Episode 44: Making Progress on Choosing Our Hard

Episode 49: Making Progress on Rebranding SelfishnessIs being selfish actually the secret to becoming a better person? We're rebranding selfishness, and frankly, it's long overdue. As The Progress Girls celebrate ONE YEAR, Madison and Whitney unpack why women feel guilty putting themselves first, how setting boundaries can actually strengthen relationships, and why disappointing someone doesn't necessarily mean you've done something wrong.Naturally, we also get into RHONY drama, The Golden Life, astrology, nicotine gum, Taco Bell as emotional support, and Whitney's increasingly ambitious Italian Friendsgiving. One of us is a therapist. The other has mastered the art of not giving a f*ck. Together, we're making the case for a little more self-firstness.Because you can love your family, chase your dreams, show up for the people you care about, and still want an hour alone without someone asking where the gems are.LOVE HANGING OUT WITH US? Hit FOLLOW on Spotify so you never miss an episode, and leave us a 5-star rating to help more people discover our little corner of the podcast world. Share this episode with your bestie or someone who needs a reminder that putting yourself first doesn't make you selfish.Your follows, ratings, comments, and shares help us grow this community, and we appreciate every single one of you!

What does it really take to turn an idea into a successful business?This week we’re joined by Gabriella Gains and Tonya Reznikovich, the female founders behind Gato Dates, the indulgent, better-for-you chocolate-covered dates taking the snack world by storm.We talk about taking the leap into entrepreneurship, building a brand from scratch, navigating imposter syndrome, and the less glamorous realities of running a business. From learning as you go to redefining success, Gabriella and Tonya share what it takes to bet on yourself before you have everything figured out.Whether you’re building a business or sitting on an idea in your Notes app, this episode is your reminder that confidence doesn’t always come before action. Sometimes, progress starts with simply beginning.Discover Gato at gatodates.com or look for their treats at your local specialty grocer.

This week on The Progress Girls, Whitney and Madison are catching up and laughing their way through everything from puppy love to the power of human connection.Whitney shares how being Madison’s plus-one to the Best Friends Animal Society benefit turned into an unexpected love story when she met, fell for, and adopted her new baby boy, Tank Chicken.Madison shares her latest podcast obsession: Emma Grede’s conversation with Vanessa Van Edwards about the communication skills that can transform your career and relationships. Skills both girls agree they could brush up on!Along the way, the girls swap stories about kindness, human behavior, and why how you make people feel might just be the legacy you leave behind.And because no catch-up is complete without a little chaos, there’s some Bravo, plenty of laughter, and lots of life updates!Listen to the Emma Grede Episode here.LOVE HANGING OUT WITH US? Hit FOLLOW on Spotify so you never miss an episode, and give us a 5-star rating to help more people discover our little corner of the podcast world. Share this episode with your bestie, your fellow dog lover, or someone who could use a reminder that we are always in progress.Your follows, ratings, comments, and shares help us grow this community, and we appreciate every single one of you! 

It’s witch season! This Halloween, we’re diving into the fascinating history of witch hunts, why powerful women have historically been labeled dangerous, and how those same patterns still show up today. We’re also embracing our inner witches as we chat about women’s intuition, astrology, psychics, manifestation, and protecting your energy. Plus, we put our own witchiness to the test to find out just how witchy we really are!Because maybe being a little witchy is really just about being a woman who trusts herself.

Pack your bags, Progress girls. This week, we’re joined by luxury travel advisor Amy Stahl of The Stein Collective & SmartFlyer to talk all things travel.Amy spills what a travel advisor can actually get you, the hotels worth the splurge, overrated destinations, and where everyone is going next. We rapid-fire her favorites for Paris, Italy, the Caribbean, Mexico, girls’ trips, honeymoons, family vacations and more — including FORESTIS in the Dolomites, Sterrekopje in South Africa, and Airelles Château de la Messardière in St. Tropez. And of course we ask her about her opinion on the ideal TPG trip. Plus, after booking so many of Madison’s trips, Amy tells us what she’s learned about her as a traveler — and where Whitney needs to go next. Consider this your TPG travel cheat sheet.You can find Amy on instagram@amyla19@thesteincollective

There’s no version of life without hard—so which hard is actually worth it?This week, we unpack the psychology behind “Choose Your Hard.” We talk about the difference between productive discomfort and the kind of hard that just keeps collecting interest, why avoiding a decision is still making one, and how choosing discomfort in service of your values can restore your sense of agency and even change the way your brain experiences stress.Because the goal isn’t to build a life where nothing is hard. It’s to build a life where the hard things you’re carrying are actually worth carrying. Plus: Taylor Swift, the Cornell 7, road-trip chaos and a present exchange.

We owe the women of the 2000s a MASSIVE apology.But first: we talk about the passing of Presley Gerber and why addiction doesn’t discriminate, Whitney’s adventures with internet trolls, Madison’s tips for surviving the comment section, and our slightly unhinged but hysterical post-recording psychic adventure. Then we revisit the era that gave us low-rise jeans, “bikini body” headlines, virginity questions and nationally televised conversations about women’s boobs. We break down how celebrity culture turned women’s bodies, relationships and breakdowns into public property—and the psychology behind what watching all of it taught an entire generation of girls.Turns out, the tabloids didn’t just teach us how to judge famous women. They taught us how to judge ourselves.

We’re officially back in the studio—and apparently we had a lot to discuss. We laugh our way through the beginning as Madison recounts how she somehow went completely mute during our live show, while Whitney overshares exactly how her morning went.We talk RHONY, Furious, Careless People, aggressively straight hairdressers, and implementing HIPAA on our podcast—which, turns out, is not a thing.Then we get into why getting back into a routine feels SO hard—and why structure eventually makes life feel easier.The takeaway: you don’t need to get your whole life together. You just need a few things to become predictable again.Welcome back to the studio. We’re getting back into the swing of things… allegedly.

Our first-ever LIVE SHOW! Fair warning: the audio is giving “you had to be there,” but the conversation was too good not to share. We’re talking fashion, identity, dopamine dressing, comparison culture, and the psychology behind why what we wear can change how we feel.Because personal style isn’t about trends—it’s about dressing like the version of YOU you’re becoming. Progress, not perfection. Even in your closet. Huge shout out to Simkhai in Soho!

We made it, TPG girly pops—welcome to the final episode of Season One!This week, we’re asking: Why does January get all the credit as the only time to set goals and manifestations? We’re treating the end of summer like a second New Year’s, breaking down the difference between manifestations and goals, why revisiting them throughout the year actually increases your chances of achieving them, and how small reminders can lead to big life changes. Madison breaks down the difference between Gabby Bernstein‘s method and the to be magnetic method.Plus, we’re debating why pumpkin spice (and Halloween decorations) always seem to arrive way too early, chatting about Madison‘s upcoming trip to France and sharing an unexpected Canal Street moment that restored Whitney’s faith in humanity—while Madison remains unconvinced and still can’t stand the Canal Street chaos.Thanks for spending Season One with us. We’ll see you in Season Two