At what point does a side hustle stop being a hobby? On this episode of The Messy Parts, Marla Aaron tells Maryam the exact moment she realized she could no longer hedge her ambition. What began as a creative outlet eventually became a full-fledged business, but not without years of doubt, rejection, and financial anxiety. In this episode, Marla and Maryam explore the tension between security and risk, why waiting to feel “ready” is a trap, and how fear can coexist with clarity. They also talk about loneliness, creativity, social media as an unexpected unlock, and what it really takes to start over later than planned.

Key Moments

“So Happy. Not Scared at All.” 😮
Marla describes the emotional moment she finally quit her corporate job and why relief outweighed fear.

Becoming Comfortable With Discomfort 🌍
Marla connects her childhood independence and studying abroad at 17 to her lifelong willingness to take risks.

Graduating Into a “Bad Job Market” 📉
Why Marla believes focusing on opportunity matters more than economic doom narratives for young professionals.

“I’m Scared of Everything.” 😬
A candid conversation about fear, impostor syndrome, and doing hard things anyway.

Choosing Money Over Passion (At First) 💼
Marla explains walking away from journalism due to low pay and financial anxiety.

Fired, Divorced, and a Single Mom 💥
The emotional and financial rock bottom that forced Marla to keep moving forward.

The Boring Job That Funded Creativity 🔄
How working a job she didn’t love gave her space to build her dream at night.

A Hobby With a Dream 💭
How Marla quietly built her jewelry business at night while working full-time and raising a child.

“Everyone Told Me I Was Insane.” 🔥
The Cannes turning point: burnout, injury, rage, and the final decision to quit.

“This Is Not a Hobby.” 🚨
The pivotal boardroom moment when a CEO unknowingly pushed Marla to fully commit.

Instagram Unlocks the Business
How learning social media from her kids helped Marla grow a global direct-to-consumer brand.

The Loneliness of Building Something Alone 🧍‍♀️
Marla opens up about the isolation that comes with entrepreneurship and leadership.

Send us a text

Email us: [email protected]

To stay up to date with The Messy Parts and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and review on Apple or Spotify or where ever you get your podcasts.

Thank you for listening.

Is it possible to be successful, exhausted, uncertain, and stuck — all at the same time? In this episode of The Messy Parts, former Pfizer communications chief Sally Susman joins Maryam on the blue couch to get real about fear, ambition, burnout, and what it really takes to grow. From being told she’d never have a career after coming out, to leading Pfizer during COVID, to leaving corporate life behind, Sally shares the messy, human moments that shaped her leadership. She talks about the risks of playing it too safe, losing identity when a job ends, and why breakthrough moments rarely arrive when you feel “ready.” This isn’t a highlight reel — it’s a real conversation about pressure, reinvention, and learning to trust yourself through change. If your career looks good on paper but feels heavy inside, this episode will help you feel less alone. 

Key Moments

“Be Ready — You Don’t Know When It’s Coming” ⏳
Sally reflects on COVID and shares her core career philosophy about preparation and unexpected breakthrough moments.

Growing Up With Privilege AND Pressure 🎭
Sally explains what it was like being raised in an ambitious, high-expectation household.

“You’ll Never Have a Career” 💔
Sally shares the moment she came out to her parents — and the sentence that reshaped her entire life trajectory.

“Nothing Scared Me After That” 🔥
How that painful family moment became the foundation of her courage and leadership confidence.

Leaving Government for Corporate America 🏛️➡️🏢
Why Sally walked away from politics — and what frustrated her most about “doing good” in government.

“My Heart Was in My Throat” 😰➡️💪
Sally explains why fear is her signal for growth — and how discomfort became her career compass.

Walking Into Pfizer’s Reputation Wall 🧱
The moment Sally realized just how deep public distrust of Big Pharma really ran.

COVID Changed Everything 🌍
Inside Pfizer’s pandemic pivot — opening labs to media, sharing trial protocols, and racing against time.

Finding Her Voice on the Global Stage 🎙️
How Sally went from behind-the-scenes operator to public-facing leader during the crisis.

Hiring a “Senior Intern” After Watching a Movie 🎬
The unconventional idea inspired by The Intern that became a Fast Company cover story.

Leaving Corporate Life Was Harder Than She Expected 🚪
Sally opens up about identity loss, comfort traps, and preparing for her off-ramp.

“I Was Too Transactional” — Career Feedback That Stung 🪞
The tough 360 review that changed how Sally approached relationships at work.

Advice to 35-Year-Old You: “Worry Less” 🌱
Sally’s direct message to stressed professionals navigating pressure and self-doubt.

Send us a text

Email us: [email protected]

To stay up to date with The Messy Parts and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and review on Apple or Spotify or where ever you get your podcasts.

Thank you for listening.

This week, we are looking back at some of the most powerful, hilarious, and vulnerable moments from The Messy Parts. We created this episode with Hark Audio, gathering the standout clips that define what this show is all about: embracing the chaos and finding strength in the struggle.

Whether you are new to the podcast or a day-one listener, this compilation features the wisdom you need right now. We revisit these conversations and more:

• Negin Farsad on finding the humor in social justice and the "messy" side of comedy.
• Fede Garcia on navigating communication and the power of perspective.
• Vanessa Barboni Hallik on the complexities of sustainable fashion and ethical leadership.
• Cindi Leive on redefining power structures and her journey through the media landscape.
• Ana Gasteyer on how you make your aspirations your identity

Tune in for a dose of inspiration, laughter, and real talk.

Links: Check out Hark Audio: https://harkaudio.com/ 

Send us a text

Email us: [email protected]

To stay up to date with The Messy Parts and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and review on Apple or Spotify or where ever you get your podcasts.

Thank you for listening.

We're going back to our first episode: Katie Sturino is no stranger to reinvention—from fashion PR hustler to viral dog-momager to founder of Megababe and author of the new romcom Sunny Side Up. In the premiere episode of The Messy Parts, she joins Maryam to talk about building a self-funded brand, the real struggles behind the Instagram gloss, and how letting the "messy parts hang out" can be your superpower. They talk all things Ozempic, Oprah, body image, revenge-fueled motivation, and working with family. Katie also opens up about her purpose: helping women stop feeling bad alone—and start feeling powerful together.

Show Notes: 

Guest: Katie Sturino – Entrepreneur, Author, Founder of Megababe

Follow Katie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katiesturino/?hl=en

Follow Katie on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@katiesturino

Topics Covered:

• Why revenge is her greatest motivator: "Success is the ultimate revenge"
• Moving to NYC and relentlessly pursuing her dream job at Chanel
• Making her dog Toast Instagram-famous and recognizing unexpected opportunities
• Starting 12ish Style blog after discovering the power of body representation
• Creating Megababe: solving problems no one talks about (thigh chafe, boob sweat)
• Working with family: benefits and challenges of business partnerships
• Writing "Sunny Side Up": transforming pain into a romcom after 9 years
• Meeting Oprah and sparking a national conversation about weight stigma
• The messy reality of entrepreneurship that podcasts don't share
• Dreaming big without limits and trusting your gut

Mentioned:

• Chanel
• Dolce & Gabbana
• Megababe Products
• Toast (her famous dog): DogMeetsWorld
• 12ish Style blog
• "Sunny Side Up" (her novel)
• Today Show
• Oprah Special: Shame, Blame and the Weight Loss Revolution
• Target
• Weight Watchers
• Ozempic
• Ina Garten’s book, Be Ready When Luck Happens
• The Longest Table

Send us a text

Email us: [email protected]

To stay up to date with The Messy Parts and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and review on Apple or Spotify or where ever you get your podcasts.

Thank you for listening.

What does it really take to build a career across Saturday Night Live, Broadway’s Wicked, network TV, and music? In this re-release of one of our favorite episodes of The Messy Parts, Ana Gasteyer joins Maryam Banikarim to reveal the messy, unglamorous parts of showbusiness — like rejection, insecurity, and feeling like an outsider. Ana turned those realities into fuel for her creativity, and tells Maryam about the power of radical preparedness in auditions, why naming her goals out loud shifted everything, and how Martin Short's life-balancing method helps her navigate the chaos of life. Whether you’re an actor, artist, writer, or anyone chasing a creative dream, Ana’s insights on resilience and reinvention will resonate deeply. A warm, hilarious, and refreshingly honest conversation about ambition, belonging, and showing up for the life you want.

Send us a text

Email us: [email protected]

To stay up to date with The Messy Parts and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and review on Apple or Spotify or where ever you get your podcasts.

Thank you for listening.

Is your path too messy for success? In this episode of The Messy Parts, Maryam talks to Rafat Ali, founder of Skift and one of the most quietly influential figures in digital media. This feels like a personal conversation, Rafat opens up about the parts of his journey most people never hear: stuttering as a teenager, feeling like an outsider in America, breaking down during intense life changes, and rebuilding through resilience. Maryam guides Rafat through the unexpected threads that connect his life — curiosity, delayed gratification, instinct, and the belief that nonlinear careers often lead to the most meaningful destinations. From surviving the collapse of his industry to navigating the COVID shutdown and a banking crisis, Rafat offers real insight for anyone struggling with uncertainty.

Show Notes: 

✍️ Stammering to Storytelling: How Writing Became His Superpower 

The childhood stutter, expanding vocabulary, and discovering writing as expression.

🌍 From India to Indiana: Culture Shock, Baywatch & Belonging 

Rafat’s honest story of early loneliness, identity, and adjusting to America as a Muslim kid.

🎙️ Why Push Through? Rafat on Life Phases & the “Two-Year Rule” 

How he decides when to persist vs. pivot — a core framework for careers and reinvention.

💼 B2B Influence > Fame: Choosing a Niche and Owning a Sector 

Why Rafat sought influence over money—and how niching down fueled his career strategy.

🧭 Contrarian Thinking & Global Lens: Seeing What Others Miss 

How being an outsider shaped his instincts, travel philosophy, and entrepreneurship.

🔁 Career Compounding: Staying Put to Accelerate Growth 

His philosophy on long careers, loyal teams, and why job-hopping kills momentum.

🌐 Influence Over Money: Why Rafat Chose Impact, Not Income

Rafat reveals the driving force behind his entire career: the pursuit of influence—not wealth

👨‍👩‍👧 Family, Legacy & Belonging: The Emotional Skift India Forum 

The powerful story of bringing his mother to his Delhi conference and finally being “seen.”

💥 When Everything Breaks: COVID, SVB Collapse & Leading Through Panic

Inside the near-death business moments—money running out, tears, resilience, and action.

 🧠 Mental Health, Compartmentalizing & the Breakdown That Changed Him 

Rafat opens up about his recent mental health crisis, adopting a baby, and learning limits.

Send us a text

Email us: [email protected]

To stay up to date with The Messy Parts and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and review on Apple or Spotify or where ever you get your podcasts.

Thank you for listening.

How do you turn fun into a career? In this honest, funny, and inspiring episode of The Messy Parts, celebrity event planner Marcy Blum tells Maryam how she went from living on a failed commune in Vermont to organizing lavish celebrations for LeBron James, Kevin Bacon, and countless billionaires, and why “fun” is her most powerful business strategy. Along the way, Marcy opens up about sexism in the culinary world, building her brand without a blueprint, and finding purpose after burnout. It’s a story of creativity, survival, and joy — the messy kind that makes a life worth celebrating.

Key Moments

🎭 From Bronx Kid to Performing Arts Dreamer
How a bold teenager chased art, broke expectations, and followed her creative instincts.

🏡 The Commune Years: Learning the Hard Way About Belonging & Failure
The Vermont commune experiment — and the messy lessons it left behind.

🍳 From “Let’s Make a Deal” to Le Cordon Bleu
How depression, a mother’s push, and Paris changed everything.

👩‍🍳 Breaking Barriers in a Male-Dominated Kitchen
Being one of the first women at the CIA — and facing sexism head-on.

 🍽️ From Miserable Chef to Accidental Entrepreneur
The bizarre lunch that led to her first big break — thanks to Ed Koch.

💡 Reinvention & Risk: How Marcy Accidentally Invented Wedding Planning
The Tony Robbins insight that pushed her to quit misery and start her business.

💰 The Pricing Wake-Up Call: Why It Took 25 Years to Stop Undervaluing Herself
Marcy’s candid money talk: from flat fees to millionaire weddings — and learning her worth.

🥂 The Queen of Fun: Turning Every Party Into Living Theater
How she brings joy, surprise, and connection into every event — even for billionaires.

– 💬 Real Talk: Boundaries, Asking for Help & The Power of the Specific Ask
Why vague “pick your brain” requests don’t work — and how to ask for help with confidence.

Send us a text

Email us: [email protected]

To stay up to date with The Messy Parts and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and review on Apple or Spotify or where ever you get your podcasts.

Thank you for listening.

Kelly Kopp, is now known as “New York City Kopp,” influencer, photographer, tour guide But at 40 years old, Kelly lost everything—his house in the mortgage crisis, his restaurant job, his health (without insurance), and watched his best friend, Sandy, die of cancer. Sitting poolside in Orlando contemplating how people reach their breaking point, Sandy's death became his wake-up call to "go live." He moved to New York City with just a suitcase, discovered photography, and built a social media empire as "New York City Kopp." This raw conversation explores how devastating loss can become the catalyst for reinvention, the power of laser focus, and finding joy in the most unexpected places.

Topic Covered 

The Years "Wasted" Doing What You Were Supposed To Do: Working as a manager in Orlando for about 8 years before his pivot.

The Economic Earthquake You Didn't See Coming "I bought a house in Orlando... I ended up losing the house. And that was the beginning of the domino effect."

When Your Body Sends An Invoice Your Career Can't Pay At 40, Kelly experiences chest pain and stress, goes to ER without health insurance, ends up in cardiac unit for a week with tests and a blockage scare requiring a stent.

The Compound Crisis That Breaks The Formula: "It was just so stressful. I lost my job. I lost my house, I'm in the hospital... Everything was against me... I didn't think things could get worse, but they continued to get worse."

When Loss Doesn't Care About Your Deadlines: "She got diagnosed with cancer and it was quick from diagnosis to her passing away... it was a huge, huge impact on me."

The Crisis That Makes You Understand Why People Just Stop

The breaking point: "There was a point where I was sitting at the edge of my pool looking in the pool thinking... I could understand how people could get to the point and be like, I just can't do it anymore."

The Terror Of Reinventing Yourself When You "Should Have Figured It Out By Now." 

Being Your Own Hype Man When You're Running On Empty: "Sometimes I do have to motivate myself... I'll read some motivational books or something... watch something that's motivational... that'll kick me out of this little bit of a funk."

The always-on problem: "In the back of my mind I'm thinking I could do a video right now... It is challenging because... I'm like, hold on one second. I just gotta do a quick photo. I gotta do a quick video."

Show Notes: 

Follow Kelly on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newyorkcitykopp/#

Follow Kelly on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/newyorkcitykopp

Follow Kelly on TikTok: https://www.instagram.com/newyorkcitykopp

Kelly Kopp Tours: https://newyorkcitykopp.com/

Send us a text

Email us: [email protected]

To stay up to date with The Messy Parts and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and review on Apple or Spotify or where ever you get your podcasts.

Thank you for listening.

Could getting fired be the best thing that ever happened to you? In this deeply personal episode of The Messy Parts, journalist Brooke Baldwin sits down with Maryam to discuss her journey from heartbreak to healing after she was let go from her dream job at CNN. Brooke talks about speaking truth to power, walking through fear, and redefining success on her own terms. The two explore what happens when your identity is tied to your career — and how to rebuild when it all unravels. Whether you’re facing a layoff, a breakup, or a life transition, Brooke’s story will help you remember: sometimes losing it all is how you finally find yourself.

Key Moments:

Trusting Your Gut: When You Know Something’s Off
Brooke shares how that inner “spidey sense” told her something wasn’t right at work—and why we so often ignore it.

Kill Them with Kindnes💄
How politeness and perfectionism can hold women back and the high cost of always saying yes.

When Your Dream Job Stops Feeling Like One 💔
Brooke reflects on how the news industry changed, and how her joy slowly faded at CNN.

Being Sidelined and Staying Silent 🤐
What it feels like to be removed from your own job and how masking pain becomes a survival skill in corporate culture.

Speak Up (Before It’s Too Late) 🗣️
Brooke reveals what she wishes she’d done differently and how to find the courage to speak up with both grace and strength.

Fired but Not Free Yet 🔒
The truth behind her on-air goodbye, the NDA that silenced her, and the emotional toll of pretending everything was fine.

The Charade of the Perfect Life 🎭
Brooke connects her workplace silence to her childhood, where appearances mattered more than truth.

When It All Unravels: Career + Marriage 💥
Two major endings collide, and Brooke learns that sometimes losing everything can be the start of becoming yourself.

Make Your Own Money 💲
Brooke explains how saving money over the years gave her the freedom to bet on herself after she was fired and her marriage fell apart.

Healing at the Hoffman Institute 🌿
A week of deep emotional work helps Brooke find clarity, courage, and connection after loss.

Living Without the Armor ✨
Brooke embraces her natural self, her truth, and the “messy middle”—and reminds us that the mess is life, so we might as well surrender to it.

Send us a text

Email us: [email protected]

To stay up to date with The Messy Parts and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and review on Apple or Spotify or where ever you get your podcasts.

Thank you for listening.

Is your biggest mess also your best teacher? Broadway veteran Michael McElroy tells Maryam about his remarkable journey from rejection at Carnegie Mellon to leading Broadway casts and founding the award-winning Broadway Inspirational Voices. He and Maryam explore how to find purpose after burnout, the power of community and service, and what happens when you finally stop waiting for permission to begin. Michael opens up about identity, faith, and the messy truth behind resilience — reminding us that the hardest lessons can help us develop our greatest strengths.

01:30 – 🙏 The Son of a Preacher: Growing Up in a Life of Service
Michael reflects on his Cleveland roots, family faith, and how service shaped his art and leadership.

06:30 – 💔 From Golden Child to Rejection at Carnegie Mellon
Michael shares the painful story of being cut from his college program — and what it taught him about resilience and self-worth.

09:30 – 💪 The Do-Over That Changed Everything
With his mother’s support, Michael fought his way back into the program, learning how to turn pain into purpose.

14:00 – 🔄 Stop Reacting, Start Acting
Michael’s breakthrough moment — learning how to reclaim power by responding with intention, not reaction.

17:30 – 🎭 Teaching Life Through Art
 How Michael teaches young artists resilience, failure, and courage in an age of perfectionism.

19:30 – 💡 Breakthroughs and Busts
As Michael’s star climbs in NYC, he is also reminded how unpredictable the business can be and that he can’t attach his identity or his worth to his job.

26:00 – 🚀 Say Yes Before You’re Ready
Michael explains how leaning into side projects and passion work opened doors he never expected.

29:00 – ❤️ Healing Through Helping — Founding Broadway Inspirational Voices
The story behind his award-winning gospel choir and how service became a form of healing.

37:00 – 🔮 The Little Voice That Changes Everything
Michael describes the quiet inner voice that guided him to teaching — and how to trust your intuition when it’s time to pivot.

Send us a text

Email us: [email protected]

To stay up to date with The Messy Parts and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and review on Apple or Spotify or where ever you get your podcasts.

Thank you for listening.