THE CITY CONFESSIONS

This is a quick and short solo episode featuring your host Mariann Yip, closing out season 10 of The City Confessions. She shares her life updates, how she's truly feeling about her podcast, and what she's working on behind the scenes. You can follow her real life updates on her personal page www.instagram.com/mariann_yip and stay tuned for the return of season 11 in the fall.

This week's guest is Rebecca Benvie, an ASMR specialist and founder of WhisperWave, an ASMR spa in New York City focused on health and wellness. In this episode, we talk about the following topics: Her relationship with NYC and why she started her business here What is ASMR and the benefits  What inspired her to start Whisper Wave and what a service looks like Biggest challenges/ lessons of be...

This episode features mindset coach and entrepreneur Kate Lombardo. She is also the Co-Owner and Director of YogaRenew Online Teacher Training and YogaRenew Hoboken. We talk about the below topics including: Kate’s discovery and love for yoga, how it began and how it changed her life Relationship with NYC including challenges with her health and debt Why she pursued a career in the wellness indust...

Today’s guest is Marcel Dinkins, a peloton instructor, keynote speaker, former army officer and Div 1 runner. Topics we discuss in this week’s episode include: How Marcel became a Peloton instructor / her journey from Memphis to NYC Grief/turning the loss of her brother into motivation The mental toll of being an athlete  A day in the life and what it’s like working as a Peloton instructor  Confes...

This week’s guest is beauty and wellness publicist, Christina Monteleone Boyarsky, who is also the founder of CMB Media. In this episode, we talk about:  Why Christina started her own PR firm and how she landed her first client Being her own boss and how she handles the stress and pressure Her morning routine and reality of being a publicist  Stereotypes of being a publicist that are true and fals...

This week’s guest is sex and relationships writer Hayley Folk. She talks about her writing journey and move to NYC and how she’s been courageous to openly write about sex. Other topics include:  Dealing with feedback with her writing from her family and friends How her husband feels about her career and writing topics  Hayley’s opinion on raunchy and controversial topics with sex  Hayley’s top 5 s...

This episode is a solo one featuring your host, Mariann Yip. She confesses that she has recently lost herself and is finding her way back. She shares five lessons including: Stop worrying about others and focusing on my paper / Minding my own business Noticing emotions but not having to voice them or act on them  Power of affirmations & gratitude (focusing on positive rather than negatives) Be...

This week’s episode features Cameron Forbes, the founder of Forbes Functions, a boutique event planning company curating memorable experiences for bold brands and party people alike. We talk about her background and relationship in NYC and all about her business, Forbes Functions. Other topics include:  - Cameron talking about growing up in New York and the power of networking - Why she decided to...

This episode features actress and model from LA, Hannah Masi Helwani. We discuss the below topics including: Opening up about finding her place in New York and finding the move to be difficult Juxtaposition of having beautiful milestones in NYC but feeling homesick and love for LAImportance of having supportive parents for her career and life path Dealing with unfortunate news from her sibling and...

We have our first repeating guest of The City Confessions and it’s LeAura Luciano, who is a journalist, writer, content creator and host of the podcast, What’s Your Skincare Routine with LeAura Luciano . She was a guest back in 2019 and you can reference her past episode 39 for her NYC background and insights on wellness and meditation. In this episode, we talk about her growth and evolution since...

This solo episode is a confession regarding an incident that happened in a NYC event. Mariann Yip talks about her embarrassing outburst at a meditation session, the power of emotions and learning to let go of the past to make room for the present and future. Feel free to leave a positive review on Apple Podcasts if you enjoyed this episode and be sure to share this with a friend! You can also emai...

This episode features Cyndi Ramirez, the Founder of self care brand, Chillhouse. We talk about her background with NYC, how the idea of Chillhouse came to be and her balancing motherhood and being an entrepreneur. Other topics include: How Cyndi founded Chillhouse: seeing the gap in the spa industry in terms of affordability and aspirational environment  Realities of running a business and being a...

This week’s guest is Flor Pereira, a NYC based latin creator. She recalls her move from Argentina, switching careers and uprooting her life. Other topics we discuss include: Moving to NYC and recalling the transition: struggles, lessons and changes Career change from being a lawyer in Argentina to full time creator in NYC Embracing different chapters in life and taking chances/ risks Using Envy an...

This week’s guest is Carleigh Ferrante, who is a NYC-based writer and editor and the host of Mostly Balanced Podcast. She covers all things dating, relationships, and wellness. The topic we cover include: How Carleigh met her boyfriend through Hinge and her experience with dating apps and dating in a city like New York How she started Mostly Balanced podcast: talking openly about all things dating...

This week's guest is Kimberly Fisher, who is a professional freelance travel writer, blogger, journalist, and on-camera host. In this episode, we discuss the below topics: - Relationship with NYC started with moving for a guy but staying for herself - Jumping and embracing the unknown and seeing obstacles as growth - Finding ways to reconnect with yourself when you’re off track and prioritizing sm...

This is the first episode of Season 10 and I am so happy to be back. I talk about my first year as a mother and the lessons I've learned. I dive deeper into my reflection on my journey in the hopes that you can take something from it. Topics include: - Welcoming Season 10 of The City Confessions: life updates regarding my first year as a first time mom, looking back at my traumatic birth exper...

This episode is a solo one from yours truly, wrapping up season 9. I share some life updates, reflections on 2023 and my confessions from my personal life. Other topics I also touch on include: 2023 recap and reflection: opening up about anxiety attacks, word of the year GRACE for 2023 and how I applied it through my life this year  Vulnerability of raw motherhood but not sharing the real lens (st...

We are wrapping up Season 9 with Donna Kim, a New York-based creative social consultant and writer. In this week’s episode we discuss the below topics: Working in media, magazines and publishing industry and recalling her lessons and challenges in her career  The beauty of New York and perfect timing, patience and believing in yourself Unspoken realities of a job and possibility of getting laid of...

Today we are joined by the founders of LINES, Jiwon Ra and Crystal Pfeifer. LINES is Tattoo and Fashion Atelier that offers wellness spa services, fashion products, education, and events. In this episode we discuss the following topics: How Jiwon Ra and Crystal Pfeifer met (from a mentor and mentee relationship) and sharing same ethos and beliefs and values in fashion before starting a business to...

This week's guest is Rebeka Getty, who is the founder of NYC for FREE, New York City's go-to source for events, pop-ups, local giveaways, free things to do in NYC and more. In this episode we talk about how she started her Instagram NYC for Free account and how she grew it into a strong community, leading her to pursue this as her full time career. We also discuss: - How she started NYC fo...

This week's guest features Emily Brickel Edelson, who is a new mom, Entrepreneur, Co-Founder of Chic Sketch, published Fashion Illustrator, Speaker and Author of the book Sketch and Go: 5 Minute Fashion Illustration. In this episode, we discuss the below topics: - How she started Chic Sketch, which is a mobile application and live fashion illustration events service - Combining her skill and love...

Today’s guests are dating coach Ali Jackson stand up comedian Erica Spera, both co hosts of Finding Mr. Height podcast, where they bring you their positive and practical dating advice. In this week's episode, we discuss the below topics including: - How Ali and Erica met through podcasting and are now cohosts -Their current approach to dating: using challenges, meeting people in real life and...

This week's guest is Mila Magazhanova, the owner of Kerbez beauty bar, which specializes in Russian Gel manicures in NYC. We sit down to talk about her incredible story of how she started her own nail business as a result of COVID. We also dive into the below topics including: -Career switch from being a paralegal in personal injury to owning her own nail busines -How Covid changed her life profes...

We are starting off Season 9 with Lily Ravas, a fashion brand strategist based in NYC. We talk about her journey to NYC from Europe and how she’s established herself in the fashion world by working with clients and building her reputation. Other topics we discuss include: Realities of being a freelancer and working with different brands from a financial standpoint: justifying amount of work and ef...

I am back with Season 9 of The City Confessions and this is a solo episode from yours truly. I give my life updates where I discuss the end of my pregnancy, my birth story, the unspoken fourth trimester and the transition to motherhood. Topics include: Traumatic birth story: details surrounding my baby’s health, the NICU and all the emotions of being a first time mom Fourth trimester: the real and...