The Real Reel

Episode 286: Kaelyn Grace Apple is back on the pod, five years after being one of Nat’s first guests, and her story is nothing short of inspiring. As the founder of The Accepted Society, a Yale history PhD candidate, and a professional horseback rider, Kaelyn truly does it all. From studying at Oxford and Cambridge to running businesses and pursuing her passions, she embodies intentionality and drive. In this episode, Kaelyn opens up about overcoming limiting beliefs, the importance of championing other women, and why passion is essential for lasting success. She and Nat also dive into building healthy relationships, setting standards, and pivoting careers with purpose, leaving listeners inspired to chase their dreams unapologetically. 

Be sure to follow Kaelyn on Instagram @kaelyngraceapple and the Accepted Society @theacceptedsociety  

Leave Nat a voicemail! https://www.speakpipe.com/Therealreelpodcast 

Thank you so much for being a part of our podcast community! Please be sure to rate, follow, review, and of course, post to your highlight reel. Follow your host Natalie on Instagram @nataliebarbu and @therealreelpodcast.

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Episode 285: The London sessions continue! This week, Nat sits down with content creator Becca Watson to dive into the latest social media trends and the realities of content creation. Together, they explore the balance between following trends and staying authentic, touching on the pressure to keep up with constant posting and the freedom in waiting for the right inspiration. As established creators, Nat and Becca share insights into the unique pressures they face and dispel the myth that making relatable content is effortless...because hint hint: it's not!

Keep up with Becca on Youtube , follow her on IG @beccamariawatson and listen to her podcast Bloom with Becca

Leave Nat a voicemail! https://www.speakpipe.com/Therealreelpodcast 

Thank you so much for being a part of our podcast community! Please be sure to rate, follow, review, and of course, post to your highlight reel. Follow your host Natalie on Instagram @nataliebarbu and @therealreelpodcast.

This show wouldn't be possible without our incredible sponsors. Check out these deals just for you:

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Episode 284: This week, Nat’s in London and catching up with TV writer, creator, and author Lindsay Jill Roth for a timely conversation about dating and relationships. With Nat herself now seeing someone who lives in London, the two bond over their shared experience of navigating love across borders. Lindsay dives into her own transatlantic love story—meeting her British husband in New York, managing long distance, and bridging cultural and religious differences. They explore themes from Lindsay’s upcoming book, Romance and Practicalities, which focuses on open communication and lasting connection. Together, they discuss setting boundaries, handling finances, and recognizing the calm, steady feeling of true compatibility. Tune in for their advice on avoiding dating fatigue, and keep an eye out for Romance and Practicalities, coming in January 2025. 

Keep up with Lindsay on Instagram @lindsayjillroth

Leave Nat a voicemail! https://www.speakpipe.com/Therealreelpodcast 

Thank you so much for being a part of our podcast community! Please be sure to rate, follow, review, and of course, post to your highlight reel. Follow your host Natalie on Instagram @nataliebarbu and @therealreelpodcast.

This show wouldn't be possible without our incredible sponsors. Check out these deals just for you:

Ouai - Go to theouai.com for 15% off site wide and enter promo code REALREEL.

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Episode 283: Nat’s back with a solo episode to talk all about motivation! Nat always feels like she’s been a natural motivator, and she breaks down a few key points that she's learned along the way to help you take initiative in your life. Thinking about her own journey, Nat talks about the importance of following your curiosity instead of chasing abstract dreams. Follow your interests instead and find others who share them! You’ll never know where it takes you. Also, the power of a good network can’t be underestimated either, so find those like-minded people to promote growth and opportunities for yourself. Lastly, it’s never too late to start! The ‘perfect time’ for anything is a myth, so start with small steps if you need to and watch that growth happen over time! Tune in for lots more tips and advice on becoming your best (and most motivated) self!

Leave Nat a voicemail! https://www.speakpipe.com/Therealreelpodcast 

Thank you so much for being a part of our podcast community! Please be sure to rate, follow, review, and of course, post to your highlight reel. Follow your host Natalie on Instagram @nataliebarbu and @therealreelpodcast.

This show wouldn't be possible without our incredible sponsors. Check out these deals just for you:

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Episode 282: Joining Nat this week is Mark Rampola, the founder of Zico coconut water, and he shares his journey to becoming a successful entrepreneur after leaving his comfortable corporate job behind. Mark and Nat then dive into the entrepreneurial mindset and touch on everything from risk-taking to self-awareness to finding joy in the journey. Mark discusses buying back his company from Coca-Cola and the new Zico product he’s excited to launch, which he thinks is their best (and tastiest) product yet! This episode isn’t just for aspiring business types, as Mark’s insights extend beyond the life of an entrepreneur and crossover into everyday territory, which listeners are sure to find both informative and entertaining.

You can find out more about Mark and his companies at Zico.com and Groundforcecapital.com

Leave Nat a voicemail! https://www.speakpipe.com/Therealreelpodcast 

Thank you so much for being a part of our podcast community! Please be sure to rate, follow, review, and of course, post to your highlight reel. Follow your host Natalie on Instagram @nataliebarbu and @therealreelpodcast.

This show wouldn't be possible without our incredible sponsors. Check out these deals just for you:

Earnin - Download EarnIn today in the Google play or Apple app store.When you download the EarnIn app type in Real Reel under PODCAST when you sign up – it’ll really help the show. 

Ouai - Go to theouai.com and use promo code REALREEL for 15% off any product.

Shopify - Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/realreel. 

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Episode 281: Nat is back with another solo episode this week, recording live from a bachelorette weekend in Destin, Florida, and is sending out prayers to everyone impacted by hurricane Milton and Helene, especially in her home state of North Carolina. After feeling uninspired for a while, Nat gets candid about where she's been mentally when it comes to the podcast and reflects on her incredible past guests and the challenges of coordinating in-person recordings. But now she’s ready to embrace remote interviews again with a renewed sense of excitement! She then teases an upcoming trip to London to visit her "London Boy" at the end of the month and dives into listener questions, offering advice on reigniting a relationship, deciding when to quit a job and start a business, and navigating long distance relationships. Nat also introduces a new and exciting voicemail feature for future episodes. Click the link below for your chance to be featured on the next one!

Leave Nat a voicemail! https://www.speakpipe.com/Therealreelpodcast 

Thank you so much for being a part of our podcast community! Please be sure to rate, follow, review, and of course, post to your highlight reel. Follow your host Natalie on Instagram @nataliebarbu and @therealreelpodcast.

This show wouldn't be possible without our incredible sponsors. Check out these deals just for you:

Earnin - Download EarnIn today in the Google play or Apple app store.When you download the EarnIn app type in Real Reel under PODCAST when you sign up – it’ll really help the show. 

Ouai - Go to theouai.com and use promo code REALREEL for 15% off any product.

Shopify - Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/realreel. 

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Episode 280: From the snowy streets of Salt Lake City to the bright lights of Hollywood and back, today’s guest has one heck of a story to tell. Natalie has the honor of speaking with Lindsay Arnold, a So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing with the Stars alum, to learn about her journey as a professional dancer turned mom, influencer, fitness instructor, and business owner. Lindsay’s sharing how her passion for movement landed her the career of her dreams, her first-hand experience on reality TV, and how she manages to wear so many hats at once! Tune in for an inspiring and relatable conversation that simultaneously feels like a comforting coffee date with one of your besties. Enjoy!   

Today’s episode dives into:   

Thank you so much for being a part of our podcast community! Please be sure to rate, follow, review, and of course, post to your highlight reel. Follow your host Natalie on Instagram @nataliebarbu and @therealreelpodcast. Follow Lindsay @lindsarnold and check out @themovementclub  

This show wouldn't be possible without our incredible sponsors. Check out these deals just for you:

Earnin - Download EarnIn today in the Google play or Apple app store.When you download the EarnIn app type in Real Reel under PODCAST when you sign up – it’ll really help the show. 

Ouai - Go to theouai.com and use promo code REALREEL for 15% off any product.

Shopify - Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/realreel. 

Adobe - Search for In the Making in your podcast player and subscribe or follow the show

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Episode 279: Nat’s back with a solo episode about her recent travels around Europe! Making weeklong stops in London, Italy, and France, Nat dives into what each week was like and shares some insights and travel tips that she’s picked up along the way. Whether it was solo travel (and dating!) in London, going to a wedding in Italy, or buddy-traveling in France, each place presented unique opportunities to soak up the culture and experience something new and exciting. Nat wraps up the episode by answering some listener questions like how to save money on travel, strategies to stay safe when you’re in a new area, and how to balance work while on the road! (Hint: leverage those time zone differences!) It’s a super fun episode that’s sure to get you booking that next flight out of town!

Thank you so much for being a part of our podcast community! Please be sure to rate, follow, review, and of course, post to your highlight reel. Follow your host Natalie on Instagram @nataliebarbu and @therealreelpodcast.

This show wouldn't be possible without our incredible sponsors. Check out these deals just for you:

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Episode 278: This week, Nat sits down with her friend Jeanine Amapola, a long-time content creator and recent author! Nat and Jeanine met as neighbors in LA during the peak of the DIY influencer movement and stayed in touch over the years as their shared interests in beauty, fashion, and faith evolved along the way. Jeanine has been making content since 2010, focusing on mostly fashion and lifestyle, but hit a rut in 2019/2020 as she was in a difficult relationship and also dealing with some negative online comments about her content. With the help of a great life coach and a diligent approach to rediscovering her faith, she turned the corner, landing in a healthy relationship (with her now husband!) and feeling much more secure and confident in the content she was making. She credits her dramatic change to her faith, and it culminated in writing a book about her journey titled “Becoming Happy and Healthy,” which she wanted to write to help other women who were feeling the same way as she had been. Tune in for a lively discussion as the two share personal stories and anecdotes that we think you’ll find super relatable!

Follow Jeanine on insta @jeanineamapola or check out her website, new book and podcast 'Happy and Healthy' at https://jeanineamapola.com/

Thank you so much for being a part of our podcast community! Please be sure to rate, follow, review, and of course, post to your highlight reel. Follow your host Natalie on Instagram @nataliebarbu and @therealreelpodcast.

This show wouldn't be possible without our incredible sponsors. Check out these deals just for you:

EarnIn - Download EarnIn today in the Google play or Apple app store. When you download the EarnIn app type in Real Reel under PODCAST when you sign up – it’ll really help the show. 

OUAI - Get on your OUAI to save for the holiday. Go to theouai.com for 15% off sitewide and enter promo code REALREEL.

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Episode 277: This week, Nat is joined by her friend Lisa Gilmore, a jewelry entrepreneur living in Miami, as they chat about everything from the Miami dating scene to personal growth to why Instagram will likely never have a search function to see who’s looked at your stories (come on, Meta, give the people what they want!). Lisa describes herself as the ‘queen of the situationship’ and declares that she’s ready for love after having learned from experience that dating people from out of state hasn’t worked for her (eligible bachelors in Miami, we’re looking at you). The conversation shifts to personal growth as Lisa looks back on her twenties and reflects on how much she’s changed her outlook on what she wants in life. They wrap up with thoughts on the Love Island drama (Leah and Rob, anyone?) and how escapism TV can be the perfect antidote for the pressures of daily life. 

Find Lisa on IG @lisaxgilmore and her podcast @unwineding

Thank you so much for being a part of our podcast community! Please be sure to rate, follow, review, and of course, post to your highlight reel. Follow your host Natalie on Instagram @nataliebarbu and @therealreelpodcast.

This show wouldn't be possible without our incredible sponsors. Check out these deals just for you:

EarnIn - Download EarnIn today in the Google play or Apple app store. When you download the EarnIn app type in Real Reel under PODCAST when you sign up – it’ll really help the show. 

OUAI - Get on your OUAI to save for the holiday. Go to theouai.com for 15% off sitewide and enter promo code REALREEL.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices