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In this episode of Awf The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi welcome  Vivian Tu, aka CEO and Founder of Your Rich BFF and Ask Dolly, for a no-fluff conversation about why so many people still feel broke even when they are making good money. Vivian breaks down the money blueprint most of us inherited, why working hard is no longer enough, and how asset ownership, investing, budgeting, and career strategy can help people build real financial security.

From fake wealth on social media to salary negotiation, dating with financial clarity, family money boundaries, trad wife culture, credit scores, debt, and the cost of adulthood, Vivian brings the group chat version of financial advice: honest, sharp, funny, and deeply practical. This conversation is for anyone trying to stop chasing a lifestyle that does not actually exist and start building a life that can hold them.

KEY POINTS

00:00 - Introduction: Vivian Tu breaks down the new rules of money

01:15 - The old money blueprint no longer works

03:30 - Social media is making fake wealth look normal

08:18 - Budgeting starts with knowing what you can actually afford

10:00 - Career security means being loyal to yourself first

11:38 - The “up and out” rule has changed in this job market

14:41 - Raises require receipts, confidence, and self-advocacy

17:56 - Major life milestones now require tradeoffs and timelines

24:19 - Family planning and benefits are part of the money conversation

27:04 - Money in relationships requires honesty, equity, and autonomy

39:13 - Rich people spend based on value, not performance

41:30 - Debt, credit scores, and family money need better boundaries

QUOTES 

“Let me be entirely clear. Those people are broke. The vast majority of the showy, loud, portrayed wealth that you're seeing on social media is fake.” – Vivian Tu 

“It's not how good you are with money; it's how good you are at playing this game.” – Vivian Tu 

“Debt has been made into like this swear word when real rich people know that debt is leverage.” – Vivian Tu 

GUEST RESOURCES: 

Vivian Tu

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

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

App link | http://askdolly.com/Awf

RESOURCES: 

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Mona Kosar Abdi

IG |  @monakabdi 

Jeannette Reyes

IG |  @msnewslady 

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How do you date again after someone used vulnerability as a strategy? In this segment of Awf The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi talk with Reesa Teesa about trust, dating, and the psychological aftermath of being deceived by someone who seemed to say all the right things. Reesa reflects on how her ex “beat her to the story,” sharing false details about past relationships, therapy, and heartbreak before she could even ask the questions that might have protected her. She also opens up about why her circle is smaller now, why dating still scares her, and why she believes background checks should be part of modern dating. Honest, sharp, and deeply relatable, this conversation is about what happens when someone learns your wounds, flips the truth, and makes you question how easily trust can be weaponized.

GUEST RESOURCES: 

Reesa Teesa

IG | @reesateesa

Amazon book | What (TF) Do I Do Now?: Reclaiming Myself, One Piece at a Time 

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 

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In this episode of Awf The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi sit down with Reesa Teesa to talk about life after the viral Who TF Did I Marry? series, the red flags she missed, the shame that kept her silent, and the healing she is still walking through in real time. Reesa opens up about dating from potential instead of reality, realizing she had married a pathological liar, and why the fear of admitting “I’m getting played” felt scarier than the truth itself.

From background checks and desperation dating to miscarriage, loneliness, faith, book deals, TV development, and learning how to edit the dream without giving up on it, this conversation goes far beyond the viral story. It is honest, funny, painful, and deeply human, reminding women that being single is never worse than being married to the wrong person.

KEY POINTS

00:00 - Introduction: Reesa Teesa’s story became a viral cultural moment

02:15 - Reesa reflects on life after going viral

03:50 - Reesa summarizes the story behind Who TF Did I Marry?

05:26 - Reesa explains why accountability shaped the story’s reception

09:27 - Reesa pushes back on the “it could never be me” mindset

12:30 - Reesa explains how dating potential made her vulnerable

15:14 - Reesa admits that facing the lie meant facing her own fear

18:16 - Reesa breaks down how a pathological liar builds a false foundation

22:39 - Reesa explains how money became part of the manipulation

24:46 - Reesa explains how he “beat her to the story” and damaged her trust

28:46 - Reesa opens up about the book, healing, and loneliness

40:19 - Reesa talks about the TV series, business, shame, and life after virality

QUOTES 

“I tend to date off of potential and not reality.” – Reesa Teesa

“There’s a difference between being alone and lonely.” – Jeannette Reyes

“Being single is nowhere near as bad as being married to the wrong person.”  – Reesa Teesa

GUEST RESOURCES: 

Reesa Teesa

IG | @reesateesa

Amazon book | What (TF) Do I Do Now?: Reclaiming Myself, One Piece at a Time 

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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What did we really lose when The Wendy Williams Show ended? In this segment of Awf The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi sit down with former Wendy Williams producer Norman Baker to reflect on the cultural force Wendy created, the final season that left the team in limbo, and why no one has been able to fill the space she left behind. Norman opens up about Wendy’s brilliance, her fearlessness, and the rare freedom of working on a show where a Black woman could speak her mind every single day on daytime television. He also shares why he has been cautious about participating in documentaries about Wendy, what it felt like to learn major updates through the media, and how the transition into Sherri challenged him to adapt his voice, sharpen his comedy, and keep the spirit of hot topics alive in a new way.

GUEST RESOURCES: 

Norman Baker

IG | @thenormanbaker

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:
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What really happened behind the scenes during the final days of The Wendy Williams Show?

In this episode of Awf The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi sit down with former Wendy Williams producer Norman Baker for an inside look at one of daytime television’s most unforgettable cultural eras. Norman opens up about moving to New York with $100, getting his start as a receptionist, earning Wendy’s trust on and off camera, and watching the show become a place where pop culture, gossip, shade, and Black womanhood collided in real time.

Norman also reflects on the final seasons of the show, the limbo the staff experienced when Wendy was no longer able to return, and why he has chosen not to participate in certain documentaries about her. From protecting Wendy’s legacy to the shift from Wendy to Sherri, the art of shade, and the future of daytime TV, this conversation is a funny, honest, and surprisingly tender tribute to the show that changed how we talked about celebrity culture.

KEYPOINTS:

00:00 - Introduction

02:31 - Norman broke into TV with $100 and no industry connections

03:16 - Wendy turned Norman into an on-camera personality

04:20 - Norman explains the cultural void Wendy left behind

05:12 - Norman describes the final years as a “long, slow descent”

11:15 - Norman explains why he is cautious about the Wendy documentaries

18:12 - The Wendy team never got real closure

20:33 - Norman reflects on transitioning from Wendy to Sherri

47:24 - Norman shares how he wants Wendy to be remembered

QUOTES:

“In the end this shows that what fascinates people the most is other people doing the things that they swear they never do.” – Jeannette Reyes

“I feel like no one's been able to fill the void that she and, should I say, we created.” – Norman Baker

“I feel like that show got closure, quote unquote, but it still like it struck a chord with a lot of people.” – Mona Kosar Abdi

“We were in limbo. We're like, what are we gonna do? What is this show gonna be? Is she ever gonna come back?” – Norman Baker

GUEST RESOURCES: 

Norman Baker

IG | @thenormanbaker

RESOURCES: 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:

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Mona Kosar Abdi

IG |  @monakabdi 

Jeannette Reyes

IG |  @msnewslady 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:
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This episode originally aired on 04/16/2026

What are celebrities actually getting done… and why does everyone suddenly look younger?

In this episode of Awf The Record, top Beverly Hills facial plastic surgeon Dr. Carl Truesdale pulls back the curtain on modern plastic surgery, from facelifts and fillers to the “undetectable” glow ups taking over Hollywood.

He breaks down the biggest misconceptions about plastic surgery, why natural results are now the gold standard, and how today’s techniques are creating transformations that look subtle, not obvious. From celebrity trends to the rise of men getting work done, Dr. Truesdale shares what people are really asking for behind closed doors.

The conversation also dives into the psychology behind plastic surgery, why some people should not get it, and how to know if you’re choosing the right surgeon. Plus, he reveals the red flags most people completely miss, the real cost of facial rejuvenation, and why bad work is often easier to spot than good work.

If you’ve ever wondered what actually works, what’s overhyped, and how to approach plastic surgery the right way, this episode is a must-listen.

KEY POINTS

- 0:00 Introduction 

- 1:57 The Biggest Myth About Plastic Surgery and Black Patients

- 5:43 What Actually Makes Someone Attractive

- 8:42 The Psychology Behind Plastic Surgery

- 10:35 Most Requested Procedures Right Now

- 12:20 Why Hollywood Results Look More Natural Today

- 14:05 Who Dr. Truesdale refuses to Operate On

- 16:43 Fillers vs Facelifts: What Actually Works

- 19:13 Black People and Plastic Surgery 

- 27:07 The Real Cost of Looking Younger

- 32:10 The Biggest Red Flags When Choosing a Surgeon

- 36:52 The Future of Plastic Surgery 

- 42:33 What Are The Men Getting In Plastic Surgery? 

QUOTES 

“What I do is candy. It's sugar. It will improve your quality of life, but you don't need to do it.” - Dr. Carl Truesdale

“The hardest part of what I do is literally fulfilling the happiness piece, not related to surgery. It's a mental, psychological thing.” - Dr. Carl Truesdale

“Perfect symmetry is not actually the goal. We want things to be more symmetric, but keeping a little bit of asymmetry is the thing that makes your face, your face.”  - Dr. Carl Truesdale

RESOURCES: 

Dr. Carl Truesdale 

Website | www.doctortruesdale.com

IG | Doctor.Truesdale 

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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Astrology may feel like a Gen Z obsession, but celebrity astrologer Aliza Kelly says the conversation has been happening for generations. In this segment of Awf The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi talk with Aliza about how astrology evolved from sun sign horoscopes and ’60s compatibility culture into today’s birth chart readings, apps, and celebrity astrology. Aliza shares how technology helped people go beyond “What’s your sign?”, how her own astrology dating app helped launch her career, and why 2016 marked a major cultural shift in how people turned to the stars for answers. She also breaks down what celebrity birth charts can reveal, why public personas do not always match private realities, and the most surprising chart she has seen: Rachel Dratch’s Pisces-heavy birth chart. It’s a fun, curious conversation about astrology, pop culture, identity, and why your sign might only be the beginning of the story.

GUEST RESOURCES: 

Aliza Kelly 

Website | www.alizakelly.com 

IG | @alizakelly 

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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What if astrology is less about predicting your future, and more about finally having language for who you are?

In this episode of Awf The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi sit down with celebrity astrologer Aliza Kelly for a funny, fascinating, and surprisingly personal crash course in astrology. Aliza breaks down what astrology is and what it is not, why your birth chart is more than just your zodiac sign, and how the sun, moon, and rising signs can help you better understand your energy, emotions, perspective, relationships, and the stories you tell about yourself.

From dating compatibility and Gemini slander to the rise of astrology on TikTok, Aliza explains why astrology should be used as a tool for curiosity, connection, and self-awareness, not fear or judgment. She also reads Mona and Jeannette’s birth charts in real time, revealing why their charts are almost shockingly compatible and why their friendship may be written in the stars. This episode is for the astrology curious, the astrology skeptical, and anyone who has ever wondered if their chart knows a little too much.

KEYPOINTS:

00:00 - Introduction

02:01 - Aliza Kelly explains how astrology became her life’s work

03:54 - Astrology is an art, not a science, and Aliza says that matters

07:02 - Astrology can coexist with faith because it is not a religion

08:23 - Astrology works as a social language for connection

09:14 - The birth chart is a snapshot of the sky when you were born

13:37 - Aliza traces how astrology became mainstream again

20:50 - Men dismissing astrology often reflects a deeper disrespect for women’s interests

24:41 - Compatibility is not as simple as “this sign works with that sign”

33:17 - Mona and Jeannette’s birth charts reveal major creative compatibility

41:21 - Astrology becomes toxic when it feeds anxiety instead of curiosity

QUOTES:

“What astrology does is help us tell better stories.” – Aliza Kelly

“Something that is an art doesn't need to be a science in order for it to be meaningful.” – Aliza Kelly

“Astrology is the language, but the lived experience is actually like, do these people get along, and if so, how do they get along.” – Aliza Kelly

“Life is about being able to form those connections.” – Aliza Kelly

GUEST RESOURCES: 

Aliza Kelly 

Website | www.alizakelly.com 

IG | @alizakelly 

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:
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What if the reason you feel drained in friendships is not that everyone else is taking, but because you learned to give in order to earn love? In this segment of Awf The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi sit down with friendship expert Danielle Bayard-Jackson to unpack overgiving, oversharing, one-sided friendships, and the patterns that can make women feel like they are always the one doing the work. Danielle explains why the “no one shows up for me” story deserves compassion, but also deserves curiosity, especially when it keeps showing up across multiple friendships. Danielle also breaks down how to ask yourself whether you might be the common denominator in repeated friendship breakups, why feedback feels so awkward in friendships, and how social media can validate every issue without actually helping you grow. It is a sharp, honest conversation about friendship patterns, self-awareness, emotional generosity, and learning how to give without using giving as a shortcut to closeness.

GUEST RESOURCES: 

Danielle Bayard-Jackson

Website | www.daniellebayardjackson.com

IG | @daniellebayardjackson

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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Why does making and keeping friends as an adult feel so much harder than it used to?

In this episode of Awf The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi sit down with friendship expert and author Danielle Bayard-Jackson for a real conversation about female friendship, loneliness, vulnerability, jealousy, friendship breakups, and the quiet ways high-achieving women can end up isolated. Danielle breaks down why friendship is not just about having people around you, but about feeling understood, supported, and safe enough to be honest in the relationships you already have.

From the rise of the female loneliness epidemic to the pressure to be self-sufficient, Danielle explains why “I don’t need anyone” is not the flex we think it is. She unpacks why conflict can actually create deeper intimacy, how to apologize well, why jealousy does not automatically make you a bad friend, and how to tell if you might be the common denominator in your friendship patterns. This episode is a reminder that friendship takes time, repair, emotional honesty, and the courage to let people show up for you.

KEY POINTS

• 00:00 - Danielle Bayard Jackson explains why friendship issues are everywhere
• 01:19 - Loneliness is not always about lacking friends
• 02:20 - Friendships are suffering because we spend less time together
• 04:17 - The loneliness industrial complex sells connection, but does not always create it
• 06:04 - High-achieving women can struggle with vulnerability in friendship
• 08:19 - Closeness takes time, and conflict can deepen intimacy
• 11:04 - A good apology has to speak to the heart and the mind
• 12:48 - Jealousy does not make you a bad friend, but what comes next matter
• 17:32 - Female friendships are not worse than male friendships, they are often deeper
• 32:05 - Adult friendship requires intention, regularity, and asking for help
  
  
  

QUOTES 

“We've lost the art of doing nothing with a friend.” – Jeannette Reyes

“The right people want the data on how to love you well.” – Danielle Bayard-Jackson

“Somewhere along the line, I feel like that came from our fear of vulnerability, because to need people, you have to be vulnerable and you have to ask for help.” – Mona Kosar Abdi

“We think of lonely as a lack of friends, but it's other things too.” – Danielle Bayard-Jackson

“I feel like part of having community is to be burdened.” – Mona Kosar Abdi

GUEST RESOURCES: 

Danielle Bayard-Jackson

Website | www.daniellebayardjackson.com

IG | @daniellebayardjackson

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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