

QUESTION EVERYTHING
PRETTYSMART
Question Everything is an invitation to dig deeper, think smarter, and rewrite the rules. In thought-provoking conversations with some of today’s most dynamic voices– from entrepreneurs and authors to politicians and celebrities – journalist Danielle Robay challenges the way we think (and what we thought we knew). Each week, she and her guests hold a mirror up to our culture, asking what works for us and what we can work to change. No topic is off limits – come curious and join Danielle every Thursday as she tackles big ideas with six little words: Can I ask you a question?
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 25, 2024 • 53min
Why We Have to Stay Hopeful with Activist Marley Dias
Activist, writer, author and founder of #1000BlackGirlBooks, Marley Dias, is here! She shares: What she credits the success of #1000BlackGirlBooks to. What parents and caregivers can do to help support the big ideas of kids. Why giving back is a practice. The long term problem she sees with book banning and why she’s so vocal about it. The books that changed her life and why reading is so important to staying hopeful. The impacts of being in Gen Z and how that affects her mental health. The biggest takeaways from her interviews with Misty Copeland, Ava DuVernay and Hillary Clinton Why her mom has instilled the importance of having fun and how that’s been helpful.

Jan 18, 2024 • 49min
Live Connected To Strengthen Your Relationships with Steve Carlston
Other than your parents, who has most impacted your life? For me, Steve Carlston is that person. He didn’t just change my career, but he changed my life. Steve is the Senior Vice President and General Manager of Los Angeles Fox Owned Stations. HIs incredible broadcasting career spans four decades. He is a media veteran, an impactful leader, and lives a life rooted in connections. I’m excited to share a conversation with you, with someone who has shared so much with me. Today we cover: Living a connected life How being of service provides the most connection to others How diversity is an opportunity to learn and celebrate others What makes us each unique The most important decision we make in our lives Why Steve prays and his relationship to God Why it’s important to be firmly rooted when you are young Understanding your parents as you get older How Steve has impacted Danielle’s life To connect with Steve on LinkedIn, check him out here!

Jan 11, 2024 • 1h 10min
Are You Financially Compatible? Questions to Ask + How to Talk to Your Partner About Finances with Farnoosh Torabi (Financial Expert)
What are red flags that you aren’t financially compatible with your partner? What is the most productive + thoughtful way to have money conversations? What questions should you be asking? And then here’s my biggest question: Are you supposed to merge money? What are the benefits of that versus keeping your money separate? I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS! Farnoosh Torabi is here to answer them all! Farnoosh is one of America’s leading personal finance authorities — she’s hooked on helping you live your richest, happiest life. Her award winning podcast So Money has over 30 million downloads, where she has had deep conversations about money with accomplished people like Arianna Huffington, Queen Latifah and Tony Robbins. She has written multiple books, her latest just dropped: A Healthy State of Panic: Follow Your Fears to Build Wealth, Crush Your Career and Win at Life. The New York Times calls her advice, “perfectly practical. I was excited to be on her podcast this week talking about money– the good, the bad and the…oops! Check out the episode here. Connect Farnoosh on Instagram Grab a copy of her new book!

Jan 4, 2024 • 54min
Egg Freezing: Everything You Need To Know with Colleen + Cassidy Coughlin (OVA Egg Freezing Specialty Center)
Whether you are in a relationship, married, or single, more and more women are finding agency with their fertility by freezing their eggs (and embryos). I recently shared my personal journey with egg freezing on Instagram and am doing a much deeper dive in this episode. I learned SO MUCH (and I learned alot from the women who had been through it and DM’ed me tips– all of which i’m sharing on this episode. Today I’m diving into the facts, myths and most important questions you need to know about the process and the results of egg freezing! Colleen and Cassidy Coughlin are the mother-daughter duo behind OVA Egg Freezing Specialty Center. Colleen is the Founder & CEO, who for over 30 years, has been a prominent leader in the field of IVF and Reproduction, helping thousands of patients become parents. Cassidy is her IVF-born daughter (born in her own lab!) and the center’s Program Manager. Today they share a wealth of knowledge, including: Understanding peak fertility and the ideal timing for egg freezing Debunking common myths surrounding egg and embryo freezing How to optimize your chances of getting pregnant later in life Tips for improving the quality and health of eggs The age they recommend for effective egg freezing How to prepare for the egg freezing process and what you need to know Examining whether egg freezing serves as a true insurance policy Exploring the goal for most women who freeze their eggs The key questions every woman should ask her provider for a successful retrieval process Follow OVA Egg Freezing Specialty Center on Instagram @ovaeggfreezing

Dec 28, 2023 • 57min
Setting 2024 Intentions So The Universe is Your Sugar Daddy: with Dellara Gorjian
When you trust in the universe, the universe rewards you. Dellara Gorjian is a prime example of the beauty that can unfold when you are living a truly authentic life. The law school alum and immigration law advocate turned content creator (aka, our TikTok “legal baddie”) has cultivated a community of over 1.4 million. She keeps it real, raw and spiritual. Today she shares: What being a loner in school gave her Her struggle with feeling both confident and insecure Her incredible journey from lawyer to content creator Her concerns about DACA The toxicity of the content creator industry Why influencers shouldn’t niche down on social How the TikTok algorithm helped grow her audience Where the term “legal baddie” came from Pivoting from law to content creation How the universe rewards you for acts of courage Why she considers the universe her sugar daddy How gratitude can lead to breakthrough and opportunity Why disagreements are beautiful and have the power to connect people Follow Dellara on Instagram @dellara

Dec 21, 2023 • 42min
The Cost of Perfectionism with Coveteur Founding Member Stacie Brockman
Burnout is on the rise worldwide—and reports say that there are two groups that are the most burnt out: Gen Z/ young millennials and women. This week we are hearing from an ambitious woman who experienced burnout firsthand, this is her story: Stacie Brockman with us, a serial entrepreneur, passionate investor, dedicated board member, co-founder of Métier Creative and founding member of Coveteur. In 2019, Stacie founded PLZ&THX, a brand incubator and accelerator. Stacie is a marketing mastermind who earned respect in the industry for her disruptive marketing approach and her innate ability to find the white space– clients like CHANEL, Tiffany & Co, Disney, Dior, and Lauryn Hill (to name a few!) Stacie opens up about how her ambition and perfectionism led to burnout and the life-changing steps she has taken to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Today she shares: Her experience building Coveteur from the ground up How perfectionism led to mental health issues How perfectionism can lead to burnout Experiencing her first panic attack and burnout Why she took a medical leave from her own company What she learned about celebrities at their core (from their closets) Your most important title and role in this life The true meaning of legacy Connect with Stacie on Instagram @staciebrockman Learn about her new venture: PLZ&THX.com

Dec 14, 2023 • 54min
When Ambition Leads to Burnout with Rainesford Stauffer
Rainesford Stauffer is an accomplished author and journalist, contributing to renowned publications such as the New York Times, The Cut by New York magazine, WSJ Magazine, Teen Vogue, Vox, and The Atlantic, to name a few. In her latest book, “All the Gold Stars,” she explores how the cultural, personal, and societal expectations around ambition are driving the global burnout epidemic. Speaking to Rainesford inspired me to share my own experience with burnout. I hope this conversation sparks your reflection on your own ambitions.Today we chat about: Where the attachment to ambition comes from How ambition manifests and why ambition is deeply personal The connection between burnout and exhaustion Why ambition is a privilege Why you can do less work and still be ambitious The ebbs and flows of ambition The link between loneliness and ambition Why the term “self-made” is a fallacy When ambition can become harmful Why it’s difficult to have unconditional self-worth and self-esteem Follow Rainesford on Instagram @rainesford_stauffer and grab her book here!

Nov 16, 2023 • 23min
Cultivating Gratitude + Grace: A Meditation with Kimberlee Soo
The word gratitude is derived from the Latin word gratia, which means grace, graciousness, or gratefulness (depending on the context). I think about gratitude like this: Grace is an extension of gratitude and the more grateful we are the more grace we lead with. Gratefully, today Kimberlee Soo shared a beautiful gratitude meditation with us. Kimberlee is a writer and private yoga instructor based in Los Angeles. Kimberlee has practiced yoga and meditation for over thirty years and began teaching in 2021, taking on private clients shortly thereafter. She is passionate about walking alongside those who wish to dynamically evolve and expand their knowledge of self through mindful modalities and dedicated to humans finding their authentic voice. She recently executive produced her first film short, The Model and one of her first short stories can be found in the anthology Briefly Knocked Unconscious by a Low-Flying Duck which just celebrated its 10thanniversary in print (Elephant Rock Books). Kimberlee collaborates as an editor and story developer, primarily with memoirists. Kimberlee’s teachings have personally helped me find gratitude in the present moment. Not for what I have or how I feel, but for what I am. My hope is that through this meditation she can help you find what it is you’re seeking.

Nov 9, 2023 • 1h 2min
Leadership, Red Flags, and Toxicity in the Workplace with Susanna Kislenko
Ever wonder why your work environment is toxic? Or why your boss is such a terrible leader? Do you know what to look for or ask in a job interview to understand a company’s culture? Social psychologist Susanna Kislenko is the authority on leadership, red flags and toxicity in the workplace. She’s a Doctor of Philosophy who focuses on leadership, researching, and supporting founder leadership in the startup environment and currently serves as the Skoll Centre Postdoctoral Fellow, specializing in Leading for Impact at Oxford University's Saïd Business School. Today she shares: How to determine leadership style Why highly sensitive people make great leaders Why great leaders have a strong mind-body connection The #1 complaint people have about their jobs What makes a workspace safe and the qualities of a great leader How to determine the type of leader someone will be Which red flags to look out for when interviewing at a company How to assess a company’s culture The right questions to ask to land the job Her unfiltered thoughts about people online sharing their leadership philosophies The biggest red flag that you should be wary of Love bombing at work and why sometimes you should be wary of the company’s perks Follow Susanna on Instagram @susannakislenko Find your forever pieces @jennikayne and get 15% off with promo code PRETTYSMART at jennikayne.com/PRETTYSMART! #jennikaynepartner Get up to 50% OFF @honeylove by going to https://www.honeylove.com/PRETTYSMART #honeylovepod

Nov 2, 2023 • 39min
Living an Effortless Life with Lifestyle Designer Jenni Kayne
Jenni Kayne is the founder + designer of her namesake brand Jenni Kayne: a California lifestyle brand that inspires women to live well every day. Her clothing, home decor, accessories (her candles are amongst my favorite) and overall aesthetic has become known amongst celebrities as one that never goes out of style. Today she shares: Launching her business as an ambitious and naive 19-year-old How making decisions quickly (discernment) is her superpower How to create your own aesthetic The first thing you should do when you move to a new place + her design principles that can make your space more beautiful The one piece of furniture you should invest in Why hiring a CEO allowed her to take the brand to the next level Why small details are important Her first meeting with Anna Wintour - and what she really thinks about her! The challenges of being a working mom Why she created her new skincare line Oak Essentials Follow her on Instagram @JenniKayne and @JenniKayneHome