's solo episode of 'Brutally Anna,' I'm spilling the tea (or at least, half spilling the tea) on the highs of strutting at Fashion Week to the lows of some unexpected personal drama. We're DIY-ing over in our house as I talk about everything I learned from teaching myself how to replace light fixtures and why you're probably more capable than you're giving yourself credit for. I dive into the unpredictability of life, the Philly Eagles' epic Super Bowl win, and why you don't have to ...
Feb 13, 2025•45 min
On this week's episode, I sit down with influencer and reality TV star Joey Zauzig, about navigating life’s toughest challenges and why sometimes, a six-pack is the best cure for heartbreak. Joey shares his journey from growing up in Fairfax, Virginia, to coming out in high school, facing and leaving an abusive relationship, and eventually establishing a successful career as an influencer and dating advice guru. Joey brings us into his current struggles after dealing with a traumatic home invasi...
Feb 10, 2025•56 min
In this week's solo episode, I dive into the fundamental difference between wanting a man rather than feeling like you need one. From my early misconceptions about needing a man to teach me how to handle personal finances to being forced to learn how to handle my own sh*t, I outline the ways in which confidence is an active practice and not something you need to be born with. I answer your voicemails on how to deal with getting over a man who lied to you about his identity and differentiating be...
Feb 06, 2025•47 min
We’re joined by lifestyle influencer and podcast host, Aurora Culpo, this week as she discusses navigating her divorce and how she learned that you really can’t change a man, no matter how many hall passes you give him or how much you spend on lingerie. As always, we love a no-filter, brutally honest woman, and Aurora shows us that there is life after divorce and heartbreak, and there is freedom in the truth after living a lie. Aurora dishes on whether she believes “once a cheater, always a chea...
Feb 03, 2025•1 hr 18 min
On this week's solo episode, I'm diving into exposure therapy, how I got over my deep fear of flying, and why I'll always be an aisle seat biddie over a window seat biddie. I overshare about my EDM club days as an NYU college student, what the Avicii documentary can teach us all about why you're not untalented, you're just not in a space that appreciates your talent, and the endless saga to pick a new toilet for our master bathroom. I answer one of your voicemails on how to feel a sense of belon...
Jan 30, 2025•50 min
Podcast legend Mel Robbins joins me this week to discuss how to let go, let it be, and why her new book, “The Let Them Theory” will change your life. Keywords: dating, society, culture, relationships, love lessons, dating advice, toxic relationships, overcoming failure, date yourself, being behind, love and money, marriage advice A multiple New York Times bestseller, in-demand public speaker, and the host of the chart-topping Mel Robbins Podcast, Mel answers all of our most pressing questions in...
Jan 27, 2025•1 hr 18 min
