Choose The Bear

What if your life doesn’t “click” at 22- and that’s actually the point? In this episode of Choose the Bear, I’m joined by beloved illustrator, author, and creative mentor Lisa Congdon to talk about reinvention, creativity, and the myth that your best years have an expiration date. We start with a little friendly “beef” over her book A Glorious Freedom: Older Women Living Extraordinary Lives (40 is...

Comedian, writer, and podcaster Alison Leiby joins Choose the Bear for a wide-ranging, deeply honest conversation about horror movies, feminism, abortion, friendship, and choosing a full life outside of marriage and motherhood. Alison is best known as the co-host of the hit podcast Ruined , where she bravely (and hilariously) listens as horror movies are explained to her so she never has to watch...

Burlesque icon Dirty Martini joins Choose the Bear for a powerful, hilarious, and deeply inspiring conversation about confidence, creativity, and claiming your body on your own terms. From the Vegas stage with Dita Von Teese to intimate performances around the world, Dirty shares how burlesque became her path to visibility, artistry, and radical self-love. We talk about: ✨ How Dirty went from bei...

Burlesque isn’t just feathers and striptease, it’s comedy, politics, gender rebellion, and a century of artists rewriting the rules of who gets to be seen. In this episode, Kat Calvin sits down with Dustin Wax, anthropologist and executive director of the Burlesque Hall of Fame, for a masterclass on the real history of burlesque: from Lydia Thompson and Josephine Baker to Lottie the Body, Coby Yee...

Burlesque icon Perle Noire joins Choose the Bear for a luminous, soul-level conversation about the power of burlesque as an art form, a healing practice, and a path to personal liberation. Perle shares her journey from discovering burlesque to becoming one of the most celebrated performers and teachers in the world. We talk about how burlesque can help women reclaim their bodies, pleasure, confide...

This week, podcast royalty herself, Gillian Pensavalle, joins me for one of the most expansive, hilarious, and honest conversations we’ve ever had on Choose the Bear. We talk about her decade-long run with The Hamilcast, building a true-crime empire with  @TrueCrimeObsessedPodcast  , why women do all the emotional (and investigative) labor in true crime, and how podcasting becomes a business—not j...

Cosplayer and designer CutiePieSensei (  @TheRealCutiepiesensei  ) joins Kat to talk armor builds, creative process, and why cosplay is one of the most empowering spaces for women and Black nerds. Jasmine shares how a campus con sparked a decade of making, how she breaks a costume into parts, and the mindset that keeps her work joyful. She opens up about dealing with racism online, choosing humor...

Motorsports broadcaster Amanda Busick joins Kat to talk about how she went from unpaid internships and waiting tables to becoming one of the most recognizable reporters in racing. She shares the Weston Workman first-win moment, why timing and preparation matter, and how trust with drivers turns interviews into real storytelling. We dig into the Women with Drive Summit in Indianapolis, the rise of...

Happy Halloween and welcome to a special episode with singer-songwriter Allie Colleen. We talk about growing up on country classics, why she set out to make textured, emotionally honest music, and how her new work captures more of who she is as an artist. Allie shares the story behind Sincerely Rolling Stone, the power of songs like Halos and Horns and Back in the Saddle, and why she is patiently...

Journalist and author Marissa R. Moss (Her Country) joins Kat to dig into the gender and race politics of country music: why country radio still matters in 2025, how the industry keeps women and Black artists off the air, and what it will take to change Nashville’s power structure. We talk Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, Taylor Swift's move from country to Pop, Mickey Guyton’s “Black Like Me,” Maren...

Comedian, writer, and facilitator Amma Marfo joins Kat to talk about her hour-long special Fidget Spinster —a hilarious, thoughtful look at being single by choice , living with anxiety , and building a joyful life that doesn’t orbit dating or marriage. We dig into why women flock to trustworthy celeb crushes (hi, Pedro Pascal ), how comedy still sidelines single women’s stories, and practical ways...

Alyssa Carson , astrobiologist, PhD student, and aspiring astronaut, joins Kat Calvin to talk about the real path to space and why Mars is more than a dream. Alyssa breaks down astrobiology “like you’re five,” shares what astronaut selection actually looks like (hint: astronaut is a destination , not a job), and explains how Moon and Mars missions fuel everyday innovations on Earth. They also dig...

Franchesca Ramsey , comedian, actress, writer, and accidental activist, joins Kat Calvin for the Season 2 premiere of Choose the Bear . From her viral hit Shit White Girls Say to Black Girls to her recent Leopards Ate My Face song, Franchesca has spent 20 years turning comedy into a tool for social change. In this episode, she and Kat talk about: Why women are so drawn to true crime The highs and...

In this episode, Kat sits down with Ivelyse Andino , Afro-Latina founder of Radical Health , the first Latina-owned public benefit corp in New York focused on health equity. They talk about what it means to build a healthcare system centered in justice, the power of community conversations, and how Ivelyse’s personal story led her to create a company that’s transforming how people—especially margi...

What happens when outdated laws and stigma collide with your most personal truths? In this powerful episode, activist Robert Suttle shares his story of being prosecuted under Louisiana’s HIV criminalization laws—and how that conviction shaped his experience of dating, intimacy, and identity as a gay Black man in the South. We talk about what it means to build a full life after incarceration, how H...

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Allie Redhorse Young , writer, organizer, and founder of Protect the Sacred , to talk about navigating single life, identity, and activism as a Navajo woman. We explore the cultural perceptions of being unmarried and childfree in Indigenous communities, the epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, and how Allie is empowering Native youth through...

In part two of our homebuying series, we’re heading to Knoxville with realtor Aimee Lee Lucas , who shares her inspiring journey from single mom to successful homeowner to helping other women do the same. We talk about what single women should know before buying a home, how to build a supportive real estate team, and why homeownership is still possible—even in today’s market. Whether you’re dreami...

In this powerful episode, author and advocate Adrienne Spires shares her journey of surviving domestic violence and how she found the strength to leave and rebuild. We discuss why leaving abusive relationships is so difficult, the emotional and systemic barriers survivors face, and how Adrienne transformed her trauma into a life of service to others. Her memoir, Roaring Resilience: Finding Grit in...

What does it look like to travel the world as a confident, solo, childfree woman—and build a thriving social media presence while doing it? This week on Choose the Bear , I’m joined by Lauren Urasek, solo travel expert, childfree lifestyle advocate, and social media powerhouse. We dive into the joys (and challenges) of traveling alone, the magic of traveling with other women, and how Lauren built...

When I was buying my house I watched all of Jordan Nutter's tiktoks at least three times. Her hilarious skits about nightmare homebuyers and great information about how mortgages work and how to get one were a lifesaver. So I was absolutely thrilled when Jordan agreed to be on the pod! We had a great chat about how mortgages work, why buying a house isn't as unrealistic as you think, and t...

In this episode of Choose the Bear , I talk with historian and bestselling author Tilar J. Mazzeo about one of my long-time heroes: Barbe-Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin, better known as The Widow Clicquot . Tilar’s book, The Widow Clicquot , first introduced me to this visionary 19th-century businesswoman who revolutionized the champagne industry—and changed the way I think about legacy and independenc...

In this episode of Choose the Bear , I’m joined by writer, director, producer, actor, and writer Delaney Buffett to talk about her incredible new film Adult Best Friends , now streaming on Max. This is the first movie I’ve seen that truly explores so many of the themes we talk about on this podcast: the evolution of female friendship, giving your friends grace as you grow, and what it means to nav...

In this episode of Choose the Bear , I talk with Florence Wlodarski, founder of Parallel Social Club —a vibrant new community designed for SINKs (single income, no kids) and DINKs (dual income, no kids). We chat about how Florence built the social club we’ve all been waiting for, her vision for a more connected solo-living culture, and why intentional community matters now more than ever. Whether...

In this episode of Choose the Bear , I talk with Jeremy Ney—data journalist and creator of American Inequality —about maternal mortality in the United States. We dig into both the encouraging trends and the sobering truths behind maternal health outcomes, especially for women of color. Jeremy’s research offers a critical look at the systemic inequalities impacting maternal mortality and what can a...

In this episode of Choose the Bear , I’m joined by my dear friend Kenyora Johnson —CEO of End Rape on Campus , fearless advocate, and powerful leader in the fight to end campus sexual assault. We talk about the realities of sexual violence on college campuses ( TW ), how universities can better protect students, and how friendship, community, and grace have supported Kenyora through major life tra...