Awf The Record

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Society & Culture

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Awf The Record

Jeannette and Mona

57 episodes

6 days ago

Celebrity hairstylist and salon owner Yene Damtew joins us to talk about the real work behind “good hair,” the pressures Black women face around beauty standards, and what it was really like doing Michelle Obama’s hair at the White House and beyond. From the rise of Instagram stylists to the myths around natural hair, Yene gets brutally honest about the hair industry, client relationships, and why the best stylists are educators first. 💬 In this powerful and hilarious convo, we cover: - Her j...

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Society & Culture

All content for Awf The Record is the property of Jeannette and Mona and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Celebrity hairstylist and salon owner Yene Damtew joins us to talk about the real work behind “good hair,” the pressures Black women face around beauty standards, and what it was really like doing Michelle Obama’s hair at the White House and beyond. From the rise of Instagram stylists to the myths around natural hair, Yene gets brutally honest about the hair industry, client relationships, and why the best stylists are educators first. 💬 In this powerful and hilarious convo, we cover: - Her j...

Show more...

Society & Culture

Episodes (20/57)

Awf The Record

Burnout, Brand Deals & Building Life After News

This episode flips the script… literally. In a candid, behind-the-scenes Q&A, Jeannette and Mona sit down with their podcast producer to answer the questions they don’t usually get asked on air. From the burnout that led to leaving legacy media to how they really feel about brand deals, content creation, and modern relationships, nothing’s off limits. If you’ve ever wondered how two former news anchors rebuilt their lives and brands in real time while navigating love, money, pressure, and...

2 days ago

43 minutes

Awf The Record

The Biggest Hair Myth, Texturism, and the Pressure to Be Perfect

Celebrity hairstylist and salon owner Yene Damtew joins us to talk about the real work behind “good hair,” the pressures Black women face around beauty standards, and what it was really like doing Michelle Obama’s hair at the White House and beyond. From the rise of Instagram stylists to the myths around natural hair, Yene gets brutally honest about the hair industry, client relationships, and why the best stylists are educators first. 💬 In this powerful and hilarious convo, we cover: - Her j...

1 week ago

54 minutes

Awf The Record

Andrea Lewis on Life After Degrassi, Burnout, and Becoming a Boss

You may know Andrea Lewis as Hazel from Degrassi — but that was just the beginning. In this powerful episode of Awf The Record, Andrea opens up about the transition from being one of the few Black girls on TV to becoming a writer, director, and multi-hyphenate creative building space for others to shine. From identity to independence, creative control to burnout, Andrea gets real about what it takes to grow up in front of the camera and then take ownership behind it. We talk about her product...

2 weeks ago

1 hour 9 minutes

Awf The Record

Melyssa Ford: The Original Video Vixen on Fame, Fear, and Finding Herself

“The line is drawn when you’re not in control of it. The ownership, agency, and empowerment factor comes from putting the price tag on your own image and likeness.” Melyssa Ford is stepping out of the image, the headlines, and the hype - and into her truth. In this powerful and unfiltered episode of Awf The Record, Melyssa opens up about what it really meant to be “the video vixen,” the trauma of being hyper-visible yet misunderstood, and the personal fallout of fame, objectification, a...

3 weeks ago

1 hour 28 minutes

Awf The Record

Ozempic Explained: Food Noise, Sex Drive, & Side Effects with Dr. Darien Sutton

Is Ozempic a game-changer or just the next quick fix? In this episode of Awf The Record, Jeannette and Mona are joined by Dr. Darien Sutton, an ABC News medical correspondent and emergency room physician, for a deep dive into the complex, controversial world of GLP-1 medications, Ozempic, and the science (and stigma) behind obesity. They break down everything you’ve been hearing [and seeing] online – from food noise and body fat bias to BMI myths, celebrity culture, and what weight loss l...

1 month ago

43 minutes

Awf The Record

Real Advice for Real Life Transitions

The group chat is wide open... and y’all did not hold back. In this solo episode, Jeannette and Mona answer voice notes directly from YOU! Tune in as they give their most honest, heartfelt, and hilarious advice on everything from bold career pivots to how to survive motherhood and find your peace. It’s giving: group chat, girl talk, and big sister wisdom all in one. Whether you're navigating burnout, debating a return to your career field, trying to fund your next chapter with $8K, or wonderi...

1 month ago

34 minutes

Awf The Record

Imani Ellis: The Truth About Leaving Your Dream Job

From her dream job at Bravo to building one of the most powerful creative communities in the country, Imani Ellis is the visionary founder behind CultureCon and The Creative Collective NYC. In this episode, she sits down with Jeannette and Mona to share the real story behind her bold pivot from corporate life to creative entrepreneurship - including the fear, obsession, burnout, and self-trust it took to make the leap. Whether you’re in your corporate bag, building something on the side, or j...

1 month ago

59 minutes

Awf The Record

Why You’re Not Having the Sex You Want

This is not just a sex talk- it’s a whole intimacy intervention. In this jaw-dropping, laugh-out-loud, deeply healing episode of Awf The Record, Jeannette and Mona welcome licensed couples & sex therapist Marissa Nelson to the group chat… and let’s just say: nothing was off limits. From the orgasm gap to scheduling sex, soul ties to underwater escapades (yes, really), Marissa breaks down the myths, mindsets, and cultural taboos keeping Black women from fully experiencing pleasure. We talk...

1 month ago

50 minutes

Awf The Record

How to Pivot When Life Doesn’t Go as Planned

The group chat is back, and we’re kicking off Season 3 with the realest catch-up yet. Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi sit down to unpack a summer filled with unplanned pivots, unexpected lessons, and major perspective shifts. From navigating a painful career rejection to juggling pregnancy timelines, family expectations, media burnout and motherhood pressure, this episode is for anyone feeling like their life plan just got flipped. You’re not behind. You’re being redirected. Jeannet...

1 month ago

32 minutes

Awf The Record

Awf The Record Season 3 Official Trailer

It’s finally here: Season 3 of Awf The Record, the unapologetically real podcast from Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi. This season, we’re going even deeper with emotional confessions, viral-worthy breakdowns, and unfiltered takes on Black womanhood, sex, therapy, identity, and healing. From hair trauma and awkward intimacy to pleasure, purpose, and poppin’ your sh*t unapologetically, Season 3 is about owning your voice and honoring your truth. Expect big guests, bigger gems, and the kind ...

2 months ago

2 minutes

Awf The Record

The Group Chat Gets Messier | S3 Sneak Peek | Awf The Record

It’s finally here: Season 3 of Awf The Record, the unapologetically real podcast from Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi. This season, we’re going even deeper with emotional confessions, viral-worthy breakdowns, and unfiltered takes on Black womanhood, sex, therapy, identity, and healing. From hair trauma and awkward intimacy to pleasure, purpose, and poppin’ your sh*t unapologetically, Season 3 is about owning your voice and honoring your truth. Expect big guests, bigger gems, and the kind ...

2 months ago

1 minute

Awf The Record

[Go Awf] How The News Industry Shaped Us (And Nearly Broke Us)

Mona and Jeannette open up about the emotional toll that working in the news industry took on their mental health. From the impossible hours and sleepless nights to the heartbreaking stories they had to cover, both reflect on the weight of constantly witnessing tragedy up close. Mona shares how the pressure she placed on herself to reach “network level” success pushed her to physical and mental limits, while Jeannette recalls the loneliness of working in a new city, being far from her husband...

5 months ago

6 minutes

Awf The Record

[Go Awf] What We Wish We Knew as Young Journalists

What would you tell your 22-year-old self chasing the dream? In this segment, Jeannette and Mona get real about ambition, imposter syndrome, and the unnecessary pressure we put on ourselves to prove we belong. From newsroom nerves to learning how to enjoy the ride, they open up about the grind, the growth, and the freedom that comes when you finally stop doubting yourself. RESOURCES: Keep in touch with Awf The Record: Youtube: @AwfTheRecord Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast TikTok: ...

5 months ago

3 minutes

Awf The Record

How to STOP Caring What People Think

In this deeply personal season finale, Jeannette and Mona take off the armor and speak straight from the heart. What starts as a conversation about vulnerability quickly unravels into a much bigger exploration of fear, identity, legacy, and healing. From life coaches and mindset breakthroughs to childhood trauma, grief, and the fear of criticism, this is the kind of talk that doesn’t just stay in the group chat—it transforms it. Jeannette opens up about how playing it safe protected her for...

5 months ago

50 minutes

Awf The Record

[Go Awf] How To Become Irresistible

How do you become irresistible? In this no-fluff conversation, dating and relationship expert Anwar White breaks down how true confidence, time boundaries, and a CEO mindset in your love life can completely shift your dating experience. From when to go exclusive to when it's time to walk away, this segment is your blueprint for dating with power, purpose, and self-respect. Sis, it’s time to stop acting like the intern and start running your love life like a boss. GUEST RESOURCES: An...

5 months ago

2 minutes

Awf The Record

Best of Friendship & Loneliness: Where Did Our Community Go?

What does it really take to have deep, meaningful friendships over time? In this best-of episode, Mona and Jeannette revisit some of the most vulnerable, hilarious, and insightful moments from past conversations about friendship—the joy, the heartbreak, and the unspoken tension in between. From childhood wounds and attachment styles to apology dynamics and growing pains, these clips explore how we navigate closeness, conflict, and connection in platonic relationships. You’ll hear candid sto...

5 months ago

14 minutes

Awf The Record

[Go Awf] You Need THIS Picture On Your Dating Profile

Dating app strategy is more real than you think—and timing is everything. In this spicy segment, Mona and Jeannette sit down with dating expert Anwar White to get the unfiltered tea on when not to be on the apps, why January is prime time for dating, and how your location (especially in places like California and Texas) can make or break your dating pool. They also dive into race dynamics, shifting your dating radius, and why moving might be the reset your love life needs. Whether you're dati...

5 months ago

2 minutes

Awf The Record

Best of Dating Awf The Record: Love, Stats & Self-Worth

In this special best-of episode, Jeannette and Mona revisit the raw, revealing, and sometimes hilarious conversations they've had with experts and friends about dating, love, and the realities of marriage. From navigating modern romance and dating apps to unpacking divorce red flags and cultural double standards, this episode delivers hard truths and big-sis wisdom alike. Whether you're single, dating, divorced, or in a “complicated” situation, this episode holds space for the unfiltered re...

6 months ago

25 minutes

Awf The Record

[Go Awf] Convenience Is Killing Your Friendships

In this insightful segment, we explore how society’s shift towards convenience has led to a decline in genuine friendships and community connections. Dating back to the 1950s, we discuss how the rise of television changed the way we interact and how the advent of smartphones in 2012 further fueled isolation. The pandemic may have exacerbated these trends, but they were already decades in the making. Find out how convenience culture—where everything is just a click away—has replaced the need f...

6 months ago

3 minutes

Awf The Record

Best of Big Sis Advice: Lessons That Hit Different Now

In this special best-of episode of Awf The Record, Mona and Jeannette bring together the realest advice and most unforgettable gems from past conversations that still hit hard. From redefining success to setting boundaries with family, pivoting careers to reclaiming joy, these are the truths that only get better with time. You’ll hear reflections on burnout, letting go of outdated family expectations, healing from toxic work cultures, and what it really means to rebrand your life—inside and...

6 months ago

25 minutes