I Got Off on Being a Con Artist

There’s nothing better than a podcast guest who “goes there” — and Jenny Mollen does. This no-holds-barred conversation runs the gamut from Jenny’s new book Dictator Lunches, inspired by her tyrant children, to the many ways she competes with her husband (actor Jason Biggs), to her fear of abduction and needing people to be obsessed with her (Kane and Michele are). Jenny, a bestselling author, is smart, brutally honest and outrageous; she had the Messy Situations crew dying. Need a laugh? Tune in.  VISIT JennyMollen.com FOLLOW:  @jennymollen @dictatorlunches @michprom   @imkane @messysitch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this special episode, Kane, Michele and producer Mesh rehash the rude, cringe-worthy, strange, obnoxious, hyper-sexual and just plain head-scratching behavior they’ve encountered on dating apps. While we’ve all heard romantic app-assisted success stories, it’s hard to imagine how love connections actually happen judging by the lot of losers, man-children and blatant golddigers crossing our feeds these days. Take a listen to hear the hilarious highlights. And don’t worry, we’re keeping hope alive!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris met Jorge when he was on a 3-month work assignment in San Antonio, Texas —and with zero plans to relocate, he made it clear that this fling would never be a real thing. Famous last words. Four years after returning to San Francisco, Chris did move to Texas to be with Jorge, but the next few chapters of their love story would include illness, betrayal, miscommunication, a devastating family loss and a near-death experience. Tune in to hear how the saga ended! FOLLOW:  @michprom   @imkane @messysitch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you’re a 20-something grinding it out in the nightlife and events industry in New York City, exhaustion is part of the deal. But when Sumanah Khan started feeling so unwell and fatigued that she had to go to the hospital, she wasn’t prepared for what doctors discovered: Her heart was enlarged and only working at a 5% capacity, likely the result of viral infection or some other toxic environmental exposure. Sumanah’s harrowing health crisis includes several faulty pacemakers, too many surgeries to count and an addiction to the opioid medications she was liberally given for pain. Sumanah’s healing and addiction recovery was further fueled by her passion for yoga and its ability to put us in touch with our body’s innate power and divine support. Also, don’t miss Kane’s monkeypox update at the top of the episode. Instagram: @messysitch @imkane @michprom @sumanahkhan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we’re bringing you an episode from another one of Lola Media’s shows —Founder Stories. This installment is special to us because it follows the entrepreneurial journey of Messy Situation’s co-host, Kane Sarhan. Follow along as Kane discusses everything from growing up in rural Michigan to moving to New York City where he became a bartender to ascending the ladder at one of the country’s chicest hotel brands. With formidable grit and industriousness, Kane made important connections, built valuable relationships and ultimately became a cofounder of THE WELL, a health and hospitality start up with a burgeoning global footprint. It wasn’t all smooth sailing… there were a lot of messes to navigate on the road to success. Take a listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After years as a free-wheeling stand-up comic, Helen Hong bought a house with her sister, who was about to undergo IVF. To everyone’s shock, her sister got pregnant on the very first try. That’s when Helen became, in her words, a reluctant “baby daddy” who shares the absurd, unglamorous responsibility of taking care of an infant who is basically an adorable asshole. Listen in as Helen describes — in unfiltered detail — how she went from trolling for sex on the road to changing her nephew’s shitty diapers, all while weathering her own health crisis. At the top of the show, Kane shares his messiest situation yet when he reveals that he’s awaiting nerve-wracking test results. This episode will have you shrieking.  FOLLOW:  @michprom   @imkane @messysitch @funnyhelenhong RESOURCES:  helenhong.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are small messes, there are big messes and then there are epic messes. This episode kicks off a two-part series because the journey to redemption for this week’s guest was a decades-long one. Gentle-seeming Monty began scamming people when he was 8 years old and discovered he had a knack for it. Over the years he used his charm, intelligence and reckless bravado to dupe neighbors, strangers, one very wealthy older woman and the military — and that’s just for starters. If this story was on the big screen, it might be titled “The Grifter With a Heart of Gold.”  FOLLOW IG:  @michprom   @imkane @messysitch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, co-host Kane shares his own Messy Situation: A close friend is hiding a potentially dangerous health secret from his new boyfriend — the operative word being potentially. And by confiding in Kane (and inviting him to dinner with his BF!), this friend has put Kane smack in the middle of a moral dilemma. Michele and Kane talk through the emotions— pressure, guilt, responsibility and more, while diving into the nuances of this particular health issue. The main question: When it comes to a person’s health status, does privacy trump putting someone else at risk, even if that risk is small?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're taking a break for the holiday week! Stay messy friends and see you next week! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Laura Friedman Williams’ 22-year marriage came crashing down, she was terrified of what the future might hold. Little did she know, the next year of her life would be filled with more men, more sex and more satisfaction than she’d experienced in the previous three decades. By embracing one-night stands and no-strings sex, Laura reclaimed her sexual sovereignty and never looked back. It takes a lot to make Kane and Michele’s jaws drop, but Laura managed to do it with her unfiltered and empowering story. Head’s up: You may want to take notes.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices