Ditch the Ick with Katie Carson: Redefining Relationships, Self-Worth, and Building Your Dream Life as Millennial and Gen X Women

I'm kicking off 2026 with some real talk about the Scotsman's chaotic holiday visit and why I had to draw some hard boundaries after watching him turn into someone I barely recognized. After that mess and some honest feedback from my Italian crew, I've decided to do a "Dry Hoo-ha January" – no dating, no apps, just focusing on hobbies and expanding my community here in Florence. Of course, the uni...

Buckle up, party people, because we're diving deep into the absolute chaos that is dating in Italy as a plus-size woman. And I mean chaos. I thought I'd seen it all with dating in America and the UK (God, I miss dating in the UK), but Italian men have brought a whole new level of wild to my life. We're talking about a culture where men won't be seen with you in public but will absolutely beg to be...

Okay party people, it's been a hot fucking minute. Literally. I'm finally back with proof of life and holy shit, these past five months have been an absolute rollercoaster. Between melting into a puddle every time I stepped outside, becoming a hermit with Archie in my AC-dependent bedroom cave, and stress-eating over whether I could communicate "ovarian cyst" in Italian, summer in Florence was not...

Four weeks into my big Italian move and I'm hitting that inevitable expat reality check - you know, the part where you realize moving across the world changes everything and also absolutely nothing. I'm sharing the messy, sweaty, hilarious truth about what it's really like when the honeymoon phase wears off and you're left figuring out how to build a life from scratch in a place where your dog spe...

Y’all… I’m in the thick of it. I basically Marie Kondo’d my entire life, packed it into a car, and (at the time of recording this) I’m days away from hopping on a plane to Italy with my dog and an even bigger sense of “WTF is happening.” This episode is a real-talk voice note about that weird-ass limbo where everything’s changing but nothing’s quite real yet. If you’ve ever told yourself “I could...

Katie is back this week with zero spoons, a suitcase full of mental health revelations, and a one-way ticket to Italy (because of course). In this episode, she’s catching you up on burnout, boundaries, and why sometimes moving across the world is the only logical next step when your nervous system is shot. It’s raw, it’s real, it’s deeply relatable—and somehow still funny even when it shouldn't be...

Ghost not, lest ye be ghosted. That's in the dating Bible right? Well, regardless, I'm joined by my dear friend Aubrey de los Reyes who shares her dating journey and strategy to avoid bad ghosting karma. Trust me you don't want to miss this. Connect with Katie: https://www.instagram.com/ladykatieabroad/ Join the Patreon Party! https://www.patreon.com/DitchtheIck Join the Facebook Group: https:/...

When the world feels heavy, loud, and chaotic, sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is light a candle, put on a song that makes you feel alive, and pour a little more love into your everyday routines. In this episode of Ditch the Ick, Katie is joined by Angela Armstrong — intuitive life strategist, spiritual realist, and hype woman for high-achieving women who are ready to press pause and...

Jealousy. It’s messy. It’s uncomfortable. And yeah—it definitely gives us the ick. But what if jealousy is actually trying to help us? In this episode of Ditch the Ick, Katie sits down with the incredible Dr. Joli Hamilton to unravel everything we don’t talk about when it comes to jealousy in relationships—monogamous, non-monogamous, and everything in between. Together, they dig into: Why jealousy...

It’s my birthday week, y’all! 🥳 This week, we’re going IN on what it means to be a whole a$$ woman—not a work in progress, not someone waiting for her “better half,” not someone needing fixing. Just whole, as you are, right now. I’m sharing personal stories (hi, childhood trauma 🙃), the realities of perfectionism and people pleasing, and the steps I’ve taken—and am still taking—to unlearn the BS...

Okay y’all, this one is a wild ride — because we’re getting real about chasing dreams that terrify us (hi, moving to Italy, starting businesses, and figuring out WTF is happening in the world). In this episode, I’m joined by my girl, Sue Almonte, and we’re talking about why going after what you want — especially when the world is on fire — is a revolutionary act. Like seriously, if you’re out here...

What if the way we think about mental health and neurodivergence is all wrong? In this episode, I sit down with Lauren Howard (aka L2)—a fierce mental health advocate and founder of LBee Health, a neuro-affirming clinic dedicated to making mental health care more accessible. We dive into: ✅ What it really means to be neurodivergent (spoiler: it’s not a defect!) ✅ The truth about adult autism & A...

This special episode of Ditch the Ick is all about celebrating the fearless, trailblazing women who refused to settle, rewrote the rules, and paved the way for future generations. From industry disruptors to everyday heroes, we're highlighting stories of resilience, ambition, and empowerment. In This Episode, We Cover: · The importance of International Women’s Day and why it matters more than ever...

If you've ever found yourself asking, "Is this normal, or am I actually dying?"—welcome to the club. This week, we’re diving deep into the wild ride that is perimenopause with Vicky Chehade (@your.period.coach), a certified nutrition coach and fertility awareness educator. From unexpected hot flashes to hormonal chaos, we’re breaking down what’s actually happening in your body, how to tell if you’...

Are you spotting red flags too late? Or missing green lights that could lead to something great? In this episode of Ditch the Ick, Katie Carson breaks down the difference between an ick and an actual red flag, why we sometimes ignore obvious warning signs, and how to recognize the green lights that signal a healthy, thriving connection. Spoiler alert: It’s not just about dating—these red flags and...

What's up, Party People! In this episode, I’m sitting down with the powerhouse that is Irina Kanaeva—a speaker, coach, and jewelry designer who’s all about helping ambitious women dream big and act bold. We’re talking about breaking free from societal expectations, learning to trust your intuition, and making bold moves—whether in business, relationships, or personal growth. Irina shares her journ...

Love isn’t just about romance, and Valentine’s Day isn’t just for couples! This episode is all about celebrating every form of love—friendships, chosen family, and most importantly, the love you have for yourself.  What’s inside this episode? Why society glorifies romance over other types of love The importance of self-love (and why it’s NOT selfish) How to celebrate yourself this Valentine’s Day—...

In this week’s episode, Katie chats with the inspiring Heather Reese, a plus-size model, content creator, and attorney, about finding confidence, building community, and embracing life’s curveballs. Heather opens up about her journey from being adopted from Peru and raised in a Jewish household to rediscovering her Latina roots and redefining herself after a life-changing divorce. This episode div...

I’m back with a solo episode where we’re getting real about speaking up and navigating life when things feel a bit, well, wild. I might not be the loudest voice in the room, but I’m here to get vocal about the things that matter – setting boundaries, getting involved, and staying true to yourself when the world wants you to shrink.  Key Takeaways:  • Finding & Using Your Voice: Speaking up isn’t a...

This week’s episode is one I’ve been dying to bring you! I finally got to chat with the incredible Béa Victoria Albina, NP, MPH. She’s a somatic experiencing practitioner, feminist wellness coach, and all-around magical human being. We dove into her signature concept of emotional outsourcing—aka relying on other people for our sense of worth, safety, and belonging (yeah, ouch). We talked about EVE...

Welcome to the first episode of Ditch the Ick in 2025!  After taking a much-needed break, we’re kicking off the year by tackling an important and often misunderstood topic: toxic positivity.  We’re unpacking what toxic positivity really is and why the “good vibes only” mindset can do more harm than good. I also share my personal journey with embracing emotions—both good and bad—and how adopting a...

Today’s episode of Ditch the Ick is one for the books—literally! 🎉 I’m sitting down with Amazon bestselling romance author Caitlin Moss to talk about her journey from purity culture to writing the spicy stories we all know and love. Caitlin dives deep into the unlearning of shame, the reclaiming of pleasure, and how books (yep, including the steamy ones) can empower us to understand our bodies, o...

The holidays are here, party people, and it’s time to lean ALL the way into your feral side. This week’s episode is your ultimate holiday survival guide, specifically for single, child-free women who are constantly fielding those unhinged questions from boomer family members. Whether it’s “Why are you still single?” or “When are you having kids?”, I’ve got you covered with both hilarious and pract...

What’s up, party people? This week, I’m joined by my longtime friend and burnout buddy, Sarah Jones, to unpack all things toxic workplaces. From our McKinsey days to corporate chaos, we’re getting real about red flags, micromanaging bosses, and why being single with no kids doesn’t mean you have unlimited free time (looking at you, out-of-touch managers). I’m sharing my own horror stories (yes, I’...

I’m back from Thanksgiving with a fresh pixie cut, some press-on nails, and a whole lot to catch you up on. Let’s just say it’s been a week. In this episode, I’m sharing all about my breakup with the Scotsman—yes, that Scotsman—and how I’ve been navigating the emotional rollercoaster of it all. I’ll take you through the highs, the heartbreak, and the self-reflection that’s come out of it. I’ll als...