#900. Today on Off the Vine, Kaitlyn sits down with the internet’s favorite poet — the woman whose words somehow manage to read our minds — Josie Balka.
They unpack the unexpected moment her career began with one poem at 30, how everything blew up overnight, and what it was like when Hollywood royalty started using her sounds. Josie opens up about creating her own music, the pressure of writing work that feels like hers, and the mindset shift that made her embrace her “luckiest girl in the world” era.
She also gets beautifully vulnerable — diving into the love stories behind her second book Loves of Our Lives, the friendships that shaped some of her most emotional pieces, the cosmetic surgeries she chose entirely for herself, and her hilariously relatable take on being a “pessimistic optimist,” aka constantly worrying every good thing might be the last good thing.
It’s girl talk, real talk, and everything in between. Enjoy!
If you’re LOVING this podcast, please follow and leave a rating and review below! PLUS, FOLLOW OUR PODCAST INSTAGRAM HERE!
Thank you to our Sponsors! Check out these deals!
Bombas: Head over to Bombas.com/vine and use code vine for 20% off your first purchase.
Aura Frames: For a limited time, visit AuraFrames.com/vine and get $35 off Aura’s best-selling Carver Mat frames - named #1 by Wirecutter - by using promo code VINE at checkout.
Chewy: Every pet deserves a wish come true. Send your pet’s wish to Chewy.com/ChewyClaus and it might become a reality. Plus, your wish means Chewy will donate 5 meals to pets in need.
Quince: Go to Quince.com/vine for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too!
Better Help: Off the vine listeners get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/VINE.
Pura: Right now, when you subscribe to two scents for 12 months you get the Pura 4 for free. Don’t wait—this limited-time offer won’t last. Try it risk-free for 30 days now at pura.com
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:
- (07:36) How it all began: Josie shares the story of turning 30, writing one poem on a whim, and waking up to her life completely changed after it went viral.
- (21:49) The “luckiest girl in the world” mindset: how shifting her perspective transformed her confidence, creativity, and career.
- (35:38) Josie reads a poem from her new book Loves of Our Lives.
- (40:01) Josie gets real about the cosmetic surgery she’s had, why she chose it, and how she approaches transparency with her audience.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Stuff You Should Know
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.