Five years ago, I was working as an investment management consultant in Midtown Manhattan, feeling disconnected and detached from my life’s work and purpose. To endure the long hours in my office, I would listen to female-led podcasts like Girls Gotta Eat and We Met At Acme. I quickly became inspired by how these shows provided me with a parasocial relationship of sorts, making me feel like I was a part of a larger conversation. I began to find solace in these weekly episodes, which were a lifeline during a time in my life marked by overwhelming loneliness.

In October of 2019, I decided to set aside my pride and launch my own podcast called Solace and the City, with a mission of opening up the conversation around mental health. My first guest was Matt James, who would soon become the star of the Bachelor franchise. His kindness, demonstrated by setting aside an hour of his day to speak with me, further fueled my excitement to continue recording. Soon, I was speaking with actors, comedians, musicians, athletes, and so many others whom I consider industry pioneers, thoughtful leaders, and personal role models: Noah Kahan, Governor Phil Murphy, Nick Viall, and more. 

Perhaps the biggest surprise of my podcasting journey has been how much the show taught me about myself. Before launching Solace and the City, I was a mental health advocate who distanced herself from her own personal challenges. Despite my passion for reducing stigma, I held onto a great deal of shame about the emotional setbacks I had endured. My podcast provided me with a space to speak my experiences into existence. Over the past five years, Solace and the City has held me accountable for recovering from an eating disorder, managing my medication, and beginning a sobriety journey that is now over a year and a half strong. Most significantly, this podcast is the reason that I took action to change my career. I now write this as a licensed master of social work, helping clients navigate the same struggles I faced five years ago.

To say this podcast has changed my life is the biggest understatement. I feel incredibly blessed to have a platform that allows me to cultivate authenticity, accountability, and compassion, all through the power of conversation.

One last thing: If you are feeling lost, lonely, or unloveable, please remember that you are strong, and these feelings will pass.  Until they do, I will always be here to help you process them.  

All my love,