A year ago I was struggling with how to share my story with the world — I was the other woman in a five-year relationship with a married man, while I felt no shame, it was the secret I carried for years. And now, a year into The Scarlet Edit, I realized I've unintentionally put myself in a new kind of box.

This episode is me getting honest about that. I talk about what happened after I shared my biggest secret, why I've been struggling with what to post and how to show up, and how a conversation with my business coach helped some things click into place.

I also read the brand new description I wrote for The Scarlet Edit — and honestly, I got emotional reading it. It finally captures who I am, what this show is, and who it's for.

If you've ever felt like you're more than the one chapter of your life people want to define you by — this one's for you.

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: [email protected]

🔐 Join the Patreon community for live Q&As and deeper conversations.

Henry VIII had six wives. One wife for 24 years, then five more in the next 11. He was pursuing the next woman while still married to the current one every single time — and he was running an entire country while doing it. So much for "I'm too busy."

In this episode of Affairs Through the Ages, I'm walking through every wife, every affair, and the pattern that never changed. From the annulment that broke England away from the Catholic Church to the teenager who was beheaded at 18, this story is wild. But what really got me is the women — in a world where they had no legal rights, no property, and no ability to say no to a king, they still found a way to play the game. And some of them played it brilliantly.

I also dig into what was actually going on with Henry — the jousting accident that may have caused a traumatic brain injury, the 32-inch waist that became a 52-inch waist, and how unchecked power turned a golden prince into a tyrant.

In This Episode:

1. Who Henry was before the monster and what changed
2. His mistresses before the six wives (and why they matter)
3. All six wives: the affairs, the strategies, and what each one reveals about Henry
4. The annulment that created the Church of England
5. Why "if he wanted to, he would" has been true for 500 years

Research for this episode draws on biographical and historical sources including Britannica, Historic Royal Palaces, History.com, Royal Museums Greenwich, and published works by Tracy Borman, Elizabeth Norton, Suzannah Lipscomb, Lucy Worsley, David Starkey, and Alison Weir. All commentary and analysis is my own.

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: [email protected]

🔐 Join the Patreon community for live Q&As and deeper conversations.

Is Love is Blind actually proving that love IS blind — or is it proving the exact opposite?

After nine completed seasons, the data tells a pretty damning story: 55 engagements, only 14 marriages, and a 43% divorce rate.

In this episode, I break down the surprising parallels between what happens in the pods and how emotional affairs actually work — the deep connections with multiple people, comparing partners, fantasy access, keeping the door cracked open, and what happens when reality finally sets in.

I also unpack why physical attraction matters more than the show wants to admit, call out the double standard between how we judge reality TV behavior vs. real life, and share a raw, unplanned personal revelation about exclusivity in my own past relationship.

Whether you're a Love is Blind fan or not, this episode will make you think differently about emotional connection, fantasy, and what it actually takes for love to survive reality.

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: [email protected]

🔐 Join the Patreon community for live Q&As and deeper conversations.

On January 9, 2019, the richest man in the world announced his divorce. One day later, a tabloid story detonated across the internet — exposing a months-long affair between Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez, complete with leaked texts, private jet travel, and a global media frenzy.

In this episode of Affairs Through the Ages, I break down one of the most infamous modern affairs — not to condone it, and not to judge it — but to examine how it unfolded, why it didn’t collapse immediately, and how it became one of the rare affairs that actually turned into marriage.

This episode explores:

1. How Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez met through professional aviation work at Amazon Studios
2. The quiet unraveling of both marriages before the affair became public
3. The role of National Enquirer, alleged blackmail, and the unprecedented Medium post that exposed it all
4. The betrayal that came from inside Lauren Sanchez’s own family
5. Why less than 2% of affairs turn into lasting marriages — and what made this one different

I also examine the broader realities behind affairs that survive public exposure: wealth, timing, maturity, shared interests, clean divorces, and the difference between fantasy and real life once secrecy disappears.

Affairs Through the Ages is a historical and cultural examination of affairs that played out in the public eye — not a defense of infidelity, and not a moral verdict — but an honest look at what actually happens when private relationships collide with power, money, and global scrutiny.

If you’re interested in modern relationships, infidelity, divorce, power dynamics, and what happens after the secret comes out, this series is for you.

Research for this episode includes reporting from The Washington Post, CNN, NBC News, NPR, Fox Business, The Hollywood Reporter, Forbes, Vogue, and The Wall Street Journal. Jeff Bezos's Medium post "No Thank You, Mr. Pecker" provided firsthand account of the blackmail attempt. Additional sources include court documents from the Bezos-Scott and Sanchez-Whitesell divorce proceedings, federal prosecutor statements regarding the National Enquirer investigation, and MacKenzie Scott's philanthropic disclosures via her Giving Pledge commitments and Yield Giving website.

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: [email protected]

🔐 Join the Patreon community for live Q&As and deeper conversations.

What do you do when you realize—on your wedding day—that you shouldn’t be getting married?

In this episode of The Scarlet Edit, I sit down with Emily Kuch, a content creator and Pilates instructor, to talk about one of the bravest decisions a person can make: calling off a wedding at the last possible moment.

After nearly ten years together and months of wedding planning, Emily found herself standing in full hair and makeup, overlooking the ocean in Hawaii, facing a truth she couldn’t ignore. Instead of walking down the aisle, she chose herself.

We talk about:

1. Knowing something is wrong but feeling trapped by expectations
2. The pressure of destination weddings, vendors, guests, and sunk costs
3. Trusting your gut when everyone else’s opinions are louder than your own
4. What happens after you call everything off
5. Starting over with no home, no job, and no clear plan
6. Rebuilding identity after a long-term relationship
7. Why talk therapy isn’t always the first or best step
8. Using travel, movement, and discomfort as healing tools
9. Letting go of shame and outside judgment
10. Learning how to make decisions on your own again

This is a conversation about courage, self-trust, and redefining what strength actually looks like when your life doesn’t go according to plan.

If you’ve ever questioned a relationship, stayed because it felt too hard to leave, or wondered what would happen if you chose yourself—this episode is for you.

Get in touch with Emily on TikTok & Instagram

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: [email protected]

🔐 Join the Patreon community for live Q&As and deeper conversations.

By the time Ava Gardner was 30, she'd been married three times. In 1950s America, that meant you were supposed to disappear in shame. But Ava didn't disappear—she became a legend.

In this episode of Affairs Through the Ages, I'm diving into Ava Gardner's story. From dirt-poor farm girl in North Carolina to Hollywood icon, from three marriages before 30 to never marrying again—Ava wrote her own rules when the world wanted to write her off.

This isn't just Frank Sinatra's affair story. This is about what Ava was searching for, why even "the love of her life" wasn't enough to make her stay, and how she became The Scarlet Edit OG before this podcast even existed.

In This Episode:

1. Ava's journey from Grabtown, North Carolina to MGM at 18
2. Marriage #1: Mickey Rooney and learning fame ≠ faithfulness
3. Marriage #2: Artie Shaw and refusing to be someone's project
4. The Frank Sinatra affair and what it meant to be the other woman
5. Why she left the "love of her life" and never married again
6. Living loudly with insecurity and rewriting the narrative

Key Takeaway: Figuring out what you don't want is just as important as figuring out what you do. Sometimes the most courageous thing you can do is keep leaving until you find yourself.

Research for this episode draws on biographical sources including Ava Gardner's autobiography, published biographies, and archival interviews. All commentary and analysis is my own.

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: [email protected]

🔐 Join the Patreon community for live Q&As and deeper conversations.

I never randomly called my boyfriend during our entire relationship. Not because he told me not to—it just became normal. I also never saw him on weekends, never brought him around friends, and kept everything secret. These toxic relationship habits felt completely reasonable when I was in the affair.

After it ended, I fell right into a secretive situationship because those patterns had become so familiar. In this episode, I'm sharing how affairs normalize unhealthy relationship behaviors, why power dynamics and age gaps make it worse, and how I finally recognized I deserved more.

If you've ever wondered why certain relationship red flags felt normal or why you accepted less than you deserved, this one's for you.

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: [email protected]

🔐 Join the Patreon community for live Q&As and deeper conversations.

I'm launching my new signature series, Affairs Through the Ages, and I couldn't think of a better way to kick it off than with arguably the biggest affair of the 20th century: Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky.

This isn't just a retelling of the scandal. I dive deep into Monica's background and uncover something I never knew - she was already involved with a married man before she ever got to Washington. That first affair with her high school drama teacher shaped everything that came after.

I explore how Monica went from a 22-year-old intern to a global punchline, why the power dynamics made this relationship so problematic, and the devastating double standard that left her unable to work for a decade while Clinton remained beloved and powerful.

I also look at where Monica is now, because this is what The Scarlet Edit is all about. She reclaimed her story, launched her own podcast, and is using her experience to help others navigate public shaming and trauma.

This episode asks the hard questions: Was Monica groomed? Could this affair have been prevented? And why did she pay such a devastating price while he walked away unscathed?

New episodes of Affairs Through the Ages drop every Monday, with regular Thursday episodes continuing as always.

Topics discussed:

1. Monica Lewinsky's affair with her married high school teacher
2. How past relationship patterns influenced her relationship with Clinton
3. The 27-year age gap and power imbalance
4. Linda Tripp's betrayal and secret recordings
5. The media circus and global public shaming
6. Clinton's impeachment and acquittal
7. Monica's PTSD, unemployment, and rebuilding
8. Her current work in anti-bullying advocacy and podcasting

Rate this episode five stars on Apple Podcasts and let me know what you think of this new series!

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: [email protected]

🔐 Join the Patreon community for live Q&As and deeper conversations.

What if the things you want in the bedroom aren't as extreme as you think? Certified sex and relationship coach Amanda Dames breaks down the kink spectrum—from hair pulling to rope bondage—and explains why honest communication about sexual desires is so important for relationships.

Amanda, a former professional dominatrix with over a decade of experience, discusses the crucial difference between kinks, fetishes, and fantasies. She shares why some people who can't discuss their desires with their spouse may look elsewhere, and more importantly, how to have these vulnerable conversations before that happens.

What You'll Learn:

1. The kink spectrum: What actually counts as "kinky"
2. The difference between kinks (nice to have) and fetishes (necessary for orgasm)
3. Why it's hard to share sexual desires with the person who cleans the toilet
4. How to start conversations about fantasies with your partner
5. Why rejection of sexual interests creates deeper wounds
6. The role of shame in preventing honest sexual communication, and why infidelity can stem from this fear
7. What degradation play, power exchange, and impact play actually mean
8. Why you should never bring up new desires during sex
9. How aftercare works in kink relationships

Key Topics Discussed: Sexual communication, kink education, BDSM basics, fetishes vs kinks, power dynamics, consent, relationship shame, how to talk to vanilla partners, core desires, Fifty Shades of Grey's impact, managing sexual incompatibility

Amanda explains why high-powered executives sometimes want to be controlled in the bedroom, how to identify what feeling you're actually seeking through kink, and practical frameworks for opening up vulnerable conversations with your partner. Whether you're curious about exploring kink or just want better sexual communication, this episode provides actionable advice.

Perfect for listeners interested in: Sexual wellness, relationship communication, BDSM education, overcoming shame, couples therapy insights, sexual compatibility, fantasy exploration

Guest: Amanda Dames | The Kink Consultant

1. Website: amandadames.com

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: [email protected]

🔐 Join the Patreon community for live Q&As and deeper conversations.

Should you date a separated man? Is dating during divorce a red flag? How long should someone be single after a long marriage before dating again?

In this episode, I share results from a viral question I posted on Threads that received 141 responses from women in their 40s about whether they'd date men who are separated or going through divorce. The overwhelming answer reveals important truths about healing timelines, self-discovery, and what it really takes to be relationship-ready after ending a long-term marriage.

What You'll Learn:

1. Why 90% of women over 40 won't date separated men (and what that means for you)
2. The "Runaway Bride test" - why knowing yourself matters more than relationship status
3. Real responses from women AND men going through separation and divorce
4. Why living independently after divorce is essential before a new relationship
5. How roles in long marriages affect readiness for dating

Plus: I announce an exciting new signature series launching soon and share updates on upcoming anonymous guest episodes where everyday people share their infidelity and divorce stories.

Perfect for: Women navigating dating after divorce, anyone wondering about dating timelines post-separation, or those seeking relationship advice for dating in your 40s and beyond.

New episodes every Thursday.

💌 Business inquiries: [email protected]

🔐 Join the Patreon community for live Q&As and deeper conversations.