This week on Thirty, Flirty, and Panicking, host Kelsey Murphy sits down with Maha Abouelenein — CEO of Digital & Savvy, AP Global Board Member, and author of 7 Rules of Self-Reliance — for a go-to guide to building a personal brand and simple day-to-day steps that pay off long-term. A powerhouse strategist who’s led comms for Google and Netflix in the Middle East, Maha has helped global leaders, CEOs, high-profile clients, and brands build trust and tell their stories.
This episode is a practical Self-Reliance Toolkit: how to own your story, build a reputation that compounds, and stop waiting for permission. Kelsey and Maha dig into mastering focus, turning challenges into strengths, creating value that deposits into others’ “trust banks,” and why personal brand = reputation for everyone. You’ll leave with moves to upgrade your IRL relationships, build a brand that feels authentic to you, and play the long game with clarity and confidence.
THIS WEEK'S TOOLKIT
Grab a copy of 7 Rules of Self-Reliance:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1401978665?tag=randohouseinc7986-20
Connect with Maha:
-Instagram: @mahagaber
-X (Twitter): @mahagaber
-LinkedIn: Maha Abouelenein
Work with Maha:
- Website: mahaabouelenein.com
This week on Thirty, Flirty, and Panicking, host Kelsey Murphy opens up about finally feeling ready to dip a toe back into dating after heartbreak last year — and who better to guide that conversation than Amy Nobile Messing, holistic dating coach, entrepreneur, and founder of Love, Amy.
After leaving a 20-year marriage and navigating the modern dating scene in her 40s, Amy cracked the code on intentional dating and turned her own transformation into a thriving coaching practice.
In this candid conversation, Amy shares why self-worth is the foundation of attraction, the four pillars of early dating, and why you should never confuse being chosen with being aligned. From mini “screener” dates to spotting red and green flags, her advice is equal parts practical and empowering.
Whether you’re dating after heartbreak, feeling timeline pressure, or just burnt out on the apps, Amy offers a roadmap to rediscovering joy in the process — and attracting the love you truly deserve.
✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
-Why intentional dating starts with knowing your core values
-How self-worth and vision intersect to unlock big love
-The mini screener date strategy that saves time and energy
-Key questions to ask on dates 1–3 that reveal emotional maturity and readiness
-How to reframe chemistry
-What to consider when it comes to intimacy
-Top red flags AND green flags to look out for
-How to know you're ready to get back in the game after heartbreak
-Amy’s words of encouragement for anyone scared to leap into the unknown
Let's do this together!
In this episode, host Kelsey Murphy sits down with Aleen Dreksler, co-founder and CEO of Betches Media, the cultural powerhouse that began as an anonymous blog in 2011 and exploded into a multimedia empire with a reach of more than 250 million.
Aleen shares the inside story of building Betches from its scrappy, satirical beginnings into one of the most recognizable brands in internet culture. She opens up about:
The leap from pre-med student to media mogul
Sticking to your gut (and your name) even when others doubt it
Balancing friendship and business with her co-founders
Navigating the $24M+ sale of Betches to LBG Media
Why she launched her Substack, Please Advise, and the real questions women ask her most
What she predicts is next in media
Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur, a daydreamer with a big idea, or someone who just loves a good origin story, Aleen’s journey is proof that you can turn an idea into an empire.
TOOLKIT:
Follow Aleen on Instagram
Subscribe to her Substack: Please Advise: https://aleendreksler.substack.com
Learn more about Betches Media
About six months ago, host Kelsey Murphy sat down with Dr. Sarah Hensley — a specialized social psychologist who has spent nearly 20 years studying the science of attachment and attraction. Dr. Hensley has built an audience of more than 1.5 million people across TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook through her clear, approachable explanations of attachment theory and relationship dynamics. Her work has inspired countless people — including Kelsey — to better understand themselves, their partners, and the way early life experiences can shape how we show up in love.
In this episode, listeners will learn:
- The four main attachment styles (secure, anxious, fearful avoidant, dismissive avoidant)
- How childhood experiences with caregivers can impact adult relationships
- Red flags to notice in dating and how to spot avoidant tendencies early on
- How to initiate conversations surrounding attachment styles
- Parenting insights for raising secure children
- Why “potential” in relationships isn’t enough — and what to focus on instead
- Mindset shifts to help move toward healing in the aftermath of breakups
- What to do if you're considering returning to a relationship that has ended
- Practical steps for moving toward secure attachment
This is a conversation worth revisiting, sharing, and saving — a true toolkit for anyone navigating the complexities of relationships.
TOOLKIT:
-Follow Dr. Sarah Hensley: TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Website
- Book referenced: It’s Called a Breakup Because It’s Broken by Greg Behrendt & Amiira Ruotola-Behrendt
This week, Kelsey sits down with the Queen of Boundaries herself — Michelle Elman (@michellelelman). Michelle is a London-based bestselling author of five books (including The Selfish Romantic and The Joy of Being Selfish), a board-certified life coach, and a TV regular who has a rare ability to make boundaries feel less like a buzzword and more like a toolkit you can actually use.
Michelle first made waves nearly a decade ago with her viral Scarred Not Scared campaign, after proudly posting a bikini photo that showcased the scars from 15 surgeries she underwent before the age of 20. Since then, she’s built a powerful platform dedicated to confidence, boundaries, and self-worth — and just last year, she demonstrated extraordinary resilience once again when she navigated a very public heartbreak with honesty and grace.
Together, Kelsey and Michelle explore practical scripts you can use to set boundaries at work, in friendships, and romantic relationships. They unpack why confidence isn’t built overnight but through small decisions, how to stop treating singlehood as a problem, and why timelines are social constructs that don’t define your worth.
In this conversation, Kelsey and Michelle dive into:
Why setting boundaries is hard — but living without them is harder
How to say “no” without overexplaining (and why it’s the kindest thing you can do)
The “boundary backlash” and how to move through it
Why selfish doesn’t have to be a dirty word
The volume dial analogy for balancing life without burnout
How to start building confidence today (and why confidence can be contagious)
Shifting your mindset following a breakup
How to actually feel feelings and move through them
Why being single is not a waiting room — and how to reframe your mindset around timelines
Michelle’s story is proof that when you set boundaries, own your story, and protect your energy, you can come back stronger every single time.
TOOLKIT:
Follow Michelle on Instagram: @MichelleLElman
Pick up a copy: The Selfish Romantic & The Joy of Being Selfish
In All Honesty: How to Feel Your Feelings Episode
Explore more of her work: michelleelman.com
In this episode of Thirty, Flirty, and Panicking, Kelsey sits down with mindfulness educator, author (The Opposite of Settling), and podcast host (New Mindset, Who Dis?) Case Kenny to explore the mindset shifts that can change everything.
Case shares his journey from corporate sales to writing, podcasting, and building a community of over 1.3 million instagram followers. Together, Kelsey and Case dive into:
What mindfulness really means
How optimism can change your life
Why journaling is one of the most powerful tools for self-discovery.
How to reframe heartbreak to help you move through it
The mindset to overcome imposter syndrome
Why “settling down” is the wrong goal—and how to settle UP instead.
How to build a life you love, and let the right love amplify it
Whether you’re navigating a breakup, questioning your timeline, or simply wanting to live with more clarity and joy, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom, empowering reframes, and plenty of optimism to help you along the ride from where you are today…to the place you want to be.
TODAY’S TOOLKIT:
✨ Case’s new book The Opposite of Settling is out now — grab a copy here or at most local bookstores.
✨ Follow Case on Instagram: @case.kenny
✨ Listen to his podcast New Mindset, Who Dis? here
If you loved this conversation, please follow/subscribe, rate, and share Thirty, Flirty, and Panicking. It means more than you know!
With a nod to the beloved rom-com 13 Going on 30, we recognize life doesn’t always go exactly as imagined — but sometimes, the most beautiful chapters begin right when things seem to fall apart.
Thirty, Flirty, and Panicking is here to remind you that the best part about life is that it doesn’t just happen to us — a life is built. Hosted by Kelsey Murphy, this show is your toolkit for tossing the timeline, embracing the plot twists, and creating a life so good you can’t wait to wake up every morning (and yes, it’s possible).
On Thirty Flirty and Panicking, you’ll hear from powerhouse voices shaping every corner of life. In our debut season, Dr. Sarah Hensley — better known as The Love Doc — unpacks attachment theory and what it really means for our relationships. Bestselling author and mindfulness expert Case Kenny shows us how to implement optimism and pursue our biggest dreams. Entrepreneur Maha Abouelenein reveals how to build a personal brand — arguably the most important tool in today’s world — while holistic dating coach Amy Nobile dives into how to date with intention and find real love. Confidence coach Michelle Elman lays out the blueprint for boundaries that actually stick, and "being" coach Sarita Walsh challenges us to stop building lives from fear and start creating from love.
And that’s just the beginning... we’ll hear from trailblazing founders who built businesses from the ground up… and even make our way into the boardrooms of C Suite executives… plus dozens more top-notch conversations with pinch-me guests still to be announced this season!
Whether you’re healing from heartbreak, dreaming of a pivot, or simply craving more joy in your everyday… look no further… you’ll find the tools and the community to carry you through it right here. We’ve got you — and you’ve got this.
With a nod to the beloved rom-com 13 Going on 30, we recognize life doesn’t always go exactly as imagined — but sometimes, the most beautiful chapters begin right when things seem to fall apart.
Thirty, Flirty, and Panicking is here to remind you that the best part about life is that it doesn’t just happen to us — a life is built. Hosted by Kelsey Murphy, this show is your toolkit for tossing the timeline, embracing the plot twists, and creating a life so good you can’t wait to wake up every morning (and yes, it’s possible).
On Thirty Flirty and Panicking, you’ll hear from powerhouse voices shaping every corner of life. In our debut season, Dr. Sarah Hensley — better known as The Love Doc — unpacks attachment theory and what it really means for our relationships. Bestselling author and mindfulness expert Case Kenny shows us how to implement optimism and pursue our biggest dreams. Entrepreneur Maha Abouelenein reveals how to build a personal brand — arguably the most important tool in today’s world — while holistic dating coach Amy Nobile dives into how to date with intention and find real love. Confidence coach Michelle Elman lays out the blueprint for boundaries that actually stick, and "being" coach Sarita Walsh challenges us to stop building lives from fear and start creating from love.
And that’s just the beginning... we’ll hear from trailblazing founders who built businesses from the ground up… and even make our way into the boardrooms of C Suite executives… plus dozens more top-notch conversations with pinch-me guests still to be announced this season!
Whether you’re healing from heartbreak, dreaming of a pivot, or simply craving more joy in your everyday… look no further… you’ll find the tools and the community to carry you through it right here. We’ve got you — and you’ve got this.
This is a special vault episode of Thirty, Flirty, and Panicking — recorded in September 2024, shortly after host Kelsey Murphy attended her would-be wedding solo. The audio isn’t perfect, and neither was the chapter she was in — but that’s the point. This podcast is about progress over perfection, and sometimes the most powerful lessons come from the messiest beginnings.
In this episode, Kelsey shares the raw reflections that helped her take those first steps forward after heartbreak. She opens up about what it really looks like to begin again, how to reclaim your life after loss, and why endings can also be invitations to rebuild.
If you’re navigating a breakup or any major life change, consider this recording your rope — tossed from one person who’s been there to another who might need it now. One year later, Kelsey is proof that you won’t just survive this season…you’ll grow into a version of yourself you can’t wait to meet.
✨ This episode isn’t part of the official launch — that kicks off with the trailer and our first conversation with Case Kenny, out now — but if your heart is heavy and you need this today, we’re glad it found you.
TOOLKIT:While not directly referenced in this vault recording, here are a few recommendations for anyone in need of hope or healing:
📚 Books
The Pivot Year — Brianna Wiest
When You’re Ready, This Is How You Heal — Brianna Wiest
Worthy — Jamie Kern Lima (for those ready to pour into a passion project)
👤 Favorite Follows
Thirty, Flirty, and Panicking (for the ultimate ever-growing toolkit)
Brianna Wiest (healing & hope)
Case Kenny (optimism & perspective)
Jillian Turecki (breakups & relationships)
Dr. Sarah Hensley (attachment & self-love)
Sarita Walsh (tossing the timeline)
Joey Zauzig (that “their loss” energy — sometimes we all need the reminder!)
Now that the vault is unlocked, we can add these lessons to our toolkits and keep building. Join us for the first official episode with Case Kenny OUT NOW — it’s a conversation you won’t want to miss!