the anastasiya podcast

Welcome to Season 2, Episode 1 of The Anastasiya Podcast. I rang in the New Year doing what I probably shouldn’t have been doing… doom scrolling, and I didn’t even notice the clock strike midnight...*eye roll*. That‘s exactly why I was excited to start a social media hiatus!

This year, I’m not trying to become someone new, instead I am excited to free up time that has always technically been there, but I was too distracted to notice. I am starting off the new year focusing on my health and wellbeing while being the best mom and wife I can be. And this time around when things feel hard, instead of giving up I will aim to rest, reset, and pivot to keep going.

I’m leaning into restructuring my free time, making the most of daily hikes with Volkie, cutting back on sugar (please send help), and maybe, just maybe, finally figuring out a decent bedtime routine. Nothing about this feels foolproof, but I’m giving myself permission to try, and that feels like a really good place to start.

I’m closing out 2025 the way I love to start a new year: by setting new goals. But this time, I had to pause and recalibrate. While riding the high of reaching one year of parenthood, I found myself getting ahead of my current season and dreaming a little too big about our business before it was truly time.

This episode is a reflection on honoring the season I’m in, trusting Gods timing, and recognizing how full my cup already is. As my husband put it, from the moment our daughter wakes up to when she goes to sleep, her love tank is completely full- and that reminder shifted everything for me.

Sometimes winning the life lottery looks like exactly where you are: quieter than expected, but richer than you ever imagined.

When we set goals that align with our current season, growth still happens- just in the way it’s meant to.

This one is for the single person out there looking for their person.

I’m talking about why it can feel so easy to be clear about what we want in our careers, yet so hard to admit we want love - real love. Not just dating, but a spouse, a family, the whole picture. I share how self-protection can slowly harden your heart and why pretending that you’re “happy being single right now” often feels safer than being honest.

This conversation is about giving yourself permission to actually want what you want - and then living in alignment with it. You can’t say you want commitment while living a double life or playing games with others and then expect clarity.

If you’re feeling tired of dating, here’s the reminder:

It’s not supposed to work out with everyone because you’re looking for the one.

Even the bad dates matter because they get you one step closer to not ending up with the wrong person. When your actions line up with your prayers, things start to change!

I’m sharing a holiday-season mindset shift that surprised me: doing less so I could actually do more. As someone who loves going all out for the holidays, I’m learning what it looks like to lower my standards (on purpose) and live in the season of life I’m in right now.

I talk about simplifying Thanksgiving, choosing just two dishes (instead of six), and how that decision freed up the time and energy I needed to focus on a big design project for the salon. This episode is a reminder that you can’t do it all - and that’s not a failure. Sometimes letting one thing be “good enough” is exactly what allows another area of life to thrive.

If you’re feeling stretched thin this season, this one’s for you.

In my continued conversation with Sam, she shares what it felt like to hit the ceiling in her career and crave more. She opens up about spotting a massive gap in the extension market- not just in quality products, but truly masterful installation- and how that realization pushed her to invest in education, shift her schedule, and take bold leaps long before she knew what would come of them.

We dive into the real side of beauty: the highs, lows, growth, and grit. Sam explains why whether you rent your chair or work commission, you're running a business from that stylist seat, and you alone determine your ceiling. She believes every stylist can become a leader, but only if they truly want it and are willing to do the work.

Sam shares the risks she chose over the comfort zone, how she built deep trust with clients, and why consistency in those early years created loyalty and momentum. Her story will remind you that you’ll only go as far as you allow yourself to dream - and that staying committed to your vision brings the right people, opportunities, and success straight to your door.

I sit down with my friend and boss, Samantha, to talk about her journey from being a young girl obsessed with hair and all things beauty to becoming the owner of Salon Stella, and most recently a brand creator of her very own hair extension line, The Mane Collection™. Sam shares where her passion began and how each chapter of her career unfolded. From starting out in a corporatized salon, to stepping into the safety-net of a commission-based environment, to eventually taking the leap into chair rental, she walks us through the lessons learned in every season.

It’s funny how just when the chaos of life finally starts to settle, the next door of opportunity swings wide open. Ready or not, she took the biggest leap of faith and purchased her own salon. Unfortunately, it wasn’t all roses and butterflies, and smooth sailing from there. No matter how hard you try to be the perfect boss who gets it right every time, business ownership has a way of sharpening you. As a female, it will harden you, & that’s just a fact. In Part 2, we dive into what that hardness really looks like behind the scenes.

I’m coming to you solo and catching you up on all things Life Lately- starting with big news: we officially have a walker! Someone woke up on the morning of her 11-month birthday and decided she’s not a little-bitty baby anymore. I share how I audit my calendar and routines to figure out what’s working, what’s just wishful thinking, and which expectations I need to let go of. Momming is more than a full-time job- it’s not 9–5 or even 6–6. It’s 24/7, 365.

I also wonder: if I had gone back to a corporate job, would my baby have by default become a better sleeper because she wouldn’t have had a choice? Wake up, daycare drop-off, scheduled naps, pick-up, dinner, bedtime, repeat... I’ll never know!

And last but not least, I’m highlighting the ever-controversial Candace Owens this week. Love her or hate her, there’s no denying she has grit & grind- all while being a mom to four littles.

Matt and I break down our very first trip without the baby- the nerves, the freedom, and everything in between. The baby stayed with Grandparents and we headed off to a 3-day wedding retreat… and honestly? It was just what the Dr. ordered! We shared where we stayed, the good times, the beautiful scenery, and the questionable cleanliness of our hotel. Turns out bringing Volk turned the whole trip into a mini hiking adventure!

Being surrounded by vows, speeches, and that infectious wedding energy had me wanting to marry Matt all over again. The simplicity and boldness of true love reminded me that life gets richer when you build it with someone. You will go further together- and to all my friends waiting until they accomplish XYZ goals before pursuing love: you don’t need the perfect bank account, investment strategy, or portfolio to be worthy of meeting your person.

The whole weekend felt like one long fairytale date with my husband- a reset, a reminder, and a chance to dream all over again!

Anastasiya sits down with her friend Vera to share a story of courage, growth, and finding the love you truly deserve. What happens when you reach the end of your 20s, step into your 30s, and love doesn’t look the way you always imagined it would?

Once stuck in a long-term relationship that seemed picture-perfect on paper- a shared home, pets, and big plans for the future, Vera knew deep down it wasn’t her forever. When things took a turn for the worse, leaving didn’t feel possible… until she found the courage to listen to her gut.

Now, one year into marriage with the love of her life, she reflects on how timing, honesty, and self-awareness changed everything. Vera shares the honest truth about staying too long, losing herself in the process, and how finding herself again made finding real love possible.

Matt and I dive into what it really looks like to be both doers and dreamers in marriage and business. We talk about which of us leans more toward dreaming big and which one keeps things grounded- and how we’ve learned to find balance when those two worlds collide. From the early days of running our business together to how becoming parents (even when we were just dog parents!) shifted our rhythm. We share the lessons, challenges, and growth that have come with chasing goals side by side. Whether you’re building a business, a dream, or your family’s future, we hope this reminds you that the best things grow where communication & connection never stop.