Ep35 - Trusting Yourself

Our friend Sam Chiba joins us to share the many chapters of his life—from growing up Mormon in California to embracing his identity as a gay man when he moved to New York at 30 years old, all while thriving as a classically trained opera singer and polyglot bartender. We talk about identity, the importance of following one’s passions, and what it means to redefine life on your own terms.

In part two, we explore empathy—how it shapes our interactions in big cities, emerges in stories of compassionate parenting, and has the ability to deepen artistry. Sam reflects on how he harnesses empathy as a superpower in his work as a somatic singing coach and healer.

In this episode, we go from Hailey’s Love Island obsession and spontaneous British accents to an honest chat on managing expectations and optimism. We giggle over Samantha’s sexy waiter, Carrie’s awkward seduction tactics, and the fine line between realistic and delusional hopes.

We’re back in the city and back to our routines—mostly. This week we discuss the ebb and flow of motivation; what fuels it, what derails it, and how connected it feels to presence and gratitude. For us, a fresh canvas and inspiring spaces are our go-to’s. How do you mentor your momentum? 

We’re away from the city this week, and for the first time it’s me (Soph) and my chosen co-star, Tai Pauga, on the mic. We met as high school sophomores at a youth leadership seminar in Utah and have been going back for… the last 8 years? Why? It’s not a one-word answer, but service, empathy and authenticity have a lot to do with it, shaping how we lead and in turn who we’ve become.

[Sex and the City S3E13] We’re back with a favorite because we felt like it, our Sex and the City series! Inspired by our own getaway to Six Flags, we follow the girls as they swap New York’s grit for LA’s glow… or so it seems. As Carrie has her latest self-discovery moment behind the wheel of a sexy, blue convertible, we unpack Miranda and Samantha’s contrasting takes on LA’s open display of sexuality as we reminisce about first kisses, stick shift stories, and the time Hailey won Miss South Carolina.

[Friends S1E4] This is the one where we talk about leaving traditional career paths, the chaos of freelancing, and the friendships that weather every twist and turn. Our beautiful-in-every-which-way friend, Brooke McDonough, joins us and shares behind the scenes stories from Friends, including Brad Pitt’s surprise appearance and a grandmother cameo, courtesy her aunt, who was an executive assistant on the set!

We’re knee-deep in life decisions, so join us in Central Park as we give ourselves advice on self-doubt, the weight of prioritizing others’ opinions, and the line between trust and belief. Plus—did Hailey’s trust in herself bring her closer or farther from a suspiciously named Airbnb? Listen to find out.

In part two of our conversation with Audrey Laine, we continue drawing from Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way—diving into the magic of meaningful coincidences, ie. synchronicity, sharing personal stories of creative transformation, and leaning into intuition and new artistic outlets. Plus, an unexpected detour into avant-garde performance art and elaborate hoaxes…

A renaissance woman (we’ll explain) and dear friend, Audrey Laine, joins us this week for a conversation inspired by Julia Cameron’s The Artist's Way. We scratch the surface of how to break free from the 'tortured artist' trope, the necessity of collaboration, and what redefining spirituality looks like to us at this point in our lives—plus a nostalgic detour courtesy of Vine.