Confident Collective

Have you ever dreamed about working for yourself but don’t know how or have the confidence to actually do it? Today’s guest, Adriana Parente, went from working in a corporate setting to having her own clients as a freelance influencer marketing specialist and brand consultant in her 20s, and is sharing her advice for how she made the switch in this episode. We talk about how to know when it’s time to take the leap to work for yourself, how to stay on track and motivated, tips for budgeting and sending invoices, how to set your pricing and everything you would want to know if you’ve thought about making this transition. “Working for other people is rewarding, you learn so much, but I always felt that I wanted something to be my own and all the efforts for the projects I've been working on to be my own.” - Adriana Parente What we talk about: Our post live show thoughts, feelings and favorite parts What people thought of Raeann’s live date with Roberto and what happened behind the scenes What the deal was with that creepy guy in the audience How Raeann’s first week in NYC is going How Kristina’s 3 weeks in New Jersey went The show Kristina’s obsessed with Raeann’s new workout plan How to know you want to work for yourself How Adriana made connections and pitched herself to brands at the beginning How to not get discouraged by the process of applying for jobs The importance of saving and being strategic in taking risks What a successful pitch and follow up looks like Tips for how to stay motivated & organized when working for yourself How to figure out rates and how to have that conversation with clients  What to do if a client doesn’t pay you or pay you on time Overcoming imposter syndrome Advice for people wanting to go out on their own Ask Away: “My upstairs neighbors are having really loud sex at all hours of the day. What should I do?!” “The most important thing is trusting and believing in yourself, and when you do that, everyone else will too.” - Kristina Zias “Grow your skills and prove to yourself that you have them, then that will help you build your confidence to pitch yourself out to brands.” - Adriana Parente New podcast episodes of Confident Collective drop every Tuesday.   Resources: Connect with Adriana on Instagram: @adrianaparente_ and via email: hello@adrianaparente.com Follow us on Instagram: @confidentcollective  Follow the Hosts/Founders: @kristinazias & @raeannlangas Learn more: https://www.theconfidentcollective.com/ Stay in the know with our newsletter!

We’re still not over our first live podcast show in NYC!! We had the time of our lives getting dressed up in Halloween costumes and hanging out with the Confident Collective community IRL! Thank you so much to everyone who came out to our first show. We can’t wait to do it again! From sharing some of our most cringe-worthy high school photos, to asking Steve questions from the male perspective, to setting Raeann up on her first NYC blind date - we were cracking up the whole entire time. We hope you enjoy catching up on all of the main events and hope to do it again in a city near you soon! Let us know where we should go next. “Just don’t call me queen. Or big bitch.” - Raeann LIVE SHOW SEGMENTS Products we’re obsessed with Get to know us a little better with hilarious photos and their backstories from high school New podcast episodes of Confident Collective drop every Tuesday.   Thank you to these amazing brands that partnered with us for our live event! Elemis - Naked Cleansing Balm Foria Wellness - Arousal Oil Stony Clover U Beauty - Resurfacing Compound Ubeauty code: CONFIDENTCOLLECTIVE for 20% off your first order Elemis - Naked Cleansing Balm Oribe - Dry Texture Spray Christian Louboutin Beauty - Matte Fluid Lip Color- shade Rouge Blind Date NYC (@blinddatenyc) Resources: Follow us on Instagram: @confidentcollective  Follow the Hosts/Founders: @kristinazias & @raeannlangas Learn more: https://www.theconfidentcollective.com/ Stay in the know with our newsletter!  Questions for Steve  Guessing game with Steve about common female goodies Kristina and Steve host Raeann’s first NYC blind date LIVE on stage Live Ask Away segment with the audience Halloween Costume Contest “Who decides to do a live show when they’re 7 months pregnant? ME. I am crazy!” - Kristina

It’s official: curve models, content creators and hosts of the Model Citizen podcast, Michaela and Hunter McGrady, are our long lost best friends. They have such incredible energy, are the best examples of sisters supporting and respecting one another and it is so inspiring. Listen to this episode to hear how they were raised to put respect for one another first, and how their mom positively influenced their confidence growing up. We also ask them to share how they’ve navigated the tragic loss of their brother, and how practicing gratitude has helped them move forward. Plus, we celebrate some of their major career wins like walking together in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit runway show. We know you’re going to love this conversation and hope it leaves you inspired to embrace and enjoy life here and now. “(Our mom) always said ‘weight is such a boring thing to talk about,’ so we never heard her discuss anyone else’s weight or her own. I can’t tell you one time our mom said something about anyone else’s appearance that was not positive.” - Hunter and Michaela McGrady What we talk about: Updates on Raeann’s move and Kristina’s taping at the Drew Barrymore show How astrology is shaping Raeann’s mindset about her move How Hunter & Michaela’s sister dynamics have evolved over time How they work together collaboratively vs competitively The influence their mom had on them when it comes to food, weight and cultivating confidence How to reframe food not being “good or bad” and their body positive parenting tips The importance of practicing gratitude How their faith has influenced them How grief changes you How to have a strong bicoastal relationship How respect is crucial in working with your family members BTS of their Summersalt campaign with their mom and opening the Sports Illustrated swimsuit runway show Navigating motherhood and career “This life is so short and so fragile. Don’t wait to start living or being grateful or taking a bite out of life until a tragedy happens.” - Hunter and Michaela McGrady New podcast episodes of Confident Collective drop every Tuesday.   Resources: Follow Hunter @huntermcgrady and Michaela @michaelamcgrady on Instagram Listen to the Model Citizen podcast and follow @themodelcitizenpodcast  Get Your Tickets to our Live Event in NYC on October 30th Follow us on Instagram: @confidentcollective  Follow the Hosts/Founders: @kristinazias & @raeannlangas Learn more: https://www.theconfidentcollective.com/ Stay in the know with our newsletter!

Wow, do we have some juicy content for you today! We’ve all done some scandalous things, so there’s no judgment here as we get into our most scandalous stories and then share yours anonymously. We share about a one night stand that turned into a sex tape, the story of how Kristina was arrested in Washington Square Park, savage things we did in college, spicy hookups and so much more. Hear all about it in this episode! “I’m a vanilla gal, I’m 80% vanilla, so all of my scandalous stories are still pretty PG.” - Raeann What we talk about: Kristina’s upcoming travels, and her family trip to San Diego Raeann’s heartbreaking family news and how she’s navigating grief How we’re getting into fall mode  Our favorite Halloween movies Our scandalous stories Spicy listener hookup stories Cheating scandals Ask Away: What to do when you feel slighted and hurt by a best friend during a period of change in the friendship “We got freaking arrested by a young, hot police officer on a bike. It was super sexy in my head until we were in the back of a police car.” - Kristina New podcast episodes of Confident Collective drop every Tuesday.   Resources: Read Final Gifts for grief support Get Your Tickets to our Live Event in NYC on October 30th Follow us on Instagram: @confidentcollective  Follow the Hosts/Founders: @kristinazias & @raeannlangas Learn more: https://www.theconfidentcollective.com/ Stay in the know with our newsletter! 

Want to know how to build more joy into your life while increasing your chances of meeting a partner IRL? Today’s guest, podcast host of @datebrazen & dating coach Lily Womble, has your answers. Lily “helps women transform their dating lives from a soul-suck, to an act of self-care, attracting extraordinary relationships along the way.” Sounds like the ideal way to date, no? We chat with her about the internal work we need to do before we start dating, adding more joy, self-love and compassion into our lives, how dating apps can be harmful to the nervous system, where to put your energy when it comes to dating, and what it looks like to date with intention. If you’re in a committed relationship and want to know how to support your single girl friends in their dating journey, she has some great advice for you too. Lily shares so many tangible dating tips that we know will transform your dating experience in the best way! “Give yourself permission to want the expansiveness of what you want.” - Lily Womble What we talk about: Raeann’s friends’ wedding recap Kristina’s trip in Santa Fe, New Mexico Balancing craving routine & having a desire to travel What women should ask themselves to determine what they actually want in a partner How to identify how you want to feel in a relationship Cultivating an abundance mindset in qualities you want in a partner Getting to the root of why you want what you want Processing your own emotions and doing the internal work Embracing what you love in want in all types of relationships Reframing rejection What’s a “confirmation text” and when should you use it? The trap of dating apps How to create opportunities to meet a partner in person Ask Away: how to be in alignment with your own desires without feeling influenced by different friends with different interests “Do what makes you happy and brings you the most joy because that's what you’re going to be doing with the person who comes along.” - Raeann New podcast episodes of Confident Collective drop every Tuesday.   Resources: Follow Lily on Tik Tok @datebrazen Listen to the Date Brazen podcast Download Lily’s free "Guide to Make Dating Feel Like Self-Care." Get Your Tickets to our Live Event in NYC on October 30th Follow us on Instagram: @confidentcollective  Follow the Hosts/Founders: @kristinazias & @raeannlangas Learn more: https://www.theconfidentcollective.com/ Stay in the know with our newsletter!

We must confess…we have some major pet peeves we need to talk about! It just feels good to release and talk about things that annoy us so we can get it off of our chest, you know? In this episode, we also talk about our upcoming LIVE EVENT in NYC this October, the worst date Raeann has ever been on, and some exciting news from Kristina about a TV appearance she’ll be making soon. In our ask away segment, we give advice to a listener about how we motivate ourselves to stick to our workout routines, and not compare our relationships to what we see on social media. We hope this episode will be cathartic for you like it was for us! “I’m in my “protect the peace” phase.” - Raeann What we talk about: New makeup trend Krisitna is obsessed with Raeann’s sublet apartment hunt in NYC Our biggest pet peeves Your biggest pet peeves How to be motivated to get back in a workout routine Reframing food as a reward for working out Meal prepping tips Social media perpetuating the false idea of a “perfect relationship” “When you tell your partner you’re tired and they’re like, ‘Oh, I’m tired too.’ Stop trying to one up me!” - Kristina New podcast episodes of Confident Collective drop every Tuesday.   Resources: Get Your Tickets to our Live Event in NYC on October 30th Follow us on Instagram: @confidentcollective  Follow the Hosts/Founders: @kristinazias & @raeannlangas Learn more: https://www.theconfidentcollective.com/ Stay in the know with our newsletter!

We’re talking about something Kristina is super passionate about: feeling confident and great in your body when it is going through the biggest change, pregnancy. Kristina is going solo this week to share information she wishes she knew before she got pregnant so that you can feel more prepared, and understood, in your pregnancy journey whether you’re going through it now or will one day. She shares what bodily changes she was not ready for, what positive physical changes she’s experienced, what NOT to say to a pregnant woman and how to cultivate confidence in your body and your decisions while pregnant. *This is not medical advice, so please always ask your doctor if you have specific questions or concerns!* “That stimulation and having that fun with your partner is always such a major confidence boost and makes you feel good and sexy. I think that’s a major win women don’t talk about.” - Kristina “Every month we didn’t get pregnant with Nikolas I thought, ‘Is it because I’m fat?” - Kristina What we talk about: The pressure to lose weight before getting pregnant Lack of plus size pregnancy representation online or in media Stressing about things that are out of your control Dealing with everyone else’s opinion on what you should do Fear of not losing weight post-pregnancy Learning to trust your gut and your own instincts Things pregnant women get told that drive them crazy Ask Away: how did you know you were ready to start having kids instead of being influenced by friends who are having kids? “Whether you’re scared of gaining weight, or what your body will look like, just remember at the end of the day there’s a miracle happening inside of you.” - Kristina “You cannot stress about things that you don’t know what the outcome will be and that are out of your control.” - Kristina New podcast episodes of Confident Collective drop every Tuesday.   Resources: Follow us on Instagram: @confidentcollective  Follow the Hosts/Founders: @kristinazias & @raeannlangas Learn more: https://www.theconfidentcollective.com/ Stay in the know with our newsletter!

Most of us want to be in a happy and healthy long term relationship, right? But the reality is, in order to get there, it takes a lot of work. If that sounds daunting and overwhelming, today’s guest is sharing her easy to integrate tips to help you through different phases of your relationship, and build a relationship that lasts. Kim Polinder is an individual and couples counselor whose training in traditional therapy and energy work has helped her create her holistic approach to issues such as anxiety, couples communication, childhood trauma and low self esteem. Check out this episode to learn the essential elements of a long-lasting relationship, how to reconnect with your partner, communicate better and build resilience in your relationship. “You can be as upset as you want; feelings are real. But when it comes to communicating with your partner, it helps to stay specific.” - Kim Polinder What we talk about: Working through infidelity How to address the root of our issues by processing childhood trauma Common issues among 20+ year relationships Virtual partners and relationships Lack of engagement among younger generations The basis of a successful relationship The importance of identifying value systems How to integrate modern relationship dynamics Romanticizing social media relationships How to reconnect with your partner “When it comes to deciding who you’re going to commit to, a lot of it is just making the decision to commit.” - Kim Polinder Other topics: Kristina and Steve’s trip to Ojai Update from Raeann’s heritage trip Another life update from Kristina!! Harry Styles and Olivia Wilde breakup rumors and DWD drama Kourtney Kardashian’s new product line   New podcast episodes of Confident Collective drop every Tuesday.   Resources: Follow Kim: @kp_counseling  Play We're Not Really Strangers Follow us on Instagram: @confidentcollective  Follow the Hosts/Founders: @kristinazias & @raeannlangas Learn more: https://www.theconfidentcollective.com/ Stay in the know with our newsletter!

Raeann and Kristina started as fashion creators, and honestly, experimenting with fashion was one way that helped us to feel more confident. Because we LOVE helping other women feel confident and good about themselves, this episode is all about fall fashion: what we’re excited for, how to incorporate trends, stay true to your style, our tried and true outfit recipes and best confidence tips when it comes to fashion.   “Find the recipe that really works for you then just have fun with iterations. Because you know you're going to feel good when you walk out the door.” - Raeann   We also talk about: Raeann’s trip to Mexico for a friend’s bachelorette weekend Toxic masculinity & men who can’t be open about their feelings in front of other men Kristina’s funk What Kristina’s parents have been lying to her about her whole life Raeann’s upcoming heritage trip & Scandinavian style Being unique and unafraid to wear things that aren’t trendy Tips for trying new things and embracing trends Being confident in & finding your own personal style How to stay confident when people make comments about your clothing Outfits we wore that make us cringe now Ageism in fashion  ASK AWAY: “As someone who works in social media, how can I find the balance between being on my phone for work, creating content, taking photos and being present and in the moment with who I’m with?”   “You have to remember who you’re dressing for and why. If you’re dressing for yourself,  only your opinion matters.” - Kristina   New podcast episodes of Confident Collective drop every Tuesday.   Resources: Follow Tibi founder Amy Smilovic on Tik Tok: @amysmilovic The Cut article Follow Allison on Tik Tok: @allisonbornstein6  Follow Grece Ghanem for style and confidence at any age:  @greceghanem Follow us on Instagram: @confidentcollective  Follow the Hosts/Founders: @kristinazias & @raeannlangas Learn more: https://www.theconfidentcollective.com/ Stay in the know with our newsletter!

The last episode of our summer series reveals a HUGE life update from Kristina: she’s PREGNANT! Hear about how she found out, when she’s due, how she’s been feeling and what she’s most excited for with baby number 2! We get into the BTS of Raeann’s recent modeling gig in NYC for Express, discuss Barbie Ferreira leaving Euphoria, our thoughts on the low media coverage of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez’s wedding, and other celebs tying the knot this month (Sarah Hyland and Wells Adams). We also open up about our dating history, and normalize feeling insecure about not having been in many relationships. We give our thoughts on the pressure women feel when it comes to relationships and dating, and our advice for women who have never been in a relationship.   “Every major milestone in our life is around a relationship for women. It’s crazy. We don’t celebrate a woman getting a promotion in the way we celebrate them getting engaged.” - Raeann   We also talk about: Manifesting a podswap with Giggly squad How can we get Raeann on Love Island? Barbie Ferreira leaving Euphoria  Wedding talk: Benifer wedding & Wells Adams and Sarah Hyland’s wedding,  Has JLo really never had work done? Kristina’s pregnancy details How important it is to have a good doctor while pregnant  How Kristina feels about the physical changes of this pregnancy Reminders & advice for women who have never been in a relationship   “Enjoy your single life, enjoy time with friends, enjoy discovering yourself. You have the rest of your life to be in a relationship. That’s not something to rush or be embarrassed about.”  - Kristina   New podcast episodes of Confident Collective drop every Tuesday.   Resources: Follow us on Instagram: @confidentcollective  Follow the Hosts/Founders: @kristinazias & @raeannlangas Learn more: https://www.theconfidentcollective.com/ Stay in the know with our newsletter!