Solace and the City

This week I had the opportunity to record with a local Austin musician, Mitchell Davis!  I actually first met Mitchell when I was walking on the pedestrian bridge in downtown Austin.  My friend Cole was about to propose to his girlfriend, so I asked Mitchell if he would be willing to play a song for them when he got down on one knee, and he agreed without hesitation!  After such an incredible encounter, I obviously had to invite him to come on the podcast!  In this episode, Mitchell and I talk about what motivated him to become a musician and how he has acclimated to the Austin scene.  Make sure to listen to the end of the episode to hear Mitchell's incredible voice!  To learn more about Mitchell, you can check him out on Instagram at @mitchelldavismusic.

This week I am so excited to be sharing my conversation with Candy Washington -- a writer, podcast host, actor, influencer, and the founder of 1214 Media Productions.  In this episode, we about codependency and the ways in which it manifests in all different types of relationships.  Candy provides thoughtful insights on how to recover from codependency based on her own experience as well as from the research she conducted on the topic for her latest novel, Triggered.  Candy is also the executive producer, writer, and lead actress of Narcissist, a psychological thriller that’s available on Amazon Prime Video and SofyTV.  She shares the inspiration behind this short film and shares why all of us should hold ourselves accountable for the content we share and curate when utilizing social media.  To learn more about Candy, you can visit candywashington.com and follow her @candywashington on Instagram!

This week I feel incredibly privileged to share my conversation with bestselling author and financial editor of NBC's Today Show, Jon Birger!  Anyone who knows me personally can tell you that I am an avid listener of dating podcasts such as We Met At Acme.  However, I have always found the guidance to "ignore the guy in order to get the guy" to be quite perplexing and, from my own experience, fruitless.  So when I heard about Jon's recent book Make Your Move, I was so excited to hear a new perspective on dating in the 21st Century.  After devouring his novel in less than two days, I found solace in the fact that heterosexual single women like myself were not doomed to live a life alone nor subject to waiting around for a partner.  I thus reached out to see if Jon would speak on Solace and the City to inspire other single listeners on how they can take the reigns when navigating the dating world.  I am SO excited to share our conversation and encourage you all to check out Jon's book(s) by visiting jonbirger.com!!

Here's a little bit more about Jon's new book, Make Your Move, for anyone interested in buying a copy: "Apps have transformed dating from a mysterious adventure into a daily chore. Young, single, college-educated women are sick and tired of competing for a shrinking supply of guys. And marriage-material men, long expected to take the lead when it comes to asking women out, are suddenly balking at making the first move, fearing they’ll come across as creepy or inappropriate.

Society is changing, which means it’s time for dating to evolve. Millennial and Gen Z women are more than capable of seeking out what—and who—they want. They’re standouts in the classroom and champions on the playing fields. They’re leaders in the workplace and trailblazers in city halls, state houses, and Congress. So why would we tell a generation of badass women that they’re not allowed to be bold when it comes to finding love? Why should they have to sit back and wait (and wait and wait) for men to find them?"

This week I had the privilege of speaking to Sarah Edmondson, defector of the NXIVM cult and author of "Scarred: The True Story of How I Escaped the Cult that Bound My Life."  In 2005, when NXIVM, a personal and professional development company, promised to provide the tools and insight Sarah needed to reach her potential, she was intrigued. Over her twelve-year tenure, she went from student to coach and eventually operated her own NXIVM center in Vancouver. Questions kept coming up about the organization’s rules and practices, which came to a head in 2017 when she accepted an invitation from her best friend to join DOS, a “secret sisterhood” within NXIVM.

Sarah’s full story as a whistleblower is featured in the CBC podcast “Uncover: Escaping NXIVM” (downloaded over 25 million times) and “The Vow”, the critically acclaimed HBO documentary series on NXIVM.  In 2019, Sarah published Scarred: The True Story of How I Escaped NXIVM, the Cult that Bound My Life, with Kristine Gasbarre. In this tell-all memoir, she shares her story from the moment she takes her first seminar to her harrowing fight to get out of NXIVM, collaborate with the FBI, help others, and heal.

Sarah is keeping the conversation via her own podcast, "A Little Bit Culty,"  by exploring the fads, beliefs, and trends that blur the line between devotion and dysfunction. Co-hosted by her husband and fellow NXIVM whistleblower Nippy, the podcast is part conversational coffee date and part deep dive on everything from Waco to lululemon. And while there was nothing small about Sarah’s cult experience, “A Little Bit Culty” is grounded in her mission to help people understand, heal from, and avoid abusive situations, one little red flag at a time.

I have TikTok royalty on this week's episode!  This week I got to sit down with the one and only @hellotefi, a hilarious, kind, and down-to-early comedian.  Her knowledge and honest take on advice and pop culture has gained her well-deserved recognition on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. Tefi had to overcome a number of mental health struggles before launching her career at In Style Magazine and creating viral videos about pop culture.  In this episode, we talk about her battle with an eating disorder, toxic work environments, navigating vulnerability in a new relationship, and the highs and lows of the COVID-19 pandemic.  I could not stop laughing while speaking to Tefi and I highly encourage EVERYONE to go follow her on TikTok and Instagram right now.  Warning: You will find yourself watching her videos for way too long!

This week I had the incredible privilege to speak with best-selling author and a speaker on survival, loss, and recovery, Matthew Bocchi.  After his father died on 9/11 in the World Trade Center, Matt began an obsessive quest to find out exactly how he died. In the first memoir told by a child of 9/11, Matt intimately delves into the psychological and emotional torment that ensued after his father’s death. With heartbreaking vulnerability, he details how his incessant quest resulted in a devastating act of violence that stripped his innocence as a young man. As Matt spirals down a bottomless pit of drug abuse, he willfully risks his life in search of the next high—all in an attempt to forget his past. Now at twenty-eight years old and sober, he recounts his unique story—one full of heartbreak and despair, grief and uncertainty, but most importantly, happiness and hope. The lesson he teaches us is clear but intricate: No matter how far you fall, you can always rise again. No matter how far you stray, you can always find your way home. And no matter how wide you sway, you can always pick up the pieces and stand tall. You can find Sway on Amazon or at Barnes and Noble, and I highly encourage you all to check it out!

CW: Addiction, sexual abuse, suicide ideation.

This week I virtually sat down with sustainability content creator and long-time friend, Delilah Harvey!  Delilah's passion for sustainable living goes back to our shared high school days, and she recently has become popular on TikTok for her videos highlighting alternatives to fast-fashion.  In this episode, Delilah provides tips and tricks to living a more eco-friendly life.  She also talks about the incredible summer she had, including a TikTok video she posted that quite literally broke the internet!  To keep up with Delilah, you can follow her on Instagram @delilah.harvey and on TikTok @delilah_isabel!

Happy Monday everyone, and welcome to Season Three of Solace and the City!!! I am so honored to kick off this new season with two legendary guests, the creators of the iconic Instagram account and media brand Friday Beers! In this episode, Max and Jack Barrett walk be through the journey behind Friday Beers, the experience of going viral, and the rewarding opportunities that have come from creating a community of likeminded millennials. Max and Jack are both therapy advocates, so they explain the many ways in which Friday Beers has provided solace to its audience. There are so many exciting things in store for this dynamic duo, so be sure to follow them on Instagram @fridaybeers and listen to their podcast Welcome To Friday!

Hi everyone!   I decided to post a solo episode this week and, to be honest, I'm a little nervous about it going live.  With a family trip to Greece on the horizon, I’ve had a lot on my mind and been quite nervous about returning to a place with so many memories.  To some of you this may seem strange, and I recognize the privilege in having anxiety about traveling to one of the most beautiful countries on this planet.  However, as I've touched on in a few of my previous episodes, my most recent trip to Greece marked the depths of my mental health crisis.  In an effort to help process some of the grief I still hold onto, I decided to share some of the reasons I am nervous about returning to a country that once brought me so much joy.  So here's my story.  

CW: I disclose many intricate details of my eating disorder in this episode, so feel free to pause or stop the podcast if this content is triggering to you.  If you are currently struggling with an eating disorder or any other anxiety-based illness, please don't hesitate to get help from one of the following resources: 

NAMI: 1-800-950-NAMI

NEDA: 1-800-931-2237

Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

If you relate to my struggle at all, please don't be afraid to message me.  I don't have any clinical expertise on this topic, but I can certainly relate to what you're going through.  Much love 🤍