Meant For You

Polina & Yelena
  • 4.9 (104)
  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

We believe we all have paths that are meant for us, but getting to a place where we are living a life we won't regret, while juggling the demands of our families and everything life throws at us is a daily saga. In each episode, we give you a new perspective or idea, introduce you to fascinating people, make you smile or help you realize you are never alone. When you are openminded, even the smallest shifts in mindset, can set you on a path that allows you to live your fullest life. We aim to give you the mindset shift that connects you to choices that feel meant for you. As moms, and news junkies, alongside books, philosophy, travel, culture and careers, we also cover current events. Our topics revolve around living a full life and finding the courage to reveal our true selves. Clarity comes through action, so we want to encourage you to take the next step. while not missing the beauty and lessons each day brings us. We discuss raising kids, travel, culture, spirituality, aging parents, books we have read, mental health, global affairs, the meaning of life and our latest Netflix binges because isn't that what you would talk about with your friends over wine? We are just getting started on our midlife adventures and excited for you to join the ride. Follow us on Instagram @meantforyoupod or reach out to us at meantforyoupod@gmail.com

  1. 5D AGO

    Undercover Billionaire Elaine Culotti is Taking on California’s Toughest Problems

    What happens when a no-nonsense entrepreneur decides she’s had enough of California’s chaos? Elaine Culotti has ideas politicians won’t touch. She is a fearless entrepreneur, farmer, real estate developer, and a potential candidate for governor of California. You may also know her as one of the business tycoons on Undercover Billionaire. In this conversation, Elaine shares her frustrations with California’s government and bold ideas for tackling its toughest challenges. Shaped by decades of experience in real estate, building businesses, and running her own farm, Elaine brings a no-nonsense, working-class perspective to politics. We cover Calforinia's challenges with wildfires, immigration, homelessness and crime.  Elaine Culotti just might be wildcard California needs in order to reverse course and stop the blleeding.

    49 min

  2. SEP 29

    The Queen of Kefir: Julie Smolyansky on CEO Guts, Courage & Stamina

    Our guest is Julie Smolyansky, CEO of Lifeway Foods, the company that pioneered the kefir market in America and today produces 95% of the kefir sold in the U.S. Julie’s story begins in 1976, when her parents immigrated from Kiev ( the former Soviet Union)  to Chicago. Her mother opened a deli, while her father, a mechanical engineer, missed the kefir he had back in the Soviet Union so he started making his own, and from that, Lifeway Foods was born. In 2002, tragedy struck. Julie’s father, Michael Smolyansky, died suddenly of a heart attack. At just 27, Julie stepped into the CEO role, becoming the youngest female CEO of a publicly traded company. Under her leadership, Lifeway expanded its product lines and grew internationally. Today, with revenues topping $200 million, Julie has proven herself a powerhouse CEO—while also raising two daughters, running marathons, reading voraciously, and giving back through philanthropy and community leadership. This is the kind of conversation we love: a woman courageously living a full, multidimensional life. In this episode, we cover her parents’ immigrant journey, the rise of kefir in America, the science of gut health, and Lifeway’s latest innovations, including kefir with collagen and creatine.   This conversation is about courage, resilience, and building a full life. We get into: ✨ Her family’s immigrant journey from Kiev to Chicago ✨ How kefir conquered America ✨ The science of gut health ✨ Lifeway’s bold new products (yes—kefir with collagen + creatine!)   Check out our website: https://meantforyoupod.com Reach out to us: meantforyoupod@gmail.com Follow us on IG

    50 min

  3. SEP 11

    Honoring Charlie Kirk, Free Speech, and the Fight for Western Values

    Charlie Kirk was a national treasure, known for his fearless commitment to open dialogue and free speech. We discuss why he was so important to us, and millions. While Charlie Kirk is irrereplacable, we hope his life inspires legions of people to courageously follow his path of upholding the foundational values and principles of the US. As mothers and citizens rather than politicians, we talk about what it means to intuitively know how to keep families and communities safe, why Charlies represented us and why his loss is so devastating. While we did not agree with all of Charlie's positions, we understood that he was on the frontlines every days trying to ensure an American future based on  its founding principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Before you believe the headlines calling Charlie a "Right Wing influencer" please remember that human progress has always required an openness to new ideas and information, while never forgetting the mistakes of the past. So may Charlie's memory be a blessing. May he be forever in our hearts and in our minds. And may we all try to be better people. May we all learn how to have better discourse, how to hear one another, how to empathize with one another.  -Polina and Yelena

    9 min

  4. AUG 1

    Brandy Shufutinsky on the Marxist Roots of Ethnic Studies in K-12 Schools and College Campuses

    Brandy Shufutinsky is the newly appointed Director of the Education and National Security Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. In this important conversation, we disciuss how today’s ethnic studies curriculum, originally intended to promote understanding among diverse communities, is instead fueling division, promoting an oppressor-vs-oppressed worldview, and teaching students that capitalism is synonymous with white supremacy and exploitation. Brandy brings deep expertise to this topic, holding a doctorate in International and Multicultural Education from the University of San Francisco, an MSW from USC, and an M.A. in International Relations from the University of San Diego. Today, at least 22 states mandate ethnic studies in K–12 education, 24 more have incorporated elements of it, and California has made it a graduation requirement. Yet there are no national standards for what’s being taught, and no real education on the dangers of communism, the importance of civics, or an emphasis on nurturing diverse opinions and critical thinking. Brandy shares how you can get involved locally to push for rigorous standards, honest history, and an end to the ideological indoctrination in our classrooms. If we want to preserve a strong and free Republic, the way we educate the next generation must change. Quotable Moments: "The ideology holds that I'm suffering from internalized oppression because I'm not willingly categorizing myself as part of the oppressed class." "If you are, or simply appear to be white, you're automatically put in the oppressor category." "We cannot have the Republic we have today with an ill-informed, miseducated next generation." "It's easy to be a communist when you're living in a capitalist society." "We need to teach civics and the benefits of our system, but we also have to teach the dangers of the other."   Check out our website: https://meantforyoupod.com Reach out to us: meantforyoupod@gmail.com Follow us on IG If you enjoyed this episode, you may like these conversations: Rabbi  Steve Leder, History, Faith , DEI, Ethics, Anxiety and Awe Sophia Khalifa, Bedouin Muslim Israeli Engineer Shares Why She Became an Acivitist for Israel Dumisani Washinton, Pastor, CEO and Author of Zionism and the Black Church Soviet Anti-Semitism with Izabala Tabarosky,  Erin Molan Fearless Reporter and Advocate for Humanity

    49 min

  5. JUL 26

    Stella Escobedo on Honesty in Journalism

    Stella Escobedo is an Emmy award winning news anchor-reporter with nearly 20 years experience,  a fearless journalist and an advocate who immigrated to the U.S. from Uzbekistan. Stella is currently a news anchor for One American News (OAN). In this conversation, Stella shares how her upbringing shaped her values, her global perspective, and the causes of her disillusionment with mainstream media. Journalism was always Stella’s passion. but during the COVID-19 pandemic, something shifted. Stella began to question the media’s silence on critical issues: the voices of parents during lockdowns, the integrity of the 2020 presidential election, and the dangerously skewed coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict. We discuss  the deeply embedded bias against Israel in U.S. media and the painful, recurring truth that Jews are violently scapegoated in every generation. When serious issues arise, too many default to an intellectually lazy and ancient habit: blame the Jews, and deflect accountability. This conversation is both a warning and a call to action. It’s about truth, courage, and refusing to stay silent while history repeats itself. Check out our website: https://meantforyoupod.com Reach out to us: meantforyoupod@gmail.com Follow us on IG A few of our favorite quotes from this episode: "If not me, then who?" "I wanted to be a voice for the voiceless." "The media completely ignored what we should have been able to have open conversations about." "The indoctrination of their children must stop for peace to exist."   If you enjoyed this episode, you may like these conversations: Rabbi  Steve Leder, History, Faith , DEI, Ethics, Anxiety and Awe Sophia Khalifa, Bedouin Muslim Israeli Engineer Shares Why She Became an Acivitist for Israel Dumisani Washinton, Pastor, CEO and Author of Zionism and the Black Church Soviet Anti-Semitism with Izabala Tabarosky, Arab Israeii Muslm Activist and Stanford MBA Sophia Khalifa  Erin Molan Fearless Reporter and Advocate for Humanity   Timestamps:  12:53 - Why is there such a disparity in how things are reported 23:14 - Once jihadist attacks on the homeland begin en masse, much of America will blame Jews 28:13 - Stella, a moderate voice, has been pegged asan extremist 37:38 - The teachers union in California should watch the video from October 7 41:59 - In Gaza, this will not stop until the indoctrination of their children stops 44:51 - The state of journalism in this country 49:05 - Netflix, can you help us?

    51 min

  6. JUL 7

    Justice, Forgiveness, and One Remarkable Friendship

    Karen McKinney was a prosecutor working in the gang unit when her path first crossed with Joseph Herrera, a man she would go on to prosecute for murder. Twenty years later, Karen faced Joseph when he was up for parole. Not exactly your classic “how we met” story. What no one could have predicted is that years later, the two would form an extraordinary friendship that would transform both of their lives.  Karen saw something in Joseph that defied his past, a capacity for growth, empathy, and leadership. With her encouragement, Joseph began using his lived experience to help others break the cycle of recidivism. Today, they can speak on the phone for hours at a time, and Karen occasionally joins Joseph’s speaking events at prisons.  This story is a reminder that people are more than their worst mistakes, and that sometimes, the most unexpected connections are the ones that change everything. Follow Karen on Insta  I Put Him in Jail for 20 Years. Now We're Good Friends - Newsweek Washington Post Deep Dive with Karen McKinney & Joseph Herrera on Hard Conversations on Kelly Corrigan   If you're interested in powerful conversations on prison reform, don’t miss our conversations with: Humans of San Quentin Executive Director Diane Kahn Jessca Jackson, Chief Advocacy Officer for Reform Alliance   Jane Mitchell from the Reform Alliance   Check out our website: https://meantforyoupod.com Reach out to us: meantforyoupod@gmail.com Follow us on IG

    1h 1m

  7. JUN 12

    Still chasing the 'retire early' fantasy? This conversation with David Bahnsen might just change your mind.

    In this episode, we talk about the value of work with David Bahnsen, Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer of The Bahnsen Group, a wealth management firm based in Newport Beach, California overseeing $4 billion in client's assets,  David is also a  thought leader, and author of Full-Time: Work and the Meaning of Life. David wants to challenge one of society’s most accepted myths: that success means eventually not working. David makes a bold, and deeply personal case for why work isn’t just a way to earn a living, but a core part of living well. Drawing from his career in finance and his passion for theology, philosophy, and purpose, we discuss how our jobs can become our expressions of dignity, identity, and meaning. David offers a different way of looking at work, especially for those feeling stuck or pressured to “have it all figured out.” Mic drop moments: "The dignity of work is completely egalitarian." "It is absolutely untrue that AI can ever replace virtue. "Work is the meaning of our life. "Human beings have a remarkable ability to really like being praised at what they do" "It is our responsibility to be producers, creators, and innovators." Want to skip ahead? Just tap the timestamps to dive into specific sections: 02:44 - David's new book is called Full Time Work and the Meaning of Life 12:33 - Let's talk about the fallacy of retirement 18:12 - Very few people in finance like you are openly religious 20:02 - There's been a movement with colleges to glamorize socialism 29:14 - You can't win a primary being sane 37:08 - Why people should focus on what they're good at Check out our website: https://meantforyoupod.com Reach out to us: meantforyoupod@gmail.com Follow us on IG

    39 min

  8. JUN 3

    Ada Palmer on Surviving the End of the World… Again and Again

    Ada Palmer, is a sci-fi writer, historian, and someone who sees the world with an incredibly rare, long lens. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the headlines, this episode might help. Ada believes we’re not living in a uniquely apocalyptic time—just a normally apocalyptic one. “We're living in a moment we must rise to, work hard on, do well where what we do matters,” she told me. “We have the ability to reduce 100% harm to 70% harm. We have that responsibility.” That line really stuck with us—because it’s so easy to feel powerless right now. But Ada’s message is the opposite: we do have agency, and what we do does matter. She also reminded us that fear isn’t new. “We are not more scared than our predecessors were 50 or 100 years ago. They were just as scared as we are. The stakes were just as high. The rewards of hard work were just as real. The penalties of messing up were just as disastrous.” Ada sees change not in election cycles, but in centuries. And that shift in perspective is powerful. We talk about why we need to stop chasing “total wins” and start celebrating the small, meaningful steps forward. Progress is almost always incremental, but that doesn’t make it any less real or important. From ancient Rome to climate policy, Ada brings in vivid historical parallels that made us see our moment differently. She doesn’t sugarcoat the challenges—we talk about the real stakes—but she offers something many of us arel craving: perspective, hope, and a reminder that we’ve come through hard things before. The part of our conversation that keeps echoing for us is this: Every generation has been called to save the world. They rose to the challenge. Now, it’s our turn.   🗣️ Quotes from Ada Palmer "We shouldn't think that we are living now in a uniquely apocalyptic moment. We're living in a normally apocalyptic moment." "Nothing is more similar to the future than the past." "Success isn't 100% victory. Success is mitigating the thing so that it's less bad when it happens." "Every generation has to save the world, and we can work hard at it and meet this occasion." Topics Discussed: 03:15 - Understanding the historical context of our current challenges 10:42 - The cyclical nature of apocalyptic moments throughout history 18:30 - Ada's journey as a historian and science fiction writer 25:50 - The impact of AI on society and the importance of policy 35:12 - How collective efforts can mitigate climate change 45:07 - The significance of partial victories in history 52:40 - Embracing resilience and responsibility in uncertain times   Check out our website: https://meantforyoupod.com Reach out to us: meantforyoupod@gmail.com Follow us on IG

    1h 2m
See All (150)

4.9
out of 5
104 Ratings

About

We believe we all have paths that are meant for us, but getting to a place where we are living a life we won't regret, while juggling the demands of our families and everything life throws at us is a daily saga. In each episode, we give you a new perspective or idea, introduce you to fascinating people, make you smile or help you realize you are never alone. When you are openminded, even the smallest shifts in mindset, can set you on a path that allows you to live your fullest life. We aim to give you the mindset shift that connects you to choices that feel meant for you. As moms, and news junkies, alongside books, philosophy, travel, culture and careers, we also cover current events. Our topics revolve around living a full life and finding the courage to reveal our true selves. Clarity comes through action, so we want to encourage you to take the next step. while not missing the beauty and lessons each day brings us. We discuss raising kids, travel, culture, spirituality, aging parents, books we have read, mental health, global affairs, the meaning of life and our latest Netflix binges because isn't that what you would talk about with your friends over wine? We are just getting started on our midlife adventures and excited for you to join the ride. Follow us on Instagram @meantforyoupod or reach out to us at meantforyoupod@gmail.com

Information

  • Creator
    Polina & Yelena
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2025
  • Episodes
    150
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Meant For You

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