THE CITY CONFESSIONS

THE CITY CONFESSIONS

By Mariann YipSociety & Culture
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THE CITY CONFESSIONS episodes

  • Ep 149: Marilyn Hucek- Emerging American Pop Singer- Songwriter Based in NYC/ DC- Moment She Decided to Follow Her Dreams- Auditioning for The Voice- Being Her Own Fan and Cheerleader
    This week's guest is emerging American Pop Singer/ Songwriter based in NYC and DC, Marilyn Hucek. In this episode, we talk about her pursuing her dream as a music artist and her rebirth and rediscovery for her passion. The topics we cover include:
    – Marilyn Hucek's internal struggle of wanting to be a singer but not thinking it was possible
    – Auditioning for the Voice without anybody knowing (why she kept it a secret and what she learned from it)
    – The moment she decided to follow her dreams (how covid pushed her to be an artist, struggling with personal family matters, overcoming fears and insecurities)
    – Asking for help and tapping into her network
    – Being Her own fan and cheerleader
    – Behind the scenes: creative process, releasing a song, booking concerts
    – Confession about funding and believing in herself
    If you are available on June 27, definitely check out Marilyn Huckek's show at Mercury Lounge. Tickets can be found here: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/00005CA2059F5596
    ABOUT MARILYN HUCKEK:
    Marilyn Hucek, is an American-Chilean pop singer-songwriter. Born in Washington D.C., Marilyn currently resides in New York City. After dreaming of being a pop star since before she can remember, Marilyn auditioned for The Voice with hopes of finally starting her career. After not securing a spot on the TV show, Marilyn had all but lost hope in a career as an artist. During the stay-at-home order of 2020 her father, who suffers from Alzheimer’s, contracted coronavirus while at a retirement home. In order to cope with her inability to visit him, Marilyn returned to songwriting, which she had used to express her emotions since she was young, and gave life to a special song she dedicated to her father and soon became her debut single. Since then, Marilyn has released several singles and an EP which collectively received hundreds of thousands of streams on Spotify. Marilyn is currently working on new music.
    Music, Concert Ticket, Socials: https://listen.marilynhucek.com/profile
    25 min
  • Ep 148: Debora- NYC Content Creator, Youtuber and Photographer - Maintaining her Identity with Social Media -Pros and Cons of being an Empath- Power of Goal Setting- Her Relationship with NYC

    In this episode, I am joined by my good friend Debora also known as Deb, who is a NYC content creator, Youtuber and photographer. We sit down to talk about her journey and story with social media. 

    Other topics include: 

    - What her relationship with NYC is: identity with being an American Haitian (what that means to her and what that means from the world)

    - Her journey and story with social media: how she got started (teaching herself everything she needed to know with content creation including video editing, photography, etc)
    - How she structures her days: what her morning routine looks like, why she sets goals and what her personal goals are at the moment
    - Being an Empath: how she balances that out with taking care of herself
    - Confession regarding NYC and her love for it

    Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend!

    You can also email any questions or feedback to [email protected].

    You can find and connect with Deb bellow:
    https://www.instagram.com/msnerdychica/
    https://youtube.com/msnerdychica
    https://amzn.to/3lhhSaK

    30 min
  • Ep 147: Phillip Lim- Asian Fashion Designer- What is House of Slay and How He Got Involved - Partnership with Diageo - Opening up about Stage Fright Being a Public Figure
    I am so thrilled and honored to have American fashion designer, Phillip Lim on this week's episode of The City Confessions to talk all about House of Slay, partnership with Diageo and his commitment to amplify Asian voices. 
    The structure of this episode is as follows:
    - How Phillip Lim got started in the fashion industry: breaking the expectation of being a lawyer and doctor growing up in an asian family and following his dreams as a designer and creative 
    - House of Slay: what it is and how it got started (social platform to amplify Asian voices and create a safe and fun community)
    - Partnership with Diageo: how that came to be and why the partnership makes sense for both companies 
    - What his Superpower is in House of Slay Comic: protecting family, friends and community
    - Opening up about stage fright as his confession even though he is a public figure and fashion designer
    Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend! You can also email any questions or feedback to [email protected].
    About House of Slay and Diageo partnership:
    In Celebration of AAPI Heritage Month, DIAGEO Partners with Asian Creative Collective, House of Slay to Bring a Sensorial Day/Night Market Experience to NYC From coast to coast, DIAGEO honors the rich Asian diaspora with pop-up night markets in NYC and LA, striving to shape a more inclusive and sustainable world for all. Diageo and its brands Johnnie Walker, Tequila Don Julio, Tanqueray and Smirnoff Pink Lemonade are honoring AAPI Heritage Month by partnering with House of Slay: designers Prabal Gurung, Phillip Lim, designer and creative director Laura Kim, socialite Tina Leung and Ezra J. William; collectively known as the “Slaysians.” The AAPI-founded, fashion-forward collective is united by a single mission: stop anti-Asian discrimination while creating safe, inclusive spaces for underrepresented people from all walks of life.
    https://thehouseofslay.com/
    https://www.instagram.com/houseofslay/
    https://www.instagram.com/therealphilliplim/
    15 min
  • Ep 146: Alison Hall - Reporter and Anchor in NYC - Challenges and Highlights of Being a Journalist- Clarifying Misconceptions as a Reporter - Covering the Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
    This week's guest is Alison Hall, a reporter for Inside Edition and Anchor at Law & Crime. In this episode, we dive into what it's really like being a journalist and reporter in NYC, covering breaking news and navigating the media industry. 
    Alison and I also discuss: 
    - How she got into journalism and why she moved to NYC  
    - What it’s really like being a reporter and anchor in NYC (including highlights and challenges)
    - How she carved out a niche for herself at Inside Edition  
    - Understanding the theory of journalism and the core values of the industry  
    - Misconceptions of journalists and the challenges of being a reporter  
    - Overview of her schedule and mastering the skills of being camera ready in 10 minutes  
    - How she viewed success before moving to NYC and what success means to her today
    - Being grateful and celebrating the present
    - Confession involving being alone in the rain in Central Park   
    Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend! You can also email any questions or feedback to [email protected].
    -----------------------------------
    ABOUT ALISON HALL:
    Alison is the host of Between Headlines and is a multimedia journalist based in New York City, currently serving as a Correspondent & Producer at America’s longest-running national news magazine, Inside Edition. Alison launched the podcast, Between Headlines in Fall 2020, interviewing newsmakers and the people behind today’s biggest news stories. Alison’s first independent documentary-short ‘Ken’s Story’ was published online by Canada’s largest national newspaper, The Globe and Mail in 2017 to much critical acclaim. 
    With Inside Edition, Alison has traveled across the United States, telling the stories that people talk about and share. She has covered the biggest stories of the last decade, from the Black Lives Matter protests of 2014 and 2020, to how America is adjusting to the new reality of Covid-19 to serving as a court reporter for the landmark #MeToo cases of both the Weinstein and Cosby trials. Alison is equally versed in legalese as entertainment jargon, having covered award shows, red carpets and the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in England in 2018. Alison frequently appears on the Inside Edition YouTube channel which is the #1 news and politics channel with 10 million subscribers. 
    Alison has put her passion to work in both the United States and Canada in online, television and documentary mediums, always striving to understand the people behind the headlines. Alison is the co-founder of a charity event, The Challenge for Life, that has raised over $8 million dollars for cancer research in her hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Alison was once named Canada’s Top 20 Under 20 and carried the Olympic torch over the Esplanade Riel Bridge helping to kick off the 2010 Winter Olympics. She lives in New York City with her fiance and bernese mountain dog.
    https://www.instagram.com/alisonhallreporting/
    www.betweenheadlines.com
    31 min
  • Ep 145: Berto Calkins- Vegan Social Media Content Creator from NYC- Why and How He decided to Adopt a Vegan Lifestyle - His Love for Traveling and Fear of Flying- Being a Private Person on Social Medi
    Today's guest is Berto Calkins, a Vegan Social Media Content Creator from NYC. Like myself, Berto grew up in the Lower East Side and now resides in Brooklyn, so we have a shared common foundation. In this episode, Berto and I talk about the following topics:
    - How he started his vegan journey: why he decided to become vegan and what that transition was like
    - Why having support is important when you’re making a lifestyle change
    -What Berto’s friend group and circle is like and how they dine together
    - How he cultivated a detachment mindset in life which has helped him on his lifestyle change
    - Showcasing travels on his social media and bringing his audience on his vegan food adventures: how he is impacting the people around him
    - Opening up about what traveling has done for him
    - Why he keeps a lot of his private things in life to himself
    - A city confession that a lot of people don't know but is valid!
    Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend! You can also email any questions or feedback to [email protected].
    ---------------------------------
    ABOUT BERTO:
    Based in Brooklyn, Berto is a vegan food, travel and wellness content creator who has been vegan for over 8 years. Sharing his life observations with a dose of positivity and sometimes humor, he provides his followers with different ways to move your body and accessible vegan food options on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Be sure to tune in for his podcast series, The Berto Calkins Podcast, for a peak into his day-to-day life, and thoughts on the ever evolving world of wellness. He is also a former CPT, Fitness Nutrition Specialist, and eCornell Plant-Based Nutrition Certified.
    https://www.instagram.com/whatsgoodberto/?hl=en
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN5DbX_Kt2qVq038KN_U3WA
    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-berto-calkins-podcast/id1539170580
    37 min
  • Ep 144: Kira Jones- Founder of Cacti Wellness Collective- Moving to NYC & Love for City - Connection Between Wellness and Productivity - Power of Habits - Productivity Tips- Breaking Cycles/ Routine

    This week's guest is Kira Jones, the Founder of Cacti Wellness Collective, which is a wellness and productivity platform for ambitious women. In this episode we talk all things related to mindset, productivity and wellness. The topics we discuss include:

    • How and Why Kira Jones created Cacti Wellness Collective
    • Finding What Works for You: morning routine, workout, habits
    • Productivity Tips for Beginners and getting clear about your goals
    • Manifestation affirmation: Universe, show me how good it gets
    • Breaking our routines and cycles to level up 
    • How to Reprogram our minds and lifestyles
    • A City Confession from a new New York resident

      • You can all use the code 'CITYCONFESSIONS' for a free month of membership on the Cacti Wellness Collective platform*

      Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend! You can also email any questions or feedback to [email protected].

      --------------------------------------------------------

      ABOUT KIRA:

      Kira's wellness journey began in 2015 when she was a marketing undergrad at DePaul University with a full academic schedule, an internship, and two part-time jobs. Working that hard was causing extreme stress and anxiety, so she turned to fitness and meditation as a way to release that pent up energy and calm her mind.

      In 2019, she set out to combine her business background and passion for wellness & productivity into a blog, Cacti Wellness. Flash forward to 2020, she launched 'Cacti Wellness Collective', an OTT platform for ambitious women who want to take care of business while taking care of themselves. After living in Chicago, Los Angeles, and now- NYC, Kira is passionate about bringing access to innovative, urban wellness trends and practices to the masses across the US and beyond.


      Website: www.cactiwellnesscollective.com

      App: www.cactiapp.com

      Instagram: instagram.com/cactiwellness


      37 min
    • Ep 143: Divya Gugnani - Co-Founder & CEO of Wander Beauty- Difficulties and Realities of Being a Serial Entrepreneur- Using Instagram Community as a tool for the Business and New Product Launches
      This week's guest is Divya Gugnai, the Co-Founder and CEO of Wander Beauty, a serial entrepreneur and a mom of two. As someone who has built several companies and have sold them, we sit down to talk about her journey, what she's learned and where she's at now. Other topics we discuss include:
      Divya Leaving Corporate Finance World to Being an Entrepreneur: her story and journey
      Skills and Traits of a Serial Entrepreneur: difficulties and realities of growing and selling businesses 
      How the idea of Wander Beauty came to be, how she met her Co-Founder Lindsay and the company grew with social media
      Using Instagram Community as Focus Groups and Taking the consumers along the journey 
      Truth when it comes to balancing life with being a mom and being an entrepreneur
      Evolution of Success and Happiness and what how those definitions have changed throughout the years 
      Her City Confession involving makeup and fire round answers to questions involving NYC
      Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend! You can also email any questions or feedback to [email protected].
      About Divya Gugnai:
      Divya Gugnani, CEO and Co-Founder of Wander Beauty, spent nearly 20 years searching for beauty essentials that could keep up with her on-the-go lifestyle.After earning her B.S. from Cornell University and M.B.A. from Harvard Business School, Divya began her career in investment banking at Goldman Sachs before moving on to private equity and venture capital at Investcorp International and FirstMark Capital. A self-proclaimed ‘accidental entrepreneur,’ she later left the finance world after selling her first business, and, bitten by the startup bug, went on to become a serial entrepreneur. After co-founding multiple companies and having children, she found her former beauty rituals tossed to the wayside asshe became more time-starved than ever.
      Balancing a thriving career and motherhood left Divya applying concealer during her morning subway commute and touching up her lipstick in between meetings in the backseat of a cab. She soon realized that her beauty products and routine weren’t made for beauty in motion: There were too many products, an arsenal of “must-have” tools, and products were housed in packaging that was too heavy, bulky, and fragile to take beyond her vanity. She needed products that saved time in her day, space in her beauty bag and that never sacrificed on performance. 
      Thus, Wander Beauty was born. Launched in 2015 with Wander Beauty creates effortless essentials you reach for every day, wherever you wander. Each essential is co-created with our community and enriched with clean, globally sourced ingredients that work with your skin, not against it. With over 30 prestigious beauty awards, Wander Beauty has a loyal following of celebrities, top journalists, and notable beauty and style influencers.
      https://www.wanderbeauty.com/
      https://www.instagram.com/wander_beauty/
      29 min
    • Ep 142: Dr. Lauren Becker - General and Cosmetic Dentist based in NYC - Changing Stigma on Dentistry - Realities of Being a Dentist - Creating a Comfortable Ambiance and Culture - Dental Tips
      Today we are joined by Dr. Lauren Becker, a general and cosmetic dentist based in NYC. Topics that we discuss include the following:
      • How Dr. Lauren Becker got into dentistry and the moment she decided she wanted to be a dentist
      • Transition of working for someone else to working by herself, including challenges and highlights of opening her own practice
      • Realities of working a as a dentist: day to day activities working on patients and behind the scenes of her work
      • Creating a comfortable ambiance in her office: why she loves her team and her business
      • Dental and hygiene tips
      • How her definition of success has evolved over the years
      • Her city confession involving the love for the theater
      Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend! You can also email any questions or feedback to [email protected].
      About Dr. Lauren Becker
      Dr. Lauren Becker is a general and cosmetic dentist with a wide range of skills and experience in the field of dentistry. Dr. Lauren Becker received her Bachelor of Science degree in Cell and Molecular Biology from Binghamton University. Immediately following her undergraduate education, Dr. Lauren Becker was accepted to New York University College of Dentistry where she received a Doctorate of Dental Surgery. Dr. Lauren Becker has completed a postgraduate residency at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York.
      Dr. Lauren Becker returned to her alma mater New York University College of Dentistry to advance her training in implantology, where she completed a 2 year fellowship in the placement and restoration of dental implants.
      Dr. Lauren Becker lives on the upper east side of Manhattan where she enjoys spending time with her husband, Michael, two daughters, Marlowe and Chandler, and their dog, Herschel. She enjoys traveling, Broadway shows, all things Bravo and Bachelor, and is a Friend of The Pod.
      http://literallythebestdentistever.com/
      https://www.instagram.com/drlaurenbecker/
      31 min
    • Ep 141: Emily Roberts- Cofounder of Monday Network- American Living in London - Struggles of Transitioning Lifestyles - Power of Self Development, Networking and Patience - Embracing Life Changes
      Today's guest is Em Roberts, a content creator, podcaster, and co-founder of Monday Network.  She is an American now living in London, and we chat about her current life and the below topics:
      - Why she moved to London and what that transition was like
      - Realities of moving to a new city and finding her footing through networking and patience
      - What inspired her to start her podcast, The Big Move and why she co-founded Monday Network
      - Why Em values self development and mental health (in her personal and professional life)
      - Similarities and Differences in New York and London lifestyles
      - Challenges and Highlights of her blogging/podcasting career
      - Defining Happiness and Joy 
      - Confession regarding her first NYC apartment involving bed bugs and mice and what NYC has taught her 
      Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend! You can also email any questions or feedback to [email protected].
      About Emily Roberts:
      Em is a content creator, podcaster, and co-founder of Monday Network.  An American now living in London, she created her style blog, The Lipstick Fever in NYC in 2015 alongside working full-time in adtech.  She's been recognized by The Huffington Post as a top micro-influencer in 2018, as well as The Evening Standard, Elle, and Sheerluxe, and continues to grow her audience and platforms in the UK / EU through content creation and partnerships with her favorite brands (Elemis, French Connection, NARS, and Tommy Hilfiger to name a few).  She built her podcast 'The Big Move' in 2019, inspired by global boss ladies who are making #moves both professionally and geographically.  With guests like Marianna Hewitt, E! Host Zanna Rassi Roberts, and authors like Luvvie Ajayi Jones and Sarah Knight, she is sharing some of the top female founders and entrepreneurs success stories and their 'big moves' to in turn inspire audiences to do the same. She is now also the co-founder of a new podcast network called Monday, a female-led collective aiming to bring together podcasters and listeners around themes of self-development.
      https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-big-move/id1459351637
      https://www.instagram.com/emroberts.m
      https://www.instagram.com/monday_network/
      https://www.instagram.com/thebigmovepodcast/
      35 min
    • Ep 140: Taylor Fellman- Founder of Sh*t You Should Eat - Leaving Her Job to Build Her Own Brand- Love for Food and Art- Confessions Relating to Olives and Chopped Liver - Top NYC Restaurants
      Today's guest is Taylor Fellman, who is the founder of Sh*t You Should Eat. We are recording this episode together in person, and we discus the following topics:
      - How Taylor founded her brand and came up with the name Sh*t You Should Eat
      - How we met and the power of energy and intentions
      - Challenges running and starting her own business
      - Her unique and funny trip to Burlington involving baby shoes 
      - Her love for food and confession about olives and chopped liver
      - Favorite NYC Restaurants
      - Thoughts on unexpected food combinations and creations and more!
      About: Taylor Fellman, Founder and CEO of Sh*t You Should Eat
      Taylor Fellman is originally from Florida and is a nationally-ranked figure skater. She traveled and competed year-round and also danced for The Florida Panthers before heading to college. She studied Hospitality Management and Business and created SYSE in 2022.
      She's been the biggest foodie practically her whole life and has always enjoyed connecting with people. This is where her passion for creating Sh*t You Should Eat began. SYSE’s mission is to inspire positivity and a hunger for new experiences.
      https://shityoushouldeat.com/
      https://www.instagram.com/shityoushouldeat/
      Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend! You can also email any questions or feedback to [email protected].
      33 min

    About THE CITY CONFESSIONS

    From the publisher's feed

    In The City Confessions, host and Native New Yorker Mariann Yip leads an ongoing, causal and raw discussion with real people living in the city to share and laugh about their highs and most…