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. 6 DAYS AGO

    Visible but Voiceless: Andrea Lewis on The Real Story Behind Hazel from Degrassi

    What happens when your character is seen, but your story isn’t? In this powerful segment, Andrea Lewis opens up about her experience on Degrassi — playing Hazel, one of the few Black characters on the show, and what it felt like to be visible but voiceless. She reflects on the lack of cultural authenticity in Hazel’s storyline, the toll it took on her confidence, and how it fueled her to create The Black Beauty Effect, a groundbreaking series that centers Black women, beauty, and belonging. This is a must-listen for anyone who's ever felt erased — and found power in creating their own table. GUEST RESOURCES Andrea Lewis  IG | @andrealewis 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

    16 min

  2. 23/12/2025

    The Art of Quiet Power: Melyssa Ford on Confidence, Sensuality & Setting Boundaries

    How do you stay empowered and sensual in a world that wants to box you in? In this powerful segment, Melyssa Ford gets real about the exit ramp from video vixen fame, reclaiming her narrative, and the intentional ways she moved through public spaces to protect her peace. She shares how she modeled herself after women like Claire Huxtable, Lena Horne, and Sade, and what it really means to master quiet confidence in a loud world. For anyone navigating womanhood, media, and misunderstood power, this one's for you. GUEST RESOURCES  Melyssa Ford  IG | @melyssaford 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

    9 min

  3. 18/12/2025

    How to Audit Your Year & Reset with Intention

    Today, this candid and reflective episode of Awf The Record is your go-to year-end reset. Jeannette and Mona ditch the highlight reel to unpack what 2025 really looked like: burnout, blurred boundaries, constant “work mode,” and the pressure to overachieve. They break down the habits that kept them running on fumes, unpack the immigrant-kid conditioning that glorifies exhaustion, and reveal the small but powerful shifts they’re making to build a more intentional, joyful, sustainable 2026. Whether you're overachieving yourself into exhaustion, struggling to balance personal joy with professional hustle, or just looking for a more sustainable way to grow – this episode is for you.  KEY POINTS  - Why we glamorize burnout and miss the signs - How to stop “performing productivity” and start practicing boundaries - Why your “work mode” is stealing your joy (and how to reclaim it) - The value of hobbies that don’t pay you - Why scheduling your personal life is the ultimate form of self-respect - How to slow down without losing ambition - The difference between big wins vs. consistent wins - What Mona & Jeannette are leaving in 2025 (and what they’re carrying into 2026) QUOTES  “2025 dragged me by my edges.” - Mona Kosar Abdi "There are some years that ask questions and some years that answer, and for me, I felt like this was a year of a lot of questions being asked, and I hope that 2026 is the year that answers." - Mona Kosar Abdi "Don't let perfect be the enemy of good. Before, my excuse was they can't do better. Do it better than I can. But now you want, first off, you find out some people can. You just got to give them some time to learn."- Jeannette Reyes "I'm leaving anxiety in 2025 because it does not serve me at all... I am going to celebrate things and celebrate myself and allow my friends to celebrate me." - Mona Kosar Abdi 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

    35 min

  4. 16/12/2025

    Ozempic: Miracle Drug or Just Hype? What You Need to Know About GLP-1s

    Is Ozempic really the weight loss solution we’ve been waiting for or is it more complicated than that? In this must-listen segment, Dr. Darien Sutton breaks down the truth behind Ozempic and GLP-1 medications; what they actually do, who they’re for, and why obesity is much more than a matter of willpower. From Serena Williams headlines to the science of chronic weight gain, this convo dives into the real root causes of obesity, metabolic health, and the limits of “quick fix” thinking. If you’re curious, confused, or just tired of the hot takes, this one clears it all up. GUEST RESOURCES  Dr. Darien Sutton  IG | @doctor.darien/  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

    6 min

  5. 11/12/2025

    Being a Woman in the Public Eye: The Beauty & Burden of Being Seen | Best of Awf The Record

    There’s power in being seen… but there’s also pressure. In this “Best-Of” episode, we explore the beauty and the burden of being a woman in the public eye. Through deeply personal stories of fame, identity, grief, and cultural expectations, these guests reflect on what it means to be visible… and misunderstood.  This episode is for every woman who’s ever felt picked apart, underestimated, or praised for the version of herself the world projected – not the one she chose. KEY POINTS:  Melyssa Ford: The Original Video Vixen on Fame, Fear, and Finding HerselfAndrea Lewis on Life After Degrassi, Burnout, and Becoming a BossThe Biggest Hair Myth, Texturism, and the Pressure to Be Perfect 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

    19 min

  6. 09/12/2025

    Breaking Into Journalism When You Don’t Know Where to Start

    How do you nurture a big dream,  especially when you don’t have a roadmap? In this listener Q&A segment, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi share what it was like becoming journalists as daughters of immigrants, and how they found their voices in an industry where they didn’t always see themselves reflected. From reading scripts off an iPad in the living room to landing anchor desks, they reflect on visualization, storytelling, and the underrated power of immigrant kids who know how to translate everything. Whether you’re raising the next generation of storytellers or finding your own voice, this one’s for you 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

    6 min

  7. 04/12/2025

    Leaving Your Dream Job for Your Next Dream Job | Best of Awf The Record

    What if your dream job wasn’t the dream anymore? In this special “Best-Of” episode, we’re revisiting four powerful stories about career pivots, evolving purpose, and letting go of the identities we once held onto. From childhood fame to corporate boardrooms, these guests opened up about what it really means to outgrow the path you thought was permanent. Whether you're feeling stuck, scared to start over, or just craving something new, this episode is your permission slip to pivot. Because your dream didn’t die – it just evolved.  KEY POINTS  - Imani Ellis: The Truth About Leaving Your Dream Job - How to Pivot When Life Doesn’t Go as Planned - Andrea Lewis on Life After Degrassi, Burnout, and Becoming a Boss - Real Advice for Real Life Transitions 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

    10 min

  8. 02/12/2025

    When Your Dream Job Isn’t Enough Anymore: Why Imani Ellis Left NBC to Build CultureCon

    What happens when your dream job can’t hold your purpose anymore? In this unfiltered segment, Imani Ellis, founder of CultureCon and The Creative Collective NYC, shares the real story behind her decision to leave NBC. From working 18-hour days to building a movement out of her living room, she opens up about burnout, identity shifts, and how she knew it was time to choose herself. If you’ve ever felt torn between a “good” job and your greater calling, this is the reminder that your next dream might be waiting on the other side of exhaustion. You’ll Hear: The midnight grind of juggling corporate and communityWhat the breaking point actually looked likeHer dad’s advice that changed her perspectiveWhy the pivot starts way before the resignationThe power of building what you needed but couldn’t findGUEST RESOURCES Imani Ellis  IG | @imaniimani 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

    4 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 - 2025
  • Episodes
    70
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Awf The Record
  • Show Website
    Awf The Record

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