This week is a conversation with Lacy Phillips, founder of To Be Magnetic. We get into emotional expansion—how to actually feel feelings instead of intellectualizing them—and the role of self-worth in making changes in our lives. We talk about what happens when we try to skip discomfort, how healing can be boring, and why slowing down is usually the fastest way forward. It was a formative conversation for me and I'm revisiting it this week in honor of her new book.

This week I spoke with longtime activist and author Dean Spade about the complexities of relationships and the challenges we face in a society shaped by disposability culture. We discussed the fear of being wrong in public and of conflict and feedback. He spoke about why self-help often falls short in addressing systemic issues and shared some insights from his latest book, Love in a F*cked Up World, which offers practical advice on navigating personal growth and connection in a world that often feels isolating and disconnected. I loved both the book and this conversation. Let us know if you listen!

This week, I talked to interior designer Cooper Osinski. He shared what makes a space feel personal, how he balances his style with client work, and how he developed his taste and style while navigating trends. We also discussed his intentional approach to growing an online presence on YouTube and how he stays thoughtful and constructive when offering design commentary. Cooper was as warm and inviting as the spaces he creates, and he offered heaps of practical, accessible tips—including small design fixes that make a big impact. Whether you're deep into design or just curious, he makes the world of interiors feel both approachable and fun. Let us know if you listen.

This week, I talk to business strategist Abbi Miller about navigating pivots in both personal and professional life. Abbi was on the podcast five years ago, and her perspective on time management, which she calls Time Pessimism, is a concept I’ve found helpful ever since. Since then, much has changed for her both personally and collectively (including becoming a mom). In this episode, we catch up on everything she’s learned since then, including how to work with the muse when it strikes and how she sets up systems to support that flow. We also discuss how to deal with cynicism and find ambition again, and her strategies for effective quarterly goal-setting. Plus, Abbi gets me to open up about some of my own career changes and how I’ve been navigating them within my life. And you can hear me talk about it more on her show, where she had me on as a guest too.

This week, I talk to Erin Claire Jones, one of the world’s leading experts in Human Design. She talks about her journey from skeptically discovering it at a party to now writing a book (How Do You Choose) about how we can use our design to make better decisions in relationships and career. Erin and I reflect on how the concepts in her new book connect to the way we navigate our lives, as well as how Human Design can be used as a tool for self-awareness, overcoming obstacles, and better communication for more harmonious relationships with others.

LA-based artist Christopher DeLoach and I talked about his path from class clown to intrepid traveler—walking the Appalachian Trail—to becoming an artist and creator of the iconic bumper stickers you know and love. He shares a series of surreal encounters, including rides with enigmatic characters while hitchhiking that challenged his worldview. Our conversation spans from his childhood in NYC to an unexpected adventure in his early 20s and how both continue to shape him today. We talked about identity, American culture, his painting process, funding and sustaining a career in LA, becoming known for something, doubt, belief, and even death. It’s a humorous and earnest conversation that I really loved—let us know if you listen!

This is the second half of my conversation with my friend Blu Most, an artist who has worked in food styling, creative direction, and event design. We get into ADHD habits, community for freelancers, her best advice on relationships and anxiety, and how aging changes our perspective on it all. If you missed part 1 last week, we talked about embracing creative cycles, the tension between financial security and artistic fulfillment, and how personal branding intersects with authenticity.

In this first part of my conversation with the brilliant and wildly creative Blu Most, we dive into her experience through art, food styling, creative direction, and event design—embracing creative cycles, identifying as an ideas person, and navigating the tension between financial security and artistic freedom. We also get into stepping away from Instagram, marketing to niche communities, and how all of us being walking personal brands intersects with authenticity. Stay tuned for Part 2, where we get into ADHD habits, community for freelancers, shifting towards intimate gatherings, her best advice on relationships and anxiety, and how aging changes our perspective on it all.

"What's your greatest lesson on romantic relationships?" is a question I've asked on her in most every episode. This week with the help of a few favorite guests, I attempt to answer it. It's the first time in 12 years that I've ever done a brief episode... brevity is not my strong suit so don't get used to it.... but I hope you like it! It features: Kristin Hanggi, Cody Cook-Parrott, Robyn Kanner, Rachelle Robinett, Jessica Ciencin Henriquez, Mari Andrew, Jon Marro, Neada Deters, and Yoke Lore.

In honor of Valentine’s Day it’s an episode about what I know best: romantic love… just kidding it’s about breakups! It's a variety show from 2019 where I compiled all of the times (up until then) I spoke with guests on how heartbreak, grief, and sadness can lead to growth. I play some of my favorite clips from my conversations with founder of To Be Magnetic, Lacy Phillips, herbalist at Supernatural, Rachelle Robinett, author Sara Avant Stover, dancer and writer Cody Cook-Parrott, illustrator Mari Andrew, Yoke Lore, and more ... it sounds like a bummer of an episode but it was actually optimistic and even dare I say funny? Then I react to hearing their advice 5 years later, talk about if I took it and what has happened since…

I thought it would be fun to do a year-in-review of the music of 2024 with my friend James McCrae. Neither of us are music experts, but we’re constantly sharing music with each other. James first came on the show in 2020, when we did a similar review of the music from that wild quarantine year when artists weren’t touring and we all missed live shows. Fast forward to 2024, and we chat about what we've noticed over the last five years, including the changes in the music industry, trends we've seen, and of course, what we’ve had on repeat. James, a Bob Dylan super-fan, talks about his evolving tastes, new genres, and how pop and hyperpop have influenced his music choices. He also shares his insights on the current music scene and the role of streaming, social media, and live performances. James is an author, poet, artist, and founder of Sunflower Club, a global community dedicated to conscious creativity. He’s the author of several books, including The Art of You, which we discussed last year.

This week I spoke with Jezmina Von Thiele and Paulina Stevens, co-hosts of the Romanistan podcast. I talked to them about the tragic fires in LA and their advice on navigating dark times and finding personal and collective resilience. They shared advice on healing and self-care during crises, looking at the tarot card of the year, what they do when they're feeling uninspired or creatively blocked, embracing resilience, and the importance of bringing diverse perspectives to ancient traditions. Their new book, Secrets of Romani Fortune-Telling, introduces the history of the Romani people and their long-standing relationship with fortune-telling, exploring techniques like card reading, palmistry, dream interpretation, and tea leaf and coffee reading, many of which were created or popularized by the Roma. We discussed their distinct cultural upbringings—Paulina’s roots in a traditional Romani community and Jezmina's mixed heritage—and how they each work with people today. And at the end they each pulled a card that's meant to be a message of anyone who listens.

Ready to take a fresh path to self-discovery? Every Monday, Jemma brings you a new mantra, breaking it down to show you how you can apply it to your own life. Whether you’re facing a major transition or looking to evolve your everyday routine, Mantra is the podcast for you. Join Jemma every week for reflections, practical tips, and personal insights that’ll inspire you to live with intention and unlock your true potential. Follow “Mantra with Jemma Sbeg” wherever you get your podcasts.

**This is part two of last week’s conversation with Dr. Patti, which was recorded prior to the devastating fires in LA. A list of resources is in the show notes below.** Dr. Patti Kim is a naturopathic doctor and acupuncturist in Los Angeles. She’s also my close friend, one of my favorite people to talk to. She came over on New Year’s Day to talk about our end-of-year rituals, including journaling prompts and ins and outs. We also get into self-awareness vs. integration, natural cycles, delighting in the discomfort of being human, and trends in wellness. Plus longevity in every sense of the word, from her career to our aging bodies, parents and pets. If you haven’t listened to our earlier conversations, they covered gentle naturopathic medicine, wellness vs. enjoying your life, simple quick eating, how loneliness impacts physical health, cocooning, and navigating change while staying present with what is in front of us.

Dr. Patti Kim is a naturopathic doctor and acupuncturist in Los Angeles. She’s also my close friend, one of my favorite people to talk to. She came over on New Year’s Day to talk about our end-of-year rituals, including journaling prompts and ins and outs. We also get into self-awareness vs. integration, natural cycles, delighting in the discomfort of being human, and trends in wellness. Plus longevity in every sense of the word, from her career to our aging bodies, parents and pets. I’m splitting this into two parts so come back next week for more. And in the meantime, if you haven’t listened to our earlier conversations, they covered gentle naturopathic medicine, wellness vs. enjoying your life, simple quick eating, how loneliness impacts physical health, cocooning, and navigating change while staying present with what is in front of us.

This week I spoke to Ashley Stahl, a counterterrorism professional turned international bestselling author and Forbes contributor. Not only is Ashley a TEDx speaker herself, she's now a highly sought-after TEDx speechwriter and CEO of her agency Wise Whisper, which helps people craft impactful talks and get booked on major stages. Ashley opens up about navigating the liminal spaces of life, where clarity is elusive, and how discipline plays a crucial role in finding your next elegant idea. Together, we discuss creative pivots, the value of storytelling, and embracing discomfort as a path to growth.

In this special year-in-review mailbag episode, producer Ella and I look back on favorite standout episodes from 2024, our process of working together, and what's ahead for Let It Out in the coming year. We answer a few questions about walking, the challenges of maintaining consistency, and our collaborative process with writing and editing newsletters and the truth of how our ideas take shape. Let us know if you listen!

It's just me this week, delivering a dispatch that feels more like a voice note to a friend than a typical interview. I centered this around how the so-called "irony epidemic" has shaped the way I work, write, and share my projects in a culture that often resists earnestness. I reflect on the push/pull between sincerity and detachment, the ways we seek validation both online and offline, and how group chats, community, and connection factor into it all. Plus, why being “goo prone” might just be the most human thing of all.

This week I spoke to chef, recipe developer, writer and food stylist Chloe Walsh, also known as Chloe Cooks. A Brit based out of Los Angeles, she hosts pop-ups, writes her incredible Substack (Anchovies & Soup), swims, and is known for her potato recipe and so much more. In addition to loving her food, I love her. I’m lucky enough to get to call her a friend and neighbor. She had me over a couple weeks ago, made us lunch, and we talked for hours about everything from her favorite places to go in LA, to meals to cook when alone, food culture as it relates to bodies, chronic illness, writing, design, growing her audience, managing her energy, and following her intuition in the kitchen. I loved every second of this one and I hope you do too!

This week I spoke to Moon Juice founder and CEO Amanda Chantal Bacon. Amanda, as it says in the PR email I received, “has a captivating personal story that led her to create her company,” but we barely touched on that in this conversation. Instead we had a candid conversation that began with talking about shame and a book (All Fours). And spanned to finding love later, aging, mourning past life phases, intergenerational friendship, and the myth of balance. I found this to be a very comforting conversation from start to finish; she was so wise and easygoing that I left feeling like I'd just hung up with a good friend. Despite the fact that I’ve been a fan of her products for over a decade, use her face wash daily, and credit her Beauty Pills for keeping my acne in check—we didn’t even talk about her her company origin story, or even one of her specific products. Next time. Let us know what you think eavesdropping.