Late to the Party with Sophie Ragir

Sophie Ragir
  • 5.0 (12)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Biweekly

Late to the Party is for anyone who feels a little behind in love, work, or life, or is growing into something new. Hosted by coach and writer Sophie Ragir, the show features candid, funny, deeply human conversations about career pivots, dating later, grief, identity shifts, and the strange, beautiful process of starting over. Some weeks center on personal reinvention, and others widen into conversations about relationships, culture, and the world. At its core, it's just a space for good conversations with cool humans about being alive. If you've ever wondered whether you missed your moment, or felt like everyone else got the memo except you, this podcast is your reminder: you didn't, and you're not alone. Come hang.

  1. Sep 30

    Safe Enough to Have Fun with Liz Plank

    We have the extraordinary Liz Plank on the pod this week!!! Host of the podcast Boy Problems, author of For the Love of Men, and writer of the substack Airplane Mode, Liz is a powerhouse and one of my favorite people to talk to about, well, everything, and this conversation did not disappoint. We talk about what it feels like to arrive at a life you never thought was possible for you, the accumulated lore of dating in your late 30s (and the insanity of the early 2010s), and how we learn to build evidence for new ways of being that help disrupt the old patterns. Liz has a boyfriend (!!) and we discuss what it's like to step into the relationship you wanted after years of being in the dating trenches. We get into acceptance versus resistance, outsourcing your self-esteem, the ways we scare ourselves, and what it means to finally feel safe enough to have fun. Plus: GUS, gratitude, the patriarchy robbing us of our ability to play, and why choosing the fun option is almost always the right one. Liz is truly queen of the podcast, and her willingness to be so honest and funny is something I deeply admire. This one felt like exactly the kind of conversation I started this podcast to have. I hope you love it!! xx We recorded this a few weeks ago, but it feels right on time to be releasing it in the midst of what is happening in our country. In this week's intro I talk about the divine wisdom of our rage, specifically what is being ignited by the Cornell Seven. I highly encourage everyone to dive deeper into Liz's work if you're looking for somewhere to land.   Follow Liz: IG: @feministabulous substack: airplane mode listen to boy problems here buy for the love of men here   Follow me: IG: @sophragir substack: permission slip TikTok: @sophragir   Follow the show: YouTube: @LateToThePartyWithSophieRagir IG: @latetotheparty_pod TikTok: @latetotheparty_pod

  2. Sep 16

    One Foot In Front of the Other with Suzanne Lerner

    Today we're joined by a very special guest — my dearest and beloved Suzanne Lerner. Suzanne is the co-founder and CEO of contemporary fashion brand Michael Stars, which she founded with her late husband Michael Cohen over 40 years ago. She is a lifelong activist, philanthropist, and champion of gender and racial equity through her personal giving and the Michael Stars Foundation. She sits on more boards and advisory committees than I can count, has ensured critical stories get told through documentary film, and has been at the frontline of issues that weren't yet cool or popular to care about for decades. Finally, finally, we have a wise elder on the pod. We talk about dropping out of college, traveling the world alone in the '70s, building a business from nothing, navigating a long and complicated marriage, and slowing down and doing nothing for the first time in her life. We get into failure as a form of growth, the power of uncertainty, what it means to rebuild your identity when the work that defined you starts to fall away, and why intergenerational relationships might be one of the most underrated things we can invest in. Plus: the power of a very strong handshake, and why our lives can keep getting bigger, more interesting, and more free as we grow into ourselves. Enjoy!! xx   Follow Suzanne: IG: @suzannelerner LinkedIn: @suzannelerner www.suzannelerner.com www.michaealstars.com   Follow me: IG: @sophragir Substack: permission slip TikTok: @sophragir   Follow the show: YouTube: @LateToThePartyWithSophieRagir IG: @latetotheparty_pod TikTok: @latetotheparty_pod

  3. Sep 2

    We're Not F*cked with Ben Sheehan

    PSA! We have Ben Sheehan on the pod today -- civic educator, author of What Does the Constitution Actually Say?, host of PBS's Civics Made Easy, and a dear friend I've known for a long time (we built something really cool together in 2018). Like so many of our guests, Ben is another really cool example of a non-linear path that alchemizes into something that could only have been built by him. This episode is for anyone who feels behind in understanding how our government actually works and what the f*ck we're supposed to be doing right now. Ben has spent years making civics genuinely accessible and digestible for people who feel embarrassed about not knowing how any of this works (spoiler: because it was never properly taught to us). We talk about shame around not knowing how government works, what you can actually do right now that isn't just doomscrolling, and why local and state elections matter way more than most of us realize. Ben breaks down the roles of government officials you may not be paying attention to, makes a really compelling case for why we are not f****d, and gives genuinely useful, practical guidance for anyone who wants to participate but doesn't know where to start. This one feels necessary right now. Enjoy!! xx   Follow Ben: IG: @bensheehan Substack: Politics Made Easy   Follow me: IG: @sophragir Substack: permission slip TikTok: @sophragir   Follow the show: YouTube: @LateToThePartyWithSophieRagir IG: @latetotheparty_pod TikTok: @latetotheparty_pod

  4. Aug 19

    Everything is an Experiment with Alex Neiman

    We're joined by Alex Neiman — marketer, brand consultant, coach, and my literal oldest friend (we met in preschool at age 2 or 3, so...). Alex spent years in performance marketing, including a stint at a company that exited for a billion dollars, before starting to post online in July 2025 and building a following by demystifying what agencies charge a lot of money to do. We talk about what it actually feels like to start creating content from scratch — the cringe, the self-indulgence, the fear of looking foolish — and why treating every single post as an experiment rather than a referendum on your worth makes all teh difference. Per Alex, virality is a vanity metric, 1k real followers beats 100k disengaged ones, and there is a way to build something online without losing your values in the algorithm. We also talk about curiosity as a gift AND a cover for insecurity, the difference between should and want, and how to actually rest when you're exhausted. This one genuinely feels like catching up with an old friend (probably because it is). Enjoy!! xx Follow Alex: IG: @neimansview   Follow me: IG: @sophragir Substack: permission slip TikTok: @sophragir *read my essay about bo burnham, content & collective grief   Follow the show: YouTube: @LateToThePartyWithSophieRagir IG: @latetotheparty_pod TikTok: @latetotheparty_pod

  5. Aug 5

    Romance is the Taylor Swift of Literature with Joss Richard

    If you listen to the pod, you know I am an avid romance reader, and this week we are joined by one of my favorite romance authors, Joss Richard. Joss is the author of the bestselling It's Different This Time, and her new book Let's Kiss and Tell comes out August 11th — I am a fan in the most unbiased way possible. We talk about how Joss went from writing Sound of Music fan fiction at 11 to becoming a bestselling author, and how every job and chapter alchemized into exactly where she was supposed to be. But honestly the thing I find most inspiring about Joss's story is that she just did something she loved, with no expectation of where it would go, and it became a career she never imagined was possible. We also talk creativity, detachment, what happens when a dream comes true faster than you expected, changing identities, the infamous romance novel book club (joy and play is everything!), and we make a very passionate case for why everyone should be reading romance novels. As always, enjoy!! xx   Follow Joss: IG: @joss.richard Let's Kiss and Tell tour dates + tickets here Pre-order Let's Kiss and Tell Order It's Different This Time   Follow me: IG: @sophragir Substack: permission slip Read my guest substack of romance recommendations TikTok: @sophragir   Follow the show: YouTube: @LateToThePartyWithSophieRagir IG: @latetotheparty_pod TikTok: @latetotheparty_pod

  6. Jul 22

    Flirting w/ Life Itself with Michaela d'Artois (Part 2)

    We're back for part 2 with the wonderful Michaela d'Artois and this three hour (across 2 eps) conversation is the gift that keeps on giving. We really get into it this episode - flirting (how do we actually do it, why people aren't doing it, and what we can do about it), the specific information we each need to connect to our most erotic selves, nervous system regulation, how growing into yourself is an act of rebellion, and why your dating pool gets smaller and better the more you know yourself. I share a lot more about my own experience working with Michaela and how working with her has transformed my relationship with myself, desire, and intimacy. ps I get to do my very first unboxing on the pod, because gift giving really is a love language :)  Michaela is so wise and wonderful and I could (clearly) talk to her forever. Per usual, enjoy! xx   If you are listening to this the day it comes out (July 22, 2026) come hang with us TONIGHT at Wing Woman Wednesday! Get tickes for Michaela's workshop Rewriting the Erotic Self @ Tea at Shiloh on July 27th here Read my guest essay on Michaela's Substack   Follow Michaela: IG: @michaeladartois @inner.eros Substack: Inner Monolgue TikTok: @inner.eros www.innereros.com   Follow me: IG: @sophragir Substack: permission slip TikTok: @sophragir   Follow the show: YouTube: @LateToThePartyWithSophieRagir IG: @latetotheparty_pod TikTok: @latetotheparty_pod

  7. Jul 8

    Giving Yourself Permission with Michaela d'Artois

    Cue: "Let's Talk About Sex" by Salt N Pepa. This week we're joined by the wonderful Michaela d'Artois - certified sexologist, intimacy coach, and glorious human. Michaela and I gabbed for so long, this is our first ever two-part conversation! We talk about her career pivot into sexology and how every weird job, side project, and skill she ever had alchemized to land her exactly where she was supposed to be. We get into the stories we tell ourselves about who we are in relationships, the patterns that keep us safe, where they come from, why they're there, and what it actually takes to shift them. I share honestly about my own experience working with Michaela and we talk about desire, permission, self-worth, what true confidence actually is, FLIRTING, and the power of making great eye contact. If you, like me, have ever felt like a late bloomer in this area (maybe the most universal experience there is), this episode is for you. Michaela is so wise and fun and I couldn't love this conversation more. Stay til the end to hear about a very fun live event we are co-hosting in LA on July 22, plus part 2 coming in two weeks. xx   Follow Michaela: IG: @michaeladartois @inner.eros Substack: Inner Monolgue TikTok: @inner.eros https://www.innereros.com Join us for Wing Woman Wednesday on July 22nd Rewriting the Erotic Self @ Tea at Shiloh on July 27th tickets here   Follow me: IG: @sophragir Substack: permission slip TikTok: @sophragir *follow me and Michaela for more info about Wing Woman Wednesday on July 22 in Los Angeles   Follow the show: YouTube: @LateToThePartyWithSophieRagir IG: @latetotheparty_pod TikTok: @latetotheparty_pod

  8. Jun 17

    Love Well, Fight Well, Human Well with Kacie Carter Chamberlayne

    This week's episode with Kacie Carter Chamberlayne is the kind of conversation I dreamed of having when I launched this podcast. I am — and I cannot stress this enough — obsessed with this convo, and have been referencing it IRL ever since we recorded. Kacie is the host of I Can Only Speak for Myself, founder of the beloved LA restaurant Honey Hi, and one of my favorite humans to talk to about the hard work of being a human. This is an incredibly honest and personal conversation (Kacie tells a particularly powerful story about her son and how we model being more human with our children) and we get into perfectionism, the dark side of self-improvement, what the kind of relationships we want to have actually requires, and what happens when we're willing to be seen in the parts of ourselves we most want to hide. We talk about fallability, making mistakes, rupture and repair, shadow work, and why conflict is the cost of intimacy. I hope you walk away feeling a little less alone and with some tangible resources around codependency, people pleasing, the addiction to being liked, letting relationships end, and fostering deeper connection with yourself and others. This conversation is very very special and I feel particularly grateful to share this one with you guys xx Follow Kacie: IG: @kaciecarter Substack: I Can Only Speak for Myself Podcsat: I Can Only Speak for Myself   Follow me: IG: @sophragir Substack: permission slip TikTok: @sophragir   Follow the show: YouTube: @LateToThePartyWithSophieRagir IG: @latetotheparty_pod TikTok: @latetotheparty_pod

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5
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12 Ratings

About

Late to the Party is for anyone who feels a little behind in love, work, or life, or is growing into something new. Hosted by coach and writer Sophie Ragir, the show features candid, funny, deeply human conversations about career pivots, dating later, grief, identity shifts, and the strange, beautiful process of starting over. Some weeks center on personal reinvention, and others widen into conversations about relationships, culture, and the world. At its core, it's just a space for good conversations with cool humans about being alive. If you've ever wondered whether you missed your moment, or felt like everyone else got the memo except you, this podcast is your reminder: you didn't, and you're not alone. Come hang.

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