To Tell You the Truth Podcast

What if we let ourselves believe in magic again?

In this episode of To Tell You the Truth, I’m talking with a Frisian, Dutch born artist and mother whose work is deeply rooted in nature, folklore, the feminine and the unseen world.

We talk about why so many of us lose our sense of wonder as we grow up, what nature can teach us about being alive, the incredible mystery of the female body and motherhood, and the idea that perhaps everything around us is more alive and interconnected than we realize.

We also get into animism, creativity, beauty, intuition and what happens when we stop looking at the world as something ordinary and start paying attention to the magic hiding in plain sight.

As Carlijn says "welcome to my whimsical realm ~ where nature speaks, life is brimming with colour, where the unseen is seen and folk & fairy tales are a living reality." Take a deep breath, go into nature and enjoy listening to this episode. xx

Where did real connection go and how the hell did we lose it?

In this episode of To Tell You the Truth, I’m talking with entrepreneur, author, and host Palak Dave about why so many of us feel lonely and disconnected despite being more connected than ever.

We talk about what happens when our phones, social media, and online personas start replacing real community, why vulnerability is the key to meaningful relationships, and what it actually takes to make people feel seen, welcomed, and like they belong.

Palak shares the deeply personal experience that made community a mission in her life, and explains why finding your people often means putting yourself out there again and again...even when it feels awkward, uncomfortable, or lonely.

It’s a conversation about presence, vulnerability, friendship, belonging, and remembering that community isn’t something you can simply follow online. You have to show up for it.

Follow to Tell You the Truth on Instagram @ToTellYouTheTruthPod

Follow Palak Dave on Instagram @Paldave

This episode is short, sweet and all about YOU!

I feel incredibly lucky to have you all here and I just want to take a pause and sit in this moment. It feels so damn good! See you next week!

Follow the To Tell You the Truth Podcast on:

Instagram @totellyouthetruthpod

TikTok @yourgayauntcaroline

What if being awkward isn’t something we need to overcome but something we need to embrace?

In this episode of To Tell You the Truth, I’m talking with entrepreneur and creator Brittane Rowe, the woman behind the conversation game Hella Awkward which she took all the way to Shark Tank where she landed the full investment she was asking for.

We talk about why so many of us are afraid of looking foolish, saying the wrong thing, or making ourselves vulnerable, and how embracing awkwardness can actually lead to more connection, confidence, creativity, and fun.

Brittane shares her journey of turning something many people try to avoid into something that brings people together.

It’s a conversation about vulnerability, confidence, taking risks, and giving yourself permission to be a little weird...and of course why theater kids rule the world.

Brandon Piper: Gay Men’s Chorus, Saying Yes to Life & Leaning Into Your Most Authentic Self

What happens when you stop trying to fit yourself into the life you think you're supposed to have—and start building one that lets you fully be yourself?

In this episode, I sit down with Brandon Piper, a performer, strategist, artist, and proud member of the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles, to talk about authenticity, curiosity, creativity, and the courage to say yes to the unexpected.

Brandon and I met by chance in an Amsterdam speakeasy, and I knew immediately that he was someone I wanted on this podcast. He's the kind of person who seems to bring light wherever he goes—and his approach to life is surprisingly practical: surround yourself with people who make your light shine brighter, stay curious about what's possible, and take the next small step.

We talk about growing up as a Black gay man in Indiana, learning to stop performing the version of himself other people expected, balancing a career with a creative life, and why you shouldn't have to hide the parts of yourself that make you happiest.

Brandon also shares some incredible stories about moving to Rome, saying yes to unexpected opportunities, getting his wallet and phone stolen in Prague, finding his community through theater and music, and discovering the power of standing onstage with 150 other gay men.

This is a conversation about living without shame, finding your people, taking chances, and letting yourself be fully seen.

And yes… he sings for us!

In this episode:

• Finding people who make your light shine brighter

• Being fully yourself instead of performing for others

• Balancing a creative life with a stable career

• The power of curiosity over fear

• Saying yes without needing to know where it will lead

• Finding community through theater, music, and the LGBTQ+ community

• Living without shame

• Using your own life to change other people's hearts and minds

Come get inspired.

What happens when you stop waiting for permission from others and just f'ing go for it?

In this episode, I sit down with filmmaker Yana Alliata, whose first feature film went all the way from an idea in her head to theaters and now streaming on Apple TV. Yana wrote and directed Reeling after deciding she was done asking for other people’s opinions and started trusting herself instead.

We talk about making something from nothing, believing in your art before anyone else does, taking up space as a woman, letting go of the need for validation, and why the most powerful stories are often the uncomfortable ones.

Yana’s story is a reminder that sometimes you just have to trust yourself, make the thing, and see what happens.

This is the show for people who want honest, real, vulnerable conversations that will help you grow and become your most authentic self.

Hosted by Caroline Cook, To Tell You the Truth is a podcast about what makes a life meaningful. Caroline sits down with fascinating people who are creating lives on their own terms to talk about authenticity, creativity, courage, love, failure, identity, and the beautiful mess that makes us human.

Caroline is an award-winning entrepreneur, songwriter, illustrator, journalist and speaker who has spent her life collecting stories and searching for what makes people feel truly alive. From music and art to journalism and community-building, everything she creates comes back to one thing: helping people know themselves more deeply and live more courageously.

This podcast is her latest experiment in doing exactly that.

No perfect lives. No bullshit. Just real people telling the truth about how they got here and what they’ve learned along the way.

Follow the podcast on TikTok & Instagram @totellyouthetruthpod
Follow Caroline on TikTok @yourgayauntcaroline

Created & Hosted by Caroline Cook
Edited & Recorded by Caroline Cook & Ravi Ellis
Recorded with a RØDE Microphones

Special thanks to my wife Rebekah Wood for supporting me. This wouldn't be here without her.