Are we actually improving our lives… or have we just been convinced that nothing we’re doing is ever quite good enough?

This week, I’m getting into optimization culture and why I’m officially questioning our obsession with constantly becoming a “better” version of ourselves. The perfect morning routine, better body, better skin, better parenting, more money, more productivity, more stuff - there’s always something else being sold to us as the missing piece between who we are and who we should be. And I’m tired. 😂

I’m also talking about a tough week of disappointment, what I’ve learned about believing people’s actions over their intentions, keeping my circle small without letting bad experiences harden me, and why I’m trying to get better at letting people show me who they are and moving accordingly.

Plus, we’re talking about the tiny moments of actual rest I apparently have NONE of 😅, what European culture gets right about slowing down, my issue with the fall-decor-overconsumption industrial complex, why we need more IRL time with our girlfriends, and of course, what I’m watching right now.

And before all of that: a couple of current recommendations:

Aerie shirt I just purchased

The audiobook I've been obsessed with

This one is a proper bestie catch-up. Let’s get into it.

As always, if this episode resonates with you, please share it with a friend who might need to hear it, leave a rating or review, or send me a DM with your thoughts.

Follow me on Instagram @erincsousa and subscribe to my Substack.

See you next week!

xx, Erin

This week, we’re going ALL the way into the GLP-1 conversation.

Part one: Dr. Allana Polo on HRT, Hormones & Why “Normal” Labs Aren’t the Whole Story

Dr. Allana Polo is back for Part Two, and we’re talking Mounjaro, Ozempic, weight loss, food noise, insulin resistance, side effects, long-term use - and the shame and stigma that still surrounds these medications.

I’m also getting personal about my own decision to start Mounjaro, why I chose to talk about it publicly, and the flood of messages I received from women who are taking GLP-1s in secret because they’re embarrassed or afraid of being judged.

Dr. Polo helps us separate some of the facts from the noise, while we get into the much bigger conversation around weight, willpower, women’s bodies and why using medication as part of your health plan shouldn’t be treated like taking the “easy way out.”

If you have questions about GLP-1s - or opinions about the people taking them - this is one you’ll want to hear.

As always, if this episode resonates with you, please share it with a friend who might need to hear it, leave a rating or review, or send me a DM with your thoughts.

Follow me on Instagram @erincsousa and subscribe to my Substack.

Follow Dr. Polo on Instagram @dr.allanapolo.

See you next week!

xx, Erin

Resources mentioned:

The Hunger Code by Dr. Allana Polo (an amazing resource to get started with because arming yourself with the right information in this process is invaluable)

If you’ve ever gone to the doctor knowing something feels OFF, only to be told your labs are “normal”… this episode is for you.

This week I’m joined by my own Naturopathic Doctor, Dr. Allana Polo, and when I tell you I have been WAITING to have this conversation - we get into so much of what women in their 40s are currently trying to figure out about their bodies.

We’re talking perimenopause, HRT, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, thyroid, iron, B12, vitamin D, gut health and why symptoms like exhaustion, brain fog, rage, poor sleep, hair loss and generally feeling like garbage don’t necessarily have one obvious cause.

And we use ME as a bit of a case study.

I went into this process convinced I knew what was happening with my hormones (thank you, internet 😅), only to discover that the bigger picture was much more complicated. Dr. Polo walks through what we found in my testing, what we’re working on now and why treating the person - not simply chasing a lab number or assuming every symptom is perimenopause - matters. I hope this helps you see yourself in what I'm dealing with.

We also get into what a naturopathic doctor actually does, why your doctor may not be able to order every test you ask for, whether hormone testing in perimenopause is actually useful, when HRT makes sense, and how to advocate for yourself when you KNOW you don’t feel like yourself.

My biggest takeaway from this conversation? Feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, foggy or just generally unwell does not automatically have to become your new normal as you get older. And you also don’t need to overhaul your entire life tomorrow.

Start asking questions, get curious about what’s happening in your body and take it one step at a time.

This is Part One of my conversation with Dr. Polo - and Part Two is an entire deep dive into GLP-1s, Mounjaro, weight, stigma and the MASSIVE amount of misinformation surrounding them.

Trust me, you’re going to want both.

As always, if this episode resonates with you, please share it with a friend who might need to hear it, leave a rating or review, or send me a DM with your thoughts.

Follow me on Instagram @erincsousa and subscribe to my Substack.

Follow Dr. Polo on Instagram @dr.allanapolo.

See you next week!

xx, Erin

Resources mentioned:

The Hunger Code by Dr. Allana Polo (an amazing resource to get started with because arming yourself with the right information in this process is invaluable)

I almost took a couple weeks off from the podcast to finish off the summer… and then I realized I apparently can't quit you!

This week, I’m checking in as summer starts winding down - what actually made this season feel so good, why I’m weirdly not ready for it to end, the summer camp lineup, Lola heading into grade one (!!), and what we’re doing for one last hurrah before September hits.

Here is my current edit - all the things I'm loving right now!

Then we get into the opinions. I’m sharing why Emma Grede’s It Starts With Yourself is hitting SO hard for me right now - from the way women soften their language and undercut themselves, to money, negotiation, ambition, the “soft life,” and why I think we need to get much more comfortable talking about what we earn and asking for what we’re worth.

And finally… we need to discuss House of Stassi. As a longtime Stassi fan, I have THOUGHTS. We’re getting into the new show, breaking the fourth wall (yes, we get it, it's "unique"!), the difference between being unapologetic and being self-aware, what happens when everyone around you seems afraid to upset you, and whether seeing more of someone on reality TV can completely change how you perceive them.

Plus: the increasingly unhinged way people interact with creators and reality stars online, why everyone seems to think content needs to be personally tailored to their worldview, and where on earth basic internet decorum went.

Basically: summer feelings, women + ambition, money, internet culture and a Stassi Schroeder dissertation. Exactly where we needed to go this week.

As always, if this episode resonates with you, please share it with a friend who might need to hear it, leave a rating or review, or send me a DM with your thoughts.

Follow me on Instagram @erincsousa and subscribe to my Substack.

See you next week!

xx, Erin

For the past six months, I haven’t felt like myself. The exhaustion, brain fog, irritability, terrible sleep and feeling like my body was working against me finally pushed me to stop guessing and start looking for answers.

This week, I’m taking you inside my health deep dive: the testing I did, what it cost, what my results revealed (spoiler: woah), and what I’m doing next. We’re talking hormones, perimenopause, Hashimotos, insulin resistance, inflammation, HRT, supplements, and why I’m starting a GLP-1.

I also get into the stigma surrounding GLP-1s and why women still feel like they need to quietly confess they’re taking them. Why have we attached morality to how someone manages their health or weight? I have thoughts.

But this journey has also brought up something much deeper: losing my mom and realizing how profoundly that loss has changed the way I think about taking care of my own health.

This isn’t a perfect before-and-after story. I’m sharing it while I’m IN it, the answers, the overwhelm, the changes I’m making, and my hope that I can finally start feeling like myself again.

My Naturopathic Doctor: Dr. Allana Polo

Her book: The Hunger Code

As always, if this episode resonates with you, please share it with a friend who might need to hear it, leave a rating or review, or send me a DM with your thoughts.

Follow me on Instagram @erincsousa and subscribe to my Substack.

See you next week!

xx, Erin

This week, my sister Karly is back on the podcast, and as always, we ended up covering way more than we intended.

Past sister episodes:

Sisters First, Best Friends Later ft. My Sister Karly de Lange

The Cheat Code to Building the Life You Actually Want ft. Karly de Lange

Sorry the audio is off - the mics weren't working and I didn't want to delete this whole thing bc it was a great chat!

We kick things off with a trend that's been all over the internet: the things that are actually worth spending money on.

From real gold jewelry, Costco delivery, cleaners, direct flights, skincare, and travel with kids, to the purchases that genuinely make life easier, we're comparing notes on what we think deserves the investment (and where we'd happily save our money instead).

From there, we dive into your questions!

Sibling rivalry (or why we don't really have any), growing up just 14 months apart, and the moments throughout our lives that have made us each other's biggest supporters instead of competitors.

We talk about spending versus saving, how we each think about money, where we actually like to shop, and the purchases we never regret.

We also dive into friendships in your 40s, how our approach to relationships has changed with age, setting boundaries, having uncomfortable conversations instead of quietly drifting apart, and why we both have far less tolerance for surface-level relationships than we did in our twenties.

We answer your questions about balancing work and motherhood, the mental load women carry, what marriage really looks like in busy seasons (yes… we go there), and how our relationships have evolved after kids.

There's plenty of honesty, a lot of laughter, and more than a few moments where we find ourselves saying, "Wait... is everyone else experiencing this too?"

As always, it's equal parts thoughtful, opinionated, funny, and completely unfiltered - the kind of conversation that feels like you're sitting in the room with us.

If you've been looking for an episode that's part sister catch-up, part business chat, and part life advice, I think you're going to love this one.

Follow me on Instagram @erincsousa and subscribe to my Substack

See you next week!

xx, Erin

What do we really mean when we say, "I hate influencers"?

This week, I'm doing something a little different. Instead of our usual catch-up, I'm reading a Substack piece I wrote after a "No Influencers" sign in Nantucket sparked a much bigger conversation online.

Sign up for my free Substack, The Mom Flow, here.

ICYMI, here's a CNN recap of the sign that broke the internet.

We unpack why the word influencer has become a stereotype, why creators are often dismissed in ways other professions aren't, and whether our discomfort is actually about women building businesses around their voices. I also share my perspective after more than a decade working on both sides of the industry, as a marketer running influencer campaigns and as a creator partnering with brands myself.

Along the way, we get into why influencer marketing is so misunderstood, what brands are actually paying for, why we confuse visibility with vanity, and whether it's time to retire the word influencer altogether.

If you've ever rolled your eyes at influencers, worked in social media, built a personal brand, or simply wondered why this profession sparks so much debate, I think you'll find this conversation fascinating.

If this episode resonates with you, I’d be so grateful if you shared it with a friend, left a rating or review, or sent me a message with your thoughts. Your support helps this podcast grow and allows these conversations to reach more women who need them.

Follow me on Instagram @erincsousa and subscribe to my Substack

See you next week!

xx, Erin

Have you ever looked around at your life and realized… you’re actually happy?

Not because everything is perfect. Not because life suddenly got easy. But because you’ve finally reached a place where you feel calm, content, and secure in yourself.

That’s where this week’s conversation begins.

I’m sharing why I genuinely feel happier than I’ve ever been, how losing my mom unexpectedly gave me a new sense of resilience, and why I think getting older has made me care far less about things that used to consume so much mental energy.

Then we’re diving into a full episode of recommendations - not just products, but habits, mindset shifts, routines, and little changes that are genuinely making my life feel easier, lighter, and more joyful.

Product Recommendations:

• Megababe Charcoal Soap
• NodPod weighted sleep mask (yes, the link will work in Canada!)

Of course, you know I couldn’t resist sharing a few hot takes.

I’m giving my completely unfiltered thoughts on this season of The Real Housewives of Orange County, why I think some cast members have completely lost the plot, and my probably unpopular opinion on one of the biggest movies everyone seems to be obsessed with right now.

Then the conversation shifts into something that ended up being one of my favourite parts of the episode.

I tell the story of reconnecting with someone I had quietly assumed didn’t like me for years. Instead of letting the awkwardness linger, I decided to address it head-on - and what happened completely surprised me. It turned into a conversation about communication, assumptions, and why I’ve reached a point in my forties where I’d rather have an honest conversation than carry unnecessary tension.

If you’ve been craving a lighter conversation that still leaves you thinking differently by the end, I think you’re going to love this one.

If this episode resonates with you, I’d be so grateful if you shared it with a friend, left a rating or review, or sent me a message with your thoughts. Your support helps this podcast grow and allows these conversations to reach more women who need them.

Don’t forget to like, comment and leave a review.

Follow me on Instagram @erincsousa and subscribe to my Substack

See you next week!

xx, Erin

There comes a point where you realize women are expected to do everything perfectly.

Throw the magical birthday.

Build the successful business.

Look effortlessly put together.

Be environmentally conscious.

Take care of yourself, but don't spend too much time (or money) doing it.

Share your life, but don't share too much.

It's exhausting.

This week, I'm sharing the emotional reality of Lola turning six, the nostalgic birthday party I planned for her, and the practical tips I'd absolutely use again if you're planning a kid's party of your own.

As always, we're getting into this week's recommendations, including the retro camcorder I'm officially obsessed with, the hair tools Roberto and I genuinely can't live without, and the beauty products that have become staples in my routine.

Recommendations:

• Camp Snap Camcorder – the coolest footage for that AI could never, retro feel that easily downloads onto your phone
• L’ange hair tools – we can’t live without these in my household (hairstylist husband approved and then some!)
• Party planning template
• Rhode Glazing Milk
• Makeup by Mario Skin Enhancer

Then the episode turns into a listener Q&A, and we cover everything.

I'm answering how we chose Lola's school, the biggest lessons I've learned building my marketing business, what Office Hours actually are, my easiest bronzy summer makeup routine, and the home products that have officially earned their place in our house.

Of course, we also go down a few rabbit holes.

Why wooden cutlery should never be served with dessert.

Why I think we've become far too comfortable criticizing other women online.

Why I refuse to believe individual women should carry the weight of fixing the planet while corporations escape the same scrutiny.

And why it feels like no matter what women do, someone is waiting to tell us we're doing it wrong.

In this episode:

• The emotions of Lola turning six
• My splash park birthday party playbook
• This week's recommendations
• How we chose Lola's school
• My easiest bronzy summer beauty routine
• What my marketing business actually does
• My latest petty rant
• The impossible standards women are expected to live up to online

If you've ever found yourself wondering whether you're doing enough, as a mom, a business owner, or just a woman trying to navigate modern life, I think you'll see yourself in this conversation.

Don’t forget to like, comment and leave a review.

Follow me on Instagram @erincsousa and subscribe to my Substack

See you next week!

xx, Erin

This week, I'm sharing some of the conversations that have been taking up space in my head lately - from navigating perimenopause and finally moving forward with hormone testing to the pressure of showing up online when it feels like the loudest voices are rewarded the most. If you've ever wondered how to stay true to yourself in a world that constantly pushes you to be more, this one's for you.

I'm also sharing this week's recommendations (including a few recent finds I'm loving), my thoughts on The Valley (because we need to discuss), and opening up about one of the most personal chapters of my life: my fertility journey. From IUIs and miscarriage to IVF and everything in between, I'm answering your questions and sharing the story of how we finally became parents.

Recommendations:

• Quince leather purse – the quality, genuine leather, and value (so many brands have cheapened their materials while raising prices; this is the opposite!)
• MIFA Body Brush – I use it every night, replace it every three months, and credit it for keeping my skin smooth (for real). ERIN15 for 15% off.

In this episode:

• My latest perimenopause and HRT update
• This week's recommendations
• My hot takes on The Valley
• Why I'm struggling with the state of social media (and refusing to become sensational for clicks)
• Your fertility questions, answered
• What I wish every woman knew about fertility - and how to support someone going through it

As always, thank you for listening, sharing, rating, and sending this podcast to a friend. It helps more than you know.