The Real Stuff with Lucie Fink
The Real Stuff is a weekly podcast hosted by Lucie Fink, who has spent a decade creating engaging content for millions. The show explores taboo topics like sex, money, and mental health through deeply personal interviews. Listeners are invited to call in as anonymous guests to share their own secrets. The goal is to help people feel less alone in navigating life's challenges.
Episodes
The Woman Who Married Her Childhood Crush 40 Years Later
This conversation brought me so much joy! Claudia's story came to me in the most roundabout way — she emailed me about something else entirely, and I was so captivated by what she shared that I basically poached her and brought her straight to The Real Stuff. And I'm so glad I did.Claudia grew up in the Bronx with a crush on a boy named Adam — the cute, older kid from the neighborhood who
The Swiftie Who Made Being a Fan Her Full-Time Job
This week, I'm sitting down with Olivia Levin — the woman behind what is widely considered the number one Taylor Swift fan account in the world, Swifties for Eternity. Olivia started on Tumblr at 13, got followed by Taylor herself, was invited to a secret session at the Holiday House at 17, and somehow turned all of that into a full-time career complete with brand deals, a ticket business
The Woman Who Fixed Her Gut To Beat Postpartum Depression
Today’s guest, Anabel Gonzalez, grew up battling baseline depression her whole life, and when she had her son, postpartum hit her like nothing she'd ever experienced. She describes it as "the final boss of depression" and coming out the other side required ketamine infusion therapy, which she says didn't just heal her postpartum depression, it healed a lifelong battle with her brain.But t
The Woman Who Healed Years of Mental Illness With Kink
Today's audience caller, Cassidy, wrote in after I put out a casting call about kink, but what unfolded in our conversation went so much deeper than sex. It turned into one of the most layered discussions I've had on this show about mental health, medical gaslighting, abusive relationships, divorce, and ultimately, healing.Cassidy spent over a decade being told nothing was wrong with her.
The Woman Who Adopted a Baby Through Facebook
Today's caller, Liz, has one of the most incredible stories I've ever heard on this show. After connecting with a pregnant, homeless woman named Cassandra in a Facebook adoption group, Liz received a single photo of a newborn baby and a message saying that she had been listed as the mother on the baby's birth certificate...with no other explanation. That photo sent her, her sick husband,
The Woman Who Gets Paid to Read Smut
I have to be honest — when I put out the casting call for people with interesting jobs, I wasn't expecting anything quite like this. Alexandra Sunshine is a senior editor at Kensington Books and, as she describes herself, is the number one romantic editor in the U.S. right now — meaning she has acquired more projects in the romantic genre than anyone else in the country. And yes, "romanta
The Woman Who Loves Being Spanked
Today we have an audience caller episode for you and I am so grateful that Melanie wrote in because this conversation genuinely opened my mind in ways I wasn't expecting.Melanie is 34 years old, openly polyamorous, and has been practicing BDSM for 15 years. Her husband knows about her boyfriend. Her family knows she's in multiple relationships at once. And after a long-term relationship w
The Woman Who Gets Paid to Be a Bridesmaid
I have been fascinated by today's guest ever since I came across a profile piece about her when I was working at Refinery29. I never got the chance to film a Lucie for Hire episode with her back then, but when we recently put a casting call out for people who have interesting jobs, Jen wrote in and the rest is history.Jen Glantz is a bridesmaid for hire. Brides from all over the country a
The 1 Rule I Live By That Changed Everything
In this solo episode of The Real Stuff, I'm sharing a theory I've been quietly developing for years. If you've ever watched my TEDx talk on The Power of Trying New Things, you know I've always championed getting out of your comfort zone. But today I’m going one layer deeper — asking the question: what is the underlying force that drives all of that trying? My answer: curiosity.I'm calling
The Woman Born Without a Vagina
I genuinely believe every single person needs to hear this conversation. Jackie Blankenship is an intersex advocate who was born with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome — meaning she has XY chromosomes, but her body couldn't respond to testosterone, so she developed externally female. She also has no internal reproductive system and no vaginal canal. And she didn't tell a single sou
The Woman Who Had a Baby With Her Gay BFF
I put out a casting call asking for audience members with unconventional family setups and Laura's submission stopped me in my tracks. Honestly? I think it should be a movie.Laura is 40, lives in New York City, and is mom to her almost-two-year-old daughter Adeline. But the story of how Adeline came to be is one of the most intentional, creative, and genuinely heartwarming things I've eve
Becoming co-CEOs in business and life (with my husband, Michael)
My husband Michael is back on the podcast— and this time, we're getting into the biggest life shift our family has made in years.At the end of last year, Michael made the decision to leave his corporate job in sports media after over a decade of climbing the ladder. He had no new job lined up… it was just a leap of faith toward a different kind of lifestyle. I've been watching him grind t
How To Live An Above-Average Life (with Les Alfred)
I have been waiting to have this conversation. Les Alfred — host of the She's So Lucky podcast and one of the most refreshingly honest voices in the self-development space — sat down with me in the studio, and we went deep.We talk about what it really means to want a big life. Les is unapologetically vocal about wanting wealth, success, and a life that is anything but average, and in this
What It’s Actually Like To Be a Twin (Identity, Comparison, and Telepathy)
Ever wondered what it's actually like to be a twin? In this deeply personal episode, I'm going solo to share everything I've never fully unpacked on camera about growing up as a fraternal twin — my experience, my perspective, and yes, the fact that my twin Allie is very much not here with me for this episode (she's private, she's pregnant, and she said no... and I respect it).I'm diving i
My Husband's Kinks Are Consuming Our Marriage (Audience Caller)
Today I'm sitting down with an anonymous audience caller I'm calling "Emily," a married mom of two who has never told a single person (not a close friend, not a therapist, not ANYONE) about her husband's sexual kinks. Until now.What starts as a candid, almost lighthearted conversation about a husband with some unconventional sexual preferences quickly becomes something much deeper: a stor
The Acne Episode (so many things I didn’t know about breakouts)
From high school breakouts to a low-dose of Accutane… to the massive hormonal flare-up I experienced after coming off birth control in 2020 — I know firsthand how consuming, painful, and isolating acne can be. It’s not “just skin.” It affects your confidence, your relationships, your work, and your mental health.In this episode, I’m joined by Kayleigh and Danielle, the co-founders of CLEA
I took a video call with one of my haters (including ACTUAL audio)
A few years ago, I did something that most people would probably say is a terrible idea: I invited one of my online trolls onto a Zoom video chat.You may have heard a version of this story in one of my TEDx talks, but on this episode of The Real Stuff, I’m telling the full, unfiltered version (including ACTUAL audio from the call itself). I went back and listened to the 44-minute recordin
How I plan my life around my monthly cycle
For 11 years, I didn’t have a real menstrual cycle.I was on hormonal birth control from my teenage years into adulthood, and while it did exactly what it was supposed to do, it also meant I wasn’t ovulating, wasn’t having a normal menstrual cycle, and wasn’t exactly aware of how deeply hormones shape my energy, creativity, mood, libido, and even my confidence.In this episode, I’m expandin
The most spiritual experience I’ve ever had
In this episode, I’m finally telling the full story of the spiritual experience that changed my personality and my entire approach to life. It’s the story of a dream I had about my late “Uncle” Donald — a man who wasn’t biologically related to me, but who was woven into the fabric of my family and my life in a way that’s hard to put into words. He was my parents’ best friend, the person w
The crazy experience that changed my approach to sleep
In this special episode of The Real Stuff, I recorded my very first LIVE podcast taping and used it as an opportunity to get honest about wellness, what actually matters, and the moment my body forced me to slow down.Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about how wellness culture has become overly complicated. We’re obsessing over tiny optimizations and trendy hacks while completely ignoring
"This is a secret I thought I would take to my grave." (Brandon Sudduth)
In today’s episode of The Real Stuff, I’m sitting down with Brandon Sudduth for a vulnerable and very important conversation. Brandon is known online for creating joyful, family-centered content alongside his wife, Destene, but behind that joy is a story he carried silently for more than 35 years. For the first time publicly, Brandon opened up about experiencing sexual abuse as a chi
The Mental Weight of Infertility: Why Men Need To Show Up (Samantha Diamond)
In today’s episode of The Real Stuff, I’m sitting down with Samantha Diamond, CEO and co-founder of Bird & Be, a company born out of her personal experience with PCOS, pregnancy loss, and the deep gaps in reproductive health education. Despite being married to an OB/GYN, Samantha realized she still didn’t understand her cycle, fertility window, or the silent struggles that so many wom
"My boyfriend was in $400k of debt and had no idea." (Audience caller)
What happens when you discover your partner has over $400,000 in student loan debt and they didn’t even know it existed?In today’s audience caller episode of The Real Stuff, I’m sitting down with Brittany, a listener who bravely came on the podcast to share one of the most raw, honest, and financially transparent stories we’ve ever featured.Brittany opens up about putting herself through
“Here’s why I don’t mind being called a nepo baby...” (with Eva Amurri)
In today’s episode, I’m sitting down with Eva Amurri, the daughter of Susan Sarandon, for an honest, layered conversation about motherhood, identity, and what it really looks like to rebuild your life when everything changes at once.Eva opens up about navigating separation and divorce while pregnant with her third child, and what that season of her life actually looked like behind the sce
My Brother Was Cheated On In College (And Wrote A Song About It)
This episode of The Real Stuff is a really special one for me. I’m sitting down with my older brother, Rob Fink, and two of his best friends, Lukas Effman and Alex Goldstein — the three guys behind the indie folk-pop band, East Love. If you’ve been listening to this podcast for a while, you already know their music: East Love’s song Rolling Stone has been the intro music to this podcast s
Every Single Revenue Stream I Have as a Content Creator
In today’s episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on every single revenue stream (there are over 13 of them) that powers my business as a content creator — the ones you see, the ones you don’t, and the ones people rarely talk about publicly.So often, being a creator looks like posting on social media and doing the occasional brand deal. But behind the scenes? It’s a layered, strategic busi
"My wife wanted to be the influencer...but now I've taken over." (Reza Khan on being a Dad Creator)
Reza Khan was living the dream on paper — a steady job at Google, great benefits, a clear career path, and the kind of structure most people work hard to reach — until he realized it wasn’t the life he wanted. Today, Reza is a full-time content creator sharing the hilarious, heartfelt, and sometimes chaotic reality of fatherhood online with his wife, Puja.In his first-ever long-form inter
The Loss of My Former Refinery29 Coworker — With Her Sister, Maya
Last week, you heard Part 1 of my conversation with Maya McHenry, where she opened up about her years-long journey with endometriosis. What you didn’t get to hear until now is the moment at the end of that interview when I brought up her sister, Lyric McHenry, who I knew personally from our time working together at Refinery29.What unfolded next is one of the most emotional recordings we’v
"Endometriosis nearly broke me.” (with Maya McHenry)
This week, I’m sitting down with Maya McHenry — a model, publicist, philanthropist, and board member of the Endometriosis Foundation of America — for a conversation I’ve been wanting to have on this show for a long time.Maya’s been deep in this advocacy work for years, and it’s clear why—in today’s interview, she shares just how much trauma and hardship she’s been through. In our conversa
Are We All Lying About Money? (with the financial feminist, Tori Dunlap)
Tori Dunlap is back on The Real Stuff! 💸I asked my audience on Instagram to answer some of the most taboo money questions, like whether it’s rude to ask what someone’s house costs, if couples should split expenses 50/50, and how people really feel about money in relationships. If you haven’t listened to my first episode with Tori yet, go check it out at the link below! This time, we’re ta
“I was 37 and married with kids when I told my husband I was gay.” (Audience Caller)
When Emily picked up the phone at work one random afternoon, she had no idea the woman on the other end would change her life forever.At 37, Emily was married with twins, living in her dream house and running her own audiology practice. But then, one chance encounter set off a chain of events that made her finally face the truth: she was gay.In this epic audience caller episode, Emily ope
This Audience Caller’s Dad Scheduled His “Death Day”
This week, I talk to “Josie,” an anonymous audience caller who shares one of the most difficult and thought-provoking stories we’ve ever had on The Real Stuff. Three years ago, Josie’s dad chose to end his life through MAID — Medical Assistance in Dying. It’s a legal medical procedure in Canada that allows people facing unbearable suffering to choose when and how they die.But Josie’s stor
An honest phone call with my talent manager (the truth about agents and managers)
In this episode of our sub-series “Don’t Hang Up,” I called my talent manager, Sam, for a raw and unfiltered conversation about what it’s really like to work together.Sam and I have been working side by side for years, and on this call, we talk openly about everything from how the creator–manager relationship actually works to the differences between an agent and a manager, how to find go
“My Husband Walked Out When I Was 7 Months Pregnant.” (Audience caller)
When today’s audience caller, Lindsey, was seven months pregnant, her husband walked out — leaving her to face the end of her marriage and the start of motherhood alone. In this raw, emotional episode of The Real Stuff, I sat down with Lindsay to unpack the unbelievable story of love, betrayal, and resilience.We talk about the moment everything changed, how she found the strength to rebui
From Just $8 to Financial Freedom: How To Manifest Wealth & Create Your Dream Life (Ft. Mimi Bouchard)
Try Mimi’s amazing platform, Activations, with an exclusive 14-day free trial + a major discount for our listeners at activations.com/realstuff ✨What if you could literally rewire your brain and re-route your life?This week on The Real Stuff, I sit down with Mimi Bouchard, founder of the viral app Activations, who went from having just $8 in her bank account to building an 8-figure empire
“Family businesses can be f*cked up.” (An emotional phone call with my dad)
In this Don’t Hang Up episode, I call my dad, Jimmy Fink, to talk about the family business that shaped generations of our family — The Fink Baking Company. Before he was a radio guy, my dad was a bread guy. My childhood was filled with the smell of freshly baked loaves, “bring your daughter to work” days at the bread factory, and animal-shaped loaves for show-and-tell.But like most famil
An Uncomfortable Conversation With An Audience Caller (On Parenting, Privilege & The Poverty Line)
When I received the submission from today’s audience caller, I’ll be honest…it stopped me in my tracks. Here was someone who shared so many core pieces of my identity: she’s married to her high school sweetheart, has two kids the same age as mine, has Celiac disease, and has followed my content since my Refinery29 days. And yet, she lives in a one-bedroom, 550-square-foot log cabin in rur
Reading Your Juiciest Secrets Out Loud (SOLO Episode)
In this episode, I opened up my Instagram “secrets box” and read your anonymous confessions out loud. From wild nights abroad to hidden crushes at work, to the unspoken struggles of parenting, relationships, fertility, and family dynamics…things get juicy! Along the way, I reflect on the psychology of secrets, the power dynamics they create, and why sharing them can feel so freeing. This
“I left my corporate job and now I dance in my driveway for a living.” (Emily Scott James)
Emily Scott James is one of those people who radiates joy. You feel it instantly when you scroll her Instagram, and you definitely feel it in today’s conversation. This was our very first time meeting, but we’ve actually been DMing for years (way back before she became a content creator). Now, she has over 700K Instagram followers, a feed full of hilarious, heartwarming videos (have you s
An open phone call with my big brother (how becoming a dad changed everything)
In this installment of our “Don’t Hang Up” mini-series, I call my brother Robbie to talk about how becoming a dad has changed everything for him and for our relationship. His daughter Dylan was born just one month before my daughter, Coco, and since then, we’ve found ourselves in the trenches of new parenthood together. We talk about how that’s brought us closer, what it feels like to fin
When Having Sex Feels Impossible: Living with Vaginismus
Jess is an audience caller who wrote in to share her story, and it’s one of the most powerful we’ve featured. She waited until marriage to have sex with her husband, and then discovered it was excruciatingly painful and physically impossible. After eight years of misdiagnoses, shame, and failed treatments, she finally healed herself from vaginismus — a condition that is often misunderstoo
A reflective phone call with my mom (how she raised 3 kids that are best friends as adults)
I’m back with another installment of my mini-series Don’t Hang Up, where I pick up the phone and call people in my real life (begging them not to hang up!) while I ask them deeply personal questions.This time, I called my mom (who was not thrilled about being on the podcast — sorry, Mom!!) to talk about how she raised three kids who somehow grew up without sibling rivalry or competition a
“I was making millions while my personal life was falling apart.” (Lessons from a 7-Figure Coach)
This week, I’m sitting down with a 7-figure business coach named Chirag Shah. He’s single-handedly made many of his clients into millionaires with his executive coaching and mentorship programs, and he’s currently one of MY coaching clients (I’ve started working with him to improve his social media presence). Once I learned a bit about him and his story, I knew he’d make an amazing guest
The Truth About The World’s Most Controversial Parenting Topics with Professor Emily Oster
When I was pregnant with my first child, I read Expecting Better by Emily Oster and it completely changed the way I approached pregnancy. It eased my anxiety and gave me permission to trust myself and question the blanket rules I was hearing from strangers and the Internet. So, you can imagine how thrilled I was to bring Emily onto The Real Stuff for a deep, data-driven conversation about
An impromptu phone call with my friend (how a tropical storm impacted her wedding)
In this episode, I’m continuing my mini-series Don’t Hang Up, where I pick up the phone and call people in my real life (begging them not to hang up!) while I ask them deeply personal questions.This time, I called my friend (completely unannounced - sorry, Monique!!) to talk about what went down at her recent destination wedding in Cabo. Monique is one of my best friends from college, and
“A 30-minute daily routine transformed my lifelong mental health struggles.” (Audience caller)
Gabrielle lost two decades of her life to anxiety, depression, eating disorders, alcohol abuse, and a severe skin-picking disorder that had her hospitalized twice. She thought she was broken and destined for toxic relationships, self-harm, and suffering.But at 34, after hitting rock bottom with a narcissistic partner, everything shifted.In this raw and inspiring episode, Gabrielle (an aud
Our 10-Day Trip To France with a Toddler & Baby (EVERYTHING I Learned)
We just got back from a 10-day family trip to the South of France — and wow, was there a lot to unpack (literally and figuratively). In this solo episode, I’m sharing everything about what it was really like to travel internationally with a baby, a toddler, and six adults. I’m talking packing lists, travel day logistics, sleep schedules, toddler meltdowns, jet lag disasters (and wins), ho
"I tried IV ketamine for postpartum depression — here’s what happened" (Lia Higgins)
In this powerful conversation, I sit down with writer and creator Lia Higgins (@onelitmama_) to talk about the unraveling and rebuilding that often comes with new motherhood. A former Big Law attorney turned full-time content creator and writer, Lia opens up about the trauma of childbirth, the crushing weight of postpartum depression, and the unconventional treatment that changed everythi
Do Michael and I ever fight? What are my religious beliefs? How do I manage toddler tantrums? + more (a fun Q&A!)
In this solo episode, I sat down in the studio and answered your most asked (and juiciest) questions — completely unfiltered. We covered it all: from whether Michael and I ever fight and how we actually handle disagreements to how we’re navigating toddler tantrums, sibling jealousy, and Milo’s transition to a big boy bed. I opened up about my religious upbringing, my personal beliefs toda
An intimate phone call with my dad (why he waited 16 years to have kids)
In this episode, I’m kicking off a new mini-series I’m calling Don’t Hang Up, where I pick up the phone and call people in my real life (begging them not to hang up!) while I ask them deeply personal questions.For the first installment, I called my dad, Jimmy. I’ve always wondered how he feels about the fact that he and my mom waited 16 years after getting married to have kids. He was on
How To Raise Happier Kids AND Be Less Stressed Doing It (Dr. Laurie Santos)
I was so honored to sit down with Dr. Laurie Santos for today’s episode — not just because she’s a Yale psychology professor and the host of one of my favorite podcasts (The Happiness Lab), but because I genuinely credit her course, The Science of Well-Being, with helping me shift my mindset in the thick of the pandemic. Back in 2020, I took her free online course through Yale University,
The girl who catfished me finally came clean (my thoughts on Internet storytelling)
Today, I’m sharing the jaw-dropping update to the catfish story I first told on the podcast which recently resurfaced as a viral video series across my social platforms. In this solo episode, I reveals the unexpected twist — an email from the girl who faked her own death and ghosted me for five years. I walk through the production of my 13-part storytelling series, reflect on monetization
"My Family Had a Big Secret — Until I Wrote a Book About It."
Alreen Haeggquist is a successful attorney and author who’s made it her life’s mission to advocate for women — but her journey to becoming that woman is one of the most harrowing stories we’ve ever heard.In this raw and deeply emotional conversation, Alreen shares her experience of being abused by her father (both emotionally and sexually), the silence that surrounded it within her large
Daniela Legarda on gaining millions of followers after tragedy struck (The Legarda Legacy)
In this emotional and empowering episode of The Real Stuff, I sit down with content creator, singer, and entrepreneur Daniela Legarda for a raw conversation about fame, family, and healing after unimaginable loss. Daniela opens up about the tragic and sudden death of her brother, Latin music artist Fabio Legarda, and how that moment changed the course of her life forever.From building a m
“I wasn’t infertile. I was being gaslit.” (Divorced at age 26)
At 26 years old, this audience caller thought she was building a life — trying for a baby, working for her husband’s family business, and living in their shared home. But everything was a lie. In this anonymous caller episode, Lucie hears one of the most jaw-dropping divorce stories yet: a young woman tricked into thinking she was infertile while her husband was secretly preventing pregna
“I built a hit podcast…and then my co-host stole it.” (Emma Paige talks “Unhinged”)
In this explosive episode of The Real Stuff, Emma Paige finally shares more about her side of the podcast drama that has taken over TikTok, Instagram, and the podcasting world. As the co-founder of the hit podcast Unhinged, Emma opens up about how the show began, the rapid rise in popularity, and the shocking moment she was locked out, ghosted, and ultimately erased from her own platform.
How to Make More Money, Find Your Purpose, and Beat Burnout TODAY
Are you stuck in the hustle cycle and calling it ambition?In this powerful conversation, Lucie is joined by Amina AlTai, an executive coach, speaker, and author, to reframe everything you think you know about success, burnout, and self-worth. They dive into the roots of hustle culture, how childhood core wounds shape our work lives, and why marginalized communities face a different kind o
“My intrusive thoughts were taking over my life.” (Carrie Berk)
Trigger warning: This episode contains discussions of mental health, anxiety, OCD, intrusive thoughts, and suicide. Please listen with care.Carrie Berk is a bestselling author who published 21 books before the age of 20, but behind the bubbly book covers and growing TikTok following, she was privately battling debilitating anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder. In this raw and deeply
What it’s like to be in menopause in your 20s & 30s (audience callers)
Today on The Real Stuff, we’re sharing two incredibly raw and powerful stories about navigating early menopause and fertility struggles at a young age. First, Katie opens up about being diagnosed with early menopause in her early 30s, right as she began the egg freezing process. After months of missed periods and three failed egg retrieval attempts, Katie was forced to grieve the future s
Why I left Refinery29 and how Alexandra Gater popped off after being laid off
Alexandra Gater was 25, riding high as the Home Editor at Chatelaine magazine, and creating a hit home makeover YouTube series until the morning she walked into work and got laid off. What could have been the end of her story turned into the beginning of something entirely her own.In this episode of The Real Stuff, Alexandra shares how she went from feeling devastated and directionless to
SOLO: How I made new friends as an adult after moving (EXACTLY what I did + tips for everyone)
In this highly-requested solo episode, Lucie dives deep into her experience making adult friendships — specifically how she built a new social circle after moving from NYC to the suburbs. If you’ve ever wondered how to make new friends after 30, how to actually keep them, or how to balance your social battery with mom life, this one’s for you. Listen for personal stories of how Lucie met
Brett Fairley’s viral paternity fraud story (the drama and the TRUTH)
Brett Fairley’s story is going viral — millions are watching, commenting, and waiting for each new update as he unpacks this emotional and devastating saga of paternity fraud. And thanks to our connection to his girlfriend, Nurse Hadley, The Real Stuff had the chance to sit down with him for an exclusive interview…in real time…while it's all still unfolding.In this deeply raw conversation
“My husband is a sex addict.” (Audience caller)
When “Laura” discovered her husband’s sex addiction, it felt like her world cracked apart—over and over again. In this incredibly vulnerable and moving episode, our audience caller opens up to Lucie about the moment of disclosure, the letter that revealed everything, and how she’s been piecing her life back together ever since.Laura shares what it's like to be married to someone battling
Life-changing advice from people who are dying (Hospice Nurse Hadley)
Hadley Vlahos (known online as “Nurse Hadley”) is a hospice nurse, bestselling author, and storyteller who has spent nearly a decade caring for people at the end of their lives. In this emotional and eye-opening conversation, Hadley shares the profound lessons she’s learned from her patients, what it means to navigate death with dignity, and how facing mortality has shaped her perspective
A candid conversation with Christina Perri on fame, finances & family
From Jar of Hearts to A Thousand Years to Only Human, Christina Perri continues to be an iconic household name. In this intimate one-on-one conversation with Lucie, Christina shares the real story behind her meteoric rise to fame, the heartbreak and healing that followed, and the profound transformation she’s experienced as an artist and a mother. From her early days in LA to the moment “
The Sleep Training Episode [EXACTLY what we did + EXPERT ADVICE]
For some reason, sleep training has become one of the most controversial parenting topics out there. Everyone wants their baby to be sleeping well, but many people feel that “sleep training” automatically means “cry it out” and therefore opt out. In today’s episode, we are breaking the silence and talking ALL THINGS baby sleep. I’m sharing exactly how we sleep trained our 2 babies and wal
“I became a single mom of 2 with 48 hours notice.” (Audience caller)
When Molly became a certified foster mom, she knew her goal was adoption—but she never expected to become a mother overnight. With just 48 hours notice, she welcomed two toddlers into her home, instantly stepping into a life-changing role. In this episode, our anonymous audience caller shares her emotional journey through the foster care system, the unexpected challenges of instant mother
“I got my girlfriend pregnant after 2 months.” (Ricky Bee)
Ricky Bee went viral for doing what should be the norm—being a fully present, equal parent. But his journey to fatherhood wasn’t exactly traditional. In this episode, Ricky gets real about everything: his unexpected path to becoming a dad, how social media changed his life, why men need to rethink their roles in parenting, and the realities of balancing work, partnership, and showing up f
Craziest in-law stories (audience callers)
In this audience caller episode, we asked listeners to share their wildest, most jaw-dropping in-law stories—and wow, did they deliver! From toxic mother-in-law meddling and boundary-stomping grandparents to financial disasters, cultural clashes, and men walking around without pants on (!!) this episode is packed with real, unfiltered stories that will make you rethink your own family dyn
The Baby Nurse Episode (with Milo & Coco’s nurse, Mattie)
What’s it really like to have a baby nurse? In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on my experience with Mattie—the baby whisperer who became family.From the moment she walked into our home, Mattie changed everything. She taught me how to care for my newborn, helped me recover postpartum, and even insisted I sleep (which, trust me, I needed). But hiring a baby nurse isn’t all smoot
“Have I ever crossed a boundary?” (An honest convo with my mother-in-law)
Welcome to Season 2 of The Real Stuff—and we’re kicking things off with some BIG news: The Real Stuff is now part of the Dear Media network! This move means exciting things for the podcast—bigger guests, new opportunities, and even more ways to connect with you, our amazing listeners.To start the season, I’m bringing you an episode that’s as personal as it gets. My mother-in-law, Sharon,
What 26 people from around the world are struggling with right now (audience callers)
Life is full of highs and lows, and in this episode, we’re diving into *the real stuff*—the storms that people are weathering right now. I asked my audience to leave voicemails sharing what they’re struggling with, and today, we’re hearing from 26 people from all over the world. From infertility to grief, career struggles to anxiety, these stories remind us that we’re never as alone as we
“What happened to me was a 1 in 10,000 chance.” (Audience caller)
In this deeply personal episode, an audience caller named Hailey shares her journey through a partial molar pregnancy. This rare and complicated condition not only resulted in the loss of her pregnancy but also carried a frightening risk of cancer. Hailey opens up about the moment she realized something was wrong, the emotional and physical challenges she faced, and how she navigated the
My honest thoughts on city vs. suburban living (SOLO episode)
In this solo episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of one of the biggest transitions in my life: moving from the hustle and bustle of NYC to the slower-paced suburbs. From navigating the financial realities of buying a home to managing the mental load of uprooting our family, I’m sharing all the highs, lows, and surprises that came with this move. I’ll also reflect on how this shift h
“I had a full-blown car chase with my boyfriend’s OTHER girlfriend.” (Audience caller)
In this episode, I’m joined by an audience caller named Makayla who has a jaw-dropping story that sounds like it’s straight out of a movie. At just 17, she found herself in a relationship with a 27-year-old man that ended in an unforgettable—and terrifying—car chase with her boyfriend’s other girlfriend. Together, we dive into the complexities of age-gap relationships, the power dynamics
“Seeing Earth from space changed my whole perspective on life.” (Astronaut Hayley Arceneaux)
This week, I’m sitting down with someone who has completely blown my mind — Hayley Arceneaux. You might know her as the youngest American to ever go to space and the first astronaut with a prosthetic limb. But what you may not know is that Hayley’s journey started as a childhood cancer patient at St. Jude, and today, she’s a physician assistant at the very same hospital that saved her lif
How sharing salaries & secrets built our friendship (with my best friend, Lauren)
This week, I’m joined by my best friend and former Refinery29 colleague, Lauren Magenta, for a heartfelt conversation about friendship, careers, and the power of women supporting women. Lauren and I reflect on the early days of our careers—sharing how transparency around salaries and a refusal to let competition get in the way helped both of us grow. We also dive into what it’s like navig
From the vault: The Fink Siblings Episode
Today we have an unforgettable episode of the show as we sit down with two of my favorite people in the world — my brother Robbie and my twin sister Allie, to explore the unique dynamics of our sibling bond. I took to my Instagram stories to gather questions that you wanted answered and we even snuck in a game of "who's most likely to" before signing off. In this episode, we reflect on ou
Adding a second child to our family (SOLO episode)
Becoming a family of four has been an incredible journey, and in this episode, I’m sharing all the behind-the-scenes details of how we helped Milo transition from being an only child to becoming a big brother. From preparing him during my pregnancy to navigating his emotions after Coco’s arrival, we dive into the highs, the challenges, and everything in between. I’ll share what worked, wh
How my content producer transformed my business (meet Alyssa!)
Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes of a content creator’s business? In this episode, I’m joined by my content producer, Alyssa Rosand, to pull back the curtain on how we create, plan, and execute everything from social media posts to podcast episodes. We start by diving into the hiring process—how Alyssa’s application letter caught my attention, what I was looking for in an employ
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