Confident Collective

Raeann has been struggling lately when it comes to dating and its’ effect on her confidence, so we invited our friend Rosie to join us in a truthful, vulnerable conversation about the nuances of dating as curvy women, why women are so affected by the presence or lack of male attention, where confidence really comes from, how to gain it back when you’re in a funk, the role men should be playing in evolving the conversation around fat phobia and so much more.  We know many of you in our community deal with the same things we are going through, so if you’re also struggling with self worth while dating or need some support getting out of a confidence funk, this conversation is for you. And it’s not because you need to be fixed, but because there’s comfort in understanding you’re not alone. Coming together around shared experiences is powerful, as is acknowledging and feeling all of the ups and downs of your confidence journey (because it will always ebb and flow.)  We’re sitting with you in this space and meeting you where you are to provide validation as your friends and virtual support system. We hope it’s helpful for whatever you’re going through! Top quotes and takeaways from episode 59 include: “That narrative of: ‘no don't be insecure about that because men like it’ as opposed to ‘no, you are beautiful and your legs are strong and you should be thankful for them’ is part of our conditioning.” - Kristina    “It's less of a question to be solved and more of a pain to be felt.” - Rosie   “As I continue dating and meeting men, it’s not just all them, it’s on me to figure out what’s going on with me and why do I believe that men don’t like me because they think I’m fat and working through that and reframing that so I actually believe it and can have a more positive experience with men.” - Raeann   What We Talk About: The negative impacts of society programming on what’s considered desirable or attractive How events from childhood influence insecurities and false narratives later on in life The power of validation within friendships and vulnerable conversations The role men should play in evolving the conversation on fat phobia  Feeling feminine in a curvy body How to hold space for emotion, sit in the pain and not try to fix things How confronting emotion springboards into resilience Finding expanders   New podcast episodes of Confident Collective drop every Tuesday.   Resources: Lacy Phillips / To Be Magnetic Follow us on Instagram: @confidentcollective  Follow the Hosts/Founders: @kristinazias & @raeannlangas Learn more: https://www.theconfidentcollective.com/ Stay in the know with our newsletter! 

Part 3 of “Ask Steve” is here! Need some no bull shit dating advice from a guy’s perspective? Steve’s got you! He’s answering your dating questions so you can find out if your new boo is really into you, how to make the first move in public, where to meet the right guy, warning signs of your situation-ship falling flat, why men cheat and whether or not you should bring up your weight before meeting up with a guy. And as always, there’s no holding back. Thanks for submitting your questions. We hope this episode gives you the insight your dating life has needed! What We Talk About: What we’re obsessed with this week on Tik Tok First date follow up etiquette How to know if you’re in a situation-ship Tips for initiating conversation when you see someone out How to know if he’s really into you Bringing up your weight to a guy before meeting for the first time Steve’s thoughts on why men cheat How to share sexual fantasies with a partner Where to meet men (that’s not a bar or club) Expectations vs reality of dating Advice on losing a friend while they're in a relationship New podcast episodes of Confident Collective drop every Tuesday. Resources: Follow Steve @swolesteve Listen to Sex with Emily podcast Check out Raeann’s Tik Tok Read about Astrocartography 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 live from New York! In fact, we are living our BEST lives in NYC, and we’re inviting you along in this week’s episode. We had a blast during our girls trip and can’t wait to tell you all about our city adventures. We’re sharing the stand out moments from our trip like running into a listener on the street, why we feel seen in NYC, Raeann shares about her NYC dating experience, how traveling can help build your confidence and we give our advice about how to not let people’s comments about their own bodies affect how you feel about your own. We’re really feeling the city vibes. What do you think? Should we move to NYC?  What We Talk About: What most people don’t realize about visiting NY NYC vs LA Highlights of the trip so far Why Kristina and Raeann feel like NYC is the place for them Raeann’s NYC dating life What’s helping build their confidence lately Tips for being more comfortable sharing things about yourself Ask away with Rae and K: “I’m the heaviest girl going on a bachelorette trip. How do I get comfortable with being in a bathing suit around women smaller than me?” New podcast episodes of Confident Collective drop every Tuesday. Resources: Listen to the Ed Mylett episode on TSC podcast 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 got so many DMs after we talked about pop culture on the podcast, so we had to invite THE QUEEN of pop culture on the show today. And here’s a hint: she knew about the impending Kravis engagement before anyone else! That’s right, hear it for yourself right here, because we have Amanda Hirsch or “Kamanda”, the host of “Not Skinny But Not Fat,” a celebrity based podcast and the mastermind behind the binge worthy Instagram account @notskinnybutnotfat joining us on Confident Collective. We have been fans of hers for a while and love her insight, news and commentary on the hot celeb gossip. We do a deep dive into celebrity and pop culture in this episode. Amanda has so many opinions that she’s not afraid to share which we find so refreshing! If you have thoughts on these topics, send us a DM. Let’s chat. What We Talk About: Raeann’s latest Amazon purchase to limit screen time Kristina shares her feelings about therapy What got Amanda into pop culture How Amanda has developed her 6th sense about celebrity news & knows what’s up before anyone else If Amanda gets anxiety about celebrities blocking her/What celeb she loved who blocked her As the ultimate Kravis stan, is she into Kourtney’s new edgy look? Where the hell did MGK and Megan Fox come from? Amanda explains. “The Scott Effect” If Amanda could be a cast member on any reality show… The downside to being on reality television We play some fun games with Amanda Ask away segment: What to do when you and your partner, who you believe is your soulmate, aren’t aligned on having kids New podcast episodes of Confident Collective drop every Tuesday. Resources: The Amazon case Raeann ordered Follow Amanda: @notskinnybutnotfat  Listen to the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast Follow the podcast for news and updates: @confidentcollective  Follow the Hosts/Founders: @kristinazias & @raeannlangas Learn more: https://www.theconfidentcollective.com/ Stay in the know with our newsletter! 

Do you find it intimidating to do things solo? You’re not alone. Kristina and Raeann get messages all the time asking for advice on how to feel more confident doing solo activities and being alone, and understand how it can be intimidating and difficult to branch out of your comfort zone. However, some of the best learning experiences, growth moments and memories in their lives have come from doing things alone. Today’s episode is full of insight and inspo from Kristina and Raeann’s lives about times where they’ve done things alone, how it has helped them reflect and learn about themselves and how to make solo adventures feel nurturing and exciting. We hope this podcast episode inspires you to try something new on your own, and continue building your self confidence. (Episode 55) What We Talk About: Recap of Raeann’s sister’s wedding Kristina and Steve’s Van Gogh exhibit adventure feat. microdosing and the Polo Classic Raeann reflects on dating burnout and shares the signs & importance of taking a break Why Squid Game is the new show taking the world by storm Whether it could be offensive to call a fat person confident - reflecting on a Cosmopolitan article by Sesali Bowen The self confidence and growth that can be cultivated through doing things alone/spending time alone Ask Away Segment: How to deal with negative body commentary from your family New podcast episodes of Confident Collective drop every Tuesday. Resources: Cosmopolitan article: “Calling Plus-Size Women “Confident” Is Actually an Insult” “Bad Fat Black Girl: Notes from a Trap Feminist” by Sesali Bowen 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 are so obsessed with our guest for episode 54, Justine Marjan! Justine is a celebrity hairstylist and beauty influencer. She has styled the most popular celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Ashley Graham, Kerry Washington and Hailey Beiber. She has styled for New York Fashion Week and is always at the forefront of hair trends. We met her almost 2 years ago on a shoot and is truly one of the kindest and warmest people we’ve met. Her words of wisdom are always giving us the inspiration we need, and her story of how she got to where she is today is nothing short of phenomenal. Plus, she’s a new mom! Justine candidly shares how she balances being at the height of her career and becoming a mother, how she’s adjusting to her new, postpartum body and tips for regaining confidence.She also gives great relationship advice in this episode’s advice column. We’re SO excited for you to hear our interview with Justine! What We Talk About: An exciting upcoming trip we’re taking and what show we’re currently binge-watching Justine shares her journey from sleeping through her SATs to working with top celebrities and at NYFW The value of persistence and hustle How to make a career change or take a risk What keeps Justine at the top of her game  Career advice to live by and the “pinch me” moments in her career Balancing work as a new mom and the importance of having a supportive partner Justine’s postpartum journey with body confidence and tips for adjusting to the new you Rapid fire questions about her favorite looks, her dream celeb client, fall hair trends for 2021 What Justine is looking forward to in her personal life Ask Away segment: My partner has gained weight and I’m not attracted to them as much. What should I do?   New podcast episodes of Confident Collective drop every Tuesday.   Resources: Justine’s website: https://www.justinemarjan.com/ Follow Justine on TikTok and Instagram: @justinemarjan  Follow us on Instagram: @confidentcollective  Follow the Hosts/Founders: @kristinazias & @raeannlangas Learn more: https://www.theconfidentcollective.com/ Stay in the know with our newsletter!

It’s our ONE YEAR pod-iversary! We wanted to take time to reflect on the stand out moments from the last year’s worth of conversations on Confident Collective. And to say thank you all for listening, subscribing and telling your friends about the pod, we are doing a massive giveaway! You can win $500 to treat yourself, plus a 15 minute Zoom call to hang out with Raeann and Kristina and ask them anything! Check out @confidentcollective for more information. We’ll be announcing the winner in our next episode!   What We Talk About: What’s been the hardest part of the podcast journey Getting candid about Kristina’s psychedelic experience Channeling “vacation Raeann” and her experience dating in Denver Reviewing big moments from the last year and what has impacted us most Kristina shares the predictions from her recent Astrology reading We share our goals and dreams for the future of the podcast How to get out of your head about your insecurities with your body when dating fit guys Stand out Confident Collective Episodes from the Last Year: Episode 6 - Our Confidence Journey with Kristina and Raeann Episode 20 - Love, Heartache and How to Heal with Heartbroken Anonymous Founder Naz Perez Episode 23 - Astrology 101 and Birth Chart Readings with Alice Bell Episode 32 - Fat Shaming vs Skinny Shaming and the Evolution of Body Positivity Movement with Charlotte Zoller New podcast episodes of Confident Collective drop every Tuesday.   Resources: Astrology resources: Chani Nicholas and Costar Astrology Human Design: Follow @myhumandesign on Instagram  Sex with Emily podcast Follow us on Instagram: @confidentcollective  Follow the Hosts/Founders: @kristinazias & @raeannlangas Learn more: https://www.theconfidentcollective.com/ Stay in the know with our newsletter!

How would your life be different if you grew up seeing someone who looks like you represented in film and TV? Most of the narrative we have grown up with is based on the limited demographic that we’ve seen represented on our screens, and if you don’t happen to fall into the thin body crowd, it’s likely this has had an effect on what you think you can or can’t do. As Raeann admits, the lack of body diversity and representation has held her back from pursuing opportunities because she didn’t think it was for girls like her.  In today’s episode, Kristina and Raeann have the privilege of sitting down with dancer and actor, Simone Recasner, who stars in Fox’s new show The Big Leap, premiering Monday, 9/20. Simone plays Gabby Lewis who is a single mother who gets a second shot at her dream. And as you’ll hear in this episode, Simone shares many similarities to her character that help her, as well as Kristina and Raeann, relate to her incredible and inspiring story.  This episode is full of excitement, hope, empowerment and joy as Simone, Kristina and Raeann share their “big leap” moments, how they’ve cultivated confidence, tips for retraining their brains to believe that all bodies are beautiful (especially their own!), confronting the inner narrative we have that holds us back, showing ourselves love and compassion in moments of self doubt and so much more. The ladies also give their honest advice to help a listener who is struggling with whether or not they should step in when their friend’s husband displays questionable behavior. And don’t miss Raeann’s update on where things went after last week’s DM! You seriously won’t believe it. What We Talk About: How Kristina’s mom stole her future baby’s name for her dog Raeann shares her dating updates What Kristina and Raeann are obsessed with right now Simone shares her character Gabby’s story and how she relates to Gabby The importance and impact of body diversity, or the lack thereof, in film What Kristina and Raeann find empowering about Simone’s character Simone’s confidence journey and the tools she’s used to build her confidence Simone’s big leap moment while running Simone gives us a sneak peek into her favorite storylines within “The Big Leap” Tips for growing your self confidence The Big Leap premiers on Fox Monday, 9/20 at 9/8c Resources: @FOXTV’s new drama @BigLeapFOX premiers Monday, 9/20 at 9/8c Follow Simone on Instagram: @simonerecasner  Check out Raeann and Kristina’s “big leap” moments on Instagram Learn more: https://www.theconfidentcollective.com/ Stay in the know with the Confident Collective newsletter! 

Episode Overview: Episode 51: Raeann and Kristina are back with Part 2 of the “Ask Away with Rae and K” advice column! They love getting questions for these episodes and appreciate all the love and support from listeners. Get revved up for the episode by hearing the qualities Raeann looks for in a guy, then slide in a TikToker’s DMs with Raeann. Then, Kristina and Raeann chat about Addison Rae’s new movie and discuss the complexities of why they think people love to hate the success of young social media female superstars.   You all sent in such great questions for Kristina and Raeann to share their perspective on dating, friendships, healthy body mindset and more.  “Wow, I honestly feel so blessed right now that I can move and go to the gym. It’s so messed up that we have been told our entire lives that we go to the gym or workout or move... just to lose weight. I think it’s so important to remember all of the other incredible reasons why we move. It’s such a gift. ” -Raeann We Talk About: When your man is a major momma’s boy - where do you draw the line? How to let go of friendships and navigate friendship dynamic changes The pros and cons of a destination wedding How to reignite intimacy post baby Rae + K’s perspective on the mindset and intention that matters when it comes to eating healthy and working out for weight loss Learning to laugh at our bad angles in photos What is considered cheating?   “I do think friendships sometimes run their course, and that is okay. You can live with people, hang out with them and have a good time but realize that they may not be in your life forever.” - Kristina   Check out new episodes of Confident Collective every Tuesday! Resources: Follow us on Instagram: @confidentcollective  Follow the Hosts/Founders: @kristinazias & @raeannlangas Stay in the know with our newsletter!  Check out @Bradtheboxer on TikTok Listen to Part 1 of this episode here: Episode 43 - You Asked, We Answered Read or listen to “The Fuck it Diet” by Caroline Dooner  Learn more: https://www.theconfidentcollective.com/

Episode Overview: Summer 2021 was one for the books, and Kristina and Raeann could not let it slip by without recapping their stand out moments, trips, experiences and learnings from the past few months. They’re sharing what they’re obsessed with currently, what they loved most about this summer, what they’re maybe still not over, lessons learned about communicating with your loved ones and confidence when approaching speaking up for yourself during sex.  “I think that’s how you build confidence; through experiences and making mistakes, and I’ve learned.” -Raeann Finally in “Ask Away with Rae and K,” Kristina and Raeann give their advice about how to be a supportive friend to someone when you don’t really think the relationship they’re in is the best for them.  “Unless someone is really ready to leave a relationship, they’re not going to.” -Kristina What We Talk About: Raeann’s sus sleepover story Spontaneous girl trips Stand out vacation destinations of summer 2021 The importance of intimate family time Getting ready for cuffing season Self-reflecting on how we communicate with loved ones How to have confidence when speaking up for yourself during sex 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!