Ironically Serious

#78: If you’ve ever felt stuck in the rinse-and-repeat cycle of life, this episode is your wake-up call.

Jodi Wellman, author of You Only Die Once and founder of Four Thousand Mondays, joins me for a conversation that’s as deep as it is energizing. We talk about how grief, boredom, and near-death wake-up calls (literal or not) can be the ultimate invitation to actually live your damn life.

We cover:
 — What it means to live like ...

#77: Helen Thacker has been in business longer than most of us have been using Instagram, and she’s got thoughts. After 22 years of entrepreneurship, two six-figure businesses, and raising two boys, Helen’s no stranger to reinvention, risk, and real-life challenges (hi, back injury and burnout).

In this episode, we talk about the messy parts of building a business while raising a family, how intuition and work ethic can coexist, and...

#76: What do you actually know about your pelvic floor? Like… beyond “do your Kegels” and hope for the best?

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Sara Reardon (also known as The Vagina Whisperer) to talk all things pelvic floor health, pain with sex, birth recovery, body awareness, and her new book Floored. Whether you’re postpartum, perimenopausal, or just tired of being dismissed by your OB, this conversation is your permission slip...

#75: Look, I’m not saying I am pregnant… but I’m also not saying I’m not. 😅

In this solo episode, I’m catching you up on everything life’s been throwing at me lately, from the unexpected pregnancy scare that had me spiraling (with Google searches and ovulation math) to reflecting on marriage, parenting, and what the hell it means to try and do it all well. I’m getting real about what this next phase of life and business actually fe...

#74: This episode might as well come with a co-pay.

I’m joined by the incredible Ally Hoffman—licensed therapist, founder of Safe Space Healing Collective, and the type of human who lives and breathes what she teaches. With a background that spans music industry chaos, PR, and a full-circle moment into the therapy chair (as both client and practitioner), Ally brings a no-BS approach to healing that’s grounded, real, and refreshingly...

#73: We all know small talk is exhausting—so what if we just… stopped settling for it?

In this episode, I’m joined by Kate Terentieva, founder of Off The Record—a connection card game built to help you skip the surface and get straight to the good stuff. We talk about everything from growing up as the go-to “deep chat” friend to building a product that’s helping people have conversations that actually matter.

We cover:
 → The rea...

#72: This week, I’m sitting down with Christiana Garza—mom, mentor, co-founder of Her Society, and the kind of woman who’s built a business and a life with both backbone and soul. We’re talking about what it really means to show up for yourself in motherhood, in business, and in the messy middle. From losing her dad at 24 and becoming his caretaker, to moving across the world and facing identity shifts head-on, Christiana brings th...

#71: We’re back with an episode that’s part love story, part therapy session, and part "why would anyone do that to themselves?"—and it’s all happening from a hotel room in Amarillo, Texas (cue the romance). In this episode, I sat down with my husband, Josh Hedden, to talk about his completely casual plan to run 100 miles through the mountains. Yes, on purpose.

We get into the gritty stuff—how he went from “running is dumb...

#70: Mikayla Chaparro didn’t just pivot—she rebuilt. The last time Mikayla came on the podcast, she was walking through the raw, immediate aftermath of losing her son, Valor. It was tender, heavy, and still too fresh to fully unpack.

In this episode, Mikayla returns—still grieving, still growing, and now stepping into a completely new season of life. We talk about what has shifted in the last few years since, not just in her busines...

#69: In this solo episode of Ironically Serious, I show up with a black eye, a pile of business hot takes, and absolutely zero apologies. (If you’re watching the video version—yes, I really did record this with a full-on face bruise.)

I’m diving into how Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has totally shifted my mindset—physically, mentally, and emotionally—and how it’s made me show up differently in my business (and life). Spoiler: discovering you...

#68: What do you get when a former teacher builds a national women’s community, plans a conference for hundreds, and somehow still manages school pickup? You get Amanda Smith.

In this episode, I sit down with the founder of Dallas Girl Gang to talk about what it really looks like to grow a brand, rally a community, and keep your sanity intact while doing it. We’re unpacking Amanda’s leap from classroom to CEO, how she created one of...

#67: I took a little break (not from podcasting, just from pretending I have my life together) to enjoy spring break with my kids, and now I’m back with thoughts. I’ve officially entered my last 6 months of my 20s, and naturally, I’m deep in reflection mode. In this solo episode, I’m taking a look back at the last decade—what I’ve learned, what I’ve let go of, and what I’m bringing into this next chapter (hint: fewer energy drinks)...

#66: Losing a parent is life-altering. Losing both parents while building a business and raising a family? That’s next-level. Kate Lenihan knows exactly what it’s like to navigate grief, entrepreneurship, and motherhood all at once—and she’s here to talk about the hard stuff. From the lessons loss has taught her to the realities of delegation and scaling a business without losing yourself in the process, this episode is a mix of ra...

#65: I’ve been on a kick lately (literally)—because somehow, I signed myself up for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. And let me tell you, nothing humbles you faster than getting choked out by a 13-year-old.

In this solo episode, I’m diving into:
→ Why I decided to start rolling around on gym mats with strangers and how it’s shifting my mindset (spoiler: it’s more than just learning how to choke someone out)
→ The real reason setting med...

#64: What if your wedding content was delivered before your hangover even hit? That’s exactly what Emily Cline does—capturing real, behind-the-scenes moments of luxury weddings and delivering them in 24 hours (all with just her iPhone, no DSLR in sight). Traditional wedding videographers? Sweating.

Emily is a globally renowned luxury wedding and event content creator, working with high-end couples and top planners across NYC and Sou...

#63: If you’ve ever had to introduce yourself at a networking event and suddenly forgot everything you’ve ever done in your life, same. Networking is weird, small talk is painful, and yet… building real connections is kind of essential.

But this episode isn’t just about networking—it’s about owning your story, taking big risks, and embracing the wild twists that got you here. Like, for example, the time I worked at a strip club, got...

#62: What do you get when you mix a corporate layoff, pregnancy hormones, and a dream of Italian citizenship? Nikki Maffey’s life.

In this episode, Nikki drops some major news (spoiler: she’s pregnant!) and gives us a peek into her journey from working toxic corporate jobs to owning her own business. We’re talking about the terrifying reality of layoffs (three days after closing on a house?!), why everything really does work out in ...

#61: Remember when I said I failed Dry January in 48 hours? Well, plot twist—I'm now 13 days alcohol-free and feeling weird about admitting that on the internet. But you know what's even weirder? Having Jessica Hawks back on the pod to talk about everything from sobriety to getting catfished.

Jess is back since her first appearance in 2022, and we're getting chaotic with:

→ The real talk about step...

#60: So here’s the deal—I took a 17-day hiatus thinking it would be no big deal, but plot twist: it changed everything. In this episode, I’m getting real about shiny distractions (hi, Pilates studio co-ownership), saying no to things that aren’t aligned, and why your business shouldn’t fall apart just because you step away. Spoiler: if it does, you’re doing it wrong.

Remember when I said 2024 was the year of life over deadlines? Yea...