THE CITY CONFESSIONS

This week's guest features Mariana Monks, who is the host of Gossipnista podcast. Hear how two New York residents chit chat about their relationship and experience in the city (one as a recent New Yorker and one as a native New Yorker). Mariana Monks explains her love for the city and why she decided to get married here and also what motivated her to start her podcast 'Gossipnista.' Her podcast is educational and meant to act as a resource for NYC lifestyle because she didn't have the tools when she moved here. We also talk about NYC subway, her favorite and worst thing about New York, and more!  Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend! You can also email any questions or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com. ABOUT MARIANA MONKS: Mariana Monks is a New Yorker, podcaster, and creative entrepreneur at heart with a degree in Broadcast Journalism and an immense love for New York City. Her interviews on the ‘Gossipnista’ podcast include native New Yorkers, transplants, experts and Empire staples on all things living in the city, and how to navigate it. Demystifying and sometimes confirming NYC stereotypes along her journey of meeting city inhabitants, you’ll most often find her exploring the Empire State with her husband or connecting with her podcast guests, and helping all who love New York City to live their best life in it. You can find Gossipnista on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gossipnistapodcast and https://gossipnista.com/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecityconfessions/support

Today’s guest is PR specialist and entrepreneur, Jordana Guimarães. She is the Co-Founder of Fashinnovation: bridging the gap between the fashion & technology industries, bringing innovations to the forefront based on the latest tendencies. In this episode, we talk about her background in fashion and PR, how she started Fashinnovation and why she values inclusivity and sustainability. Jordana also talks about the surprising method of cold calling as that was how she landed her 600 speakers to date for her company. She also covers the challenges along the way. We also talk about her definitions of success and happiness, her reframing narrative on money, and the importance of embracing all stages in life. At the end, Jordana reveals a confession regarding her kids and husband, so you’ll have to listen to the full episode for that! You can connect with Jordana on her personal Instagram and Fashinnovation: https://fashinnovation.nyc/ JORDANA GUIMARÃES PR specialist and entrepreneur, Jordana Guimarães is the Co-Founder of Fashinnovation: bridging the gap between the fashion & technology industries, bringing innovations to the forefront based on the latest tendencies. She's participated as curator, producer and host in major fashion/technology events, and hosts her now online weekly show "Fashion & Wine Talks with Jordana". Philanthropically, Jordana has recently published her first book in the aims of “humanizing homelessness” titled: It Can Be You. She is married to Marcelo Guimaraes, Fashinnovation's Co-founder, and has two baby girls. Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend! You can also email any questions or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecityconfessions/support

This week's guest is Jeff Lee, the CEO and Co-Founder of Dibs Beauty, which is all about mistake-proof products you reach for again and again. As someone who has received his Law degree from Yale and has even been a coach on Miss Universe, Jeff Lee talks about his career pivots. He also explains what the similarity is between law and beauty and how he met Courtney Shields (his partner in Dibs Beauty) and why they started this beauty business during Covid. Other topics in this podcast include why Jeff Lee advocates for women leadership, how he lives his life ethically, how to look at things positively and approach life humbly and reminds us all to not live in the moments of the lows, but also to not live in the moments of the high. We close out this episode bringing it back to NYC as Jeff explains his love and hate relationship with NYC and confession regarding Times Square that is definitely one not to be missed! ABOUT JEFF LEE: Prior to becoming CEO and Co-Founder of DIBS Beauty, Jeff was the COO of ARod Corp, where he consulted and helped build multiple household names in beauty and wellness, totaling in the hundreds of millions in revenue. Jeff practiced law at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, the most selective corporate law firm in the U.S., after three years at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP. He has worked on some of the most transformative mergers and acquisitions in the world, as well as numerous first-of-their-kind deals for clients ranging from AT&T and Diageo, and Lands’ End. Jeff currently serves on the alumni board of the Stanford Humanities Center (undergrad). Jeff received the Firestone Medal, Stanford’s highest research honors, for his work on examining ways to elect more women to presidencies in Latin America, a topic near and dear to him. Jeff received his accreditations in personal training from the National Academy of Sports Medicine and in jewelry from the Gemological Institute of America In his early 30s, Jeff was a Miss Universe coach, check out this GQ article HERE You can connect with Jeff: Website: HERE, Instagram HERE Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend! You can also email any questions or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecityconfessions/support

Welcome to Season 7 of The City Confessions! We are kicking it off strong with Joey Healy, our first guest of the year, who is a celebrity eyebrow specialist. In this episode, we talk about how he got into the business and how he learned that eyebrow shaping was his skill. Joey walks us through his entrepreneurial journey and talks about the highs and lows of his career. He began to offer virtual appointments to adapt to the pandemic and how that change proved to still be successful for his business. We also talk about the power of gratitude, how he cultivated and maintains a positive mindset in NYC and reveals a confession relating to America's Next Top Model that you don't want to miss!  ABOUT JOEY HEALY: Known for his trendsetting vision and amazing technical skill, Joey Healy is one of the most influential and sought-after eyebrow specialists in the industry. With his skill for crafting the ideal arch, Joey launched his eyebrow empire in 2010 with his signature product line, Joey Healy Eyebrow Collection, following in 2011. In 2012 Joey opened his flagship Fifth Avenue Joey Healy Eyebrow Studio, a stylish eyebrow sanctuary for his jet-setting, unisex clientele. With his popularity rapidly growing, Joey expanded with a new team of brow proteges to a larger NYC location in 2015. Joey realized his passion for the beauty industry at a young age. Infatuated with geometry and symmetry, eyebrows soon caught his talented eye, intrigued by their delicate form and precise lines. After graduating with a degree in marketing from Villanova University and an advanced esthetics education from Aveda Institute, Joey was poised to start his own business in the beauty industry. You can connect with Joey Healy on Instagram and find more about his business here. Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend! You can also email any questions or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecityconfessions/support

We are kicking Season 7 strong with a solo episode from your host Mariann Yip! In this episode, I give my quick life updates as we are in the first month of 2022. I talk about my current headspace and discuss the following topics: - feeling overwhelmed with goals and confusion on where and how to start the year - taking a step back to calm anxiety and being strategic and realistic about my goals - announcing my book release for March 1, 2022 and being excited, but also anxious about the launch  I also talk about my word and motto for the year which are expansion and There's no other option. For the most part, I am excited about what this year will bring and as someone who is turning 30 or just turned 30, I am at a great place. If you would like to pre-order my book, Un-Hinged: What I Learned from Saying, "It's You, It's Not Me" in the NYC Dating Scene, you can do so in the below links: Barnes and Noble | Amazon  You can also support me on my personal Instagram and The City Confessions. Feel free to also share this episode with a friend or leave a positive review on iTunes Podcast or Spotify if you feel called to. You can also email any feedback or questions to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecityconfessions/support

This episode is a solo one from yours truly, Mariann Yip. As I close out season 6 of The City Confessions, I talk about three lessons I've learned in 2021 including: Stop looking for others to fill me in relationships: becoming more selective with information to disclose and learning to stop outsourcing my intuition so I can trust myself more Understanding triggers and setting boundaries: Seeing triggers as a reflection of what areas I still need to work and being more comfortable with setting boundaries because it's a way for me to protect myself  Redefining Happiness: Stop relying on others for happiness, validation or approval. No one is responsible for my happiness but me and choosing to be happy is a choice and a choice I'm deciding daily I also talk about life updates and mention how I plan on taking The City Confessions to a new level starting 2022 as well as releasing a book about dating, self development and self discovery. I also reveal a confession about relationships, so be sure to listen to the end to hear what it is! I am grateful for each and every one of my listeners and you can show your support to rating this podcast on iTunes, sharing it with a friend and giving me and the podcast a follow on Instagram! Feel free to direct any questions, comments or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecityconfessions/support

Today's last guest for Season 6 of The City Confessions is Teona Ostrov, an entrepreneur and founder of Teona Ostrov PR, which is a boutique PR agency in NYC specializing in beauty, lifestyle and wellness. In this episode Teona and I speak about how she got into PR and the journey of starting her own company. She also mentions the challenges and highlights of her career thus far. We bring it back to NYC and Teona expresses her love for the city and ends the episode with a confession involving the NYC subway that you don't want to miss! You can find more about Teona and where to find her below: About Teona Ostrov: https://www.teonaostrovpr.com/ For the past 15 years, Teona has specialized in beauty, wellness and lifestyle PR. After working both in-house and at agencies, she left agency life in 2017 to freelance. After less than a year, she built up a roster of her own clients and decided that it was time to expand and build an agency. TOPR was born in September of 2018 in a shared WeWork office with her Maltese, Reese as the agency's VP - Vice Pup. A month later she adopted a pointer mix named Jeff who currently serves as TOPR's director of Barketing. While Teona loves nothing more than a good blowout, she is also an avid hiker and backpacker. When she's not on the trail with her dogs you can likely find her on a SoulCycle bike. Follow Teona Ostrov on Instagram! Feel free to email any questions, comments or feedback regarding this episode to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecityconfessions/support

Today's guest is Rafaella Alberts, a digital marketer and Native New Yorker. Born and raised in Brooklyn NY, Rafaella loves makeup & skincare (cruelty free only), sneakers, music, and is super obsessed with animals. In her spare time, she loves doing anything creative or outdoorsy. In this episode, Rafaella and I talk about what it's like growing up in NYC and her love/ hate relationship with the city. As a social and hyperactive individual, Rafaella explains how she has many hobbies and interests and doesn't think she or anybody else should be defined by their job titles and careers. We also touch briefly on astrology as she is a pieces. Rafaella opens up about what stresses her out and that involves both work and living costs of NYC. We close this episode by encouraging people to take care of themselves and to treat people the way you want to be treated.  You can connect with Rafaella on Instagram. And feel free to direct any comments, feedback or questions to thecityconfesions@gmail.com regarding this podcast.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecityconfessions/support

Today's guest is Marie-Pierre, the founder of new skin-fitness brand, HERB + FLORA. Marie-Pierre Stark-Flora is a French triathlete and ex beauty executive of L’Oréal, Estée Lauder, and Coty. This entrepreneur previously launched her own beauty technology company, but her latest endeavor marries her passion for sports, with her love of science and clean beauty. HERB + FLORA’s skin-fitness line helps mimic the anti-aging effects of exercise on the skin and is clinically proven with a blend of naturally derived ingredients. The collection features autophagy-inducing topicals, clinically-proven ingestibles that promote cell health and increase antioxidant capacity, and a silk pillowcase woven with copper threads that helps reveal glowing skin and hair after just a few uses. In this episode, Marie- Pierre and I sit down and we talk about the following topics: Why she decided to choose NYC as her home and what she loves most about the city  Herb + Flora: combining science and beauty to create a brand and how sustainability and packaging affected her process  How she got into endurance sports, role of movement and activity in her life Offering advice from the challenges and lessons she's learned being an entrepreneur and never giving up  Confession regarding her background with theatre and how her love for theatre brought her into NYC Recalling 9/11 and living in Tribeca You can find more about Marie- Pierre's company below: Website: https://herbandflora.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/herbandflora/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/herbandflora Feel free to direct any comments, questions or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecityconfessions/support

Today's guest is Irina Gottesman, CEO and Founder of House of Grō, an inclusive clean beauty brand offering plant based, all natural, and sustainable CBD skincare products. House of Grō is at the forefront of the clean beauty movement with a wellness line focused on plant-based, genderless skincare products. Managing multiple startups at a time, Irina is the creative brain and industry innovator focusing on the integration of the House of Grō plant-based products into mainstream markets. In this episode we talk about her background with NYC and what she loves most about the city, what it was like growing up in Queens and her memorable city experience with her mom in Soho. We also dive into her journey with starting House of Grō and she reveals how this beauty idea came to be, the struggles and lessons she's learned along the way, the mindset she's adopted when it comes to being a serial entrepreneur, what makes House of Grō unique and more information regarding the brand's values of sustainability and clean beauty. Irina further reveals her entrepreneurial highs and lows and talks deeper about the importance of embracing the journey, how she turns failures into lessons, not taking no for face value and reveals a confession regarding her outlook on NYC boroughs and suburbs.  You can find more about Irina and her brand below: About Irina Gottesman: Irina Gottesman is an entrepreneur who hit the ground running by the young age of 20. Over the course of 24 years, Irina has managed revenues ranging from $1-5M in long- and short-term engagements in real estate, franchise, hospitality, retail and wholesale. All of her diverse and well-devised business engagements demonstrate Irina’s ability to dominate any industry she enters, with her long-term focus being plant-based skincare and wellness. Irina has the ability to trend forecast and build brands. With a passion for wellness and holistic health, she utilized her knowledge of industry trends and resources to launch House of Grō alongside her brother, Sam. Irina has been building brands together with Sam for decades; they have a 25 year track record in the luxury market, both with their own passions for wellness. After the pair found themselves in the CBD industry, Irina and Sam learned about the skincare benefits of CBD and decided to dive head first into the cosmetics industry, thus House of Grō was born. This dynamic duo now own and operate the 1st CBD brand to be certified Microbiome-Friendly. Website: https://houseofgro.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/houseofgro/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HouseofGro/ If you have any questions regarding this episode, feel free to email thecityconfessions@gmail.com.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecityconfessions/support

Today's guest is Brooke Miccio, a lifestyle vlogger and youtuber and Co-Host of the Gals on the Go podcast.  In this episode, we dive deeper into Brooke's social media journey as she talks about how she started her Youtube channel 10 years ago. Since growing a strong and loyal community, Brooke opens up about the struggle with being an open book and being relatable while wanting to keep certain things in her life private. Brooke also talks about the importance of trying to live int he moment and not stress about the future or what others think of her since she is in the public eye.  We also touch upon topics including:  - past experiences with being bullied in school - rewarding moments of her career and being able to receive positive feedback from her community - Gals on the go podcast: the premise, how she met her podcast partner and why they decided to start the podcast together - Confession regarding and embracing her basicness  when it comes to NYC recommendations - her zest for life and how her family has impacted her  You can connect with Brooke Miccio on the below platforms: Website: https://www.brookemiccio.net/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr60fJmsgoT-d5Wxf5zeIMA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brookemiccio/?hl=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/brookemiccio?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor If you have any questions regarding this episode, please email thecityconfessions@gmail.com. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecityconfessions/support

Today's episode features the lovely Amanda Bybel, who is a Master Certified NLP Practitioner and Trainer, Master Certified Success & Life coach, as well as a Master Certified Hypnotherapist. She is also the CEO and Founder of The Inner Bybel and The Sparkle System, which is a practitioner certification program, specifically designed for high-achieving, driven women who are ready to claim their next level identity as a true influencer, leader + masterful coach in just 4 months. Her mission is to empower women to pursue their true calling by shifting their identity and smashing their fears, so that they can create an authentic and fulfilling life, on their terms. She has helped over 100 women become the best versions of themselves through her accredited programs. She is also the co-host of the Related podcast with her sister Carli Bybel. In this episode, Amanda recounts her journey from being a corporate dropout to an entrepreneur, life coach and motivational speaker. She talks about the breakdown she had that forced her to rethink her life path. After going through a personal development program, she realized her life purpose was to serve others and help women transform their life and gain confidence in all facets of their lives. As a spiritual individual, Amanda dives deep into the power of manifestation, affirmations and mindset. She also shares the affirmation that changed her life, her journal activity and recommendations, and how she channels Posh Spice as has higher self. Amanda also acknowledge that self development is a journey and there will be low moments, as she personally opens up about her struggle with having self sabotaging thoughts and limiting beliefs. She gives advice on how to handle those lower frequency feelings and reminds us all of the power of our mindsets.  You can follow Amanda on Instagram and check out her website: http://innerbeautybybel.com/. Feel free to also direct any questions, comments or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecityconfessions/support

Today we are joined by two entrepreneurial women, Hilla Narov and Samantha Woolf, co-founders of Official Partner, a premiere marketing and entertainment agency that connects brands with A list talent and influencers and New Yorkers. Prior to founding Official Partner, Samantha and Hilla each spent over 20 years at notable entertainment management agencies but then last year decided to pivot by starting their own agency. This was a little over one year ago during an unlikely time – the beginning of the Covid-19 global pandemic. While they faced many challenges, they have come out the other side and are even stronger. Hilla Narov and Samantha Woolf have an instinct for what’s next, what’s newsworthy and the ability to architect a winning deal that translates to success for their clients.  In this episode, we cover the below topics:  - Lessons from their first year as female founders and their life in NYC Challenges they faced during the Covid-19 pandemic - Why they believe mentoring other women is key to their success - The fun and challenging experiences working with A list celebrities  We also talk a lot about New York and how the city has affected their mindset, the way they approach business and what the city has given them. You can learn more about Samantha and Hila below:  About Samantha: Prior to starting Official Partner, Samantha was Head of Marketing, NY at United Talent Agency (UTA), one of the leading talent, influencer and entertainment agencies in the world. With over 20 years of experience, Samantha has worked with branding powerhouses Deutsch Inc., Grey Global Group, and PEOPLE magazine, and brands such as Covergirl, Pantene and Head & Shoulders. She has also worked closely with some of the most highly respected and sought-after talent faces across digital media, television, music, and live entertainment including Sofia Vergara, Taylor Swift, Queen Latifah, Ellen DeGeneres, Katy Perry, Selena Gomez, P!NK and James Charles. About Hilla: A forward-looking thinker and creative problem-solver, Hilla has built trusted relationships across the entertainment, luxury, fashion, beauty, and lifestyle industries – always with an interest to drive brand visibility and business growth. Hilla brings over 20 years of public relations and brand management experience. She led the relaunch of Jordache’s luxury denim collection securing Sarah Jessica Parker, partnered veterans non-for-profit Dog Tag Bakery with Starbucks and secured a multi-year sponsorship for Heidi Klum’s Halloween with Party City. Hill has brokered numerous high profile talent deals for brands like Louis Vuitton, Dior, Tiffany, Bulgari, Coach, Maybelline, HSN, QVC and Mattel.  Website: https://official-partner.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialpartneragency/ Feel free to direct any questions, comments or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecityconfessions/support

Today's guest is Ian Ginsberg, who is a pharmacist, president, and the third-generation owner of C.O Bigelow, which is America’s oldest Apothecary. In this episode, Ian and I discuss his role at C.O Bigelow and the history behind the company. Ian also discusses what makes the company so special and how they successfully cultivate brand integrity throughout all these years and the importance of storytelling to keep their brand relevant and alive. Ian goes into details about the brand heritage and how they create and choose products to touch people emotionally. We also talk about things on his to do list that he hasn't completed yet, how he's seen NYC changed throughout the years and his current stress and concern over the uncertainty of the city's future.  About C.O. Bigelow: Nestled in Greenwich Village, C.O. Bigelow was founded in 1838 by Dr. Galen Hunter, and the store was originally called The Village Apothecary Shop until it was was bought and renamed by his employee Clarence Otis Bigelow in 1880. For nearly two centuries, C.O. Bigelow has served some of the country’s most prominent personalities including Eleanor Roosevelt, Mark Twain and, legend has it, Thomas Edison, who is said to have used a salve to soothe his burnt fingers while inventing the lightbulb. Since 1939, C.O. Bigelow has been owned and operated by the Ginsberg family. Daily operations are overseen by third-generation owner and President, Ian Ginsberg RPh, and his son, Alec, PharmD at C.O. Bigelow today. The brand fuses its decades of knowledge with the best of today’s technology to create authentic and effective solutions to everyday problems. Many of C.O. Bigelow's formulas are based on the apothecary’s original recipes—including Lemon Body Cream, which dates back to 1870—while others are inspired by ingredients found while scouring the globe.  With a focus on honest ingredients, all products are are cruelty-free and prepared with minimal preservatives. C.O. Bigelow’s unique product range, brand heritage and store location continue to draw locals and tourists alike looking to enjoy a memorable shopping experience and premium products. The retailer serves a diverse clientele from its online shop and its landmark brick-and-mortar store, where a dedicated team fills prescriptions, provides personalized service, and sells a wide array of beauty and personal care products from the company’s namesake brand and a collection of their favorite brands from across the globe. C.O. Bigelow products are also sold in luxury boutiques, lifestyle stores, and department stores in the US and abroad. You can find more about C.O Bigelow by visiting their website https://www.bigelowchemists.com/ and you can follow them on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cobigelow/.  Feel free to direct any questions, comments or feedback to thecityconfessions@gmail.com regarding this podcast or episode. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecityconfessions/support

Today's guest is Harry Josh, one of the most sought-after editorial stylists in the world. Before his freelance career took off, Harry was doing double duty as a celebrity hairdresser and casting director for Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton. Now, Harry's days are filled doing editorial work for Harper's Bazaar, British Vogue, GQ, Allure, and other leading fashion magazines. In 2013, he launched his namesake hair tool line: Harry Josh® Pro Tools. His much-lauded Pro Dryer 2000 is a favorite of celebrities, stylists and real men and women alike. Today, Harry Josh® Pro Tools consists of two hair dryers, two curling irons, a flat iron, a diffuser, and an array of brushes, combs and clips. Harry has touched the heads of Rose Byrne, Olivia Wilde, Taylor Schilling, Kate Bosworth, Hillary Swank, Ellen Pompeo, Christy Turlington, Helena Christensen, Cindy Crawford, Kaia Gerber, Karlie Kloss and Gisele. In this episode we talk about a variety of topics including Harry's persistence working in the industry for 12 years before getting his big break. Harry recalls how his job as a casting director helped him forge relationships with models and how those friendships essentially placed himself in front of Amy Astley, the former beauty editor of Vogue at that time. We also dive deeper into the power of mindset and how he's cultivated an abundant one throughout his career. He notes that his struggles taught him how to focus on the present and to always remain true to his passion for education and empowering others through his work. Harry reiterates that happiness is a choice and not based on circumstances. We also discuss the benefits of meditation and the mind, how to stay present in a digital world, and how he's taking all his lessons from his extensive and impressive career to make an impact in the beauty industry today. You can connect with Harry on Instagram and check out his tools on his website https://www.harryjosh.com/. If you have any questions, comments or feedback, feel free to email thecityconfessions@gmail.com.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecityconfessions/support