This Is Fine!

Get Dominique’s new newsletter, Dominique En Rose, with Paris updates and cosmic coaching on Substack now: https://dominiquemichelle.substack.com/ 🌹🦋

Book a mini astrology reading / cosmic coaching session at dominique-media.com/astrology 🪐✨

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IF YOU LOVED TODAY’S EPISODE, please leave us a five-star rating on whatever listening platform you found us on 🤩🥰😇DM us a screenshot of your review and we’ll buy you a coffee (no joke).

What do you want to hear next? How did you like today’s episode? Send us a note at imfine@thisisfinepodcast.com. You can hear more from Dominique on Instagram and TikTok at @dommymichelle.
Want to see some This Is Fine! merch? Join our Patreon: patreon.com/ThisIsFinePodcast

Preparing for the first day of Aries season — aka the first day of the 2024-2025 astrological new year — we’ve got a look at the year(s) ahead and some major planetary shifts with Shannon Aganza, master oracular astrologer (and Dominique’s teacher and mentor). 

We’re talking about all three Mercury retrogrades this year, eclipses, and the shifts of Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto.

0:02:45 — the 2024 vibe shift

0:07:00 — demystifying Mercury retrograde (a preview)

0:08:35 — more themes for 2024

0:12:40 — Uranus in Gemini forecast (“the new age”)

0:16:09 — Saturn in Pisces vibes

0:21:21 — Neptune in Pisces → Aries

0:27:17 — Jupiter x Uranus in Taurus (biggest transit of the year!!!)

0:31:08 — April 8 Solar Eclipse

0:32:22 — Self Exploration Theme!

0:35:05 — Jupiter in Gemini, May 25

0:40:29 — Locate Gemini in your chart!

0:49:32 — More on Neptune in Aries

0:56:06 — Uranus changing signs / big disruptions

1:00:43 — Preparing for the vibe shift, editing people out of your life

1:25:37 — Venus x Uranus conjunction 

1:27:06 — Neptune retrograde PIsces 

Mercury Retrogrades 2024

1:13:52 — demystifying mercury retrograde

1:19:22 — April 1, Mercury retrograde in Aries

1:28:09 — August 4, Mercury retrograde in Virgo/Leo

1:31:12 — November 25, Mercury retrograde in Sagittarius

Want to learn more about astrology with Shannon? Visit her site: MoonGathering.com to discover courses, book a reading, and more.

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IF YOU LOVED TODAY’S EPISODE, please leave us a five-star rating on whatever listening platform you found us on 🤩🥰😇DM us a screenshot of your review and we’ll buy you a coffee (no joke).

What do you want to hear next? How did you like today’s episode? Send us a note at imfine@thisisfinepodcast.com. You can hear more from Dominique on Instagram and TikTok at @dommymichelle.

Want to see some This Is Fine! merch? Join our Patreon: patreon.com/ThisIsFinePodcast

Sign up for the Dominique en Rose newsletter on Substack, here. Learn more about astrology with Dominique at dominique-media.com/astrology.

Named “The Real Emily in Paris” by Elle New Zealand (flex!), Kiana has begun hosting wellness events across Paris, combining things like skincare and pilates, healthy brunches, and now — wait for it — astrology! Dominique will be the guest astrologer at Kiana’s next event, Astrology Brunch, on March 16. Get your tickets here. 

Follow Kiana on TikTok and Instagram.

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IF YOU LOVED TODAY’S EPISODE, please leave us a five-star rating on whatever listening platform you found us on 🤩🥰😇DM us a screenshot of your review and we’ll buy you a coffee (no joke).

What do you want to hear next? How did you like today’s episode? Send us a note at imfine@thisisfinepodcast.com. You can hear more from Dominique on Instagram and TikTok at @dommymichelle.
Want to see some This Is Fine! merch? Join our Patreon: patreon.com/ThisIsFinePodcast

Celebrate 1M with Amanda on March 16 at Quai de la Photo in Paris: party tickets are available here.

Follow Amanda on TikTok and Instagram at @americanfille.

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IF YOU LOVED TODAY’S EPISODE, please leave us a five-star rating on whatever listening platform you found us on 🤩🥰😇DM us a screenshot of your review and we’ll buy you a coffee (no joke).

What do you want to hear next? How did you like today’s episode? Send us a note at imfine@thisisfinepodcast.com. You can hear more from Dominique on Instagram and TikTok at @dommymichelle.

Want to see some This Is Fine! merch? Join our Patreon: patreon.com/ThisIsFinePodcast

Find more from Trish on her LinkedIn, HERE!

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IF YOU LOVED TODAY’S EPISODE, please leave us a five-star rating on whatever listening platform you found us on 🤩🥰😇DM us a screenshot of your review and we’ll buy you a coffee (no joke).

What do you want to hear next? How did you like today’s episode? Send us a note at imfine@thisisfinepodcast.com. You can hear more from Dominique on Instagram and TikTok at @dommymichelle.

Want to see some This Is Fine! merch? Join our Patreon: patreon.com/ThisIsFinePodcast

Happy Valentine’s Day, and welcome to our first dating coaching episode, Dating With Dani! We’ve brought in coach and branding expert Dani Mejias Malick (@daniemme) to chat about some male-female dynamics, observations, and suggestions for single girlies looking for a boyfriend, husband, or general romantic partner. Dani’s come to us with a hypothesis (we LOVE a woman in STEM!) called “Leading With Sweetness.” 

The tension in the straight dating world is thick, and not in the fun spicy way… Dani has been investigating how to ease tension, imbue sweetness, and in her words, “get to the truth as quickly as possible.” 

Ready for some romance? We love love. Let’s get into it. 

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DOMINIQUE'S V-DAY PICKS: find 'em here

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IF YOU LOVED TODAY’S EPISODE, please leave us a five-star rating on whatever listening platform you found us on 🤩🥰😇DM us a screenshot of your review and we’ll buy you a coffee (no joke).

What do you want to hear next? How did you like today’s episode? Send us a note at imfine@thisisfinepodcast.com. You can hear more from Dominique on Instagram and TikTok at @dommymichelle.

Want to see some This Is Fine! merch? Join our Patreon: patreon.com/ThisIsFinePodcast

To follow Jazz’s journey, follow her on Instagram and TikTok.

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IF YOU LOVED TODAY’S EPISODE, please leave us a five-star rating on whatever listening platform you found us on 🤩🥰😇DM us a screenshot of your review and we’ll buy you a coffee (no joke).

What do you want to hear next? How did you like today’s episode? Send us a note at imfine@thisisfinepodcast.com. You can hear more from Dominique on Instagram and TikTok at @dommymichelle.

Want to see some This Is Fine! merch? Join our Patreon: patreon.com/ThisIsFinePodcast

Join us for a conversation with the one and only Allie Goodbun (find her here on TikTok and Instagram), principal dancer at THE Moulin Rouge in Paris. Allie and Dominique chat about what brought them to France, life as an expat in Paris, and observations about cultural differences. The Toronto-born dancer shares her “day in the life” of a Moulin Rouge dancer, as well as how she started her new international business, Ready Freddie. 

Check out Ready Freddie and use Allie’s discount (FREDDIE10!) at checkout at readyfreddieshop.com to get your own cozy Freddie!

Links mentioned in the show: 

• Dominique’s article on Allie’s day in the life on Well+Good

• Paris Traffic Chaos 

• Allie’s TikTok and Instagram

• Nuxe Rêve de Miel Body Wash (USA) (France)

• Memo Paris fragrance

• Susannah Conway word of the year PDF

• Red Wine Supernova by Chappel Roan

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IF YOU LOVED TODAY’S EPISODE, please leave us a five-star rating on whatever listening platform you found us on 🤩🥰😇DM us a screenshot of your review and we’ll buy you a coffee (no joke).

What do you want to hear next? How did you like today’s episode? Send us a note at imfine@thisisfinepodcast.com. You can hear more from Dominique on Instagram and TikTok at @dommymichelle.
Want to see some This Is Fine! merch? Join our Patreon: patreon.com/ThisIsFinePodcast

Today, January 11 (1/11 or 11/1, depending on where you live and how you write dates!) is the “111 portal.” You may have seen some advice on TikTok about manifesting and calling in what you want on this energetically charged day, but our master astrologer, celestial teacher, spiritual hygiene expert, numerologist, and moon mama Shannon Aganza is here with some DIFFERENT advice. Yes, manifesting is coming… but we need to check on some other things first!

This is our first episode diving into the world of numerology. To figure out your personal number (based on your birth date and year) and your personal YEAR number (which changes yearly on your birthday, and provides you a theme for your year!), we have some materials below. Consider this your episode guide, and have your numbers ready and in the back of your mind!

CALCULATING YOUR PERSONAL NUMBER AND PERSONAL YEAR NUMBER

Personal number numerology: 

• Add the individual digits of your birth date together (for example, Jan 1, 2000 would be 1+1+2+0+0+0 = 4)

• If you’re left with a double digit number, add those digits together — UNLESS (!!) it’s an 11, 22, 33, 44, etc. (for example, September 29, 1980 would be 9+2+9+1+9+8+0 = 38, 3+8 = 11 ; August 21, 1991 would be 8+2+1+1+9+9+1 = 31, 3+1 = 4)

Personal YEAR number: 

• Now, use your birthday without the year, and add in the year of your most recent birthday. For instance, it’s January 2024 now, but if your birthday is in March, use 2023 to calculate which year you’re currently in (this will change on your birthday this year). March 1, 2023 would be 3+1+2+0+2+3 = 11 year. You’ll change in 2024, on your birthday, to 3+1+2+0+2+4 = 12, 1+2= 3 (3 year). 

Shannon’s big lessons for today’s numerology (11!) and 2024 at large (8)...

• Find a mantra or word for your energy this year

• “What do I need to feel whole without the addition of something outside of myself?”

• Moving into balance within a world of polarity

• Do money and possessions own YOU? What’s your relationship with money and possessions and materials? 

• Turn your energy inward for better, more conscious manifestation energy

• Self accept, don’t overthink

• Step into receptive energy (soft girl life!)

Find more from Shannon at moongathering.com and @moongathering on Instagram. 

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IF YOU LOVED TODAY’S EPISODE, please leave us a five-star rating on whatever listening platform you found us on 🤩🥰😇DM us a screenshot of your review and we’ll buy you a coffee (no joke).

What do you want to hear next? How did you like today’s episode? Send us a note at imfine@thisisfinepodcast.com. You can hear more from Dominique on Instagram and TikTok at @dommymichelle.

Want to see some This Is Fine! merch? Join our Patreon: patreon.com/ThisIsFinePodcast

Ready for some therapy? We’re connecting the body and mind — and learning all about somatic therapy and somatic healing with expert Jason Maas, New York-based mind-body-soul psychotherapist and founder of Shadowlight Center. 

Ever wondered why some experiences literally make our stomach sink, or feel like a pain in the neck? Jason has the answers. In today’s “session” we’re diving into how we experience emotions in our physical bodies, and how we can use pain and physical sensation as clues into what our minds and hearts really need. 

To learn more from Jason and his practice, visit shadowlightcenter.com.

Reference from today’s episode: Bessel van der Kolk, The Body Keeps the Score

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IF YOU LOVED TODAY’S EPISODE, please leave us a five-star rating on whatever listening platform you found us on 🤩🥰😇DM us a screenshot of your review and we’ll buy you a coffee (no joke).

What do you want to hear next? How did you like today’s episode? Send us a note at imfine@thisisfinepodcast.com. You can hear more from Dominique on Instagram and TikTok at @dommymichelle.

Want to see some This Is Fine! merch? Join our Patreon: patreon.com/ThisIsFinePodcast

Ready to find a romance written in the stars? A love story from the galaxy? Oak, creator of Oak Astrology School is here to help. We’re looking at our OWN charts to find partnership, love, and real meaningful relationships. 

Oak created the course “Don’t Pull Up Your Crush’s Chart” to teach relational astrology from a more introspective POV. Our natal charts are a map… a treasure map, if you will… for so many areas of our lives. Let Oak guide you through this cosmic quest toward the love of your life!

Step one: make sure you have your natal chart handy (or know your descendant sign and its ruler). If you need a natal chart, get a free one at astro-charts.com (not sponsored it’s just literally free).

If you need more resources, go back to past Astro 101 episodes:

• Episode 6: the moon signs
• Episode 15: the rising signs
• Episode 39: the houses
• Episode 50: venus retrograde

Step two: Find your descendant (opposite your rising sign, aka ascendant). Here’s a cheat sheet:

• Aries rising: Libra descendant

• Taurus rising: Scorpio descendant

• Gemini rising: Sagittarius descendant

• Cancer rising: Capricorn descendant

• Leo rising: Aquarius descendant

• Virgo rising: Pisces descendant

• Libra rising: Aries descendant

• Scorpio rising: Taurus descendant

• Sagittarius rising: Gemini descendant

• Capricorn rising: Cancer descendant

• Aquarius rising: Leo descendant

• Pisces rising: Virgo descendant

Step three: Find your descendant ruler. Find the planet in your chart. What sign is it in? What house is it in? Cheat sheet:

• Aries descendant: Mars

• Taurus descendant: Venus

• Gemini descendant: Mercury

• Cancer descendant: Moon

• Leo descendant: Sun

• Virgo descendant: Mercury

• Libra descendant: Venus

• Scorpio descendant: Mars

• Sagittarius descendant: Jupiter

• Capricorn descendant: Saturn

• Aquarius descendant: Saturn

• Pisces descendant: Jupiter

Once you have those details, buckle up for more astro school with Oak!

If you want to dive deeper into the topic of love and relationships with Oak, This Is Fine! listeners get 15% off their love course, “Don’t Pull Up Your Crush’s Chart” with code ABSOLEM. For eager astro students the popular Full Natal Astrology Course is on mega sale for a limited time! 

You can follow Oak on Instagram at @OakAstrologySchool and catch their new podcast ABSOLEM: the art of astrology and demon slaying. 

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IF YOU LOVED TODAY’S EPISODE, please leave us a five-star rating on whatever listening platform you found us on 🤩🥰😇DM us a screenshot of your review and we’ll buy you a coffee (no joke).

What do you want to hear next? How did you like today’s episode? Send us a note at imfine@thisisfinepodcast.com. You can hear more from Dominique on Instagram and TikTok at @dommymichelle.

Want to see some This Is Fine! merch? Join our Patreon: patreon.com/ThisIsFinePodcast

FIND THE WHOLE (SHOPPABLE) GIFT GUIDE HERE (under the super neglected transcripts tab of our website).

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From beauty and home must-haves to Dominique’s extremely unrealistic personal wishlist, your unfathomably niche holiday shopping guide has arrived!

Since Dominique considers herself a tiny wannabe Oprah, we’re back with a Dominique’s Favorite Things 2023, which ended up being a lot of beauty, fragrance, powder pink, and all things french. Plus, some fun and aesthetic things you might want for your house/life (*gestures broadly at everything*).

You can use the links below in the description or head to our gift guide HQ, here.

• GOBI Pink Cashmere Joggers

• La Bonne Brosse Hairbrush, Numéro 1 l’Universelle Brosse à Cheveux

• Pink Le Creuset Cocotte

• Maje Ivory Wrap Coat

• Guerlain Perfume

• Spiritueuse Double Vanille

• Cuir Beluga

• Angelique Noire

• Memo Paris Odéon Perfume (you can only get this in Paris, sorry!)

• Repetto Ballet Lounge Set

• Biologique Recherche P50W

• Bianco Latte lotion, Giardini di Toscana

• Laines London Croissant Slippers

• Astrology

• Corgis

• Champagne

• Fireball

• Gin (here too)

• Spritzes

• Nautical motifs

• Flamingos

• Evil eyes (here too)

• Celebrating a new home, wedding, shower, or baby

• Christmas (here too)

• Aphrodite Pendant from Awe

• Chanel Rosy Light Drops

• Ultra Mini Platform UGGs

• Cody Foster Venus Ornament

• Polene Numero Neuf Mini

• Chanel Coco Sling

• Not Pictured: Reformation Boots

• Skims Fits everybody T-Shirt

• Repetto Ballet Flats

• Sézane Sweaters

• Fabienne Delacroix Puzzle

• Veggiekins Cookbook: SESAME, SOY, AND SPICE 

• Memo Paris Sintra 

• Comfort Zone Hydramemory Cream

• Davines Oi All-in-One Milk Spray

• Typology Tinted Glow Duo

• Chanel Inimitable Intense Mascara

• Dior Lip Glow Oil

• Diptyque Candle in Narguilé

• Memo Paris Fine China Candles

• Philips SmartSleep Sunrise Lamp

• Longchamp Tote

• Mariage Frères Tea

• Anissa Kermiche Adjustable Ring

• Nespresso Vertuo Next Premium

• Papier Croissant Journal

• Slip Silk Pillowcases

• Raclette Machine

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IF YOU LOVED TODAY’S EPISODE, please leave us a five-star rating on whatever listening platform you found us on 🤩🥰😇DM us a screenshot of your review and we’ll buy you a coffee (no joke).

What do you want to hear next? How did you like today’s episode? Send us a note at imfine@thisisfinepodcast.com. You can hear more from Dominique on Instagram and TikTok at @dommymichelle.
Want to see some This Is Fine! merch? Join our Patreon: patreon.com/ThisIsFinePodcast

Confidence and Mindset Coach Jenny Gaither, Creator of Brave Babe Glow Up, joins us for a chat about our personal evolution, our personal “Eras Tour.” What era are you in? Are you leveling up, glowing up, evolving? 

Jenny tells us, “life is a progressive glow up.” 

And if you’re ready for a new era, a new glow up, a personal evolution… whether you’re quitting your job, leaving a relationship, moving to a new country, or simply cutting your hair or changing your clothes… let us (Jenny) help! She walks us through the “anatomy of a glow up” and a Glow Up 101 (take notes!). Get ready for your best era yet… and a validating chat about not knowing what you want to be for the rest of your life (it’s a good thing, we promise). 

💫Get your Brave Babe Glow Up Guide from Jenny here! 💫

Journal prompt: What is your glow up leading you to? If you could wave a magic wand right now and you had everything you wanted, what would it be like? Get really creative and specific… don’t hold back.

References in this episode:

• Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers by Robert M. Sapolsky

• The Blue Crush Soundtrack

• Oscar Wilde quote/Stephen Fry audio clip on TikTok

• Comfort Zone Hydramemory Cream

• Parfums de Marly Delina Exclusif (also on Gilt)

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IF YOU LOVED TODAY’S EPISODE, please leave us a five-star rating on whatever listening platform you found us on 🤩🥰😇DM us a screenshot of your review and we’ll buy you a coffee (no joke).

What do you want to hear next? How did you like today’s episode? Send us a note at imfine@thisisfinepodcast.com. You can hear more from Dominique on Instagram and TikTok at @dommymichelle.

Want to see some This Is Fine! merch? Join our Patreon: patreon.com/ThisIsFinePodcast

• Amanda + Morgan episode (the real Emilies in Paris)
• French immigration attorney Daniel Tostado
• L’ABC du Parfum perfume making class
• Raclette

What do you want to hear next? How did you like today’s episode? Send us a note at imfine@thisisfinepodcast.com. You can hear more from Dominique on Instagram and TikTok at @dommymichelle.

Want to see some This Is Fine! merch? Join our Patreon: patreon.com/ThisIsFinePodcast

“Health and beauty is our original condition,” says TIF’s latest guess, Sandra Lanshin Chiu, L.Ac. and founder of LANSHIN beauty. 

After studying alongside world leaders in Traditional Chinese Medicine and dermatology, from California to Beijing to New York, Sandra has become a pioneer and leader herself. She shares the TCM approach to skincare and dermatology, and how “health is the foundation of beauty.” By looking at health and beauty through the TCM lens, Sandra teaches us about Qi, gua sha, and more.

Grab yourself a hot cup of tea, maybe a notebook, light a candle, and get ready for a healing chat about finding your own inner health and beauty. 

Want to try gua sha or get yourself some TCM skincare tools? This Is Fine! listeners get a special discount at LANSHIN — use LANSHIN promo code THISISFINE15 at checkout for 15% off* your purchase through the end of 2023. 

*excludes previously discounted sets/bundles; code expires 12/31/23 at 11:59pm EST.

Don't worry, we called the therapist for you. Dr. Kevin Gilliland, PsyD, our trusted on-call (literally) clinical psychologist is here to talk about the BS of the ‘societal timeline’ (the milestones you’re ‘supposed’ to meet, and when)... plus the idea of FOMO, comparison, and searching for what we really want in life. Sound good? Prepare for some validation.

You can find more of Dr. Gilliland on his podcast, Struggle Well, Live Well, Worry Less (on Spotify and Apple), and our own episodes 27, 24 and 2.

Resource mentioned in episode: Word of the year PDF (Unravel Your Year by Susannah Conway)

We’ll be back soon with updates from Paris! What do you want to hear next? How did you like today’s episode? Send us a note at imfine@thisisfinepodcast.com. You can hear more from Dominique on Instagram and TikTok at @dommymichelle. 

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Support This Is Fine! Podcast by Dominique Michelle Astorino on Patreon: patreon.com/ThisIsFinePodcast

Get your astro chart here: https://astro-charts.com (Select Whole Sign or Koch house system, depending on your level of understanding of astrology)

Refresh your memory on the 12 houses of astrology in episode 39.

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Time Stamps for Each Rising Sign

52:36 - Leo Rising / 1st house

53:37 - Cancer Rising / 2nd house

54:38 - Gemini Rising / 3rd house

55:55 - Taurus Rising / 4th house

58:19 - Aries Rising / 5th house

1:01:12 - Pisces Rising/ 6th house

1:04:45 - Aquarius Rising / 7th house

1:06:40 - Capricorn Rising / 8th house

1:09:51 - Sagittarius Rising / 9th house

1:12:03 - Scorpio Rising / 10th house

1:15:25 - Libra Rising / 11th house

1:17:11 - Virgo Rising / 12th house

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1:20:15 - self care journal instructions

If you're female, there's an extra hurdle for you. The gender gap in research and diagnoses leaves many women and girls undiagnosed and untreated... sometimes for their entire lives.

This episode takes in four accounts of adult women who were diagnosed with ADHD at different stages in their lives, from their 20s to their 60s.

We interview Terry Matlen, MSW, psychotherapist and acclaimed ADHD expert. Terry has a clinical and personal perspective: she and her adult daughter both have ADHD. Terry is also the author of The Queen of Distraction and Survival Tips for Women with ADHD: Beyond Piles, Palms & Stickers — check these out if you've been recently diagnosed or are pursuing a diagnosis!

Accounts from Lori (diagnosed 65), Jenny (diagnosed 32), Caroline (diagnosed 28), and Avery (diagnosed 31) will provide personal context about what life was like before and after diagnosis.

Sources and tools mentioned in this episode:

• CHADD
• Adda (ADD.org)
• ADDitude Magazine
• Russell Barkley
• John Ratey, Driven to Distraction
• Undiagnosed ADHD Ruined My Life (reddit)

Time stamps:

0:02:00 - Lori (personal account)

0:10:20 - Terry Matlen, MSW (interview with the expert)

0:58:20 - Jenny (personal account)

1:06:05 - Caroline (personal account)

1:26:45 - Avery (personal account)

Searching for a new personal fragrance? Caroline and Dominique are reviewing 14 popular perfumes from Twisted Lily (you can sniff along with us using code THISISFINE10 on twistedlily.com). This is a big episode so we’ll cut to the chase…

Here’s what we’ve got on deck for a game of SMASH or PASS:

1. Sintra - Memo Paris
2. Opus Kore - Vilhelm
3. Moon Carnival - Vilhelm
4. Dama Bianca - Xerjoff
5. Eau de Protection - État Libre d’Orange
6. Not A Perfume - Juliette Has a Gun
7. Oud Satin Mood - Maison Francis Kurkdjian
8. Baccarat Rouge 540 Extrait - Maison Francis Kurkdjian
9. Intense Cafe Ristretto - Montale 
10. Delina - Parfums de Marly
11. Delina Exclusif - Parfums de Marly
12. Oriana - Parfums de Marly
13. Rose Ardoise - Atelier Materi 
14. Blue Heart - Thameen London

It’s like a wine tasting but with your nose… an olfactory adventure.

At the end we do a game of F*ck Marry Kill and make some tough choices with our new favorite scents. Because obviously.

Major thanks to Twisted Lily for helping us bring this episode to life, and for offering a discount to the This Is Fine! community. Use your THISISFINE10 discount code to try a new fragrance, or order samples of everything we tested in the episode!

Dr. Loretta Ciraldo, MD, FAAD, the icon and name behind Dr. Loretta skincare, is a Miami-based board certified dermatologist with over 40 years of clinical experience — she also was among the first researchers to study the effects of UVA radiation on skin at Harvard's photobiology lab in the 1970s. 

Today, she’s chatting with Dominique about skincare ingredients, sun protection (she’s a major SPF advocate!), what should be in your skincare routine (and what your skincare personality is!), healthy aging, and glowing from the inside out. 

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Niche Luxury Hot Girl queen mother @CarolineMStern from TikTok (hot girl anthropologist) has quickly become your favorite guest on the show, so team TIF has officially invited her to be a part of the team, bringing you regular NLHG updates. 

Today’s download includes the standard “things Niche Luxury Hot Girls are loving” and ends with a mental health state of the union. In between? Insanity. Summer trends, net bags, almond moms, robot oracles, the history of cola, and sleep paralysis demons. 

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Find Caroline on TikTok to see regular Niche Luxury Hot Girl updates (and more).

Want to see some This Is Fine! merch? Join our Patreon: patreon.com/ThisIsFinePodcast

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TW: discussion of orthorexia, disordered eating. For more information on orthorexia nervosa, click here. Contact the national eating disorders helpline here.  

Sober curious? So was Cheyenne. 

After a health scare and some reflecting on habits and life goals, Dominique’s bff (who you may remember from episode 9!) decided to cut booze from the equation. She’s sharing her journey with alcohol and how its removal from her life has changed everything for the better. 

Whether you’re considering being “California sober,” reducing your alcohol intake, or needing to quit cold turkey, this is a personal and inspiring account from someone who’s literally doing it live. 

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If you’re struggling with alcohol dependency or addiction, and you need immediate help, you can call or text the SAMHSA hotline (text 988 if you’re in crisis): 1-800-662-HELP (4357). It’s free and confidential; they’re available 24/7, 365-days-a-year, and they provide treatment referral and information services (in English and Spanish).

Mood: crazy story, health, inspirational We’re joined today by Brett Stanley (@theninjashaman) from The Smart Fit Method (Dominique’s favorite AI-driven gym in San Diego!) — Brett has a WILD storytime for all of us today. 

Picture this: you’re 27, you’ve got a brain bleed, and you need surgery… but you have to be AWAKE during brain surgery. If you’ve ever wondered what that’s like (first off, do you need a therapist) then today’s episode is for you!

Brett shares his experience navigating a scary life-or-death moment, plus his thoughts on healthcare, medical expenses (and how to get out of some!), and of course, The Smart Fit Method workouts. 

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For more brain-centered podcast episodes, check out episode 5’s traumatic brain injury chat with Courtney, and episode 35’s brain tumor surgery episode with Avery.

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Get a free workout and body scan at The Smart Fit Method in Southern California or Kauai: tell them you heard this episode of This Is Fine! and get your session scheduled. Call your local studio to book.

We learned about the Moon signs in episode 6, and the rising signs (ascendant) in episode 15… now you’ll want to learn the houses. The houses in astrology will help you finally understand your horoscope and your natal chart. Our astrologer queen Shannon joins us yet again for another foundational lesson in astrology. 

We’re walking through the 12 zodiac houses, including what they represent, and which areas of your life fit into which houses. 

Ready to learn more from Shannon? Her MoonGathering courses, Astrology Foundations 1 and 2 start soon. Use our eXcLuSiVe community code to get a sweet, sweet discount: code THISISFINE at moongathering.thinkific.com will get you 25% off an astrology course with Shannon!

What’s your chart ruler?  (mentioned at 00:18:50)

We talked about how to find your chart ruler, and locate the house where the planet falls. To do this, first find your ascendant zodiac sign, and use the key below to find out what planet your chart ruler is. For example, Taurus rising has Venus as the chart ruler. 

♈️Aries – Mars

♉️Taurus – Venus

♊️Gemini – Mercury

♋️Cancer – Moon

♌️Leo – Sun

♍️Virgo – Mercury

♎️Libra – Venus

♏️Scorpio – Mars

♐️Sagittarius – Jupiter

♑️Capricorn – Saturn

♒️Aquarius – Saturn

♓️Pisces – Jupiter

Once you’ve got the planet, find where that planet is in your natal chart. So if you were Taurus rising, you’d now look at where Venus is in your own birth chart… what Zodiac sign and what house. That’s your chart ruler! (ie, Venus in Taurus, 1st house… lucky you!)

Ready to get your own custom herbal regimen? If you’d like to schedule a virtual (telemedicine) appointment with Sara, schedule at beautypointbypoint.com using the code THISISFINE to get $20 (or call Sara and tell her you heard this podcast!). 

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Dominique’s This Is Mine! Recap: 

• Code THISISFINE for $20 off herbology teledoc visit with Sara

• Comfort Zone Sublime Skin Serum (read about it here)

• Mantra: making mistakes is a small price to pay for self trust

Take an astrology course with Shannon, and learn how to read your chart and horoscopes! She’s offering This Is Fine! Podcast listeners $111 off her courses, Astrology Foundations 1 and Astrology Foundations 2, with code THISISFINE. Dominique will be in class with you!

See Shannon's course catalog at MoonGathering.thinkific.com. See more from Shannon at MoonGathering.com.

Niche Luxury Hot Girl queen mother @CarolineMStern from TikTok — hot girl anthropologist and TIF ‘columnist’ — joins Dominique again for a second update on things niche luxury hot girls are loving, mental health, fragrance notes, and the “gourdification of Louis Vuitton.” 

Also covered: mermaidcore, sirencore, celestialcore, vegetable notes in fragrance, eating oranges in the shower, chatGPT, the speed of the trend cycle, orange blossoms, mental health state of the union, gourmand cleaning products, intimissimi boat neck tops, velvet chokers, filial piety, et. al.

Link mentioned in the episode: Caroline's AI portraits

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Find Caroline on TikTok to see the Niche Luxury Hot Girl updates (and more)

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Want to see some This Is Fine! merch? Join our Patreon: patreon.com/ThisIsFinePodcast

“Accidentally finding a brain tumor on the way to Harry Potter World” wasn’t on Avery Bredesen’s 2022 bingo card, but her world (real world, not wizarding) got rocked this past September.

Avery shares her too-crazy-to-make-up story with Dominique in this special edition of Trauma Hour, including her road to recovery post brain surgery, and her experience with getting diagnosed with ADHD as an adult (which is more common for women than you’d think!). 

If you've ever wondered what it's like to get brain surgery, or are looking for some morsels of life advice from someone who has, this episode's for you. AND, if you’ve been questioning potential ADHD symptoms — especially if you’re a woman! — you won’t want to miss that segment.

Learn along with us, feel some validation, and join us for another session of Trauma Hour. Cheers! 🥂

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ADHD resources for women: CHADD, ADDitude, ADHD Aware

Follow Avery’s substack newsletter: What Doesn’t Tequila

• Moon in the 12 signs + Zodiac rulership over body parts, episode 6 (Apple)

• Astro Seek moon phase calendar

• Sign up for astrology courses with Shannon at moongathering.com

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2:22 — Astrology refresher

3:09 — Basic phases of the moon

5:25 — New Moon 🌑

7:15 — Full Moon 🌕

11:05 — Using lunar cycles for self care

14:47 — Aries energy + suggestions for Aries moon

16:41 — When to avoid surgeries, according to the moon

20:00 — Waxing moon, inflammation; waning moon, less inflammation

21:48 — Taurus energy + suggestions for Taurus moon

26:30 — Gemini energy + suggestions for Gemini moon

31:27 — Cancer energy + suggestions for Cancer moon

37:37 — Leo energy + suggestions for Leo moon

42:29 — Virgo energy + suggestions for Virgo moon

47:47 — Libra energy + suggestions for Libra moon

53:47 — Scorpio energy + suggestions for Scorpio moon

1:01:26 — Sagittarius energy + suggestions for Sagittarius moon

1:08:42 — Capricorn energy + suggestions for Capricorn moon

1:18:06 — Aquarius energy + suggestions for Aquarius moon

1:22:00 — Pisces energy + suggestions for Pisces moon

1:30:10 — Beauty practices for every moon sign and phase

1:33:00 — When to get filler, according to astrology

1:34:10 — Cosmetic surgery timing, according to astrology

1:39:50 — Dental timing, according to astrology

1:41:57 — When to get your hair done, according to astrology

1:45:24 — General moon timing advice, lunar timing, electional astrology

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** disclaimer about fasting: please consult with your healthcare provider before making any decisions involving fasting or adjusting your diet. This podcast is neither medical nor dietary advice.

If you need a mood booster today, look no further. Founding mother of the Niche Luxury Hot Girl concept/community, This Is Fine! listener, and Taurus queen @CarolineMStern from TikTok joins Dominique for a chat about NLHG, mental health, and adding little bits of luxury to your life. 

What IS a “Niche Luxury Hot Girl,” anyway? Caroline explains how this concept is more than just curated shopping trends, and how it helps heal our inner child (chic!). The girlies chat about things NLHGs love, including specific pasta, moisturizers, perfumes, and aesthetics… it’s all stuff you’re gonna want to have in your life. “This is our Super Bowl.”

Find Caroline on TikTok to see the Niche Luxury Hot Girl updates and more.

Want to see some This Is Fine! merch? Join our Patreon: patreon.com/ThisIsFinePodcast

Meet the REAL Emily… or should we say, Emilies (plural!)… in Paris: Amanda Rollins (@americanfille) and Morgan Hizar (@bisousmorgan). Two Americans who left their chilly hometowns (in New England and the midwest, respectively) and went to Paris searching for a fresh start and a romantic life. One’s a francophile, one’s never taken a single French class, both start their journeys as au pairs. Fast forward five years, and they’ve got a Netflix-worthy story under their Sézane belts.

Amanda and Morgan join Dominique for a chat about their recent TikTok about what gives them “the ick” when dating French guys (spoiler alert, cigarettes are a big turn off), what they love (hello, romance!), and the biggest cultural differences between living in Paris and the US. If you’re considering making the move to join the expat community in France, this is the episode for you!

And even if you have no intention of ever moving to Paris, you'll enjoy this spicy, sassy peek behind the curtain of culture, fun, what it's like to be an American in Paris, and reasons to visit the city of light. 

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Bonus: if you’re ready to transform your skin with Liv at TheWildFox.co holistic skincare, use code THISISFINE at checkout, or tell her you’re a listener when you book your facial!

Confidence and mindset coach Jenny Gaither (host of Mind Your Confidence!) is BACK for a Trauma Hour™ session with Dominique to unpack a recent traumatic experience they had on a hot girl walk. We're using this as a jumping off point to chat about BOUNDARIES, dealing with NARCISSISM, and what GASLIGHTING really means.

Feeling taken advantage of, having your boundaries disrespected, interacting with narcissistic personalities, and being gaslit are near universal experiences that we can all grow from. Jenny offers some of her coaching strategies to help us all grow and develop more self trust.

Pour yourself a glass of something good, kick your feet up, and join us for a way better version of happy hour… Trauma Hour!

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Bonus: Galentine's playlist on Spotify; The Smart Fit Method (Dominique's workout she recommended); Dominique + Jenny on Mind Your Confidence

Welcome to the world of TCM — traditional Chinese medicine — including acupuncture, herbology (yes, like Harry Potter, but REAL!), gua sha, cupping, tongue diagnosis, yin and yang, elements, and more. Licensed acupuncturist and face reader Sara Sas, L.Ac. of Beauty Point By Point in La Jolla, CA, guides us through an educational-yet-accessible introduction to this ancient, fascinating world of wellness. With her ‘western’ medicine background (she was an EMT!) and ‘eastern’ specialization, she is able to see how the two worlds work together — and help patients heal themselves.

Sara explains the benefits of Chinese medicine, the modalities available for treatment, and why this might work better for you than allopathic treatment (or, at least, in conjunction with it).

Listen to this episode, then go get yourself booked for an appointment!

Our therapist is back for another “session” — Dr. Kevin Gilliland, PsyD (who you’ll remember from episodes 2 and 24) joins us to discuss New Year’s resolutions and how to be happier in 2023. With mental health resolution suggestions, happiness tips, and some shocking stats about news/media and our mental wellbeing, this is a must-listen to kick off the new year. At the very least, you’ll learn (at a minimum) three things you can do to support your mental health.

Some things you’ll hear…

• ★ Resolution suggestions like a social media detox, reset, and re-curation of your feed (or hard reboot with new accounts)
• ★ How 10 minutes of media a day is as bad (or worse than) an abusive relationship for our mental health
• ★ How a gratitude practice can be the foundation of your resolutions and mental health goals this year
• ★ How prioritizing your happiness and healing can improve life for everyone else

Hear here: Listen to Dominique's New Year's resolution primer here

Support This Is Fine! on Patreon — patreon.com/thisisfinepodcast

*this episode is not a substitute for actual therapy, nor is it medical advice!

Happy holidays!! If you haven’t booked your holiday therapy sessions, fear not… we’ve got a therapist here (one of our favorites on planet earth!!) to walk us through holiday and winter mental health strategies for stress, anxiety, and depression. Dr. Kevin Gilliland, PsyD, clinical psychologist and director of Innovation360 in Dallas, TX, has tips for managing every holiday stressor, from financial stress to family dynamics to body image and loneliness – plus some intel on seasonal depression (seasonal affective disorder, or SAD). Consider this your wintertime toolkit for your emotional and mental wellbeing this season. Cheers to actually ENJOYING this beautiful season and feeling your very best! (Also, maybe still book your therapy sesh…)

Bonus: Dominique’s winter treats…

★ Dominique’s Christmas music on Spotify

★ Gingerbread cold foam recipe: 1 part milk, 2 parts heavy cream, gingerbread + vanilla syrup; whisk with immersion blender; pour atop your fav iced espresso, coffee, or tea!

★ Fav holiday candles: Thymes Frasier Fir, Diptyque Sapin, Nest Holiday 

The best of beauty 2022, and the trends you’ll see in 2023, forecasted by the pros. We tapped New York beauty guru (and one of our fav Geminis) Zoë Weiner, sr. beauty editor at Well+Good, host of Zoë Tries It All on YouTube and the Routine Rundown Podcast. Dominique and Zoë chat about skincare, beauty standards, doing less (a favorite theme, here) and favorite products, of course! Hear about the best beauty, skincare, and wellness we picked up in 2022, and what we’re taking into the new year.

[PS, you can find Dominique's Well+Good reporting here! follow Zoë on Instagram and TikTok @zoeweinerrr)

Your shopping list/episode companion can be found here, under the super neglected transcripts tab of our website. Happy holidays!

The therapist is now in session! Today’s highly anticipated guest, Dr. Alfiee Breland-Noble, comes to us with an exceptional mental health background, decades of research and pioneering clinical experience… and a whole lot of love and light! She breaks down the basics of therapy for us, including how to find a therapist, how to choose the right kind of therapy for your needs, and what to expect from your sessions… and she also makes Dominique cry happy tears (shocking, she’s crying!) so that’s always fun.

This is our fourth and final episode of October's mini-series, Take Better Care of Yourself Month! If you enjoyed these episodes and want more content like this, we'd love to hear from you. Send us a note via email: imfine@thisisfinepodcast.com.

As mentioned in the episode, your mental health resource guide (crisis lines, mental health organizations and therapist search engines) is below!

For times of crisis: Call or text 988, and/or visit the Emergency Room ASAP

For BIPOC and/or LGBTQ+ Groups: The AAKOMA Project, The Loveland Foundation, The Trevor Project, National Queer & Trans Therapists of Color Network

For General Therapy Search:  Project Healthy Minds, Psychology Today, Find A Therapist