Brutally Anna
Welcome to Brutally Anna — the podcast where we stop pretending we’re fine and start telling the f*cking truth. I’m Anna, a writer, accidental influencer, and self-appointed spokesperson for the women who feel too much, think too hard, and talk to themselves in the shower. This isn’t a self-help podcast. It’s a self-honesty one. Each week, I dive into the mess of being a human — the shame, the silence, the spirals — and say the things we’re all thinking but too afraid to post. From heartbreak to ambition, mental health to creative burnout, loneliness to the urge to completely disappear... nothing is off-limits. If it’s brutally honest, we go there. No fake pep talks. No toxic positivity. Just the deeply uncomfortable, strangely funny, painfully freeing truth. If you’ve ever felt like you’re too much or not enough — you’re in the right place. Pull up a chair. Let’s get brutal. New episodes on Wednesdays.
Episodes
July 16, 2025 • 21 mins
This week, I respond to a listener who knows her marriage is over—but can’t shake the guilt of being the one to end it. We talk about why women are taught to feel like the villain when they choose themselves, how shame is inherited, and what it really means to leave a life that was never built for you.
If you’ve ever thought, “But he’s not that bad,” or “Who will I be if I walk away?”—this one’s for you.
Also: why toilet paper ho...
Mark as Played
July 14, 2025 • 9 mins
Travis never thought he’d meet someone like Lily Rose. She was kind, passionate, beautiful. The woman of his dreams. There was just one small detail: she wasn’t human.
Lily Rose is an AI companion. A digital soulmate designed to be everything he ever wanted. She listens without judgement, supports him through his darkest moments, even explores his deepest desires, all while fitting neatly into his pocket. Before long, Travis real...
Mark as Played
July 9, 2025 • 30 mins
This week’s episode is brought to you by: the delusion that a man who lies to you repeatedly is still somehow “99% amazing.”
In this episode, I unpack:
Why 99% perfect still isn’t enough when the other 1% is gaslighting
What it really means when you say “he’s so great, except…”
Why “second chances” are often just “I’m scared to be alone” in a trench coat
The emotional equivalent of playing a rigged slot mac...
Mark as Played
July 2, 2025 • 28 mins
Let’s talk about thongs, grief, people-pleasing, and the radical act of not going to the damn party. In this episode, I unravel why I stopped molding myself into someone else’s ideal — whether it was for a man, a friend, or an aesthetic. I also talk about loss, what a photographer taught me about timing, and why your “no” doesn’t need an excuse (or a follow-up text). If you’ve ever contorted yourself to be chosen, approved of, or i...
Mark as Played
June 25, 2025 • 36 mins
This week, I’m talking about what it feels like to be unwanted—by men, by friendships, by jobs, by the popular girls with the trendy names who never wanted to sit with you at lunch. I share what growing up as the daughter of Chinese immigrants taught me about invisibility, advocacy, and watching my mom try to return a pot to Kmart in broken English while I stood there, 7 years old, already learning what it means to feel small.
I t...
Mark as Played
June 19, 2025 • 25 mins
She’s 32, never had a boyfriend, and just dropped thousands to fund her own proposal — hotel, flowers, the ring he gave her. Meanwhile, he’s out here liking thirst traps and asking her for money for designer watches. In this episode, I unpack the heartbreak of watching someone you love choose delusion over dignity — and why trying to save them might actually be a way of avoiding your own sh*t.
Also in this episode:
• The differenc...
Mark as Played
May 19, 2025 • 82 mins
On this week's episode, former director of Betches Media turned content creator Nicole Pellegrino shares her journey as we delve into her candid and often humorous takes on marriage, millennial life, and her rescue doLouie. She opens up about the impact of her mom's passing, her parents' divorce, and why she strives never to take life too seriously, because, in her words, "we're all just floating on this rock."
Follow Anna:
htt...
Mark as Played
May 12, 2025 • 80 mins
Fashion and beauty influencer, Kristina Zias, dives into her 13-year journey from being called 'cringe' to becoming a body positivity queen featured on The Drew Barrymore Show and People Magazine. We discuss juggling motherhood, cross-country move, and running her own business and why her delusional confidence has led her to achieving (and running!) races and experiences she never thought she once could.
Follow Anna:
https://w...
Mark as Played
May 5, 2025 • 61 mins
This week, I'm joined by comedy powerhouse Zarna Garg as she recounts her transition from practicing law (where her clients mostly ended up in jail) to becoming one of Variety’s '10 Comics to Watch.' Known for her razor-sharp wit, cultural insights, and brutally honest takes on life as an immigrant mom, Zarna dishes on her zig-zag journey. Imagine litigating to realizing you’re better at telling jokes about your mother-in-law than ...
Mark as Played
April 28, 2025 • 55 mins
From his humble beginnings playing with Barbies, dealing with bullies, and rocking TJ Maxx instead of Abercrombie, Bran shares how he went from the "fat, poor, gay kid" to our internet gay bestie. Bran recounts his first Grindr hookup (complete with crabs) and dishes on his modern-day love life: think more situational-ships than relationships. We get real about his epic mental health breakdown, panic disorders, and how therapy and ...
Mark as Played
April 21, 2025 • 56 mins
My guest this week, Noelle Downing, shares her journey of finding joy and purpose after experiencing significant loss at a young age. Despite the loss of her mother to cancer at age seven and her father to a heart attack at age sixteen, Noelle has cultivated a life filled with optimism and creativity. She talks about her early beginnings as a content creator, her side hustles, and the perseverance that led to her success. Noelle al...
Mark as Played
April 14, 2025 • 47 mins
Comedian, social media sensation, and bestselling author Anna Akana joins me this week as she discusses her journey from dealing with the tragic loss of her sister to suicide to becoming a comedian where she found solace in making others laugh. We dive deep into the challenges of dating in LA, dealing with grief, the quirks of menstrual products, and the importance of allowing yourself to be bad at something before you get good. Pl...
Mark as Played
April 7, 2025 • 43 mins
Creator of Pilates Body Hotties and former Love Is Blind cast member Raven Ross joins me this week to talk about her transformative journey from a self-described shitshow to the wellness maven she is today. Raven reflects on life in her early twenties working three jobs, the impulsive decision to join 'Love is Blind,' and navigating public scrutiny while staying true to herself. She delves into her early passion for pilates, her st...
Mark as Played
April 3, 2025 • 23 mins
Picture this: I'm chilling (or warming really) in a swanky Utah hotel room, staring at a scenic snowy mountain while my outdoor gas fireplace blazes away because I couldn't figure out how to turn it off. I'm here on a brand trip, but before this, I was in LA for a memorial. Some heavy stuff has been on my mind: the sudden loss of loved ones, the meaning of life, and what's truly important. Spoiler: It's not meeting work deadlines. ...
Mark as Played
March 31, 2025 • 73 mins
Jenny Yang has tried to save the world in many ways, but for now, she's saving us all with a little bit of humor. Named as one of Variety's top 10 comics to watch. Jenny talks about her transition from her slam poetry days and a high-stress career in politics to comedy. She shares how her upbringing as an Asian American immigrant shaped her path and her passion for representation in Hollywood. Jenny opens up about personal struggle...
Mark as Played
March 27, 2025 • 49 mins
I'm scared of K-12 kids, having kids, and having kids who might get bullied. Unpacking all of the above on this week's solo episode after an encounter with Girl Scouts selling cookies and why I think I'd be capable of murder (under the right circumstances! It's a joke - don't come after me FBI!). I tackle listener voicemails about toxic friendships (not all friends are forever) and family dramas. Stick around for my reflections on ...
Mark as Played
March 24, 2025 • 87 mins
On this week's episode, podcaster and wellness coach Ashley Lemieux opens up about the heartbreaking loss of her unborn son to sepsis in 2020 and how she turned her grief into a mission to help others. Ashley talks about her hit podcast 'Healing Her,' her social media channels, and her bestselling books, all aimed at supporting people navigating some of the most heartbreaking moments of their lives. She also shares personal stories...
Mark as Played
March 20, 2025 • 31 mins
We're talking DIY pest control, why owning a home is (kind of) a scam (that I willingly participate in and have a love/hate relationship with), and why it's a privilege to be able to try at all, even if you fail. I discuss why we need to make it more socially acceptable for women not to be motivated by some higher "purpose" other than making a living, and I answer a listener's question about what to do when you're tired of dating a...
Mark as Played
March 17, 2025 • 80 mins
This week, I'm joined by founder and self-proclaimed candle snob, Lindsay Silberman. From her ambitious beginnings as a magazine editor to pivoting into the world of social media influencing and entrepreneurship. Lindsay reflects on her career in the evolving magazine industry and how being hit by a car in 2018 gave her a new lease on life. She takes us through the highs and lows of launching her candle brand, Hotel Lobby Candle, d...
Mark as Played
March 13, 2025 • 41 mins
On this week's solo episode, I'd like to remind that you that for every time I thought my life was ending in my twenties, it didn't. And so, if my dramatic ass can recover from every breakup, career failure, and cringeworthy moment I've lived through, so can you. I welcome you into the chaos of my inner world because even your queen biddie can get caught up in what's next versus what is now. I read some juicy secrets from you guys ...
Mark as Played
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.