THE CITY CONFESSIONS

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This is a quick and short solo episode featuring your host Mariann Yip, closing out season 10 of The City Confessions. She shares her life updates, how she's truly feeling about her podcast, and what she's working on behind the scenes. You can follow her real life updates on her personal page www.instagram.com/mariann_yip and stay tuned for the return of season 11 in the fall.

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This week's guest is Rebecca Benvie, an ASMR specialist and founder of WhisperWave, an ASMR spa in New York City focused on health and wellness. In this episode, we talk about the following topics:

Her relationship with NYC and why she started her business here
What is ASMR and the benefits
What inspired her to start Whisper Wave and what a service looks like
Biggest challenges/ lessons of being an entrepreneur in the mental health space
Living different lives and having several career paths

Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend! You can also email any questions or feedback to ⁠thecityconfessions@gmail.com⁠.

ABOUT REBECCA BENVIE:

With extensive experience working with clients, Rebecca has developed a deep understanding of ASMR's role in healing and relaxation. At WhisperWave, she has seen how ASMR can reduce stress and improve well-being. Rebecca is also dedicated to educating others about integrating ASMR into self-care routines and offers valuable insights for various industries.

www.whisperwavenyc.com

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This episode features mindset coach and entrepreneur Kate Lombardo. She is also the Co-Owner and Director of YogaRenew Online Teacher Training and YogaRenew Hoboken.We talk about the below topics including: Kate’s discovery and love for yoga, how it began and how it changed her life Relationship with NYC including challenges with her health and debt Why she pursued a career in the wellness industry Balancing being an entrepreneur and a mom Reflecting on giving birth during covid and losing her businesses The benefits of yoga, meditation and mindfulnessFeel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend! You can also email any questions or feedback to ⁠thecityconfessions@gmail.com⁠.Kate LombardoKate is a mindset coach, wellness educator, yoga teacher, trainer, and mom of 2! She is also the Co-Owner and Director of YogaRenew Online Teacher Training and YogaRenew Hoboken.Kate's influence as a yoga instructor spans the globe, touching tens of thousands of students internationally. For over a decade, Kate has been teaching and leading training programs through her award-winning yoga studios before expanding virtually through YogaRenew Teacher Training. Drawing upon her background in education, she’s become a vast resource for the yoga community and a trusted leader for yogis worldwide. Kate is an ERYT500 certified teacher, certified Yin Yoga teacher, Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Teacher, and holds a certificate in Positive Psychology. She is fiercely passionate about teaching people how to live happier, more balanced lives filled with abundance + ease.As seen on: PIX 11 New York Living, Well + Good, Motherly, Livestrong, Medium and more! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecityconfessions/support

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Today’s guest is Marcel Dinkins, a peloton instructor, keynote speaker, former army officer and Div 1 runner. Topics we discuss in this week’s episode include:

How Marcel became a Peloton instructor / her journey from Memphis to NYC
Grief/turning the loss of her brother into motivation
The mental toll of being an athlete
A day in the life and what it’s like working as a Peloton instructor
Confession regarding LIRR

Marcel DinkinsFormer Division I Athlete and Army Reserves Engineer Officer turned NASM-certified Peloton Tread Instructor and Motivational Speaker.

Marcel's journey, though marked by impressive credentials, began in Memphis and took a turn after the devastating loss of her brother. Seeking healing and strength, she found herself in the gym, where her own transformation ignited a mission to empower others through fitness. Even amidst challenges, like the pandemic, Marcel's determination remained unyielding. She converted her bedroom into a filming studio and slept on the floor just so she could continue to train and share her fitness content with others. Marcel joined Peloton as an instructor in 2021, becoming one of 57 instructors in the world. Marcel also launched "We Take The Hill," a video series amplifying voices and imparting invaluable lessons in empowerment, hosts the the annual Yuengling Shamrock Marathon for over 20,000 runners in Virginia Beach, and regularly speaks on panels and at fitness conferences.
Marcel can be seen on:Instyle, News 12 Long Island, Women's Health, Today.com and more!

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This week’s guest is beauty and wellness publicist, Christina Monteleone Boyarsky, who is also the founder of CMB Media. In this episode, we talk about:

Why Christina started her own PR firm and how she landed her first client
Being her own boss and how she handles the stress and pressure
Her morning routine and reality of being a publicist
Stereotypes of being a publicist that are true and false
Spilling the tea on the publicity world and her thoughts on stealing clients
Career highlights and goals

About Christina: Christina doesn't just work with clients;she becomes their ultimate hype woman. Her infectious enthusiasm and unwavering dedication make clients feel like they're part of an exhilarating journey. She's here to make sure you're excited about the media splash and brand growth that's about to unfold. While many promise the world, Christina delivers it. Her secret sauce? The relationships she's nurtured over the past decade. CMB Media thrives on genuine connections, transforming them into opportunities, alliances, and impactful stories that resonate. Christina adores what she does. The thrill of securing her clients a spot on Good Morning America or The New York Times is her daily motivation. She doesn't just love her job; she lives it.

Bio: Christina is a media-savvy communications professional with a decade of experience in the beauty and wellness industry. Christina's developed large-scale brand campaigns and generated media buzz for celebrity experts, fitness studios, and prestige beauty and wellness brands. Her solutions-driven mindset, determination, and creative spirit is the key to her success, finding potential in every opportunity for her clients. Over the years, Christina has cultivated relationships with key opinion leaders, editors, producers, podcasters, and tastemakers in the industry to gain her clients national recognition.

wearecmb.com

@cmbmedia__

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This week’s guest is sex and relationships writer Hayley Folk. She talks about her writing journey and move to NYC and how she’s been courageous to openly write about sex. Other topics include:

Dealing with feedback with her writing from her family and friends
How her husband feels about her career and writing topics
Hayley’s opinion on raunchy and controversial topics with sex
Hayley’s top 5 sex toy recommendations and her sex bucket list

ABOUT HAYLEY FOLK:

Hayley Folk is a writer, editor and podcast host based in New York City. She is the host of the Naked Folk podcast — a sexual wellness, relationships and lifestyle podcast — and enjoys writing LGBTQ+, lifestyle, personal narratives and sex + wellness content.

Her work has appeared in Cosmopolitan, Refinery29, Men’s Health, POPSUGAR and more. In 2022, she received her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at The New School. Most often, she can be found on an airplane, thrifting or writing in a coffee shop somewhere.

Naked Folk Website

Naked Folk Podcast

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This episode is a solo one featuring your host, Mariann Yip. She confesses that she has recently lost herself and is finding her way back. She shares five lessons including:

Stop worrying about others and focusing on my paper / Minding my own business
Noticing emotions but not having to voice them or act on them
Power of affirmations & gratitude (focusing on positive rather than negatives)
Benefits of Romanticizing life
Showing up in the best way you know how

Show support and follow:

www.instagram.com/mariann_yip

www.instagram.com/thecityconfessions

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This week’s episode features Cameron Forbes, the founder of Forbes Functions, a boutique event planning company curating memorable experiences for bold brands and party people alike. We talk about her background and relationship in NYC and all about her business, Forbes Functions. Other topics include: - Cameron talking about growing up in New York and the power of networking - Why she decided to start Forbes Functions and why her team is female led - The realities of running her own business and working in the events industry - Her love for hosting and how that blends into her personal life when it comes to personal celebrations and events - Managing mental health and self care working in a stressful environment like hospitality and events - New York Confessions Regarding Gossip Girl Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend! You can also email any questions or feedback to ⁠thecityconfessions@gmail.com⁠.Cameron Forbes is the visionary founder of Forbes Functions, where exceptional event planning meets the pulse of New York City. A native New Yorker with a background in Public Relations and Design, Cameron brings a unique blend of creativity and organizational mastery to the art of event planning. Cameron’s expertise includes all aspects of events including but not limited to floral design, production, tablescapes, weddings, parties and more.At Forbes Functions, Cameron leverages her extensive network of vendors as well as her female team, to curate bespoke experiences for her clients. Her flair for hosting, coupled with an innovative approach, has positioned her as a leading tastemaker in the event planning scene. Under her guidance, Forbes Functions is not just planning events; it’s crafting unforgettable moments and trendsetting celebrations that resonate with elegance and exclusivity.https://www.forbesfunctions.com/https://www.instagram.com/forbesfunctions--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecityconfessions/support

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This episode features actress and model from LA, Hannah Masi Helwani. We discuss the below topics including:

Opening up about finding her place in New York and finding the move to be difficult
Juxtaposition of having beautiful milestones in NYC but feeling homesick and love for LAImportance of having supportive parents for her career and life path
Dealing with unfortunate news from her sibling and focusing on positives
Expecting her first child and navigating pregnancy
Preparing for motherhood and embracing the new chapters ahead
Confession regarding her relationship with NYC

Hannah Masi is an actress and model from Los Angeles who now lives in New York. She’s been modeling since she was 8 years old, and as a teenager transitioned her career into pursuing film and tv full time. Most notably recognized from network shows like Queens, Damnation, and the independent film The Illegal that can be streamed on Amazon. Hannah is currently expecting her first baby, and navigating through all the changes that come with starting a family.

https://www.instagram.com/hannahrosemasi

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4611313/

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We have our first repeating guest of The City Confessions and it’s LeAura Luciano, who is a journalist, writer, content creator and host of the podcast, What’s Your Skincare Routine with LeAura Luciano. She was a guest back in 2019 and you can reference her past episode 39 for her NYC background and insights on wellness and meditation. In this episode, we talk about her growth and evolution since the last time we spoke. Topics discussed include:

Her mental health now vs before
Her experiences with anxiety and how NYC has contributed to it yet learning to manage it living in a stressful and high paced city
How and why she started her podcast, What’s Your Skincare Routine with LeAura Luciano
Diving into her skincare routine and using skin cycling
Confession: embracing feeling cringy

LeAura Luciano is a multifaceted writer and content creator born and raised in New York City. With a diverse portfolio, she has contributed to various print and digital publications. Her writing and content spans a range of topics, focusing on areas such as beauty, style, wellness, travel, cars and technology. Additionally, LeAura is the host of the podcast “What’s Your Skincare Routine? With LeAura Luciano,” where she explores beauty, wellness, and creativity, often featuring interviews with brand founders and experts.

Follow on her on Instagram @leaura

instagram.com/leaura/

website:

https://www.eversopopular.com/

Podcast: “What’s Your Skincare Routine? With LeAura Luciano”

https://open.spotify.com/show/6uEHRXSqia81dkZZq5bdSD

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This solo episode is a confession regarding an incident that happened in a NYC event. Mariann Yip talks about her embarrassing outburst at a meditation session, the power of emotions and learning to let go of the past to make room for the present and future.

Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend! You can also email any questions or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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This episode features Cyndi Ramirez, the Founder of self care brand, Chillhouse. We talk about her background with NYC, how the idea of Chillhouse came to be and her balancing motherhood and being an entrepreneur. Other topics include:

How Cyndi founded Chillhouse: seeing the gap in the spa industry in terms of affordability and aspirational environment
Realities of running a business and being an entrepreneur: constant rollercoaster of ups and downs but taking each obstacle as it comes
Opening up about having help with motherhood and parenting
Balancing motherhood and career and the biggest lesson she’s learned from being a mom and being an entrepreneur

ABOUT CYNDI:

Born and raised in New York City, Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton is the founder & CEO of self-care brand, Chillhouse. She is also the First Lady of hospitality brand, The Garret Group, where her husband is the founding partner.

Chillhouse was born when Ramirez-Fulton realized the city didn’t offer an aspirational massage place that was affordable. Reflecting on her upbringing as the daughter of an esthetician, Cyndi opened Chillhouse is 2017 in Manhattan’s Lower East Side and was immediately remarked as one of the most innovative wellness brands of that time. Chillhouse currently has a flagship in Soho which offers a suite of spa services. In addition to their physical destination, Chillhouse has a line of products ranging from press-ons to body care. The brand is carried by the likes of Target, Saks, Urban Outfitters, Shopbop & more.

Ramirez has been honored on Create & Cultivate's 100 list, WWD’s 40 of Tomorrow, Nylon’s Inventor of the Year, Guest of a Guest 20 Hottest CEOs, and has appeared in campaigns with Nike, Fossil, amongst others. Additionally, she has been featured in Vogue, the Drew Barrymore Show, Forbes, CNN, WWD, Arch Digest, and more. She splits her time between Manhattan & Miami with her husband and their kids Hendrix and Stevie.

https://www.instagram.com/chillhouse/

https://www.instagram.com/cyndiramirez/

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This week’s guest is Flor Pereira, a NYC based latin creator. She recalls her move from Argentina, switching careers and uprooting her life. Other topics we discuss include:

Moving to NYC and recalling the transition: struggles, lessons and changes
Career change from being a lawyer in Argentina to full time creator in NYC
Embracing different chapters in life and taking chances/ risks
Using Envy and Triggers as a positive way to reflect on your life
Transitioning into motherhood and Role of Social Media as a Mom
The realities of being a mom especially during the newborn stage: power of the quote “days are long but years are short”
Opening up about being introvert as a content creator

ABOUT FLOR:

Flor Pereira is a 35 year old digital creator. She was born in Argentina but has been based in New York City since 2016.

She created ⁠Penny Lane Blog⁠ in May 2010 as a personal outlet for her ideas. With time, she redefined her site’s style and the topics she talked about, now focusing on fashion, beauty & skincare, and traveling.

In the past couple of years she has partnered and is currently working with brands such as Asos, bareMinerals, Blink Beauty, Carolina Herrera, Coach, Dr. Martens, Eva Hair NYC, Google, MAC Cosmetics, Macy’s, Otterbox, Primark, River Island, Sephora, Skinny Dip London, Steve Madden, Superdry, Teen Vogue, TOMS, TRESemmé, Ulta Beauty, Zappos and more.

Although time has passed and her audience has grown, she still connects with her followers on an everyday basis, creating content that is inspirational but also relatable.

At the moment, she is also working on an app & some other projects to be revealed soon!

Links:

INSTAGRAM http://instagram.com/flopereira

TIKTOK https://www.tiktok.com/@iamflopereira

BLOG http://pennylaneblog.com

PERSONAL SITE http://flopereira.com

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This week’s guest is Carleigh Ferrante, who is a NYC-based writer and editor and the host of Mostly Balanced Podcast. She covers all things dating, relationships, and wellness. The topic we cover include: How Carleigh met her boyfriend through Hinge and her experience with dating apps and dating in a city like New York How she started Mostly Balanced podcast: talking openly about all things dating with her best friend and bonding on their dating experiences (former cohost) Holistic perspective on life and relationships Attraction vs chemistry in a relationship/ how important is a spark in dating Importance of communication and recognizing different communication styles with your partner Why Carleigh launched her digital planner and what the purpose is Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend! You can also email any questions or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.Follow Carleigh on:https://www.instagram.com/mostlybalancedpodcast/https://getmostlybalanced.com/--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecityconfessions/support

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This week's guest is Kimberly Fisher, who is a professional freelance travel writer, blogger, journalist, and on-camera host. In this episode, we discuss the below topics:- Relationship with NYC started with moving for a guy but staying for herself- Jumping and embracing the unknown and seeing obstacles as growth- Finding ways to reconnect with yourself when you’re off track and prioritizing small quiet moments - Power of raising your vibe, prioritizing mindfulness and practicing gratitude -Putting end to the debate that that New Yorkers are rude and confirming that we are in fact very helpful and caring Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend. You can also email any questions or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.comABOUT KIMBERLY FISHER:Kimberly Fisher is a professional freelance travel writer, blogger, journalist, and on-camera host. She specializes in lifestyle and luxury travel, including art, beauty, culture, destinations, fashion, food, fitness/wellness, events, hotels, lifestyle, sailing, sustainability, wine & spirits.Kimberly has over 600 articles published in 44 different outlets. She is currently a contributor to Pursuitist and JustLuxe. Her writing has appeared in print magazines like Food Wine Travel, Disarray, GC, Luxe Beat, NiteGuide, Ocean View, Play (Philippines), ReLiving Magazine and TravelWorld International. On the web, you can find clips at eHow, Elephant Journal, Examiner, Fetch, Huffington Post, Medium, JustLuxe, Luxury Lifestyle, Pursuitist, Sherman’s Travel, The Daily Meal, The Upcoming, Travels.com, Style Blend and USA Today.She has been featured in Huffington Post, AMB Magazine, Breakaway Daily, Luxury Branded, and Showbiz Watch among others.Currently, she has traveled to 67 different countries and every US state except for The Dakotas. Some of Kimberly’s favorite assignments have been participating in the Nevis regatta, staying the night at an ice hotel in Canada, bird watching on Anacapa Island, sailing the French Riviera, dog sledding in Charlevoix, and relaxing in the Blue Lagoon in Iceland.--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecityconfessions/support

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This is the first episode of Season 10 and I am so happy to be back. I talk about my first year as a mother and the lessons I've learned. I dive deeper into my reflection on my journey in the hopes that you can take something from it. Topics include:

Welcoming Season 10 of The City Confessions: life updates regarding my first year as a first time mom, looking back at my traumatic birth experience, and celebrating my son’s first birthday
Summarizing the five life lessons I’ve learned on my motherhood journey including:

1) Friendship changes in life transitions/milestones: they can evolve and thrive with you or they will end but that’s part of life. Everything has a season and an expiration date

2) Relationship changes with your partner: you will go through different phases in a relationship but you have to embrace what comes in your way and see the bigger picture and ride it out

3) Don’t take things personally: not everything is about you and nobody is focused on you as much as you think4) Be more flexible with plans: not everything needs to be planned and scheduled5) Release control: once you release control, you experience less stress and can have more fun when you’re spontaneous

Confession and goal: I want to travel to Asia with my son and my confession is that I am scared with it being such a big trip but I want to challenge myself and overcome that fear

Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend! You can also email any questions or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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This episode is a solo one from yours truly, wrapping up season 9. I share some life updates, reflections on 2023 and my confessions from my personal life. Other topics I also touch on include:

2023 recap and reflection: opening up about anxiety attacks, word of the year GRACE for 2023 and how I applied it through my life this year
Vulnerability of raw motherhood but not sharing the real lens (struggle or wanting this to be a beautiful journey but not feeling like it always is)
Word of year 2024: ALIGN (why I am choosing it)
Biggest lesson I’ve learned this year revolving around communication, motherhood journey and my relationship with my partner: opening up about disagreements and having fights and what those difficult times have taught me Thank you all for listening to this episode. Please share this with a friend if you found it helpful. Happy holidays and happy new year! I'll see you all in 2024 :)

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We are wrapping up Season 9 with Donna Kim, a New York-based creative social consultant and writer. In this week’s episode we discuss the below topics: Working in media, magazines and publishing industry and recalling her lessons and challenges in her career The beauty of New York and perfect timing, patience and believing in yourself Unspoken realities of a job and possibility of getting laid off Advice on reaching rock bottom and getting out of the rut Prioritizing mental health and detoxing her life: overcoming burnout and other health issues due to being a workaholic and being stressed Her current self-care routines and ways to incorporate wellness in her daily life Confession regarding New York Chopped Cheese and subway vs Uber We will have one more episode next week from yours truly, so stay tuned for that! Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend. You can also email any questions or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.ABOUT DONNA KIM:Donna Kim is a New York-based creative social consultant and writer. She has written for publications such as Bon Appetit, Coveteur, Teen Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Apartment Therapy, Martha Stewart, etc. Always driven by curiosity and a profound interest in mental health and wellness, Donna seamlessly blends her experiences in media with entrepreneurial ventures, creating a unique narrative that resonates in both spheres.Website: donnakimcreative.com, donnadetox.com instagram.com/donnadetox --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecityconfessions/support

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Today we are joined by the founders of LINES, Jiwon Ra and Crystal Pfeifer. LINES is Tattoo and Fashion Atelier that offers wellness spa services, fashion products, education, and events. In this episode we discuss the following topics:

How Jiwon Ra and Crystal Pfeifer met (from a mentor and mentee relationship) and sharing same ethos and beliefs and values in fashion before starting a business together
How the idea of LINES came to be: creating a tattoo shop that also tackles the same issues with the fashion industry Building a strong foundation within the company before expanding on their vision and business goals: having an advisory board and a team therapist
Power of storytelling with tattoos and meeting people with different stories and traumas
“New York or Nowhere” and how it applies to LINES starting in NYC

Use the code "THECITYCONFESSIONS" in the description note when booking a tattoo appointment ⁠www.linesny.com⁠ for $100 off your tattoo

ABOUT LINES NEW YORK:

LINES is an atelier offering unique and highly coveted wellness spa services, fashion products, education, and events that foster community and collaboration. Join us as we redefine what it means to be a conscious consumer, and discover the power of responsible design practices that make a difference as a community - celebrating diversity, sustainability and creativity in every STITCH, STROKE, AND FINE LINE.

https://www.linesny.com/

https://noho.nyc/neighborhood-spotlight-crystal-pfeifer-and-jiwon-ra-of-lines/

https://www.instagram.com/lines_newyork

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This week's guest is Rebeka Getty, who is the founder of NYC for FREE, New York City's go-to source for events, pop-ups, local giveaways, free things to do in NYC and more. In this episode we talk about how she started her Instagram NYC for Free account and how she grew it into a strong community, leading her to pursue this as her full time career. We also discuss:

How she started NYC for free and built this community online
Her process of approaching pop ups and attending events and featuring them on her page

-Running a community page and deciding what to show on the main account and her personal account

-Social media changes from 2019 to now 2023

ABOUT REBEKA GETTY:

Rebeka Getty is the founder of NYC for FREE, New York City's go-to source for events, pop-ups, local giveaways, free things to do in NYC and more. She started the account in 2019 and has grown it into a community, with a social media presence, website, newsletter, in-person events and more. Previously, Rebeka worked in Strategy at both a startup and a consulting firm. For fun, Rebeka loves to travel and see Broadway shows!

Website: www.nycforfree.coInstagram: https://instagram.com/nyc_forfreeTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nycforfreeNewsletter: https://www.nycforfree.co/signup

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This week's guest features Emily Brickel Edelson, who is a new mom, Entrepreneur, Co-Founder of Chic Sketch, published Fashion Illustrator, Speaker and Author of the book Sketch and Go: 5 Minute Fashion Illustration. In this episode, we discuss the below topics:- How she started Chic Sketch, which is a mobile application and live fashion illustration events service - Combining her skill and love for fashion illustration with creating a technology app with her husband - Balancing Motherhood and Career: the real difficulties with transition in personal and professional life - Pressures of being a mom and guilt of being present but also wanting time for yourself- Becoming more private with social media since being a momFeel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend! You can also email any questions or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com-------------------ABOUT EMILY BRICKEL EDELSON:Emily Brickel Edelson is a new mom, Entrepreneur, Co-Founder of Chic Sketch, published Fashion Illustrator, Speaker and Author of the book Sketch and Go: 5 Minute Fashion Illustration. Since 2015, Chic Sketch, a mobile application and live fashion illustration events service has partnered with thousands of luxury and international brands in fashion, beauty, fragrance, technology, and media and her sketches have reached millions of viewers around the world. Some of these partnerships include Harper's Bazaar ICON’s, Cartier, Fendi, Dior, Bulgari, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Swarovski, Kate Spade, MTV, IMG, Sephora and Maybelline just to name a few. Partnered with Fox’s biggest show The Masked Singer, Chic Sketch has activated digitally with a proprietary AI mobile application to reach hundreds of thousands of viewers, sketched as their favorite masked singer for 2 seasons. Emily has sketched for NYFW backstage and front row as well as Bridal Fashion Week, the Latin AMA Red Carpet award show in Hollywood, digital StyleCaster Golden Globe Pre-Show and more. Featured in The New York Times, Vogue España, ELLE, Allure, Instyle, Cosmopolitan, WWD, E! News and more. Named one of Who What Wear’s “Best Fashion Illustrators” and one of “New York’s 7 Most Influential Women” by Elite Daily and On Mogul, Emily’s background is in Marketing, Fashion Design and Fashion Illustration. Emily is a graduate from the Fashion Institute of Technology with a BA in Fashion Merchandising Management and International Fashion Merchandising Management at the Universite De Polimoda in Florence, Italy. Social media:https://www.instagram.com/emilybrickel/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/chicsketch/?hl=en Websites: https://chicsketch.com--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecityconfessions/support

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Today’s guests are dating coach Ali Jackson stand up comedian Erica Spera, both co hosts of Finding Mr. Height podcast, where they bring you their positive and practical dating advice.

In this week's episode, we discuss the below topics including:

How Ali and Erica met through podcasting and are now cohosts

-Their current approach to dating: using challenges, meeting people in real life and using dating apps

Latest Relationship vs Latest Breakup: the differences and what happens in both
Having the breakup conversations: biggest lesson from past relationships
Realizing certain values and traits in partners and why that matters during the dating phase
Importance of Money, Finances and Responsibilities in relationships
Commitment issues with NYC men due to career goals

Ali Jackson is an NYC-based dating & relationship coach who’s been there, in the trenches, looking for her person. She’s learned to own her needs, embrace her feelings, and communicate both directly. And she’s helping you do the same! Because when you ask for what you want, you just might get it. You can find her on social media @findingmrheight and on her website findingmrheight.com to learn more about her coaching.
Erica Spera is a stand up comedian who has been seen on The Late Late show with James Corden and was one of TBS' Comics to Watch. She has opened for comics such as Taylor Tomlinson, Bert Kreischer, Patton Oswalt, Jared Freid, and more! Spera also hosts the popular podcasts "Finding Mr. Height" and "Shooters Gotta Shoot" all about dating and relationships. You can follow her @Spericaa.

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This week's guest is Mila Magazhanova, the owner of Kerbez beauty bar, which specializes in Russian Gel manicures in NYC. We sit down to talk about her incredible story of how she started her own nail business as a result of COVID. We also dive into the below topics including:-Career switch from being a paralegal in personal injury to owning her own nail busines-How Covid changed her life professionally and mentally- Power of Manifestation, Vision Boards, and Meditation- Adopting a positive mindset and stemming from childhood/ parents- Social Media’s Role in Her Business/ Working with Influencers- Focusing on Feelings rather than Titles Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend! You can also email any questions or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.comABOUT MILA MAGAZHANOVA:Mila is the owner of Kerbez Beauty Bar NYC located on 37 west 26th Street, Manhattan NY. We are specialiing in Russian Gel manicures. The best manicures in NYC. What’s special about russian gel manicure is all about details! Starting from perfect nail shaping to deep cleaning of the cuticles and finishing with putting polish by unique techniques on the nails. You can also follow them on @beauty.bar.nyc--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecityconfessions/support

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We are starting off Season 9 with Lily Ravas, a fashion brand strategist based in NYC. We talk about her journey to NYC from Europe and how she’s established herself in the fashion world by working with clients and building her reputation. Other topics we discuss include: Realities of being a freelancer and working with different brands from a financial standpoint: justifying amount of work and effort with compensation Balancing motherhood and work Opening up about the struggles of being a mom and all that comes with it: expectations, childcare, career, etc. Confession: constant feeling of failure with work, motherhood, relationships Comparison with others on social media and feeling like they are all “super moms”Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend! You can also email any questions or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.comABOUT LILY RAVAS:Lily Ravas has had more than 10 years of valuable experience as a Brand Strategist, working on various projects in the field of PR, Publishing and Events Management. She has lived and worked in Europe, London, New York and Southeast Asia as well. Through her extensive network Lily has showcased and introduced brands and projects to leading industry VIPs, press and retailers internationally. She has managed more than 50 fashion, beauty and luxury labels and her previous articles have been featured in leading fashion and lifestyle publications such as Elle and Marie Claire. Her work has also been acknowledged in magazines such as Forbes and Glamour.--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecityconfessions/support

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I am back with Season 9 of The City Confessions and this is a solo episode from yours truly. I give my life updates where I discuss the end of my pregnancy, my birth story, the unspoken fourth trimester and the transition to motherhood. Topics include:

Traumatic birth story: details surrounding my baby’s health, the NICU and all the emotions of being a first time mom
Fourth trimester: the real and raw realities of postpartum, changing relationship with partner, developing relationship with baby, increase in postpartum rage, jealousy of others, unpredictability with baby’s schedules due to milestones and changing development
Transition to motherhood: finding balance between work and motherhood, mourning old identity and bridging new identity to old versions of myself that I love and miss
Moving process: saying goodbye to my current apartment, making compromises in life

You can follow my journey on Instagram @mariann_yip where I share updates on my daily life.

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This is the last episode which is a solo one featuring yours truly Mariann Yip. Wrapping up Season 8 of The City Confessions, I give my life updates. I open up about my current pregnancy symptoms as well as fears about the future regarding motherhood, finances and stability. I talk about how pregnancy has changed friendship dynamics and relationships. As we also close out 2023, I reflect on what this year has brought me and what this year has taught me. My biggest lessons were learning to stay in my lane, not taking things personally and to trust my gut. As I gear up for my last month of pregnancy, my confession revolves around anxiousness about giving birth. I currently don't know what next year holds or looks like for my podcast, but make sure you follow me on my social channels for life updates. I wish you all a happy new year and from the bottom of my heart, I thank you all for listening.

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Today's guest is Esther Santer, a lifestyle and fashion blogger based in NYC and also a mom to a one year old boy. We talk all things related to blogging, social media, motherhood and more! Topics covered include:

How Esther got started as a fashion blogger 10 years ago by crashing Anna Sui fashion show and how that moment sparked her blogging career
Struggle of deciding whether or not to share her son on social media
Advocacy for IVF and personal fertility journey Importance of having a support system with raising a child
Biggest Surprises about Motherhood
Taking care of her Mental Health as a first time mom
Opening up about lack of confidence in starting things

ABOUT ESTHER SANTER:

Esther Santer is a lifestyle blogger based in NYC. Esther uses her platforms to share her daily life as a first time mom, alongside outfit inspiration and shopping recommendations. She is also passionate about advocating for infertility awareness. You can find her on EstherSanter.com or on social @esthersanter.

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This week's guest is Michelle Lin, the founder and CEO of Mooncat, which is a Taiwanese-owned nail brand. The nail polishes are all vegan and cruelty-free and the motto is weirdos, welcome home. In this episode, we talk about the below topics including:

Michelle Lin adapting to American life as a first generation immigrant
Dropping out of college to run a business with her brother and started painting her own nails as a stress reliever
Rebranding Live Love Polish to Mooncat and making a niche but inclusive brand
Role of social media in Mooncat’s success
Being involved and active on social media and connecting with her community
Opening up about mental health and leadership struggles as a female leader with Taiwanese values
Full process of having an idea for nail polish collection to execution to final product
Nailcare Tips

ABOUT MICHELLE LIN:

Michelle Lin is the founder & CEO of Mooncat, a nail polish brand offering otherworldly, special effects nail lacquer that's long-lasting, vegan, and cruelty-free. She is a first generation immigrant from Taiwan, and was named on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for Retail & eCommerce.

Mooncat:

www.mooncat.com
https://www.instagram.com/mooncat/
https://www.instagram.com/checkyesmichelle/
https://www.tiktok.com/@checkyesmichelle?lang=en

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This week's guest is Alyssa Brieloff, a Spiritual Soulpreneur and Content Creator. She is a Reiki healer working with the chakra system to help rebalance energy and unearth people's purpose. Her mission is to help individuals find more alignment and discover their guide within so they can live their best life. In this episode, we talk about the following topics: - What the term soulpreneur means and what reiki healing is - Opening up about hiding her spirituality and how she’s learned to embrace it - Introduction to spirituality: upbringing, grandma’s role, learning reiki healing at a young age- Power of recognizing signs from the universe - Struggle with identity to New York and detaching yourself from labels and job titles - Challenge: finding abundance within and asking for help - How to find your alignment with your soul, inner compass, intuition: awareness is key before alignment - Difference between fear and intuition - Reframing failure and seeing rejection as redirection Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend! You can also email any questions or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com https://www.instagram.com/alyssabrieloff/ www.alyssabrieloff.com/angelnocollection--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thecityconfessions/support

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Hong Thaimee is a chef, entrepreneur, and philanthropist who has served as a global ambassador for Thai cuisine and culture for nearly a decade and the owner of Thaimee Love, a thai restaurant in NYC. In this episode, we dive deeper into her story and her journey of making it NYC as a chef. Other topics include:

Why Hong moved to NYC from Thailand to pursue her dream: opening up about the struggles and challenges throughout her journey Her love for Thai culture and serving people and how she incorporates that as a chef How she picks herself back up after burnout and experiencing lows in her business The power of resilience and belief in "if there’s a will there’s a way" Being a student of life Story about unfortunate experience in her restaurant: customers and disrespect Advice on cooking during the holidays: keeping it simple and respecting yourself first

ABOUT HONG THAIMEE: Originally from Chiang Mai, Thailand, Hong Thaimee is a chef, entrepreneur, and philanthropist who has served as a global ambassador for Thai cuisine and culture for nearly a decade. After successful careers as both a model and business executive in Bangkok, Hong felt drawn to pursue a more personally meaningful path. Armed with drive, a Master’s Degree in business, but little professional kitchen experience, Hong set off for New York City with the goal of sharing her love for Thai food with the world. She used her tenacity to secure cooking jobs at Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s acclaimed Spice Market and Perry Street restaurants, where she spent several years mastering classic technique. Hong went on to open Thaimee Box and Thaimee Magic, fast-casual concepts serving her signature style of Thai cooking. In the Fall of 2020, Hong debuted her latest venture, Thaimee Love. After a successful pop-up restaurant to trial the concept, her permanent new restaurant, Thaimee Love opened in October 2021, in New York’s W Houston Street, specializing in “Baan Baan” cuisine, replicating the comforting, home-style Northern Thai dishes. https://www.hongthaimee.com/ https://www.instagram.com/hongthaimee/

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This week's guest is Laura Caruso, a dating, relationship and sex therapist based in NYC. In this episode, Laura explains how her passion for mental health motivated her to switch career paths and pursue psychology and counseling. We talk all things related to dating and relationship including the below topics:

The role of sex in relationships Importance of emotional intimacy in relationships and how to grow it in relationships Difference between how a male and woman’s brain is wired How to keep it spicy in a relationship Having conversations about the bare minimum and relationship needs Understanding your partner’s love language and how that stems from childhood Different Attachment Styles and how to heal triggers and symptoms Confession: Hoe dating phase in NYC

Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend! You can also email any questions or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

About Laura Caruso: Laura Caruso is a dating, relationship, & sex therapist based in New York City. She is the host of Emotionally Available, an upcoming dating & relationship podcast, which features unhinged conversations about modern dating culture and explores ways to find deeper connections in a superficial world. IG - https://www.instagram.com/lauracaruso.therapy/ Podcast - https://www.instagram.com/emotionallyavailablepodcast/ Website - https://lauracarusotherapy.com/

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This week's guest is Stevie Bowen, the founder and author of The City of Dating, her memoir turned dating community platform dedicated to helping others date to find themselves, not their soulmates. In this episode, we talk all about dating in NYC as we both wrote a book about our experiences. We also cover the below topics: - What inspired Stevie to write The City of Dating: how her memoir gave her closure, changing the narrative in dating and managing expectations - Biggest dating lesson: not giving too much to another person before having the exclusivity talk or being in a relationship - The beauty of going on dates and putting yourself out there - Her outlook on dating apps: bumble, hinge, raya, foreplay - Starting conversations in dating because communication is key - Crazy NYC story, Never Have I Ever Edition, NYC Fire Round Questions Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend! You can also email any questions or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com

About Stevie Brown: Stevie Bowen is the founder and author of The City of Dating, her memoir turned dating community platform dedicated to helping others date to find themselves, not their soulmates. Writer and dating enthusiast, Stevie writes a weekly dating advice column for The City of Dating, sharing dating stories, tips, and inspiration for singles and daters. The City of Dating hosts single-inspired events in New York City, focusing on enjoying dating as an experience rather than a means to an end. Stevie has published works in Residence 11 and works as a Fashion Director in NYC. Buy The City of Dating, A Memoir (Hardcover): https://www.thecityofdating.com/shopbook Buy The City of Dating, A Memoir (E-Book): https://books2read.com/thecityofdating Instagram: @thecityofdating TikTok: @thecityofdating Facebook: @thecityofdating

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This week's guest is Tara West, a fashion stylist, blogger and podcaster. In this episode, we talk about Tara's background and how she got into fashion. Other topics include: - How and why she pursued therapy in school - Opening up about her past trauma and healing process - How she learned to find her strength and trusting herself - Being authentic on social media about her story - Celebrating all her wins and brand collaborations - Finding balance in her life as an entrepreneur and mom of three - Importance of Consistency in life - Fall Styling Advice ABOUT TARA WEST: “Don’t wait for opportunity. Create opportunity”. These are the inspiring words of Tara West, a mother of three, former psychotherapist-turned-stylist and fashion podcaster, go-getter, and survivor. Tara is the visionary for the Tara West Fashion brand, an award-winning fashion and lifestyle blog. Since 2011, Tara has captivated audiences with her impeccable style, travels, beauty trials, and custom shopping experiences from Boston to NYC to LA. But Tara is much more than an influencer. Born in Beverly Hills, the daughter of a wealthy trust fund mother and a prominent criminal attorney father, Tara had what appeared to be a picture-perfect childhood from the outside. She grew up in the glamorous hills of Hollywood, attended the best schools with celebrity classmates, and shopped on Rodeo Drive regularly. Her life seemed fabulous to an onlooker, but that wasn’t the case. Tara’s painful story takes you through the dark and disturbing side of growing up in an environment with addiction, abuse, and abandonment, and how she survived - even thrived. Today, Tara has amassed a first-class roster of clients, enviable designer relationships, various industry awards, and a robust and rapidly growing audience who tune in to her content across her site, her appearances, and social media. One of her proudest accomplishments has been fostering confidence in her styling clients through one-on-one interactions. “I work with some of the most incredible people I’ve ever met. But even the most successful person might have an insecurity or two that they are working through. I use my tools to create elevated and empowering looks for my clients, making all the difference in how they see themselves, and I love that.” Tara has been featured in outlets such as NBC 10’s The Hub, Huffington Post, Boston Magazine, and others for her incredible work.

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Today's guest is Ashika Kalra, who is the co-author of Behind Her Vision: Women of New York City, a book featuring 25 pioneering women across the arts, social impact, entrepreneurship, finance, and more. In this episode, we talk more about her journey of publishing this book in 2021 and writing this during the pandemic. Other topics include:

How she and her co-worker Jade Chen decided to write their book Behind Her Vision: Women of New York City How they approached the idea, the process behind writing a book from beginning to end, what their inspiration was, how they hand selected the 25 featured women, and how they overcame the difficulty in writing this during the pandemic Power of cold emailing, networking, researching Reality of self funding writing project while working full time: how they approached distributors, stores, and investing their own money in the process Lessons, challenges and highlights of getting the book published and in NYC bookstores Ashika’s goals with her book for the future Her confession including prioritization and not feeling guilty about productivity

About Ashika Klara: Ashika Kalra currently works at a venture capital firm based in New York. In her day job, Ashika has the opportunity to meet with some of the most game-changing entrepreneurs of our generation and collaborate with them as they launch their business from the ground up. She is also a Tedx Speaker and has been recognized as a Global Shaper at the World Economic Forum. Last year, she released her first book, Behind Her Vision: Women of New York City, co-authored with her dear friend, Jade Chen. The book explores a rare angle on perseverance from the lens of 25 pioneering NYC women, including:

Samantha Barry, Editor-in-Chief Glamour Mahogany L. Browne, Award-Winning Poet & Writer Nina Davuluri, Former Miss America ... and many more!

Inspired by their own need for role models, Ashika and Jade set out to expand their love for design and photography in a beautiful coffee table book that sparks vulnerable conversations about societal norms, imposter syndrome, career-defining moments, and heartbreak. Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend! You can also email any questions or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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This episode features Melanie Ramos, a professional dancer and choreographer from Miami, Florida. We sit down and dive deeper into her dance background and her journey from her dance training to where she is at now as a freelancer. Other topics we discuss include:

Mel’s dance background: life revolving around dancing, school and career
Breaking the path of being a traditional dancer in a company to freelancing and teaching
Pros and Cons of discipline in dancing and sacrifices in the process
Learning to speak up and standing her ground along her journey -Redefining happiness

And we end this episode with Mel’s confession revolving around dating, sugar daddies, NYC and universe timing that you don't want to miss! Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend! You can also email any questions or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

About Melanie Ramos: Melanie is a professional dancer, choreographer and fitness trainer at P.volve. Originally from Miami, Florida, Melanie moved to New York to attend SUNY Purchase College to receive her BFA in Dance. Now living in NY for 8 years, she continues to work as a freelancer in the dance industry as a contemporary ballet choreographer while pursuing a full time job at P.volve as a trainer teaching at their NYC studio, filming workouts for their on demand platform and leading new teacher trainings at the NYC studio to ensure that the P.volve method delivery meets their top-quality standards. https://linktr.ee/melanieramosss

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This episode features Stephanie Rommelt, the director and founder of Her Studio New York, which is a creative agency connecting upcoming brands with emerging creatives to build conceptual imagery. We dive deeper into Stephanie's story and discuss the following topics:

-What her marketing experience in FIT taught her Finding her values and interests in sustainability, diversity and community

Being self reliant and determined in running her business Her Studio New York Balancing work and mental wellbeing
Not separating her business and her personal life Finding happiness in the little things

-Where her groundedness stems from Power of manifestation and visualization

About Stephanie Rommelt: Stephanie Rommelt is the creative director, producer and founder of Her Studio New York, led by emerging creatives based in NYC offering full-service photo and video shoots. The agency provides content creation and marketing catering to the rise of women owned-businesses while capturing self-discovery and sharing our stories through authentic imagery.

About Her Studio New York: We believe that when women work together, incredible things happen. We are building an inclusive network of photographers, stylists, branding specialists, aspiring art directors, talent, and everything in between. Our mission is centered on amplifying voices by diversifying representation in and behind content creation. Work with us or start planning your shoot: https://bit.ly/3Fjy82T

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Season 8 of The City Confessions kicks off with Ilana Dunn, the host of the podcast Seeing Other People and her mission is to help you feel less alone and more empowered in your dating life. From one podcast host to another, we dive into a conversation revolving around the reality of dating in NYC.

Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend! You can also email any questions or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

ABOUT ALISON HALL: Alison is the host of Between Headlines and is a multimedia journalist based in New York City, currently serving as a Correspondent & Producer at America’s longest-running national news magazine, Inside Edition. Alison launched the podcast, Between Headlines in Fall 2020, interviewing newsmakers and the people behind today’s biggest news stories. Alison’s first independent documentary-short ‘Ken’s Story’ was published online by Canada’s largest national newspaper, The Globe and Mail in 2017 to much critical acclaim. With Inside Edition, Alison has traveled across the United States, telling the stories that people talk about and share. She has covered the biggest stories of the last decade, from the Black Lives Matter protests of 2014 and 2020, to how America is adjusting to the new reality of Covid-19 to serving as a court reporter for the landmark #MeToo cases of both the Weinstein and Cosby trials. Alison is equally versed in legalese as entertainment jargon, having covered award shows, red carpets and the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in England in 2018. Alison frequently appears on the Inside Edition YouTube channel which is the #1 news and politics channel with 10 million subscribers. Alison has put her passion to work in both the United States and Canada in online, television and documentary mediums, always striving to understand the people behind the headlines. Alison is the co-founder of a charity event, The Challenge for Life, that has raised over $8 million dollars for cancer research in her hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Alison was once named Canada’s Top 20 Under 20 and carried the Olympic torch over the Esplanade Riel Bridge helping to kick off the 2010 Winter Olympics. She lives in New York City with her fiance and bernese mountain dog.

https://www.instagram.com/alisonhallreporting/ www.betweenheadlines.com

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Today's guest is Berto Calkins, a Vegan Social Media Content Creator from NYC. Like myself, Berto grew up in the Lower East Side and now resides in Brooklyn, so we have a shared common foundation. In this episode, Berto and I talk about the following topics:

How he started his vegan journey: why he decided to become vegan and what that transition was like
Why having support is important when you’re making a lifestyle change -What Berto’s friend group and circle is like and how they dine together
How he cultivated a detachment mindset in life which has helped him on his lifestyle change
Showcasing travels on his social media and bringing his audience on his vegan food adventures: how he is impacting the people around him
Opening up about what traveling has done for him
Why he keeps a lot of his private things in life to himself
A city confession that a lot of people don't know but is valid!

Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend! You can also email any questions or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

ABOUT BERTO: Based in Brooklyn, Berto is a vegan food, travel and wellness content creator who has been vegan for over 8 years. Sharing his life observations with a dose of positivity and sometimes humor, he provides his followers with different ways to move your body and accessible vegan food options on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Be sure to tune in for his podcast series, The Berto Calkins Podcast, for a peak into his day-to-day life, and thoughts on the ever evolving world of wellness. He is also a former CPT, Fitness Nutrition Specialist, and eCornell Plant-Based Nutrition Certified. https://www.instagram.com/whatsgoodberto/?hl=en https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN5DbX_Kt2qVq038KN_U3WA https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-berto-calkins-podcast/id1539170580

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This week's guest is Kira Jones, the Founder of Cacti Wellness Collective, which is a wellness and productivity platform for ambitious women. In this episode we talk all things related to mindset, productivity and wellness. The topics we discuss include:

How and Why Kira Jones created Cacti Wellness Collective
Finding What Works for You: morning routine, workout, habits
Productivity Tips for Beginners and getting clear about your goals
Manifestation affirmation: Universe, show me how good it gets
Breaking our routines and cycles to level up
How to Reprogram our minds and lifestyles
A City Confession from a new New York resident

You can all use the code 'CITYCONFESSIONS' for a free month of membership on the Cacti Wellness Collective platform*

ABOUT KIRA:

Kira's wellness journey began in 2015 when she was a marketing undergrad at DePaul University with a full academic schedule, an internship, and two part-time jobs. Working that hard was causing extreme stress and anxiety, so she turned to fitness and meditation as a way to release that pent up energy and calm her mind.

In 2019, she set out to combine her business background and passion for wellness & productivity into a blog, Cacti Wellness. Flash forward to 2020, she launched 'Cacti Wellness Collective', an OTT platform for ambitious women who want to take care of business while taking care of themselves. After living in Chicago, Los Angeles, and now- NYC, Kira is passionate about bringing access to innovative, urban wellness trends and practices to the masses across the US and beyond.

Website: www.cactiwellnesscollective.com

App: www.cactiapp.com

Instagram: instagram.com/cactiwellness

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This week's guest is Divya Gugnai, the Co-Founder and CEO of Wander Beauty, a serial entrepreneur and a mom of two. As someone who has built several companies and have sold them, we sit down to talk about her journey, what she's learned and where she's at now. Other topics we discuss include:

Divya Leaving Corporate Finance World to Being an Entrepreneur: her story and journey Skills and Traits of a Serial Entrepreneur: difficulties and realities of growing and selling businesses How the idea of Wander Beauty came to be, how she met her Co-Founder Lindsay and the company grew with social media Using Instagram Community as Focus Groups and Taking the consumers along the journey Truth when it comes to balancing life with being a mom and being an entrepreneur Evolution of Success and Happiness and what how those definitions have changed throughout the years Her City Confession involving makeup and fire round answers to questions involving NYC

About Divya Gugnai: Divya Gugnani, CEO and Co-Founder of Wander Beauty, spent nearly 20 years searching for beauty essentials that could keep up with her on-the-go lifestyle.After earning her B.S. from Cornell University and M.B.A. from Harvard Business School, Divya began her career in investment banking at Goldman Sachs before moving on to private equity and venture capital at Investcorp International and FirstMark Capital. A self-proclaimed ‘accidental entrepreneur,’ she later left the finance world after selling her first business, and, bitten by the startup bug, went on to become a serial entrepreneur. After co-founding multiple companies and having children, she found her former beauty rituals tossed to the wayside asshe became more time-starved than ever. Balancing a thriving career and motherhood left Divya applying concealer during her morning subway commute and touching up her lipstick in between meetings in the backseat of a cab. She soon realized that her beauty products and routine weren’t made for beauty in motion: There were too many products, an arsenal of “must-have” tools, and products were housed in packaging that was too heavy, bulky, and fragile to take beyond her vanity. She needed products that saved time in her day, space in her beauty bag and that never sacrificed on performance. Thus, Wander Beauty was born. Launched in 2015 with Wander Beauty creates effortless essentials you reach for every day, wherever you wander. Each essential is co-created with our community and enriched with clean, globally sourced ingredients that work with your skin, not against it. With over 30 prestigious beauty awards, Wander Beauty has a loyal following of celebrities, top journalists, and notable beauty and style influencers.

https://www.wanderbeauty.com/ https://www.instagram.com/wander_beauty/

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Today we are joined by Dr. Lauren Becker, a general and cosmetic dentist based in NYC. Topics that we discuss include the following:

• How Dr. Lauren Becker got into dentistry and the moment she decided she wanted to be a dentist • Transition of working for someone else to working by herself, including challenges and highlights of opening her own practice • Realities of working a as a dentist: day to day activities working on patients and behind the scenes of her work • Creating a comfortable ambiance in her office: why she loves her team and her business • Dental and hygiene tips • How her definition of success has evolved over the years • Her city confession involving the love for the theater

Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend! You can also email any questions or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com. About Dr. Lauren Becker Dr. Lauren Becker is a general and cosmetic dentist with a wide range of skills and experience in the field of dentistry. Dr. Lauren Becker received her Bachelor of Science degree in Cell and Molecular Biology from Binghamton University. Immediately following her undergraduate education, Dr. Lauren Becker was accepted to New York University College of Dentistry where she received a Doctorate of Dental Surgery. Dr. Lauren Becker has completed a postgraduate residency at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York.

Dr. Lauren Becker returned to her alma mater New York University College of Dentistry to advance her training in implantology, where she completed a 2 year fellowship in the placement and restoration of dental implants.

Dr. Lauren Becker lives on the upper east side of Manhattan where she enjoys spending time with her husband, Michael, two daughters, Marlowe and Chandler, and their dog, Herschel. She enjoys traveling, Broadway shows, all things Bravo and Bachelor, and is a Friend of The Pod. http://literallythebestdentistever.com/ https://www.instagram.com/drlaurenbecker/

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Today's guest is Em Roberts, a content creator, podcaster, and co-founder of Monday Network. She is an American now living in London, and we chat about her current life and the below topics:

Why she moved to London and what that transition was like
Realities of moving to a new city and finding her footing through networking and patience
What inspired her to start her podcast, The Big Move and why she co-founded Monday Network
Why Em values self development and mental health (in her personal and professional life)
Similarities and Differences in New York and London lifestyles
Challenges and Highlights of her blogging/podcasting career
Defining Happiness and Joy
Confession regarding her first NYC apartment involving bed bugs and mice and what NYC has taught her

About Emily Roberts: Em is a content creator, podcaster, and co-founder of Monday Network. An American now living in London, she created her style blog, The Lipstick Fever in NYC in 2015 alongside working full-time in adtech. She's been recognized by The Huffington Post as a top micro-influencer in 2018, as well as The Evening Standard, Elle, and Sheerluxe, and continues to grow her audience and platforms in the UK / EU through content creation and partnerships with her favorite brands (Elemis, French Connection, NARS, and Tommy Hilfiger to name a few). She built her podcast 'The Big Move' in 2019, inspired by global boss ladies who are making #moves both professionally and geographically. With guests like Marianna Hewitt, E! Host Zanna Rassi Roberts, and authors like Luvvie Ajayi Jones and Sarah Knight, she is sharing some of the top female founders and entrepreneurs success stories and their 'big moves' to in turn inspire audiences to do the same. She is now also the co-founder of a new podcast network called Monday, a female-led collective aiming to bring together podcasters and listeners around themes of self-development.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-big-move/id1459351637 https://www.instagram.com/emroberts.m https://www.instagram.com/monday_network/ https://www.instagram.com/thebigmovepodcast/

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Today's guest is Taylor Fellman, who is the founder of Sh*t You Should Eat. We are recording this episode together in person, and we discus the following topics:

How Taylor founded her brand and came up with the name Sh*t You Should Eat
How we met and the power of energy and intentions
Challenges running and starting her own business
Her unique and funny trip to Burlington involving baby shoes
Her love for food and confession about olives and chopped liver
Favorite NYC Restaurants
Thoughts on unexpected food combinations and creations and more!

About: Taylor Fellman, Founder and CEO of Sht You Should Eat Taylor Fellman is originally from Florida and is a nationally-ranked figure skater. She traveled and competed year-round and also danced for The Florida Panthers before heading to college. She studied Hospitality Management and Business and created SYSE in 2022. She's been the biggest foodie practically her whole life and has always enjoyed connecting with people. This is where her passion for creating Sht You Should Eat began. SYSE’s mission is to inspire positivity and a hunger for new experiences. https://shityoushouldeat.com/ https://www.instagram.com/shityoushouldeat/

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Today's guest is Alexis Wolfe, founder of NYCDateNite, a New York based blog that has become the go-to resource for dating in New York City. We sit down and talk about the below topics:

How and why she started her blog: love for food and dating in NYC How she met her boyfriend on Hinge, biggest lesson with dating and focusing on if you like them, rather if they like you Building her community and followers on Instagram: how she structures her day and posting schedule and restaurant visits Realities and difficulties of dating in a city like New York and seeing someone for who they are instead of romanticizing the relationship Struggles with stressing about the future and not living in the present Confession Relating to ‘faking it till you make it’

About Alexis: Dating can be a treacherous road, potentially leaving a girl pretty frustrated. On the other hand, dating can also be an amazing time — that is, of course, if you know exactly where to go and what to do. That’s why I launched NYCDateNite. NYCDateNite is an ever-evolving repository of the trendiest places to take your date, while also serving as a guide to enjoying a night out with friends, brunch with family, and everything in between. I’m here to help you navigate the maze that is dating, especially in a city like NYC where the choices seem endless (including the wrong choices). At times, you almost want to give up — at least I did. That’s why this platform was born. I realized that even if I didn’t have control over finding my perfect man, I did have control over where to meet him. So even if the guy wasn’t for me, it would never again be a total loss because, hey, at least the food was good. Assembled here are some of my most trusted recommendations to ensure that you’re dating both efficiently and enjoyably. You will hopefully find, as I have, that there’s no such thing as a failed date if you’re equipped with a game plan.

https://www.nycdatenite.com/ https://www.instagram.com/nycdatenite/ Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend! You can also email any questions or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Today's guest is not from NYC, but is currently in NYC and has many clients in New York. This episode is all about relationships and dating! We are joined by Jacob Lucas, a professional dating coach from the UK and has a popular social media presence of over 500,000 followers learning tips and advice on dating. We sit down and talk all about all things related to dating including: - How he became a dating coach and the psychology of attraction - Should women make the first move? - Sigma Female traits and why it’s so unique and rare - Alpha males and ego - Feminine and Masculine energy and traits in relationships - Emotional spiking, poison dripping and Relationship Cycles - Relationship Red Flags and Why Most Relationships Fail - How and Why Anger is a Form of Pleasure - Why Women Can't Change Men and Not falling in Love with Potential - Difficulty for New York Women to Find Love - Secrets to a Healthy, Successful Relationship and a confession you will definitely not expect!

About Jacob Jacob Lucas is Professional Dating Coach who is from the UK and has a popular social media presence of over 490,000 followers learning his tips and advice on dating. Jacob favours a more psychological, analytical approach to dating and has great success in educating many people on how to be successful in their dating lives. Jacob has a firm understanding of social dynamics and the psychology of attraction. His methods of teaching are very effective as his knowledge of human behaviour can be applied to most social situations and he makes it very easy for anybody to understand and learn how to be happy and successful in their love life. Jacob has always had a fascination with social dynamics and the psychology of attraction and in a short time grow very popular for his methodologies of how to become successful in dating. Jacob has had multiple viral videos, with millions of views, of his teachings circulating the internet and has been featured in news articles, live TV appearances and world famous podcasts.

Jacob’s mantra to finding happiness and success in your dating life is, ‘Education is the key to your happiness’ Jacob finds great joy in helping people become more confident and happy and believes love is one of the greatest joys that everyone should have in their lives

https://www.jacoblucasdating.com/ Instagram: @jacoblucas101 TikTok: @jacoblucas10

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This week's guest is David Lesser, the Founder & CEO of Numina, whose main mission is to empower people to discover their unique gifts, strengths and talents and create the most conducive setting to express them. They also launched The Numina Transformation Retreat at the beginning of the pandemic, which is a half-day experience of deep reflection and vision to fuel the next chapter of your life.

In this episode, David Lesser and I sit down and talk about his coaching background and what led him to finding Numina. As an executive coach, David Lesser thought it would be helpful to create a program where people can experience a do it yourself, at home transformation retreat, using the following 5 key processes:

Discover the future you want, reveal what matters most to you.
Learn from past experiences, explore basic problems on your own.
Understand what drives you, realize your unique gifts, strengths and talent.
Recognize what holds you back, take different points of view and unleash sabotage.
Commit to your next steps, walk away from the retreat with new ideas you have come up with.

We also talk about the most common emotions driving change, and why it's so important for people to discover their true passions and gifts in order to live a purposeful, fulfilling life. Other topics include how to handle emotions, which involves observing them, rather than associating your identity with them, how to handle intensity or certain flaws/ traits that disturb others, embracing who you are and the power of self awareness, change and transformation.

SPECIAL OFFER: Get 20% off the Numina At-Home Transformation Retreat from March 29th- April 28 by using this link here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/mpc/A1BAOGBKKKQBNK

About David Lesser:

David is a social entrepreneur who believes the best way to change the world is to empower people to be more fully themselves. He has guided people and organizations through crucial transitions for over 35 years, acting as coach and confidant to CEOs and senior executives aspiring to the highest levels of personal growth in a variety of fields.

David is passionate about helping executives, teams and individuals to discover their unique gifts, strengths and talents and to find the most conducive setting to express them. He believes strongly in the power of creating personal networks of support for people to encourage and inspire each other to realize their full potential.

David has an MBA from London Business School. Formerly CEO of a $100m London-based real estate and construction group and executive director of a $40m worldwide not-for-profit operation, he combines a strong management pedigree with perceptive facilitation skills and clear insight in working with people. David has held senior corporate positions in marketing, real estate and corporate finance. He has taught as visiting professor at Redlands University and spoken at a number of conferences in the US, Europe and Africa. David is trained in emotional process work with Shadow Work training, facilitation with Interaction Associates and in coaching with New Ventures West, and is a certified transformational forum facilitator for Young President’s Organization. He has learned Golden Shield Qigong under Paul Holden and Attunement Energy Work under Roger de Winton.

David was born in London, England. He moved to Colorado, USA, in 1994. Since 2004, he has been living with his wife, Chellsa, near San Francisco, California.

https://numina.team/

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Today's guest is Celebrity Esthetician, Taylor Worden, who has a NYC spa tucked away in Soho. Her facials are all known for being #TaylorMade, as they are all customized to each of her client's skincare needs. In this episode Taylor and I sit down to talk about her personal skin journey and struggle with acne. She began to research own skincare tips and products, which sparked her curiosity and passion for skincare. Taylor Worden has an impressive list of clients and explains how she built her roster and how she managed to open a spa in Soho. She also offers skincare tips and chimes in on Jlo's skin, the fascination with skincare tools and gadgets and reveals a funny confession, obviously related to skin.

You can find more about Taylor Worden at https://www.taylorworden.com/ and follow her on Instagram @taylorwordenskin Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend! You can also email any questions or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Today's guest is Kate Kerner, the founder and owner of Kate Communications Group. In this episode, Kate Kerner talks about her background and how she started her business during the pandemic, when she decided working in an office wasn't for her. As a Type A perfectionist, Kate has learned how to use those traits to her advantage when running here business, but does acknowledge that balancing clients and tasks is a struggle. We also talk about finding balance in life, the power of our breaths and our favorite NYC favorite spots. Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend! You can also email any questions or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

ABOUT KATE KERNER: Kate Kerner is the founder and owner of Kate Communications Group. She honed her communications, sales and marketing skills at The Pennsylvania State University’s College of Communications where she majored in Telecommunications. Upon graduating in 2016, Kate worked for Bloomberg Media at its headquarters and for a financial start-up in New York City. Building upon her relevant academic background, robust training, and solid corporate experience, she acted upon her entrepreneurial spirit and launched her own company. In heading up Kate Communications Group, she helps clients in various sectors, including fitness, wellness, lifestyle, food and entertainment, achieve their business goals and grow their brands. Kate confidently guides her clients in motivating their teams and engaging their customers. She understands how strategic engagement and cultivation of partner relationships can and will successfully transform companies and enhance brands. Kate also is an expert in event management. She pours her heart and soul into every single detail to ensure that she exceeds her clients’ expectations. In everything Kate does from creating content on social media, raising the profile of her clients’ brands to flawlessly executing impactful events, she always is the consummate professional and is results-driven.

Instagram: @katekerner

www.katecommunicationsgroup.com

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Today's guest is Jen Smiley, the founder of Wake Up and Read the Labels and The Clean Eating Academy an innovative and sustainable program that is designed to simplify your approach on how to eat clean. In this episode, Jen Smiley talks about the importance of knowing ingredients in your food and the truth about the food industry. She saw that clean eating was an issue for a lot of people and realized educating people on reading ingredients was a necessity. She also talks about the moment that jumpstarted her business from a client wanting her to take her grocery shopping and her special relationship with NYC and her clients. Jen Smiley also offers restaurant tips when dining out and reiterates that balance is key. If you are interested in finding more about Jen Smiley's programs and offerings, go to https://jensmiley.com/ and connect with her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wakeupandreadthelabels/

About Jen Smiley:

Jen Smiley is the Founder of Wake Up & Read the Labels, a multi-platform brand that encompasses online courses, a new membership community called The Wake Up Jumpstart, and an engaging, informative Instagram account with 100k+ followers. Jen’s special sauce? Teaching people to feel amazing while still eating the foods they love. Often, that’s as simple as swapping-out “normal” (but often nutritionally unsound) ingredients for clean options. She’s all about seeking out REAL food with real ingredients - none of this artificial nonsense marketed to simply sound healthy.

Since its inception, Wake Up & Read the Labels has helped thousands of individuals conquer everyday issues such as fatigue, skin breakouts, weight gain and more simply by helping them to become more mindful about what they’re eating. By avoiding the traps laid for them in the grocery store, Jen’s clients have become empowered to take charge of their health and making lasting changes to their well-being and sense of vitality.

Carving a new path in food coaching, Jen and her team encourage clients to avoid calorie-counting and imposing limits on food intake. Instead, they learn to trust their new label-reading skills and instantly make better choices.

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Today's episode is a special one as it's the official launch date of my book, UN-HINGED What I Learned from Saying, "It's You, It's Not Me" in the NYC Dating Scene. I am using this episode as a solo and celebratory one to honor this big moment in my life. I read my preface of my book to give viewers and listeners a snippet of what to expect from my book, what my writing style is, what my author's voice is and understand why I decided to write this book. I also reveal a confession relating to being proud of myself and learning to embrace that feeling and changing it from discomfort to comfort. I close out the episode with a section from my conclusion in the hopes to get you thinking about what's on your bucket list and fear list and how to overcome self doubt and go after your dreams. I would love any and all support in this journey that I am on. You can purchase my book using this specific link https://amzn.to/3Ko7XdL or go to www.un-hinged.com. You can also find my book on Barnes & Noble and Mascot Books. Feel free to leave reviews and share this episode or my book with a friend :)

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Un-Hinged: What I Learned from Saying, "It's You, It's Not Me" in the NYC Dating Scene

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This week's guest features Mariana Monks, who is the host of Gossipnista podcast. Hear how two New York residents chit chat about their relationship and experience in the city (one as a recent New Yorker and one as a native New Yorker). Mariana Monks explains her love for the city and why she decided to get married here and also what motivated her to start her podcast 'Gossipnista.' Her podcast is educational and meant to act as a resource for NYC lifestyle because she didn't have the tools when she moved here. We also talk about NYC subway, her favorite and worst thing about New York, and more! Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend! You can also email any questions or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com. ABOUT MARIANA MONKS: Mariana Monks is a New Yorker, podcaster, and creative entrepreneur at heart with a degree in Broadcast Journalism and an immense love for New York City. Her interviews on the ‘Gossipnista’ podcast include native New Yorkers, transplants, experts and Empire staples on all things living in the city, and how to navigate it. Demystifying and sometimes confirming NYC stereotypes along her journey of meeting city inhabitants, you’ll most often find her exploring the Empire State with her husband or connecting with her podcast guests, and helping all who love New York City to live their best life in it.

You can find Gossipnista on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gossipnistapodcast and https://gossipnista.com/

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Today’s guest is PR specialist and entrepreneur, Jordana Guimarães. She is the Co-Founder of Fashinnovation: bridging the gap between the fashion & technology industries, bringing innovations to the forefront based on the latest tendencies. In this episode, we talk about her background in fashion and PR, how she started Fashinnovation and why she values inclusivity and sustainability. Jordana also talks about the surprising method of cold calling as that was how she landed her 600 speakers to date for her company. She also covers the challenges along the way. We also talk about her definitions of success and happiness, her reframing narrative on money, and the importance of embracing all stages in life. At the end, Jordana reveals a confession regarding her kids and husband, so you’ll have to listen to the full episode for that!

You can connect with Jordana on her personal Instagram and Fashinnovation: https://fashinnovation.nyc/

JORDANA GUIMARÃES

PR specialist and entrepreneur, Jordana Guimarães is the Co-Founder of Fashinnovation: bridging the gap between the fashion & technology industries, bringing innovations to the forefront based on the latest tendencies. She's participated as curator, producer and host in major fashion/technology events, and hosts her now online weekly show "Fashion & Wine Talks with Jordana". Philanthropically, Jordana has recently published her first book in the aims of “humanizing homelessness” titled: It Can Be You. She is married to Marcelo Guimaraes, Fashinnovation's Co-founder, and has two baby girls.

Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend! You can also email any questions or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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This week's guest is Jeff Lee, the CEO and Co-Founder of Dibs Beauty, which is all about mistake-proof products you reach for again and again. As someone who has received his Law degree from Yale and has even been a coach on Miss Universe, Jeff Lee talks about his career pivots. He also explains what the similarity is between law and beauty and how he met Courtney Shields (his partner in Dibs Beauty) and why they started this beauty business during Covid. Other topics in this podcast include why Jeff Lee advocates for women leadership, how he lives his life ethically, how to look at things positively and approach life humbly and reminds us all to not live in the moments of the lows, but also to not live in the moments of the high. We close out this episode bringing it back to NYC as Jeff explains his love and hate relationship with NYC and confession regarding Times Square that is definitely one not to be missed!

ABOUT JEFF LEE:

Prior to becoming CEO and Co-Founder of DIBS Beauty, Jeff was the COO of ARod Corp, where he consulted and helped build multiple household names in beauty and wellness, totaling in the hundreds of millions in revenue.
Jeff practiced law at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, the most selective corporate law firm in the U.S., after three years at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP. He has worked on some of the most transformative mergers and acquisitions in the world, as well as numerous first-of-their-kind deals for clients ranging from AT&T and Diageo, and Lands’ End.
Jeff currently serves on the alumni board of the Stanford Humanities Center (undergrad).
Jeff received the Firestone Medal, Stanford’s highest research honors, for his work on examining ways to elect more women to presidencies in Latin America, a topic near and dear to him.
Jeff received his accreditations in personal training from the National Academy of Sports Medicine and in jewelry from the Gemological Institute of America
In his early 30s, Jeff was a Miss Universe coach, check out this GQ article HERE

You can connect with Jeff:

Website: HERE, Instagram HERE

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Welcome to Season 7 of The City Confessions! We are kicking it off strong with Joey Healy, our first guest of the year, who is a celebrity eyebrow specialist. In this episode, we talk about how he got into the business and how he learned that eyebrow shaping was his skill. Joey walks us through his entrepreneurial journey and talks about the highs and lows of his career. He began to offer virtual appointments to adapt to the pandemic and how that change proved to still be successful for his business. We also talk about the power of gratitude, how he cultivated and maintains a positive mindset in NYC and reveals a confession relating to America's Next Top Model that you don't want to miss!

ABOUT JOEY HEALY: Known for his trendsetting vision and amazing technical skill, Joey Healy is one of the most influential and sought-after eyebrow specialists in the industry. With his skill for crafting the ideal arch, Joey launched his eyebrow empire in 2010 with his signature product line, Joey Healy Eyebrow Collection, following in 2011. In 2012 Joey opened his flagship Fifth Avenue Joey Healy Eyebrow Studio, a stylish eyebrow sanctuary for his jet-setting, unisex clientele. With his popularity rapidly growing, Joey expanded with a new team of brow proteges to a larger NYC location in 2015. Joey realized his passion for the beauty industry at a young age. Infatuated with geometry and symmetry, eyebrows soon caught his talented eye, intrigued by their delicate form and precise lines. After graduating with a degree in marketing from Villanova University and an advanced esthetics education from Aveda Institute, Joey was poised to start his own business in the beauty industry. You can connect with Joey Healy on Instagram and find more about his business here. Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend! You can also email any questions or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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We are kicking Season 7 strong with a solo episode from your host Mariann Yip! In this episode, I give my quick life updates as we are in the first month of 2022. I talk about my current headspace and discuss the following topics: - feeling overwhelmed with goals and confusion on where and how to start the year - taking a step back to calm anxiety and being strategic and realistic about my goals - announcing my book release for March 1, 2022 and being excited, but also anxious about the launch I also talk about my word and motto for the year which are expansion and There's no other option. For the most part, I am excited about what this year will bring and as someone who is turning 30 or just turned 30, I am at a great place. If you would like to pre-order my book, Un-Hinged: What I Learned from Saying, "It's You, It's Not Me" in the NYC Dating Scene, you can do so in the below links: Barnes and Noble | Amazon You can also support me on my personal Instagram and The City Confessions. Feel free to also share this episode with a friend or leave a positive review on iTunes Podcast or Spotify if you feel called to. You can also email any feedback or questions to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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This episode is a solo one from yours truly, Mariann Yip. As I close out season 6 of The City Confessions, I talk about three lessons I've learned in 2021 including:

Stop looking for others to fill me in relationships: becoming more selective with information to disclose and learning to stop outsourcing my intuition so I can trust myself more
Understanding triggers and setting boundaries: Seeing triggers as a reflection of what areas I still need to work and being more comfortable with setting boundaries because it's a way for me to protect myself
Redefining Happiness: Stop relying on others for happiness, validation or approval. No one is responsible for my happiness but me and choosing to be happy is a choice and a choice I'm deciding daily

I also talk about life updates and mention how I plan on taking The City Confessions to a new level starting 2022 as well as releasing a book about dating, self development and self discovery. I also reveal a confession about relationships, so be sure to listen to the end to hear what it is! I am grateful for each and every one of my listeners and you can show your support to rating this podcast on iTunes, sharing it with a friend and giving me and the podcast a follow on Instagram!

Feel free to direct any questions, comments or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Today's last guest for Season 6 of The City Confessions is Teona Ostrov, an entrepreneur and founder of Teona Ostrov PR, which is a boutique PR agency in NYC specializing in beauty, lifestyle and wellness. In this episode Teona and I speak about how she got into PR and the journey of starting her own company. She also mentions the challenges and highlights of her career thus far. We bring it back to NYC and Teona expresses her love for the city and ends the episode with a confession involving the NYC subway that you don't want to miss! You can find more about Teona and where to find her below:

About Teona Ostrov: https://www.teonaostrovpr.com/

For the past 15 years, Teona has specialized in beauty, wellness and lifestyle PR. After working both in-house and at agencies, she left agency life in 2017 to freelance. After less than a year, she built up a roster of her own clients and decided that it was time to expand and build an agency. TOPR was born in September of 2018 in a shared WeWork office with her Maltese, Reese as the agency's VP - Vice Pup. A month later she adopted a pointer mix named Jeff who currently serves as TOPR's director of Barketing. While Teona loves nothing more than a good blowout, she is also an avid hiker and backpacker. When she's not on the trail with her dogs you can likely find her on a SoulCycle bike. Follow Teona Ostrov on Instagram!

Feel free to email any questions, comments or feedback regarding this episode to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Today's guest is Rafaella Alberts, a digital marketer and Native New Yorker. Born and raised in Brooklyn NY, Rafaella loves makeup & skincare (cruelty free only), sneakers, music, and is super obsessed with animals. In her spare time, she loves doing anything creative or outdoorsy.

In this episode, Rafaella and I talk about what it's like growing up in NYC and her love/ hate relationship with the city. As a social and hyperactive individual, Rafaella explains how she has many hobbies and interests and doesn't think she or anybody else should be defined by their job titles and careers. We also touch briefly on astrology as she is a pieces. Rafaella opens up about what stresses her out and that involves both work and living costs of NYC. We close this episode by encouraging people to take care of themselves and to treat people the way you want to be treated.

You can connect with Rafaella on Instagram. And feel free to direct any comments, feedback or questions to thecityconfesions@gmail.com regarding this podcast.

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Today's guest is Marie-Pierre, the founder of new skin-fitness brand, HERB + FLORA. Marie-Pierre Stark-Flora is a French triathlete and ex beauty executive of L’Oréal, Estée Lauder, and Coty. This entrepreneur previously launched her own beauty technology company, but her latest endeavor marries her passion for sports, with her love of science and clean beauty. HERB + FLORA’s skin-fitness line helps mimic the anti-aging effects of exercise on the skin and is clinically proven with a blend of naturally derived ingredients. The collection features autophagy-inducing topicals, clinically-proven ingestibles that promote cell health and increase antioxidant capacity, and a silk pillowcase woven with copper threads that helps reveal glowing skin and hair after just a few uses. In this episode, Marie- Pierre and I sit down and we talk about the following topics:

Why she decided to choose NYC as her home and what she loves most about the city Herb + Flora: combining science and beauty to create a brand and how sustainability and packaging affected her process How she got into endurance sports, role of movement and activity in her life Offering advice from the challenges and lessons she's learned being an entrepreneur and never giving up Confession regarding her background with theatre and how her love for theatre brought her into NYC Recalling 9/11 and living in Tribeca

You can find more about Marie- Pierre's company below: Website: https://herbandflora.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/herbandflora/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/herbandflora Feel free to direct any comments, questions or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Today's guest is Irina Gottesman, CEO and Founder of House of Grō, an inclusive clean beauty brand offering plant based, all natural, and sustainable CBD skincare products. House of Grō is at the forefront of the clean beauty movement with a wellness line focused on plant-based, genderless skincare products. Managing multiple startups at a time, Irina is the creative brain and industry innovator focusing on the integration of the House of Grō plant-based products into mainstream markets. In this episode we talk about her background with NYC and what she loves most about the city, what it was like growing up in Queens and her memorable city experience with her mom in Soho. We also dive into her journey with starting House of Grō and she reveals how this beauty idea came to be, the struggles and lessons she's learned along the way, the mindset she's adopted when it comes to being a serial entrepreneur, what makes House of Grō unique and more information regarding the brand's values of sustainability and clean beauty. Irina further reveals her entrepreneurial highs and lows and talks deeper about the importance of embracing the journey, how she turns failures into lessons, not taking no for face value and reveals a confession regarding her outlook on NYC boroughs and suburbs. You can find more about Irina and her brand below: About Irina Gottesman: Irina Gottesman is an entrepreneur who hit the ground running by the young age of 20. Over the course of 24 years, Irina has managed revenues ranging from $1-5M in long- and short-term engagements in real estate, franchise, hospitality, retail and wholesale. All of her diverse and well-devised business engagements demonstrate Irina’s ability to dominate any industry she enters, with her long-term focus being plant-based skincare and wellness. Irina has the ability to trend forecast and build brands. With a passion for wellness and holistic health, she utilized her knowledge of industry trends and resources to launch House of Grō alongside her brother, Sam. Irina has been building brands together with Sam for decades; they have a 25 year track record in the luxury market, both with their own passions for wellness. After the pair found themselves in the CBD industry, Irina and Sam learned about the skincare benefits of CBD and decided to dive head first into the cosmetics industry, thus House of Grō was born. This dynamic duo now own and operate the 1st CBD brand to be certified Microbiome-Friendly. Website: https://houseofgro.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/houseofgro/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HouseofGro/ If you have any questions regarding this episode, feel free to email thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Today's guest is Brooke Miccio, a lifestyle vlogger and youtuber and Co-Host of the Gals on the Go podcast. In this episode, we dive deeper into Brooke's social media journey as she talks about how she started her Youtube channel 10 years ago. Since growing a strong and loyal community, Brooke opens up about the struggle with being an open book and being relatable while wanting to keep certain things in her life private. Brooke also talks about the importance of trying to live int he moment and not stress about the future or what others think of her since she is in the public eye.

We also touch upon topics including:

past experiences with being bullied in school
rewarding moments of her career and being able to receive positive feedback from her community
Gals on the go podcast: the premise, how she met her podcast partner and why they decided to start the podcast together
Confession regarding and embracing her basicness when it comes to NYC recommendations
her zest for life and how her family has impacted her

You can connect with Brooke Miccio on the below platforms:

Website: https://www.brookemiccio.net/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr60fJmsgoT-d5Wxf5zeIMA

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brookemiccio/?hl=en

Twitter: https://twitter.com/brookemiccio?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

If you have any questions regarding this episode, please email thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Today's episode features the lovely Amanda Bybel, who is a Master Certified NLP Practitioner and Trainer, Master Certified Success & Life coach, as well as a Master Certified Hypnotherapist. She is also the CEO and Founder of The Inner Bybel and The Sparkle System, which is a practitioner certification program, specifically designed for high-achieving, driven women who are ready to claim their next level identity as a true influencer, leader + masterful coach in just 4 months. Her mission is to empower women to pursue their true calling by shifting their identity and smashing their fears, so that they can create an authentic and fulfilling life, on their terms. She has helped over 100 women become the best versions of themselves through her accredited programs. She is also the co-host of the Related podcast with her sister Carli Bybel. In this episode, Amanda recounts her journey from being a corporate dropout to an entrepreneur, life coach and motivational speaker. She talks about the breakdown she had that forced her to rethink her life path. After going through a personal development program, she realized her life purpose was to serve others and help women transform their life and gain confidence in all facets of their lives. As a spiritual individual, Amanda dives deep into the power of manifestation, affirmations and mindset. She also shares the affirmation that changed her life, her journal activity and recommendations, and how she channels Posh Spice as has higher self. Amanda also acknowledge that self development is a journey and there will be low moments, as she personally opens up about her struggle with having self sabotaging thoughts and limiting beliefs. She gives advice on how to handle those lower frequency feelings and reminds us all of the power of our mindsets. You can follow Amanda on Instagram and check out her website: http://innerbeautybybel.com/. Feel free to also direct any questions, comments or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Today we are joined by two entrepreneurial women, Hilla Narov and Samantha Woolf, co-founders of Official Partner, a premiere marketing and entertainment agency that connects brands with A list talent and influencers and New Yorkers. Prior to founding Official Partner, Samantha and Hilla each spent over 20 years at notable entertainment management agencies but then last year decided to pivot by starting their own agency. This was a little over one year ago during an unlikely time – the beginning of the Covid-19 global pandemic. While they faced many challenges, they have come out the other side and are even stronger. Hilla Narov and Samantha Woolf have an instinct for what’s next, what’s newsworthy and the ability to architect a winning deal that translates to success for their clients.

In this episode, we cover the below topics:

Lessons from their first year as female founders and their life in NYC Challenges they faced during the Covid-19 pandemic
Why they believe mentoring other women is key to their success
The fun and challenging experiences working with A list celebrities

We also talk a lot about New York and how the city has affected their mindset, the way they approach business and what the city has given them.

You can learn more about Samantha and Hila below:

About Samantha: Prior to starting Official Partner, Samantha was Head of Marketing, NY at United Talent Agency (UTA), one of the leading talent, influencer and entertainment agencies in the world. With over 20 years of experience, Samantha has worked with branding powerhouses Deutsch Inc., Grey Global Group, and PEOPLE magazine, and brands such as Covergirl, Pantene and Head & Shoulders. She has also worked closely with some of the most highly respected and sought-after talent faces across digital media, television, music, and live entertainment including Sofia Vergara, Taylor Swift, Queen Latifah, Ellen DeGeneres, Katy Perry, Selena Gomez, P!NK and James Charles.

About Hilla: A forward-looking thinker and creative problem-solver, Hilla has built trusted relationships across the entertainment, luxury, fashion, beauty, and lifestyle industries – always with an interest to drive brand visibility and business growth. Hilla brings over 20 years of public relations and brand management experience. She led the relaunch of Jordache’s luxury denim collection securing Sarah Jessica Parker, partnered veterans non-for-profit Dog Tag Bakery with Starbucks and secured a multi-year sponsorship for Heidi Klum’s Halloween with Party City. Hill has brokered numerous high profile talent deals for brands like Louis Vuitton, Dior, Tiffany, Bulgari, Coach, Maybelline, HSN, QVC and Mattel.

Website: https://official-partner.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialpartneragency/

Feel free to direct any questions, comments or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thecityconfessions/support

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Today's guest is Ian Ginsberg, who is a pharmacist, president, and the third-generation owner of C.O Bigelow, which is America’s oldest Apothecary. In this episode, Ian and I discuss his role at C.O Bigelow and the history behind the company. Ian also discusses what makes the company so special and how they successfully cultivate brand integrity throughout all these years and the importance of storytelling to keep their brand relevant and alive. Ian goes into details about the brand heritage and how they create and choose products to touch people emotionally. We also talk about things on his to do list that he hasn't completed yet, how he's seen NYC changed throughout the years and his current stress and concern over the uncertainty of the city's future. About C.O. Bigelow: Nestled in Greenwich Village, C.O. Bigelow was founded in 1838 by Dr. Galen Hunter, and the store was originally called The Village Apothecary Shop until it was was bought and renamed by his employee Clarence Otis Bigelow in 1880. For nearly two centuries, C.O. Bigelow has served some of the country’s most prominent personalities including Eleanor Roosevelt, Mark Twain and, legend has it, Thomas Edison, who is said to have used a salve to soothe his burnt fingers while inventing the lightbulb. Since 1939, C.O. Bigelow has been owned and operated by the Ginsberg family. Daily operations are overseen by third-generation owner and President, Ian Ginsberg RPh, and his son, Alec, PharmD at C.O. Bigelow today. The brand fuses its decades of knowledge with the best of today’s technology to create authentic and effective solutions to everyday problems. Many of C.O. Bigelow's formulas are based on the apothecary’s original recipes—including Lemon Body Cream, which dates back to 1870—while others are inspired by ingredients found while scouring the globe. With a focus on honest ingredients, all products are are cruelty-free and prepared with minimal preservatives. C.O. Bigelow’s unique product range, brand heritage and store location continue to draw locals and tourists alike looking to enjoy a memorable shopping experience and premium products. The retailer serves a diverse clientele from its online shop and its landmark brick-and-mortar store, where a dedicated team fills prescriptions, provides personalized service, and sells a wide array of beauty and personal care products from the company’s namesake brand and a collection of their favorite brands from across the globe. C.O. Bigelow products are also sold in luxury boutiques, lifestyle stores, and department stores in the US and abroad. You can find more about C.O Bigelow by visiting their website https://www.bigelowchemists.com/ and you can follow them on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cobigelow/. Feel free to direct any questions, comments or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com regarding this podcast or episode.

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Today's guest is Harry Josh, one of the most sought-after editorial stylists in the world. Before his freelance career took off, Harry was doing double duty as a celebrity hairdresser and casting director for Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton. Now, Harry's days are filled doing editorial work for Harper's Bazaar, British Vogue, GQ, Allure, and other leading fashion magazines. In 2013, he launched his namesake hair tool line: Harry Josh® Pro Tools. His much-lauded Pro Dryer 2000 is a favorite of celebrities, stylists and real men and women alike. Today, Harry Josh® Pro Tools consists of two hair dryers, two curling irons, a flat iron, a diffuser, and an array of brushes, combs and clips. Harry has touched the heads of Rose Byrne, Olivia Wilde, Taylor Schilling, Kate Bosworth, Hillary Swank, Ellen Pompeo, Christy Turlington, Helena Christensen, Cindy Crawford, Kaia Gerber, Karlie Kloss and Gisele. In this episode we talk about a variety of topics including Harry's persistence working in the industry for 12 years before getting his big break. Harry recalls how his job as a casting director helped him forge relationships with models and how those friendships essentially placed himself in front of Amy Astley, the former beauty editor of Vogue at that time. We also dive deeper into the power of mindset and how he's cultivated an abundant one throughout his career. He notes that his struggles taught him how to focus on the present and to always remain true to his passion for education and empowering others through his work. Harry reiterates that happiness is a choice and not based on circumstances. We also discuss the benefits of meditation and the mind, how to stay present in a digital world, and how he's taking all his lessons from his extensive and impressive career to make an impact in the beauty industry today. You can connect with Harry on Instagram and check out his tools on his website https://www.harryjosh.com/. If you have any questions, comments or feedback, feel free to email thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Today's guest is Melissa Bolona, the Founder and CEO of Beauty & the Broth, a beauty and wellness brand offering shelf-stable, direct-to-consumer bone broth that’s care-free, convenient and customizable. Growing up in both the United States and Peru, Melissa was immersed in dual cultures which led her to appreciate various approaches to natural beauty and expressions of creativity. After completing education in International Marketing in Paris, she decided to pursue acting and went on to lead a successful career alongside many A-list actors in Hollywood and starring in more than 20 films. Working many years in the creative industry led to Melissa feeling exhausted and unmotivated. Searching for a cure in all the wrong places, Melissa found herself at home with her family where her sister introduced her to bone broth. She immediately saw results, finding her energy levels increased, gut-health improved and her mind clear with purpose. Melissa soon got down to business in her own kitchen, testing countless ratios and recipes and figuring out a way to bring flavorful, collagen-rich bone broth to the masses. A natural entrepreneur, her mission is to provide convenient access to this magical elixir so that everyone has an opportunity to experience its benefits. After a year of development, Beauty & the Broth was perfected and launched in late 2020, delivering holistic healing and beauty both inside and out. In this episode, Melissa explains how how she started her company and what the benefits of bone broth are, especially when it comes to regulating the gut. She also dives deeper into the challenges she's faced since launching the company during a pandemic. Melissa also acknowledges the difficulty in letting go of control in order to build her team. As someone who spent time in LA, Melissa also talks about the differences between both cities and explains why she think bone broth is the next big thing when it comes to health and wellness. Other topics in this episode include rituals that Melissa has incorporated in her daily routine to staying grounded, how she handles stress, and how she's taken the confidence from her previous modeling and acting career to her current path of being an entrepreneur. To learn more, please visit beautyandthebroth.com or find Melissa on Instagram. And feel free to direct any questions or feedback about this podcast to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Today's guest is Jordan Scott, the founder, CEO and Chief Editor of Cobble, an app designed to help people make better, faster decisions together. Jordan graduated from NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study in 2015. She began her career as a news associate at CBS This Morning before launching her startup. To date, she has raised $3 million in seed funding, with thousands of users who have swiped over 200k times on dates and experiences and is quickly expanding Cobble’s offerings and to new cities adapting to culture. Jordan has been profiled in Forbes, FOX 5 Good Day New York, and more.

In 2017, Jordan created idk tonight, a website and newsletter that provides NYC couples with curated date night plans to help couples answer the timeless question: “What do you want to do tonight?”. After winning NYU x New York Jets No Huddle Challenge and Entrepreneur Magazine's LIVE 5-minute pitch competition, Jordan launched Cobble, the first app that supports couples in “life after the swipe.”

In this episode, Jordan explains how attending NYU made her fall in love with the city. She talks about how the idea of Cobble came to be, the features of the app, the challenges launching a business during a pandemic and the surprising activities that she and her husband both swiped right on. We also dive deeper into the idea of stress and how to handle it, the benefits of practicing gratitude and adopting the 'fake it till you make it' mentality and embracing different seasons in life. Jordan also reveals an unexpected confession relating to alcohol that you don't want to miss!

You can find more information on Cobble here: https://www.trycobble.com/ and make sure you click Try Cobble to receive the link to download the app or find Cobble on your app store!

Feel free to also direct any questions or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com regarding this podcast.

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Today's guest is Jessica Morrobel, a Brooklyn native and New York City-based journalist and content creator empowering people from all walks of life to travel, explore, and tap into their creativity. While re-evaluating her life during the pandemic, Jessica was sparked with an exciting career shift when content creation for her blog pushed her past her comfort zone and became a therapeutic catharsis during a time of healing.

As a former content strategist, marketer, and editor at Fortune 100 companies, Jessica's goal is to inspire, educate, and build communities of empowered women to be catalysts for self-expression, change, and exploration. On her page, she authentically shares her learnings along with the most exciting things to do and see in NYC. You'll also find easy-to-follow curly hair care tips — tailored for savvy on-the-go travelers and tastemakers.

In this episode, Jessica explains her journey from helping clients and building brands from the ground up to deciding to build her own brand. As someone who used to work in corporate, she explains why she decided to invest in herself and pursue working as a blogger and content creator full time. Since this is a new journey she has embarked on, Jessica offers social media tips and advice for for content creators and aspiring bloggers because she knows although the market is saturated, there is still space for new talent. Jessica also explains how she saved up to pursue blogging full time and how she leveraged her corporate experiences and relationships to landing partnerships. As a natural hair educator, Jessica also expresses her passion for natural hair and how that value has played a role in her brand and public image. Jessica also opens up about dealing with high functioning anxiety, explains what her definitions of success is today, her struggle with downtime and the importance of celebrating any milestones.

You can connect with Jessica below:

Website: www.travelingwithjessica.com
Instagram: http://instagram.com/travelingwithjessica
TikTok: http://tiktok.com/travelingwithjessica

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thecityconfessions/support

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Today's guest is Maiko Sakai, a niche specialist who helps visionary founders, experts & entrepreneurs discover their niche in their business and to hone in on their greatness. Maiko Sakai is also the founder of Airtight Concepts, a business strategy consultant a.k.a. secret weapon, confidant & silent partner to visionary entrepreneurs & CEO’s with the desire to build a high-functioning, profit-generating machine of their dreams.

Her mission is simple: Help service business owners shift from operating a transactional business to a transformational business through her 2 business programs, “Define + Refine Your Profitable Niche” and “Business Optimizer 360. As a self-proclaimed “Queen of Counterintuitive Strategies,” she provides effective but not-so-conventional strategies to boost sustainable profitability for her clients’ businesses by utilizing both quantitative & qualitative assessments.

Originally from Yokohama, Japan, Maiko considers herself a New Yorker, loves ethnic foods of all kinds, and is a minimalist, a sucker for ultra-contemporary design & exotic houseplants. She earned her MBA from Cornell University.

In this episode we talk about various topics including how Maiko Sakai became a niche specialist and what that term even means. Maiko explains why she created the "WHAT’S YOUR IMPACT CREATION ARCHETYPE AS AN ENTREPRENEUR" quiz and how she's been utilizing it to help business owners determine what they're great at. Maiko and I also bond over our shared sign being Aquarius and talk about characteristics that make us who we are are creatives and how we use our strengths to our advantage when it comes to our careers. Maiko also expresses why she's an advocate for paid ads and how to benefit from running them to promote her business. We also talk about the importance of staying neutral and the pros of removing emotions, needs and wants from running a business. As someone who finds joy in helping entrepreneurs find success, Maiko reiterates why business owners should focus on the what and why instead of the how. We close this episode with Maiko revealing a confession that relates to the city and the current state of New York, so you don't wan to miss out on that!

You can connect with Maiko Sakai on her below platforms:

Website: www.maikosakai.com

IG: MaikoSakaiBiz

Twitter: MaikoSakaiBiz

FB: airtightconceptsnyc

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/maikosakai

Pinterest: MaikoSakaiBiz

Feel free to also direct any questions, comments or feedback regarding this episode to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thecityconfessions/support

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This week's guest is Emily Hochman, the Founder and CEO of Wellory, the anti-diet nutrition app on a mission to bring healthy eating to the masses. A fast growing app needed pre, post and during the pandemic, Wellory is a nutritionist in your back pocket, focused on making it easier than ever to stay healthy. The iOS and Android-available app matches clients with a health coach, nutritionist, or registered dietician based on their specific health/wellness goals. They provide affordable and personalized, 1-to-1 access to expert guidance, support, tips, recipes, all while tracking client progress and outcomes.

Hochman has been featured in Business Insider, Thrive Global, Well+Good, named Bucknell University’s 13 Under 35, Most Inspirational Female Entrepreneur by Influential Businesswomen Awards and Forbes 30 Under 30.

In this episode Emily explains why she started Wellory and her own personal journey with food and nutrition. She explains her advocacy for food freedom, the importance in having access to nutritionists, making healthy eating a forefront of conversations, and shifting the focus from diet culture to how we feel and how food impacts that.

Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, Emily knew that she has always been a problem solver. She has landed a Forbes feature and recalls how she felt when she received the nomination and the moment when the article went live. Emily reminds us all that food is our friend and food is fuel. She also explains some misconceptions when it comes to healthy eating and healthy lifestyle and reiterates that we should be making sure we choose the right foods for our bodies. We wrap the episode with a city confession from Emily, relating to being single and dating so you'll want to stick around to end for that!

You can learn more about Wellory below:

Website: www.wellory.com

Instagram: http://instagram.com/wellory

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@welloryontiktok

Please email thecityconfessions@gmail.com if you have any questions, comments or feedback regarding this episode or podcast.

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thecityconfessions/support

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We are joined today by the one and only Deborah Lippmann. Deborah is the go-to manicurist for an awe-inspiring list of celebrities, including Oprah Winfrey, Lupita Nyong’o, Laura Dern, Martha Stewart, and Lady Gaga and renowned fashion houses from Vogue, InStyle, W, Vanity Fair and Elle to Donna Karan, Rodarte, Narciso Rodriguez, Marchesa and Versace to name a few. After years of experience in the industry, her eponymous line of lacquers and treatments for nails, hands and feet is as coveted as her incredible talent.

Deborah’s success as one of the most sought- after manicurists in the world, as well as an innovative entrepreneur, has an interesting origin in her passion for and pursuit of music. Her first love was music, and with dreams of becoming a jazz singer, Deborah belted out sultry tunes in smoky clubs by night while working various jobs by day. Eventually, Deborah enrolled in cosmetology school where she discovered a hidden talent and her second love – nails.

Working closely with some of the biggest names among celebrities, editors, fashion designers and models, Deborah quickly identified the need for a diverse range of nail colors and luxury care products, which was missing in the market. It was at that moment that Deborah set out to create her own line high-quality nail lacquers and treatments with her unique fashion point of view.

Established in 1999, deborah lippmann was founded on an ethos of quality meets care. Informed by her years in the red carpet, fashion runways, and editorial shoots, the award-winning brand reflects her ultra-high standards in terms of product performance and is crafted to nourish and support nails and skin. The brand is in expansion mode, with exciting plans for continuous growth, including her recent step into the cosmetics industry with her new lip gloss.

In this episode, Deborah recalls her journey and explains how she got into manicuring, while also pursuing her dreams in music as a jazz singer. She explains how she landed celebrity clients, what it's like to work in high pressure environments, how she thrives under stress and rituals that she has set for herself when it comes to work. She also narrates her encounter and amazing relationships with Sher, Martha Stewart and Lady Gaga. As a successful entrepreneur Deborah gives insights to her definition of success and happiness and offers advice for those who want to start their own business, finding your passions and how to make your dreams a reality. We end the episode with Deborah's helpful tips for beginners on how to do at home manicures and answers questions when it comes to nail care, cuticles and nail polish and emphasizes on the importance of patience and washing your hands.

You can find more about Deborah Lippmann's brand by visiting her website at: https://deborahlippmann.com/ and follow the brand on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/deborahlippmann/.

Feel free to also direct any questions, comments or feedback to thectiyconfessions@gmail.com.

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thecityconfessions/support

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Today's guest is Jim Frawley who is an Executive Coach, Business Consultant, Author, Host of the Bellwether Hub podcast, and CEO of Bellwether, a company dedicated to helping organizations and people build resiliency, adapt to change and thrive in rapidly shifting contexts. Over his twenty-year career, he has internationally created and implemented corporate training programs, complex marketing and PR plans, business strategy and administrative plans and organizational re-designs. He has worked with clients in eight countries and thirty nine states to date. A few years ago, Jim came to the realization that he had a unique capability in getting people to do things they didn’t think they could. After some experimentation on using this capability for good or evil, he decided on the good. He is the host of the Bellwether Hub podcast and author Adapting in Motion: Finding Your Place in the New Economy, a practical guide to managing multiple levels of macro change. Jim is a big time reader, a small-time triathlete and a full-time husband and father. In this episode, Jim explains how he got into the coaching business and clarifies some misconceptions when it comes to coaches and the coaching industry. He also reveals some challenges when it comes to being a coach and starting his own business. We dive deeper into how he defines success and happiness and touch on the importance of finding fulfillment and internal peace from within and the power of taking control of your own life and success. Jim also opens up about his low points in his life and how he has changed his doubting mentality and past habits to his advantage in helping others become more successful in their careers and in their lives. Other topics in this episode include how to change boredom to productivity, the beauty and benefits of living in a city like New York, his love for running and benefits of working out. You can connect with Jim Frawley on his below platforms: Web: https://www.bellwetherhub.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/bellwetherhub Podcast is available on all outlets: https://bellwetherhub.com/episodes/ Book: https://www.amazon.com/Adapting-Motion-Finding-Place-Economy/dp/1948382067

Feel free to direct any questions, comments or feedback regarding this episode to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Adapting In Motion: Finding Your Place In The New Economy

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This week's guest is Val Monroe, the former beauty director at O, The Oprah Magazine and founder of the blog called, "How to Not Fck Up Your Face." Val has also been an editor at Ms., Redbook, Self, and Parenting Magazines, among others, a contributing writer at Parents and Entertainment Weekly, and have written hundreds of articles on a wide range of topics for many national publications. She has appeared many times on national television, and have been a speaker at O, You events—appearing before up to 5,000 women who have enrolled in a day’s worth of Oprah-centric activities. Val is particularly interested in the intersection of kindness and perceptions of beauty and is working on developing a protocol for doctors doing aesthetic evaluations. She is also focusing on a multi-media project, including a Substack newsletter: How Not to Fuk Up Your Face, philosophical and practical advice for anyone who’s ever looked into a mirror.

In this episode, Val and I talk about her extensive background in magazine journalism and her career highlights and lessons. We also dive deeper into societal standards when it comes to beauty and why she's so passionate about changing the conversation from fearing aging to acceptance and self compassion. Val explains the importance of embracing where you’re at in life and how she's advocating for people to adopt a more positive outlook on aging and encourages all of us to love our faces without objectifying it. She is passionate about this topic and this message, which inspired her to start her blog and newsletter, where she is hoping to change the dialogue of aging in today's society. We wrap this episode with an unexpected confession that involves why being anonymous in New York City is a perk that you don't want to miss!

You can support Val by signing up to her newsletter here: https://valeriemonroe.substack.com/ and follow Val on Instagram here.

And feel free to direct any questions, comments or concerns regarding this podcast to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Today we are joined by a fellow Native New Yorker, Mike Indursky, who is the founder of sustainable beauty brand, Hear Me Raw. After spending the last 30 years in the beauty and wellness business, Mike Indursky founded the new, indie skincare brand HEAR ME RAW. Frustrated that after all this time companies are still selling products with ingredients that shouldn’t go on your skin, in packaging that isn’t sustainable, making claims they can’t keep, with prices that are too high on products you don’t need the brand’s mission is to honor women by doing what’s best for their health, skin, budget and world around them with products that are truly Powerful, Natural, Sustainable and Simple. HEAR ME RAW, the activist, mission-based company is in its first year and is looking to lead the industry in responsible beauty.

Previous to HEAR ME RAW, Indursky served as President of Bliss, the leading global spa brand and helped in the December 2015 sale of its parent company Steiner Leisure for $920 million. Previously, Mike was CMO of Burt’s Bees, the leading global natural personal care company, where he helped lead the growth of the brand, resulting in a sale to Clorox for $950 million – a $775 million increase in enterprise value in 4 years.

Prior to that Mike had leadership positions at L’Oreal where he was VP of Marketing for Maybelline and Garnier and before that over 11 years at Unilever where he was last SVP of Strategic Planning and Marketing for all of the fragrance and cosmetics brands including Calvin Klein, Vera Wang and others. Mike is a two-time winner of Advertising Age’s Top Marketers of the Year, WWD’s Most Innovative Marketer, Beyond Beauty’s Honoree of the year and is a frequent public speaker.

In this episode, Mike talks about how Hear Me Raw came to be and the meaning behind the company's name. He also expresses his values for sustainability and what makes his products so unique and needed in today's world. He opens up about the realities and challenges of running his own business despite being in the beauty industry for 30 years. We also talk about his background and relationship with NYC as he was born and raised in The Bronx. As Mike recounts his journey as an entrepreneur, he also acknowledges the current mindset and headspace he is in now and talks about his morning routine and what it feels like to be in flow state. Feel free to support Mike's journey and company by following Hear Me Raw on Instagram and check out their amazing products here.

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thecityconfessions/support

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Today's guest features Ella Jewell, a photographer and content creator based in NYC. Ella is a visual communicator, telling stories through her camera lens. She enjoys collaborating with other artists and creating bold works of art. She loves to experiment with color and movement. Hailing from the music capital of the world, Nashville Tennessee, she grew up around music and loves to capture the emotion of performers. Ella enjoys creating content to strengthen brands and to increase commotion.

In this episode, we begin with Ella telling us how she got into photography and how she shifted from the education field to the creative field. She also opens up about struggling with leaving her family and friends back in Nashville to pursue her career and dreams in NYC. As someone who loves photography and fashion, Ella explains why she's so drawn to art in general. And to close out this episode, Ella reveals a confession relating to anxiety and depression, so if you can relate, then definitely have a listen.

You can connect with Ella in the below ways:

Email: ellajewell0@gmail.com

Website: www.ellajewell.com

Instagram:https://instagram.com/ellajewell1

You can also email thecityconfessions@gmail.com if you have any questions, comments or feedback regarding this podcast.

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thecityconfessions/support

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Today’s guest is Annabelle Giletti, who is a s a dynamic beauty and wellness publicist living between Brooklyn and Nantucket. Being raised in London and attending international schools has given her the desire to always be around different types of people and seek out new parts of the world. As a dual citizen, Annabelle identifies with different cultures and considers herself a very curious and adaptable global pursuer.

In this episode we talk about her background in PR, her love for wellness and healthy living and career highlights and struggles. We also talk about dating and relationships, the differences between European men and New York men and her shift in becoming more bold when it comes to meeting and dating men. Other topics we discuss include celebrity sightings and crushes and Annabelle confesses her love for Paris Hilton. She also explains how she has shifted her priorities and values to finding validation and happiness from within, rather than from external sources. Annabelle is a huge believer in manifestation and also expresses that she is currently living in NYC, specifically in Dumbo because she manifested that moment when she visited years ago.

If you know Annabelle, you’ll also know she’s a great entertainer, loves organizing events, collaborating with others and connecting friends, which certainly contribute to key aspects of being a successful publicist.

Annabelle has worked on small but influential teams, managing leading brands from Drunk Elephant, to WTHN, Alo Moves and many others. When she’s not working you’ll find her sailing, skiing, or drinking a filthy martini. Feel free to connect with Annabelle on Instagram! You can also email any questions or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Today's guest is Victoria Abaev, a wealth management associated based in New York City. Victoria Abaev is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional at Aspiriant, a leading independent wealth management firm. She helps clients navigate and build their wealth in line with their goals and values. As the first in her family born in America, she did not have a large scope of financial literacy beyond saving and frugality. In high school, she was introduced to the power of financial literacy and planning by her then-boss who hosted financial literacy courses at the YMCA Women’s Shelter. Understanding the power of this knowledge, she changed her career path from health sciences, where she intended to help people medically, to become a CFP® practitioner and help people financially.

Originally from San Diego, California, she left her comfort zone when she relocated to New York to marry the love of her life. She doesn’t look back – she loves everything New York has to offer and is a true New Yorker now! As an avid fan of the arts and a musician herself, she enjoys all the beauty, culture and all art forms that the city has to offer. She loves attending Broadway shows, the Metropolitan Opera House, the Candlelight classical music concerts and hearing all sorts of amazing musicians and singers throughout the city. For fun, Victoria plays the piano, composes music, practices yoga and enjoys exploring new places with her husband.

In this episode, Victoria walks us through her first encounter with financial literacy and explains how that experience has sparked an interest for her to pursue a career in the finance world. As a financial planner, Victoria reveals some misconceptions she thinks a lot of us have when it comes to money and tips on for millennials when it comes to budgeting, saving and investing. She also reveals her career highlights and lows and ends the episode talking about the importance of self care and tending to your needs before others.

To empower you with financial literacy, Victoria provided links to a 5 Step Guide to Layered Savings as well as a recorded 3-part personal finance series for your reference. Please feel free to connect with Victoria on Linked In.

· 5 Step Guide to Layered Savings: https://aspiriant.com/fathom/wealth-planning/5-step-guide-to-layered-financial-savings/

· Personal Finance 3-part series from Her Capital x Aspirant:

https://www.hercapital.org/event/hercapital-x-aspiriant-personal-finance-series-part-i
https://www.hercapital.org/event/hercapital-x-aspiriant-personal-finance-series-part-ii
https://www.hercapital.org/event/hercapital-x-aspiriant-personal-finance-series-part-iii

You can direct any questions, feedback or comments to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Today's guest is Adrian Bermeo, a LatinX expressionist painter born and bred in Queens NY, with origins in graffiti. Being a proud native New Yorker with a background of Puerto Rican and Ecuadorian descent, many of his characters carry interpretations of misrepresented figures and explosive energies that have influenced his life through family, community and world travel. As an interdisciplinary artist, Bermeo’s work encompasses community outreach events, gallery exhibits, private collections both international and domestic and fundraising auctions at The Queens Museum for Elmhurst Hospital during 2020’s pandemic. In this episode, from one native New Yorker to another, we talk about the unique experiences and perspectives of what it was like growing up in the city, and what makes the city so special. Adrian explains how he was introduced to graffiti and how that discovery has put him in the art journey he is on now on. He also explains his mindset when it comes to putting himself and his art out there, some advice to those who feeling stuck, the role of community and why he’s so passionate about remaining true to his values and why he continues to pay tribute to his upbringing and the city. He also reveals a confession in the end that other city residents can definitely relate to as well as an insight that many New Yorkers can appreciate, so you don't want to miss out on that! Feel free to connect with Adrian on his below platforms: Studio: The Bowery Union 329 Broome ST. NY, NY Website: http://bermeo.nyc/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bermeonyc/

If you have any questions regarding this episode, please email thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Today's guest is no other than the fabulous NYC drag queen Lucia Fuchsia. Lucia is a 22 year old Brooklyn based Drag Queen. She hosts weekly shows in the East Williamsburg area. She is bright, colorful, and upbeat! What to expect from Lucia? Expect the unexpected!

In this episode, Lucia talks about what it's like growing up in NYC as a native New Yorker. She explains how he discovered drag and why she decided to pursue a career in the industry. She also describes how Lucia Fuchsia came to be and what she is like when she is on stage and performing. She also gives insight to the realities of working in drag and reveals dealing with social anxiety. Lucia closes out the episode with a confession that leads to advice for those who are listening.

You can find Lucia on Instagram @luciafuchsia and feel free to email any questions, comments or feedback regarding this podcast to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Today, we have our first reoccurring guest, Maria Karr, who is the cofounder of Rumore Beauty, the first Russian Beauty store in the U.S. Maria has been on the podcast before (Episode 8) so feel free to take a listen to her first episode. Maria Karr came to New York from Siberia, Russia when she was 19 and has been working in the beauty industry in the US for the past 10 years. During her career, she was in charge of PR and communications for world-renowned beauty favorites and up-and-coming brands. While she tried many international beauty products, it came to her as a surprise that she hasn’t seen anything from her home country, Russia. So, she decided to change that and give American beauty lovers access to Russian skincare for the first time by launching Rumore Beauty earlier this year.

Rumore Beauty is a US-based Russian beauty store, introducing the best of clean and natural Russian skincare to American consumers for the first time. The site features a curated assortment from six Russia’s leading beauty brands – mi&ko, Botavikos, Innature, Laboratorium, True Alchemy and G.Love. All products on RumoreBeauty.com are cruelty-free, with many vegan, organic and microbiome-friendly options.

In this episode, we talk about Maria's new business venture as she and her husband created Rumore Beauty. We talk about how this idea came to be, the meaning behind the company's name, her transition from the corporate world to now being an entrepreneur and Maria gives us information about Russian Beauty as well as a run down of her favorite products.

You can support Maria by visiting her shop and pick up some Russian beauty products at Rumore Beauty and use code 'CITYCONFESSIONS20' for 20% off your purchase! You can also follow the company on Instagram @rumorebeauty. If you have any questions, comments or feedback regarding this podcast, feel free to email thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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We are beginning season 6 of The City Confessions with two fabulous guests, Erin Swift and Anna Livermore. They are the founders of Swift Studios, a new design-centric photography and event space for creatives, which opened this year in March of 2021 in New York. Erin is a former magazine editor turned stylist turned prop warehouse owner and Anna is the founder of V. Mora, a consulting firm that helps fashion professionals achieve real results in the industry. Both of them have worked in various fields in the design world and have continued to pivot. Erin and Anna have extensive experience working with photo studios and their vision is a first-of-its-kind experience for creatives. They recognized the current economy could work in their favor to begin this passion project even with the various delays from city restrictions and manufacturing lead times. In this episode, we go through a brief overview of both women's careers and journeys. Erin and Anna explain how they dreamt of this self-funded project, their decision as friends to become business partners, their definitions of success and happiness, personal career highlights, and closing out with a few city confessions! Hear more about Swift Studios and what they hope to provide for influencers, brands, and creatives looking for new shooting locations. You can schedule a viewing of the beautiful space by visiting https://www.swiftstudiosnyc.com/ and feel free to mention this podcast if you're interested in booking! You can also follow them on Instagram and direct any questions, feedback or comments regarding this episode to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Welcome to season 6 of The City Confessions! Episode 101 is a solo one from yours truly and your host Mariann Yip. I explain what my one month break has taught me and why I feel compelled to continue this podcast. I give an overview of my life updates including how I feel mentally and emotionally, the power of mindset and trusting yourself. I also share my current struggle of letting go of control and why it's so difficult for me to do so. I recognize that this is an area I want to work on because I can see how it's affecting my relationships. I end the episode revealing two confessions and offer some insight and advice on how to embrace the highs and lows of life.

I am also always looking for guests so if you or someone you know would love to be featured, please email thecityconfessions@gmail.com. The only requirement would be a clear connection with New York City (whether you were born and raised here, currently live here or have a business here). You can also support this podcast in a few ways including following me on Instagram as well as the podcast, leaving a positive review on iTunes or send this to a friend to help me gain more reach and exposure. I appreciate each and every one of you and stay tuned for all the amazing upcoming episodes!

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This episode is a solo one from yours truly and is a celebration of hitting 100 episodes on The City Confessions! I start out this episode by giving quick life updates and talk about where my mind has been and how I am feeling and doing mentally. I reveal my uncertainty when it comes to my future as I have no idea where I'll be based once my lease is up in addition to questioning my place in NYC. I also talk about how I've been feeling unsafe with the rise of asian hate crimes, which motivated me to start an IG Live series on #STOPASIANHATE. I have been discovering the activist in me and have been getting to know that side more.

Other topics I touch upon include the power of energy, the sacredness of time and the value and weight of intention. I end the episode by sharing a few confessions relating to body insecurities and outlook on dating, love and relationships. As a celebration of my 100th episode, I would appreciate if if you can support me and this podcast by sharing it with a friend or your network, by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts and following me on my below platforms.

https://instagram.com/mariann_yip

https://www.instagram.com/thecityconfessions/

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-city-confessions/id1447819476#see-all/reviews

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The 99th episode of The City Confessions features Ming, who is a NYC based Occupational Therapist. Aside from her day job, she is also part of the food photographer duo team of The Bing Buzz, and works with her boyfriend to bring NYC content to her audience. She is also the host of the podcast Happier With Ming: A lifestyle design & personal development podcast designed to encourage and inspire you to live life to your fullest everyday!

In this episode, we talk about how she found her passion and purpose during the pandemic, as that's the time when she decided to start The Bing Buzz's youtube channel. Ming also loves starting projects and explains how being a perfectionist plays in her life, as well as going out of her comfort zones. She discussed some of her insecurities and vulnerabilities and shares her favorite NYC ice cream spots as well as a confession that some New Yorkers might take offensively!

You can connect with Ming in her below channels and if you have any questions, feedback or comments regarding this episode, feel free to email thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheBingBuzz

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheBingBuzz

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheBingBuzz

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBingBuzz

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Today's guest is Mariah Reeves, the founder of MARVES, which is a NYC based crochet shop, that offers modern, eco-friendly, handmade, and unique fiber arts products. She is a Black and Latina owned one woman operation and explains how her grandmother (one of the coolest & stylish humans EVER) taught her how to crochet. Through her modern aesthetic, with an emphasis on minimal luxury and a passion for art, Mariah tries to keep her family tradition alive and just as cool & stylish as her grandmother was. Mariah started MARVES as something to do outside her day job, but also as a side hustle to help pay off her student loans. Based in NYC, every piece is handmade. As a New Yorker, Mariah names her products after her favorite streets and neighborhoods and tries to keep her business as eco-friendly as possible by using natural fibers and reusable packaging. Being handcrafted, each piece has the value of human touch. Every limited, made to order item is created with its own unique quality.

In this episode, Mariah gives insight to different techniques and tips on how to crochet, the process and realities of the hard work, effort and dedication to making each piece by hand, her definitions of happiness and success and what she hopes to accomplish with her business.

Feel free to support Mariah Reeves on her below platforms:

Website: MARVESnewyork.com

Instagram: @MARVESnewyork

Etsy:https://www.etsy.com/shop/MARVESnewyork

Depop: Depop.com/marves

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thecityconfessions/support

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This week's guest is a native New Yorker. Kristina Ang is a fashion design student at the Parsons School of Design in NYC, sustainability freelance writer, and fellow podcast host for The Life of A Fashion Student Podcast. From a very early age, she was determined to make a start in the fashion industry. Her ambition and passion to integrate herself in the fashion world have compelled her to take up various internships throughout her early years of high school including working as a Showroom Intern at Alice & Trixie and becoming a Nordstrom Fashion Ambassador. In the past she have taken on roles such as Design & Product Development Intern at Kassatex NYC, Intern at Sandy Liang, Design & Product Development Intern at The Arrivals NYC, Fashion Team Intern at V Magazine, and Education & Sustainable Strategies Intern at CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America). Currently, she is a Public Relations Intern at Conti-Communications. Kristina's biggest hope in life is to inspire, impact, influence, and invigorate those around her.

In this episode, Kristina reveals that she has a twin sister and talks about what that relationship is like. We also dive into how she found her passion for fashion and her decision to follow that calling, despite some initial hesitations. Kristina is a driven individual and constantly puts herself out there and seeks opportunities. She explains how that stems from being a New Yorker and how the city has shaped her to be the woman she is today. We also talk about her career and personal highlights, how she utilities her competitive edge and hustle in a positive way, the struggle of trusting others, the importance of trusting your gut and validating your feelings, and so much more!

Feel free to connect with Kristina on her below platforms:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristinamichelleang/

Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5tk1Ptko1nBhcekYskjFD5

Website: https://www.kristinaang.com

You can direct any questions, feedback or comments to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thecityconfessions/support

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Today's guest is Ashley Rodriguez, a fashion model and youtuber from Queens, New York. In this episode of The City Confessions, we talk about how Ashley got into modeling and the realities behind the scenes of being a model. Ashley reveals her career highlights as well as some struggles. She also explains why she's always positive and shares tips on how to develop a positive mindset including the importance of a morning routine and finding joy and happiness in the everyday moments. As a family oriented individual, Ashley is grounded by her family and the people she surrounds herself with. She is currently exploring Los Angeles with her boyfriend and have recently started a youtube channel where she posts fun content for entertainment purposes.

You can connect with Ashley below:

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/baddiee.ash/

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrcXxDzsM73qTGRqVEpQnIQ

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thecityconfessions/support

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Today, we are joined by Andy Stone, the Vice President of Marketing at Bluestone Lane, which is Melbourne-inspired coffee place offering Australian-style espresso drinks & cafe fare all day. He is the brother to CEO Nick Stone and runs the business’s marketing. We begin the episode by talking about his relationship with NYC, now that he's been here for 5 years. We then dive in to discussing how Bluestone Lane became successful at bringing Melbourne café culture to the states. Other topics we cover include how Andy got involved with Bluestone Lane, differences between Australian coffee culture and American (particularly NYC), the marketing strategies behind Bluestone Lane and their health focused menu, challenges in growing and expanding their business in a short amount of time and his definitions of happiness and success. Andy also shares a city Confessions as an Australian living in New York that you don’t want to miss! If you haven’t dined at Bluestone Lane then check out their locations here https://bluestonelane.com so you can try their delicious food items & coffee!

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thecityconfessions/support

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In this episode of The City Confessions, we are joined by Yvette Bodden, the Founder and Author of Awakened-Woman (AW), a platform designed to inspire, empower and encourage women to live their best life and be unafraid to create the life envisioned. After going through a painful divorce, followed by depression, Yvette rose from the emotional adversity to write a self-help/autobiographical book, "A Journey to Becoming the Best Self" published by BRW in 2019. The debut sparked the birth of AW which she started in mid-2018.

Since her self discovery journey, she has written over 500 articles, as a writer for AW as well as, Belatina News. In 2020, she developed the AW Empowerment Series, a series of interviews with women across all industries but done on a personal level. Women like Grey's Anatomy - Lisa Vidal, Emmy-Award Winning Media Personality, Nikki Boyer, Tyler Perry's Sistas Actress, Novi Brown, and so many others have shared their amazing stories to help the AW community connect and learn through their experiences.

In this raw and honest episode, Yvette opens up about her dark past and explains how her divorce and depression has shaped her to be the strong woman she is today. She talks about the process of recreating herself and finding her voice and identity, the power of self care and mental health, and the beauty of vulnerability and journaling. As a native New Yorker, Yvette opens about how true feelings for the city and reveals a city confession that may be controversial to other New Yorkers! You can connect with Yvette in her below platforms:

https://awakened-woman.com/

https://twitter.com/WomanAwakened

https://www.instagram.com/womanawakened/

https://www.facebook.com/AWinspires

You can also direct any questions, comments or feedback regarding this podcast to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thecityconfessions/support

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This episode features Zoé-Daphnée Gagne, a classical and electric cellist based in NYC who is passionate about playing all genres of music such as rock, musical theatre, pop, classical, movie scores and more.

Since first drawing her bow across the strings 13 years ago, she has performed around the world including Carnegie Hall (NYC), Disney Hall (Los Angeles), Spain, Italy, Germany and South Korea. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree at Manhattan School of Music, the highest ranking school in the United States for classical cello performance.

A self-taught electric cellist, she is passionate about playing all genres of music such as pop, metal, musical theatre, jazz, movie scores and more. She finds modern music to be the perfect outlet for her to express her love of singing, makeup, costuming, filmmaking, and creative eye.

In this episode, we talk about how Zoé-Daphnée Gagne discovered her passion at an early age, the highlights of her career thus far as well as the challenges along the way and the power of having a positive mindset and journaling. We also dive deeper in topics including definitions of success and happiness, how fear and excitement coincides with one another and why she prioritizes finding magic in everyday moments. There is also a teaser of her music so be sure to have a listen to the end!

You can connect with Zoé-Daphnée Gagne on Instagram and YouTube in her below channels:

Full music video of "The Queen's Gambit":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_83CYtprUYU

Your favorite songs reimagined with cello on her YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTDy33atF14F2c1tH8-opLQ

Daily music and inspiration on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/cellozozo/

Feel free to direct any emails, questions or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thecityconfessions/support

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This week's guest is Hannah Nieves, a marketing, branding and PR expert from NYC. She is also the CEO of Hannah Nieves, a digital agency that specializes in elevating luxury brands to become the authority in their space. With extensive experience in marketing, branding and PR; Hannah knows what it takes to build, market and promote authentic brands and create results.

Her journey into marketing began as an Investment Sales Broker in the Capital Markets division working for Cushman & Wakefield, one of the largest commercial real estate firms in the world. During that time she worked to market and sell buildings, land and air rights in Manhattan. When she wasn’t underwriting $525,000,000 worth of real estate assets, she was marketing them.

Fast forward a few years when she became Director of Marketing of California, managing $4,000,000 marketing budgets and leading a team of passionate marketing professionals.

Hannah truly loves the work she does and created this business out of the sheer passion of being able to serve female entrepreneurs and visionaries. What started out as a mentorship program turned agency, consulting and education platform has allowed Hannah to serve women in a multitude of industries and creative backgrounds.

In this episode, we talk about her transition, experiences and challenges working as an entrepreneur, the importance of creating a strong team and cultivating a strong work culture. She also gives insight to how she defines success and happiness compared to her definitions in the past and opens up about the struggles with stress and burnout. We end this episode with a city confession as well as a rundown of Hannah's go to favorite NYC spots.

Hannah is the go to resource for marketing, branding and PR for entrepreneurs and brands alike and you can find her in the below platforms:

Website: www.hannahnieves.co

Instagram: www.instagram.com/hannahmnieves

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/hannahmnieves/

Feel free to email any questions regarding this episode or podcast to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thecityconfessions/support

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This week's guest is Jeniece Trizzino. She is the Vice President of Product Development at Scentbird.

With over 15 years of experience at such brands as Avon, Laura Geller, BareMinerals, Deck of Scarlet, Goodhabit, and Confessions of a Rebel, Jeniece Trizzino has worked through every stage of makeup artistry, product and packaging development, partnering directly with brand founders to ideate, conceptualize, forecast, innovate, formulate, package develop, and market award-winning products that she has created for sale in the U.S. and around the world. Jeniece’s deep understanding of both the transforming needs of the beauty market and the advancing demands of the consumer, coupled with her strong market vision and intuition for product innovation has made her a thought leader and expert in the beauty space, with a proven track record of success.

In this episode, we talk about how Scentbird disrupted the fragrance industry back in 2014 when it introduced the idea of a subscription model to the world. It was also a time where social media was growing and evolving so Jeniece explains how the company leveraged Youtube specifically to create buzz about the company's model and service. Jeniece also gives us insight to what her role consists of and the real timeline and steps of bringing a product from an idea to life. As a New Yorker, she also shares a confession relating to stereotypes that people have about New Yorkers.

Feel free to support Jeniece's brands below:

Scentbird: https://www.instagram.com/scentbird/

Goodhabit: https://www.instagram.com/goodhabitskin/

Deck of Scarlet: https://www.instagram.com/deckofscarlet/

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thecityconfessions/support

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This week's guest features Deanna First, a NYC based illustrator. Deanna First’s work centers on her fascination of the female form and capturing the many personalities of her muses. She explores these themes through a combination of pencil, marker, watercolor and digital editing. A broad range of illustration styles sets her work apart from the crowd.

She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Kent State University in Fashion Design. It was there she pronounced her love for fashion illustration. She later went on to work for Elie Tahari, J.Crew and Ralph Lauren.

Deanna focuses on both fluidity and movement in her work. Her most recent events have been with Diane von Fürstenberg, Tommy Hilfiger and Hermès.

In this episode, Deanna explains how she started in the fashion design world and how she transitioned into being a freelancer and starting her own business. We talk about a wide range of topics including her passion and talent for drawing and art, how she's used social media especially Instagram to leverage her business, the power of relationships in the fashion industry in NYC, how spirituality plays a role in her life, her struggle of balancing her personal interests on social media with her professional work and how her plans for expanding and shifting her business avenues due to the pandemic.

You can connect with Deanna on her social media platforms below:

https://www.deannafirst.com/

https://www.instagram.com/deanna_First/

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thecityconfessions/support

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This episode features New York State licensed Acupuncturist, Lana Stacy. Board certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), Lana has a passion for developing meaningful relationships with each of her patients and creating a safe space for them to heal, grow, and evolve into the best versions of themselves. At the crux of all of her treatments is a profound understanding of the connection between the mind and body. Lana specializes in pain management and have received advanced training in trigger point therapy.

She also has experience with internal medicine, including migraines, digestive disorders, menstrual issues, and chronic urinary tract infections. As a long-term patron of therapy herself, she has a special interest in working with mental health and those in recovery, especially anxiety, trauma, eating disorders, and addiction. For these internal conditions, she focuses primarily on the styles of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Five Element, Japanese, and Korean techniques in order to fully tap into and treat the "Shen" (the spirit).

In this episode, we talk about how Lana discovered acupuncture and what moment drove her to decide to pursue this as her calling and career. Lana also explains the difference between western and eastern medicine and why she incorporates Chinese medicine and approaches to healing in her practice. She currently works at WTHN, which is an acupuncture studio in NYC (which is how we met because she is my acupuncturist!) and discussed how the studio aligns with her own values of the power of healing and prevention.

As someone who used to be a workaholic, Lana recalls how she would burn out by working constantly and running around in NYC. Since the pandemic and her loss, she has learned the beauty of slow living and advocates for all us to practice that. She is now appreciating all the magic surrounding NYC and is also working on her side hustle which are house calls for acupuncture sessions.

You can find Lana in the below platforms:

https://www.lanastacyacupuncture.com/

https://www.instagram.com/lana.stacy.acupuncture/

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thecityconfessions/support

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Welcome to Season 5 of The City Confessions! Before we get started with today's guest, this episode opens up with a quick introduction from your host Mariann Yip about what she's up to and what you can expect from this season moving forward. Instead of doing a solo episode as the introduction episode of the new season, we are joined by Reagan Petrehn, who is a a filmmaker, food and bev expert, and serial entrepreneur.

Before co-founding his first business –1900 Barker– at 21, he spent several years consulting with and training professionals across multiple disciplines within the coffee industry across the US, Mainland China and Hong Kong –then the fastest growing market for coffee globally. He has since consulted with dozens of coffee and food startups to create unique programming across various cultures and locales.

Today, 1900 Barker is recognized as a cutting edge and trend setting institution, despite its rural location in the Midwest, and has been nominated every consecutive year since opening for the James Beard award –a massive honor across the food and beverage industry.

In 2018, Reagan became a founding member at Felix Roasting Company in NYC. In addition to acting as Brand Manager and developing the guest experience, He created the unique (and often viral) food and beverage program that makes Felix stand out among foodies and coffee aficionados everywhere, and oversaw the meteoric rise in engagement from the press, tourists, and local New Yorkers.

Currently, Reagan is refocusing his energies into his creative studio, Kind Studio, with an aim to develop meaningful stories through film. He hopes to utilize his background in hospitality to help hurting food & bev businesses get a leg up during and after Covid.

Outside of his many professional pursuits, Reagan is an avid surfer, a distance runner, and is always looking for an excuse to play in the kitchen.

In this episode, Reagan talks about how he met his partner of Felix Roasting Company, which is a stunning cafe in NYC. He opens up about how the design concept and birth idea came into fruition and the struggles of trying to maintain afloat as the company struggled with COVID last year. However, as someone who is constantly working on a million projects, Raegan and his partner was actually able to open a new location in August of 2020 in Soho.

As a natural entrepreneur, Raegan explains how he got his motivation and confidence to start his string of businesses, especially in a city like New York. He acknowledges that he does experience impostor syndrome as is still trying to figure out how to redefine what success and happiness looks like to him. Raegan is also a talented photographer and is now actively pursuing that creative outlet. He closes this episode with a confession that you guys definitely won't expect so have a full listen to see what that is!

Feel free to connect with Raegan on his below channels and follow along his journey to see all the amazing things he has in the works:

https://www.instagram.com/reagan.petrehn

https://www.instagram.com/felixroastingco/

https://www.instagram.com/1900barker/

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thecityconfessions/support

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This episode is a solo one featuring yours truly. I close out season 4 of The City confessions and give a quick recap of 2020. I talk about what this year has taught me, what lessons I've learned from therapy and the importance of setting boundaries. I also reveal a confession relating to the realities of my podcast earnings as well as insight and sneak peak to what you can expect from me in 2021.

I express my sincere gratitude to all my listeners and send you off with positive vibes and motivation as we welcome the new year. You can support The City Confessions by subscribing to the podcast, sharing it to a friend/ social platforms and you can also donate by clicking the SUPPORT button at https://anchor.fm/thecityconfessions.

You can follow my personal page on Instagram @mariann_yip and the podcast page @thecityconfessions and listen to all four seasons of The City Confessions here. Any questions, comments or concerns can be directed to thecityconfessions@gmail.com and stay tuned for Season 5 of The City Confessions, which will be airing on January 5, 2021!

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Today we are joined by olympic high jumper, Priscilla Loomis. She is from Queens, New York, so shout out to Queens and it’s great to talk with another native New Yorker! Priscilla Frederick Loomis is a 31-year-old Professional Track and Field High Jumper representing the country of Antigua and Barbuda. She was born in Queens, NY and moved to South Jersey with her mother at a young age. Priscilla received an athletic scholarship to St. John’s University in Queens, NY where she majored in Communications with a focus in Television & Film, combining both her passions of Sport and Entertainment.

While at St. John’s, Priscilla became the High Jump School record holder, 7x NCAA Competitor, Big East Champion and 4x MVP. In 2012, she qualified for the USA Olympic Trials, placing 7th. After taking one year off (2013), Priscilla attained dual citizenship for the country of Antigua & Barbuda, which she acquired in early 2014. Winning Nationals, setting the countries High Jump Record, becoming the North American Central American Caribbean Games High Jump Silver medalist & Competing at the Commonwealth Games, 2014 began her Track and Field career with a bang.

In 2015 & 2016, Priscilla began to shine, becoming the Pan American Games Silver medalist, setting a new country High Jump record & becoming National Female Athlete of the Year, while finishing both seasons competing at the 2015 Outdoor World Championships in Beijing, China and 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

Priscilla is now in training for the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo. While on this journey, she has been inducted into her High Schools Hall of Fame as well as the South Jersey Hall of Fame. She owns FLAWLESS Cleaning Service, Home Cleaning & Organization business, hosts private fitness training and is an Inspirational Speaker.

While being a professional athlete, Priscilla feels passionate about inspiring those chasing their dreams. She wants to be a symbol and a role model for anyone battling adversities and road blocks while in pursuit to a major goal. Priscilla’s journey has been very different than most and she wants to share her life story with those seeking motivation.

In the future, she wants to continue her pursuit of acting while auditioning for Marvel and Disney films, as well as being a positive representation of hard work and dedication to the younger generation.

In this episode, Priscilla walks us through her journey of becoming an athlete, but opens up about the realities that many people aren't aware of in the sports industry. Priscilla is raw, honest and very transparent about her financial burdens, constant struggle with balancing a healthy mindset as well as dealing with pressure from the outside world. As a resilient athlete, Priscilla gives advice and tips on how to overcome challenges, dark places and phases that we sometimes face, and reminds us all that we all will get through our hurdles and we are warriors. She also gives her definition of what success and happiness means and looks like to her so make sure you guys sit back as this episode is beyond powerful and inspiring!

Feel free to connect with Priscilla on her social platforms below:

Instagram @priscilla_frederick

Website: www.PriscillaLoomis.com

Youtube: Priscilla Loomis

If you have any questions, comments or feedback regarding this episode, email thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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This episode features Nicque Marina, a singer/songwriter, actress, tik tok content creator (with 625.2KFollowers+) and former army veteran. Nicque Marina was born in Houston, now based in NYC. This Air Force veteran rose to notoriety by producing comedy skits based on anime, particularly My My Hero Academia. She has since branched out to several fandoms including the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Harry Potter, Hamilton, and Avatar the Last Airbender. In July of 2020 she was a host at Anime Expo and currently has plans for a music project to be released by her label in early 2021.

In this episode of The City Confessions, Nicque opens up about a personal and traumatic experience when she was in the air force and talks about her struggles with PTSD as she suffered from emotional and mental abuse. Nicque's braveness in sharing her story about dealing with clinical depression on a daily basis is an example of her strength and resilience. Despite her dark past, Nicque has been able to rise from it and has turned to her passion for self expression and comedy as an escape and release. You can find Nicque in her social channels and links below:

Website

Tik Tok

Instagram

Twitter

Youtube

Facebook

Feel free to also direct any questions or comments to thecityconfessions@gmail.com regarding this episode.

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Today’s episode features Emily Getz, an abstract expressionist from Bushwick, New York. Emily’s path into the world of art was quite unexpected. As a result of Covid, Emily lost her creative job in the Fashion Industry and found painting as a way to deal with the daily stress, anxiety and worries that we as humans all face. Channeling her energy into this new creative medium, Emily’s acrylic and oil pastel paintings focus on movement, texture, space and color. Offering us a glimmer of hope, a sliver of sunlight, a visual of a daydream, the aim of her paintings is to bring joy, color, and hope into the lives of others.

After showcasing her work on Instagram, she began to gain attention and traffic to her work. When a friend reached out to buy a piece, she realized that people might want to buy her work, so she decided to research ways on how to market herself as an artist. In this episode, Emily talks about the struggles, realities and fears of selling her work, the beauty of finding her passion during Covid, her art process and approach and what art means to her. You can see Emily’s artwork on her Instagram and feel free to support her journey and business by sharing her work to your friends, family and on social! You can also email thecityconfessions@gmail.com if you have any questions regarding this episode.

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Today we are joined by the awesome Judge Khanna, the co-founder and creative force behind SpiltMilk Eyewear, a luxury eyewear brand based in NYC. Upon graduating from Parsons, Khanna built a luxury womenswear collection, dressing prestigious and elite New York woman. During his tenure as a womenswear designer, Khanna felt there was an opportunity to create a bigger splash in the luxury accessory space. Thus, SpiltMilk was born and continues to disrupt the ever-changing fashion world.

SpiltMilk brings humor to the luxury eyewear market through thought provoking, flawless designs and fearless self-expression. Inspiration is drawn globally with each frame meticulously sourced and handcrafted in Japan. Using a combination of malleable titanium and stainless steel, the foundation is built on inclusivity and being comfortable in your skin. SpiltMilk has carved an impressive niche in the market by battling the status quo with boldness, standing behind the values of authenticity, influence, and authority. The eyewear is not just a product, but a platform for hope and change, encouraging that gender equality should be evoked through the freedom of fashion. In February, SpiltMilk was recognized by the top of the industry when the seven eyewear designers of the CFDA and Vision Expo named SpiltMilk the winner of the 2020 talent search. SpiltMilk was also inducted into Goldhouse, a nonprofit collective of diverse leaders that empower Asian entrepreneurs. Now found across 30 stores worldwide, from IT in Hong Kong, to Selfridges in London, the brand has been sported on international superstars such as RuPaul’s Drag Race judge, Michelle Visage and actresses Jamie Chung & Jessica Alba. The name came from the phrase, “don’t cry over spilt milk,” to live in the moment and not get stuck in the past.

In this episode, we talk about how he started his brand and how he built a global team. We also talk about the struggles and lessons he's learned along the way as a designer and entrepreneur. Khanna also opens up about the difficulties he's facing with operating a business during the pandemic and tactics on how he's dealing with stress. As a New Yorker, Khanna has a hustler mentality and regardless of the state of the world, he is optimistic and driven to take his brand to new heights. Feel free to support Khanna on his eyewear brand https://www.spiltmilkeyewear.com/ and make sure to follow his company on his social links below:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/spiltmilk-eyewear

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spiltmilkeyewear/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spiltmilkeyewear

Tiktok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJ9c2hpt/

Should you have any questions regarding this episode, feel free to email thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Today's guest is Naomi Sebu, a brand consultant and vintage stylist who has worked with the biggest fashion brands and celebrities in the industry. While attending University, she undertook an internship at Anna Sui, that forever changed her life. She took a leap of faith, moved from Toronto Canada to NYC in order to pursue her hopes and dreams. Not knowing what the future would hold, it has certainly been quite a ride thus far!

She has worked in start-ups to corporate entities, all categories in B2B and B2C; from high-end to niche retailers, from Bergdorf Goodman all the way to Walmart. In 2014, she decided it was the right time to start her own consulting business. She has an impressive brand list and has launched successful brands for Serena Williams, Norma Kamali, Twiggy and Bibhu Mohapatra to name a few.

In this episode, Naomi recounts her extensive career journey and explains how she got into fashion. She also talks about the pivotal moment in her career that changed the trajectory of her life and what she's learned from her past challenges and struggles. As a vintage lover, Naomi shares vintage shopping tips for those who are new or interested in vintage and is actually starting her own vintage business.

Make sure to follow Naomi for her daily inspo, her passions, personal and professional highlights as well as her upcoming soft launch of her Vintage E-com site coming early 2021.

You can follow Naomi on Instagram @naomisebu. Her Vintage e-com is called VintagentheCity can be found on Etsy.com.

Any questions regarding this episode can be directed to thecityconfessions@gmail.com

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In this episode, we are joined by Dayna and Brian Lee, the power couple behind Arts and Food NYC Blog and Instagram where they share their journey as millennial producers and avid foodies navigating their way through the Big Apple. They are also the founders of AF Creative Media, which is a tony award winning production company. With a focus on developing new work, their mission is to bring new audiences to the theatre through innovative and imaginative storytelling. Broadway: Moulin Rouge, Company, Angels in America (Tony Award for Best Revival of A Play). Off-Broadway: People, Places and Things. They are currently developing several new projects for the stage including: Nowhere Boy (with Robyn Goodman/Josh Fiedler/Aged in Wood) based on the 2009 film about John Lennon’s adolescence, Mandela (in partnership with the Mandela Family) based on the life of Nelson Mandela, The Provider written by the Executive Producer of Showtime’s Billions, Adam R. Perlman, the Broadway premiere of Cheryl West’s Jar The Floor and several more. They are currently developing Broad Influence which aims to bring new audiences to the theatre through targeted influencer marketing.

Originally from Toronto, Dayna and Brian Lee recount their real love story of how they met and how they fell in love. As husband and wife who live and work together as content creators and broadway producers, they open up about the lessons they've learned from their relationship and how they are growing and evolving together. We talk about their past stand out experiences with NYC, the power of social media and the positive outcomes from the platform, the definition of success and happiness and Thanksgiving tips to help you get through this upcoming holiday. You can follow their journey on their Instagram @artsandfood_nyc and feel free to also check out their blog https://www.artsandfoodnyc.com/ for recipes and restaurant reviews and their production company www.afcreativemedia.com. If you have any questions regarding this episode, please email thecityconfessions@gmail.com and if you'd like to show your support for this podcast directly, you can contribute by selecting support on https://anchor.fm/thecityconfessions.

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Today's guest is Carolyn Yachanin, the founder of Copina Co, which is a wellness company that offers drinkable collage boost blends that are vegan, delicious, and great for your body, hair and skin. Copina Co. was born out of Carolyn's personal experience with healing cystic acne scars and gut health issues through holistic medicine. In this episode, Carolyn explains why she started her own business and why her company's core belief is that you’re at your most beautiful when you feel good and are happy in your own skin. As an entrepreneur who just launched her company in February 2020, Carolyn understands that growing a business is a journey. We explore topics in depth including her relationship with stress, her willingness to put herself in uncomfortable situations, her definition of success and happiness and much more! You can find Carolyn on Instagram @carolynyachanin and be sure to follow @copinaco and please support her business at https://copinaco.com. Feel free to direct any questions regarding this episode to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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This week guest is Shaynon Gramling, a licensed real estate agent in NYC. Shaynon Gramling specializes in the sale of commercial and residential real estate in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Mr. Gramling began his career at the end of 2013 after graduating from Hobart & William Smith Colleges. He has gained experience in both real estate sales, as well as property management, including at the world-iconic Empire State Building. Understanding that real estate is a relationship-driven business, Mr. Gramling takes a genuine approach, building life-long friendships with property owners, sellers, buyers and renters.

Mr. Gramling combines his extensive market knowledge with innovative technology in order to provide his clients with the most up-to-date and accurate information, in the most efficient way possible. This allows his clients to make informed decisions regarding their assets. Mr. Gramling is also an expert in using social media for real estate. He has found a way to reach people all over the world and has built up a large following, giving his clients another tool to give their properties maximum exposure during the marketing process. Mr. Gramling also operates with a high level of customer service, treating his clients with the utmost respect and communicating regularly and professionally.

Born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of New York in a city called Geneva, Shaynon has a diverse background. While studying at Hobart & William Smith Colleges, Shaynon traveled and studied abroad in the UK, Spain and France. Mr. Gramling currently resides in Downtown Jersey City, NJ.

In this episode, Shaynon opens up about his methods and strategies on how to stand out as a real estate agent especially in a competitive market in NYC. Shaynon also talks about his upbringing and how his family has played a huge role in who he is today. He opens up about a financial struggle that not many people know about. Feel free to connect with Shaynon Grambling on his social platforms below:

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6KOp3F8NU2JXA0eVZxpEiw

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savvybroker/

Compass Profile: https://www.compass.com/agents/shaynon-gramling/

Feel free to direct any questions, comments or feedback regarding this episode to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Today's guest is Aaron Ho, the founder of Sour Mouse NYC, which is a game hall nestled in the Lower East Side that seeks to build community for artists. Aaron is a full time professor and entrepreneur and values giving back to his community and making a positive difference. With a humble upbringing and being raised by supportive immigrant parents, Aaron explains his work ethic and love for helping others. His first business was Black Cat, which is an espresso bar in the Lower East Side. From the very beginning, Aaron has always had an interest in creating a space for people to come together. Sour Mouse aims to do the same. Aaron opens up about how this business idea started, the realities of being an entrepreneur and the honest struggles that comes with being a business owner, especially during these unprecedented times. It would be greatly appreciate it if you guys can follow @sourmousenyc on Instagram and support this local business whose main mission is to simply create a space where people can come together and have fun. If you are also in NYC, feel free to visit Sour Mouse at 100 Delancey Street. Operating hours: Monday - Friday, 4:00 pm - 12:00 midnight Saturday & Sunday, 3:00 pm - 12 midnight.

Please also direct any questions, comments or feedback regarding this episode to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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In today's episode, we are joined by Alejandra Ortiz & Caitlin Clarke, the CoFounders of My Faros, an on demand text concierge design for your social life. Both Alejandra and Caitlin give us background on how they met and how the idea of My Faros came to be. They acknowledge that their decision to go into business as best friends was a tough and risky decision, but explain how they ultimately decided to take the plunge. We dig deeper on how they are balancing and navigating their work and friendship relationship and talk about the importance and role of communication, setting boundaries, and creating worst case scenarios for their business. In the later half of the episode, we also talk about how they both define success and happiness, what My Faros means to them and confessions relating to dating in New York City. Feel free to connect with both ladies on Instagram as well as Faros:

https://www.instagram.com/alejandra_0rtiz/

https://www.instagram.com/caitclarke8

https://www.instagram.com/my.faros/

**You can all sign-up at www.myfaros.com and if you use 'Mariann' or 'City Confessions' in the referral box, you can skip the wait list and receive a text with access to a free trial!*

Should you have any questions, feedback or comments regarding this episode, you can email thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Today's guest is Haley Hoffman Smith, a professional speaker who was recently named one of today’s most influential speakers by Forbes. With a TikTok community of over 140K+ strong, she is passionate about helping others bring their ‘pipe dreams’ to reality. She is the author of Her Big Idea, a book on creativity, ideation, and women's empowerment which named a must-read by the Tory Burch Foundation and Forbes. Haley graduated from Brown University in 2018, and stays close to campus with her Her Big Idea Fund in partnership with Brown University's Nelson Center for Entrepreneurship, which awards grants to women who apply with BIG ideas.

Haley has spoken at institutions such as Harvard, Yale, SoGal Ventures, and more, and coaches 1:1 to help ambitious women to manifest and create plans of attack for their dream lives. She lives in NYC, where she is a signed model and actress with MMG and the host of a podcast called Big Conversations.

In this episode, Haley walks us through her journey of entrepreneurship and explains where her passion for helping others go after their dreams came from. She recalls her first public speech and how that has led her to become a motivational speaker. We also talk about the benefits of overcoming limiting beliefs, the power of affirmations and the subconscious mind, releasing expectations when starting a new idea and much more! Make sure you guys follow Haley on her social platforms below to be in the know of her future projects.

Website | Instagram | Tik Tok

Feel free to direct any questions, feedback or comments to thecityconfessions@gmail.com/

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This week's episode is an exciting one as we are joined by Imad Jbara. He is a relationship coach who started his coaching career at NYC Wing Woman, an esteemed relationship coaching agency based in New York City. He's been featured in wikiHow, Fox, CNN, NY Weekly, LA Wire, etc. After discovering that most of his clients’ obstacles stemmed from past trauma, Imad realized that the solution to becoming better at “dating” does not rely on learning techniques or methods but instead developing an understanding of oneself. Once he started focusing his work with his clients on healing their past wounds their success began to increase exponentially. After that discovery, Imad decided to start his own new venture and founded The Imperfect Suitor. With over 5 years of experience, Imad has serviced over 100+ clients, both men and women, ages 21 to 50, helping them achieve their personal goals in love and growth while enabling them to discover their ideal partner through customized coaching programs. His High Caliber Blueprint program has resulted in client marriages, long term relationships, and above all, improved interpersonal skills.

In this episode, we talk about all things dating related ranging from Imad's dating style/ approach, dating controversies, the key to building attraction, the importance of communication, what guys want and look for in women, the common mistakes that people make when it comes to dating, the issue with dating apps and having so many options and much more! In the later half of the episode, Imad opens up about his own insecurities and how he found his purpose through a meditation retreat. He also reveals a confession that you guys don't want to miss!

You can connect with Imad on his platforms below:

Website| Instagram | TikTok

Feel free to direct any questions, feedback or comments regarding this episode to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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This episode features Michelle Lam, who is the founder of Bklynnite Media, a public relations and social media agency that caters to hospitality and lifestyle clients in NYC. Michelle started as a public relations associate in the financial services sector and after giving birth to her daughter, she decided to become a stay at home mom. With a soft spot for restaurants and hospitality due to her family's background as immigrants and owning restaurants, she decided to pursue a career in the digital marketing agency. Inspired to help others, Michelle launched Bklynnite Media in 2019 and gained clients through networking and taking risks. In this episode, Michelle opens up about the struggles with starting a business on her own while balancing being a mom and entrepreneur. She gives insight to her work ethic and gives credit to being inspired by her family's hustle as immigrants. Feel free to connect with Michelle on Instagram and sure to follow Bklynnite Media for their upcoming launches and projects. You can also email thecityconfessions@gmail.com should you have any questions, comments or feedback.

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This week's guest on The City Confessions features Kaisha Huguley, a New York based actress, entrepreneur, creative, educator, and activist. Kaisha is an example of someone who is living her dream. After working for the Department of State for 6 years, Kaisha decided to quit her job to pursue her dream of being on Broadway. In this episode, Kaisha recounts her first audition process and how luck was on her side. She explains how her drive and ambition has allowed her to remain positive and determined in the competitive space of musical theatre in NYC. She also gives advice for those who have a similar dream and reveals an unexpected confession in the end that you don't want to miss! You can find Kaisha on her social platforms below:

Blog: www.kaishacreates.com

Podcast: www.kaishacreates.com/podcast

Instagram: @kaishacreates

YouTube: www.youtube.com/kaishacreates

Twitter: @kaishacreates

Feel free to also direct any questions or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com

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This week's episode features Anneliese Gartner, the CEO and Founder of Apto Media, which is a creative marketing agency based in NYC. Her main goal is to help businesses grow and succeed. In this episode, Anneliese gives suggestions for those who are interested in starting a business and the importance of building a network. She also shares that managing expectations with clients is a huge component in how she runs her business. As someone who has lived in several neighborhoods in New York City, Anneliese confesses that she has a love/ hate relationship with the city. She also reveals, like most of us, that she doesn't have it all figured out, but she is trying her best. Given the pandemic, Anneliese is also finding new ways to still work with clients whose budgets have been cut because her main passion is to help businesses grow. You can fine Anneliese on her social platforms below:

Website: https://www.aptomedia.co/
Apto Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aptomediaco/
Anneliese Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anneliesegartner/
Sign Up for her newsletter: https://www.aptomedia.co/subscribe
VIP Marketer Day: https://www.aptomedia.co/vip-marketer-day

Feel free to direct any questions or comments regarding this episode to thecityconfessions@gmail.com

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Today's guest is Dr. Jennifer Tsai, a Manhattan optometrist, entrepreneur, and influencer/model in New York City. She is the founder of Carrot Eyewear, a trendy but affordable blue-filter computer eyewear line and also recently opened LINE OF SIGHT, a modern eyecare and wellness studio in Hudson Yards. Dr. Jennifer Tsai walks us through how she her positive and personal experience with eye-care in addition to her passion for helping others led her to a career path in optometry. Originally showcasing only her travels on her Instagram account, Jennifer made a conscious decision to include her career on her page, which was not an easy decision. However, it has proved to be a great move as she found it beneficial to launch her business. Jennifer talks about her strengths with time management and finding balance in her life as she juggles being an optometrist, a business woman and a public figure. This episode ends with some helpful tips on how to take care of your eyes and of course a confession that I'm sure many of us have ourselves, so you don't want to miss out on knowing what that is! Feel free to follow Dr. Jennifer Tsai on Instagram and all of her social links can be found below:

Dr. Jennifer Tsai | Carrot Eyewear | Light of Sight Vision

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This week's episode features Thomas C Knox, a Master Connection Curator, Social Entrepreneur, and Thought Leader from Brooklyn, New York. His critically acclaimed movement, Date While You Wait puts a brilliant spin on connection and communication. He has received attention from the likes of CNN and the NY Times and is currently producing a television series. Thomas is deeply committed to developing strong communities and passionate about innovating ways to bring people from all walks of life. Thomas is also the owner of The Connection Collective and BeGreat Bow Ties. Both companies put a unique spin on creating meaningful connections.

In this episode, Thomas talks about his relationship with NYC, his love for the city, and his passion for telling stories and making an impact in people's lives. Thomas also opens about his upbringing in a foster home as a child and explains how his childhood taught him the value of brotherhood, unity and relationships. He also credits how his past has led him to his career path today as a connection curator and entrepreneur. Feel free to connect with Thomas on his social platforms, which can be found below:

Thomas Knox: @TheConnectionCurator

Date While You Wait - DateWhileYouWait.tv - @DateWhileYouWait

The Connection Collective - Instagram: @TheConnectionCollective

BeGreat Bow Ties - BeGreatBowTies.com - Instagram: @BeGreatBowTies

Feel free to email any feedback, questions or suggestions to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Today's guest features entrepreneur and boss lady, Ekaterina Bykova. As a ballroom dancer from Siberia, Ekaterina came here with the dream of becoming a business woman in NYC. After working for a big dance company for 2.5 years, she decided to open her own studio in Manhattan. With the support from her friends, Ekaterina was able to navigate through the first few years of operating her business. When her lease was up in Manhattan, she decided to open a new location in Hoboken, New Jersey, which proved to be a smart move as she saw her business thriving in the early years. As someone who has an entrepreneurial mindset, Ekaterina also found herself contributing to the beginning successes of Komnata Quest, which is an escape room business. Throughout her business journey and projects, Ekaterina has learned how to navigate through struggles and failures. She is currently now working on a new business in Miami that involves boat cruises. Feel free to follow Ekaterina on Instagram to keep up to date with all her business ventures. Feel free to email thecityconfessions@gmail.com if you have any feedback or questions about this episode.

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This episode features self taught live sketch artist and illustrator Sarah Nisbett, who loves to draw people, fashions, pets and animals that she encounters “on the way” and is the creative director behind Drawn on the Way. Originally from Ann Arbor, Mich., Sarah has a B.A. in art history from the University of Michigan and an M.M. in vocal performance, from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, N.J. She moved to New York to pursue music, and after a successful career as a professional opera singer, she decided to follow her other dream of working in advertising. Now on her third career, she continues to live in NYC where she draws people and writes for a living. In this episode, Sara talks about how she curiosity about people's stories sparked her to draw people on the NYC subway. She then realized that her art was being seen and received well on social media, so she was able to transform her hobby into a business. Due to the pandemic, Sarah also explains how she is using this time to shift her work and business to other mediums. She is a true believer in the "fake it till you make it" mentality and explains why her philosophy "you are a work of art" is such a core element of her work.

All of Sarah's links can be found below:

Drawn On The Way:

Website: www.drawonontheway.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/drawnontheway

Drawn On Your Day: Turn Your Vows Into A Work Of Art

Website: www.drawononyourday.com

Instagram:www.instagram.com/drawnonyourday

Be The Change Fundraising Collection: https://drawn-on-the-way.myshopify.com/collections/uprising-fundraising-collection

And feel free to email any questions, comments or feedback about this episode to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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This episode features Sana Akhand, CEO and CoFounder of Jet Black Social Club, which is an all inclusive social club whose main mission is to create a safe place for people from all different backgrounds to feel welcome. Sana talks about her relationship with New York City and how she transitioned from working for companies to traveling for a year to now starting her own business. She explains her love for entrepreneurship and how her travels and desire for community sparked her idea to start Jet Black Social Club. Launched in April of this year, she is optimistic about its future and is looking forward to getting more members to join the online community as well as opening a club house in New York City in 2021. If you would like to join Jet Black Social Club, feel free to check out their membership options on their website and be sure to follow Jet Black Social Club on Instagram and follow Sana on Instragram too! If you have any questions or feedback regarding this episode, you can email thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Season 4 of The City Confessions kicks off with our first guest featuring Gabby Shacknai, a New York-based journalist and editor who covers beauty and wellness, food and travel, and lifestyle. Her work has appeared in Fortune, ELLE, Travel + Leisure, Air Mail, Departures, and Women's Health, among other outlets. Gabby talks about how she discovered her love for storytelling and journalism at an early age and how her journey to pursuing her dream job has led her to now become a freelance writer. She also talks about the complexities and realities of freelancing and how she is trying to make a name for herself as a writer and editor through her pitches and relationships. Gabby also opens up about the struggles with setting high expectations for herself and her fear of never feeling satisfied or completely happy, at least in a professional setting. As a highly ambitious individual, Gabby is inspiring and will surely motivate you all to do more and be more! Feel free to follow Gabby on Instagram and be sure to also check out her latest articles on her website. If you have any questions or feedback regarding this episode, you can email thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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The City Confessions is back for season 4! After taking a much needed break, your host Mariann Yip is back with a solo episode. In this episode, I spend the first portion recapping what I've been through and how I'm feeling as July was a difficult month for me. I open up about my anxiety, my friend's passing and how I have been handling and dealing with the loss and grief. I also talk about my passions and values including mental health, self care and therapy and reveal two confessions relating to those topics. I close out the episode with excitement as I am gearing up to interviewing guests for the next episodes. If you would love to be a guest on this episode or have any feedback/ questions regarding this podcast, feel free to email thecityconfessions@gmail.com. Feel free to also support this podcast by following the Instagram account!

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This week’s episode closes out the third season of The City Confessions and is a solo one from yours truly, Mariann Yip. I start out the episode with my current life updates as I recap what’s going on in the world including the global pandemic/ COVID and the Black Lives Matter movement. I also open up about my experience with anxiety and recall my first encounter with it when I was a child in school. I still struggle with anxiety until this day and I’ve been met with different forms including social anxiety and sleep anxiety. This episode is raw, pretty much unedited and is a ranting session of all my emotions, feelings and thoughts in one unapologetic recording. Feel free to connect with me on Instagram and email thecityconfessions@gmail.com should you have any feedback or comments regarding this episode. The City Confessions will return for season 4 in August so stay tuned for that!

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Today's episode feature Asha Tarry, an author, an award-winning community mental health advocate, psychotherapist, and certified life coach. As a treating provider, Asha has 20 years of experience providing evaluations, diagnoses, treatment, and life-enhancing skills to children, adults, families, and couples. A significant portion of Ms. Tarry’s work has been conducted in marginalized communities with survivors of intergenerational trauma, as well as with professionals in search of a fulfilling life. The goal of Asha’s work is to enlighten, educate, and create safe spaces for everyone, from children to the elderly to live more emotionally empowered and mentally resilient.

Given what's currently happening in the world in regards to George Floyd's murder and the Black Lives Matter movement, this episode tackles the difficult topics surrounding the injustice that many Black people face in the United States. Asha gives her insight on how people can manage their grief about George Floyd and the systemic treatment of people of color, how people can manage their anxiety during the current news cycle, and what people can do to support the BLM movement at home. We also talk about anxiety, compassion, the misconceptions with therapy and the importance of self care and mental health. You can connect with Asha on Instagram, book a session with her on her website, and be sure to preorder her upcoming book, Adulting as a Millennial: A Guide to Everything Your Parents Didn’t Teach You. If you have any questions regarding this episode, feel free to email thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Today’s episode features native New Yorker Jennifer Jeng, who is currently the Public Relations and Influencer Relations Manager of Glow Recipe. She walks us through her background working in the beauty industry and how she landed her current job at Glow Recipe. As a PR specialist, she clarifies some misconceptions people have about the PR industry as a whole and how being bold and ambitious as a woman can be misinterpreted as coming off as being too strong or too off putting. She gives advice on how to foster genuine relationships and the importance of authenticity when it comes to building a strong network. We also talk about the global pandemic and Jennifer explains how she’s handling working from home and how’s she staying productive. You can connect with Jenn on Instagram and if you have any questions regarding this episode, email thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Today's guest features photographer and traveler, Nastasia Yakoub, who is also the author and founder of Dame Traveler. In this episode, she talks about how she created a women travel community on social media, which currently has over 595,000 followers and what event inspired her to embark on her first solo trip to Africa. As someone who is both a perfectionist and empath, Nastasia opens up about struggling with ptsd, anxiety and depression, but shares how she has learned to deal with it and overcome it. Since the pandemic, Nastasia offers her prediction about what the travel industry may look like in the future and how she will be prioritizing domestic travel. She also shares an unexpected confession relating to dating and NYC so you're not going to want to miss hearing that! You can support Nastasia Yakoub by purchasing her Dame Traveler book here and make sure you follow both @dametraveler on Instagram as well as Nastasia's personal page and blog. If you have any questions regarding this episode, feel free to email thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Today's episode features Danielle Lupo, who is an International Playmate and has been featured in editorial spreads, such Playboy, GQ, Industry and Inked Magazines. What you may not know is that she also has been working in the Healthcare field for almost 10 years and is a Certified Cardiographic Technician (CCT). Danielle has been breaking stereotypes and shattering the norm in the modeling industry from her college days. In this episode, she walks us through her healthcare journey and how her past car accident impacted her life. She also explain how she balances both careers and clarifies myths that people might have of her and what she does. Get excited to be inspired by this episode as we dive more into topics including how Danielle balances a non-traditional career path and overcoming judgements and stereotypes, wellness tips to stay healthy during quarantine and what it's like to date a celebrity tattoo artist. Feel free to connect with Danielle Lupo on Instagram and you can email thecityconessions@gmail.com should you have any feedback, comments or questions regarding this episode.

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Today's guest features Sunnya Sultan, who is the Gucci Assistant Manager of North America and lifestyle blogger based in NYC. Hear how she landed her dream job as she walks us through her impressive background working in the fashion industry for big brands including Tommy Hilfiger, Barneys, Fendi and Chanel. Sunnya is a very family oriented individual and explains why she values family and why she prioritizes cultivating and maintaining close relationships with her loved ones. Sunnya believes heavily in giving back and explains why we should be more considerate of others. Be prepared to listen to a mushy episode as we both profess our love for one another and leave feeling inspired to build better relationships with your friends and family! You can connect with Sunnya on Instagram and feel free to email any questions, comments or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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This week's episode features entrepreneur and boss babe Lara Eurdolian. Lara Eurdolian is a beauty expert, on-air-talent, entrepreneur, and founder of Pretty Connected (prettyconnected.com), the award winning, beauty, fashion, and lifestyle blog. As someone who has years of experience under her belt, she explains how and why she started her blog, the importance of branding and networking and the journey she embarked on to get to where she is today. Lara went from working with brands as a consultant to now running her own brand and business and offers advice to those who want to do the same. She recently launched a signature accessories line specializing in BOSS rings and fashionable multi-use straps that can be used to carry bags, cameras, water bottles, flip flops and beyond. She also co-founded the non-profit, Share Your Beauty, an initiative that collects unused, unopened hygiene and beauty products and delivers them to shelters in NYC and the tri-state area. Since launching in 2014, Share Your Beauty has collected and distributed over 150,000 products to those in need. Get ready to be inspired by this episode as Lara is full of wisdom and is truly doing what others can only imagine! Feel free to connect with Lara Eurdolian on Instagram and make sure you check out her blog. If you have any questions, feedback or comments regarding this episode, please email thecityconfessons@gmail.com.

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This week's episode features financial coach and dancer, Sumaya Mulla- Carrillo. Sumaya is a money coach based in NYC whose main mission is to help creatives save more, pay off debt, and become empowered with their finances. She is also extremely passionate about dance and is part of a dance group that performs at contemporary concerts. As someone who has an amazing relationship with her partner, Sumaya offers personal advice on love and how to maintain a strong relationship through difficult times. She also opens up about dealing with impostor syndrome especially since she just started her financial business earlier this year. Since we are all going through a pandemic, Sumaya also gives three quick financial tips that would be helpful during this crisis. Feel free to connect with Sumaya on Instagram and be sure to check out her 1:1 Money Mentorship and Create Wealth Collective on her website. Questions, comments or feedback are also welcomed and can be directed to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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This week's episode features Marisa Barnard, a content creator, blogger, youtuber and life coach based in NYC. Her lifestyle blog, titled "Mindfully Glam," focuses on glam (fashion & beauty), holistic health & wellness, positivity, and mindset. Marisa values self care and mental health and talks about her personal goal of becoming a published author for a self help book that she is currently working on. She also opens up about her journey to self love and self confidence and why she believes self acceptance is critical in thriving. She also recently decided to take a break from NYC but that experience has made her realize why she loves NYC so much and why she believes that "you can take the girl out of the city, but you can't take the city out of the girl." Marisa is passionate about helping others break through blocks, realize their true potential, and start living the life of their dreams. Feel free to connect with Marisa on Instagram, youtube and blog. You can also direct any questions, comments or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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This episode features fitness, mind and body wellness coach Romybel Erickson. Romybel walks us through her fitness journey and how she realized this was the path she was meant to be on after leaving her corporate job a few years ago. After overcoming her personal struggles with her body, mental agility, depression and anxiety, she is now stronger than ever and is determined to help her clients become the best version of themselves. Romybel truly loves serving others and explains how her passion and drive motivated her to start her own business even with no clients. Romy's main mission it to help women enhance body/self relationship through self-understanding so women can become more self-loving and confident.

Right now during quarantine, Romy is taking 1:1 clients virtually to help them stay active and healthy. Feel free to connect with Romybel on Instagram @romybel.erickson and ask her about her virtual training sessions! You can also direct any comments, feedback or questions about this episode to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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This week's episode features social media strategist, Denya Hamilton. Denya moved to New York about a year ago and is currently running her own social media company. She talks about the initial struggles of what it was like when she first came to this city and how she managed to get through the obstacles. She has turned from never thinking she could live in New York to now never thinking she can ever leave New York. She also has a special and unique story of how she met her husband and it's all thanks to social media and her bold but strategic move to sliding into his DM. We also address the global pandemic that is happening right now and what her advice and hope is once this is all over. Denya closes out this episode with a confession that relates to validation and social media likes, which we can all most likely resonate with. Feel free to connect with Deya on Instagram @denya.hamilton and be sure to also check out her social management company @sowandtell.co and her podcast @2ourlife_ which can be heard on all platforms http://smarturl.it/2ourlife. Feel free to also email any questions or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Today's first remote podcast recording is with Anna Radke, a NYC attorney who provides legal services for the creative industries. Anna Radke is originally from Poland but has been studying and living in the city for 10 years now. She talks about her journey to obtaining her law degree as well as the power of relationships and networking. Anna is a huge believer and advocate for putting yourself out there and her professional experience with cold calling has brought her to where she is today. We also address the current global pandemic that is going on in the world and how she is dealing with it. Anna Radke also explains her struggle with letting go and delegating as she admits she is a bit of a control freak. She also shares some advice for those who are scared to get out of their comfort zones or feeling insecure about themselves because she too once was in the same boat. However, she is learning day by day to love herself more. If you want to know more about Anna Radke, feel free to check out her website https://annaradke.com/en/ and follow her on Instagram @aniaradke and if you have any questions regarding this episode, email thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Today's guest is digital fashion and street style content creator, Ana Kcira. We sit down and talk about everything relating to social media. Ana explains how she got into the digital space and how she balances a full time job with her passion, which is creating content. As someone who prides herself on staying true to her niche of mixing high low fashion, she has also rebranded her original public name of fashionstylefoodie to her name, Ana Kcira and explain why that choice made sense for her. She is also the host of So This is Thirty Podcast where she invites guests to talk about their real struggles and debunks the idea that you'll have your life together by the time you're in your 30s. Feel free to connect with Ana Kcira on Instagram @jettsetwithana and check out her blog https://fashionstylefoodie.com/. If you have any questions or feedback regarding this episode, feel free to email thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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This week's episode features Amanda Munz, the founder of The Fashion Foundation, a non profit organization that combines fashion and charitable giving. Amanda explains her fashion background and journey to becoming an entrepreneur. Amanda interned and worked for fashion companies at a young age and explains how that experience inspired her to start her own non profit organization. Due to her work ethic and drive, Amanda figured out the necessary steps in starting a foundation and now hopes to spread awareness by encouraging designers to donate their samples and for people to support the mission by shopping those items. Amanda further explains the struggles of running her business, why she values sleep life balance and a confession relating to her future career goals. If you would like to connect with Amanda, feel free to follow her on Instagram @amanda_munz as well as her foundation @thefashionfoundation. We encourage you to also support her foundation by spreading awareness or shopping items at https://www.thefashionfoundation.org/. Also be on the lookout for the next issue of her magazine @restyledmagazine. Feel free to email any questions, comments or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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This week's episode features Shelly Xu, a full time photographer and freelancer in NYC. Shelly explains how she got started with photography and shares her background and love for dance. Shelly celebrates over a year of working for herself and walks us through what a typical day is like for her, how she get her clients, and the pros and cons of being her own boss. Shelly also opens up about a confession relating to family dynamics and childhood struggles. However, Shelly is living her best life and is working diligently to grow her business so if you are interested in her photography services or would like to connect with her, feel free to follow her on Instagram @someshellyphotography and check out her website http://someshelly.com/. If you have any questions regarding this episode, please email thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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This week's episode features Sara Falaro, an LA native performer and entrepreneur who has just passed her first year mark living in New York City. With high energy and a positive outlook on life, Sara explains what her experience and daily routine looks like an an aspiring actor/ performer. She also reveals her shifting mindset from wanting to join the union to not wanting to be part of the union after researching the differences. In the later half of the podcast, Sara reveals a personal confession and incident revolving around a loss that forever changed her life and how she is dealing with it currently. Sara Falaro shares her personal and professional goals and as a new business owner, Sara hopes to help aspiring actors find their truths with her coaching and programs and also wants to be a role model for the queer community. You can connect with Sara Faralo on Instagram @sarafalaro and find more about her services https://www.sarafalaro.com/coaching. Feel free to email any questions or comments regarding this episode to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Today's guest features Lindsey Smolan, founder of Lindsey Smolan Public Relations, a boutique PR firm specializing in outreach for fashion, lifestyle and beauty brands in NYC. Lindsey explains how she got into Public Relations and why she started her own company about nine years ago. As the industry is changing, we talk about what this means for her business and ways that she had to adapt to the shift to digital marketing and social media. Lindsey also admits to having impostor syndrome even though she is an entrepreneur and has a successful track with landing media placements for her clients. Lindsey's main goal for her business moving forward is to expand her team and outreach so if you are interested in connecting with Lindsey, feel free to follow her on Instagram @lindseysmolanpr or check out her website http://www.lindseysmolan.com/. Any questions or comments regarding this episode can be sent to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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In this episode of The City Confessions, we have Brianna Jenae, also known as "Breezy", a model, creative director and entrepreneur from NYC. She talks about her upbringing and background as a Queens native from NYC. Breezy also explains how she started her skincare line, Light Being Cosmetics, in her kitchen by experimenting with different natural household items to help her skin. She had no idea it would now be a business and is working on expanding her line. We also talk about topics including wellness, spirituality, and NYC hustle. Breezy also opens up about a personal confession about loss and explains how that experience affected her and impacted her outlook on life. You can find Breezy on Instagram at @nobodyjuice and her skincare line at https://lightbeing.co/. If you have any feedback, questions or comments regarding this episode, feel free to email thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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This episode features Alyssa Gagarin, founder of Meal Prep Chef, an in home, healthy personal chef service in New York City. Alyssa explains how her passion for food and serving others helped her to realize her calling in life. As an auditioning actress and fitness instructor and personal trainer, Alyssa began her business as a side job by cooking meals for families. Her network began to grow and that's when she started to see her purpose in life. Alyssa now has a team of chefs and employees and Meal Prep Chef is growing rapidly! She also shares some meal prep tips for those who don't know where to begin and also opens up about a personal confession relating to her personality type and what she learned from that confrontational experience. If you are interested in getting to know more about Meal Prep Chef's services, feel free to check them out at https://www.mealprepchef.com/ or on Instagram @mealprepchef. You can also find Alyssa Gagarin on Instagram @alyssagagarin and be sure to check her out on the Food Network App for healthy recipes! Feel free to also email thecityconfessions@gmail.com if you have any questions or feedback regarding this episode.

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.Today’s episode features entrepreneur Alyssa Fernandez de Cordova, Founder of THB marketing house. She explains how she started her marketing influencer agency in NYC and why she has decided to now sell her company. Alyssa opens up about her social media detox and how that experience changed her mindset about the influencer industry and digital space. We also talk about her unique experience with meeting the Pope in Italy and a financial confession relating to a controversial video revealing how she how much she makes and how she spends her money. If you want to connect with Alyssa, you can find her on Instagram @thehautebrunette and if you have any questions/ feedback regarding this episode feel free to email thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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We are starting out season 3 with our first guest, Gina Doost, a writer, storyteller and soon to be mama from NYC! In this episode, Gina walks us through her experience with journalism and how she came to NYC with a one way ticket and is now living her dream life and dream job with her husband. Gina talks to us about how she met her significant other and how she is balancing her personal life and professional life now that her husband works with her full time on her personal brand and with her other clients. As a first time soon to be mother, Gina also opens up about her pregnancy experience so far and stay tuned until the end of the episode as her confession relates to her future child/ children. We also touch upon topics including the power of affirmations, the advocacy for "fake it till you make it" and the power of helping others and good karma. If you haven't checked out my last episode of Season 2, be sure to have a listen as we also dedicate a small portion of this episode to discussing my health confession. You can find Gina Doost on Instagram @whatthedoost and make sure to follow her blog www.http://whatthedoost.com/ and you can find her podcast Selfcare Tuesdays on iTunes! Feel free to email any questions or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Your host, Mariann Yip is back for Season 3 of The City Confessions! In this short and sweet episode, I give a quick life update on what has happened since I closed out season 2 last year. I also share a confession about money, a topic that a lot of people shy from. I share how I developed a healthy relationship with money and tips on how you guys can do the same. Get ready for a full season with tons of wonderful guests, stories and of course confessions! If you would like to be featured on The City Confessions or have any feedback or suggestions on topics and guests, feel free to email thecityconfessions@gmail.com. As always, be sure to follow me on @mariann_yip and @thecityconfessions for updates!

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In this last episode of The City Confessions, I am sharing my biggest health confession, which I have been holding in for the last three years. I share my story in the hopes that I am able to inspire you all to be comfortable with pain, vulnerability and life's struggles. This was a difficult episode for me to record because I am absolutely open, raw and honest with not only my feelings, but what I went through and how it affected me then and how it affects me now. I believe in timing and I know in my soul, that this is the time to finally share my truth and my journey so I can use it to do good in the world. I wanted to have this final episode for 2019 out, so I can ring in the new year with new projects and welcome a new chapter in my life and a bright future for The City Confessions. Please share this episode to one person if it moved you in any way and feel free to connect with me on my Instagram www.instagram.com/mariann_yip or email me personally mariann.yip@gmail.com or thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Be prepared to listen to a powerful and inspiring episode featuring Heather Manwaring, a photographer who provides a transformational experience of healing and personal expression for women in business and in life. Through her work, Heather provides an artistic and personal development opportunity as she creates space for her clients to shed light on the emotions that are too often repressed. In photographs for their personal collections or for branding purposes, she helps her clients transform those energies into sources of embodied power and radiant magnetism. Heather envisions a world where everyone feels safe to fall in love with themselves as they are, and relate to each other in healthy ways across the board, personally and in business. Heather believes in photography as a means to help us reach our potential, to fully heal from a history of abuse, and create a wildly better future together. If you want to connect with Heather, feel free to email her directly heather@transfiredesigns.com and should you be interested in booking a session with her, you can do so https://www.transfirephotography.com and be sure to check out the free gift mentioned in this episode through www.transfirephotography.com/freegift. Her other social links include www.instagram.com/transfirephotography and www.facebook.com/transfirephotography. Feel free to also email thecityconfessions@gmail.com if you have any questions or feedback about this episode.

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This episode features Jonathan Calixto, a fashion and lifestyle correspondant at BELLA Magazine and proud Native New Yorker representing the Bronx. Jonathan walks us through his background in the PR industry and how his experience with multiple internships and consistent hustle landed his current position. As a gay latino man, Jonathan opens up about his struggle in figuring out his purpose in life while also staying true to his passion of being a role model for others who look like him. His confession is one that many of us can relate to so tune in to hear what he has to say about adulthood and what it's like to live in this beautiful but chaotic city. You can connect with Jonathan on Instagram @thisisjcali and feel free to email any questions regarding this episode to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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This episode features another Native New Yorker, LeAura Luciano, who is a both an influencer marketing expert and content creator. She gives us background about what it's like growing up in Chelsea and attending NYU as a college undergrad. LeAura also talks about the future of social media and her insights on the future of Tik Tok. The second half of the podcast focuses on her advocacy for wellness and meditation as LeAura opens up about her constant struggles with anxiety. She is also starting a meditation challenge for the month of December so feel free to join her and share on stories! You can find LeAura Luciano on Instagram @leaura and feel free to email thecityconfessions@gmail.com if you have any questions regarding this episode.

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This episode features another fellow native New Yorker, Emily Polner, a digital marketing and SEO Professional and blogger behind No Repeats or Hesitations. Emily Polner dishes about what it's like to grow up in Hell's Kitchen and her background using Tumblr as a platform to satisfy her teenage boredom. She also explains how she transitioned her Tumblr obsession to creating her blog, No Repeats or Hesitations, and how it has landed her past jobs in public relations and now in SEO. Emily also acknowledges how the city has shaped her go getter mindset and how it has contributed to her work ethic. Have a listen as Emily also gives an interesting confession at the end, which relates to her love for technology. You can find Emily Polner on Instagram @norepeatsorhesitations and her blog https://norepeatsorhesitations.com/. Feel free to email any questions regarding this episode to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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If you are familiar with American Ninja Warrior, then you might recognize Angela Gargano. She is the guest of today's episode and she gives a run down of her athletic background and how she made it to being on American Ninja Warrior. Angela Gargano overcame an ACL injury and explains how that motivated her to not only make an impressive comeback but also recognizing her desire to empower women to overcome difficulties in life whether that's related to fitness or not. Angela also gives details to her morning routine, touching on the importance of having a positive mindset, which has she has learned to adopt into her current NYC chaotic life and schedule. You can connect with Angela Gargano on Instagram @angela_gargano and find out more by visiting her website https://www.angela-gargano.com/. Feel free to also email any questions regarding this episode to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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This latest episode of The City Confessions features Lisa Nicole Rosado, the founder of We Are Women Owned, a community and service based platform dedicated to supporting emerging women owned businesses. Hear why Lisa started her business and what motivated her to get into the service field. Lisa opens up about her struggles with dealing with depression, social anxiety and the difficulties that comes with starting her own business. From her humble beginnings of being a blogger to opening up an online boutique, Lisa is passionate about serving others and empowering women to succeed in their businesses. You can learn more about We Are Women Owned by visiting https://www.wearewomenowned.com/ and support the community by following them on Instagram @wearewomenowned. You can also connect with Lisa Nicole Rosado on Instagram @lisanicolerosado. If you have any questions regarding this episode, feel free to email thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Today's episode features Justin Dorsen, the Communications Manager of Tend, a start up dental company based in NYC. Hear him talk about his background in PR as he discusses the different jobs and positions he's had since graduating Syracuse University. Interestingly enough, through his travels he discovered airbnb experiences, which motivated him to start his own experience in NYC. Justin Dorsen hosts the Fabulous Drag Show Crawl and is now considered one of the top rated airbnb experienced host. Definitely do check it out if you're in town and you can book it through here: https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/106901. You can also follow Justin Dorsen on Instagram @jdorsen and if you have any questions regarding this episode, feel free to email thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Today’s episode features another podcaster Grace Lee who is the host of On the Grow (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-the-grow/id1474685921) . She is also a social media strategist living in NYC and explains her blogging background and journey. Grace dishes about her current day struggles with being a perfectionist and gives the reality of what it’s like to navigate through her 20s in this crazy but beautiful city. You can find Grace Lee on Instagram @bygracelee and feel free to email any questions regarding this episode to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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This episode features Christina Brennan, VP of premiere management group and celeb experts. As a talent agent who manages top celebrities, athletes and influencers, Christina has developed an impressive and relentless work ethic that has landed her clients amazing endorsement deals. Christina is always on the move in NYC but her story does not follow a traditional route. Hear how she landed her current job and her background as a former synchronized swimmer and her experience working as a maid during and post college. Christina also explains her typical day and what goes on behind the scenes of a talent agency. She also reveals facts that you might not know about her and a confession relating to her high pressure job. You can find Christina on Instagram @christinaa_bre and if you have any questions regarding this episode, feel free to email thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Today's episode features Jennifer Ross and Cristina Ros Blankfein, the founders of SWOON, the NEW first-of-its-kind liquid sugar substitute that gets its natural silky sweetness from monk fruit! Hear why they started the company and what motivated them to embark on a mission to take down sugar. They also explain how SWOON differs from other sweeteners in the market and they even made me try SWOON for the first time on air so get ready for a little ASMR segment! Both founders have a unique and different relationship with the city and share their personal confessions, so you don't want to miss out on what those are.

Swoon is available for shipping nationwide on tasteswoon.com (3 bottles/$24 MSRP) and Amazon (1 bottle/$11.99), so you can use it at home or you can find it in notable spots in NYC (Eleven Madison Park, Café Clover, Matchaful, Thomas Keller’s TAK Room, The Alchemist's Kitchen, Clean Market), LA (Erewhon, Alfred Tea Room), and BOTH coasts (Bluestone Lane and Catch) to name a few. Make sure you also follow @SWOON on Instagram and feel free to email any questions, concerns or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Swoon Zero Sugar Simple Syrup - Natural 1:1 Liquid Sugar Substitute - Sweetness from Monk Fruit - Sugar Free, Keto Friendly, Zero Carbs

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This episode features New York based writer, editor, blogger and digital content creator Austen Tosone. She gives an overview of her journalistic background working for magazines and her journey to becoming a full time freelance writer and blogger. Austen Tosone values her community and gives tips on how to pitch to brands and how to become a successful freelancer. Her confession also ties in with being emotional so have a listen to why she owns her feelings and doesn't try to suppress them! If you want to know more about pitching to brands, feel free to check out her Ebook on her website http://www.keepcalmandchiffon.com/. You can also follow Austen Tosone on Instagram @austentosone and if you have any questions regarding this episode, you can email thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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This special episode features Jen Feldshon, an entertainment publicist who is maneuvering through her 20s as a New York resident. Hear how she found her spiritual awakening through travel and how she's applying her self awareness in her daily life. She advocates for therapy and explains how she adopted a positive mindset and connection with the universe. As many New Yorkers can agree, she lives a stressful life but is trying to enjoy it while also figuring out how to balance all aspects of her life including social, personal and professional. You can connect with Jen Feldshon on Instagram @jenalexaaa and feel free to email thecityconfessions@gmail.com if you have any questions regarding this episode.

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Today's episode features two guests, Kay Kim (co founder and creative director of Rooted) and Olivia Claparols (marketing director of Rooted). Rooted is a plant company whose mission is to "reconnect people with nature, one houseplant at a time." Hear how Kay founded Rooted with his partner, Ryan Lee and how they are growing the company and what their main mission is. Olivia Claparols also explains how she got involved with Rooted and how her background ties perfectly with Rooted's vision and values. They both talk more about their experience in NYC as well as their positive friend and work relationship. There's also a funny and unexpected confession from the both of them that you don't want to miss! If you are interested in plants or want to know more about Rooted, check out their website https://rooted.nyc. You can also visit their shop at 191 Centre Street

New York, NY 10013. Feel free to also use discount code 'CITY10' for 10% discount and if you have any questions regarding this episode, feel free to email thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Get excited for this week's guest featuring Laurie Espino, marketing specialist and food blogger from South Carolina, who is currently living her best life in NYC. She is candid, uncensored and real! She opens up about her humble beginnings, working as an intern for a magazine and getting her first adult job afterwards. Laurie Espino reflects on her journey in NYC and talks about how she spent her most important and beginning years in NYC to find her voice, her strength and most importantly, her home. You will be entertained by her personality as she confesses a past sexual experience that you won't want to miss listening to! If you want to get to know her more, feel free to follow her on Instagram @laurieespino and her blog https://www.champagneforbreakfastblog.com/. You can also email thecityconfessions@gmail.com if you have questions about this episode or just want to chat!

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This episode features Alexandra Pankratova, a talented Russian blogger who is currently living out her dream in NYC. Hear how she got started on Instagram and built her impressive following through her love for photography. She also tells an interesting and entertaining story about an unforgettable and unique experience she encountered in NYC so you don't want to miss out on that! Alexandra Pankratova also opens up about the struggle with obtaining a visa as a Russian immigrant in America and has a personal confession that relates to a misconception she had about Russians and NYC. You can find her on Instagram @pankratova916 and if you have any questions regarding this episode, feel free to email thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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This episode features Andreina Valderrama, an inspiring fashion blogger and marketing specialist from Venezuela. Hear why she had to flee her home country and how she came to NYC without knowing a single soul or having a place to stay. She opens up about her journey and struggle when she first came to America. However, her story is one that will undoubtedly motivate you to go after your dreams because she is doing that right now. Andreina Valderrama explains why she has a positive mindset and gives advice on how to adopt a healthy perspective on life. You can connect with Andreina Valderrama on Instagram @Andreina Valderrama and make sure to check out her blog https://andreinavalderrama.com/. You can also email thecityconfessions@gmail.com if you have any feedback or questions regarding this episode.

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Get ready for an in-depth, powerful episode featuring digital marketing expert, Betul Yidiz, a mom of twin girls and fashion technology blogger. Hear her journey of coming to NYC for love and her struggles of finding her place in the city. She opens up about numerous topics that people don't normally talk about including post partum depression, societal pressures about what a mom should act, feel and look like, financial struggles with living in NYC and much more! This episode focuses primarily on motherhood and exposes the not so glamorous side of it. Betul Yidiz hopes that by sharing her story and confession, other moms can feel like they're not alone if they feel the same way. She is also currently looking for full time opportunities in the city and if you or someone you know is hiring, please email her ag@alleygirl.com. You can also follow her on Instagram @alleygirl and her blog http://alleygirl.com/. If you have further questions regarding this episode, feel free to email thecityfonfessions@gmail.com.

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Season 2 welcomes our first guest, Stephanie O`Quigley who is a beauty publicist from Ireland. Hear how she made a name for herself as a beauty blogger in Ireland to a beauty publicist in NYC. She opens up about the difficulty of getting a visa in USA, but explains that the process never scared or prevented her from living out her dream in NYC. She expresses how much NYC has shaped her life and has helped her grow to the woman she is today. Make sure to follow her blog https://stephanieoquigley.com/ and her instagram @stephanieoquigley. She also started her own podcast which is called The Wall and you can check it out on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/3dIHzFlz3CkG0h7G72pMZt. Feel free to email thecityconfessions@gmail.com should you have any questions regarding this episode.

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Welcome to Season 2! The first episode of this season is a solo one from your host, Mariann Yip. She opens up about life updates and what she currently is feeling and going through. Hear her confession about struggling to find her life's purpose and what she plans on doing to get out of her creative and professional rut. You can keep up with Mariann Yip on her Instagram @mariann_yip and you can email thecityconfessions@gmail.com if you have any questions or feedback regarding this episode.

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This episode is a solo one featuring your host, Mariann Yip. It will also be the last episode of the season as Mariann Yip is planning a mini summer hiatus to get her life together. She updates her listeners on her life and talks briefly about what's going on personally, socially, emotionally and professionally. She then reveals yet another health confession regarding her relationship, outlook and struggle with food and control. Hear more about what she has to stay about this constant battle and how she's planning to overcome it. You can find Mariann Yip on Instagram @mariann_yip. Feel free to also check out her blog WWW.MARIANNYC.COM and email thecityconfessions@gmail.com if you have any feedback or questions regarding this episode.

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This episode features certified holistic health coach Lily Kunin. She is also the of founder Clean Food Dirty City, author of good clean food, and founder of clean market, a holistic wellness center located in midtown Manhattan. Hear how she found her interest in wellness and health after dealing with celiac disease and vertigo back in high school. Lily Kunin also gives us tips on how to eat healthy in the city and explains why she advocates for recovery over balance. If you’re in the city, definitely check out all the amazing services offered at Clean Market and feel free to use code ‘CLEANCONFESSIONS25’ for 25% off your first service! You can also follow Clean Market on Instagram @cleanmarket and Lily @cleanfooddirtycity. Should you have any further questions regarding this episode, you can email thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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In this 20th episode, we have Dara Mersky, who is the head of Marketing at WTHN, a wellness studio situated in Flatiron Manhattan, that believes in Ancient healing for modern life with acupuncture + all-organic herb blends. Dara Mersky is a newbie to the city as she moved for her new role only seven months ago from Texas. Hear why she decided to move to NYC with no hesitations and why this city fuels her. She also reveals how she discovered acupuncture as well as WTHN. Through her self discovery, she explains why she values self care and what that means to her. If you are interested in learning more about WTHN, visit their website https://wthn.com/ and on Instagram @wthn and you can also find Dara on Instagram at @daratheexplora12. If you have any further questions regarding this episode, email thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Today’s guest is Dina Rezvanipour, CEO of 3d PR and Marketing. She begins by giving us a background and overview of her humble beginnings and how she founded her company. Born and raised in California, Dina explains why she wanted her company to have a presence in NYC and talks about her bicoastal balance with her professional and personal life in LA and NY. With an impressive client list and successful events under her belt, she reveals a confession most people won’t expect. Hear what that is along with her discovery for meditation and how that has changed her life. You can keep up to date with Dina on Instagram @dinaRezvanipour and 3d PR @3dprmarketing. If you have any further questions about this episode, feel free to email thecityconfesisons@gmail.com.

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Today's episode features Julia Marino, Paraguay's First Winter Olympian. With years of training, dedication and commitment to the skiing sport, hear how she made it to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. In this inspiring episode, Julia Marino opens up about the struggles and injuries she's overcome and the lessons she's learned along the way as a sponsored athlete. She gives an in depth perspective on what it's like to be recognized as a skier but also her insight on the world of content creation. She is currently working on expanding her own brand and has many exciting projects in the works, so make sure you're following her on Instagram @juliamarino__/ and feel free to check out her website http://juliaemarino.com/. If you have any questions regarding this episode, please email thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Today's episode features Cassie Goldstein, the head of marketing at Plant People. Hear how she got involved with this NYC company that sells plant based products and gives more clarification and information about CBD. Cassie Goldstein also expresses her struggle with impostor syndrome and why she absolutely loves therapy. If you are interested in getting to know more about Plant People, feel free to check them out at https://plantpeople.co/ and you can find Cassie on Instagram @cassie.goldstein. You can also email thecityconfessions@gmail.com if you have any other questions or want more information about this episode.

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This 16th Episode launching on the 16th of April features Gabrielle Ophals, the cofounder of Haven Spa. Hear how she jumped on the opportunity to buy a spa at age 23 with her college best friend in NYC and how they grew Haven Spa to what it is now today. Gabrielle Ophals explains the lessons she's learned along the way in addition to the ways Haven Spa is always trying to reinvent itself creatively. If you're also interested in experiencing all the amazing amenities that this full service spa has to offer, feel free to visit Haven Spa on 250 Mercer Street. If you have any other questions regarding this episode, feel free to email thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Today's guest is Nicolette Pace, a NYC dietician, chef and nutritionist, nicknamed the "Myth Buster." She is quite a character with a great sense of humor, personality and energy so be prepared for a fun episode! Hear what she has to say about food myths, her love for food and NYC, and a surprising confession that you wouldn't expect. You can find Nicolette Pace on Instagram @nicolette_pace or email her @hellonicolettep@gmail.com. If you have any other questions regarding this episode, feel free to email thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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If you've been through some tough hurdles or currently going through a rough time, tune in for this inspiring episode featuring Dara Pollak, who is a NYC food writer, content creator and founder of The Skinny Pig. Dara explains her experience growing up in the city, overcoming a serious car accident and finding her love and passion in the food industry. Hear how Dara used her traumatic experience to become a stronger woman and how she's conquering life as a badass, fierce New Yorker. You can find Dara on Instagram @skinnypignyc and check out her food blog http://www.theskinnypignyc.com/. If you have any questions regarding this episode, feel free to email thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Today's guest features no other than Katya Bychkova also known as @stylesprinter on Instagram. You might recognize her name and face all over my social media since she is one of my closest friends in the blogging industry. Hear what she has to say about living in NYC with a Russian accent and be entertained and possibly shocked by the craziest encounter she had living in the city. Katya Bychkova also opens up about her battle with endometriosis and talks more about why she values health above all. Make sure to also check out Katya's blog www.stylesprinter.com where she shares all things beauty, makeup and skincare related! If you have any questions regarding this episode, feel free to email thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Love a good English accent? Then you guys are up for a treat as we have Swiss Pakistani Beauty Blogger Amrah Mahmood on today's episode in our special March series! Amrah Mahmood explains how she left her huge family behind in London to move with her husband to NYC. She also walks us through her journey of creating her social media presence on her amazing Instagram @thebeautyelite, which has an impressive 292K+ fan base. Amrah Mahmood also opens up about her struggle with anxiety and her constant struggle with balancing being a full time mom and a full time beauty blogger. If you are looking for any makeup or skincare advice than Amrah Mahmood is definitely your go to gal! Make sure you follow her on Instagram @thebeautyelite and feel free to email thecityconfessions@gmail.com should you have any questions or comments about this podcast episode!

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This special episode in our March series, which focuses on current NYC residents or visitors, features Isis Louw, a full time mom and blogger from Europe. We discuss her background and previous job as an investment banker and how that has shaped her to be the organized woman she is today. Originally from Europe, her love for NYC has brought her to settling in the city and now being able to call it home with her husband and son. Her journey to NYC hasn't always been easy but she explains how she has managed to find balance in her hectic life and shares insights on how we can all achieve that as well. You can find Isis Louw on Instagram @thesmartfashionistas and feel free to email thecityconfessions@gmail.com should you have questions regarding this episode!

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For the month of March, The City Confessions will do a special series featuring guests who are not Native New Yorkers, but rather NYC residents or visitors with accents. Today's episode features Helen Chik, an Australian Freelance digital content creator and writer who is visiting NYC for two weeks. She is an open book with great stories and experiences about dating! Hear what she has to say as she opens up about her past relationships, current struggle with balancing personal life and professional life and bits and pieces of her dating experiences in the city. If you would like to get in touch with Helen Chik, you can find her on Instagram @helenchikx. Feel free to also email thecityconfessions@gmail.com should you have any questions regarding this episode.

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Today's episode features John Coppola, the chef of Bread & Spread, a sandwich shop with two locations in Dumbo, Brooklyn. Chef John talks about how he started Bread & Spread and gives deep insight to the lessons he's learned throughout his experiences growing up in the city. Chef John also explains why he values family, relationships and time. This episode is definitely not a light one, so be sure to listen carefully, take some notes and be ready to absorb some great life lessons. You can find Chef John on Instagram @breadandspread and if you would like more information regarding this episode, feel free to email thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Today's guest features Maria Maddox, who is the PR Manager for AmorePacific US. Maddox expresses her love for NYC and explains how this city has impacted her confidence and drive to go after her dreams. Hear how she went from being unemployed and watched the NYC marathon as a spectator a few years ago to leading communications at a well recognized and global company as well as completing her first NYC marathon. You can find Maddox on Instagram @maria_instalife and you can email thecityconfessions@gmail.com should you have any questions regarding this episode!

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Get ready for a high energy interview with the fabulous Broadcast Journalist, Celebrity Host and Luxury Style Expert Tijana Ibrahimovic! In this episode, we talk about what type of attitude and energy it takes to survive and strive in the city. Tijana Ibrahimovic discusses how she made a name for herself in broadcast journalism and her journey and discoveries of becoming a New Yorker. She also reveals a confession about her personality and exterior in the hopes that others can relate. You can find Tijana Ibrahimovic on Instagram @tijanastyle. If you have any questions regarding this episode, feel free to email thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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This episode features Jeremy Jacobowitz who is also known as @brunchboys on Instagram, which has an impressive following of 472K+. Hear how he transitioned from being a TV producer to a well known Instagram food blogger and content creator. Curious to know what Jeremy's current go to spots are in NYC? Ever wondered what his day in the life is like? Then check out this episode as he reveals the behind the scenes of his work as well as his confession. If you have any questions regarding this episode, feel free to email thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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Today’s guest is Alayna Palgon, an influencer marketing professional. In this episode, we talk about the struggle with balancing professional ambitions with personal milestones/goals especially in NYC’s go-go-go climate. Hear what Alayna has to say about how she tackles pressure from society/the professional world (and even the pressure she puts on herself!) while taking it all in stride like the Boss Lady she truly is. You can find Alayna Palgon on Instagram @alaynavision. Experiencing something similar? Have feedback on this episode? Give me a shout at thecityconfessions@gmail.com. Would love to hear from you!

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Today's guest is Brittany Lo, a business entrepreneur and Founder and CEO of a Manhattan based beauty company, Beautini. In this episode, Brittany talks about her journey of starting her own business and lessons that she's learned along the way. We touch base on topics surrounding entrepreneurship, making your dreams a reality, the importance of self care and why we should prioritize self worth. You can find Brittany Lo on Instagram @brittany.lo and if you have any questions regarding this episode, feel free to reach her at brittany@beautinibyblo.com or thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

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In this episode, Native New Yorker, Jessica Markowski talks about her experience growing up as a fashion model in Brooklyn, New York. Hear what she has to say about the lessons she's learned from casting directors and how New York has shaped her work ethic. You can follow Jessica Markowski on Instagram @jessicamarkowski and if you have any questions regarding this episode, feel free to email thecityconfessions@gmail.com. We are also always looking for new guests!

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In this second episode of The City Confessions, native New Yorker Aimee Majoros, an experienced beauty and lifestyle publicist, talks about her background in PR and how she got started in the industry. Hear how she transitioned from working for some big corporations to working for herself. You can also find Aimee Majoros on Instagram @aimeemajorospr and http://www.aimeepr.com.

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The City Confessions is a no limits and no judgment podcast hosted by lifestyle blogger and Native New Yorker Mariann Yip. In this first episode, Mariann Yip explains what motivated her to start this podcast. She also reveals her struggle with amenorrhea, which is a confession she's been recently hiding. She encourages her listeners to follow along this podcast journey of hearing New Yorkers reveal who they really are, how they really feel and what they've been holding inside. This is the podcast to shed light on those confessions that we’ve secretly always wanted to express. You can find Mariann Yip on Instagram @mariann_yip and if you have any questions, feel reach TheCityConfessions@gmail.com.

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THE CITY CONFESSIONS: Recent Episodes

Mariann Yip

Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend! You can also email any questions or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend! You can also email any questions or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.

Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend! You can also email any questions or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.