Linda Marigliano's Tough Love

While Linda waits for her new arrival, she excitedly checks in with her Australian family and receives a dry dose of long distance reality from her parents. Meanwhile, Linda’s best friend shares her very recent birth story and the hilariously unplanned nuances of new motherhood. In the short moments before her life changes, Linda and Magnus also need to move house. After years of her long distance...

What is your relationship like with productivity? In an effort to leave her "To Do List" behind, Linda is in New York this week and takes a moment to meet psychotherapist & author Israa Nasir (Toxic Productivity) to talk through some real tough love lessons about equality & equity in our day-to-day relationships, and ways we can learn to chill out and rethink our relationship with being al...

On a warm summer LA morning, Linda is fired up to welcome the Sichuan chili crisp queen Jing Gao (Fly by Jing) to talk about how she reclaimed her Chinese identity through her entrepreneurship and (in spite of adversity) created one of the most popular modern condiment companies in the United States. They discuss misconceptions about international food and cultures, what early motherhood has been...

Have you experienced negative self talk? For comedian and writer DeAnne Smith dealing with hecklers is an everyday job, but what happens when it’s your own voice doing the heckling? Linda catches up with DeAnne and a sweet chihuahua called Rudy to talk about being terrified of everything, and how they’ve learned to reframe nervousness and anxiety to help in all aspects of life.  Plus, they open up...

This week, Linda has been rethinking her relationship with perfection and has invited the perfect player over for afternoon snacks. Professional tennis and pickleball player Genie Bouchard has spent her lifetime aiming for the top, and is in constant reassessment with the sacrifices and the discipline it has taken to be such a high achiever. Linda and Genie talk through the ways they’ve learned to...

On the precipice of a big life change, Linda jumps into the car for a roadtrip to the desert with bestie, model & author Naomi Shimada. They explore the various chapters in their lives, the courage to face challenges and deal with loss and the ever evolving relationship we have with ourselves.  How do we choose relationships that nourish us? How do we take big risks and walk towards change? Th...

One LA morning, Linda lounges on her couch and welcomes Comedian & Voice Artist Blair Socci (Bob’s Burgers, Aqua Teen Forever) to talk about finding her voice in her life and work. They talk about body image, how weirdly lopsided dating is for her, and how she has realised the balance of masculine & feminine drives of career demands and wanting a family. Find Blair’s special 'Live from the...

Have you ever felt stereotyped? Before she stops off to buy snacks, Linda catches up with award-winning podcaster Sequoia Holmes (Black People Love Paramore) to dive into a long running theme through Sequoia’s life; being introverted and encountering stereotypes around her blackness and womanhood. The two chat about how important it is to shed these pigeonholed perspectives, and the dangers of pri...

While shopping at a flea market, Linda gets distracted by some big questions and heads home to seek out some advice from one of NYC’s most sought after relationship therapists, Vienna Pharaon (The Origins of You, This Keeps Happening). Vienna outlines the five origin wounds that you may be affected by, and discusses why it is so important to understand your family upbringing. How do these dynamics...

Linda’s friends and family are starting to feel even more far away. As we live increasingly global lives, Linda is wondering, how do we maintain these homegrown relationships while setting down roots elsewhere?  Linda spends an afternoon with illustrator and podcast host Sophie Ansari (Podcrushed & @scribbledbysophie) and hears about her life living overseas away from her close knit family.  Y...

On a leafy street in Sydney, Linda arrives at the home of Aussie TV Icon Osher Gunsberg (The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, The Masked Singer). They have a candid conversation about the darker times in his life: dealing with depression, addiction, OCD and suicidal ideation all while maintaining a smiling public profile on television.  Osher reveals the Tough Love lessons that he’s had to learn in ord...

What do we really know about our parents' lives and the decisions they make? Comedian, actor and writer Andrea Jin was often left wondering where her strong emotions came from, and in her 20s, she discovered a deep family secret that made sense of it all.  Linda meets Andrea in downtown LA where Andrea intimately shares her unconventional life story, and the two women bond over Asian families (and...

Linda’s been thinking about the F-word again. Fertility.  It can be confronting to plan ahead when it comes to your own fertility but in recent years, women have more access and awareness with TTC AKA ‘trying to conceive’. Today, Linda pays a visit to her fertility specialist who helped freeze her eggs and the two discuss how much the process improves mental health and strengthens relationships, a...

We’re taking a lil break this week to chomp on a NY pizza slice, but wanted to share what’s been happening in our Tough Love members-only community!  If you sign up, you’ll get the weekly episodes, ad-free, and before anyone else! Plus my newsletter and members only episodes! Like the one I’ve just shared, titled BONUS EPISODE: How To Win Your Life.  How To Win Your Life is one of the most popular...

Linda spends an afternoon with Emmy-nominated TV writer, comedian, podcaster and author Chelsea Devantez (The Problem with Jon Stewart, Girls5Eva, Not Dead Yet). They nestle on Chelsea’s couch to talk about the ugly side of relationships; from friendship breakups to Chelsea’s traumatic experience in her first relationship which lingered for decades afterwards.  You’ll also hear about Chelsea’s his...

Linda is back in Los Angeles and heads straight to the best food court in Koreatown with LA based fashion stylist Chloe Badawy to talk about finding confidence and living unapologetically. They dig into the complex mental load of motherhood, plus Chloe gives you the hottest tips for nailing your personal style and the key to longevity in her relationship.   Find Chloe on IG here @CLOHEYYY and see...

Magnus and Linda head back to Australia to visit family before the baby pops out in a few months. It’s Mother’s Day so Linda’s mum, Janet, reminisces about becoming a mum and then Linda seeks out a best friend to talk about her experience of new motherhood, how parenting changes your relationship, and especially those first few challenging weeks of life with a newborn.  Join Linda on her hilarious...

It’s a bustling afternoon in New York and Linda hops on the subway to meet up with Australian comedian and actor, Aaron Chen (Taskmaster Australia, Koala Man). Aaron has recently moved from Sydney to the US, and Linda asks him about his decision to move overseas.  While lounging in his Brooklyn apartment, Aaron reveals what his Chinese family has taught him about hard work and the way that ice cre...

Linda continues to eat her way around LA and drops by the queen of dinner parties; food journalist, cook & best selling author Jess Damuck ( Health Nut , Salad Freak , Benny Blanco’s Open Wide ).  As Jess and Linda slap some clay in Jess’ home pottery studio, they talk about how Jess is a self-proclaimed control freak who has learned to let go of perfectionism. She talks about simple, creative...

Linda is easing into LA life and visits new mum Gabrielle Stone. Gabrielle is a best-selling author who has picked up the ingredients for a Self Love Cocktail after catching her husband cheating, living through a divorce in her 20s and then getting dumped by a high profile celebrity before their European vacation.  How do you learn to trust again after a betrayal? How can we rebuild trust in our r...

On a rainy day in LA, Linda meets comedian Leslie Liao (Central Intelligence) at her apartment. Leslie reflects on her Asian American upbringing in The OC and how she tried to fit in. She gives Linda her current rules on dating, feelings after freezing her eggs and what her needs are in a relationship. And we love a girl who f*cking loves a to-do list.  Hey Australia! Leslie Liao is touring in Jun...

It’s been over a year since Linda moved to LA. Now, she is calling her family with life-changing news about her relationship . That’s if her mum, Janet, will pause to ask how Linda’s doing to find out herself. After her big confession, Linda catches up with one of her oldest friends who understands exactly what she’s going through.  Join Linda on her hilarious and real journey towards self-reflect...

Tough Love is back April 9, 2024! And right now, I have a sweet update with an opportunity for you if you enjoy this podcast series. We are launching an official community with some super perks. By signing up, you’ll get weekly episodes, ad-free, before anyone else! You’ll also receive my personal newsletter, plus access to extended interviews and bonus conversations. I’d also LOVE for you to be p...

This is it. It’s taken years, but Linda is finally leaving Australia and moving to LA for good. Before she goes, Linda spends quality time with each of her loved ones, including Nonna Carmelinda. This series finale culminates in a tough and tender full circle moment.  Tough love lessons on all the shit that counts. A huge thanks to YOU for joining this Tough Love journey with us and stay tuned for...

It’s the night of Linda’s book launch, and emotions are flying.  For the last two years, Linda’s been writing a memoir about family and relationships. While getting stuck into the process, Linda’s been digging into a big part of her personality: she is a life-long people pleaser.  Linda turns to two close friends for guidance on how to live a more honest, unapologetic life and how to set boundarie...