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How do you know if the problem is yours, theirs, or something happening between both of you? In this segment, therapist Melissa Dumaz joins Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi to break down the relationship patterns that often show up in couples work. She explains why some fights are not really about the relationship itself, but about unresolved issues each person brings into the room, and why a major sign of hope is whether both people are actually open to change. Melissa also unpacks attachment styles, how anxious and secure attachment can show up in love, and why two people can want connection in completely different ways. From toxic red flags to couples who say they “never fight,” this conversation is a grounded reminder that healthy relationships are not conflict-free. They are built by people who are willing to be honest, self-aware, and prepared for the hard conversations.

GUEST RESOURCES: 

Melissa Dumaz 

Website | www.melissadumaz.com

IG | @melissadumaz

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Mona Kosar Abdi

IG |  @monakabdi 

Jeannette Reyes

IG |  @msnewslady 

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What if the biggest threat to your relationship is not one big betrayal, but the quiet habits, assumptions, and unspoken expectations slowly wearing the love down?

In this episode of Awf The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi sit down with licensed marriage and family therapist Melissa Dumaz for a raw, honest conversation about modern love, marriage, dating, conflict, vulnerability, and the relationship mistakes most couples do not realize they are making. Melissa breaks down why social media highlight reels are distorting what we expect from real relationships, why more people are walking into therapy asking if they even want to be married anymore, and how ambition, gender roles, emotional safety, and unresolved trauma are reshaping the way couples connect.

From attachment styles and red flags to dirty fighting, love languages, resentment, and the myth of “if he wanted to, he would,” Melissa offers a grounded look at what actually helps relationships last. She explains why healthy couples still fight, why sarcasm can quietly break down love, why vulnerability can feel unsafe, especially for Black women, and why relationships start to suffer when busy people put love on autopilot. This is a conversation about choosing honesty over ego, communication over assumptions, and your partner over the quiet resentment that can build when the small things go unaddressed.

KEY POINTS

00:00 - Introduction: Melissa Dumaz names the real tension in modern relationships

01:42 - Social media has made real relationships feel like they’re falling short

04:18 - Women’s ambition has changed relationships, but men were not always prepared for that shift

09:13 - Couples need to build a relationship model that fits who they are now

12:12 - Dating should reveal how someone handles real life, not manufactured tests

17:51 - Anger is often covering a deeper emotion

21:26 - Couples have to identify whether the issue is yours, theirs, or the relationship’s

26:14 - Love languages can change as people move through different seasons

33:48 - Sarcasm is a form of dirty fighting that often hides resentment

51:46 - Marriages quietly break down when couples stop nurturing the relationship

QUOTES 

“The biggest challenge relationships face today is thinking that relationships should look like social media relationships in real life.” – Melissa Dumaz

“We have to give ourselves permission to dream again.” – Melissa Dumaz

“It is in the living that you will see how they show up and how they respond to life.” – Melissa Dumaz

“If you don't feel safe yet to be your true authentic self, then that's the red flag. That's the yellow flag.” – Melissa Dumaz

“The ego has to die at some points and several times throughout the relationship.” – Melissa Dumaz

GUEST RESOURCES: 

Melissa Dumaz 

Website | www.melissadumaz.com

IG | @melissadumaz

RESOURCES: 

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Mona Kosar Abdi

IG |  @monakabdi 

Jeannette Reyes

IG |  @msnewslady 

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Recho Omondi did not build The Cutting Room Floor overnight. She built it through years of unpaid work, uncertainty, live events, viral episodes, creative conviction, and a deep belief that good work deserves real support. In this segment, Recho joins Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi to unpack the grind behind her creator journey, from launching the podcast in 2018 with $400 worth of equipment to spending years publishing without meaningful monetization. She reflects on the early days of building an audience, selling merch, losing momentum during the pandemic, and relaunching in 2021 with episodes that proved the industry was paying attention. Recho also breaks down the decision to move The Cutting Room Floor behind a Patreon paywall, why exclusivity became her strongest value proposition, and how she learned that going viral does not automatically mean getting paid. It is a sharp, honest conversation about self-worth, audience trust, creator economics, and the difference between being seen and being financially supported.

RESOURCES: 

Recho Omondi 

IG | @omondi

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Mona Kosar Abdi

IG |  @monakabdi 

Jeannette Reyes

IG |  @msnewslady 

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Recho Omondi did not build The Cutting Room Floor overnight. She built it through years of unpaid work, uncertainty, live events, viral episodes, creative conviction, and a deep belief that good work deserves real support.

In this segment, Recho joins Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi to unpack the grind behind her creator journey, from launching the podcast in 2018 with $400 worth of equipment to spending years publishing without meaningful monetization. She reflects on the early days of building an audience, selling merch, losing momentum during the pandemic, and relaunching in 2021 with episodes that proved the industry was paying attention.

Recho also breaks down the decision to move The Cutting Room Floor behind a Patreon paywall, why exclusivity became her strongest value proposition, and how she learned that going viral does not automatically mean getting paid. It is a sharp, honest conversation about self-worth, audience trust, creator economics, and the difference between being seen and being financially supported.

KEYPOINTS:

00:00 - Introduction: Recho Omondi joins the group chat

02:05 - Recho describes herself as curious, independent, and headstrong

04:04 - The Cutting Room Floor was built to make fashion less opaque

09:11 - The $55K job post turns Recho into the face of a bigger industry issue

12:20 - Recho explains what people misunderstood about the controversy

16:08 - Recho reflects on the impossible standards placed on Black women founders

24:24 - Recho opens up about the grind behind the “overnight success”

28:51 - Going viral without getting paid pushed Recho behind the paywall

36:31 - Recho explains why her interviews go viral

42:12 - The Patreon deal proves the business value of The Cutting Room Floor

QUOTES:

“Things don't happen to you. They happen for you.” – Recho Omondi

“There are conglomerates who offer less than what I was offering.” – Recho Omondi

“I think there was a genuine, or sorry, general thought that. And this is part that I think is unfair, that I'm supposed to be better and bigger than these institutions.” – Recho Omondi

RESOURCES: 

Recho Omondi 

IG | @omondi

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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In this episode of Awf The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi sit down with Jodie Taylor, corporate strategist, DEI leader at Sony Music, and digital creator with over half a million followers, to unpack the strategy behind becoming your highest self.

Jodie shares how a devastating season of loss, heartbreak, layoffs, and friendship breakups forced her to completely reevaluate her life. Instead of staying stuck in grief, she built a deliberate blueprint for transformation by focusing on physical confidence, career capital, social capital, and emotional growth.

From navigating corporate America as a Black woman to building a powerful personal brand online, Jodie explains why success is not accidental. It is strategic.

Their conversation dives into glow-up culture, networking without feeling transactional, building influence in your career, and the surprising role vulnerability plays in relationships and self-development. 

As Jodie highlights: “There is no universal definition of what being a baddie is.” Tune in!

KEY POINTS 

• There is no playbook for navigating corporate spaces as a woman of color 
• How grief, layoffs, and heartbreak forced her to rebuild her life intentionally
• The Glow Up framework: physical, social, and career capital
• Why social capital and proximity to powerful networks can change your career trajectory
• The surprising psychology behind confidence, self-image, and physical transformation
• How high-achieving women often struggle with vulnerability and emotional expression
• The difference between preferences and real relationship boundaries
• Why ambitious women should think strategically about dating, mentorship, and life 
• Jodie explains the biggest mistake people make when trying to reinvent themselves

QUOTES 

“I’m going to intentionally develop a life of my dreams and find support and strategy behind it.” – Jodie Taylor

“A woman who feels like she’s at the bottom of her life is a dangerous woman.” – Jodie Taylor

“The people who are the most magnetic are the ones who exist fully and completely as themselves.” – Jodie Taylor

“There is no version of me that exists today without going through that season.” – Jodie Taylor

GUEST RESOURCES

Jodie Taylor

Website: jodiektay.com 

Instagram: @jodiektayl

TikTok: @jodiektay 

RESOURCES: 

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Mona Kosar Abdi

IG |  @monakabdi 

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Scot Louie has no problem saying what everyone else is thinking: fashion has been TikTokified. In this segment, Scot joins Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi to unpack how trends, influencer culture, luxury bags, clean girl aesthetics, and unboxing videos have changed the way people think about personal style. He gets candid about the difference between having things and having style, why so many people are buying access, belonging, and acceptance, and how fast-moving trend culture can make it harder to know what you actually like. Scot also opens up about branding, being the “director of the divas,” turning “to us” into a signature phrase, and learning to step in front of the camera after years of hiding behind the work. It’s a funny, sharp, and deeply honest conversation about authenticity, identity, and why the real flex is knowing who you are before the trend tells you.

GUEST RESOURCES 

Scot Louie 

Website | scotlouie.com

IG | @scotlouie 

RESOURCES: 

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Mona Kosar Abdi

IG |  @monakabdi 

Jeannette Reyes

IG |  @msnewslady 

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Celebrity stylist and self-proclaimed Director of the Divas Scot Louie is taking the group chat to fashion school.

In this episode of Awf The Record, Scot joins Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi for a masterclass on personal style, taste, body type, red carpet strategy, and what it really takes to become unforgettable. From styling stars like Kehlani, Ryan Destiny, and Beyoncé to building his own brand through Dinner Plus, Diva Academy, and his signature “to us,” Scot breaks down why style is not about buying the most expensive thing in the room. It is about knowing who you are, what works on your body, and how to make every look feel intentional.

Scot also gets into the politics of fashion, why great styling can change someone’s trajectory, how TikTok has flattened personal style, and why people are confusing trends with identity. Whether you are building a wardrobe, shopping on a budget, dressing for your body type, or trying to unlock your inner diva, this conversation is your reminder that taste cannot be bought, but it can be studied. Tune in!

KEYPOINTS:

• 00:00 - Introduction: Scot Louie opens Diva Academy with the truth about taste
• 02:34 - Scot defines what it really means to be a diva
• 04:12 - How “clawing for comfort” shaped his career
• 06:05 - The making of a diva starts with discomfort
• 07:11 - Red carpet styling is about creating a full story
• 10:33 - Zendaya and Law Roach show how styling becomes image architecture
• 14:10 - Fashion still has a long way to go for women of color
• 19:00 - Great style matters, but having a stylist is a luxury
• 21:07 - Taste is not about price; it is about knowing what works
• 29:35 - Dressing for your body type requires honesty, not trend-chasing
• 39:15 - TikTok has flattened New York fashion and personal style
• 44:03 - Being a stylist means babysitting insecurities
• 45:48 - How “to us” and Diva Academy became part of his brand

QUOTES:

"Styling is a rich bitch sport."  – Scot Louie

" Every diva you know has dealt with a level of discomfort, whether it be scrutiny with how they do something, how they show up, how their career is outlined. You have to sit in that discomfort. A lot of people shy away from it.” – Scot Louie

"You don't need a stylist. You don't. Right? Like you need taste. There you go. That's what I'm getting at. And taste cannot be bought."  – Scot Louie

GUEST RESOURCES 

Scot Louie 

Website | scotlouie.com

IG | @scotlouie 

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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Cari Champion knew what it felt like to be watched, judged, and picked apart before she was ever fully allowed to speak. In this segment, Cari opens up about her time at ESPN and First Take, where she says everything from her outfits to her makeup to her presence on screen was scrutinized. She reflects on being told to tone it down, navigating the boys’ club, and learning that visibility in sports media did not always come with protection. Cari also gets honest about her relationship with Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless during that era, why she felt hazed in the middle seat, and how she eventually realized that being a woman, looking good, and being smart were never mutually exclusive. It’s a sharp, candid conversation about sexism, scrutiny, and what it costs to be one of the first to push the door open.

RESOURCES: 

Cari Champion 

IG | @carichampion

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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Cari Champion has never been afraid to speak her mind, even when the room made it clear she was supposed to stay quiet.

In this episode of Awf The Record, Cari joins Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi for a raw conversation about journalism, sports media, career reinvention, and what it really costs to be a Black woman who refuses to shrink. She opens up about starting as a one-man band in local news, getting fired in Atlanta, finding her way into sports through the Tennis Channel, and landing at ESPN’s First Take, where visibility came with intense scrutiny, sexism, and the pressure to “just tee up the topics and lay out.”

Cari also reflects on leaving ESPN, betting on herself, moving into digital media and politics, dating after divorce, and why sports can never truly be separated from politics. It’s a funny, honest, and deeply validating conversation about knowing when a room no longer serves you, trusting your voice, and building a career that makes space for all of who you are.

KEY POINTS:

00:00 - Cari Champion reflects on becoming visible overnight and being hated for it

02:07 - Cari defines herself as funny, disciplined, sensitive, and a disruptor

03:28 - Speaking truth to power made Cari a problem in corporate media

05:06 - Cari’s early local news career taught her the purpose of journalism

08:00 - Getting fired and rehired in Atlanta became a turning point in her career

14:12 - The Tennis Channel became her unexpected entry point into sports media

17:39 - Cari breaks down how she landed ESPN and became a barrier-breaking host

21:40 - First Take was the hardest job of her career because she was not allowed to be fully herself

24:53 - Cari opens up about the criticism, sexism, and boys’ club culture she faced

33:08 - Leaving First Take, finding SportsCenter, and eventually betting on herself

QUOTES:

“The only time I really knew I was doing my job [was] when I knew that I was changing minds and helping people and affecting change.” – Cari Champion

“It was never about making it big. It was always about telling the story.” – Cari Champion

“I went from a nobody to somebody overnight, and everybody hates me.” – Cari Champion

“It’s okay to be a woman and look good and be smart. None of that. Those aren’t mutually exclusive.” – Cari Champion

RESOURCES: 

Cari Champion 

IG | @carichampion

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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Kennedy Ryan knows exactly who she’s writing for, and she refuses to let publishing’s outdated assumptions shrink that vision. In this segment, Kennedy opens up about centering Black women on the page, on the cover, and in the audience, even when the industry suggests that doing so could limit sales or mainstream appeal. She breaks down why Black women are not a niche market, but a powerful readership with their own economy, cultural influence, and buying power. From sold-out theaters to New York Times bestseller lists, Kennedy makes it clear that when Black women are centered and celebrated, they show up, bring their people, and move the culture forward. This conversation is also a reminder for any creative trying to build with conviction: know your why, write from your center, and be prepared to fight for the stories that matter most.

GUEST RESOURCES

Kennedy Ryan 

Website | kennedyryanwrites.com/about/ 

IG | @kennedyryan1

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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