#78: If you’ve ever felt stuck in the rinse-and-repeat cycle of life, this episode is your wake-up call. Jodi Wellman, author of You Only Die Once and founder of Four Thousand Mondays , joins me for a conversation that’s as deep as it is energizing. We talk about how grief, boredom, and near-death wake-up calls (literal or not) can be the ultimate invitation to actually live your damn life. We cover: — What it means to live like you mean it — Why “someday” is a dangerous trap — How small joys an...
Jul 25, 2025•54 min•Ep. 78
#77: Helen Thacker has been in business longer than most of us have been using Instagram, and she’s got thoughts . After 22 years of entrepreneurship, two six-figure businesses, and raising two boys, Helen’s no stranger to reinvention, risk, and real-life challenges (hi, back injury and burnout). In this episode, we talk about the messy parts of building a business while raising a family, how intuition and work ethic can coexist, and why so many women are playing small when they know they’re mea...
Jul 11, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 77
#76: What do you actually know about your pelvic floor? Like… beyond “do your Kegels” and hope for the best? In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Sara Reardon (also known as The Vagina Whisperer) to talk all things pelvic floor health, pain with sex, birth recovery, body awareness, and her new book Floored. Whether you’re postpartum, perimenopausal, or just tired of being dismissed by your OB, this conversation is your permission slip to start asking better questions about your body. We get into: ...
Jun 27, 2025•53 min•Ep. 76
#75: Look, I’m not saying I am pregnant… but I’m also not saying I’m not. 😅 In this solo episode, I’m catching you up on everything life’s been throwing at me lately, from the unexpected pregnancy scare that had me spiraling (with Google searches and ovulation math) to reflecting on marriage, parenting, and what the hell it means to try and do it all well . I’m getting real about what this next phase of life and business actually feels like: chaotic yet grounded and weirdly stable. Inside the e...
Jun 18, 2025•55 min•Ep. 75
#74: This episode might as well come with a co-pay. I’m joined by the incredible Ally Hoffman —licensed therapist, founder of Safe Space Healing Collective , and the type of human who lives and breathes what she teaches. With a background that spans music industry chaos, PR, and a full-circle moment into the therapy chair (as both client and practitioner), Ally brings a no-BS approach to healing that’s grounded, real, and refreshingly relatable. We go deep on what it actually means to do “the wo...
May 30, 2025•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 74
#73: We all know small talk is exhausting—so what if we just… stopped settling for it? In this episode, I’m joined by Kate Terentieva, founder of Off The Record —a connection card game built to help you skip the surface and get straight to the good stuff. We talk about everything from growing up as the go-to “deep chat” friend to building a product that’s helping people have conversations that actually matter. We cover: → The real reason we struggle with adult friendships (hint: it’s not just ti...
May 16, 2025•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 73
#72: This week, I’m sitting down with Christiana Garza—mom, mentor, co-founder of Her Society, and the kind of woman who’s built a business and a life with both backbone and soul. We’re talking about what it really means to show up for yourself in motherhood, in business, and in the messy middle. From losing her dad at 24 and becoming his caretaker, to moving across the world and facing identity shifts head-on, Christiana brings the kind of honesty that doesn’t just hit—it heals . Inside the epi...
May 08, 2025•1 hr 10 min
#71: We’re back with an episode that’s part love story, part therapy session, and part "why would anyone do that to themselves?"—and it’s all happening from a hotel room in Amarillo, Texas (cue the romance). In this episode, I sat down with my husband, Josh Hedden, to talk about his completely casual plan to run 100 miles through the mountains. Yes, on purpose. We get into the gritty stuff—how he went from “running is dumb” to training for an ultramarathon, what it’s really like prepping your bo...
Apr 24, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 71
#70: Mikayla Chaparro didn’t just pivot—she rebuilt. The last time Mikayla came on the podcast, she was walking through the raw, immediate aftermath of losing her son, Valor. It was tender, heavy, and still too fresh to fully unpack. In this episode, Mikayla returns—still grieving, still growing, and now stepping into a completely new season of life. We talk about what has shifted in the last few years since, not just in her business and motherhood journey, but in who she is as a woman. This is ...
Apr 15, 2025•1 hr 47 min•Ep. 70
#69: In this solo episode of Ironically Serious , I show up with a black eye, a pile of business hot takes, and absolutely zero apologies. (If you’re watching the video version—yes, I really did record this with a full-on face bruise.) I’m diving into how Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has totally shifted my mindset—physically, mentally, and emotionally—and how it’s made me show up differently in my business (and life). Spoiler: discovering your inner grit is cheaper than another branding course. Then we’r...
Apr 04, 2025•49 min•Ep. 69
#68: What do you get when a former teacher builds a national women’s community, plans a conference for hundreds, and somehow still manages school pickup? You get Amanda Smith. In this episode, I sit down with the founder of Dallas Girl Gang to talk about what it really looks like to grow a brand, rally a community, and keep your sanity intact while doing it. We’re unpacking Amanda’s leap from classroom to CEO, how she created one of the most recognizable women’s networks in Texas, and the behind...
Mar 28, 2025•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 68
#67: I took a little break (not from podcasting, just from pretending I have my life together) to enjoy spring break with my kids, and now I’m back with thoughts. I’ve officially entered my last 6 months of my 20s, and naturally, I’m deep in reflection mode. In this solo episode, I’m taking a look back at the last decade—what I’ve learned, what I’ve let go of, and what I’m bringing into this next chapter (hint: fewer energy drinks). In this episode, we get into: → A mini spring break recap—a chi...
Mar 21, 2025•48 min•Ep. 67
#66: Losing a parent is life-altering. Losing both parents while building a business and raising a family? That’s next-level. Kate Lenihan knows exactly what it’s like to navigate grief, entrepreneurship, and motherhood all at once—and she’s here to talk about the hard stuff. From the lessons loss has taught her to the realities of delegation and scaling a business without losing yourself in the process, this episode is a mix of raw, real, and ridiculously insightful. Kate is a business consulta...
Mar 03, 2025•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 66
#65: I’ve been on a kick lately (literally)—because somehow, I signed myself up for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. And let me tell you, nothing humbles you faster than getting choked out by a 13-year-old. In this solo episode, I’m diving into: → Why I decided to start rolling around on gym mats with strangers and how it’s shifting my mindset ( spoiler: it’s more than just learning how to choke someone out ) → The real reason setting medium goals is keeping you stuck (yes, I said it) → How pushing through ...
Feb 22, 2025•46 min•Ep. 65
#64: What if your wedding content was delivered before your hangover even hit? That’s exactly what Emily Cline does—capturing real, behind-the-scenes moments of luxury weddings and delivering them in 24 hours (all with just her iPhone, no DSLR in sight). Traditional wedding videographers? Sweating. Emily is a globally renowned luxury wedding and event content creator , working with high-end couples and top planners across NYC and South Florida. With nearly 15 years in digital media, she’s docume...
Feb 13, 2025•1 hr 47 min•Ep. 64
#63: If you’ve ever had to introduce yourself at a networking event and suddenly forgot everything you’ve ever done in your life, same. Networking is weird, small talk is painful, and yet… building real connections is kind of essential. But this episode isn’t just about networking—it’s about owning your story, taking big risks, and embracing the wild twists that got you here. Like, for example, the time I worked at a strip club, got raided by SWAT, and then had to casually drop that into convers...
Jan 31, 2025•43 min•Ep. 63
#62: What do you get when you mix a corporate layoff, pregnancy hormones, and a dream of Italian citizenship? Nikki Maffey’s life. In this episode, Nikki drops some major news (spoiler: she’s pregnant!) and gives us a peek into her journey from working toxic corporate jobs to owning her own business. We’re talking about the terrifying reality of layoffs (three days after closing on a house?!), why everything really does work out in the end, and how becoming a mom is both exciting and scary as he...
Jan 24, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 62
#61: Remember when I said I failed Dry January in 48 hours? Well, plot twist—I'm now 13 days alcohol-free and feeling weird about admitting that on the internet. But you know what's even weirder? Having Jessica Hawks back on the pod to talk about everything from sobriety to getting catfished. Jess is back since her first appearance in 2022, and we're getting chaotic with: → The real talk about stepping away from alcohol (and why it's not about going sober forever) → Sharing trauma on business pl...
Jan 17, 2025•1 hr 32 min
#60: So here’s the deal—I took a 17-day hiatus thinking it would be no big deal, but plot twist: it changed everything . In this episode, I’m getting real about shiny distractions (hi, Pilates studio co-ownership), saying no to things that aren’t aligned, and why your business shouldn’t fall apart just because you step away. Spoiler: if it does, you’re doing it wrong. Remember when I said 2024 was the year of life over deadlines? Yeah, it also taught me that we don’t need to reinvent the wheel e...
Jan 10, 2025•51 min•Ep. 60
#59: Ever feel like you’re chasing goals that aren’t even yours ? Like, is this my dream or just something Instagram told me to want? Cause SAME, babe. Today, I’m sitting down with the multi-passionate queen herself, Shelby Hayle—business alignment coach, social agency owner, mom of two, realtor, and your new hype girl for getting your shit together in alignment . We’re talking: ✨ Why your “gut feeling” might be MIA (and how to wake her the hell back up) ✨ How to stop setting goals based on what...
Dec 17, 2024•1 hr 35 min•Ep. 59
#58: Thanksgiving chaos, ugly vests, and Taco Bell’s allegedly superior meat—welcome to the current state of my life. I’ve been overworked, overcomplicating everything, and stuck in a spiral of negativity. Can you relate? In this episode, I’m talking about the messy middle we all face—the doubts, the obsession with “what’s next,” and the never-ending cycle of self-doubt and impostor syndrome. But here’s the thing: emotions are fleeting, and what really matters are the patterns we build from them...
Dec 06, 2024•43 min•Ep. 58
#57: Would I even be me if I didn’t go through motherhood with a mix of laughs, tears, and waaaay too many Cane's chicken tenders? In this episode, I’m sharing a real and raw look at my journey from pregnancy to postpartum to current-day parenthood, where nothing went quite like I expected. We talk about why antidepressants weren’t my thing, how switching to formula saved my sanity, and what it’s like navigating your 30s while figuring out this whole womanhood (and motherhood) thing—mess and all...
Nov 15, 2024•43 min•Ep. 57
#56: We’re back with another episode of Ironically Serious . Grab a drink (or your Starbucks if you’re a basic b*tch like me) and get cozy, because we’re getting real about the wild ride of starting your own business and kicking those nagging fears to the curb. Ever felt like jumping into entrepreneurship is a freefall without a safety net? Trust me, same. The truth is, every successful entrepreneur has stood at that edge and leaped anyway. So, why not you? I'm sharing all about the messy starts...
Nov 08, 2024•53 min•Ep. 56
#55: The old Taylor can’t come to the phone right now… welcome BACK, baby! It’s only been an 8-month hiatus, but I promise I am ready for this return. In this episode, we do a MAJOR catch-up on what all has gone down in the last year. From getting married and throwing the wedding of my dreams, to major growth in all areas of life and business. I’m opening up about the current season of life I’m in and the unexpected changes I've experienced since becoming Taylor Hedden. We’ll chat about balancin...
Nov 01, 2024•40 min•Ep. 55
#54: Would I even be me if I didn't drop off the face of the earth at least twice? Hi, we're back on air baby!!!! Welcome to the newest season of Ironically Serious. We'll start this eppy off with a quick catch-up of where we left off. I get you up to speed on the updates you didn't come here for; i.e. engaged life, wedding planning, and the state of my mind. I share an embarrassing moment that includes a stranger and a cosmo at a bar in New York City and has occupied space in my brain since... ...
Mar 01, 2024•46 min•Ep. 54
#53: We're back with another guest episode – as always, keeping it real about life's juggling act. Today's guest is Melissa Furr, a digital marketing whiz who's carved out a sweet spot between her biz, Defined Media Co, and a connected, sustainable life in Asheville, NC. Melissa is sought-after Digital Marketer, Ad Strategist, Founder of Defined Media Co. and the Fractional CMO of The Darin Olien Show. Her brand offers a team-oriented approach to marketing for start-up companies in the e-commerc...
Nov 30, 2023•50 min•Ep. 53
#52: I'm back for my first solo episode as a freaking FIANCÉ!!!! So of course, I'm sharing exactly how it went down. From getting pregnant just two months into dating to an unusual first date location and navigating tough seasons in our relationship, this episode dives into my very private love life. Hear how a Louboutin handbag played a pivotal role in the proposal as I recount the hilarious yet emotional surprise moment and my journey from a strip club bartender to a soon-to-be wedded woman al...
Nov 13, 2023•38 min•Ep. 52
#51: In today's episode, I have a profoundly honest and enlightening conversation about trauma, anxiety, and the power of healing through breath with breathwork expert Kate Crawford. Kate, of Korē Breathwork, blends her extensive scientific knowledge with a spiritual perspective to guide clients in understanding and processing their trauma. She shares her personal journey and how it led her to discover the transformative effects of breathwork. We talked about the connection between trauma, illne...
Oct 26, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 51
EP #50: I'm back for a solo dolo episode sharing a mix of personal thoughts, societal observations, and the importance of taking risks. Y'all know it's SpookySzn, and I am balls deep into Halloween so I give a little life update on making memories with the kids and the pressures of releasing a podcast episode amidst my own mental health challenges... helllooooo anxiety. I chat through a few spooky beliefs that have a massive impact on our lives: the significance of risk-taking in entrepreneurshi...
Oct 20, 2023•46 min•Ep. 50
#49: Today's mini-episode is brought to you by Earn After Reading – my weekly unhinged newsletter where I get real and honest about life and the nitty-gritty of entrepreneurship. In this 12-minute story, I share the ballsy move I recently made in my business. But before I do, I give you a quick backstory on my business and how it all started back in 2018. Spoiler alert: getting knocked up while working at a strip club isn't the most ideal situation. I share how I recently escaped from my first-e...
Oct 06, 2023•16 min•Ep. 49
