Behind the Whimsy: Noelle Downing on Overcoming Tragedy and Embracing Life
My guest this week, Noelle Downing, shares her journey of finding joy and purpose after experiencing significant loss at a young age. Despite the loss of her mother to cancer at age seven and her father to a heart attack at age sixteen, Noelle has cultivated a life filled with optimism and creativity. She talks about her early beginnings as a content creator, her side hustles, and the perseverance that led to her success. Noelle also discusses her spiritual beliefs, the impact of her parents' deaths on her life, and the importance of rejection and resilience in shaping her path. Throughout the conversation, her optimism and self-love shine through, offering inspiration and a reminder that joy can be found even in the darkest times.
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56:46
Let Yourself Suck At It First feat. Anna Akana
Comedian, social media sensation, and bestselling author Anna Akana joins me this week as she discusses her journey from dealing with the tragic loss of her sister to suicide to becoming a comedian where she found solace in making others laugh. We dive deep into the challenges of dating in LA, dealing with grief, the quirks of menstrual products, and the importance of allowing yourself to be bad at something before you get good. Plus, you'll laugh at some truly unexpected places, like when we discuss leaving a menstrual disc in for three months (yes, really). It's about turning your pain into your power and remembering to enjoy the process—even when life’s a bit of a mess.
Follow Anna Kai:
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https://www.youtube.com/@maybeboth
Follow Anna Akana:
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https://www.tiktok.com/@annaakana
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47:16
Raven Ross On How An Eating Disorder Led To Her Pilates Career
Creator of Pilates Body Hotties and former Love Is Blind cast member Raven Ross joins me this week to talk about her transformative journey from a self-described shitshow to the wellness maven she is today. Raven reflects on life in her early twenties working three jobs, the impulsive decision to join 'Love is Blind,' and navigating public scrutiny while staying true to herself. She delves into her early passion for pilates, her struggles with body image and eating disorders from her dance career, and the profound impact of losing her father suddenly last year.
Follow Anna:
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Follow Raven:
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43:15
Listen Now: Dying for Sex
A Wondery original podcast so compelling it was reimagined for TV starring Michelle Williams, Jenny Slate, Sissy Spacek, and more… When Molly's diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer, she decides to do something bold: she leaves her unhappy marriage and embarks on a series of sexual adventures to help her feel alive. She shares the funniest and most touching details with her closest friend, host Nikki Boyer. As they peel back the layers, we learn that Molly isn’t just grappling with breast cancer: she's also dealing with some trauma from her past. Along the journey, the friends explore bigger themes that affect us all -- like healing, forgiveness and what do we do with the time we have left.
Follow Dying for Sex plus all-new bonus episodes on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge the entire original podcast early and ad-free, right now on Wondery+ wondery.fm/DFSBonus
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7:12
Solo Episode: Every Door Closing Means Another One Opening
Picture this: I'm chilling (or warming really) in a swanky Utah hotel room, staring at a scenic snowy mountain while my outdoor gas fireplace blazes away because I couldn't figure out how to turn it off. I'm here on a brand trip, but before this, I was in LA for a memorial. Some heavy stuff has been on my mind: the sudden loss of loved ones, the meaning of life, and what's truly important. Spoiler: It's not meeting work deadlines. I'm also grappling with our existence, the supernatural, and what's out there after our brains clock out. There's even a spooky story about a kid seeing a deceased 'Uncle Jack'. Major existential vibes. Oh, and plot twist: this will be my last solo podcast episode for a bit. I'm launching a fantastic newsletter called Brutal Banter, so find me there for all the inspo and skincare deets. Exciting stuff, right? Catch you on the flip side!
Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter: https://brutalbanter.beehiiv.com/
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Welcome to Brutally Anna, a podcast about finding love, losing love, and all the things we think about a lot, but don’t talk about enough. I’m your host, Anna Kai aka @maybeboth across social media, here to remind you that life can be beautiful, even when it’s freaking brutal. On this brand new podcast, I’m joined by some of your favorite creators and experts on how they navigate dating, how to stay hopeful when you’ve kissed one-too-many frogs or Chads, and most importantly, how to love yourself when you haven’t yet found someone else to love you.
Each week, we tackle everything from dating after divorce, how to ask for what you want from a relationship, and what death can teach us about love and life. If you’ve ever wondered how to begin again when life as you know it has ended, this podcast is here to remind you that the best thing to come out of rejection is often our reinvention.
Join me on Mondays as I sit down and get you the brutal truth so that you can find your truth. Don’t forget to follow me @maybeboth across social media and subscribe to Brutally Anna wherever you get your podcasts.
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