The Real Reel

Episode 251: Back in Miami after her NYC travels, Nat’s catching us up on life and diving into a topic that’s been on her heart recently. Starting off with some reflection after she helped one of her besties in Miami move and start her next chapter with her partner, Nat’s feeling all the feels about growing up and the reality of this season of her life. She then shifts to the heart and soul of the episode, where she does a deep dive into the essence of confidence! Drawing from her own experiences, including the trials of entrepreneurship and all the rejection that's come along with building a business, Nat provides listeners with practical advice on building confidence through stepping out of comfort zones, embracing failure as a stepping stone, and the importance of consistency and self-commitment. This episode is a heartfelt call to action for listeners to believe in themselves, embrace their journeys, and recognize that confidence lies in the courage to keep trying, regardless of the hurdles life may throw their way.  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:  OUAI - Get on your OUAI to save for the holiday. Go to theouai.com for 15% off sitewide and enter promo code REALREEL. ZOCDOC - Go to Zocdoc.com/REALREEL and download the Zocdoc app for FREE. Then find and book a top-rated doctor today.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 250: Reunited and it feels so good! This week, Nat’s sitting down with Illana Dunn, who we last heard from back in 2021 after she had just been let go from her corporate girly job at Hinge. Fast forward to now, where, as the host of not one but two successful podcasts, "Seeing Other People" and "Life in Progress," she shares insights from her personal and professional life over the last few years. They dive into the challenges and triumphs of Illana’s career shift from Hinge to podcasting, finding "the one”, and how her listeners have adapted to her going from a single gal to an engaged woman. Plus, she gets into the hilarious chronicles of dating and podcasting about it, her red and green flags, and so much more. The episode is rich with hot tips, dating realness, and all the laughs. Enjoy!!  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 Illana @ilana.dunn and listen to Seeing Other People and Life in Progress.   Thank you to our sponsors for making this episode possible. Check out these deals just for you:   ZOCDOC - Go to Zocdoc.com/REALREEL and download the Zocdoc app for FREE. Then find and book a top-rated doctor today.  OUAI - Get on your OUAI to save for the holiday. Go to theouai.com for 15% off sitewide and enter promo code REALREEL.  LUME - Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @lumedeodorant and get $5 off your Starter Pack (that’s over 40% off) with promo code REALREEL at lumepodcast.com! #lumepod  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 249: From the cold and wintry streets of NYC, Nat’s back with a solo episode and diving into her honest feelings about kicking off Rella's next round of fundraising! Cozied up in bed, with BBQ delivery on the way (because obviously), Nat takes a turn into an honest conversation about social media and the very real dangers of comparison. She shares some of her personal coping mechanisms for when she’s trapped in the cycle of comparison and encourages listeners to find contentment in the present moment rather than chasing the illusion of perfection. Hopefully, this episode will peel back the curtain on the overfiltered world we're living in, inspire you to live in the moment, and serve as a reminder that the grass isn't always greener on the other side of the screen.  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:   ZOCDOC - Go to Zocdoc.com/REALREEL and download the Zocdoc app for FREE. Then find and book a top-rated doctor today.  OUAI - Get on your OUAI to save for the holiday. Go to theouai.com for 15% off sitewide and enter promo code REALREEL.  LUME - Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @lumedeodorant and get $5 off your Starter Pack (that’s over 40% off) with promo code REALREEL at lumepodcast.com! #lumepod  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 248: For the first official guest of 2024, Nat is joined by cybersecurity influencer Caitlin Sarian, aka The Cyber Security Girl. They dive into Caitlin's story of how she took her background in engineering to become a full-blown cybersecurity content creator. She shares insights into her content creation process on platforms like TikTok and expands on her mission to educate people about cybersecurity. The conversation touches on the safety of platforms like TikTok, the responsibility of parents in ensuring their kids' online safety, and the cybersecurity practices everyone should follow. Caitlin also shares her most viral videos, how she comes up with fresh content ideas, and her plans to venture into more lifestyle-based content. Tune in for valuable tips on keeping yourself safe online in 2024 and beyond!  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 Caitlin on Instagram and TikTok!  Thank you to our sponsors for making this episode possible. Check out these deals just for you:   ZOCDOC - Go to Zocdoc.com/REALREEL and download the Zocdoc app for FREE. Then find and book a top-rated doctor today.  OUAI - Get on your OUAI to save for the holiday. Go to theouai.com for 15% off sitewide and enter promo code REALREEL.  LUME - Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @lumedeodorant and get $5 off your Starter Pack (that’s over 40% off) with promo code REALREEL at lumepodcast.com! #lumepod  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 247: Nat is back with another solo episode to answer all of your questions about 2024 and beyond! From work to dating to social media, she’s ready to share her thoughts on what’s to come. But first, Nat is giving her listeners a front-row seat to a sneaky plan she’s been highly involved in that should come to fruition by the time you’re listening; Nat’s BFF is getting proposed to, and you’ll get to hear how it all went down! Then, Natalie dives into the Q’s. She chats about what her day-to-day looks like and how much time is dedicated to her various projects. It’s safe to say Nat’s life is driven by her phrase: if it’s not on my calendar, I’m not doing it. She also shares if and when she wants kids, how she gets through so many dang books and how you can too, what her dating life looks like now, and what trends she foresees for the social media industry this year. So cozy up like she’s doing and get ready to dive more into the behind-the-scenes of life with your host! 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:   ZOCDOC - Go to Zocdoc.com/REALREEL and download the Zocdoc app for FREE. Then find and book a top-rated doctor today.  OUAI - Get on your OUAI to save for the holiday. Go to theouai.com for 15% off sitewide and enter promo code REALREEL.  LUME - Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @lumedeodorant and get $5 off your Starter Pack (that’s over 40% off) with promo code REALREEL at lumepodcast.com! #lumepod   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The host reflects on personal growth and the power of habits in reaching goals. They share upcoming travel plans and two sponsors. The speaker discusses adopting habits such as waking up early and low impact workouts. They also mention habits like going on walks, making phone calls while driving, and reading more books.

TW: Suicide, drug overdose Episode 245: This week, Natalie is joined on the mic by mental health and self-care advocate Tay Lautner to discuss the importance of prioritizing your well-being. Tay shares the challenges she faced as a Covid nurse, the symptoms she experienced that set alarm bells ringing, and what led her to share her story online. Tay and Natalie discuss their personal experience with therapy and how you don’t have to be at a low point to talk to someone. They also talk about preventative steps you can take to care for your mental health and how self-care is never selfish. Tune in for a relatable, compassionate conversation that will hopefully serve as a reminder that you are not alone in your healing journey.    Today’s episode dives into:     Tay’s backstory and why she became a mental health advocate    How to show up for a partner when they are struggling with their mental health    How Tay and her fiancé Taylor work through disagreements   Tay’s self-care practice and her favorite products to unwind with     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 Tay @taydome and Lemons by tay @lemonsbytay Check out her website at lemonsbytay.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The podcast explores topics such as the host's experience at Art Basel, surviving the holiday season, learning to let go and surrender, feeling lost in Miami, reflections on a year of growth and self-discovery, and future goals and wishes for the new year.

Episode 243: They say everything happens for a reason, and today’s guest's story is a true representation of that. In this episode, Natalie sits down with Tiffany K. Gullen, a powerhouse in the film industry and co-founder of Creative X Entertainment. Tiffany shares her journey from childhood dreams of acting to becoming a director and entrepreneur. Both Nat and Tiffany reflect on their passion for being on camera, overcoming challenges, and embracing their femininity in male-dominated industries. Tiffany opens up about her film school experience at USC, a day in the life of a director, and the founding of Creative X Entertainment during the pandemic. The conversation emphasizes the challenges faced by female directors, the progress made in the industry, and the importance of representation. Join Nat and Tiffany as they discuss the dynamic world of filmmaking, entrepreneurship, and breaking barriers!   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 Tiffany on Instagram, check out her production company here and app here! Thank you to our sponsors for making this episode possible. Check out these deals just for you:  OUAI - Get on your OUAI to save for the holiday. Go to theouai.com for 15% off sitewide and enter promo code REALREEL. Shopify - Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/realreel   Storyworth - Go to Storyworth.com/realreel and save $10 on your first purchase! LUME - Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @lumedeodorant and get $5 off your Starter Pack (that’s over 40% off) with promo code REALREEL at lumepodcast.com! #lumepod   Factor - Head to factormeals.com/realreel50 and use code realreel50 to get 50% off.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 242: Are you in need of a little business bootcamp? If you answered yes, you’ve come to the right place! On today’s episode, Natalie is sitting down with a fellow Forbes 30 under 30 founder and Miami local, Juan Camilo Meisel, for a deep dive into Juan's entrepreneurial journey. From his childhood candy-selling escapades in Columbia to founding businesses like the Amazon of South America and becoming one of the earliest members of the Butcher Box team, Juan is spilling all the tea. The conversation explores the significance of making quick decisions, the art of learning by doing, and the messy reality of what achieving success actually looks like, despite what you may see on social media. Juan also shares insights into his latest venture, Grip, which focuses on the logistics of shipping perishable goods. It's a power-packed session offering a behind-the-scenes look at the entrepreneurial journey and the unmistakable power of hard work. 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 Juan on Twitter, LinkedIn and visit www.gripshipping.com  Thank you to our sponsors for making this episode possible. Check out these deals just for you:  OUAI - Get on your OUAI to save for the holiday. Go to theouai.com for 15% off sitewide and enter promo code REALREEL. Shopify - Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/realreel   Storyworth - Go to Storyworth.com/realreel and save $10 on your first purchase! LUME - Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @lumedeodorant and get $5 off your Starter Pack (that’s over 40% off) with promo code REALREEL at lumepodcast.com! #lumepod   Factor - Head to factormeals.com/realreel50 and use code realreel50 to get 50% off.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices