Dr. Ellen Langer, known as the “mother of mindfulness,” and the first woman ever tenured in psychology at Harvard University and joins PRETTYSMART for an unforgettable conversation that will challenge everything you think you know about health, aging, and control over your life. With decades of groundbreaking research, Dr. Langer has reshaped our understanding of the mind’s power to transform the body and revolutionized how we approach healing, decision-making, and resilience. In this eye-opening episode, we explore:

• The one phrase she lives by (it changed Danielle’s life). 

• Why the traditional “mind-body connection” is outdated—and how embracing mind-body unity can unlock extraordinary healing potential.
• The startling study that showed reversing aging isn’t science fiction—it’s science.
• How simple shifts in perception, like seeing daily work as exercise, can dramatically improve your health.
• What her groundbreaking research reveals about the illusion of control—and how to reclaim it in your own life.
• Why language, like the term “in remission,” shapes how we experience illness and healing.

• Her personal stories, from her mother’s miraculous recovery from terminal cancer to the fire that destroyed nearly everything she owned—and how she found meaning and growth in both experiences.

Book Reccomendation: The Mindful Body: Thinking Our Way to Chronic Health by Dr. Ellen Langer 

Follow Ellen here

 

Transform your life in 2025! Danielle unveils her 5-step action plan to help you make this your most extraordinary year yet. Recorded with love and intention, this episode goes beyond goal-setting—it’s about designing a life that truly lights you up. Highlights include:

• The Annual Reflection: Why writing down your highlights and lowlights from 2024 can set the stage for clarity and momentum in the new year.
• The 5-Step Action Plan: Danielle’s meticulously designed, free resource to help you set meaningful goals and create a blueprint for success.
• Joy Over Discipline: Why joy is the secret ingredient to achieving your goals and how to align your aspirations with what truly excites you.
• Dream Without Limits: How to let go of limiting beliefs and give yourself permission to want what you really want.
• The Power of Questions: Key questions to ask yourself, including, What would you do this year if you knew you could not fail?

This episode is packed with personal stories, research-backed insights, and practical tools to help you dream bigger, reflect deeper, and set yourself up for a transformative year. Plus, Danielle reveals her own goals, her word of the year, and the mantra guiding her into 2025.

Download your FREE 2025 Action Plan at DanielleRobay.com and let’s make this the year you go all in on YOU.

Grab the QUESTION EVERYTHING card game here!

Natasha Scott and Justine Kay, the dynamic duo behind the podcast Two Black Girls, One Rose, join us for a deep, hilarious, and thought-provoking conversation about reality TV and its impact on culture. What started as a love for shows like Laguna Beach and The Bachelor has evolved into a platform for dissecting race, relationships, and representation in pop culture. Natasha and Justine share personal stories, insights on building their brand, and why their podcast has become more than just commentary—it's a community. Whether you’re a reality TV junkie or a casual fan, this episode will leave you laughing, reflecting, and rethinking how we consume pop culture.

In this episode, we dive into:

• Why Laguna Beach gave them their first glimpse into a world of wild teenage freedom.
• How Rachel Lindsay’s groundbreaking season of The Bachelorette exposed blind spots in traditional reality TV recaps.
• The nuances of race in reality TV: what producers get wrong and what needs to change.
• Why Couples Therapy is a must-watch for empathy lovers everywhere.
• The cultural phenomenon of Love Is Blind and how reality TV sparks real-life connections.
• The not-so-guilty lessons they’ve learned from reality TV—on love, friendship, and human nature.

Follow Natasha + Justine. 

Book Recommendations: 

Natasha: Thick: And Other Essays" by Tressie McMillan Cottom

Justine: The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin

Download your FREE 2025 Action Plan at DanielleRobay.com and let’s make this the year you go all in on YOU.

Grab the QUESTION EVERYTHING card game here!

Jessica Hoppe is a Honduran-Ecuadorian writer and creator of @NuevaYorka. She recently released her first memoir “First in the Family: A Story of Survival, Recovery and the American Dream” Today she joins PRETTYSMART and shares:

• Her  battle with alcohol addiction—and why she took her story public.
• How society’s view of addiction differs for white people vs. people of color.
• The systems failing those struggling with addiction—and the changes we desperately need.
• The 7 words a stranger said that saved her life.
• How shame fuels addiction, and why we need to ask better questions.
• The weight of American Exceptionalism—and her own personal reckoning with it.
• Why your core beliefs might not be yours at all—and how to uncover what you truly stand for.
• Why she believes her story still makes some people uncomfortable.

Follow Jessica Here

Buy First in the Family Here

Book Recommendation: Magical Realism by Vanessa Angelica Villarreal and Heavy by Kiese Laymon

Grab the QUESTION EVERYTHING card game here!

Download Danielle’s 2025 Goals + Manifestation Map here for FREE

Clarke Peoples didn’t set out to become a content creator—but life had other plans. The Columbia University graduate found herself gaining a massive TikTok following by vlogging her life as an Ivy League student navigating the hustle, heart, and chaos of New York City. Now, as a full-time creator, she’s sharing everything from daily routines to life-changing advice, inspiring young women to embrace confidence, curiosity, and self-empowerment, especially in their dating lives! In this candid conversation, Clarke fearlessly dives into:

• Manifesting her dreams: How a vision board at 12 years old shaped her future.
• Lessons from her mom: The unforgettable ways her mom instilled wisdom.
• Academics and self-love: Finding confidence in her love of learning.
• Challenging assumptions: Why people assume she’s either wealthy or a sugar baby—and how she handles it.
• Her accidental rise: The unexpected journey to becoming a creator.
• Boundaries on social media: What she refuses to share online.
• Speaking up, no matter the cost: Why she’s committed to addressing social justice issues, even if it means losing followers.
• Redefining confidence: The importance of finding self-worth outside the internet.
• Dating unfiltered: App red flags, her love-hate relationship with kissing, texting etiquette, the most romantic gesture she’s experienced, and more.
• Reclaiming her power: Why she believes men don’t hold more value than she does—and how that shapes her approach to love and heartbreak.
• Race and the internet: The systemic issues she’s calling out and what needs to change.

Follow Clarke on IG and TikTok

Book Recs: The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore & A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beya.

Grab the QUESTION EVERYTHING card game here!

Caroline Baudino, the force behind Instagram’s Shop with Caroline and host of the hit podcast Coming in Hot, joins the pod to share her unapologetic mission to inspire us all to “Get up and get dressed.” With humor, heart, and hard-earned wisdom, Caroline dives into:

• From zombie to thriving: The wake-up call that made her take back her life and chase her dreams.
• The menopause conversation: How perimenopause and menopause transformed her—and why we need to talk about it more.
• Social media success at 50+: Why she’s grateful her journey took off later in life and her must-know tips for starting out.
• Breaking the cycle: Growing up in a tumultuous household, how she redefined relationships, money, and her path to happiness.
• Dating wisdom: Her best advice, plus why women in their 20s and 30s need to stop “Rushing to the End.”
• Dressing for life: The empowering story behind her motto “Get up and Get Dressed” and why it’s more than just fashion.
• The special occasion is you: Why we should stop waiting for “someday” and celebrate ourselves now.
• Happiness hacks: The tools she uses to maintain a positive mindset and why it’s never too late to rewrite your story.

Caroline’s energy and honesty will leave you feeling inspired, empowered, and ready to tackle life on your own terms. 

Follow Caroline on Instagram here!

BOOK REC: The Red Tent by Anita Diamant and The House in the Sky by Amanda Lindhout & Sara Corbett  

Check out Strong Girl Publishing here.

What does it mean to truly practice kindness? Houston Kraft, spent his career studying kindness, wrote a book about it (Deep Kindness) and shares powerful insights into how kindness can transform our lives. He explains:

• The difference between “confetti kindness” (random acts of kindness) and deep, intentional kindness
• Why kindness is misunderstood as “free” and why it’s anything but
• The difference between being kind and being nice
• Does it pay $ to be kind? 
• How kindness requires courage, emotional regulation, and empathy
• The link between kindness and forgiveness—and why forgiveness is a cornerstone of kindness
• Why kindness is often harder than we think but worth the effort
• How to practice kindness in leadership, relationships, and everyday life
• Why “nice guys finish last” might be true—but kind people finish first
• Practical tips to close the gap between what we believe in and how we show up

This episode is packed with emotional stories, practical tools, and thought-provoking insights to inspire you to be more intentionally and deeply kind in your life.

Book Rec: On Being Nice by the School of Life 

Follow Houston Kraft here

Did you know that almost all athletic shoes on the market have been designed, researched and tested on men? When Lindsay Housman discovered this, she and her husband, founded Hettas, a company creating running shoes optimized for women.  Today, Lindsay joins the podcast to share why becoming a disruptor in this space is so important to her. We discuss: 

• Why women are left out of research for shoes (and so many other things)
• Why women’s feet are fundamentally different than men
• How wearing shoes designed for men impacts women's health. 
•  How Hettas came to be and why she started this company much earlier than she thought. 
• Why it’s important to her to never settle for the status quo
• Founding, self-funding and running this company while currently working another full time job
• What she hopes to accomplish with Hettas and exactly how their shoes are different
• Why she believes women would be in sports longer if they had proper athletic shoes. 
• How women are treated so differently when it comes to raising venture capital. 

Follow Hettas on Instagram here!

Book Rec:  Strong is the New Pretty by Kate T Parker

Emily Bear captivated the world with her piano talent at just six years old. Now, at 23, she’s already a Grammy and Emmy-winning composer, producer, arranger, pianist, and singer-songwriter. Recently, she became the youngest person to score a feature film and is currently working on Moana 2. In 2022, Emily won the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album for The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical, which she co-wrote with Abigail Barlow live on social media. The album soared to #1 on the U.S. iTunes pop charts within 1.5 hours of its release and reached the top 5 albums worldwide. This year, she toured as the pianist for Beyoncé's Renaissance tour. Today, Emily shares:

• The surprising moment her talent was discovered—and why she shies away from the “child prodigy” label.

• Leaving home at 16 to chase her dreams in LA: the challenges, the courage, and the adventure.

• How a life-changing meeting led to Quincy Jones becoming her mentor.

• The journey to becoming Beyoncé’s pianist on the Renaissance Tour—and the one terrifying moment she’ll never forget.

• An unexpected lesson from Beyoncé that reshaped her approach to music and performance.

• The story behind The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical, and why winning a Grammy was the last thing she expected.

• The struggle to be taken seriously as a young musician—and why that respect mattered to her.

• Why she aims to move people to tears with her music.

• Creating her own path when gigs weren’t coming—and her advice for others who want to do the same.

• Breaking barriers as a woman composer—and why she proudly performs with colorful nail polish and heels!

Book Rec: Outliers by Malcom Gladwell

Dr. Jessica Shepherd is a board-certified OB-GYN and women’s health expert, dedicated to empowering women at every stage of life with a holistic approach to care.In this episode, Danielle talks with Dr. Shepherd about her newly launched book, Generation M, exploring women’s health, aging, and empowerment. Key takeaways include:

• Writing Journey: Dr. Shepard shares the challenges and rewards of publishing, likening it to a cathartic journey through “a thousand paper cuts.”
• Early Awareness: Why women should start thinking about menopause early, viewing it as a marathon, not a sprint.
• Perimenopause as Preseason: How do you know when you’ve entered Perimenpouase? Common signs to look for, from brain fog to sleep disturbances.
• Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Debunking myths and discussing new, evidence-based practices.
• Importance of Muscle Strength: Building strength through resistance training as a foundation for longevity.
• Mindfulness and Stress Management: The significance of mental health and mindfulness practices for a smoother transition into menopause.
• Nutrition for Hormonal Health: Focus on a Mediterranean diet, balanced proteins, and fiber for long-term wellness.
• Dr. Shepherd’s secret to success

Follow Dr. Shepherd here.

Grab a copy of her book here.