Awf The Record

Jeannette and Mona

In a podcast that lives up to its name, Mona Kosar Abdi and Jeannette Reyes go “Awf the Record” with industry disruptors and cultural tastemakers, bringing you candid conversations that reflect the dynamic intersection of media, culture, and society . It’s a show that lives between the news of the day and the group chat. [Awf- Thuh- Rekərd ].

  1. 8 hr ago

    Top Etiquette Expert: The Signals You're Sending That Are Costing You

    “Etiquette, and the concept behind it, is accessible, and it's for everyone.” –  Elaine Swann In this episode of Awf The Record, Elaine joins Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi for a crash course in modern etiquette, from fine dining, networking, Zoom meetings, and corporate happy hours to dating, ghosting, apologies, compliments, and navigating luxury spaces without feeling like you do not belong. She breaks down what the rich actually do differently, why confidence is often quieter than we think, and how the habits we overlook, like oversharing, arguing to prove a point, or making people wait, may be quietly sabotaging us. KEY POINTS  00:00 - Cold open: Elaine Swann previews the etiquette mistakes quietly sabotaging you 01:38 - Introduction to Elaine Swann and the crash course in modern etiquette 02:38 - Etiquette is about how you show up and how you make people feel 09:22 - The handshake mistake people still make in professional settings 11:37 - Why we need to bring back greeting people and being neighborly 14:14 - How eye contact, posture, body language, and voice signal confidence 18:00 - Why hosts should start on time and honor the people who are present 22:03 - What the rich and famous actually do differently with luxury etiquette 27:55 - Fine dining rules that help you feel more confident at the table 32:58 - Relationship etiquette and the “shower rule” 38:23 - The proper way to accept an apology and receive a compliment 40:54 - Is etiquette rooted in white supremacy or used to police people of color? 44:42 - How to navigate alcohol and relationship-building in corporate spaces 47:28 - Go Off or Log Off: Elaine rules on modern etiquette dilemmas QUOTES  “Etiquette is being aware of how you present yourself to other people, and it is also, it also has to do with how you make others feel.” – Elaine Swann  “Every single thing that comes out of your mouth, and every single thing you do becomes some part of somebody's history.” – Elaine Swann  “Honor the people who are present.” – Elaine Swann  “In relationships, you cannot change people. What you have to do is sometimes shift and turn that nozzle the other way.” – Elaine Swann  GUEST RESOURCES Elaine Swann  Website | https://www.elaineswann.com/  IG | https://www.instagram.com/elaineswann/  RESOURCES:  Keep in touch with Awf The Record - http://www.AwfTheRecord.com   Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AwfTheRecord  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awftherecordpodcast  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@awftherecord  Mona Kosar Abdi IG |  https://www.instagram.com/monakabdi  Jeannette Reyes IG |  https://www.instagram.com/msnewslady  Keep in touch with Awf The Record: Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecord Follow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast Follow us on TikTok: @AwfTheRecord Visit our website: www.AwfTheRecord.com  Follow Mona on TikTok and IG Follow Jeannette on TikTok and IG

    57 min

  2. 9 Jun

    [Go Awf] Christiana Mbakwe Medina on Diddy, Tyra Banks & 2000s Hustle Culture

    In this segment, Christiana Mebakwe Medina breaks down why our cultural standards around fame, work, and accountability have shifted since the 2000s. From Making the Band and Tyra Banks to Diddy, MeToo, Black Lives Matter, workplace power dynamics, and the rollback of DEI, Christiana explores how pop culture reflects the systems we live in, but rarely changes them without policy behind it. She challenges the idea that “speaking up” is enough, arguing that real progress only sticks when it becomes law, protection, and paperwork. RESOURCES:  Christiana Mbakwe Medina IG | @christianaama Website | https://popsyllabus.substack.com/  Keep in touch with Awf The Record: Youtube: @AwfTheRecord Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast TikTok: @AwfTheRecord Mona Kosar Abdi IG |  @monakabdi  Jeannette Reyes IG |  @msnewslady  Keep in touch with Awf The Record: Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecord Follow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast Follow us on TikTok: @AwfTheRecord Visit our website: www.AwfTheRecord.com  Follow Mona on TikTok and IG Follow Jeannette on TikTok and IG

    6 min

  3. 2 Jun

    [Go Awf] Laura Coates on Why She Left Prosecution

    In this powerful segment, Laura Coates opens up about her time as a federal prosecutor and the complicated reality of pursuing justice from inside the system. She reflects on why Black and brown communities deserve prosecutors who understand their lived experiences, the emotional weight of victim advocacy, and the courtroom moment involving a deportation warrant that shook her to her core. Laura shares how that ethical dilemma helped shape her decision to leave prosecution and step into a new chapter rooted in truth, integrity, and public service. Laura Coates  Website: lauracoates.com Instagram: @thelauracoates  RESOURCES:  Keep in touch with Awf The Record: Youtube: @AwfTheRecord Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast TikTok: @AwfTheRecord Mona Kosar Abdi IG |  @monakabdi  Jeannette Reyes IG |  @msnewslady  Keep in touch with Awf The Record: Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecord Follow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast Follow us on TikTok: @AwfTheRecord Visit our website: www.AwfTheRecord.com  Follow Mona on TikTok and IG Follow Jeannette on TikTok and IG

    7 min

  4. 28 May

    Why Hard Work Isn’t Enough Anymore | CNN Anchor Laura Coates

    On today’s Awf The Record, CNN anchor, attorney, and legal analyst Laura Coates joins the group chat for a powerful conversation about purpose, pivots, and what it really takes to build a life that feels true to you. Laura opens up about leaving the Department of Justice (DOJ), the moment her husband’s fear during a police stop became a wake-up call, and why “informational activism” became her way of speaking truth to power. She reflects on her time as a federal prosecutor, the ethical dilemmas that shook her, and why Black and brown communities deserve champions who understand their lived experience. From posting up in Panera Bread with a baby in her arms to becoming one of the most recognizable voices on CNN, Laura gets honest about ambition, motherhood, marriage, imposter syndrome, and the hard truth that few things are true meritocracies. This episode is a reminder that sometimes the attempt is the success, the grind does not end when you “make it,” and leaving the dream on the pillow is harder than doing it scared. KEY POINTS  - 0:00 Introduction - 2:17 From CNN legal analyst and federal prosecutor to hosting her own show - 3:56 Motherhood & her husband’s fear leading to the “camera in the car” wake‑up call - 5:51 Leaving DOJ: choosing “informational activism” and being laughed at for pursuing TV - 8:32 Financial sacrifice, family support, and redefining success on her own terms - 9:28 Why Black and brown communities need prosecutors who look like them - 12:43 The deportation warrant witness story and the ethical crisis  - 16:36 First steps into media: Panera Bread, radio hits while nursing, and writing op‑eds - 19:17 Grit, ambition, and surviving a cutthroat, non‑meritocratic TV industry - 29:42 “Doing it all”: kids, 4–5 hours of sleep, and a truly supportive partner - 31:06 “Pick your hard”: knowing her “why,” scheduling downtime, and protecting her health - 38:24 The Alex Trebek’s Jeopardy! experience and what it taught her QUOTES  "I wholeheartedly reject the idea that black and brown communities should not get champions who look like them, and I am very proud of the opportunity to have stood up on behalf of people, embed a voice for them.” – Laura Coates  "I needed my children to know that I was who I said I was, and that I wanted them to be." – Laura Coates  "I decided that removing a muzzle that I had to put on as a prosecutor was going to be my form of informational activism, I thought people want to speak truth to power. Let me tell them what the truth is." – Laura Coates  "I cannot fail if I'm trying on my own terms." – Laura Coates  RESOURCES Laura Coates  Website: lauracoates.com Instagram: @thelauracoates  Keep in touch with Awf The Record: Youtube: @AwfTheRecord Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast TikTok: @AwfTheRecord Mona Kosar Abdi IG |  @monakabdi  Jeannette Reyes IG |  @msnewslady  Keep in touch with Awf The Record: Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecord Follow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast Follow us on TikTok: @AwfTheRecord Visit our website: www.AwfTheRecord.com  Follow Mona on TikTok and IG Follow Jeannette on TikTok and IG

    45 min

  5. 26 May

    [Go Awf] Jaz Turner on the Messy Middle of Becoming Your Best Self

    In this segment, Jaz Turner gets honest about the “messy middle” of self-growth, the part that does not look like green juice, Pilates, or a perfectly curated morning routine. She shares how rebuilding starts with small daily choices like journaling, faith, movement, and learning how to pour into yourself first. From leaving law school to redefining self-care as a love letter to herself, Jaz reminds us that the hard seasons are often preparing us for the life we asked for. RESOURCES:  Jaz Turner  Youtube: @jazturner16  Instagram: @jazturner16/  TikTok: @jazturner16  Keep in touch with Awf The Record: Youtube: @AwfTheRecord Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast TikTok: @AwfTheRecord Mona Kosar Abdi IG |  @monakabdi  Jeannette Reyes IG |  @msnewslady  Keep in touch with Awf The Record: Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecord Follow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast Follow us on TikTok: @AwfTheRecord Visit our website: www.AwfTheRecord.com  Follow Mona on TikTok and IG Follow Jeannette on TikTok and IG

    9 min

  6. 21 May

    Glow Up Coach: A Step-By-Step Guide To Reinventing Yourself In 30 Days

    What does a real glow up actually look like? In this episode of Awf The Record, Mona Kosar Abdi and Jeannette Reyes sit down with lifestyle entrepreneur and digital creator Jaz Turner, whose thoughtful approach to self-investment, wellness, and intentional living has built a global audience of more than one million followers. But Jaz’s story didn’t begin with morning routines and glow-up advice. Before becoming a creator, she was on track to become a lawyer. After earning a full ride to law school and landing a prestigious position in sports and entertainment law, she found herself deeply unhappy, battling anxiety, burnout, and an identity crisis. What followed was the messy middle: leaving law school, rebuilding her life from the ground up, and discovering that growth isn’t glamorous. It’s lonely, uncomfortable, and deeply transformative. In this conversation, Jaz opens up about the truth behind personal growth, the power of journaling and self-reflection, navigating friendship breakups, setting boundaries, and why the glow up actually starts where it hurts. They also dive into routines, relationships, and the mindset shifts that helped Jaz rebuild her life, and why the most powerful transformation happens internally first. Felt stuck in a career that looks perfect on paper, or ever wonder what it really takes to reinvent yourself? This episode is for you. KEY POINTS Jaz Turner’s journey from law school student to lifestyle creator Why chasing the “perfect career” left her burned out and unhappyThe identity crisis that comes when your job no longer defines youWhy the glow up actually starts with anger, pain, and honestyThe messy middle of reinvention and rebuilding your lifeThe morning routines and mindset shifts that changed everythingFriendship breakups, boundaries, and protecting your growthHow reframing failure helped Jaz transform her lifeWhy internal growth always comes before the external glow up QUOTES  “It’s a loss of identity when your whole life has been built around your career.”  – Jaz Turner   “The messy middle is where you learn the tools to handle the life you deserve.” – Jaz Turner “Don’t be a loser in your own story.” – Jaz Turner “Nobody is coming to save you, and that’s actually the most empowering thing in the world.” – Jaz Turner RESOURCES:  Jaz Turner  Youtube: @jazturner16  Instagram: @jazturner16/  TikTok: @jazturner16  Keep in touch with Awf The Record: Youtube: @AwfTheRecord Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast TikTok: @AwfTheRecord Mona Kosar Abdi IG |  @monakabdi  Jeannette Reyes IG |  @msnewslady  Keep in touch with Awf The Record: Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecord Follow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast Follow us on TikTok: @AwfTheRecord Visit our website: www.AwfTheRecord.com  Follow Mona on TikTok and IG Follow Jeannette on TikTok and IG

    1hr 4min

  7. 19 May

    [Go Awf] Eboni K. Williams Explains Why Relationships Are an Economy

    In this segment from the Eboni K. Williams interview, Eboni breaks down why relationships, appearance, marriage, motherhood, and opportunity all operate within real social “marketplaces.” From Michelle Obama’s recent comments on appearance as currency to the controversy around advising women to prioritize partnership earlier, Eboni challenges listeners to think less about what feels fair and more about what creates leverage, choice, and long-term positioning. RESOURCES:  Eboni Williams Website: .ebonikwilliams.com IG: instagram.com/ebonikwilliams/  Keep in touch with Awf The Record: Youtube: @AwfTheRecord Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast TikTok: @AwfTheRecord Mona Kosar Abdi IG |  @monakabdi  Jeannette Reyes IG |  @msnewslady  Keep in touch with Awf The Record: Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecord Follow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast Follow us on TikTok: @AwfTheRecord Visit our website: www.AwfTheRecord.com  Follow Mona on TikTok and IG Follow Jeannette on TikTok and IG

    10 min

  8. 12 May

    [Go Awf] Sergio Hudson on The Hidden Costs of Scaling a Fashion Brand

    What does it really take to build a successful fashion brand? In this segment, fashion designer Sergio Hudson breaks down the reality of the fashion industry, from scaling a small brand to navigating luxury retail stores like Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, and Neiman Marcus. He shares the hidden costs of production, the risks of wholesale, and why many fashion brands struggle to survive. This conversation also highlights the pressure of building as a Black designer and the importance of purpose, representation, and resilience in a highly competitive industry. RESOURCES:  Sergio Hudson Website: sergiohudson.com IG: @sergiohudson Keep in touch with Awf The Record: Youtube: @AwfTheRecord Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast TikTok: @AwfTheRecord Mona Kosar Abdi IG |  @monakabdi  Jeannette Reyes IG |  @msnewslady  Keep in touch with Awf The Record: Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecord Follow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast Follow us on TikTok: @AwfTheRecord Visit our website: www.AwfTheRecord.com  Follow Mona on TikTok and IG Follow Jeannette on TikTok and IG

    6 min
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Trailer

About

In a podcast that lives up to its name, Mona Kosar Abdi and Jeannette Reyes go “Awf the Record” with industry disruptors and cultural tastemakers, bringing you candid conversations that reflect the dynamic intersection of media, culture, and society . It’s a show that lives between the news of the day and the group chat. [Awf- Thuh- Rekərd ].

Information

  • Creator
    Jeannette and Mona
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    102
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Awf The Record
  • Show Website
    Awf The Record

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