Small Talk With Syd - The Podcast

It's been an absolute pleasure making small talk with you all the last 5 1/2 years. Here's my goodbye letter to the fans of the podcast. I love you all!

- Syd

xoxo

LET'S MAKE SMALL TALK:

In Episode 69 I'm chatting with an incredible human being (& overall just cool girl), Liv Stone, who is a Surfer, Model & Disability Advocate. In just a few short years she has earned the title of 6x Gold Medalist & 3x Para Surf World Champion.

Growing up Liv loved the water but it wasn’t until later where she felt the call to pursue surfing. After attending a faith based retreat, hosted by Bethany Hamilton for women with disabilities, Liv’s passion for surfing really took off.  

In this episode we get into all of the surfing details, how she navigated the difficulties when she first started out & what this process has taught her. We also talk about the importance of changing perspectives & shifting conversations in culture around disabled people. Be sure to tune in!

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In Episode 68 I'm chatting with a true girls girl - Lauren Hubert who is both a Registered Dietician & the founder of The Sorority Nutritionist. What is so great about Lauren is that she gets it because she's lived it.  Determined to lose the 20 pounds she gained freshman year at Florida State University, Lauren began over-exercising and restricting her food to 1000 calories because of what she found on the internet. When Lauren finally began studying nutrition, she realized her approach to dieting was all wrong and was actually hurting her metabolism! 

Now her mission is to help women find the fun in food & feel HOT while doing it. In this episode we chat about what to do when you’ve gone in a downward spiral, weight loss v. fat loss, why changing the way you eat can be more impactful than exercise, diet culture & much more. In addition, Lauren’s private practice offers supportive coaching and online Membership programs featuring hands-on support from Registered Dietitians which you can learn more about in the description of this episode! Be sure to tune in :)

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In Episode 67 I'm chatting with the bold, beautiful & and pure badass Denise Lee who is the Founder of the athleisure brand, Alala. Alala’s mission is to bring joy to women through sophisticated, high quality clothing, but also seek to advance dialogue around body positivity and diversity. Recently Alala has undergone a major rebrand & in many ways it is reflective of the journey Denise has gone through.

At just 18 years old Denise left Singapore & moved to New York to pursue her dreams. Her early career started off working for retail legend, Chris Burch to eventually starting a SELF-FUNDED multi-million dollar brand.

As I chatted with Denise I learned that having a voice & being the face of a brand has come with its challenges. Growing up in Asian culture it was uncomfortable for her to have a voice & put herself out there. What made it more difficult was that when athleisure brands were on the rise, Denise looked around & saw that most of the other women in the space did not look like her. With that came major imposter syndrome which we dive into and how she has overcome that.

We also chat about all things business related like how she started her brand from the ground up with no venture capital, how to stay relevant in an over-saturated market, and some of the fears young entrepreneurs have surrounding money.

This was such an informative & empowering episode to listen to so be sure to tune in!

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In Episode 66 I'm chatting with my first Miami guest, the lovely & beautiful, Mimi Ghandour who is the Founder of Mimi Yoga where she thrives on creating community and holding space for personal transformation.

Mimi’s journey is as raw & real as its gets. She shares the story of how she got married at 17 in Saudi Arabia, getting pregnant at 21 with a child who was born with a muscle condition, moving to the United States & eventually leaving a toxic marriage.

However, every obstacle of Mimi’s journey allowed her to grow in a whole new way & she began to share her struggles with her social media followers. People gravitated towards her honesty & her candidness. Then in 2015 she began practicing yoga & the rest is history. Today Mimi has a global online community in over 64 countries, a Yoga Academy & a recently opened studio in Wynwood, Miami.

Mimi was an absolute pleasure to talk to & you can feel her love for her community radiate through this episode. Be sure to tune in!

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In Episode 65 I'm chatting with the Founder & Creative Director of Siegelman Stable along with Forbes 30 Under 30 nominee, Max Siegelman.

We all should know by now that every great brand tells a story & that’s exactly what he does. Max was always inspired by his father’s horse training career & farm that helped aid in equine therapy programs for veterans, nurses, doctors, & inner-city youth. 

One day he came across some of his father's merch & decided to recreate it for close friends and family. Eventually, the designs caught attention from others & Max decided to create the brand, Siegelman Stable in 2020.In just a few short years he has been able to make a name for himself in the world of streetwear. Celebrities like Kendall Kenner, Future, Kygo, Aaron Judge (just to name a few) have been seen wearing his apparel.

During this conversion, Max & I discuss the thought process he had while building the brand, the reality of being entrepreneur in fashion, how his past & current work experience has been beneficial in his growth & much more! Be sure to tune in. 

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In Episode 64, and first episode of 2023, I'm chatting with a friend & also a guest we have had on this show before – the lovely, Neda Varbanova (check out Episode 7)! 

She is the is the creator of the lifestyle brand Healthy with Nedi, a recipe developer, health coach & now author! Let’s just say that she is an expert at what she does. I have been a fan of her recipes for years now because its REAL food that makes you FEEL GOOD!

Today we are talking with Neda about the creation of her new cookbook -The Mediterranean Meal Plan Cookbook: Simple, Nutritious Recipes to Eat Well, Feel Great and Look Fabulous.

We also talk about American v. Mediterranean cuisine, how she transformed her gut health, what to look for when food shopping, how cooking has helped her family heal & more! If you want to learn about a new cuisine & eat food that makes you feel good than be sure to tune in! A great way to kick off the new year!

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In Episode 63, and my last of 2022, I'm chatting with my good friend, Alexa Rae Ibarra who is a yoga instructor & podcast host of, The Vibe. One thing I love about Alexa is that she is unapologetic about who she is & she’s not afraid of taking the road less traveled.

Before discovering her love of yoga, Alexa took on multiple jobs in LA like assisting Madison Beer in the early days of her career, working as Tori Spelling’s stylist & more. However, at 23 she knew that something wasn’t right so she trusted her gut & started a new chapter. She later on went to become of the faces of yoga for Adidas where she was featured in campaigns all over the world.

With that said, this episode is really just two friends catching up as we go into so many different topics including relationships, social media, mental health & much more. Tune in!

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In Episode 62 I'm chatting with fellow podcaster Alyssa Amoroso. Alyssa is best known for being the host of Tea with Publyssity but some of you may know her from her funny TikTok content on all things lifestyle & pop culture.

We first go into her journey towards creating a podcast, why she decided to leave Barstool to become independent  and what she learned from hosting in the last few years. I even share with her some advice from what I learned from my own hosting experience.

We then hit on some topics that I feel so many people are currently dealing with right now like how FOMO is a thing of the past, what to do when you are feeling uninspired, the desperate need for new energy, dating culture & much more!

Alyssa & I also get into a conversation about why we both are making decisions to move to new cities & leave NYC. Something I’ve been sneakily hinting at in the last few episodes...

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In Episode 61 I'm chatting with wealth strategy & business mentor, Hannah Koenig. Today she is a multiple six-figure entrepreneur and Forbes Coaches Council member but her success most certainly comes with a story. Hannah shares with us how her family grew up on food stamps, below the poverty line. As a kid the only thing she understood about money was that her family didn't have it. Her fear of finances carried on into her twenties where she found herself facing eviction, mountains of debt, and the consequences of just about every financial mistake a person can make.

After becoming an entrepreneur she realized that earning more was only a fraction of the equation. It was then that she committed to fully transforming her relationship with money. In a few short years Hannah went from a negative net worth to becoming an investor, owning multiple properties, and building tangible wealth. Her own journey of financial liberation catalyzed the work she does today.

In this episode we dive into the how to escape the trauma & shame associated with debt, the first place to start when trying to get rid of debt, the importance of emergency funds, all things credit card related, how to generate wealth, where to invest & so much more. There is something everyone can take from episode so be sure to tune in!

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In Episode 60 I'm chatting with the stunning model & actress, Emelina Adams. Emelina is truly a force to be reckoned with from winning Miss Nevada in 2016, to becoming the face of GUESS to even landing a role in the 2022 film, Bullet Train, alongside stars like Brad Pitt & Sandra Bullock.

After learning about Emelina’s journey I discovered that this is a woman who goes after what she wants & there are multiple examples throughout the episode. It was a great reminder that patience & persistence really do pay off.

I think what I was most impressed by was Emelina’s character. She is so grateful for every opportunity that has been presented to her no matter how big or small.. I believe her humility & gratitude have been contributing factors in her success so far.

Now if you want to get to know Emelina just a bit better & hear some really fun behind the scene stories be sure to tune in!

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For this Bonus Episode 59 I'm chatting with Meditation & Breathwork Coach, Dominique Perkowski. In this episode Dom walks us through a 20 minute meditation session that gives us a sneak peak into her program, The Shift. The meditation starts around the 5 min mark if you want to fast forward. 

ENJOY!

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In Episode 58 I'm chatting with Meditation & Breathwork Coach, Dominique Perkowski. After my first phone call with Dom I knew that I wanted to learn more about her journey. In this episode we talk about how to find your identity when you feel lost & how to show up exactly as you are.

Dom’s journey began when she had an identity crisis after discovering that the fashion industry, an industry she always dreamed about, no longer aligned with what she was truly seeking. Then after listening to her intuition & picking up her first book on meditation, she finally began to feel validated in everything she had been feeling. 

We also get into what meditation is, how it has healed her, advice on how to start meditating & so much more. She even shares a crazy experience she had preparing for a 10 day silent meditation retreat! Be sure to tune in!

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In Episode 57 I'm chatting the beautiful & talented, Kelsey Floyd who is best known for her unique take on pottery & the calming way she showcases her work on social. In fact, her chainmail work has gone viral on TikTok with some videos having over 10 Million views. She says her work is “inspired by the natural and ancient elements of our world.” With that said, Kelsey’s pottery journey began to take root during the pandemic & right after the birth of her son where she experienced postpartum depression. Her husband decided to sweetly purchase her a wheel & that’s where the magic took place. 

In this episode we talk about how she learned her skills, what she was doing before pottery, growing a business as a creative person, how art allows you to escape & how we all are capable of learning something new. 

I also loved this episode because it once again was a reminder to trust the process & that our deepest struggles can actually be opportunities for us to get to know ourselves just a bit better..

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In Episode 56 I’m chatting with Courtney Somer, the Founder of Lake & Skye. Lake & Skye is an award winning, modern and conscious beauty brand. Focused on fragrance, home and body their products are unisex, vegan and PETA certified. L&S has won 4 beauty awards include Allure's Best of Beauty and most recently been nominated for Brand of the Year. Courtney’s journey from working at Vogue to become a fragrance founder is a pretty remarkable one. 

After a health scare in her 20s & consulting multiple doctors she began to explore alternative healing which led her to studying Kundalini yoga, reiki, meditation & eventually aromatherapy. 

Working in the corporate world herself, & knowing the power scent can have on the brain, she began the journey to develop an essential oils line however she hit a few bumps along the way which you'll have to tune in to find out! 

Today the brand has branched out into fragrance and all products are used as gifts to give yourself to use throughout the day, whether you need an extra boost of confidence, a moment of gratitude or balance for mind and body.

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In Episode 55 I'm chatting with the lovely 25 year-old, Best-Selling Author, Grace Valentine, who wrote three books with her newest one being “Am I Enough? Embracing the Truth About Who You Are”. Talking to Grace is truly like a breath of fresh air & we get into so much like the internal struggles she faced growing up, overcoming difficulties with body image & how she is currently navigating adult life.

Through the lens of faith, Grace is also here to help redefine what it means to be a Christian by showing others that Christianity is not lame! It’s the difference between religion & relationship. One of Grace’s missions is to help others, especially young women, understand how the church has failed women by highlighting a new narrative that women are respected in the Bible.

I believe regardless of your beliefs or your upbringing there is something that everyone can take away from this episode. Be sure to tune in!

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In Episode 54 I'm chatting with the real life mad hatter & creative genius, Teressa Foglia. With her brand being well-known in the hat world and worn amongst celebs like John Mayer & Miranda Lambert I wanted to hear the story of this cool chick that I met in Malibu came to be.

In 2011, after feeling major burnout from running a freelance social media company, along with a devastating breakup, Teressa decided to leave it all behind & head to Europe to just focus on herself. Shortly after she stumbled upon a small hat making course in France & the rest is history.

After hearing her story it reminded me of how to really trust where life is leading you & that there is purpose in all things. Also, that maybe Paris isn’t called the city of love for just lovers alone but also for those who are looking to find a new passion in their life.

In this episode we get into how Teressa grew her brand. which is now composed of 5 stores across the country, her new definition of sustainability after the pandemic, how to build an online presence & of course how you can achieve “hat-fidence”. Tune in!

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In Episode 53 I'm chatting digital creator & storyteller, Hunter Prosper. If you’re an avid TikTok user like myself then there’s a high chance you scrolled past one of his videos before. Hunter’s story started as an ICU nurse where he began to take in interest in the stories of his patients; however, after the pandemic he began to feel major burnout, so he decided to take his passion for sharing other people’s stories to the streets.

In just a little over a year Hunter has amassed 4.7MM TikTok followers with some of his videos having just about 50MM views. These videos include his most popular series “Stories From A Stranger” which give an inside peek into the lives of average people by asking them questions like “Who was your first love?” or “What’s the most pain you ever felt that wasn't physical?”

In this episode we get into so much like how to deal with social anxiety, why it’s cool to have emotions & how to approach every day situations with a different perspective. One of my favorite episodes to date. If want to have one less stranger in life your life than be sure to tune in!

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In Episode 52 I'm chatting with the Kim Johnson who is the Head of Community at, Geneva a new all-in-one group chat app for communities, clubs, and social groups. Kim is one of the pioneering thought leaders behind digital community. She started her career at Glossier and built their community from the ground up for 5 years. However, it took her some time & wearing few different hats to discover her true passion.

This episode is great for people who are interested in building communities online & how it can play an important factor in the success of your brand. It’s also great if your still finding your career path! Tune in :)

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In Episode 51 I am chatting with the amazing female founders of Culina Health, Vanessa Rissetto & Tamar Samuels. These two registered dietitians decided to bring their powers together just 18 months ago to create the most amazing company that is all about the facts on none of the BS.

Culina Health is a personalized nutrition platform powered by registered dietitians, that you can actually trust, to help you prioritize the way you want to live. They are also in-network with most major insurances! They provide virtual nutrition care for all people regardless of their background, body size, or health condition. 

We hit on so many topics in this episode like the importance of individualized health care, the truth about trendy diets, why there is so much confusion about what’s good for you v. whats not & how to gain autonomy over your health. Be sure to tune in!

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In Episode 50 I'm chatting with Kennedy Crichlow & Mary Ralph Lawson of the amazing fashion label, Daily Drills. Their mission is to simplify getting dressed and blur the lines between workout-wear, lounge-wear, business-wear, and everything in between.

These two best friends in the midst of the 2020 global pandemic decided to follow their instincts, combine their talents & take a leap of faith by designing a clothing brand. Their organic growth, along with some genius marketing ideas, allowed them to hit 1M in sales in their first year! Today they are no longer are brainstorming on the floor of their apartment but now have their own HQ in LA along with a growing team. The craziest part is that they are only in their mid 20s! They view all their customers like their friends & after chatting with them it became very apparent why they have been so successful.

What I loved most was how transparent they are about how they grew their business. From the initial start up costs, to marketing tactics, to even the design process. We also touch on what its like to work with one of your best friends, the importance of being kind along with learning to trust yourself. Be sure to tune in!

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In Episode 49 I’m chatting with real estate agent & cast member on both Netflix’s Million Dollar Beach House on & Selling The Hamptons on Discovery Plus, Peggy Zabakolas.

Peggy’s real estate career began back she was on Ryan Serhant’s first team on Bravo’s Million Dollar Listing. Now, about a decade later, she has made quite a name for herself in the world of New York luxury real estate. We talk about how she grew her own team, key tips on expanding her network, being a woman in real estate & even advice for first time home buyers. This episode has a little something for everyone so I suggest you tune in! 

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In Episode 48 I'm chatting with celebrity stylist, Tiffany Briseno. Some of her clients include Kane Brown, Angus Cloud from Euphoria & oh yea Shawn Mendes - just to name a few! We chat about her organic journey towards becoming a stylist, where she draws inspiration from, what it's like working with celebrity clientele, how to make yourself stand out in an ultra competitive industry & of course some fashion tips.

Tiff shares a few really fun stories but I think my favorite is the fact that she gets FULL credit for getting Shawn Mendes to wear a leather jacket. So be sure to shoot her a THANK YOU!

If you want to hear the behind the scenes of working as a stylist or maybe are interested in learning this career path then be sure to tune in...

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In Episode 47 & the first of 2022 I am chatting with an OG food influencer & native New Yorker, Jeremy Jacobowitz.  We talk about his former work as a television producer, being a personal assistant to celebrity chef Bobby Flay (this is a pretty funny story), designing the well-known mouth-watering food blog, Brunch Boys, & how today all of his past lives have come into one. We even go into how content creation has shifted in the past decade while providing some great insight along the way.

So for anyone wanting to enter creative field, looking to start your own business or just searching for some amazing food recommendations this episode is definitely for you!

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In Episode 46, & my last of 2021, I am chatting with both a friend & fellow Long Island native Ms. Bella DeNapoli! Bella & I chat about it all including her recent experience being a contestant on NBC's The Voice Season 21 & what it was like working with Ariana Grande as her coach (no big deal) – something you don’t want to miss. But we also talk about her amazing journey of perseverance & the hard work it took to even get to this position in the first place.  

We also discuss how she got on The Voice, her musical background & of course her exciting new music that is being released like her newest single “IDK”. So if you want to learn just a little more about this rising artist & hear some cool stories from a beautiful person be sure to tune in! 

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In Episode 45 I chat with licensed clinical psychologist and coach, Dr. Elizabeth Lombardo who is on a mission to help people get out of their own way to create a life they love. Dr. E is regular media contributor to outlets such as the Today Show & Good Morning America.

She has personally helped celebrities (Shaq calls her his “head coach of happiness”) & high power performing executives, entrepreneurs and athletes to crush their inner critic and access untapped, practically limitless, reserves of potential.

Dr. E just released her latest book “GET OUT OF THE RED ZONE." In its pages Dr Elizabeth Lombardo addresses the interplay between passion and stress. Dr E defines passion as, “having positive energy even in stressful times.” We all experience both, but knowing how to work with our passions and manage or utilize your stress is a game-changer.

Be sure to tune in!

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In Episode 44 I'm chatting with comedian & tv writer, Lisa Curry (not to be confused with famous Australian swimmer lol). Lisa is an incredibly funny & talented comedian who is currently the opening act on the Jim Jeffries "Moist" tour. 

With that, Lisa has quite the story & we get into it all! We talk about how she got her start in comedy, how she booked 51 shows in 9 countries across Europe all on her own, her experience in writing a debut comedy album (& getting Grammy nominated!), to even working as a writer on networks like NBC, TruTV & Comedy Central. We really do cover so much in this episode & it’s one you definitely don’t want to miss! Oh & I can guarantee some laughs!

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In Episode 43 I chat with Batsheva Haart. Some of you might know her from the hit show on Netflix, My Unorthodox Life, which tells the story of Julia Haart, Elite World Group CEO and a former member of an ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, and her children. On the other hand some of you might know her from TikTok where she has over 1.4M followers.

Batsheva & I dive into her experience on the show, how she grew such a large social media following & what it takes to be a content creator. We also go into her personal life such as getting married at 19 & how she has been able to overcome all the obstacles that her marriage has faced. If you want to hear more be sure to tune in!

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In Episode 42 I chat with Dr. Darcy Sterling who is a Relationship Expert and the host of E! Network’s Famously Single. She’s the former Global Ambassador of Tinder, and her private practice, Alternatives Counseling in New York City, specializes in helping people thrive in their relationships. In addition to providing counseling services, Dr. Darcy teaches online courses on the psychology and science of Love and Relationships: Her newest course tackles one of the biggest relationship challenges - JEALOUSY.

With that said in this episode we go into it ALL - like the biggest problem men & women have when it comes to dating, how to navigate uncomfortable conversations with your partner, fighting in relationships & tons more! This is an episode everyone can learn from. 

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In Episode 41 I'm chatting with Peng-Peng Lee who is a Chinese-Canadian Olympic gymnast & content creator.

Peng made her gymnastics debut in 2004 at the age of eleven, competing in Elite Canada. Her gymnastics career quickly took off at a junior level, receiving multiple accolades.

In 2012 she qualified for the Summer Olympics in London but unfortunately had to pull out due to an ACL injury. Not letting that keep her down, she went on to join the Olympic team as acting captain.

Peng later turned to compete at the collegiate level where she dedicated six years as a UCLA Bruins gymnast. In 2018, she won the NCAA Balance Beam title and contributed two perfect tens to help the school clinch their seventh national title!

When chatting with Peng I learned that her gymnastics career maybe wasn’t exactly what she had planned but that no matter what she always pushed through. Today she has taken all the lessons she has learned & has applied them to her other passions like content creation (3.1MM followers on TikTok), acting & singing. If you want to learn more about Peng’s incredible journey be sure to tune in!

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In Episode 40 I'm chatting with Alix Greenburg who is the founder & CEO of Art Sugar. After working in the world of fine art for years, Alix was inspired to start a company that makes art affordable & accessible to everyone. 

In other words, ArtSugar is a virtual gallery of affordable art prints & decor by Instagram-famous artists, curated by Alix to uniquely cater to social media-minded millennials and Gen Z. The company even donates proceeds from every sale to a selection of notable charities. 

When it comes to capital, Art Sugar announced in July 2021 the impressive raise of a $500,000 seed round (this is a super cool story we talk about!). Plus, they have experienced impressive growth with an 80% increase in year-over-year revenue since March 2020 - during a pandemic!

Today ArtSugar has attracted celebrity customers such as Lance Bass, Katherine Schwarzenegger, and Bella Thorne. If you want to learn more be sure to tune in!

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In Episode 39 I'm chatting with Mr. Oliver Trevena who has quite the resume. He is an actor, host, producer, philanthropist & entrepreneur. His career began working as a host for Young Hollywood in the early 2000s where he interviewed just about every A-list celeb. Then after years of interviewing so many actors it was time for him to step into the role himself (pun not intended). Some of his recent work includes The Rising Hawk & Grande Isle with Nicolas Cage & Kelsey Grammer.

He also works behind the camera with his company Ollywood Media where he produces shows for networks like Awesomeness TV & has created content for major brands like AllSaints.

Finally, Oliver is no stranger to the world of entrepreneurship. We discuss the brand, Cali Water, that he created with his best friend, Vanessa Hudgens (yes, that Vanessa) & some of the other companies he plays an active investor role in like DogPound & CLMBr (the fast-growing fitness brand alongside Jay Z, Lebron James and Pitbull). 

Be sure to tune in to hear more from the English lad!

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In Episode 38 I'm chatting with TikTok star Fabrizio Villalpando aka The Moody Foody. Fabrizio shares the story of how he went from living in a van for 3 months to becoming a full time digital creator. While struggling with mental health & looking for a creative outlet he dove into the world of recipe development & video creation. All self-taught!

Today he has over 800k followers on TikTok & has been featured Forbes, Food & Wine, the Daily Mail along with others. He’s known for his unique take on cooking videos as they have this laid back approach that will leave you feeling less stressed, relaxed & of course hungry!

We really get into it all in this episode. The inspiration behind his work, how he got started, favorite recipes & more. So if you’re anything like me & are a bit intimated by the kitchen or maybe just feeling a bit stuck then this episode is one you need to check out. 

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In Episode 37 I'm chatting with a true QUEEN, Nicole Rose Stillings, otherwise known as DJ Rosé or Nicole Rosé. We dive into how this Midwest babe became a NYC boss where she now uses her entrepreneurial experience of building a six-figure business to empower the next generation of badass women.

Nicole truly has quite the resume from performing as a word-class DJ at Coachella, the Super Bowl & Art Basel to being a fellow podcaster. We also talk about her experience as cast member of the show, The Big Shot With Bethenny, & what she learned from working with Bethenny Frankel. Something you definitely do not want to miss!

With all of that experience under her belt, Nicole decided to launch a mentorship program called “Queens of Creation” which is a three-month membership program which teaches ambitious women how to unlock confidence, build a strong mindset and manifest their dreams.

If you are looking for some inspiration or some female empowerment this episode is definitely for you.

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In Episode 36 I chat with Giordana Vogel who is a Holistic Health Coach & the Founder of the Miami based lifestyle brand De La Heart which offers meticulously curated content in of areas of wellness, beauty and health. In addition, the also offer a line of incredible products including their most well known product The Body Massage Tool which helps with lymphatic drainage (I am a HUGE fan!).

This growing brand is one to keep your eyes on. In fact, they have received press from Vogue, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, The Today Show, Town & Country & Byrdie just to name a few.

With that being said, Gigi is truly such a beautiful soul & the story of how this Colombian native found her path & true passion is one worth hearing! She says that real life & real women are her inspiration. She likes to keep it simple, honest, inclusive & fun! It's all about  mind, body & soul. Tune in for all the good vibes!

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Get 20% off your first order with Sakara by using the code SMALLTALK at checkout. You can also go to sakara.com/smalltalk.

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In Episode 35 I chat with the iconic Alexa Matthews who runs the mouth-watering account @eatingnyc - the ultimate NYC restaurant guide. In 2014 Alexa began the account as a casual hobby but today it has become her full time job where she speaks to over 300k followers. She even has famous followers like Paris Hilton, Hailey Bieber & Ashley Benson just to name a few. In addition this NYC native was listed in 2016 as one of the top 30 people in food by AdWeek and has been featured by CNNMoney, Wall Street Journal, Cosmopolitan and Zagat, amongst others. 

We also talk about her career journey, how she grew the account & eventually monetized it, the importance of pivoting as a content creator, the key ingredients to what makes a great restaurant & of course her favorite restaurant recs (which you don't want to miss). 

Be sure to grab a snack & tune in!

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In Episode 34 I chat with Sarah Larson Levey who is the founder & CEO of Y7 Studio. With locations all over the country, Y7 Studio breaks traditional barriers to make yoga more inclusive & accessible. Its sweat dripping, beat bumping, candlelit yoga. I would know I’ve been a fan for years!

With that, Sarah is truly a force to be reckoned with. In 2018 she made the cover of Inc. Magazine which showcases America’s 500 Fastest Growing Companies. She has also been featured in Entrepreneur Magazine's 100 Powerful Women Issue. Plus, she's collaborated with major brands like Free People, Gap Body & Athleta just to name a few. 

Some of the topics we discuss are the inspiration behind the brand, advice on how to deal with stress, body positivity, motherhood, her move to Texas & so much more. Be sure to tune in!

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Get 20% off your first order with Sakara by using the code SMALLTALK at checkout. You can also go to sakara.com/smalltalk.

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In Episode 33 I chat with the Creative Director of Cosmopolitan.com, Abby Silverman. Abby is responsible for leading the redesign & relaunch from concept to production of Cosmopolitan.com across the entire brands digital & social footprint. Additionally, that very redesign of Cosmopolitan digital inspired and changed the direction of Cosmopolitan print. Pretty impressive. 

Abby I speak on different topics such as her career path to Cosmo, advice when feeling stuck in your 20s, the relevance of TikTok in the media space & more! Plus, we dive into more personal topics like dating & New York City lifestyle. 

If you want to meet the Devil Wears Prada IRL be sure to take a listen!

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In Episode 32 I chat with the down to earth & gorgeous Emily DiDonato. Emily is an American Model with IMG Models & the Co-Founder of her new skincare brand, Covey. Emily takes us through the journey of how she first got discovered as a model to later making the Sports Illustrated Issue. 

While the world of modeling can be an exciting one, it also has its challenges. With that we talk body image along with the changes Emily has experienced over the last decade.

And of course we chat about her exciting new business venture Covey. An amazing brand that makes skincare easy with 3 tried-and-true essentials for a simple, everyday approach.

In Episode 31 I'm back! I took some time off to strategize & figure out my next move going forward with the pod. With that, I am super pumped to get this thing going again. We have incredible guests lined up & I cannot wait for you guys to be a part of these conversations. 

I thought it would be appropriate to start this podcast back up again with a solo episode. The last time I did a solo was January 2018 (lol) so I think it's safe to say that a lot has changed since then. In this episode I discuss where I am currently at, some lessons I have learned the past 2 years & I also give some tips/tricks on how to reach your goals. 

As we dive into these conversations with my guests, I think it's really important for you  to feel connected to me, your host. I also hope to do more solo episodes in the future! Want to truly build a community with all of you. For now I hope you all enjoy! Now, let's make small talk...

LET'S MAKE SMALL TALK:

In Episode 30 I chat with Dr. Mona Vand who is a Doctor of Pharmacy, wellness consultant, skincare expert & digital creator. Growing up in a Persian household having a child who is a doctor is the absolute dream so that's exactly the road Mona took. However, she always knew that she wanted something different & to be in charge of her own story. It wasn't until after a breakup that Mona started taking real steps towards leaving the world of pharmacy & entering the world of television/digital creation. Today Mona has almost 600k subscribers on YouTube & almost 500k on TikTok! 

Mona & I talk about her journey & the lessons she learned along the way (lessons anyone can find useful). Plus, we dive into her health/wellness, fitness & skincare tips. There are some other fun topics we cover but you'd have to tune in to find out...

GUEST INFO: 

In Episode 29 I chat with Kira West who is a health & wellness influencer, as well as the creator her new brand, Made ByK.West, which just launched their "World Collection" ! Her brand is all about diversity and inclusion by sharing stories/jewelry pieces from all over the world. Kira also shares her personal experiences such as traveling for business & what that has been like/how to do it safely. Plus, we dive into how she launched a business in 2020 and the ways in which she has adjusted to the current climate. 

We also cover a lot of other great topics in this episode such as how she has learned to be comfortable in her own skin, not attaching judgment when it comes to eating & even relationships! If you want to hear it all be sure to tune in...

Syd,

xo

In Episode 28 I chat with Iman Hasan who is the Founder & CEO of Iman Hasan Creative & We Are Renn - along with few other roles which we discuss in this episode. Taking on multiple roles in nothing new for Hasan as she has pivoted multiple times over the years which has helped her in her overall career path.

With Iman's company being less than a year old we dive into how they have been operating during the global pandemic & the main reasons why they have been able to thrive. We also dive into other topics like how she has built an all female, ethnically diverse team and why it has been beneficial to her company's growth. Plus, Iman shares some of the ways she has been keep her mental check & her wedding plans for the future! Be sure to tune in!

Syd,

xo

In Episode 27 I chat with fashion & lifestyle expert Sydney Sadick who has been a TV correspondent for shows like TODAY, E!, Inside Edition, and GMA. She also is the author of the new book, AIM HIGH, which offers expert fashion advice to help others feel confident with what they wear while still being budget conscious. She also says the book dives much deeper into her personal life with some unfiltered stories. 

After getting to know Sydney a bit more its no surprise as to why she reached this much success at just a mere 26 years old. We dive into some of her incredible job experiences and even how an assignment at Harvard's summer program led to her launching a successful blog. Sydney also offers great advice for those who are looking to build their personal brand and how they can put themselves out there. We may even get into some stories about celebrities she has interviewed & cool events she has attended...so if you want to hear those be sure to tune in!

Syd,

xo

In Episode 26 I chat with Rachel (a.k.a Richie) Jolivette who is the Co-Founder of Vetted Collaborative which is a members-only, luxury lifestyle club that curates bespoke group trips and unique local events. She also is a real estate agent at Halstead and an activist on the rise.  Being the product of a Federal Judge and the VP of a Fortune 500 company, Richie is no stranger to speaking her mind and going after what she wants. In fact, her career started with shredding paper at an internship to becoming Marketing Director! - One of the many ways Richie has left her mark. 

We also dive into the Black Lives Matter movement and the work that Richie has been doing at the protests. Growing up Richie was one of the few Black kids at her school and she faced different kinds of discrimination. She shares her experiences and what people can do to show support.  This episode gets super raw and real - definitely educational & thought provoking. Tune in!

Syd,

xo

In Episode 25 I chat with Taylor Rae Almonte who is a trainer at Rumble Boxing but also a performer on the rise. She graduated from NYU Tisch School of the Arts and has an incredible resume to say the least. Taylor is truly a fighter in every area of her life. In the episode we dive deep into the Black Lives Matter movement and what the message is. Being that Taylor identifies as a Black Lantix individual, she was able to provide the perspective of what's its like to be a POC of in the United States. Another interesting perspective is that Taylor is in an interracial relationship which allowed her to give insight into other types of discrimination. We cover many topics in this episode such as personal experiences, racism in culture, how to support & how to maintain mental health during this time. I learned so much from Taylor this episode and I know you will too. 

Syd, 

xo

In Episode 24 I chat with Aubre Winters who is a Los Angeles based fitness instructor, trainer, and creator of the dance cardio sculpt class, Sweat Sessions. Growing up Aubre had dreams of moving to LA to become a competitive dancer but along the way she discovered a passion for community fitness. While working in corporate Aubre knew that she wasn't fulfilled - she is a mover and groover by heart! Plus, ending her relationship of six years truly acted as a catalyst for her career. By pushing through obstacles and never giving up, even when things got hard, she is a perfect example of what it means to chase your dreams. 

Aubre also offers relatable fitness and nutrition advice which was extremely refreshing coming from a fitness instructor let alone one from LA. We also talk about maintaining healthy skin, how to form healthy habits, her Sweat Sessions classes and more! This was such a fun episode to record and Aubre's energy is so infectious you can't help but smile! Tune in!

Syd,

xo

In Episode 23 I chat with Leanna Hawk who is the founder of Black Hawk Financial and the author of bestselling book, Young Fun and Financially Free. With over 12 years of consulting experience working alongside companies listed on NYSE, NASDAQ & many others Leanna has gained a lot of insight into the world of finance. She has even been featured on shows like CNBC, Bloomberg & Yahoo Finance just to name a few. 

Growing up Leanna was very determined to be financially independent and through the years she has learned how to save smart, pay off debt and invest properly. While finances have become a cause of concern for many during this time, I sit with Leanna to talk about how to avoid additional stress and how this can actually be seen as a financial opportunity... Definitely an episode worth the listen. 

GUEST INFO: 

In Episode 22 I chat with with Remy Park who is a vegan recipe developer, registered yoga/meditation teacher, food photographer & blogger at Veggiekins. Her recipes have even been featured on ACBNews, NBC News, News12, Whole Foods Market and more. While she may have an impressive resume, Remy's journey wasn't all the easy. 

Growing up she moved quite a bit and in her adolescent years developed Anorexia Nervosa coupled with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder which led to destructive behaviors including self harming and substance/alcohol abuse. It wasn't until hitting rock bottom that she really woke up. Her journey to self healing is truly an amazing one and a story that everyone can benefit from hearing so be sure to tune in. 

GUEST INFO: