The Real Reel

Episode 142: Happy New Year to the realest listeners out there! Natalie couldn’t think of a better way to ring in the year and start off 2022 strong than by hopping on the mic. Not going to lie - 2021 was a bit of a blur and time feels like it froze back in 2020, but there is a lot of hope for the year ahead. Natalie is back for a solo episode to reflect on the previous year and share her highs and lows in her career and personal life as well goals and ambitions for 2022. She opens up about the challenges she faced in moving to Miami and how she felt incredibly lonely in the beginning. She also shares her experiences with social media burnout and pressure, her hesitancy to complain, and how this year is going to involve a lot more rest and relaxation. We hope this episode inspires you and encourages you to reflect on this past year as well!   Today’s episode dives into:   The importance of intentional relationships  How to set your own goals and reflect on your accomplishments   The online comparison game    Thank you so much for being a part of our podcast community! Please be sure to rate, follow, review, and of course, post to your highlight reel. Follow your host Natalie on Instagram @nataliebarbu and @therealreelpodcast.  Thank you to our sponsors for making this episode possible. Check out these deals just for you: TRUEBILL - Start cancelling today at truebill.com/realreel CANVA - Go to canva.me/realreel to get your FREE 45-day extended trial. QUIP - Go to getquip.com/realreel to save $10 on a quip Smart Electric Toothbrush. CUROLOGY - Go to curology.com/real for a free 30-day trial and just pay for shipping and handling! SMASH & TESS – Go to smashtess.com/realreel to shop and use code REALREEL at check out for 15% off your purchase! NUTRAFOL – Go to nutrafol.com/realreel to save FIFTEEN DOLLARS OFF your first month’s subscription plus FREE shipping on EVERY order.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 141: Athleisure wear has become a wardrobe staple and the importance of being comfortable and fashionable is more relevant now than ever before. The co-founders of Daily Dr!lls, Kennedy Crichlow and Mary Ralph Lawson, heard the call for comfort in clothing and started designing stylish pieces that you aren’t dying to take off after a long day of work. These two marketing savvy best friends decided to jump feet first into entrepreneurship during the pandemic and have cracked the code when it comes to balancing friendship with business. Their connection as friends shines through in their branding and ability to create an inclusive, well-appreciated community. They share some marketing tactics that have increased their sales exponentially and tips for saying yes and no with intention.   Daily Dr!lls is a clothing company dedicated to making pieces you can live your life in. The company was launched in November of 2020 during the global pandemic, and has been steadily growing ever since. Owners Kennedy Crichlow and Mary Ralph Lawson create items they can see themselves wearing and look to their own closets for inspiration.   Today's episode dives into:  The ins and outs of starting a clothing brand   Ways to create a community that feels seen and heard   The importance of owning your lane and recognizing your strengths and weaknesses   Thank you so much for being a part of our podcast community! Please be sure to rate, follow, review, and of course, post to your highlight reel. Follow your host Natalie on Instagram @nataliebarbu and @therealreelpodcast.  Follow DAILY DR!LLS on Instagram @dailydrills and check out their website shopdailydrills.com/. Follow Kennedy on Instagram @kennedycrichlow and Mary Ralph @maryralph.  Thank you to our sponsors for making this episode possible. Check out these deals just for you: CANVA - Go to canva.me/realreel to get your FREE 45-day extended trial. QUIP - Go to getquip.com/realreel to save $10 on a quip Smart Electric Toothbrush. CUROLOGY - Go to curology.com/real for a free 30-day trial and just pay for shipping and handling! NUTRAFOL – Go to nutrafol.com/realreel to save FIFTEEN DOLLARS OFF your first month’s subscription plus FREE shipping on EVERY order. BETTERHELP – Go to betterhelp.com/trr for 10% off your first month PRINCESS POLLY – Go to princesspolly.com and use the code REAL20 for 20% off your next order.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 140: This is one of those episodes where you may find yourself furiously taking notes and walking away more inspired than ever to become your most authentic, unapologetic self. Best-selling author and award winning entrepreneur Jessica Zweig joins Natalie on the mic to discuss how building a brand can and should come from a place of authenticity and how everyone has the power to speak their truth with confidence and humbleness. The two find common ground surrounding their own journeys of self-discovery as Jessica opens up about the roller coaster ride that was her first business and how she has continued to navigate entrepreneurship from there. It becomes immediately clear why Natalie asked Jessica to come back for part two of this incredibly inspiring conversation!  Jessica Zweig is the CEO and Founder of SimplyBe. Agency and recently released her best-selling book, Be: A No-Bullsh*t Guide to Increasing Your Self Worth and Net Worth by Simply Being Yourself. She was named a “Personal Branding Expert” by Forbes and facilitates sold-out workshops and masterminds around the world to companies such as, Blackstone, Nike, Mindvalley, and Bank of America, to name a few.  Today’s episode dives into:   Ways to start getting to know and embrace your true, authentic self  Advice on starting a business with co-founders   How to trust your gut and then actually follow it   Signs your body is speaking to you and ways to listen and honor it   Thank you so much for being a part of our podcast community! Please be sure to rate, follow, review, and of course, post to your highlight reel. Follow your host Natalie on Instagram @nataliebarbu and @therealreelpodcast.  Follow Jessica on Instagram @jessicazweig and listen to her podcast The SimplyBe. Podcast. Check out her new book Be: A No-Bullsh*t Guide to Increasing Your Self Worth and Net Worth by Simply Being Yourself.  Thank you to our sponsors for making this episode possible. Check out these deals just for you: CANVA - Go to canva.me/realreel to get your FREE 45-day extended trial. QUIP - Go to getquip.com/realreel to save $10 on a quip Smart Electric Toothbrush. CUROLOGY - Go to curology.com/real for a free 30-day trial and just pay for shipping and handling! NUTRAFOL – Go to nutrafol.com/realreel to save FIFTEEN DOLLARS OFF your first month’s subscription plus FREE shipping on EVERY order. BETTERHELP – Go to betterhelp.com/trr for 10% off your first month PRINCESS POLLY – Go to princesspolly.com and use the code REAL20 for 20% off your next order.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 139: If you’re reading this, chances are you use social media or have in the past. Have you come across The Real Reel’s Instagram page and enjoyed the interactive stories and cohesive branding? How about the fun captions and inspiring quotes? On today episode, Natalie is speaking with the magician behind all that beautiful content and more, Kennedy Meehan. Kennedy is the founder of Azure Agency and began her entrepreneurial journey as a freelancer fresh out of college and smack in the middle of the pandemic. As a PR specialist and social media wizard, she has tons of great advice to share about brand identity, digital engagement, and optimizing social platforms — plus she has the inside scoop on what’s behind The Real Reel’s highlight reel.  Kennedy Meehan founded The Azure Agency in 2021 after working as a freelance publicist and social media manager. Although COVID was incredibly challenging, she was able to grow her business through educating companies on the importance of brand identity and social media. Her agency has worked with some incredible businesses including Hani Bee Jewelry, Whiskey & Water, Only The Best, and many more.  Today's episode dives into:  How to use TikTok for market research and hashtag strategies  Ways to build a client list and effectively send cold emails  Methods to make sure you are hiring the right people and interview red flags   Thank you so much for being a part of our podcast community! Please be sure to rate, follow, review, and of course, post to your highlight reel. Follow your host Natalie on Instagram @nataliebarbu and @therealreelpodcast.  Follow Kennedy on Instagram @kennedymeehan and The Azure Agency @theazureagency  Thank you to our sponsors for making this episode possible. Check out these deals just for you: CANVA - Go to canva.me/realreel to get your FREE 45-day extended trial. QUIP - Go to getquip.com/realreel to save $10 on a quip Smart Electric Toothbrush. CUROLOGY - Go to curology.com/real for a free 30-day trial and just pay for shipping and handling! NUTRAFOL – Go to nutrafol.com/realreel to save FIFTEEN DOLLARS OFF your first month’s subscription plus FREE shipping on EVERY order. BETTERHELP – Go to betterhelp.com/trr for 10% off your first month PRINCESS POLLY – Go to princesspolly.com and use the code REAL20 for 20% off your next order.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 138: With the days getting shorter and colder weather coming our way, prioritizing yourself and your mental health is a must. This time of year brings up a lot of feelings for a lot of people, and sometimes therapy is just not a viable option. That's where DiveThru comes in — an app created by mental health professionals to help people lead a mentally healthier and more fulfilling life. On today’s episode, Natalie is joined by DiveThru’s founder, Sophie Gray, for a vulnerable conversation about mental health care and its lack of accessibility to people who could really benefit from it. The two open up about the impact of social media on their own mental wellness and the damaging effects of toxic positivity. You’ll walk away understanding your own mental health a little bit better and with some new wellness tools in your toolbelt.   Sophie grew her following to over 500k across her social media channels using fitness as her brand and to the world, she seemed to have it all together. But that was not the true story behind her highlight reel, and Sophie ended up suffering a series of panic attacks that led to her breaking point. The journey to living a mentally healthy life has been far from easy but through her own experiences and healing, DiveThru was created.  On today's episode we dive into:  The ups and downs of being vulnerable online   Ways to understand your own mental health better   Strategies for creating boundaries both online and offline  The pendulum swing of self-love and self-hate   Thank you so much for being a part of our podcast community! Please be sure to rate, follow, review, and of course, post to your highlight reel. Follow your host Natalie on Instagram @nataliebarbu and @therealreelpodcast.  Follow Sophie on Instagram @sophiegray and make sure to visit divethru.com/ for more information and resources on mental health. Thank you to our sponsors for making this episode possible. Check out these deals just for you: CANVA - Go to canva.me/realreel to get your FREE 45-day extended trial. QUIP - Go to getquip.com/realreel to save $10 on a quip Smart Electric Toothbrush. CUROLOGY - Go to curology.com/real for a free 30-day trial and just pay for shipping and handling! NUTRAFOL – Go to nutrafol.com/realreel to save FIFTEEN DOLLARS OFF your first month’s subscription plus FREE shipping on EVERY order. BETTERHELP – Go to betterhelp.com/trr for 10% off your first month PRINCESS POLLY – Go to princesspolly.com and use the code REAL20 for 20% off your next order.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 137: Natalie is back on the mic for a solo episode packed full of life advice and personal, heartwarming stories. The Real Reel listeners showed up and submitted amazing questions that open up the dialogue surrounding break ups, finances, career paths, self-development and much more. Natalie shares wisdom from her own life experiences and reads a note she wrote to herself while struggling and healing through a challenging break up. Have the tissues handy! Get to know Natalie a little bit more through tuning in and make sure to grab a notebook because this advice is worth writing down.  Today’s episode dives into:  Healthy break-ups and rebuilding confidence  How to speak about finances with your partner  Procrastination and finding the creative spark   Ways to discover a career you love   Thank you so much for being a part of our podcast community! Please be sure to rate, follow, review, and of course, post to your highlight reel. Follow your host Natalie on Instagram @nataliebarbu and @therealreelpodcast.  Thank you to our sponsors for making this episode possible. Check out these deals just for you: CANVA - Go to canva.me/realreel to get your FREE 45-day extended trial. QUIP - Go to getquip.com/realreel to save $10 on a quip Smart Electric Toothbrush. CUROLOGY - Go to curology.com/real for a free 30-day trial and just pay for shipping and handling! NUTRAFOL – Go to nutrafol.com/realreel to save FIFTEEN DOLLARS OFF your first month’s subscription plus FREE shipping on EVERY order. BETTERHELP – Go to betterhelp.com/trr for 10% off your first month PRINCESS POLLY – Go to princesspolly.com and use the code REAL20 for 20% off your next order.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 136: It’s a new age on social media and the opportunity to make a full-time salary is at your fingertips no matter the size of your following. Today’s guest, Tina Lee, grew her following by 10k in one month by launching 30 reels in 30 days and has never looked back. Natalie and Tina have been navigating the world of content creation for quite some time and have tons to share when it comes to organic growth and evaluating your worth in the space.  Tina Lee began her influencing journey five years ago when she left her job as an associate designer to chase her dream of owning a business. Her podcast and program Full-Time Influencer teaches people how to reach a full-time income by posting content on Instagram and shares tools to build your dream career using the power of social media.   Today’s episode dives into:   The evolution and origins of social media influencers  Growth hacks for Instagram     How to determine your influencer rate and build negotiating confidence   Steps for landing brand deals no matter your following size   Thank you so much for being a part of our podcast community! Please be sure to rate, follow, review, and of course, post to your highlight reel. Follow your host Natalie on Instagram @nataliebarbu and @therealreelpodcast.  Follow Tina on Instagram @ofleatherandlace and her podcast @fulltimeinfluencer.  Thank you to our sponsors for making this episode possible. Check out these deals just for you: CANVA - Go to canva.me/realreel to get your FREE 45-day extended trial. QUIP - Go to getquip.com/realreel to save $10 on a quip Smart Electric Toothbrush. CUROLOGY - Go to curology.com/real for a free 30-day trial and just pay for shipping and handling! NUTRAFOL – Go to nutrafol.com/realreel to save FIFTEEN DOLLARS OFF your first month’s subscription plus FREE shipping on EVERY order. BETTERHELP – Go to betterhelp.com/trr for 10% off your first month PRINCESS POLLY – Go to princesspolly.com and use the code REAL20 for 20% off your next order.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 135: This is a first for The Real Reel and the bar is set high as the one and only Ilana Dunn joins Natalie to chat about all things dating-related. This episode is packed full of advice and funny dating stories that will remind you you’re not alone in your journey to find love. Ilana’s ability and willingness to be vulnerable landed her a job at Hinge where she discussed her romantic life on camera and on the mic. This served as the catalyst in her own journey to becoming an entrepreneur and she is still the go-to friend to call for dating advice. Ilana is the host of Seeing Other People, a podcast that discusses the ups and downs of modern dating and relationships with a healthy dose of honesty and empathy. She also offers 1:1 emotional support coaching and dating profile audits.  Today’s episode dives into:  Dating do's and don'ts   How to create an online profile that stands out   Some hot takes on dating rules and how to stop playing games    The ups and downs of starting a business based on vulnerability   Thank you so much for being a part of our podcast community! Please be sure to rate, follow, review, and of course, post to your highlight reel. Follow your host Natalie on Instagram @nataliebarbu and @therealreelpodcast. Follow Ilana on Instagram @ilana.dunn and her podcast @seeingotherpeople. Thank you to our sponsors for making this episode possible. Check out these deals just for you: CANVA - Go to canva.me/realreel to get your FREE 45-day extended trial. QUIP - Go to getquip.com/realreel to save $10 on a quip Smart Electric Toothbrush. CUROLOGY - Go to curology.com/real for a free 30-day trial and just pay for shipping and handling! NUTRAFOL – Go to nutrafol.com/realreel to save FIFTEEN DOLLARS OFF your first month’s subscription plus FREE shipping on EVERY order. BETTERHELP – Go to betterhelp.com/trr for 10% off your first month. PRINCESS POLLY – Go to princesspolly.com and use the code REAL20 for 20% off your next order.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 134: From reviewing products on YouTube to concocting her own skincare recipes to shipping products across the world, Daisy Jing is an entrepreneur through and through. Natalie and Daisy share a similar skincare story and both faced bullying and confidence issues due to their acne. Instead of sitting on the sidelines, Daisy took matters into her own hands and began a YouTube channel that would change everything. She empowers people to focus on healing from within and believes her own struggles were given to her so she could help others.  Daisy founded Banish eight years ago, and their mission is dedicated to getting to root of skincare problems through the use of fresh, natural ingredients from the West Coast of the United States. Throughout her entrepreneurial journey, Daisy has been featured in Forbes 30 under 30, TEDx, Inc. 500, and more!  Today’s episode dives into:  Skincare myths and products worth adding to your routine  The benefits of micro-needling and how you can safely do it at home   Morning and evening routine tips from a skincare expert   Thank you so much for being a part of our podcast community! Please be sure to rate, follow, review, and of course, post to your highlight reel. Follow your host Natalie on Instagram @nataliebarbu and @therealreelpodcast. Follow Daisy on Instagram @daiserz89 and Banish  @banishacnescars and @banish.  Thank you to our sponsors for making this episode possible. Check out these deals just for you: CANVA - Go to canva.me/realreel to get your FREE 45-day extended trial. QUIP - Go to getquip.com/realreel to save $10 on a quip Smart Electric Toothbrush. CUROLOGY - Go to curology.com/real for a free 30-day trial and just pay for shipping and handling! NUTRAFOL – Go to nutrafol.com/realreel to save FIFTEEN DOLLARS OFF your first month’s subscription plus FREE shipping on EVERY order. PRINCESS POLLY – Go to princesspolly.com and use the code REAL20 for 20% off your next order. BETTERHELP – Go to betterhelp.com/trr for 10% off your first month.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 133: From marketing to modelling to managing to manufacturing, Gorjana and Jason Griffin Reidel’s entrepreneurial journey has been far from ordinary. The phrase “sink or swim” became their motto as they struggled to find employment and sunk their teeth into a jewelry business. They’ve never looked back as they continue to see every improvement as an opportunity to grow. They lead from their instincts, trust their intuition, and leave the predicting to the psychics.  Gorjana was founded in Laguna Beach, California and offers the type of jewelry you’ll want to wear every day. They have retail stores all over the states and continue to grow. They also make it a top priority to give back to the community and lead from a place of authenticity.  Today’s episode dives into:  The flaws in financial modelling  Tips for employee retention and creating a family style company culture  How to lead a business by trusting your instincts and intuition   Thank you so much for being a part of our podcast community! Please be sure to rate, follow, review, and of course, post to your highlight reel. Follow your host Natalie on Instagram @nataliebarbu and @therealreelpodcast. Follow Gorjana on Instagram @gorjana and make sure to check out their website gorjana.com.  Thank you to our sponsors for making this episode possible. Check out these deals just for you: CANVA - Go to canva.me/realreel to get your FREE 45-day extended trial. QUIP - Go to getquip.com/realreel to save $10 on a quip Smart Electric Toothbrush. CUROLOGY - Go to curology.com/real for a free 30-day trial and just pay for shipping and handling! NUTRAFOL – Go to nutrafol.com/realreel to save FIFTEEN DOLLARS OFF your first month’s subscription plus FREE shipping on EVERY order. PRINCESS POLLY – Go to princesspolly.com and use the code REAL20 for 20% off your next order.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices