The Realization Podcast

EP25: Caitlyn Warakomski on The Rise Of The Micro-Influencer

Let’s dedicate a podcast episode to help YOU grow your Instagram following/engagement and actually understand how to work those little squares that are such a big part of your life. Listen in as Idalia divulges top insider-information to help you on your quest to conquering social media . Don’t forget to take out a pen and paper and get ready for the crash course you’ve been waiting for. Ready to rock the ‘gram?

Celebrity holistic health coach and yoga instructor, Koya Webb joins Realization for a truly uplifting episode that will leave you moving through life in alignment with your values. With the launch of her new book, “Let Your Fears Make You Fierce” Koya talks to Idalia about her journey in finding the tools to live a more confident and fierce life. Are you ready to turn your obstacles into seeds for growth?

In 2004, Sports Illustrated cover model, Petra Nemcova, was at the peak of her career when she experienced on of the biggest natural disasters in modern day history : The Great Indian Ocean Tsunami. In this powerful and deeply moving episode, Petra comes on the podcast to talk to Idalia about life after disaster, and hope after lose.

Recognized worldwide as being one of the most professional and hard-working influencers in the space, Mary Lawless Lee is now taking her career (and family!) to the next level. In this highly insightful episode, Mary gives tremendous insight on what have been the key ingredients that have led to her success in the influencer space. With a recently launched company, Happily Grey Home, and with a baby due any minute now, Mary is more clear than ever on what her “bigger picture” is. Join us as both ladies give incredible tips and tricks on how you too can start thinking bigger picture in your career.

You may know Beau Dunn for her electrifying art work (hi, she’s all over the Kardashian’s and Kylie Jenner’s home), or you may have seen her modeling for your favorite brands in your favorite magazines, or you may know her for her vast philanthropic work which she’s been globally recognized for. Get ready for this truly heartfelt episode as she publicly opens up for the first time ever about her struggles in the fashion and art industry. Discussing everything from growing up in an industry where doors continue to be shut because of her clothing size, to breaking the glass ceiling with business endeavors, to how she’s using her artwork to bring to light some of the social issues we as a culture as currently experiencing, this episode will have you feeling like you too can make your dreams come true and break the mold.

Whether you’re an influencer, publicist, manager or brand, if you work in the fashion industry there is one name that will continually pop up in your life - Jennifer Powell. One of the first industry insiders to realize the potential marketing value of online talent to become brands in their own right, Jennifer has managed the best in the business. Top-tier influencers like Chiara Ferragni, Rumi Neely, Julie Sarinana, and Danielle Bernstein have all been under Jen’s wing at some point in their career. Now after twenty years in the corporate agency world, Jennifer started her own management company and once again is changing the digital game. One of Idalia’s best friends and work colleagues, she speaks to us in depth about her experience in the management world and divulges her secrets to success (and I promise it has nothing to do with fashion!). By checking the ego at the door and doing the right thing, you too are on your path to success!

Since launching her Top Rated Online Business Kits in 2018, Idalia Salsamendi has received endless amounts of praise on the professional and educational degree of information she is providing. Information which is normally kept hush-hush in the industry. In this special episode, Idalia once agains breaks barriers and answers her top questions when it comes to purchasing on her Online Kits. She also gets intimate and very personal on why she actually started them. (Spoiler Alert: to HELP you!!!) Get ready for another education treat of an episode as Idalia magically guides you through all four of her kits: The Powerful Pitch Kit for Influencers, The Seal The Deal Kit, The Essential Emailing Kit, and the Unlocking Instagram’s Algorithm Kit. For anyone serious about making a business and living off of the digital world, this episode and these kits are hands down for YOU!

When friends and college students Connie Lo and Laura Burget decided to start their own beauty brand back in 2017 they knew exactly what they wanted and knew exactly how to get there whether or not they had the finances to back them up. In Episode 17, we sit down and talk with both ladies to hear their journey in creating NIU BODY which is now setting the golden standard for natural and vegan skincare. Idalia also shares five top (and oh so crucial!) tips for any business start-ups on a tight budget : we’re talking website development, photography, advertising, influencer gifting, and so much more! An informative and inspiring episode, these three ladies will leave you ready to roll up your sleeves and live out your dream!

Born in Columbia, raised in Italy, and now living in the United States, Naty Ashba’s story is nothing short of fascinating and inspiring. From the outside in, she is the poster child for what one would call the “American Dream.” But what Instagram and YouTube don’t show you is her inner and outward struggle in making it in the industry. In this episode, we talk everything from her not-so-easy childhood, to growing up in Italy, to eventually moving to the United States and having to learn a new language, a new culture, and really a new form of business. For all my hustlers out there, this episode is for you.

When it comes to brands and PR agencies working with influencers, business etiquette is at the forefront of the crusade. And if there is one company that is paving the way on how influencers and brands interact, it is FOHR, a self serve online platform that gets the best influencers booked by major brands. In this episode we sit down with co-founder, James Nord (ahem, social media guru!) to talk all things business. Did you know that brands and PR Agencies have a “Do Not Work With..” List? Yeah! We’ll even dive into how not to get on that list, and how to keep clients coming back for more. It’s been a while since we do a how-to business episode, so you’re in for the course of your life.

So how exactly does a former professional ballerina become a $20 million business owner? And how did a life-altering injury empower her to a new journey of success? Get ready to feel uplifted and rejuvenated as we sit down with Carbon 38’s owner Katie Warner Johnson. A powerful , insightful, and ultimate #BossLady, Katie opens up to us not only about her past but how supporting other female-ran businesses has made all the difference in her journey.

Get ready for a real treat of an episode as top content creator, Drew Scott sits down to talk with us about his journey in the digital space. Growing up in a small and sleepy town in mid-California, Drew began his career at the age of 16 by posting himself scrapbooking on YouTube. Fast forward to seven years later, he is now one the most sought-after male influencers in the space. His unique eye for visuals married with his impeccable editing abilities has earned him the respect of major fashion houses like Balenciaga, Dior, and Mr. Porter to name a few. With over 500,000 YouTube subscribes on his two channels Drew Scott dedicated to men’s fashion and Lone Fox dedicated to DIY, Drew divulges some incredible tips and tricks for creating a more cohesive Instagram, getting top quality pictures on your iPhone, and what he believes is the true key to getting new followers. Bring out your pen and paper for this not-to-be-missed episode!

In the olden days of fashion, models were getting ready to retire from the industry by their mid 20s. This was standard: women with an expiration date. As we progress into a dynamic and more impactful digital age, one’s literal age becomes… well… just a number. Brands are becoming more inclusive of who they hire to become an ambassador no matter their age, color, or size. What has created this change in the industry and how are you benefiting from it? Model/Influencer Jenny Lopez (@lopezjennylopez) joins us to bring further insight into the world of modeling and how Instagram is changing the game once again. Since starting modeling at 14 years old, to now being 37 years old and still working with top commercial clients, Jenny reveals her tips and tricks on staying relevant and embracing one’s true self!

Happens to the best of us, doesn’t it? We log into our Instagram account and it’s not too long until we start falling down a deep dark rabbit hole of comparison and social pressures that have been unprecedented until this modern digital era. But what happens when it creates or amplifies one’s anxiety? In the first episode of 2019, we sit down with Christie Ferrari, licensed psychologist (and hi, top fashion blogger!) to talk about the pressures of social media and what can be done on a personal level to ensure your mental health. Idalia also opens up in a way she’s never done before about her own experiences with anxiety and online bullying to foster a healthy conversation with YOU. Heartfelt and motivating, this is one episode that reaches deep.