The Empowered Millennials Podcast

We grew up watching the glow-ups. The fierce photoshoots. The dramatic speeches about “wanting this more than anyone else.” And of course, the iconic: “We were all rooting for you!” But what if the real story behind the scenes was far darker than the edit: What if the shows that raised us were quietly training us to tolerate dysfunction? What if what we were watching was abuse and psychological warfare packaged as female empowerment? The conversation goes beyond reality TV, unpacking how 2000s culture normalized humiliation, toxic authority, and suffering as strength as told through someone who lived it: Lisa D'Amato. Lisa D’amato is an international model, recording artist, television personality and Forbes inventor and entrepreneur. She first entered our living rooms as a contestant on America’s Next Top Model. She was young. Bold. Different. Unfiltered. And in an industry that rewards compliance, she stood out, making for great TV. What we saw on screen was competition.What we didn’t see were the power dynamics. And as Lisa calls it, Psychological warfare. In recent years, Lisa has been vocal about her experience behind the scenes. Now, we will be able to catch Lisa on the new documentary on E, Dirty Rotten Scandals, premiering March 11th. So buckle up. You know she has some shit say! Follow Lisa:https://www.instagram.com/lisa_damatohttps://www.instagram.com/lisa_damodelhttps://www.eonline.com/news/1427852/e-s-dirty-rotten-scandals-premiere-date-what-to-know Join the Single and Childfree Network:https://www.theangelagentile.com/scfnetwork Sponsors: Better Help: https://betterhelp.com/angelag MidiHealth: https://www.trymidi.com/angelag GET A WHIFFhttps://getawhiffco.com/Use code: ANGELA for 20% off Follow  socials:https://www.instagram.com/theangelagentile/https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredmillennials/https://tiktok.com/@theangelagentile   

If we learned anything from the Bad Bunny Super Bowl performance, it’s that representation isn’t just about visibility; it’s about belonging. Watching families wave flags, sing every word, and see themselves reflected on the biggest stage reminded us how powerful it is to feel seen, heard, and valued. The emotional truth of the human experience is universal: people want spaces where they don’t have to defend their existence. For single and childfree women, that often means navigating a world built around marriage and motherhood as the default, where our lives are questioned or misunderstood.In this episode, we explore why building community for SINK women isn’t niche — it’s necessary — and how being surrounded by likeminded women allows you to soften, exhale, and exist wholeheartedly in your joy. Your life is not a placeholder, and you deserve spaces where you truly belong. Join the Single and Childfree Network:https://www.theangelagentile.com/scfnetwork Sponsors: Better Help: https://betterhelp.com/angelag MidiHealth: https://www.trymidi.com/angelag GET A WHIFFhttps://getawhiffco.com/Use code: ANGELA for 20% off Follow  socials:https://www.instagram.com/theangelagentile/https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredmillennials/https://tiktok.com/@theangelagentile   

Practice self-devotion expert, Valentine Blue, a solo sex coach, intimacy mentor, and founder of OddBird, also known as the “blue fairy” guiding people back to themselves. Wake up from autopilot living, reclaim pleasure as an internal resource, and learn how to say FUCK YES to yourself. Valentine brings nearly a decade of experience in sexual health and pleasure advocacy, including harm-reduction work across Europe supporting sex workers and people living on society’s margins. Her work is rooted in the belief that sexuality is never just about sex, it’s about freedom, power, belonging, and choice.After a major identity reckoning in 2023, Valentine left her relationship, city, and career behind to backpack the world solo. That journey reshaped her life and led her to train as a certified sex coach and sexologist with the Sexual Health Alliance.Today, through OddBird, Valentine creates bold, playful, unapologetic spaces for curious, open-minded solos who are ready to explore pleasure, self-intimacy, and connection without waiting for a partner or permission.Follow Valentine and get the challenge:https://www.instagram.com/oddbirdbyblue/https://oddbird.pro/challengefreebiehttps://oddbird.pro/homehttps://oddbird.pro/link Join the Single and Childfree Network:https://www.theangelagentile.com/scfnetwork Sponsors: Better Help: https://betterhelp.com/angelag MidiHealth: https://www.trymidi.com/angelag GET A WHIFFhttps://getawhiffco.com/Use code: ANGELA for 20% off Follow  socials:https://www.instagram.com/theangelagentile/https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredmillennials/https://tiktok.com/@theangelagentile   

Pick me energy never yields what you think it will...and those who hold out will always find themselves in epic situations, like having drinks with pop icons, Danity Kane. Join the Single and Childfree Network:https://www.theangelagentile.com/scfnetwork Sponsors: Better Help: https://betterhelp.com/angelag MidiHealth: https://www.trymidi.com/angelag GET A WHIFFhttps://getawhiffco.com/Use code: ANGELA for 20% off Follow  socials:https://www.instagram.com/theangelagentile/https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredmillennials/https://tiktok.com/@theangelagentile   

This episode is a special live workshop recording that took place inside The Single and Childfree Network, where members joined in real time to listen, learn, and ask their most pressing questions about caring for aging parents. Barry J. Jacobs, PsyD, and Julia L. Mayer, PsyD, husband-and-wife psychologists who have spent over 30 years counseling family caregivers, and who also cared for their own aging parents for more than a decade, share their insight. They are the authors of The AARP Caregiver Answer Book, a compassionate, practical guide designed to help caregivers navigate everything from family conflict and care coordination to financial stress and end-of-life decisions.This conversation centers the often-overlooked experience of single and childfree women, who are frequently assumed to be the “obvious choice” for caregiving, without discussion, shared responsibility, or support. Together, we explore the emotional weight of caregiving, the family dynamics that complicate it, and the tools caregivers need to protect their mental health while advocating for their parents and themselves.The final portion of the recording features live audience Q&A, where members of the network asked real, situational questions—especially around doing this work alone, navigating resistant parents, managing sibling dynamics, and understanding legal and financial responsibilities.This episode is both a resource and a reminder: caregiving doesn’t have to mean self-erasure, and no one should have to figure it out in isolation.https://x.com/JuliaLMayer23https://loveandmeaning.com/about/https://www.linkedin.com/in/barry-jacobs-02ab9625/https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/experts/barry-jacobs/Get the AARP Caregiver Answer Book HERE Join the Single and Childfree Network:https://www.theangelagentile.com/scfnetwork Sponsors: Better Help: https://betterhelp.com/angelag MidiHealth: https://www.trymidi.com/angelag GET A WHIFFhttps://getawhiffco.com/Use code: ANGELA for 20% off Follow  socials:https://www.instagram.com/theangelagentile/https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredmillennials/https://tiktok.com/@theangelagentile   

To build deep connection and intimacy, regardless if it is a trip to Cuba, a partnership or someone we align with on the internet, we need a level of mutual vulnerability and reciprocity, not a one sided performance. Cuba was....something. Drawing from my recent trip there and the discomfort of experiencing something curated rather than real, I really wanted to share how this experience relates to this new found influencer status on social media and how true connection requires mutual vulnerability, not one-sided performance. I unpack the idea of connection: what it really is, and what it isn’t. We dive into parasocial relationships, why they form, how they can quietly disconnect us from ourselves, and how to engage with creators, and each other, in healthier, more human ways that foster self-trust, reciprocity, and genuine connection.Join us for Valentines day 2/14/26 for Self Love & Bougie Sh*t:www.theangelagentile.com/events Join the Single and Childfree Network:https://www.theangelagentile.com/scfnetwork Sponsors: Better Help: https://betterhelp.com/angelag MidiHealth: https://www.trymidi.com/angelag GET A WHIFFhttps://getawhiffco.com/Use code: ANGELA for 20% off Follow  socials:https://www.instagram.com/theangelagentile/https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredmillennials/https://tiktok.com/@theangelagentile   

The year 2025 is meant to wrap up old patterns, so that's exactly what we are going to do. This is the last episode it is hella personal. The Diddy Doc really stirred up some things in me around the ways I have been upholding men, protecting their stories and taking on what was never mine to begin with. In this deeply personal episode, I reflect on how the stories I told myself about love, loyalty, and being “chosen” kept me anchored to patterns that no longer served me. An unexpected reconnection with a woman from my past cracked open two decades of conditioning, clarity, and healing—and forced me to finally tell the truth about a relationship I had long romanticized.Because the greatest love story you will ever live isn’t about who you end end up with: it’s about who you become when you finally chose yourself. Join the Single and Childfree Network:https://www.theangelagentile.com/scfnetwork Sponsors: Better Help: https://betterhelp.com/angelag MidiHealth: https://www.trymidi.com/angelag GET A WHIFFhttps://getawhiffco.com/Use code: ANGELA for 20% off Follow  socials:https://www.instagram.com/theangelagentile/https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredmillennials/https://tiktok.com/@theangelagentile   

When you give a woman a microphone...you get razor-sharp satire, powerhouse vocals, permission to be BOLD and the comedic and musical genius that is Sarah Hester Ross. Sarah Hester Ross is an internationally touring cabaret artist, musical comedian, and viral social media creator whose blend of feminist fire, powerhouse vocals, and razor-sharp satire has earned her nearly 3 million followers and over 30 million streams. Her debut comedy special Don’t Mess With a Redhead (Comedy Dynamics) is streaming on Amazon, Apple TV, and beyond. She’s been featured on America’s Got Talent, The Doctor Demento Show, and she’s a multi–“Best of Las Vegas” award-winner for Comedian and One Woman Show.In this episode, we dive into:Sarah’s journey from classically trained musician to globally recognized comedy forceHow choosing a single and childfree life has shaped her voice, her career, and her creative freedomThe cultural double standards women still get saddled with—and how humor becomes a weapon and a releaseRedefining success on our own terms (and not through marriage or motherhood)Finding joy, connection, and meaning outside the “approved” life milestonesWhy making men mad can be a spiritual practice (you know I had to say it)If you’re a woman living outside the traditional script, or you’re simply exhausted by society’s obsession with what women “should” be doing with their lives—this episode is your new rally cry.Follow Sarah:https://www.sarahhesterross.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@sarahhesterrosshttps://www.instagram.com/sarahhesterross/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_1qnKSNzgGh0oo5zzz3gXghttps://music.apple.com/us/artist/sarah-hester-ross/1436204386https://open.spotify.com/artist/3G5WkIXbDxdNoGWHZbXDjI Join the Single and Childfree Network:https://www.theangelagentile.com/scfnetwork Sponsors: Better Help: https://betterhelp.com/angelag MidiHealth: https://www.trymidi.com/angelag GET A WHIFFhttps://getawhiffco.com/Use code: ANGELA for 20% off Follow  socials:https://www.instagram.com/theangelagentile/https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredmillennials/https://tiktok.com/@theangelagentile   

Let go of I HAVE TO because you can't force what you don't have to give. Sometimes you don't have it to give and that's ok! It doesn't need to be performative because whatever you are doing is enough. Maybe your worst is someone's best and you get to tone it down a notch. You have permission. Join the Single and Childfree Network:https://www.theangelagentile.com/scfnetwork Sponsors: Better Help: https://betterhelp.com/angelag MidiHealth: https://www.trymidi.com/angelag GET A WHIFFhttps://getawhiffco.com/Use code: ANGELA for 20% off Follow  socials:https://www.instagram.com/theangelagentile/https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredmillennials/https://tiktok.com/@theangelagentile   

Girl, get up! At just 25 years old, music producer Mikey Stone’s world shifted when he was diagnosed with ALS—a disease most people don’t expect to face so young. Since then, Mikey has been documenting his journey with raw honesty, becoming a powerful advocate for awareness, education, and funding for ALS research.In this deeply human and emotional conversation, Mikey shares his life before diagnosis, the OH SHIT moment when everything changed, and the internal battles he faced while trying to make sense of his new reality. Together, we explore the profound shifts that come with confronting mortality so young: the fragility of life, the urgency to live fully, and the duality of carrying both grief and joy.Through his advocacy, collaborations, and music, Mikey is proving that even in the hardest circumstances, life can still be lived with purpose, creativity, and presence. This episode is your reminder that none of us are promised forever and the time to live the fucking shit out of your life is now.Connect with Mikey:https://www.instagram.com/mikeystonemusic/https://www.mikeystonemusic.com/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-b3dzCOnZU&t=1s Join the Single and Childfree Network:https://www.theangelagentile.com/scfnetwork Sponsors: Better Help: https://betterhelp.com/angelag MidiHealth: https://www.trymidi.com/angelag GET A WHIFFhttps://getawhiffco.com/Use code: ANGELA for 20% off Follow  socials:https://www.instagram.com/theangelagentile/https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredmillennials/https://tiktok.com/@theangelagentile   

Support uplifts. Enabling anchors. One teaches people to swim; the other ties a weight around your own neck and jumps in after them.As a life-long fix-it friend, I am often called upon to do things, support and uplift, not alongside of someone, but in front of them doing the work, enabling them to opt out of growth. I want to support and share in empowerment, not be put to work. Being supportive doesn’t mean being self-sacrificial. It means loving people enough to hold them accountable, even when it’s uncomfortable.You can say no and still be kind.You can pull back and still care.You can stop rescuing someone and still love them deeply.Because the most supportive thing you can do for a friend is believe in their capacity to take care of themselves.Join us in Morocco:https://www.lauraericson.com/travel-morocco-angela-2026 Join the Single and Childfree Network:https://www.theangelagentile.com/scfnetwork Sponsors: Better Help: https://betterhelp.com/angelag MidiHealth: https://www.trymidi.com/angelag GET A WHIFFhttps://getawhiffco.com/Use code: ANGELA for 20% off Follow  socials:https://www.instagram.com/theangelagentile/https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredmillennials/https://tiktok.com/@theangelagentile   

In today’s episode, we sit down with Dezaray, The Outspoken Adoptee, a domestic private infant adoptee adopted transracially in 1976. Left in a hospital by her biological family due to racial and religious biases, Dezaray grew up in a home that taught children to “be seen, not heard.”In this conversation, she shares the challenges of growing up unseen, the abuse she endured, and the moment she reclaimed her voice. We dive deep into the adoption system, its flaws, and the personal and societal impact it has on children. Dezaray’s story is raw, honest, and empowering—a reminder that your voice always matters.Whether you’re child-free, thinking about adoption, or simply want to hear a story of resilience and triumph, this episode will challenge what you think you know and inspire you to stand in your truth.Follow Dezaray:https://www.instagram.com/theoutspokenadoptee/https://www.theoutspokenadoptee.com/Join us in Morocco:https://www.lauraericson.com/travel-morocco-angela-2026 Join the Single and Childfree Network:https://www.theangelagentile.com/scfnetwork Sponsors: Better Help: https://betterhelp.com/angelag MidiHealth: https://www.trymidi.com/angelag GET A WHIFFhttps://getawhiffco.com/Use code: ANGELA for 20% off Follow  socials:https://www.instagram.com/theangelagentile/https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredmillennials/https://tiktok.com/@theangelagentile   

Taking the trip isn’t about having the perfect savings account or unlimited time off — it’s about aligning your actions with what you truly want. In this hype tip, I invite you to think about how you can start making space for the adventures on your heart. When you decide your joy and experiences are non-negotiable, you’ll find creative ways to make them happen. The trip isn’t just about travel — it’s about choosing yourself and the life you want to live. Join the Single and Childfree Network:https://www.theangelagentile.com/scfnetwork Sponsors: Better Help: https://betterhelp.com/angelag MidiHealth: https://www.trymidi.com/angelag GET A WHIFFhttps://getawhiffco.com/Use code: ANGELA for 20% off Follow  socials:https://www.instagram.com/theangelagentile/https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredmillennials/https://tiktok.com/@theangelagentile   

Today on The Empowered Millennials Podcast, I’m chatting with Lucy Meggeson—a powerhouse advocate for single women everywhere. Lucy is the author of Shiny Happy Single (Thrive Solo in the U.S.), host of the Thrive Solo Podcast, and creator of the Thrive Solo community. She helps women embrace independence, challenge societal expectations, and build extraordinary lives on their own terms.In this conversation, we cover:Lucy’s personal journey as a single, childfree woman and what inspired her work.How to redefine happiness beyond the traditional milestones of marriage and couplehood.Breaking outdated narratives about singlehood and societal stereotypes.Practical ways to prioritize your own passions, goals, and freedom.The importance of community and connection for women living life solo.Whether you’re single, childfree, or just looking to claim your life unapologetically, this episode is full of honest, thought-provoking insights—and a little fun too.https://www.lucymeggeson.com/ Join the Single and Childfree Network:https://www.theangelagentile.com/scfnetwork Sponsors: Better Help: https://betterhelp.com/angelag MidiHealth: https://www.trymidi.com/angelag GET A WHIFFhttps://getawhiffco.com/Use code: ANGELA for 20% off Follow  socials:https://www.instagram.com/theangelagentile/https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredmillennials/https://tiktok.com/@theangelagentile   

When a friend gets pregnant, we’re expected to be nothing but happy for them. And while we are happy, what’s rarely acknowledged is the grief that bubbles underneath: the fear of being left behind, the pain of losing the friendship as it once was, and the silence childfree women carry as we quietly mourn what we didn’t choose to lose. In this episode, I name that truth out loud: it’s okay to feel sadness, anger, and even resentment alongside joy. It doesn’t make you a bad friend. It makes you human.Together, we’ll unpack why pregnancy is one of the few life changes where our grief isn’t validated, and I’ll walk you through what to do with those feelings: from naming your grief, to redefining (or releasing) friendships, to building communities and milestones of your own. If you’ve ever felt invisible as your closest friends step into motherhood while you remain childfree, this episode will remind you that you are not the last one left behind. You are a pioneer carving out a powerful new way of living and connecting, and your life deserves to be celebrated just as much. Join the Single and Childfree Network:https://www.theangelagentile.com/scfnetwork Sponsors: Better Help: https://betterhelp.com/angelag MidiHealth: https://www.trymidi.com/angelag GET A WHIFFhttps://getawhiffco.com/Use code: ANGELA for 20% off Follow  socials:https://www.instagram.com/theangelagentile/https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredmillennials/https://tiktok.com/@theangelagentile   

In this episode, we sit down with Nathalie Huerta, founder of The Queer Gym—the first first nationally recognized LGBTQ-friendly fitness haven in Oakland, CA, built to heal what traditional gyms broke. Nathalie shares her candid story of exclusion, empowerment, and the radical choices that turned a healing space into a revolution in fitness culture. She is committed to making "happy, healthy, homos."This episode is about fitness and getting healthy, but more so about soul, belonging, and reimagining what fitness—and healing—can look like for a community built to thrive.Follow Nathalie:https://www.instagram.com/thequeergym/https://www.thequeergym.com/https://www.thequeergym.com/meetthequeergymJoin the Single & Childfree Network:https://www.theangelagentile.com/scfnetwork Join the Single and Childfree Network:https://www.theangelagentile.com/scfnetwork Sponsors: Better Help: https://betterhelp.com/angelag MidiHealth: https://www.trymidi.com/angelag GET A WHIFFhttps://getawhiffco.com/Use code: ANGELA for 20% off Follow  socials:https://www.instagram.com/theangelagentile/https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredmillennials/https://tiktok.com/@theangelagentile   

If a kid sneezes in your face, don't blame the kid or even the parent. Rather, get yourself a flow chart to decide if you should even be there in the first place. If you are going to hang out with mom friends and their kids, there is a level of discernment that you use so that you are resolute in your boundaries. It is important to have as much info as possible to make the best, most informed decision for yourself and your life. Join the Single and Childfree Network:https://www.theangelagentile.com/scfnetwork Join the Single and Childfree Network:https://www.theangelagentile.com/scfnetwork Sponsors: Better Help: https://betterhelp.com/angelag MidiHealth: https://www.trymidi.com/angelag GET A WHIFFhttps://getawhiffco.com/Use code: ANGELA for 20% off Follow  socials:https://www.instagram.com/theangelagentile/https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredmillennials/https://tiktok.com/@theangelagentile   

We deserve to feel alive and experience more joy, every day. From navigating grief, addiction, and death anxiety to embracing her calling as an “INSPIRER,” Kate shares how the darkest moments became catalysts for joy and presence. Together, we explore what it means to go beyond the ordinary, make bold choices, and infuse everyday life with courage and aliveness. Kate's mission is to help people live more alive. Her work empowers leaders, teams, and individuals to break free from decision paralysis, stop settling for the ordinary, and cultivate an undercurrent of aliveness in their daily lives. In our conversation, Kate shares her turning points, the everyday practices that help us live more alive, and how to find courage when fear feels like the loudest voice in the room. If you’ve ever felt stuck, scared to take a leap, or disconnected from joy, this episode is your invitation to choose boldness, presence, and a life that feels vibrantly alive.Follow Kate:https://www.instagram.com/thealivekatehttps://www.katemanser.com/Join The Single & Childfree Network:https://www.theangelagentile.com/scfnetworkBook Your Spot to Morocco:https://www.lauraericson.com/travel-morocco-angela-2026 Join the Single and Childfree Network:https://www.theangelagentile.com/scfnetwork Sponsors: Better Help: https://betterhelp.com/angelag MidiHealth: https://www.trymidi.com/angelag GET A WHIFFhttps://getawhiffco.com/Use code: ANGELA for 20% off Follow  socials:https://www.instagram.com/theangelagentile/https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredmillennials/https://tiktok.com/@theangelagentile   

For years, I’ve had fun, sometimes wild but mostly unremarkable, one-night stands—from the pedicab driver who left a bike in my bedroom to the man in Hawaii who accidentally threw away my contacts. My trip to Mallorca, Spain this summer was incredible for so many reasons: from the people I met to the man who unlocked something in me and ended my sad girl era. I am ready for vulnerability, raising my standards, ending my sad girl era, and stepping into life that matches the joy and strength I’ve cultivated. Here's to leaving behind the wrong city and people and the letting in the right people in the right place. Join the Single and Childfree Network:https://www.theangelagentile.com/scfnetworkTake the Adventure with SINKshttps://www.lauraericson.com/travel-morocco-angela-2026 Join the Single and Childfree Network:https://www.theangelagentile.com/scfnetwork Sponsors: Better Help: https://betterhelp.com/angelag MidiHealth: https://www.trymidi.com/angelag GET A WHIFFhttps://getawhiffco.com/Use code: ANGELA for 20% off Follow  socials:https://www.instagram.com/theangelagentile/https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredmillennials/https://tiktok.com/@theangelagentile   

What does financial planning look like when you’re single and child-free? How do you prepare for your future, make smart money decisions, and design a life of freedom when you’re not following the traditional path?In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jay Zigmont, Certified Financial Planner™ and founder of Childfree Wealth, who specializes in helping child-free individuals and couples create a financial plan aligned with their unique lives. Dr. Jay shares why child-free adults need a different approach to money management, and how to:Redefine wealth and success outside of traditional milestonesBuild security and confidence on a single incomePlan for the future with wills, estate planning, and long-term careInvest wisely so your money continues to work for youAlign your money choices with the life you truly wantIf you’ve ever wondered how to make empowered financial choices as a single, child-free millennial, this episode is full of clarity, strategy, and encouragement.Follow Dr Jay:https://childfreewealth.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayzigmontJoin the Single and Childfree Network:https://www.theangelagentile.com/scfnetworkAdventure with SINKS: Morocco 2026:https://www.lauraericson.com/travel-morocco-angela-2026 Join the Single and Childfree Network:https://www.theangelagentile.com/scfnetwork Sponsors: Better Help: https://betterhelp.com/angelag MidiHealth: https://www.trymidi.com/angelag GET A WHIFFhttps://getawhiffco.com/Use code: ANGELA for 20% off Follow  socials:https://www.instagram.com/theangelagentile/https://www.instagram.com/theempoweredmillennials/https://tiktok.com/@theangelagentile