A Fresh Story Fresh Starts

Fresh Conversations with Rob Abney: can a marriage have a fresh start?



In this conversation, Olivia, Rob, and Jenny discuss various topics, including Rob's new podcast, the challenges of marketing a podcast, Jenny's honeymoon experience, and the dark side of the honeymoon period. They also explore the dynamics of early marriages, the identity shift that comes with marriage, and the importance of commitment in maintaining a relationship. The conversation highlights the ups and downs of relationships and offers insights into navigating the different phases of a partnership.

In this conversation, Rob discusses the importance of commitment and remaining committed in a relationship. He shares his experiences of making mistakes and learning from them, as well as the challenges of having fresh starts. Rob emphasizes the need for effective communication, defining the problem, and assuming good intentions in relationships. He also highlights the importance of reframing arguments and taking a moment to communicate effectively.

Topics discussed in this episode of A Fresh Story with Rob Abney:


Commitment and remaining committed are crucial in a relationship.


Learning from past mistakes is essential for personal growth and relationship improvement.


Having fresh starts in relationships requires forgiveness, letting go of past baggage, and focusing on the present.


Effective communication, defining the problem, and assuming good intentions are key to resolving conflicts in relationships.

Fresh Conversations with Alex Alexander: why do we need friends?



Alex Alexander wears many hats as a founder, speaker, podcaster, and soon-to-be-published author, but her work always centers around one passion - exploring the dynamics of community and friendship in our daily lives, uncovering what's working and what's not. Through her work, Alex provides relatable examples and practical insights, empowering you to create a support system that truly resonates with you.

Alex Alexander discusses the importance of community and friendship in our lives. She shares her personal journey of discovering the value of support and realizing her own worthiness. Alex also talks about her career in the wedding industry and how it influenced her understanding of emotional connections and the importance of creating meaningful experiences. She emphasizes the role of friend group culture and the impact of friends' parents in building a strong support system. Ultimately, Alex believes that a healthy support system is the ultimate form of self-care. In this conversation, Alex Alexander discusses her journey from being a wedding planner to focusing on friendship and connection. She emphasizes the value of connection and the importance of appreciating the relationships we already have. Alex provides practical advice for making friends in a new country and encourages individuals to be specific about the type of friendships they want. She also highlights the significance of leaving one's comfort zone and finding communities where one feels a sense of belonging.

Topics discussed on this episode of A Fresh Story with Alex Alexander:


The ultimate self-care is having a healthy support system.


Friends can play a crucial role in helping us realize our worthiness.


Creating meaningful experiences and emotional connections is essential in building strong relationships.


Friend group culture and the influence of friends' parents can shape our support systems. Friendship is not black and white, but rather a spectrum of connections that contribute to our support system.


When making friends in a new country, it's important to be patient and invest time in building connections.


Broadening your base of connections, whether through formal communities or neighborhoods, can lead to meaningful friendships.


Voicing your desire for more friendships, especially with specific interests or activities in mind, can help attract like-minded individuals.


Accepting support from existing connections and reaching out to others who have gone through similar experiences can provide valuable guidance and companionship.

Fresh Conversations with Raena Boston: how can we show up for each other?



Raena Boston is a rising thought leader in the women’s and maternal rights space with a fresh, imperative voice. She is a working mom of three, fierce advocate, co-founder of the nonprofit focused on mothers’ rights Chamber of Mothers, and an HR corporate baddie. By night, she writes and creates content for her online platform, The Working Momtras. The Working Momtras is a community designed to help empower moms to unsubscribe from the scams of motherhood, resign from doing it all, and instead lean into their inherent worth.

Raena has appeared on Good Morning America, PBS Newshour, and many of your favorite podcasts. She is regularly tapped to provide thought leadership on the intersection of working motherhood, paid leave, and childcare.

She and her family reluctantly reside in Florida.

Raena Boston shares her journey of experiencing burnout, panic attacks, and a fresh start in 2020. She re-evaluated her career, her marriage, and her own self-worth, leading to significant changes in her life. Raena's story highlights the importance of prioritizing mental health, setting boundaries, and redefining success. In this conversation, Raena Boston discusses her journey through marriage, motherhood, and advocacy. She emphasizes the importance of choice and wanting what's best for oneself and the other person in a relationship. Raena shares how the birth of her daughter and her experience with paid leave inspired her to start the Chamber of Mothers, an organization focused on paid family leave, affordable childcare, and improved maternal health outcomes. She highlights the need for community care and collaboration, asking better questions, and supporting each other. Raena encourages individuals to trust themselves and approach challenges with curiosity instead of fear. She also shares her love for food, particularly a delicious lobster roll. Finally, Raena invites listeners to get involved with the Chamber of Mothers and make a difference in creating a better system for mothers and families.

Topics discussed in this episode of A Fresh Story with Raena Boston:


Burnout can lead to panic attacks and disassociation, and it's important to recognize the signs and seek help.


Taking a mental health leave can be a crucial step in recovering and reevaluating one's life and priorities.


Diagnoses like ADHD can provide clarity and understanding of one's experiences and challenges.


Reexamining work, relationships, and personal values can lead to transformative changes and a fresh start.


Choice and wanting what's best for oneself and the other person are crucial in a relationship.


The Chamber of Mothers advocates for paid family leave, affordable childcare, and improved maternal health outcomes.


Community care, collaboration, and asking better questions are essential for supporting working mothers.


Trusting oneself and approaching challenges with curiosity can lead to personal growth and positive change.

Reema Zaman is an author, speaker, and screenwriter. She is the author of the critically acclaimed memoir I Am Yours and the forthcoming novel Woman in Flight. Her essays have been published in Vogue, The Guardian, Salon, The Rumpus, and several others. She is an Oregon Literary Arts Fellow and you may recognize her from her viral interview with Cheryl Strayed on the Dear Sugars podcast. Born in Bangladesh and raised in Thailand, she now lives in Los Angeles with her chihuahua-daughter Fia the Fierce. For more, please visit www.reemazaman.com.

Reema Zaman, author and speaker, shares her journey of finding her voice and reclaiming her power after leaving an abusive relationship. She discusses the importance of using language to shape our beliefs and the transformative power of writing. Rima also highlights the significance of living alone and embracing one's true self. Her story is a testament to the resilience and strength of women. In this conversation, Reema Zaman discusses her journey as a writer and the importance of finding one's voice and reclaiming oneself. She shares her experiences of moving to different cities, staying with her parents, and working various jobs to pursue her writing career. Reema also talks about the challenges she faced in the publishing industry and the power of social media in connecting with others. She emphasizes the need for women to support and uplift each other and offers advice for those going through a fresh start.

Topics discussed in this episode of A Fresh Story with Reema Zaman:


Abusive relationships can strip away a person's voice and power, but finding the courage to leave can lead to personal growth and transformation.


Writing can be a powerful tool for self-discovery and healing, allowing individuals to find clarity, confidence, and a new sense of identity.


Language shapes our beliefs and self-perception, so it's important to use empowering and affirming language to build a positive sense of self.


Living alone can provide a valuable opportunity for self-reflection and self-discovery, allowing individuals to tune into their own voice and embrace their true selves.


The journey of healing and self-discovery requires discipline, resilience, and the willingness to challenge societal conditioning and expectations. Finding one's voice and reclaiming oneself is a powerful journey.


Moving to different cities and exploring new opportunities can lead to personal and professional growth.


The publishing industry can be challenging, but social media has democratized access to resources and connections.


Supporting and uplifting women is essential for creating a more inclusive and empowering community.


Embracing fresh starts and pursuing what you love can lead to personal fulfillment and success.

Fresh Conversations with Skyler Day: what if you could produce your own music?

Skyler Day is a singer-songwriter/producer whose confessional approach to music has definitely made her an artist to watch. Her recent single "The Best Worst Thing", garnered her 2nd place in the International Songwriting Competition out of 21,000 entries and she also caught the attention of GRAMMY-winning Kacey Musgraves, who handpicked Skyler for a mentorship that led her to play at ACL Fest. Her latest single “Monsters” is out now! In addition to her music career, the Georgia-native is a well-established actress recurring on shows such as NBC’s Parenthood, Law & Order: SVU, Pretty Little Liars, Raven's Home and FOX’s The Resident.

Skyler Day, a singer-songwriter and producer, discusses her journey in the music industry and her recent foray into producing her own music. She shares her experiences and challenges in learning to produce and the freedom it has given her in expressing her musical ideas. Skyler also talks about the inspiration behind her song 'Monsters' and the universal theme of falling in love with someone who turns out to be different than expected.

She discusses her plans for future music projects and the potential for producing other artists. Skyler emphasizes the importance of breaking stereotypes and creating music that resonates with people's real-life experiences. Skyler Day discusses the importance of honesty in music and how it resonates with listeners. She draws inspiration from the music scene in Laurel Canyon and the artists who were unafraid to tackle real issues. Skyler emphasizes the value of leading with kindness and creating a good space for collaboration.

She reflects on her role in representing real issues on the TV show Parenthood, particularly the impact of the abortion episode. Skyler cautions against the dangers of comparison and encourages individuals to embrace their unique selves. She shares her love for making pasta from scratch and reveals the romantic story of how she met her husband at a commercial audition.

Topics discussed in this episode of A Fresh Story with Skyler Day include:


Honesty is crucial in music as it allows artists to connect with listeners on a deeper level.


Drawing inspiration from artists who fearlessly tackle real issues can lead to impactful and meaningful music.


Leading with kindness and creating a positive environment fosters collaboration and creativity.


Representation of real issues in TV shows and music can help break stigmas and promote understanding.


Comparing oneself to others can hinder personal growth and creativity; embracing one's unique self is liberating.


Finding joy in the simple pleasures of life, such as making pasta from scratch, can bring fulfillment and happiness.



You can learn more about Skyler on her website, Instagram, and Spotify.

Fresh Conversations with Shani Silver: are dating apps a total scam?

In this episode of A Fresh Story, Olivia and Jenny talk to Shani Silver, an author and podcaster, about the exploitative nature of dating apps and the societal pressure to be in a relationship. They discuss the evolution of dating apps from websites to apps, and how these platforms prioritize profit over helping users find love. Shani emphasizes the importance of reframing single-hood and finding happiness while single. They also touch on the reactions to Shani's content and the lawsuit against Match Group for making love elusive on purpose. In this conversation, Shani Silver discusses the predatory nature of dating apps, the pressure to find love, and the importance of living authentically.

She highlights the lack of safety measures on dating apps and the need for change in dating app culture. Shani emphasizes the importance of living a fulfilling life and challenging societal expectations. She encourages individuals to define their own identities and celebrate single-hood. Overall, the conversation explores the complexities of modern dating and the impact it has on individuals' mental health and self-worth.

Shani Silver is an author and podcaster originally from Fort Worth, Texas. Her name is pronounced like “rainy” with a “sh.” Her book, A Single Revolution: Don't look for a match—light one, helps singles reframe singlehood to see its value and validity, for as long as we happen to be single. She is not an advocate for singlehood, she's an advocate for people being happy while single, and there is a difference. Her podcast, A Single Serving Podcast, launched in April of 2019 in the hopes of giving single women content that—for once—didn’t revolve around dating, and to support singles around the world in shedding the societal shame of singlehood. Shani has lived and dated in Austin, TX, Los Angeles, CA, Chicago, IL, Philadelphia, PA, and Brooklyn, NY. She currently lives in New Orleans. Following ten years of use, Shani permanently deleted her dating apps in January of 2019. She has loved her life ever since.

Topics discussed in this episode of A Fresh Story with Shani Silver:


Dating apps prioritize profit over helping users find love.


Singlehood should be reframed to focus on happiness and personal growth.


Societal expectations and stigmas around relationships can be harmful.


The lawsuit against Match Group highlights the addictive nature of dating apps. Dating apps can have addictive behaviors and may not deliver on what people are seeking.


The pressure to find a romantic partner can lead to settling and compromising one's values.


Dating apps lack safety measures and can expose users to abusive or predatory behavior.


Living authentically and focusing on personal fulfillment is more important than conforming to societal expectations.


It is crucial to challenge the commercialization of love and celebrate singlehood as a valid and fulfilling lifestyle.