We Gotta Talk: News, Issues, and Beauty for Women

Sonni Abatta

An issues-based, deep dive news and culture podcast where the motto is Real Talk, Big Topics. Hosted by Emmy-nominated and AP News Award-winning journalist and television host Sonni Abatta, We Gotta Talk features guests on a variety of topics in the news, pop culture, wellness and spiritual space who will inform, entertain and inspire. Let's talk!

  1. 18h ago

    347: What Your Skin Actually Needs After 40, with Celebrity Esthetician and Founder Angela Caglia

    What does our skin actually need after 40—and how much of what we’ve been told about aging is just really good marketing? In this episode, I’m talking with celebrity esthetician and skincare founder Angela Caglia, who has spent 30 years working hands-on with women’s skin, including some very famous faces. Her client list has included Barbra Streisand, Amal Clooney, Helena Christensen, Alexandra Daddario and more. Angela has a refreshingly simple philosophy when it comes to aging--less is more. We talk about what physically changes in the skin during our 40s and beyond, why she thinks women are overdoing it with skincare, and the rise of regenerative beauty—including the science behind her human stem cell-derived skincare line. Angela also shares some advice that may make you rethink your entire routine: why many women over 40 should consider not washing their face in the morning, what she recommends instead, and why she believes we don't necessarily need the long lineup of retinol, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and peptide serums we've been conditioned to buy. But this conversation goes much deeper than skincare. Angela opens up about being told by a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon—at just 52—that she needed a facelift, and why that experience made her question the increasingly aggressive way cosmetic procedures are being marketed to younger women. We talk about the pressure to look perpetually young, the influence of social media, and why sometimes the most powerful anti-aging advice is simply learning to look in the mirror and appreciate the face staring back at you. We talk: What actually happens to our skin after 40 Why shifting hormones, collagen, elastin and sebum matter The biggest mistakes Angela sees women making with skincare Why she believes many routines contain too many actives What “regenerative skincare” actually means Exosomes, growth factors and human stem cell-derived skincare Whether regenerative products can replace retinol and vitamin C Angela’s surprisingly minimal morning skincare routine Why she tells many women over 40 to skip the morning cleanse Her preferred approach to sunscreen—and the SPF she personally uses Why she recommends oil cleansing at night The beauty treatments and trends she thinks women should approach cautiously The push toward younger facelifts—and Angela’s own experience being told she needed one Why she thinks fillers may be falling out of favor The danger of chasing unregulated beauty and wellness treatments abroad “Skin listening” and learning to stop comparing your face to everyone else’s Weight training, walking and the wellness habits Angela prioritizes at 54 Starting her company at 45 and building it into a multimillion-dollar business Why she believes it’s never too late to start something new I tried--and LOVED--the Angela Caglia Cell Forté Serum, which you can find here!

  2. Aug 9

    346: Why Antisemitism is Never Just About Jews: The History--and Persistence--of Antisemitism in America, with Historian and Author Pamela Nadell

    Antisemitism is often treated as something that belongs to another time and place—Nazi Germany, the Holocaust, or centuries-old persecution in Europe. Moreover, it's also often framed as something only Jews should worry about. But historian Pamela S. Nadell argues that antisemitism has a much longer—and much more American—history than many of us realize... and history shows us that its poison often bleeds into other communities, as well. Pamela is an award-winning historian, professor and the Patrick Clendenen Chair in Women’s and Gender History at American University, and author of Antisemitism, an American Tradition. In this episode, we trace antisemitism from its centuries-old roots to its evolution in America—and ask what that history can teach us about the moment we're living through now. We talk: How antisemitism evolved from medieval Europe to early America The Rothschilds, Henry Ford and the rise of antisemitic conspiracy theories How antisemitism became embedded in American institutions and culture Why post-WWII America became a relative “golden age” for American Jews—and what changed The Tree of Life massacre, October 7 and today’s “high tide” of antisemitism What Zionism actually means—and when anti-Zionism crosses into antisemitism Antisemitism on college campuses and across the political right and left How social media gives centuries-old antisemitic ideas new life Why antisemitism is never just about Jews—and what its rise can tell us about a society You can find Antisemitism, an American Tradition—winner of the 2025 National Jewish Book Award for American Jewish Studies—HERE.

  3. Apr 16

    345: What Good Sex Looks Like, with Intimacy Expert and Susan Bratton

    Today, we’re stepping away from the heavy news cycle and talking about something just as important: your relationships, your intimacy, and what actually makes a sex life better over time. I’m joined by Susan Bratton, who’s spent decades helping people build deeper connection and more fulfilling relationships. Her approach goes beyond surface-level advice and dives into understanding your body, your partner, and how communication shapes everything. We get into why so many couples feel stuck, how cultural messaging has shaped what we expect from sex, and why curiosity and honesty are the real game changers. We talk: + What is the “sexual soulmate pact?” + Why you should have a sex life bucket list + Why communication is the foundation of great intimacy + The difference between “sex” and orgasmic intimacy + Why desire changes in long-term relationships—and what to do about it+ The power of a “sex life bucket list”+ How radical honesty strengthens connection+ Why intimacy can improve with age Connect with Susan at the links below: BetterLover.com SusanBratton.com Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Linkedin

  4. Apr 6

    344: The Battle for Your Beliefs: Cognitive Warfare and How Your Mind Is Being Shaped Online, with Intelligence Analyst Travis Hawley

    What if the biggest threat we’re facing right now… isn’t physical, but mental? In this episode, I sat down with cyber intelligence analyst Travis Hawley to talk about something called cognitive warfare—and once you understand it, you won’t be able to unsee it. We get into how narratives are shaped online, how bots and fake accounts actually work, and why even real information is now being dismissed as fake if it doesn’t fit someone’s worldview. It’s a conversation about the internet, yes—but also about human nature. Why we want to be right. Why we cling to our beliefs. And why doing the work to think critically has never been more important. We talk: + How information is used to shape public opinion in real time + The difference between misinformation and disinformation (and why intent matters) + What’s actually happening behind the scenes on social media. Travis also explains how to spot fake accounts, bots, and AI-generated content, and we dig into why people reject truth—even when it’s right in front of them. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to figure out what’s real, this episode is for you.

  5. Feb 18

    343: Is America in Its Pluto Return? Astrology, Upheaval & the Next 20 Years with Astrologer and NASA Scientist Jill Brown

    The headlines feel relentless right now—political upheaval, cultural polarization, global uncertainty. What if we zoomed out and asked, What do the stars say about America in this moment? In this episode, I sit down with astrologer and former NASA research scientist Jill Brown to explore whether there’s a larger pattern unfolding, and what astrology might offer as a framework for understanding this moment. We talk about America’s "Pluto Return," free will, civic engagement, polarization, discipline, and how to stay grounded in chaotic times. We also cover: What a “Pluto Return” actually means for the U.S. Why 2026 could feel like a cultural turning point The difference between rebellion and reform How technology fuels polarization Why local civic engagement may matter more than national outrage What your birth chart (beyond your sun sign) can reveal about you How “Chiron” represents wounds that can become wisdom The intersection of science, spirituality, and personal agency

  6. Feb 4

    342: Can Independent Media Do What Institutional Media Won't? Trust, Truth & the Future of Journalism with Stella Inger-Escobedo

    In this episode, I sit down with journalist Stella Inger-Escobedo to unpack the growing divide between independent media and traditional institutions. Drawing on her background as a former TV news anchor and a Soviet Jewish refugee, Stella explains how lived experience shapes the questions journalists ask — and the stories they’re willing to tell. We talk about trust, objectivity, propaganda, and why so many audiences are turning away from legacy outlets in search of something more honest. This is a conversation about who journalism is really for — and who holds power now. Find Stella on Instagram HERE.

  7. Jan 29

    341: Watching Iran from Afar: A Refugee’s Daughter Explains Iran’s Fight for Freedom

    This week I talk with Nikki Namdar--a member of the Iranian diaspora and the daughter of parents who fled Iran around the 1979 revolution--about what it feels like to watch Iran’s unrest from an ocean away. Nikki shares her family’s story of escape, grief, and longing for a homeland they may never be able to return to, and explains why so many in the diaspora feel erased in Western conversations about the region. We also discuss how social media shapes what Americans believe about global conflicts, why nuance feels “punished” online, and what “best case” scenario could look like for Iran--a future where the country remains intact, but free.

  8. Jan 12

    340: From Purity Culture to Polyamory, with Author Courtney Boyer

    Courtney Boyer and her husband were married for 17 years when she had a wild idea--what if they had a threesome? When her husband rejects the idea, the conversation takes a turn and they end up in totally new territory, with the agreement that Courtney can have relations--and relationships--with other men. Years after making a decision that opens her up to a whole new world, she sits down with me to talk about what polyamory really is, and how it's made her life better. Check out Courtney's book, "Opened," HERE, and connect with her coaching services and more info about her HERE.

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About

An issues-based, deep dive news and culture podcast where the motto is Real Talk, Big Topics. Hosted by Emmy-nominated and AP News Award-winning journalist and television host Sonni Abatta, We Gotta Talk features guests on a variety of topics in the news, pop culture, wellness and spiritual space who will inform, entertain and inspire. Let's talk!

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