Asked By Ayana

Stephanie Hayes (@stephrhayes) is on the pod today to talk about journalism! She got her career start 18 years ago at the Tampa Bay Times and has worked for the newspaper ever since. Stephanie is currently a columnist at the Times, and she shares her thoughts on why journalism is far from dead, along with her own journey to newspaper writing. Thanks for joining, Stephanie!

NEWSLETTER: tampabay.com/stephanie

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/stephrhayes

TWITTER: twitter.com/stephhayes

I’m honored to have Yamel Belen (@yamelbelen) join me to talk about Black maternal health and doula work. I’ve known Yamel for years and she helped me immensely both pre- and post-pregnancy, so I’m excited that she joined me. We talk about why doulas are important, my labor and delivery experience, and how to advocate for yourself while giving birth. I also share a bit of my postpartum story that I haven’t talked about before. She’s created an incredible resource for those who are expecting or trying to conceive — follow the link below to download the birth plan template!

Birth plan template: bit.ly/ababirthprep

One Love Doula: instagram.com/onelovedoulaservices

Yamel’s Instagram: instagram.com/yamelbelen

Happy Wednesday, pod squad! Today's episode features Grace Baldridge (@gracebaldridge) who releases music under the name Semler. Grace topped the iTunes Christian charts with their incredible album Preacher’s Kid, and they're the first openly queer artist to do so. We talk about music, the American evangelical church, their experience as a queer Christian, and the exciting projects ahead. Thanks for tuning in!

1:30: How Grace got started with music

7:30:  Unexpectedly gaining a following online

15:30: Growing up in a progressive Christian tradition

26:00: Deconstruction and being fully loved by God

instagram.com/gracebaldridge

twitter.com/gracebaldridge

Preacher's Kid on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2UbHhrg

Preacher's Kid on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3i6PMfh

I'm thrilled to welcome Emma Cortes (@emmasedition) to the podcast today! After being laid off from her job in the aerospace industry last year, she became a full-time blogger and course creator. In the first half of 2021, she's already secured $100,000+ in brand partnerships.  We talk about how she decided to pursue full-time blogging, why influencing is definitely a "real job," why she thinks it's important for women of color to be open about how much we're making, and more.

04:00: how her career first began

10:30: using business strategy as an influencer 

14:00: being public about how much money she makes

26:00: being laid off from Boeing 

33:00: her daily routine

Web: emmasedition.com

Instagram: instagram.com/emmasedition

Content Creatives Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/content-creatives-podcast/id1498009129

Courses: https://emmasedition.teachable.com/p/how-to-negotiate-paid-brand-collaborations/

This week I'm joined by the wonderful Amber Fillerup (@amberfillerup) to talk about influencing, entrepreneurship, and what it's like being vulnerable online. Amber is a longtime lifestyle, beauty and family blogger and the founder of hair extension company Barefoot Blonde Hair and haircare line Dae. 

08:30 - how she prioritizes family when working

15:30 - what it's like having people follow your life for years

19:50 -  the harmful effects of purity culture 

29:30 - what her daily routine looks like

instagram.com/amberfillerup

instagram.com/bfbhair

instagram.com/daehair

I’m thrilled to welcome Mandy Moore (@mandymooremm) to the pod! She’s an actress, singer-songwriter, humanitarian, and all-around wonderful person who welcomed her first baby four months ago. We talk about balancing motherhood with work, pregnancy during a pandemic, what it’s like to play Rebecca on NBC’s This Is Us now that she’s a mom herself, and more.

06:45 - starting a career as a teenager

14:00 - not having your planned birth experience

21:10 - going back to work after a baby

27:00 - parenting and creating a daily routine 

35:00 - balancing work while pregnant 

38:00 - activism and speaking up about injustice  

What's up, pod fam! The incomparable Hitha Palepu (@hithapalepu)  joins us for today's episode. She's an investor, entrepreneur, author, and blogger based in New York City. We talk about how she juggles all of her roles, brands and inclusivity, prenatal and postpartum depression, and not taking herself too seriously.
⠀
06:10 - How she started working in the pharmaceutical industry with her dad
16:45 - A glimpse at how she chooses which projects to take on
18:30 - Diversity and inclusion in influencer marketing
25:45 - Being a South Asian woman in the industry
35:15 - Writing books on quick turnaround times
42:20 - What it means to grow up with privilege
44:00 - Prenatal and postpartum mental illness
⠀
Instagram: instagram.com/hithapalepu
⠀
Newsletter: 5smartreads.com
⠀
How to Pack: Travel Smart for Any Trip: https://bit.ly/3iOBYZ3
⠀
We're Speaking: The Life Lessons of Kamala Harris:  https://bit.ly/3iI3Xtb

This week’s convo is with Chabeli Carrazana, the economy reporter at the 19th News. She’s worked at both the Miami Herald and Orlando Sentinel, and you may have seen her asking Jen Psaki questions in the White House Briefing Room (casual!). We talk about how she got into journalism (6:00), what it was like to cover the Parkland school shooting and 2018 FIU bridge collapse (13:30), allowing yourself to be human as a journalist (18:00), covering NASA and the space industry (23:20), and writing publicly about grief (35:10). 
⠀
Parkland shooting survivor story: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/broward/article210553134.html
⠀
Losing her grandfather to COVID: https://19thnews.org/2021/03/in-the-covid-ward-i-held-abuelos-hand-as-the-virus-took-him/
⠀
Read her work: https://19thnews.org/author/chabeli-carrazana/
⠀
Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/chabelih

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Nicole Modic (@kalejunkie) who has an incredible story about quitting her job as a lawyer to become a food blogger. Nicole opens up about walking away from a prestigious role to pursue her dreams, and she gets honest about how struggling with an eating disorder impacted her journey.

We talk about her practicing employment defense litigation (2:30), starting her Instagram account while home on maternity leave (12:30), how she told loved ones she was leaving law (17:10), how she approaches intuitive eating (21:45), and how her love of food helps her come up with recipes (28:30).

Follow her below:

instagram.com/kalejunkie

https://www.tiktok.com/@kalejunkie

kalejunkie.com

Hey, pod fam! Today's episode features Caralyn Mirand Koch (@caralynmirand), a plus-size model and style blogger. She was the runner-up on Tyra Banks's "Fiercely Real Teen Model Search" reality show, which kicked off her modeling journey (02:20). We talk about not knowing what you want to do when you grow up (12:00), along with  brands and size inclusivity (14:15). Caralyn also shares how she met her husband Brian and ended up hiring him (18:10), the legendary #ProperlyFittingBraClub (23:50), and how she stays disciplined working from home (30:45). Hope you enjoy listening! 

You can find her online below:

http://instagram.com/caralynmirand
http://caralynmirand.com