Have you ever looked at someone who seems to have it all — the job, the glam, the life — and wondered, what the heck did I miss? That's the premise of the much-anticipated new novel "The Memo" by Rachel Dodes and Lauren Mechling, about a woman flailing in life and love, stuck in a rut while all her friends seem to flourish — and realizing it's because they got "The Memo," and she didn't. At her college reunion, she is given the chance to go back in time and change her life. The novel invites us to ask ourselves... would we? And other, thornier questions: what does it means to be happy and successful? Are those the same things? If we had the chance to go back and course-correct our lives, what would we be giving up? In this episode of "Your New Life Blend," Rachel and Lauren talk with host Shoshanna Hecht about how we define success (and how it is defined for us), how even successful women can feel like they missed the memo (yes, even incredibly accomplished writers like Rachel and Lauren who together have written for The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Vogue, Vanity Fair, the GuardianUS, Elle, the New Yorker, Buzzfeed and more), and what it means to choose — and love — the life you are living.

SHOW NOTES

Website:

Rachel Dodes
https://www.racheldodes.com
Lauren Mechling
https://www.laurenmechling.com 

Books: 

The Memo: A Novel, by Rachel Dodes & Lauren Mechling 

https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-memo-rachel-dodeslauren-mechling

How Could She, by Lauren Mechling 

https://www.laurenmechling.com/how-could-she

Other Writing:

Rachel Dodes

https://www.racheldodes.com/writing

Lauren Mechling 

https://www.laurenmechling.com/journalism-1

Podcast: 

"Nope" with Rachel Dodes & Brian Hecht 

https://www.racheldodes.com/podcasts


Social Media:

https://twitter.com/racheld

https://www.threads.net/@racheldodes

https://www.instagram.com/racheldodes

https://twitter.com/laurenmechling

https://www.instagram.com/laurenomics

https://www.instagram.com/thecloglife

Jenn Romolini is a success story, with the glowing "get her life!" press coverage to prove it. As a journalist, editor, author, podcast creator and creative executive, Jenn has had the kind of successful career across media, tech and entertainment that is a testament to ambition, vision and hard work. But in her new memoir “Ambition Monster,” Jenn shares the story of just how hard the work was, and just how deep the ambition went as she looks backward on a life that was not always the stuff of glossy press coverage. In this episode of "Your New Life Blend," host Shoshanna Hecht talks to Jenn about the deeply personal story she tells about family, class, workaholism, and identity; how her ambition was both her survival mode and what gave her hope; and what it means to allow ourselves to tell our full stories - and be fully seen.

SHOW NOTES

Website:
https://www.jenniferromolini.com

Books:
Ambition Monster: A Memoir
Weird In a World That’s Not: A Career Guide for Misfits

Podcasts:
Everything Is Fine (Jennifer Romolini & Kim France)
Stiffed (Crooked Media)

Newsletter:
Extended Scenes (Substack)

Social Media:
https://www.instagram.com/jennromolini
https://twitter.com/jennromolini
https://twitter.com/theeifpodcast

Christie Marchese is the founder and CEO of Kinema, a next-gen platform for filmmakers to share their work (and get paid for it!), to find new audiences and experiencing the magic of going to the movies as intended - in community. That's magic that Christie knows well, as a serial entrepreneur who has built a career around surfacing important work and bringing new audiences together to drive social change and tell stories that matter. (She was previously the founder & CEO of the impact agency Picture Motion, and worked in strategic roles at Righteous Pictures, Participant Media, Norman Lear's nonprofit Declare Yourself.) Community is also a North star of Christie's life, guiding her investment strategy, vision of family planning, and in the short term, how many people she and her husband can cram joyfully into their amazing lower Manhattan apartment for book parties, screenings, fundraisers and more. In this episode of "Your New Life Blend" host Shoshanna Hecht talks to Christie about the intentionality of building community in her life as she (happily) approaches 40 and the joy of working and building alongside your chosen family.

SHOW NOTES

Website
https://kinema.com

"Meet Christie Marchese, whose company Kinema wants to revolutionize film distribution," Fortune
https://fortune.com/2023/08/10/christie-marchese-founders-forum-2023

"Christie Marchese, CEO of Kinema, on Creating A Mission-based Company," WieSuite
https://www.thewiesuite.com/post/christie-marchese-ceo-of-kinema-on-creating-a-missionbased-company

Social Media:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christiem
https://www.linkedin.com/company/kinemahq

https://www.instagram.com/christiemarchese
https://www.instagram.com/kinemahq

https://twitter.com/ChristieM
https://twitter.com/kinemaHQ

https://www.facebook.com/KinemaHQ

For the past two and half seasons, we have been lucky to have some truly amazing guests here on "Your New Life Blend," who have shared so many amazing insights. As we hit that Q2 crunch time, we wanted to share some of it to help you refocus on your own priorities, goals, and boundaries (we love boundaries). Please enjoy this great advice and insight from Dorie Clark, Bridget Todd, Vanessa Bennett, Candice Cook, Lyz Lenz, Hitha Palepu, Christina Wallace, Stacy London, Bea Arthur, Morra Aarons-Mele, Abby Falik and of course, "Your New Life Blend" host, executive and personal coach Shoshanna Hecht. We hope you enjoy it! We'll be back next week with more great Season 3 guests.

Featuring:

Dorie Clark, Author & Speaker
Season 1, Episode 13
https://dorieclark.com

Bridget Todd, Founder & Podcaster 
Season 2, Episode 9
https://www.unbossedcreative.com

Vanessa Bennett, Author & Entrepreneur
Season 2, Episode 16
https://lessawkward.com

Candice Cook, Entrepreneur & Attorney
Season 1, Episode 16
https://www.candicecook.com

Lyz Lenz, Author & Journalist
Season 2, Episode 8
https://lyzlenz.com

Hitha Palepu, Multi-Hyphenate
Season 2, Episode 3
https://hitha.beehiiv.com

Christina Wallace, Author & HBS Professor
Season 1, Episode 7
https://christinawallace.com

Stacy London, Style Icon & Midlife Advocate
Season 2, Episode 6
https://www.instagram.com/stacylondonreal

Bea Arthur, Entrepreneur & Therapist
Season 2, Episode 1
https://www.beaarthurtherapy.com

Morra Aarons-Mele, Mental Health Speaker & Author
Season 1, Episode 4
https://morraam.com

Abby Falik, Social Entrepreneur
Season 1, Episode 12
https://www.abbyfalik.com

Sure, we all get tired. But Lindsay Scola's tired was different. She was constantly exhausted, dozed off frequently, experienced night terrors, anxiety and brain fog, and sometimes, hallucinations. Doctors suggested that perhaps it was her demanding career working with high-powered leaders in entertainment, politics and government (including being part of the Obama administration), but still, this had been going on for two decades and Lindsay knew that something else was going on. It took years of telling doctors about her symptoms before finally, at age 35, she got confirmation that yes, her tired was different: she had narcolepsy. 

Armed with this new information about her own health, Lindsay has become a patient advocate and sleep evangelist, writing and speaking widely to share her story and help others find clarity about their own health. In this episode of "Your New Life Blend," host Shoshanna Hecht talks to Lindsay about her sleep journey and the complexities of sleep issues for different people (yes, your tired might be different!); how to best advocate for ourselves with medical professionals (before they pass you a pamphlet and send you on your way); and how to be ambitious and productive when our bodies are not cooperating. 

SHOW NOTES

Website
https://www.lindsayscola.com

"For Years Doctors Told Me My Constant Exhaustion and Night Terrors Were Normal. They Weren’t," Self
https://www.self.com/story/constant-exhaustion-narcolepsy-essay

"Waking Up to a New Era of Sleeping Well: In Conversation with Lindsay Scola," Thrive Global
https://community.thriveglobal.com/waking-up-to-a-new-era-of-sleeping-well-in-conversation-with-lindsay-scola

"Everyone Around Me Was Tired: I had no idea my tired was different," WieSuite
https://www.thewiesuite.com/post/everyone-around-me-was-tired-i-had-no-idea-my-tired-was-different

Social Media:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsay-scola-a75b431
https://www.instagram.com/lindsay.scola
https://www.threads.net/@lindsay.scola

Glynnis MacNicol spent the long stretch of COVID lockdown mostly alone in small Upper West Side apartment, mostly without really touching another person. So by summer 2021, after vaccines had rolled out and restrictions were finally lifting, she jumped at the chance to stay at a friend's apartment in Paris, and immediately bought a plane ticket out of her pandemic-imposed solitude. Landing in Paris she found a city just waking up from its own lockdown, and felt in Parisians all around her the same urgent, greedy desire to enjoy every pleasure life had to offer - food (cheese, croissants, chocolate), community (in-person, Zoom be damned), and connection (very much in person, very pleasurable, very much enjoyed). She recounts it all and then some in her joyful, decadent, and insightful new memoir, "I'm Mostly Here To Enjoy Myself: One Woman's Pursuit of Pleasure in Paris," coming in June, which dares to suggest that women have the right to enjoy themselves - and their choices - fully and gloriously, without needing permission. In this episode of "Your New Life Blend," Glynnis talks to host Shoshanna Hecht about how seeking & claiming pleasure is actually a radical feminist act; the power of a free woman freely making her own choices; the joys of embracing your life unfolding at any age; and why we all deserve to truly enjoy ourselves.


SHOW NOTES

Website
https://www.glynnismacnicol.com/

I'm Mostly Here To Enjoy Myself: One Woman's Pursuit of Pleasure in Paris
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/736781/im-mostly-here-to-enjoy-myself-by-glynnis-macnicol

No One Tells You This
https://www.glynnismacnicol.com/noonetellsyouthis.html

Podcast: "Wilder"
https://www.glynnismacnicol.com/wilder.html

Newsletter: "Good Decisions"
https://glynnismacnicol.substack.com

"I Think We’re Alone Now. Welcome." New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/06/style/self-care/coronavirus-living-alone.html

"Growing Up Meant Learning How to Wear Red Lipstick," The Cut
https://www.thecut.com/2014/12/growing-up-meant-learning-to-wear-red-lipstick.html

"I Miss My Lipstick," New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/15/style/lipsticks-to-wear-with-masks.html

Other Writing:
https://www.glynnismacnicol.com/other-writing.html

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/noonetellsyouthis


References:

The Other Significant Others: Reimagining Life with Friendship at the Center
https://www.amazon.com/Other-Significant-Others-Reimagining-Friendship/dp/1250280915

Birthrates are plummeting worldwide. Why?
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/19/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-jennifer-sciubba.html

TheLi.st, founded by Glynnis MacNicol & Rachel Sklar
https://nypost.com/2020/11/24/exclusive-womens-social-network-sold-to-shokets-new-power-media

Who are we when we don’t have a job? A fancy title? The heft of a prestigious organization behind us, signaling our worth and marketability? That question stared Penny Abeywardena square in the face when she left her high-powered position as New York City Commissioner for International Affairs in the De Blasio administration, a role she had served in from 2014-2022. It was the first untethered, unstructured time she’d had in two decades. It was also the first time she’d had a moment to think about what this new untethered life might look like. In this episode of “Your New Life Blend,” host Shoshanna Hecht talks to Penny about creating a new, bespoke job description, her newfound focus on "soft power" and the power of collaboration, and how her experiences as an immigrant, woman of color, and survivor of domestic violence have shaped her approach to leadership and advocacy.

Website
https://pennyabeywardena.com

Soft Power Strategies
http://softpowerstrategies.com

Forbes Column
https://www.forbes.com/sites/pennyabeywardena

Social Media
https://www.linkedin.com/in/pennyabeywardena
https://twitter.com/pabeywardena
https://www.instagram.com/pabeywardena

Jo Piazza has built a career around telling stories, specifically about women living lives of adventure, bravery, joy and fulfillment. In celebration of Jo's upcoming novel "The Sicilian Inheritance" - out next week! - we are sharing our wonderful conversation with her from Season 2, where she talks about the personal journey behind the book (based on the murder of her Sicilian great-great-grandmother, who was also maybe a witch). In this episode, Jo sits down with host Shoshanna Hecht to discuss her rich and full career as a journalist, author and podcaster, and shares insights into her career evolution, highlighting the necessity of adaptability, reinvention - and being your own CEO.

The Sicilian Inheritance

https://www.amazon.com/Sicilian-Inheritance-Novel-Jo-Piazza/dp/0593474163

Podcast: Under The Influence

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/under-the-influence-with-jo-piazza/id1544171101

Newsletter: Over The Influence

https://jopiazza.substack.com/

Other Books

https://www.jopiazza.com/books

Other Podcasts

https://www.jopiazza.com/podcasts

Jessica Bennett has spent a prolific, award-winning career writing and reporting about gender, sexuality, politics, and culture, including as the first-ever Gender Editor for The New York Times, and now as a contributing writer & editor. She has profiled - and shaped our collective understanding of - numerous public figures including Jennifer Aniston, Pamela Anderson, Monica Lewinsky, E. Jean Carroll, Governor Kathy Hochul and Anita Hill. Jessica's book, "Feminist Fight Club," offered solutions for fighting workplace inequality and gender bias, and her current podcast, "In Retrospect," with co-host Susie Banikarim, looks back on cultural moments from the past few decades and rethinks our collective - and often extremely dated - response. It's all giving her a lot to think about right now as she ponders what's next in a decimated media environment as it seems like, yet again, everything is changing. In this episode of "Your New Life Blend," host Shoshanna Hecht sits down with Jessica to discuss our shifting attitudes as a society (and as an ambitious, high- achieving women), how to carve out your own job description, and above all, how to roll with an ever-changing world when sometimes what you really want is a nap.

Website:

https://www.jessicabennett.com

Books:

Feminist Fight Club: A Survival Manual for a Sexist Workplace
This Is 18: Girls’ Lives Through Girls’ Eyes
https://www.jessicabennett.com/books

New York Times stories:

https://www.nytimes.com/by/jessica-bennett

Podcast:

In Retrospect with Susie Banikarim and Jessica Bennett
https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-in-retrospect-with-susie-122206786/

Social Media:

https://www.instagram.com/jessicabennett
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jess7bennett
https://twitter.com/jessicabennett

In honor of Women’s History Month, we wanted to bring back one of our *favorite* episodes from Season 1, with the inimitable Cindy Gallop, who lives her life *exactly* as she wants and is *very good* at inspiring the rest of us to do the same. Cindy would like you to have *more* of everything you want - more money, more power, more freedom, more innovation, more connection, more joy - and yes, more sex.

And who are we to argue?

Cindy is also in the process of an equity crowdfunding campaign on WeFunder in support of her company, Make Love Not Porn, a social sex platform with the mission of promoting safe & informed sex for consenting adults. (The campaign’s lead investor is actress & activist Jameela Jamil.) In this episode of "Your New Life Blend," Cindy talks about her work encouraging connection, communication, and authenticity (at MNLP and with her coaching clients, and speaking and newsletter audiences!) and why she wants you to build whatever you are dreaming of with your unique voice, skills and vision. 

We are *always* inspired by Cindy and we know you will be, too. We hope you enjoy this encore episode of your new life blend!

SHOW NOTES

MNLP Crowdfunding Campaign
https://wefunder.com/makelovenotporn/

Website
MakeLoveNotPorn.tv

Newsletter
Dear Cindy

TED Talk
Make Love, Not Porn

Social Media
@CindyGallop on Twitter
Cindy Gallop on Linkedin
@CindyGallop on Instagram