Small Talk With Syd - The Podcast

Let’s Make Small Talk

In Episode 30 I chat with Dr. Mona Vand who is a Doctor of Pharmacy, wellness consultant, skincare expert & digital creator. Growing up in a Persian household having a child who is a doctor is the absolute dream so that's exactly the road Mona took. However, she always knew that she wanted something different & to be in charge of her own story. It wasn't until after a breakup that Mona started taking real steps towards leaving the world of pharmacy & entering the world of television/digital creation. Today Mona has almost 600k subscribers on YouTube & almost 500k on TikTok!  Mona & I talk about her journey & the lessons she learned along the way (lessons anyone can find useful). Plus, we dive into her health/wellness, fitness & skincare tips. There are some other fun topics we cover but you'd have to tune in to find out... GUEST INFO:  Mona's Instagram Mona's YouTube Mona's TikTok Mona's Website LET'S MAKE SMALL TALK: Small Talk With Syd STWS Media WWW.SMALLTALKWITHSYD.CO

In Episode 29 I chat with Kira West who is a health & wellness influencer, as well as the creator her new brand, Made ByK.West, which just launched their "World Collection" ! Her brand is all about diversity and inclusion by sharing stories/jewelry pieces from all over the world. Kira also shares her personal experiences such as traveling for business & what that has been like/how to do it safely. Plus, we dive into how she launched a business in 2020 and the ways in which she has adjusted to the current climate.  We also cover a lot of other great topics in this episode such as how she has learned to be comfortable in her own skin, not attaching judgment when it comes to eating & even relationships! If you want to hear it all be sure to tune in... Syd, xo Kira's Instagram  Made ByK.West LET'S MAKE SMALL TALK: Small Talk With Syd STWS Media WWW.SMALLTALKWITHSYD.COM

In Episode 28 I chat with Iman Hasan who is the Founder & CEO of Iman Hasan Creative & We Are Renn - along with few other roles which we discuss in this episode. Taking on multiple roles in nothing new for Hasan as she has pivoted multiple times over the years which has helped her in her overall career path. With Iman's company being less than a year old we dive into how they have been operating during the global pandemic & the main reasons why they have been able to thrive. We also dive into other topics like how she has built an all female, ethnically diverse team and why it has been beneficial to her company's growth. Plus, Iman shares some of the ways she has been keep her mental check & her wedding plans for the future! Be sure to tune in! Syd, xo Iman's Instagram Iman Hasan Creative LET'S MAKE SMALL TALK: Small Talk With Syd STWS Media WWW.SMALLTALKWITHSYD.COM

In Episode 27 I chat with fashion & lifestyle expert Sydney Sadick who has been a TV correspondent for shows like TODAY, E!, Inside Edition, and GMA. She also is the author of the new book, AIM HIGH, which offers expert fashion advice to help others feel confident with what they wear while still being budget conscious. She also says the book dives much deeper into her personal life with some unfiltered stories.  After getting to know Sydney a bit more its no surprise as to why she reached this much success at just a mere 26 years old. We dive into some of her incredible job experiences and even how an assignment at Harvard's summer program led to her launching a successful blog. Sydney also offers great advice for those who are looking to build their personal brand and how they can put themselves out there. We may even get into some stories about celebrities she has interviewed & cool events she has attended...so if you want to hear those be sure to tune in! Syd, xo Sydney's Instagram Sydney's Bo

In Episode 26 I chat with Rachel (a.k.a Richie) Jolivette (@richiejolivette) who is the Co-Founder of Vetted Collaborative which is a members-only, luxury lifestyle club that curates bespoke group trips and unique local events. She also is a real estate agent at Halstead and an activist on the rise.  Being the product of a Federal Judge and the VP of a Fortune 500 company, Richie is no stranger to speaking her mind and going after what she wants. In fact, her career started with shredding paper at an internship to becoming Marketing Director! - One of the many ways Richie has left her mark.  We also dive into the Black Lives Matter movement and the work that Richie has been doing at the protests. Growing up Richie was one of the few Black kids at her school and she faced different kinds of discrimination. She shares her experiences and what people can do to show support.  This episode gets super raw and real - definitely educational & thought provoking. Tune in! Syd, xo Richie's Instagram V

In Episode 25 I chat with Taylor Rae Almonte (@taylorraealmonte) who is a trainer at Rumble Boxing but also a performer on the rise. She graduated from NYU Tisch School of the Arts and has an incredible resume to say the least. Taylor is truly a fighter in every area of her life. In the episode we dive deep into the Black Lives Matter movement and what the message is. Being that Taylor identifies as a Black Lantix individual, she was able to provide the perspective of what's its like to be a POC of in the United States. Another interesting perspective is that Taylor is in an interracial relationship which allowed her to give insight into other types of discrimination. We cover many topics in this episode such as personal experiences, racism in culture, how to support & how to maintain mental health during this time. I learned so much from Taylor this episode and I know you will too.  Syd,  xo Taylor's Instagram  Taylor's Website LET'S MAKE SMALL TALK: Small Talk With Syd STWS Media  WW

In Episode 24 I chat with Aubre Winters (@aubrewinters) who is a Los Angeles based fitness instructor, trainer, and creator of the dance cardio sculpt class, Sweat Sessions. Growing up Aubre had dreams of moving to LA to become a competitive dancer but along the way she discovered a passion for community fitness. While working in corporate Aubre knew that she wasn't fulfilled - she is a mover and groover by heart! Plus, ending her relationship of six years truly acted as a catalyst for her career. By pushing through obstacles and never giving up, even when things got hard, she is a perfect example of what it means to chase your dreams.  Aubre also offers relatable fitness and nutrition advice which was extremely refreshing coming from a fitness instructor let alone one from LA. We also talk about maintaining healthy skin, how to form healthy habits, her Sweat Sessions classes and more! This was such a fun episode to record and Aubre's energy is so infectious you can't help but smile! Tune in! Syd, xo Aub

In Episode 23 I chat with Leanna Hawk (@leanna_hawk) who is the founder of Black Hawk Financial and the author of bestselling book, Young Fun and Financially Free. With over 12 years of consulting experience working alongside companies listed on NYSE, NASDAQ & many others Leanna has gained a lot of insight into the world of finance. She has even been featured on shows like CNBC, Bloomberg & Yahoo Finance just to name a few.  Growing up Leanna was very determined to be financially independent and through the years she has learned how to save smart, pay off debt and invest properly. While finances have become a cause of concern for many during this time, I sit with Leanna to talk about how to avoid additional stress and how this can actually be seen as a financial opportunity... Definitely an episode worth the listen.  Syd,  xo Leanna's Instagram Leanna's Book Leanna's Website LET'S MAKE SMALL TALK: Small Talk With Syd STWS Media WWW.SMALLTALKWITHSYD.COM

In Episode 22 I chat with with Remy Park (@veggiekins)who is a vegan recipe developer, registered yoga/meditation teacher, food photographer & blogger at Veggiekins. Her recipes have even been featured on ACBNews, NBC News, News12, Whole Foods Market and more. While she may have an impressive resume, Remy's journey wasn't all the easy.  Growing up she moved quite a bit and in her adolescent years developed Anorexia Nervosa coupled with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder which led to destructive behaviors including self harming and substance/alcohol abuse. It wasn't until hitting rock bottom that she really woke up. Her journey to self healing is truly an amazing one and a story that everyone can benefit from hearing so be sure to tune in.  Syd,  xo  Remy's Instagram Remy's Blog LET'S MAKE SMALL TALK: Small Talk With Syd STWS Media WWW.SMALLTALKWITHSYD.COM

In Episode 21 I chat with Tinamarie Clark (@tinamarieclark) who is the creator and author of the Shift Stirrer Method. Raised in Section 8 housing by a single mother and two younger brothers, Tinamarie's journey to her now success is one you must hear. Growing up she was expelled from school, threatened peers, and told off teachers all because of an inner battle she was dealing with. It wasn't until the modeling world woke her up and made her realize something must change. This episode is all about her journey and I think everyone could take something from hearing it. Be sure to tune in!  Syd,  xo  Tinamarie's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinamarieclark/  Tina's Website: https://shiftstirrer.com  LET'S MAKE SMALL TALK:  https://www.instagram.com/smalltalkwithsyd/  https://www.instagram.com/stwsmedia  www.smalltalkwithsyd.com

In Episode 20 I chat with Ronita Kalra (@ronniekalra) from Bravo's hit reality TV show Million Dollar Listing NY. In this episode Ronnie shares the story of how she went from being an assistant to Luis D. Ortiz to his now business partner. As a first-generation Indian American Ronnie is no stranger to hard work as she was raised by entrepreneur parents. We talk how she used her background as well as her work experiences, like working at Apple, to help her in the world of real estate. I learned so much in this episode and I know you will too. Tune in! Syd, xo Ronnie's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ronniekalra/ LET'S MAKE SMALL TALK: https://www.instagram.com/smalltalkwithsyd/ https://www.instagram.com/stwsmedia/ www.smalltalkwithsyd.com

In Episode 19 I chat with Tina Rich of Tina Rich Designs. Tina is a NYC interior designer who's career went from working under the the very famous, Jonathon Adler to eventually starting her very own business. Tina has not only been featured in Architectural Digest but also has had clients such as Karlie Kloss (maybe you've heard of her?). Of course that success did not come overnight. In this episode we talk about failure, the reality of starting a business, some tips on how to design a small space & much more. Be sure to tune in! Syd, xo Tina's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinarichdesign/ Playhouse Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetrplayhouse/ LET'S MAKE SMALL TALK: https://www.instagram.com/smalltalkwithsyd/ https://www.instagram.com/stwsmedia/ https://www.instagram.com/stwsthebrand/ www.smalltalkwithsyd.com

In Episode 18 I chat with Nick Barrotta or as some may know him, Nicky B TV (@nickybtv). Born in LA but raised in Long Island, Nick shares his journey from how interviewed his friends when he younger as they pretended to be celebrities, to interviewing SO many real life celebs including John Legend, Terry Cruz, & Khloe Kardashian just to name a few. Today he currently plays the Bailiff (or as they call him the "BAE-liff") on the longest running court show, Divorce Court. He also has had Tyler Perry as a mentor which has been a great source of inspiration for him. Anyway, Nick is truly one of the warmest guests I have had on & I genuinely enjoyed our conversation. Really cool story & great advice. Be sure to tune in! Syd, xo Nick's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickybtv/ LET'S MAKE SMALL TALK: https://www.instagram.com/smalltalkwithsyd/ https://www.instagram.com/stwsmedia/ https://www.instagram.com/stwsthebrand/ www.smalltalkwithsyd.com

In Episode 17 I chat with one my good friends Ms. Paige DeSorbo (@paige_desorbo)! The truth is that this past year for Paige has been quite the rollercoaster to say the least as she was casted for Bravo's hit reality TV show, Summer House. However, her journey really started when she made the choice to put herself out there & showcase her talents for entertainment news reporting (Front Paige News!) despite the fact that she was questioned by many. With that said, it all paid off in the end because she now is an Amazon TV Host and a fashion writer for platforms like Betches. In this episode we also dive into some crazy guy stories including her new romance. If you want all the dirt you better listen! One of my juiciest episodes to date. Syd, xo Paige's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paige_desorbo/ LET'S MAKE SMALL TALK: https://www.instagram.com/smalltalkwithsyd/ https://www.instagram.com/stwsthepodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/stwsthebrand/ www.smalltalkwithsyd.com

In Episode 16 I chat with Bianca Klotsman who is better known on Instagram as Holistic RX. Bianca grew up in a holistic household and that love for fitness & nutrition stayed with her all the way through adulthood; however, like anyone else, she experienced struggles along the way. So, how did she get through it all? Well, you'll have to listen to find out! On this episode we discuss holistic nutrition, mental health, body image, the pressures of social media, & a just a little bit of dating! Truly this episode was such a pleasure to record & if you tune in I think you'll learn a lot... I know I did! Syd, xo Bianca's Website: https://www.myholisticrx.com Bianca's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holisticrx/ LET'S MAKE SMALL TALK: https://www.instagram.com/smalltalkwithsyd/ https://www.instagram.com/stwsmedia/ https://www.instagram.com/stwsthebrand/ www.smalltalkwithsyd.com

In Episode 15 I chat with Mike Tommasiello a.k.a. the NY Doorman. Mike's story is an interesting one to say the least & definitely worth the listen. We talk about how he went from quitting his day job (& the struggles that came along) to now being the VP of Digital Strategy at Talent Resources & working with some pretty well known celebs. Oh and I should probably mention that the journey all started with hungover tweets - yep, pretty wild. Mike also shares a pretty epic moment him & his team had with one of their clients, Avril Lavigne. So, if you want to know, well, you know what to do... Syd, xo Mike's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nydoorman/ LET'S MAKE SMALL TALK: https://www.instagram.com/smalltalkwithsyd/ https://www.instagram.com/stwsmedia/ https://www.instagram.com/stwsthebrand/ www.smalltalkwithsyd.com

In Episode 14 I chat with one of my good friends, Greg Davis Jr. a.k.a. Klarity. Not only is Greg a good friend of mine but he is also one of the most down to earth people I know. We talk about how we went from being a child actor to becoming a Vine sensation (also the story how he became Vine famous is pretty insane). Greg also shares with me what he has learned from being in the industry all these years and the truth behind the scenes. He even shares some amazing career advice he got from Kevin Hart. There are so many other topics we touch on such as his new business venture, Nova Fitness. So, if you want to hear it all I suggest you take a listen! Syd, xo Greg's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/klarity/ Nova Fitness Website: https://www.novastudios.com LET'S MAKE SMALL TALK: https://www.instagram.com/smalltalkwithsyd/ https://www.instagram.com/stwsmedia/ https://www.instagram.com/stwsthebrand/ www.smalltalkwithsyd.com

In Episode 13 I chat with one of the star's of the hit reality Bravo TV show, Summer House, & co-founder of the lifestyle blog "The Wirkus Twins", Lauren Wirkus. Lauren truly is such a bad ass babe and is the perfect example of what it means to break stereotypes. This gorgeous woman and I talk about her journey pre & post reality tv, as well as the lessons she has learned along the way. We also touch on other topics like body positivity, dating, being a twin, and of course her famous party trick called "One Tit Crew" (seriously, I almost peed myself hearing this). Anyway, if you want to get to know this woman behind the show then I suggest you take a listen - you won't regret it. Syd, xo Lauren's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenwirkus/ The Wirkus Twins Blog: http://www.wirkustwins.com LET'S MAKE SMALL TALK: https://www.instagram.com/smalltalkwithsyd/ https://www.instagram.com/stwsmedia/ https://www.instagram.com/stwsthebrand/ www.smalltalkwithsyd.com

In Episode 12 I chat with Sasha & Oliver Benz-the badass Aussie couple who practically rule the Montauk scene. Sasha (sasha.benz) is the creative director of the famous Surf Lodge in Montauk, founder of the well-known online magazine "All My Friends Are Models," creator of the new digital business card app - CINQ & on top of it all, a mom to two of the most beautiful babies I have ever seen. She is truly a real life superhero. Plus, I fell in love with how raw and authentic she was in sharing her struggles of balancing it all-she was even was breastfeeding during the recording! Her story to success is inspiring to say the least. Towards the end of the recording Sasha's husband, Oliver Benz (@olibenz) also came on for a few moments to share his story. Oli is literally the definition of a rad dad. We not only talk about his career as a sound stylist, DJ & model but also how he is handling being a new father & what it all means to him. I may also attempt to mimic his very strong Australian acc