Girls Gotta Eat

Warning: This episode may make you feel things. We absolutely loved talking with author/poet Josie Balka ahead of her debut book about everything from body image to exes to friendship. We discuss how no one cares what you look like in a swimsuit, why the people who didn’t want you stick with you more than partners who did, reflective questions to ask yourself after a first date, that one person in your life you wish you never met, and why friendship breakups can be harder than romantic breakups. She also opens up about her fiancé, and we discuss our own past and present relationships. Before Josie joins us, Rayna shares friend behavior that should be straight to jail, and Ashley tells the tale of the woman who walked out of her standup show. Enjoy! Follow Josie on Instagram @josiebalka and Tiktok @josiebalka and order her book I Hope You Remember.  Follow us on Instagram @girlsgottaeatpodcast, Ashley @ashhess, and Rayna @rayna.greenberg. Visit girlsgottaeat.com for more. Thank you to our partners this week: Quince: Get free shipping and 365-day returns on your next order at https://quince.com/GGE. Nutrafol: Get $10 off your first month’s subscription and free shipping when you subscribe at https://nutrafol.com with code GGE10. ZBiotics: Get 15% off your first order at https://zbiotics.com/gge with code GGE. Helix: Get 27% off sitewide + a free bedding bundle with any Luxe or Elite mattress order at https://helixsleep.com/gge. Pretty Litter: Get 20% off your first order + a free cat toy at https://prettylitter.com

Welcome back to The Snack – a lighter serving of Girls Gotta Eat. This week, we’re talking about: Who is Sydney Sweeney dating? Met Gala recap + fave looks Bill Belichick and JordOn Hudson’s Dunkin’ drama Blake Lively pizza-gate  Running influencer White House controversy The Delco Pooper Headlines: Beckham feud, Luigi Mangione musical, Nick Cannon’s balls, Lady Gaga record concert Follow us on Instagram @girlsgottaeatpodcast, Ashley @ashhess, and Rayna @rayna.greenberg. Visit girlsgottaeat.com for more. Thank you to our partners this week: Liquid IV: Get 20% off your first order at https://liquidiv.com with code GGE. Addyi: Learn more at https://addyi.com. Bilt: Get points by paying rent at https://joinbilt.com/GGE. Simply Pop: Go to https://cokeurl.com/simplypop to find out where you can try Simply Pop.

Put this episode on if you want to get fired up (in the best way). We loved having author and influencer Drew Afualo in the studio going all the way off about the patriarchy and taking no shit from men (on the internet and IRL). She shares her journey of working in sports, getting fired (like all the cool girls do), and how she found her voice and created the platform she has today. She discusses how we all start out as Pick Me Girls, dating men when you hate men, the fallacy of the “leftover woman,” how to be more brave and find your voice, the one tip she has for anyone who wants to be an influencer, how men and women reflect differently after they go through a breakup, and so much more. Before Drew joins us, we talk about Rayna’s meal prepping and the embarrassing thing Ashley did in her sleep. Enjoy!  Follow Drew on Instagram @drewafualo and Tiktok @drewafualo, listen to her podcasts Two Idiot Girls and The Comment Section, and read her book Loud.  Follow us on Instagram @girlsgottaeatpodcast, Ashley @ashhess, and Rayna @rayna.greenberg. Visit girlsgottaeat.com for more. Thank you to our partners this week: Aura Frames: Get $35 off and free shipping on the Carver Mat frame at https://auraframes.com with code GGE. BetterHelp: Get 10% off your first month at https://betterhelp.com/gge. Skims: Shop the Skims Ultimate Bra collection and more at https://skims.com/gge.  Article: Get $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more at http://article.com/gge.

Welcome back to The Snack – a lighter serving of Girls Gotta Eat. This week, we’re talking about: Martha Stewart’s Uber Eats controversy  The Academy now has to watch all nominated films Eagles’ White House visit & Jalen Hurts skipping Bill Belichick being whipped by his 24yo girlfriend Cowboy Carter tour kickoff  Our post-Stagecoach hang with Jelly Roll  Vanderpump Villa and The Valley  Headlines: Travis Kelce unfollowing Ryan Reynolds, new Golden Bachelor, and Gwyneth Paltrow eating carbs Follow us on Instagram @girlsgottaeatpodcast, Ashley @ashhess, and Rayna @rayna.greenberg. Visit girlsgottaeat.com for more. Thank you to our partners this week: Aura Frames: Get $35 off and free shipping on the Carver Mat frame at https://auraframes.com with code GGE. Nutrafol: Get $10 off any order and free shipping when you subscribe at https://nutrafol.com with code GGEGIFT.

We are so glad to welcome back Brittany Piper – speaker, author, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, and educator in sexual violence prevention and trauma recovery. In this episode, she is sharing her expertise of somatic healing, which starts with the body and can be life-changing for anyone with trauma, anxiety, and/or chronic stress, especially if traditional talk therapy isn’t working. We discuss the science of the nervous system, learning the language of your body and how to regulate your stress responses, how to de-escalate your anxiety, and what a “trigger” actually is. We also discuss trauma and anxiety in relationships – talking to your partner about your needs, how you can be a helpful partner to someone who is struggling, co-regulating, and using a tool called “parts work” in a conflict. Before Brittany joins us, we’re discussing wild AI text summaries, and unpacking a listener dilemma about a situationship with a colleague. Hope you enjoy!  Follow Brittany on Instagram @healwithbritt and get her book Body First Healing. Follow us on Instagram @girlsgottaeatpodcast, Ashley @ashhess, and Rayna @rayna.greenberg. Visit girlsgottaeat.com for more. Thank you to our partners this week: Simply Pop: Go to https://cokeurl.com/simplyPOP to find out where you can try Simply Pop.  Bilt: Get points by paying rent at https://joinbilt.com/GGE. Hungryroot: Get 40% off your first box and free item in every box for life at https://hungryroot.com/GGE with code GGE.

Welcome back to The Snack – a lighter serving of Girls Gotta Eat. This week, we’re talking about: Why Rayna can’t get a puppy + unhinged cats Undercover weddings: Kristen Stewart, Jalen Hurts, Joe Exotic   Billy Ray Cyrus and Elizabeth Hurley’s hard launch  Pope Francis passing The story behind “The Big Dumper” of MLB The best and worst ways to break up with someone  What jobs celebrities would have if they weren’t famous Headlines: Fyre Festival cancelled, being polite to chatGPT costs money, Trader Joe’s tote-gate Follow us on Instagram @girlsgottaeatpodcast, Ashley @ashhess, and Rayna @rayna.greenberg. Visit girlsgottaeat.com for more. Thank you to our partners this week: Little Caesars: Binge the reality show Pretzel Crust Island on the Little Caesars YouTube channel.  Smalls: Get 35%, plus an additional 50% off, your first order at https://smalls.com with code GGE.  Cornbread Hemp: Get 30% off your first order at https://cornbreadhemp.com/gge with code GGE. Trade Coffee: Get 50% off your one month trial with Trade at https://drinktrade.com/eat. Addyi: Learn more at https://addyi.com.

We have our friend, content creator, and second GGE guest ever Jeremy Jacobowitz back on the show to talk about our favorite topics – food and dating. We kick this fun convo off talking about the most underrated food cities, traveling to Japan, LA vs. NYC food scenes, Jeremy’s beef with a popular bagel spot, and using restaurant reservations as bait on dating apps. Then we discuss dating and specifically first dates – who should pay, is it weird if he offers to pick you up, why no one wants to have dinner on a first date, why men show their crazy more than women, and our listeners’ nightmare first dates. Before Jeremy joins us, we break down the most unhinged dating app prompt we’ve seen and the meanest DM Ashley ever received. Enjoy! Follow Jeremy on Instagram @jeremyjacobowitz and Tiktok, listen to his podcast Let Me Tell You Why… with Jeremy Jacobowitz, subscribe to his Substack, and check out his website. Follow us on Instagram @girlsgottaeatpodcast, Ashley @ashhess, and Rayna @rayna.greenberg. Visit girlsgottaeat.com for more. Thank you to our partners this week: Rocket Money: Cancel your unwanted subscriptions at https://rocketmoney.com/gge. iRestore: Get a huge discount on the iRestore Elite at https://irestore.com with code GGE. Skims: Shop Skims Ultimate Bra Collection and more at https://skims.com/gge and SKIMS LA Flagship on Sunset Blvd.

Welcome back to The Snack – a lighter serving of Girls Gotta Eat. This week, we’re talking about: The all-female trip to space on Blue Origin Karen Read trial and documentary TV shows we’re watching/excited about  Book recs Gossiping with Deuxmoi about Coachella, Taylor and Travis, Blake Lively, and Bravo tea. Follow Deuxmoi on Instagram @deuxmoi and Tiktok @deuxmoi, listen to her podcast Deux U, read her book Anon Pls., and check out her website for more. Follow us on Instagram @girlsgottaeatpodcast, Ashley @ashhess, and Rayna @rayna.greenberg. Visit girlsgottaeat.com for more. Thank you to our partners this week: Quince: Get free shipping and 365-day returns on your next order at https://quince.com/GGE. BetterHelp: Get 10% off your first month at https://betterhelp.com/gge.  Boll and Branch: Get 15% off and free shipping on your first set of sheets at https://bollandbranch.com/gge. Liquid IV: Get 20% off your first order at https://liquidiv.com with code GGE.

If you consume one piece of content about money, let it be this episode! Money expert, financial educator, and founder of Her First $100K Tori Dunlap joins us to discuss a wealth of topics – how women are socialized about money vs. men, how our first money memories mold us, the Ostrich Effect that is detrimental to your financial success, and then all the action items. Tori walks us through the first and most important step in managing your money, debt payoff, how to actually budget and not hate it, the best credit cards to have, how to start investing and the one mistake never to make, negotiating a higher salary, and how to navigate the current $hitshow state of the world. We also share what our audience has spent money on that has changed their lives. Before Tori joins us, we talk about Rayna’s wild night in Vegas, Ashley’s undying love for a specific city, and debate the difference between “staying up” and “staying out.” Enjoy! Follow Tori on Instagram @herfirst100k, listen to her podcast Financial Feminist, read her book Financial Feminist, and check out her website for more. Follow us on Instagram @girlsgottaeatpodcast, Ashley @ashhess, and Rayna @rayna.greenberg. Visit girlsgottaeat.com for more. Thank you to our partners this week: Pretty Litter: Get 20% off your first order and a free cat toy at https://prettylitter.com/gge.  Quince: Get free shipping and 365-day returns on your next order at https://quince.com/GGE. Addyi: Learn more at https://addyi.com. Helix: Get 20% off sitewide at https://helixsleep.com/gge.  Storyworth: Get $10 off your first purchase at https://storyworth.com/gge.

Welcome back to The Snack – a lighter serving of Girls Gotta Eat. This week, we’re talking about: Dire Wolves are back from extinction Kaitlyn Bristowe and Jason Tartick’s baby name beef Gabby Windey vs. Clayton Echard  Our White Lotus finale breakdown  Mike White vs. Cristobal Tapia de Veer Thai food delivery gate Headlines: Viral TikToker gets fired, Cory Booker’s speech, SNL throwing shade Follow us on Instagram @girlsgottaeatpodcast, Ashley @ashhess, and Rayna @rayna.greenberg. Visit https://girlsgottaeat.com for more. Thank you to our partners this week: Bilt: Get points by paying rent at https://joinbilt.com/GGE. Olive Ave: Get 15% off your first order at https://oliveavejewelry.com with code GGE.  FX’s Dying for Sex: All episodes now streaming on Hulu. 

The key to manifesting may not be what you think it is, and we have one of the OGs in the spiritual space, Gabby Bernstein, to talk about it. She just released her tenth book, Self Help, and shares her simple four-step practice that can help you turn inward, heal, and manifest the life you want for yourself. We talk about limiting beliefs and the stories we tell ourselves (“I’m not good enough”, “If I don’t do it, no one else will”, “I’m the only single one”), how the wellness space has changed in the last 20 years, the issue she sees the most in couples, and who she wants to set Rayna up with. Before Gabby joins us, we catch up on recent travels, Ashley starting her tour, and a situation Rayna had with a guy (including our fave text of the year so far). Enjoy!  Follow Gabby on Instagram @gabbybernstein, listen to her podcast Dear Gabby, get her latest book Self Help, and check out her website for more. Follow us on Instagram @girlsgottaeatpodcast, Ashley @ashhess, and Rayna @rayna.greenberg. Visit girlsgottaeat.com for more. Thank you to our partners this week: Trade Coffee: Get 40% off your first order at https://drinktrade.com/eat.  Rocket Money: Cancel your unwanted subscriptions at https://rocketmoney.com/gge. Betterhelp: Get 10% off your first month at https://betterhelp.com/gge. Article: Get $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more at http://article.com/gge. Nutrafol: Get $10 off any order and free shipping when you subscribe at https://nutrafol.com with code GGEGIFT.  Booking.com:  Win $1000 of Booking.com travel credit by entering their sweepstakes on Instagram @bookingcom.

Welcome back to The Snack – a lighter serving of Girls Gotta Eat. This week, we’re talking about: Breakups: Sydney Sweeney, Mark Cuevas (who?), Becca Moore Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell rumors Texas dildo bill (plus other wild sex laws) Remi Bader’s weight loss reveal Chappell Roan’s comments about having children Quick headlines (Morgan Wallen, Rachel Leviss, Justin Bieber)   Follow us on Instagram @girlsgottaeatpodcast, Ashley @ashhess, and Rayna @rayna.greenberg. Visit girlsgottaeat.com for more. Thank you to our partners this week: Revolve: Get 15% your first order at https://revolve.com/GGE with code GGE. Cornbread Hemp: Get 30% off your first order at https://cornbreadhemp.com/GGE with code GGE. Booking.com: Win $1000 of Booking.com travel credit by entering their sweepstakes on Instagram @bookingcom. Addyi: Learn more at https://addyi.com.

Strap in for an unfiltered (and inspirational) journey with the hilarious Jiaoying Summers. She takes us through growing up in China with an overprotective mother, to then coming to the US and finding love with someone whose family didn’t approve of her, breaking up, and then marrying a controlling man who she had children with. She takes us through that divorce and what she had to do to break away and bring her kids to the US with no money and a desire to pursue standup comedy. We discuss her sex life with her current partner (and he makes a cameo), her current relationship with her mom, the huge celebs who are fans of HER, how she got confident later in life, being a role model to her kids, and so much more. And then we answer some “Is this weird?” listener submissions about eating ass and cheating. Before Jiaoying joins us, we discuss the appropriate length of voice notes, Ashley’s recent beef with her fiancé/roommate, and a story about Rayna in Austin we’ve been gatekeeping. Enjoy! Follow Jiaoying on Instagram @jiaoyingsummers, listen to her podcast Tiger Mom, and check out her website for tour dates.  Follow us on Instagram @girlsgottaeatpodcast, Ashley @ashhess, and Rayna @rayna.greenberg. Visit girlsgottaeat.com for more. Thank you to our partners this week: Booking.com: Win $1000 of Booking.com travel credit by entering their sweepstakes on Instagram @bookingcom.  FX’s Dying for Sex: Stream all episodes on Hulu starting April 4.  Tonal: Get $200 off your purchase at https://tonal.com with code GGE. Cymbioktika: Get 20% and free shipping at https://cymbiotika.com/girlsgottaeat. Quince: Get free shipping and 365-day returns on your next order at https://quince.com/GGE.

Welcome back to The Snack – a lighter serving of Girls Gotta Eat. This week, we’re talking about: Short King Spring is still a thing Bernie Sanders’ Fighting Oligarchy Tour The drama behind “All NYC influencers are boring” Ashton Hall’s wild morning routine and Saratoga Water’s response Recapping that wild White Lotus episode Quick Headlines (Pedro and Jen, Wolf of Wall Street on Disney+, The Golden Bachelor in Paradise) Follow us on Instagram @girlsgottaeatpodcast, Ashley @ashhess, and Rayna @rayna.greenberg. Visit girlsgottaeat.com for more. Thank you to our partners this week: Booking.com: Win $1,000 of Booking.com travel credit by entering their sweepstakes on Instagram @bookingcom.  FX’s Dying for Sex: Stream all episodes on Hulu starting on April 4. Cymbiotika: Get 20% and free shipping at https://cymbiotika.com/girlsgottaeat. Betterhelp: Get 10% off your first month at https://betterhelp.com/gge.

We loved our conversation with Emily Farris, author of I’ll Just Be Five More Minutes, about being diagnosed with ADHD at 35 and how it has impacted her life, especially in relationships. She shares her story of feeling different growing up and what brought her to getting a diagnosis, how she manages it now, dating with ADHD, social anxiety and drinking, hyper fixation and time blindness (ahem, chronically late people), the issues that arose in her marriage, postpartum anxiety, and her decision to get divorced. We also chat about dating someone who is neurodivergent, and the types of people who are best equipped (and worst equipped) to enter into that relationship dynamic. Before Emily joins us, Rayna has been making men feel needed, and we share the whole story of finding Ashley’s wedding dress. Enjoy! Follow Emily on Instagram @thatemilyfarris, read her book I’ll Just Be Five More Minutes, follow her Substack, and check out her website for more. Follow us on Instagram @girlsgottaeatpodcast, Ashley @ashhess, and Rayna @rayna.greenberg. Visit girlsgottaeat.com for more. Thank you to our partners this week: Quince: Get free shipping and 365-day returns on your next order at https://quince.com/GGE. BetterHelp: Get 10% off your first month at https://betterhelp.com/gge. Hungryroot: Get 40% off your first delivery and free item in every box for life at https://hungryroot.com/GGE with code GGE. Article: Get $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more at http://article.com/gge. Boll & Branch: Get 20% off at https://bollandbranch.com/gge.

Welcome back to The Snack – a lighter serving of Girls Gotta Eat. This week, we’re talking about: France wants the Statue of Liberty back Why Mercury Retrograde is so rough right now Materialists movie preview That insane White Lotus moment Snow White controversy  Kim vs. Kanye and North West’s trademark Are family vloggers shadily leaving California? Quick headlines (Bad Bunny, Tiger Woods, and more) Follow us on Instagram @girlsgottaeatpodcast, Ashley @ashhess, and Rayna @rayna.greenberg. Visit girlsgottaeat.com for more. Thank you to our partners this week: Cymbiotika: Get 20% and free shipping at https://cymbiotika.com/girlsgottaeat. Bilt: Get points by paying rent at https://joinbilt.com/gge. Liquid IV: Get 20% off at https://liquidiv.com with code GGE.  Materialists: Watch the Materialist’s trailer on A24’s Youtube, Instagram or Tiktok and see it in theaters June 13.

We loved chatting and laughing with comedian Matthew Broussard about proposals, orgasms, fights in a relationship, and more. He shares his unconventional engagement story and lets us into his relationship with his fiancé, including why vibrators are a must in the bedroom. We also talk about masturbating stigma, the complexity of the female orgasm, and whether guys fake orgasms. And we answer the question “Who starts more fights in the relationship – men or women?” and analyze some listener emails about blowjobs to completion, and why one woman’s boyfriend won’t let her post him on social media. Before Matthew joins us, we catch up on our trip to Austin, Ashley being deep in wedding planning, and Rayna going hard in her dating era. Enjoy! Follow Matthew on Instagram @mondaypunday and watch his special Hyperbolic.  Follow us on Instagram @girlsgottaeatpodcast, Ashley @ashhess, and Rayna @rayna.greenberg. Visit girlsgottaeat.com for more. Thank you to our partners this week: Addyi: Learn more at https://addyi.com Skims: Check out SKIMS best intimates including the Fits Everybody Collection and more at https://www.skims.com/gge #skimspartner Nutrafol: Get $10 off your first month’s subscription and free shipping at https://nutrafol.com with code GGE10. Rocket Money: Cancel your unwanted subscriptions at https://rocketmoney.com/gge. Helix: Get 20% off at https://helixsleep.com/gge.

Welcome back to The Snack – a lighter serving of Girls Gotta Eat. This week, we discuss:  RIP to all the chain stores and restaurants closing Fyre Festival 2 takes another hit Millie Bobby Brown calls out her critics Meghan Markle’s new Netflix show  Review of The Baldwins Love is Blind finale and reunion recap Best moments in Love is Blind history What we’ve been watching lately Top headlines of the week Follow us on Instagram @girlsgottaeatpodcast, Ashley @ashhess, and Rayna @rayna.greenberg. Visit girlsgottaeat.com for more. Thank you to our partners this week: Brooklinen: Get 15% off your first order at https://brooklinen.com. Belli Welli: Get 20% at https://belliwelli.com with code GGE20.

We’re joined by author and influencer Ricky Liorti, and it’s been a long time coming (we share the story of how roasting him in 2022 led to this interview). We talk about his dating life, what he’s looking for and why he’s not willing to settle for less, and we give our analysis. We’re discussing the importance of being with someone who shares your interests, how living your best single life will help you find your perfect person, how heartbreak led him to writing his book, and the way men and women process breakups differently. Before Ricky joins us, Ashley shares her flu experience, and Rayna has made a big (and fun) change in her dating life. Enjoy!  Follow Ricky on Instagram @yourpalrick and TikTok @yourpalrick, listen to The Pal’s Podcast, and read his poetry journal Heartbreak Love.  Follow us on Instagram @girlsgottaeatpodcast, Ashley @ashhess, and Rayna @rayna.greenberg. Visit girlsgottaeat.com for more. Thank you to our partners this week: Tonal: Get $200 off your purchase at https://tonal.com with code GGE. Quince: Get free shipping and 365-day returns on your next order at https://quince.com/GGE. ZBiotics: Get 15% off at https://zbiotics.com/gge with code GGE. Fay Nutrition: See a registered dietitian for as little as $0 a month at https://faynutrition.com/GGE. Cymbiotika: Get 20% and free shipping at https://cymbiotika.com/girlsgottaeat.

If you want to hone your sex appeal, this episode is made for you. We are excited to be joined once again by sex educator, author, and new MasterClass instructor Shan Boodram, and this time with her partner Jared Brady, to talk all about what makes us sexy and how to draw people in. We’re discussing the art of flirting, how to catch someone’s attention in public, moves like the “sexy eye triangle,” and how to keep a conversation exciting. We’re also talking about keeping the passion alive in a relationship, the five levels of communication you have with your partner, navigating dry spells, “choreplay,” and turn-on triggers. And we all share who our sexual icons are, and Shan and Jared share their one piece of advice for having sex appeal. Before our guests join us, we’re sharing our listeners’ answers to  “What’s the dumbest lie a guy has told you?” and we reveal one of our own that we’ve been laughing/wondering about for years. Enjoy! Follow Shan on Instagram @shanboodram and Jared @enjoyjaredbrady. Watch Shan’s MasterClass The Art of Sex Appeal and listen to her podcast Lovers by Shan. Follow us on Instagram @girlsgottaeatpodcast, Ashley @ashhess, and Rayna @rayna.greenberg. Visit girlsgottaeat.com for more. Thank you to our partners this week: Betterhelp: Get 10% off your first month at https://betterhelp.com/gge. Addyi: Learn more at https://addyi.com. Article: Get $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more at http://article.com/gge. Rocket Money: Cancel your unwanted subscriptions at https://rocketmoney.com/gge. Nutrafol: Get $10 off your first month’s subscription and free shipping when you subscribe at https://nutrafol.com with code GGE10.