Main Character: Josie Totah edition. This week on the pod we have...the one...the only...JOSIE FUCKING TOTAH. She's my best friend, daughter, mother, sister, aunt, and next door neighbor all in one. People know her from the critically acclaimed podcast Dare We Say. Josie, who has graced both the big and small screens with her charm and charisma, opens up about her Main Character moments and gives us her pov on some pressing issues. Let's dive in. 

Trick or Treat, bitch. What did you dress up as? It's my favorite time of the year so we have lots to talk about. Specifically, about long distance relationships. Unless you live under a rock, you know that I'm in one. We will dive in on maintaining a happy, exciting, and enjoyable long distance relationship. Whether it's romantic, platonic, or familial, we're all in one. 

You ask, I deliver. Come on in, sit down and relax. I asked my followers on my instagram what they might need advice on and as your older sister, I want to give you guidance. Whether it's about roommate drama, style inspo, seeking a matchmaker, or how to sustain a healthy relationship, I always got you. On this episode, I'm eating it all up and leaving no crumbs. 

I? Moved? To? New? York? City? Bitch! One way ticket and a dream. One could argue, broad city. I'm literally just a girl who would die for her main character arc. This has been years in the making. I have always wanted to move to NY but have always been afraid to do so. My time in LA got...comfortable. I think comfortability is great, but at some point, you just stay stagnant. I felt like I was at a plateau in my life. We're going to talk about how I wrote a Terms & Conditions list on my plane ride here and signed it. How I'm reaching out to people to go on friend dates, and how I'm learning to find joy in all this solitude in this big city. For the first time in a really long time, I feel proud of myself for doing this. 

Since moving to LA, I have realized that almost everyone I know have gotten some kind of cosmetic procedure or aesthetic enhancement done. Myself included. And to be clear, I am in full support of any body modification, but I do find it curious for many reasons. I can't help but ask myself, have we as a society (I hated typing out that sentence) normalized changing key aspects about ourselves to make ourself "feel more confident?". I remember when I got my breast reduction, I knew I needed to get it done for medical purposes, but I was more focused in on the physical appearance of how my boobs would sit afterwards. I constantly compare myself to other people...especially when I'm doom scrolling on TikTok. I pose the question: Is surgery enough to fully view ourselves in the light we deserve? Is cosmetic surgery just a band aid of how we truly view ourselves? If celebs get work done, do they owe us that explanation? Is enhancing our face, tummy, back, butt, arms, teeth, etc. healing us? I have no clue. This is such a complex topic. So many questions, so few answers. 

The absolute chokehold that trends have on society is mind blowing to me...and sometimes without us even realizing it. Whether it be ballet flats, latest TikTok sounds, audio erotica, the color red, and so on and so forth, these movements have become such a backbone in our culture. I always pride myself on staying on top of most trends that are going on, but as I start to hyper-analyze myself, I began to wonder why I care so much? Why do I base so much of my self worth on what keeps me relevant? I looked at the psychology behind why we, as young people, are so hooked on staying up to date on trends and what's going on in fashion and society. I feel like we are so hooked on trying to be the coolest and trendiest version of ourselves, when we should just focus on simply being ourselves. What trend has you on a chokehold?

Since a kid, I've been fascinated with the idea that our 20s HAVE to be the best years of our lives. From my parents telling me to "enjoy the time while you can" or society painting this picture-perfect notion that this is our prime, I can't help but be bitter about it all. If my mid 20's are the best years of my life, then that scares the living shit out of me. Your mid 20's is an uphill battle. The Trenches. A beautiful storm. The constant pressure of fitting into this mold that the world has created for us is making me really frustrated. Maybe it's just me. But in the case that it's not, you're not alone. Oh, and then when I was drunk one night in Lebanon this summer I wrote on my notes app a list of rules at my funeral?? Don't get too excited though, I'm living till I'm 100. 

New podcast, same Yasmine. Welcome to Main Character with Yasmine! This is the first episode of this season so you know it's going to be chaotic and hot. Join Yasmine as she talks failure, dreams, and of course, being the Main Character. Make sure to follow and rate the podcast. 

Yasmine? She's got the gift of gab, no doubt about it. And, well, someone had the brilliant idea of handing her a microphone… To our surprise, she's not just talk, she's got some serious - if at times questionable - hot takes. This Gen Z, Arab, Leo woman is here to share her thoughts on this wild world of ours. When she's had her fill of the limelight, she'll tag in one of her chaotic, unpredictable friends to shake things up. Brace yourself for some wild tales and off-the-wall guests as Yasmine guides you through your own journey, all while she's on the hunt for her own roadmap. Remember, we’re all the main characters in our own lives: what’s your story?