When I received the submission from today’s audience caller, I’ll be honest…it stopped me in my tracks. Here was someone who shared so many core pieces of my identity: she’s married to her high school sweetheart, has two kids the same age as mine, has Celiac disease, and has followed my content since my Refinery29 days. And yet, she lives in a one-bedroom, 550-square-foot log cabin in rural Colorado, below the poverty line.

She reached out to tell me that sometimes, watching my life feels like looking in a mirror. Except that mirror reflects back a completely different world. I could have easily ignored her message because this conversation could have made me uncomfortable. But that’s exactly why I knew I needed to talk to her.

In this episode, we dive into the very real and sometimes awkward tension between financial privilege and emotional relatability. We talk about what it's like raising kids with almost identical timelines, but in completely different environments. We talk about money, motherhood, access, and the kind of abundance that has nothing to do with wealth.

This conversation reminded me that no two lives are the same, even when they look eerily similar from the outside. I’m so grateful Sydney trusted me with her perspective, and I think it’s one we all need to hear. Whether you see yourself in me, in Sydney, or somewhere in between, I think you’ll find something here that makes you pause, reflect, and feel just a little more understood.

Sponsors:

Magnetic Me: If you haven’t ordered Magnetic Me yet, now is the time! I know you’ll love these, too. If you’re a parent, or shopping for one, go now to MagneticMe.com and new customers will get 15% off!

Laundry Sauce: Make laundry day the best day of the week! Get 20% off your entre order @ LaundrySauce with code REALSTUFF at https://laundrysauce.com/REALSTUFF #laundrysaucepod #ad

Bau, Artist at War: Visit BAUmovie.com to watch the trailer and learn more or sign up your organization for a group screening.

Watch this episode in video form on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjmevEcbh5h5FEX0pazPEtN86t7eb2OgX 

To apply to be a guest on the show, visit luciefink.com/apply and send us your story. 

I also want to extend a special thank you to East Love for the show's theme song, Rolling Stone. 

Follow the show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealstuffpod 

Find Lucie here: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luciebfink/ 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@luciebfink 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/luciebfink

Website: https://luciefink.com/ 

Executive Producer: Cloud10

Produced by Dear Media.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.