Note to Self
Dear Media
From Q&A’s and break up tips to simply navigating every stage of life, influencer-turned-entrepreneur Payton Sartain brings you the sisterly advice you didn’t know you needed and honest conversations you’ve always wanted. Whether it’s Payton alone or a conversation with a friend, Note to Self is a space to get grounded, explore new perspectives, and ultimately, empower yourself and others. Grab some wine or a mocktail and enjoy the conversation!
Episodes
Mentioned books
Aug 21, 2025 • 59min
Re-Release: Dating Horror Stories, with Emon Abdullah & Kristen Ritchie
Today we are revisiting a classic Note To Self episode: Dating Horror Stories with Emon and Kristen. Hope you enjoy!#132. We are reading & discussing some pretty horrific listener dating stories in this episode of NTS. I have two of my favorite friends, Emon & Kristen, in the studio to weigh in on your experiences and share some of their own.SHOP NOTE TO SELF MERCH: https://shop.dearmedia.com/collections/note-to-self FOLLOW PAYTON:https://instagram.com/paytonsartain https://www.tiktok.com/@paytonsartain https://youtube.com/c/paytonsartainhhhttps://amazon.com/shop/paytonsartain https://pinterest.com/paytonsartain SUBMIT TO NOTE TO SELF:→ Ask P: Advice Column: https://forms.gle/avvSu4ibYygZP5rq8 → Simple Pleasures: https://forms.gle/PFmEU9BFRtyE7Dt57 → Your ICKS: https://forms.gle/pgcr9LhmyyvyAyVk7→ Most Embarrassing Stories: https://forms.gle/qpZBp9bxdcH77Utf8→ Little Acts of Love: https://forms.gle/ReEoo6HBoC4QspQs9→ Juicy Confessions: https://forms.gle/Uuz5KdUkC4c3NnFw5Produced by Dear MediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Aug 14, 2025 • 51min
What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do With Your Life
#208. Feeling stuck, confused, or like your “real life” hasn’t started yet? In this episode, we’re talking about the sneaky ways we postpone joy, progress, and big decisions while waiting for the “perfect” timing. I’ml sharing practical, low-pressure strategies to help you get unstuck, from clarifying your values to taking small, meaningful risks. Whether you’re in a career limbo, a relationship crossroads, or just feeling unmotivated, this conversation will help you see that life is already happening—and you need to start living now. FOLLOW PAYTON:https://instagram.com/paytonsartain https://www.tiktok.com/@paytonsartain https://youtube.com/c/paytonsartainhhhttps://amazon.com/shop/paytonsartain https://pinterest.com/paytonsartain SUBMIT TO NOTE TO SELF:→ Ask P: Advice Column: https://forms.gle/avvSu4ibYygZP5rq8 → Simple Pleasures: https://forms.gle/PFmEU9BFRtyE7Dt57 → Your ICKS: https://forms.gle/pgcr9LhmyyvyAyVk7→ Most Embarrassing Stories: https://forms.gle/qpZBp9bxdcH77Utf8→ Little Acts of Love: https://forms.gle/ReEoo6HBoC4QspQs9→ Juicy Confessions: https://forms.gle/Uuz5KdUkC4c3NnFw5Episode Sponsors:Thousands of people are already using Rula to get affordable, high-quality therapy that’s actually covered by insurance. Visit Rula.com/notetoself to get started. After you sign up, you’ll be asked how you heard about them — please support our show and let them know we sent you. You deserve mental healthcare that works with you, not against your budget.Produced by Dear MediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Aug 7, 2025 • 56min
Girl Talk: the perfect roommate formula, dating updates, & building community with TK
#207. I’m catching up with my favorite roommate of my 20s, Taylor King aka TK, while our paths crossed in NYC. We’re talking dating in the modern era, the formula for finding the perfect roommate, and so much more. This ep is best listened to on your hot girl walk, pregaming the bars, or doing an apartment deep-clean, btw. FOLLOW PAYTON:https://instagram.com/paytonsartain https://www.tiktok.com/@paytonsartain https://youtube.com/c/paytonsartainhhhttps://amazon.com/shop/paytonsartain https://pinterest.com/paytonsartain SUBMIT TO NOTE TO SELF:→ Ask P: Advice Column: https://forms.gle/avvSu4ibYygZP5rq8 → Simple Pleasures: https://forms.gle/PFmEU9BFRtyE7Dt57 → Your ICKS: https://forms.gle/pgcr9LhmyyvyAyVk7→ Most Embarrassing Stories: https://forms.gle/qpZBp9bxdcH77Utf8→ Little Acts of Love: https://forms.gle/ReEoo6HBoC4QspQs9→ Juicy Confessions: https://forms.gle/Uuz5KdUkC4c3NnFw5Episode Sponsors:Build your own furniture rental package today at cort.com/podcast.Visit cowboycolostrum.com and use code NOTETOSELF for 20% off your first purchase.Produced by Dear MediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Jul 31, 2025 • 48min
A Beginner’s Guide to Building an Art Collection (realistically), with Nuria Madrenas, Founder of Tacit
#206. Only 2% of art sold globally is by women — and today’s guest is working to change that. Nuria Madrenas is the founder of Tacit, an online gallery and art consultancy dedicated exclusively to female artists. In this episode, we talk about how to start your own art collection — even on a budget — and how to choose pieces that feel personal, meaningful, and lasting. Whether you're filling your first apartment or curating a forever home, this conversation is about making your space a reflection of who you are. FOLLOW PAYTON:https://instagram.com/paytonsartain https://www.tiktok.com/@paytonsartain https://youtube.com/c/paytonsartainhhhttps://amazon.com/shop/paytonsartain https://pinterest.com/paytonsartain SUBMIT TO NOTE TO SELF:→ Ask P: Advice Column: https://forms.gle/avvSu4ibYygZP5rq8 → Simple Pleasures: https://forms.gle/PFmEU9BFRtyE7Dt57 → Your ICKS: https://forms.gle/pgcr9LhmyyvyAyVk7→ Most Embarrassing Stories: https://forms.gle/qpZBp9bxdcH77Utf8→ Little Acts of Love: https://forms.gle/ReEoo6HBoC4QspQs9→ Juicy Confessions: https://forms.gle/Uuz5KdUkC4c3NnFw5Episode Sponsors:Visit cowboycolostrum.com and use code NOTETOSELF for 20% off your first purchase.Produced by Dear MediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Jul 24, 2025 • 57min
ASK P: hooking up with exes, outgrowing friendships, finances in a relationship, etc
#205. In this Ask P episode, we’re talking through the messy, beautiful in-betweens of life and love. I’m answering listener questions about hooking up with an ex you’re not over, wanting a dog when you’re not settled down, and moving cities for your partner’s career when you’re still building your own. These aren’t black-and-white situations — there isn’t always a “correct” answer to some of life’s questions. If you’ve ever felt pulled between freedom and connection, or between control and letting go, this one’s for you. FOLLOW PAYTON:https://instagram.com/paytonsartain https://www.tiktok.com/@paytonsartain https://youtube.com/c/paytonsartainhhhttps://amazon.com/shop/paytonsartain https://pinterest.com/paytonsartain SUBMIT TO NOTE TO SELF:→ Ask P: Advice Column: https://forms.gle/avvSu4ibYygZP5rq8 → Simple Pleasures: https://forms.gle/PFmEU9BFRtyE7Dt57 → Your ICKS: https://forms.gle/pgcr9LhmyyvyAyVk7→ Most Embarrassing Stories: https://forms.gle/qpZBp9bxdcH77Utf8→ Little Acts of Love: https://forms.gle/ReEoo6HBoC4QspQs9→ Juicy Confessions: https://forms.gle/Uuz5KdUkC4c3NnFw5Episode Sponsors:Find Simply Pop and any of its five juicy flavors by visiting us online at cokeurl.com/simplyPOP. Give your summer closet an upgrade—with Quince. Go to Quince.com/payton for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five-day returns.Thousands of people are already using Rula to get affordable, high-quality therapy that’s actually covered by insurance. Visit Rula.com/notetoself to get started. After you sign up, you’ll be asked how you heard about them — please support our show and let them know we sent you. You deserve mental healthcare that works with you, not against your budget.Build your own furniture rental package today at cort.com/podcast.Produced by Dear MediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Jul 17, 2025 • 57min
You’re Allowed to Reinvent Yourself, with Violet Witchel
#204. Violet Witchel, aka the Dense Bean Salad Girl (my fav), earned a degree in economics and swam competitively in college—then walked away from it all for culinary school. What began as a single recipe turned into a viral movement and a nationwide pop-up series. In this episode, we talk about the courage it takes to choose a different life, how to follow an idea that makes no sense on paper, and what reinvention really looks like. For anyone questioning the plan they thought they had to follow—this one’s for you. FOLLOW PAYTON:https://instagram.com/paytonsartain https://www.tiktok.com/@paytonsartain https://youtube.com/c/paytonsartainhhhttps://amazon.com/shop/paytonsartain https://pinterest.com/paytonsartain SUBMIT TO NOTE TO SELF:→ Ask P: Advice Column: https://forms.gle/avvSu4ibYygZP5rq8 → Simple Pleasures: https://forms.gle/PFmEU9BFRtyE7Dt57 → Your ICKS: https://forms.gle/pgcr9LhmyyvyAyVk7→ Most Embarrassing Stories: https://forms.gle/qpZBp9bxdcH77Utf8→ Little Acts of Love: https://forms.gle/ReEoo6HBoC4QspQs9→ Juicy Confessions: https://forms.gle/Uuz5KdUkC4c3NnFw5Episode Sponsors:Give your summer closet an upgrade—with Quince. Go to Quince.com/payton for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five-day returns.Visit cowboycolostrum.com and use code NOTETOSELF for 20% off your first purchase.Produced by Dear MediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Jul 10, 2025 • 57min
How to Tell if It's a Rough Patch or the Wrong Person, with Relationship Therapist Laura Caruso
#203. Is your relationship just going through a rough patch — or is it time to walk away? This week, I’m joined by relationship therapist and author Laura Caruso (The Empathy Deficit) for a candid conversation about love, conflict, and compatibility. We talk about how she dates as a therapist, what really happens in couples therapy, and how she personally handled a recent breakup. Laura breaks down the difference between healthy conflict and chronic struggle, and shares tools for navigating relationships where one partner is anxious and the other is avoidant. Whether you're single, dating, or deep in a long-term relationship, this episode is full of real talk and insight. We also touch on repair vs. rupture, attachment styles, and how to know if it’s worth working through. FOLLOW PAYTON:https://instagram.com/paytonsartain https://www.tiktok.com/@paytonsartain https://youtube.com/c/paytonsartainhhhttps://amazon.com/shop/paytonsartain https://pinterest.com/paytonsartain SUBMIT TO NOTE TO SELF:→ Ask P: Advice Column: https://forms.gle/avvSu4ibYygZP5rq8 → Simple Pleasures: https://forms.gle/PFmEU9BFRtyE7Dt57 → Your ICKS: https://forms.gle/pgcr9LhmyyvyAyVk7→ Most Embarrassing Stories: https://forms.gle/qpZBp9bxdcH77Utf8→ Little Acts of Love: https://forms.gle/ReEoo6HBoC4QspQs9→ Juicy Confessions: https://forms.gle/Uuz5KdUkC4c3NnFw5Episode Sponsors:Give your summer closet an upgrade—with Quince. Go to Quince.com/payton for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five-day returns.Produced by Dear MediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Jul 3, 2025 • 60min
Let’s Talk Content Creation: Getting Started, Sustaining Influence, & Making Money at Any Size
#202. In this solo episode, I’m breaking down everything I’ve learned from 10 years of creating content online — from blogging in 2016 to building a six-figure brand today. Whether your goal is to become a full-time influencer or just earn some extra income on the side, this episode is your permission slip to start. We’ll talk pivots, sustainable growth, the real ways people make money online (even with a small audience), and why you don’t need to be famous to build something powerful. If you’ve ever thought “I could do that…” — you can. Here’s how. FOLLOW PAYTON:https://instagram.com/paytonsartain https://www.tiktok.com/@paytonsartain https://youtube.com/c/paytonsartainhhhttps://amazon.com/shop/paytonsartain https://pinterest.com/paytonsartain SUBMIT TO NOTE TO SELF:→ Ask P: Advice Column: https://forms.gle/avvSu4ibYygZP5rq8 → Simple Pleasures: https://forms.gle/PFmEU9BFRtyE7Dt57 → Your ICKS: https://forms.gle/pgcr9LhmyyvyAyVk7→ Most Embarrassing Stories: https://forms.gle/qpZBp9bxdcH77Utf8→ Little Acts of Love: https://forms.gle/ReEoo6HBoC4QspQs9→ Juicy Confessions: https://forms.gle/Uuz5KdUkC4c3NnFw5Episode Sponsors:Give your summer closet an upgrade—with Quince. Go to Quince.com/payton for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five-day returns.Produced by Dear MediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Jun 19, 2025 • 50min
For the Girls Who Thrive in the Office *AND* at the Afterparty, with Jade Beguelin, Co-founder of 4AM Skin
#201. Jade Beguelin is the co-founder of 4AM Skin — a cheeky skincare brand for girls who work hard, play harder, and sometimes fall asleep in their makeup. In this episode, Jade shares how she went from a high-stress finance job to building a brand that’s redefining what beauty can look like. We talk about career pivots, the power of leaning on your network, and the importance of putting yourself out there.If you’ve ever wanted to start something of your own — a brand, a podcast, a new path entirely — this one’s for you. You just have to be willing to look a little dumb, take the risk, and figure it out as you go.FOLLOW PAYTON:https://instagram.com/paytonsartain https://www.tiktok.com/@paytonsartain https://youtube.com/c/paytonsartainhhhttps://amazon.com/shop/paytonsartain https://pinterest.com/paytonsartain SUBMIT TO NOTE TO SELF:→ Ask P: Advice Column: https://forms.gle/avvSu4ibYygZP5rq8 → Simple Pleasures: https://forms.gle/PFmEU9BFRtyE7Dt57 → Your ICKS: https://forms.gle/pgcr9LhmyyvyAyVk7→ Most Embarrassing Stories: https://forms.gle/qpZBp9bxdcH77Utf8→ Little Acts of Love: https://forms.gle/ReEoo6HBoC4QspQs9→ Juicy Confessions: https://forms.gle/Uuz5KdUkC4c3NnFw5Episode Sponsors:Give your summer closet an upgrade—with Quince. Go to Quince.com/payton for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five-day returns.Find Simply Pop and any of its five juicy flavors by visiting us online at cokeurl.com/simplyPOP. Produced by Dear MediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Jun 12, 2025 • 59min
The One Where I Answer Your Spicy (Sometimes Controversial) Questions *200th Episode!
#200. To celebrate 200 episodes of Note to Self, I’m tackling listener questions ranging from crash outs, to the *benefits* of depression, to my personal regrets, and things I’m not supposed to admit about my finances. I hope this episode can make you feel more normal, more understood, or at the very least, entertained. Thank you for letting me be a little part of your week every week. I appreciate you so much– here’s to 200 more eps! FOLLOW PAYTON:https://instagram.com/paytonsartain https://www.tiktok.com/@paytonsartain https://youtube.com/c/paytonsartainhhhttps://amazon.com/shop/paytonsartain https://pinterest.com/paytonsartain SUBMIT TO NOTE TO SELF:→ Ask P: Advice Column: https://forms.gle/avvSu4ibYygZP5rq8 → Simple Pleasures: https://forms.gle/PFmEU9BFRtyE7Dt57 → Your ICKS: https://forms.gle/pgcr9LhmyyvyAyVk7→ Most Embarrassing Stories: https://forms.gle/qpZBp9bxdcH77Utf8→ Little Acts of Love: https://forms.gle/ReEoo6HBoC4QspQs9→ Juicy Confessions: https://forms.gle/Uuz5KdUkC4c3NnFw5Episode Sponsors:For your next trip, treat yourself to the luxe upgrades you deserve from Quince. Go to Quince.com/payton for 365-day returns, plus free shipping on your order.Produced by Dear MediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
