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In this episode of AWF The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi sit down with Ludmila Woodruff, strategic relationship advisor to high-achieving individuals and couples, for an unfiltered conversation about why successful women sometimes struggle with love, intimacy, and letting go of control. From inherited anger and childhood patterns to emotional vulnerability, relationship standards, and the pressure to always be strong, Ludmila challenges women to examine the behaviors that may be keeping them disconnected. 

The three unpack how to stop bringing work-mode into your marriage, communicate your needs without criticism, and build relationships where success and softness can coexist because having it all shouldn't mean feeling alone in it.

KEY POINTS

00:00 – Introduction: Why high-achieving women can have everything on paper but still feel disconnected in love and life.

03:12 – How independence, control, and career-driven behaviors can complicate dating, marriage, and intimacy.

10:58 – Why the need for control often comes from childhood experiences, fear, and the search for emotional safety.

15:24 – How successful women can transition out of work mode and reconnect with themselves and their partners.

22:35 – Why men and women are struggling to meet each other's changing emotional expectations in modern relationships.

28:45 – The vulnerability problem: Why powerful women express anger instead of admitting they're hurt.

30:22 – Inherited rage: How generational experiences and childhood conditioning shape conflict in relationships.

38:40 – The Slavic woman mindset: Setting standards, knowing your worth, and refusing to compromise your non-negotiables.

47:54 – How to break unhealthy relationship patterns, communicate better, manage conflict, and recognize warning signs in marriage.

QUOTES 

"If you look at performance, it will never be enough for you to feel worthy." – Ludmila Woodruff

"Even when you were given the example of when someone doesn't meet my expectation, or I feel like there's a gap in what I thought you were going to do and what you did, and the disappointment, the only response I know is anger."  – Mona Kosar Abdi

"I have to respect myself enough to know that if my standard is being tested, I'd rather choose the standard than the men." – Ludmila Woodruff

GUEST RESOURCES: 

Ludmila Woodruff

Website | www.ludmilawoodruff.com

IG | @ludmilawoodruff

RESOURCES: 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:

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Mona Kosar Abdi

IG |  @monakabdi 

Jeannette Reyes

IG |  @msnewslady 

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What separates reality TV stars who build lasting businesses from those whose fame fades? In this segment of Awf The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi sit down with Dr. Terry Dubrow to discuss the opportunities and risks of joining The Real Housewives. From Lisa Vanderpump's success to how his reality TV exposure helped lead to Botched, Terry shares why authenticity matters more than chasing a quick payday. His biggest advice? Don't launch a business just because you have an audience. Build on what you already know, let opportunities develop naturally, and make sure what you're selling is real.

GUEST RESOURCES: 

Dr. Terry Dubrow

IG | @drdubrow

RESOURCES: 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:

YouTube: @AwfTheRecord

Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast

TikTok: @AwfTheRecord

Mona Kosar Abdi

IG |  @monakabdi 

Jeannette Reyes

IG |  @msnewslady 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:
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Join The Press Club by AWF The Record for exclusive conversations, guided challenges, and a community of women building careers, businesses, and lives on their own terms: https://www.patreon.com/cw/AWFTheRecord 

In this episode of AWF The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi sit down with world-renowned plastic surgeon and Botched star Dr. Terry Dubrow for an unfiltered conversation about the truth behind plastic surgery, beauty standards, and reality TV.

From the deadly risks of Brazilian Butt Lifts (BBLs) to cosmetic procedures he considers a waste of money, Dr. Dubrow reveals what patients should know before going under the knife. He also reflects on the controversy surrounding The Swan, the dangers of chasing ever-changing beauty trends, and why even the best plastic surgery can go wrong. Plus, he opens up about pretty privilege, the pressures women face to be beautiful and successful, and how The Real Housewives transformed his career.

KEY POINTS

00:00 - Introduction: World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon Dr. Terry Dubrow 

02:05 – How Botched and reality TV changed the stigma around plastic surgery.

05:30 – The controversy behind The Swan and why Dr. Dubrow wouldn't do the show today.

15:32 – How beauty standards and looksmaxxing culture push people to dangerous extremes.

18:50 – Cosmetic procedures that waste money, from thread lifts to overhyped skin treatments.

22:08 – What actually works for under-eye hollows, smile lines, and facial aging.

24:44 – Why Dr. Dubrow refuses to perform BBLs and the potentially fatal complications.

29:44 – The long-term consequences of chasing plastic surgery trends.

35:33 – Pretty privilege, beauty standards, and why attractive women struggle to be taken seriously.

41:02 – How reality TV transformed Dr. Dubrow's career and the secrets to building an authentic brand.

QUOTES 

"If you send a message out that it's really your life is really only as valuable as your looks are, as good as your looks are. That is the worst message for a male, and I can't stand that." – Dr. Terry Dubrow

“I think that's the challenge women face that it's very hard for people to accept two things that you can be beautiful and qualified." – Jeannette Reyes

“A BBL, a Brazilian buttock lift. That, I won't do it because no operation is worth that fatality rate." – Dr. Terry Dubrow

GUEST RESOURCES: 

Dr. Terry Dubrow

IG | @drdubrow

RESOURCES: 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:

YouTube: @AwfTheRecord

Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast

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Mona Kosar Abdi

IG |  @monakabdi 

Jeannette Reyes

IG |  @msnewslady 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:
Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecord
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What if you're leaving thousands of dollars on the table every time you sign a brand deal? In this segment of AWF The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi sit down with Hollywood talent manager Stephanie Piza to uncover the truth behind influencer pay and brand negotiations. From a shocking $80,000 pay gap between creators doing the same work to the contract clauses that could cost you control of your content, Stephanie breaks down how to negotiate smarter, recognize your value, and find representation that actually fights for you.

GUEST RESOURCES: 

Stephanie Piza 

IG | @stephanie_piza

RESOURCES: 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:

YouTube: @AwfTheRecord

Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast

TikTok: @AwfTheRecord

Mona Kosar Abdi

IG |  @monakabdi 

Jeannette Reyes

IG |  @msnewslady 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:
Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecord
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In this episode of Awf The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi welcome Stephanie Piza, Hollywood talent manager and founder of Piza Global, to break down the new rules of the $21 billion creator economy.

From building a personal brand that attracts opportunities to turning influence into a profitable business, Stephanie shares what it really takes to stand out in an oversaturated market. They unpack the realities of influencer pay, why creators of color still face unequal opportunities, how to negotiate brand deals, and the role AI will play in the future of content creation.

Whether you're an aspiring creator, entrepreneur, or professional looking to build your influence, this conversation is about knowing your value, betting on yourself, and building something that lasts.

Join The Press Club by AWF The Record for exclusive conversations, guided challenges, and a community of women building careers, businesses, and lives on their own terms: 

patreon.com/c/AWFTheRecord 

KEY POINTS

00:00 – Introduction: The rise of the creator economy and why personal branding matters

06:24 – How to stand out, grow an audience, and turn influence into income

09:30 – Turning down $10 million and building businesses beyond brand deals

13:31 – The inequality creators of color face in brand partnerships

20:47 – How to attract brand deals and build authentic partnerships

24:08 – Building a personal brand as a creator, entrepreneur, or professional

29:34 – Negotiating higher rates, protecting your content, and avoiding costly contracts

35:27 – The $15K vs. $95K pay gap and why the right representation matters

40:54 – The future of influencing, AI, and staying ahead of the industry

QUOTES 

“I have always just bet on myself. I'm first gen; I'm going to make it work.” – Stephanie Piza 

“There comes a point in a creator's career where they realize they're providing more value than a one quick off brand deal.” – Mona Kosar Abdi

“I don't think it's too late. I think that you have to make yourself an anomaly, because again, there's so much talent out there.” – Stephanie Piza 

GUEST RESOURCES: 

Stephanie Piza 

IG | @stephanie_piza

RESOURCES: 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:

YouTube: @AwfTheRecord

Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast

TikTok: @AwfTheRecord

Mona Kosar Abdi

IG |  @monakabdi 

Jeannette Reyes

IG |  @msnewslady 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:
Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecord
Follow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast
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How do you stop the internet from affecting your relationship? In this segment of Awf The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi talk with Kier Gaines about how social media can quietly shape the way we see love. Kier breaks down the difference between healthy comparison and harmful comparison, why online couples should not become the standard, and how repeated messages about relationships can turn into beliefs before we even realize it. His reminder: your relationship does not have to match the internet. The real question is what you actually want, and whether you can hear it past the noise.

GUEST RESOURCES: 

Kier Gaines 

IG | @kiergaines

It All Starts When You Do: A Therapist's Guide to Overcoming Self-Sabotaging and Work Towards Healing 

RESOURCES: 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:

YouTube: @AwfTheRecord

Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast

TikTok: @AwfTheRecord

Mona Kosar Abdi

IG |  @monakabdi 

Jeannette Reyes

IG |  @msnewslady 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:
Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecord
Follow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast
Follow us on TikTok: @AwfTheRecord
Visit our website: www.AwfTheRecord.com

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Join The Press Club by AWF The Record for exclusive conversations, guided challenges, and a community of women building careers, businesses, and lives on their own terms: https://www.patreon.com/c/AWFTheRecord

In this episode of Awf The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi sit down with therapist and instant New York Times bestselling author Kier Gaines for a raw, honest conversation about vulnerability, masculinity, relationships, and the ways social media is quietly reshaping how we love. 

Kier breaks down why men, especially Black men, often struggle to open up, why women are exhausted by the emotional load, and how online comparison, gender scripts, and fear of being played can make connection feel harder than it needs to be. From contempt and tone to emotional maturity, self-healing, and what it really means to do the work, this conversation is a needed reset for anyone trying to build healthier relationships without losing themselves in the noise.

KEY POINTS

00:00 - Introduction: Social media is reshaping love, vulnerability, and conflict

01:35 - Kier reflects on becoming an instant New York Times bestselling author

03:19 - Kier explains why his work blends clinical expertise with real humanity

05:42 - The pressure on Black men to be impenetrable, useful, and unaffected

12:02 - Men are not women’s job to fix, but relationships need more emotional presence

16:09 - Therapy language and how it can also shrink emotional tolerance

17:58 - Social media comparison can quietly damage relationships

24:22 - Kier unpacks women’s emotional load, tone, contempt, and the work of repair

37:25 - What to look for in dating: accountability, listening, kindness, & emotional maturity

42:20 - Vulnerability requires mutual trust, safety, and time

QUOTES 

“We can't run from the fact that men don't feel like we have intrinsic value.” – Kier Gaines

“Shame, blame, and guilt-they steal all of your awareness.” – Kier Gaines

“The thing about contempt is it's not just the feeling; it's the narrative attached to it.” – Kier Gaines

GUEST RESOURCES: 

Kier Gaines 

IG | @kiergaines

It All Starts When You Do: A Therapist's Guide to Overcoming Self-Sabotaging and Work Towards Healing 

RESOURCES: 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:

YouTube: @AwfTheRecord

Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast

TikTok: @AwfTheRecord

Mona Kosar Abdi

IG |  @monakabdi 

Jeannette Reyes

IG |  @msnewslady 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:
Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecord
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Tennesha Wood takes Mona and Jeannette inside her matchmaking process, from two-hour interviews and home tours to reference checks and conversations about money, family, therapy, sex and past relationships. She also explains why someone who is overly focused on looks can be a dating red flag, why chemistry can grow over time, and why she refuses to create relationships built solely around beauty and money. Then, Tennesha breaks down why matchmaking packages can cost a lot of money, what clients are actually paying for, and why she created a matchmaking service specifically designed to help Black professionals find one another.

GUEST RESOURCES: 

Tennesha Wood 

Website | www.thebroomlist.com 

IG | @tenneshawood

RESOURCES: 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:

YouTube: @AwfTheRecord

Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast

TikTok: @AwfTheRecord

Mona Kosar Abdi

IG |  @monakabdi 

Jeannette Reyes

IG |  @msnewslady 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:
Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecord
Follow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast
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What happens when you’ve built the career, earned the degree, bought the house, and still haven’t found the relationship you want?

Professional matchmaker Tennesha Wood joins Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi for a reality check on the modern dating market, especially for high-achieving Black women. Tennesha breaks down what men and women are actually asking for, why accomplishments don’t automatically translate to compatibility, and how rigid standards around income, height, looks, and “type” may be shrinking the dating pool.

They also get into the strategy behind Tennesha’s matchmaking process, why attraction can grow, the importance of self-awareness and accountability, how to communicate in high-achieving relationships, when dating should become intentional, and why finding love may require the same level of planning you’ve given every other major goal in your life.

KEY POINTS

00:00 – Introduction

01:47 – A reality check on what’s actually happening in today’s dating market

03:34 – Why dating can be harder for high-achieving Black women and where to meet compatible partners

04:51 – What successful men and women are actually looking for in relationships

09:01 – How unrealistic checklists and the search for perfection can keep people single

12:22 – Why focusing too heavily on looks can be a dating red flag

20:00 – Why your usual “type” may not actually be your best match

22:17 – The role of accountability and self-awareness in being ready for a relationship

24:00 – Why height, income, and other preferences may unnecessarily shrink your dating pool

32:31 – How career success can become your identity and affect the way you date

49:03 – Why finding love may require the same intentional strategy you use for your career and other life goals

QUOTES 

“You're not going to get everything on your list.” – Tennesha Wood

“Who your type should be is who your values align with.” – Tennesha Wood

“If you're not at a place where you understand what you did wrong in your last relationship or how you could have changed or improved it within yourself, then that's not going to bode well for the next relationship either.”  – Tennesha Wood

GUEST RESOURCES: 

Tennesha Wood 

Website | www.thebroomlist.com 

IG | @tenneshawood

RESOURCES: 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:

YouTube: @AwfTheRecord

Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast

TikTok: @AwfTheRecord

Mona Kosar Abdi

IG |  @monakabdi 

Jeannette Reyes

IG |  @msnewslady 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:
Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecord
Follow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast
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What do you do when you become your family’s financial safety net? In this segment of Awf The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi talk with Vivian Tu about the pressure of being the person everyone turns to when money gets tight, especially in immigrant families and communities of color. Vivian explains why constantly giving from your own savings can keep you from building the future that would allow you to help more meaningfully later. She breaks down the difference between giving a gift and creating a loan that turns into a family fight, why a “gift fund” can help create boundaries, and how to decide whether a request is an emergency or an expectation. Honest, practical, and deeply relatable, this conversation is about learning how to say no without abandoning the people you love.

GUEST RESOURCES: 

Vivian Tu

Website | https://www.yourrichbff.com/ 

IG | https://www.instagram.com/your.richbff/ 

RESOURCES: 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:

YouTube: @AwfTheRecord

Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast

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Mona Kosar Abdi

IG |  @monakabdi 

Jeannette Reyes

IG |  @msnewslady 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:
Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecord
Follow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast
Follow us on TikTok: @AwfTheRecord
Visit our website: www.AwfTheRecord.com

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