PRETTYSMART

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.

Keely Cat-Wells is an entrepreneur and disability rights advocate that truly believes kindness can change the world. At 17, Keely was living her dream of attending a dance academy in London when she started experiencing health scares which led to multiple surgeries, medical malpractice and ended with a permanent ileostomy. It changed the trajectory of her life, and it led Keely to create monumental change for the disability community with the launch of her businesses C Talent and Making Space – both aimed at creating space for disabled talent. Most recently, Keely worked with disability rights advocate Sophie Morgan to get more disabled talent employed on NBC’s Paralympics coverage as well as a first look deal with Hello Sunshine. Today, on PRETTYSMART, Keely reflects on how she’s helping disabled artists and creators achieve their dreams and why starting her own business was the smartest decision she’s ever made. She shares:

• How she went from living her dream as a dancer to navigating malpractice and mistreatment by the health system at 17. 
• How her life changed when she realized that even though she may not live her original dream, she can still help others realize theirs.
• How she understands her own disability in the disability community.
• How she lost a job because of disability discrimination, and how it led her to creating her own agency for disabled artists: C Talent.
• That she’s made peace with the journey she’s currently on as opposed to what could’ve been. 
• The untapped power of the disability community, and how she’s trying to harness it to create long lasting change.
• What portrayals of disabled characters she’d like to see in Hollywood.
• The parallels between entrepreneurship and the lived experience of disability.
• How the mission of her company, Making Space Media, is to center the disabled voice.
• How people can be an ally to the disability community.
• What she’s learned from Gloria Steinham.
• How Making Space worked with NBC Sports to increase the employment of disabled people at the Paralympics.

Follow Keely here

Check out Making Space here

Book Rec: Driving Forwards: An inspirational memoir of resilience and empowerment after life-changing injury by Sophie Morgan

Do you have imposter syndrome? You’re not alone—70% of people will experience imposter syndrome at some point, and today, Dr. Lisa Orbé-Austin is here to help us break free. As a psychologist, imposter syndrome expert, and bestselling author of Own Your Greatness and Your Unstoppable Greatness, Dr. Orbé-Austin dives deep into how imposter syndrome shows up in our lives—and, most importantly, how we can overcome it. In this episode of PRETTYSMART, she reveals:

• The subtle signs that imposter syndrome is creeping in
• The powerful link between self-worth and imposter syndrome
• Is there a link between imposter syndrome and perfectionism?
• How your upbringing shapes those feelings of self-doubt
• Are women especially vulnerable to imposter syndrome?
• Her personal experience battling imposter syndrome—even on the Today Show
• The two main cycles of imposter syndrome: overwork and self-sabotage
• How it impacts our personal lives and relationships
• Why marginalized groups are hit the hardest
• Simple steps to start loving yourself through it all

Follow Dr. Lisa Orbé-Austin here

Check out her latest book here

Book Rec: The First 90 Days by Michael D. Watkins

She’s a Grammy-winning, multi-platinum rapper, singer-songwriter, Emmy-nominated actor, mother, philanthropist, and entrepreneur. You know her for the iconic hit Who’s That Girl? Now, Eve is here on PRETTYSMART, ready to finally answer that question. In her new memoir, she opens up like never before, giving us an intimate glimpse into her life and journey as she shares:

• How she knew she didn’t want a regular life and was destined for something big.
• How she never imagined her music career would go beyond just her debut album.
• Her experience with Ruff Ryders and how it differed from her experience with men in rap in general. 
• How she deals with fear and why it’s a constant companion in her life. 
• Working as a stripper for two months (and why she sort of regrets opening up about it in her memoir). 
• Her focus and “do or die” mentality. 
• When she realized her life had really changed.
• Her struggle with alcohol and how the realizations she had about that whie writing her memoir. 
• Her struggles with loneliness and depression even though she didn’t realize that was what it was at the time.
• Why she love the lyrical beefing between Kendrick Lamar and Drake.
• Her two favorite songs to perform.
• Her thoughts on women in rap now.
• Why Nicki Minaj being cast in Barbershop 2 sent her back to therapy. 
• How Jay z was an “Invisible Bully” and why she thinks those types of bullies are actually valuable. 
• Her Ectopic pregnancy, IVF, struggles to conceive and why becoming a mom at 43 has been so wonderful for her. 
• What has set her apart from others in the industry. 
• Why you should always be open to the pivot.
• Healing from her baggage from past toxic relationships when she started dating her now husband, Max
• When we will get new music (and if Fetish by Eve will ever return!)

Grab a copy of Eve’s Memoir “Who’s That Girl?” Here!

Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

At just 14, Taylor Hill became a full-time model, and by 18, she had booked the career-defining role of walking in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, becoming one of the youngest models to do so. Since then, Taylor has graced the covers of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar and walked for fashion powerhouses like Versace, Chanel, and Dolce & Gabbana during Fashion Weeks in New York, Milan, and Paris. Now 28, Taylor is stepping into a new chapter as an entrepreneur, launching Tate & Taylor, a brand offering a holistic shopping experience for pet owners. On PRETTYSMART, Taylor reflects on her 14-year fashion career as a supermodel and the unconditional love driving her latest venture. She shares:

• How modeling helped her with her self confidence as a teenager.
• The difference between a good model and a great model.
• How showing off her personality helped her land a top modeling job as a Victoria’s Secret Angel.
• How the VS Angels became like big sisters to her.
• Why she respects Gisele Bündchen so much
• Learning how her self-image and self-worth needed to come from her and not her job.
• How her company, Tate & Taylor, was inspired by her late labradoodle, Tate, and his battle with cancer.
• How her late pet Tate was there for her when she needed him the most.
• The moment she knew she had a connection with her new dog, Salem.
• Her journey from fashion model to business founder in the pet industry.

Follow Taylor here

Check out Tate & Taylor here

Book Rec: Many Lives, Many Masters by Brian L. Weiss, M.D.

Is your heart the key to the transformation you’ve been seeking? New York Times best-selling author, holistic wellness expert, and nutritionist to stars like Drew Barrymore, Reese Witherspoon, and Channing Tatum – Kimberly Snyder shares insights from her latest book, The Hidden Power of the Five Hearts, which maps out a path to personal transformation that can happen almost overnight.  Backed by decades of research from the HeartMath Institute, Kimberly shares:

• The 5 stages of the heart 
• The science behind heart-brain communication
• How achieving heart coherence can significantly impact everything from anxiety and depression to cardiovascular health.
• How to tap into heart intelligence, boost energy, and heal relationships
• Kimberly shares how an unexpected dinner led to meeting her husband and experiencing a life-changing "nonlinear leap" of love. 
• How we are digesting our feelings (literally and figuratively)
• Offers powerful tools to unlock more peace, clarity, and purpose in your life.
• The power of our hearts– from ancient wisdom to groundbreaking science.
• How to be magnetic, using your heart chakra (and the 40,000 neurons in our heart)!
• How to keep a warm heart 

Follow Kimberly here.

Grab a copy of Kimberly’s book here.

For over two decades, Emmy & Peabody Award winning Journalist, Sarah Spain has made her mark as a sports reporter. She’s spent over a dozen of those years at ESPN, working as a host, producer and writer. She’s also a radio host and hosts her own podcast “Good Game with Sarah Spain” on iHeart. Today she’s joining PRETTYSMART to share her journey from young athlete to award winning sports journalist. She shares: 

• Why it never occurred to her growing up that she could have a career in sports. 
• Why we need to do a better job talking to young girls about sports. 
• Her thoughts on the controversies surrounding sports and Trans athletes.
• What she’s had to put up with as a female sports reporter and how it has shaped her opinion of men. 
• Why she chooses empathy over anger when it comes to trolls on the internet. 
• How the skills she developed growing up playing sports helped her in her career.
• Why she’s not surprised that 94% of C Suite women at Fortune 500 companies were college athletes. . 
• Why she believes women playing sports is like giving the middle finger to the idea of women having one lane/only being allowed in certain spaces.
• Her thoughts on women’s professional sports  and why it’s taken so long for people to care more about them.

Follow Sarah on Instagram 

Listen to Sarah’s Podcast 

Curious about open marriage or ethical non-monogamy? In this episode, Molly Roden Winter shares her candid journey. At 35, Molly was a happily married teacher in Brooklyn with two young sons. But one night, feeling suffocated, she walked into a neighborhood bar and found herself desiring another man. What followed transformed her life and marriage. Molly reveals:

• The path to ethical non-monogamy and how she sought more than casual connections.
• How opening her marriage strengthened her bond with her husband.
• The self-discovery journey that came with navigating multiple relationships.
• The evolution of their open marriage, what’s worked, what hasn’t, and how therapy played a role.
• The impact of her open marriage on her sons and family.
• Why she felt compelled to write a book about her experience.
• The importance of children seeing their mothers as whole, fulfilled individuals.

You can buy Molly’s Book, “More: A Memoir of Open Marriage” Here

And follow her on Instagram here!

Books: A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle, Anna Karenina Leo Tolstoy

Cat Lantigua is a first-generation Dominican-American author, community architect, podcast host and creative strategist helping to build spaces that foster soul-centered conversations and a sense of belonging. Today she joins PRETTYSMART to share all about her new book “Build It and They Will Come - A Guide to Architecting Intentional Community.” She Shares:

• How she learned to embrace herself as a kid even though she felt she was always standing out.
• How she manifested friendships that really allowed her to be herself. 
• Why it’s so important to leave room for spontaneity and get out of your routine if you’re looking to expand your community or become a different version of yourself.
• What led her to create the Goddess Council and bring people together in community.
• Why everyone is lonelier than we realize. 
• Why we need to get back to caring about other people’s pain. 
• How social media has made us forget that we are all human beings and her tips to get off line and into IRL.
• Her top tips for hosting a get together. 
• Why you have to push through the awkwardness of putting yourself out there (and off of your phone!) 
• Why true friendship and a community you feel safe in won’t happen until you really practice self love. 

Follow Cat on Instagram @cat.lantigua 

Her book “Build It And They Will Come.” is available here!