If You Care To Listen

Our friend Sam Chiba joins us to share the many chapters of his life—from growing up Mormon in California to embracing his identity as a gay man when he moved to New York at 30 years old, all while thriving as a classically trained opera singer and polyglot bartender. We talk about identity, the importance of following one’s passions, and what it means to redefine life on your own terms.

In part two, we explore empathy—how it shapes our interactions in big cities, emerges in stories of compassionate parenting, and has the ability to deepen artistry. Sam reflects on how he harnesses empathy as a superpower in his work as a somatic singing coach and healer.

In this episode, we go from Hailey’s Love Island obsession and spontaneous British accents to an honest chat on managing expectations and optimism. We giggle over Samantha’s sexy waiter, Carrie’s awkward seduction tactics, and the fine line between realistic and delusional hopes.

We’re back in the city and back to our routines—mostly. This week we discuss the ebb and flow of motivation; what fuels it, what derails it, and how connected it feels to presence and gratitude. For us, a fresh canvas and inspiring spaces are our go-to’s. How do you mentor your momentum? 

We’re away from the city this week, and for the first time it’s me (Soph) and my chosen co-star, Tai Pauga, on the mic. We met as high school sophomores at a youth leadership seminar in Utah and have been going back for… the last 8 years? Why? It’s not a one-word answer, but service, empathy and authenticity have a lot to do with it, shaping how we lead and in turn who we’ve become.

[Sex and the City S3E13] We’re back with a favorite because we felt like it, our Sex and the City series! Inspired by our own getaway to Six Flags, we follow the girls as they swap New York’s grit for LA’s glow… or so it seems. As Carrie has her latest self-discovery moment behind the wheel of a sexy, blue convertible, we unpack Miranda and Samantha’s contrasting takes on LA’s open display of sexu...

[Friends S1E4] This is the one where we talk about leaving traditional career paths, the chaos of freelancing, and the friendships that weather every twist and turn. Our beautiful-in-every-which-way friend, Brooke McDonough, joins us and shares behind the scenes stories from Friends, including Brad Pitt’s surprise appearance and a grandmother cameo, courtesy her aunt, who was an executive assistan...

We’re knee-deep in life decisions, so join us in Central Park as we give ourselves advice on self-doubt, the weight of prioritizing others’ opinions, and the line between trust and belief. Plus—did Hailey’s trust in herself bring her closer or farther from a suspiciously named Airbnb? Listen to find out.

In part two of our conversation with Audrey Laine, we continue drawing from Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way —diving into the magic of meaningful coincidences, ie. synchronicity, sharing personal stories of creative transformation, and leaning into intuition and new artistic outlets. Plus, an unexpected detour into avant-garde performance art and elaborate hoaxes…

A renaissance woman (we’ll explain) and dear friend, Audrey Laine, joins us this week for a conversation inspired by Julia Cameron’s The Artist's Way . We scratch the surface of how to break free from the 'tortured artist' trope, the necessity of collaboration, and what redefining spirituality looks like to us at this point in our lives—plus a nostalgic detour courtesy of Vine.

[Friends S1E3] This is the one where we call Hailey’s mom to get the truth about the dogs, reflect on how new relationships shake up tight-knit groups, and talk through the challenges of breaking bad habits—all with IYCTL’s very own editor in chief, Kay Prescott.

This week, we’re hitting rewind and giving you unfiltered access to our personal voicemails—the accidental time capsules of our lives. From first boyfriends and best friends to heartfelt messages from our family members, we’re exploring how these little audio relics still manage to tug at our heartstrings. Also: does absence actually make the heart grow fonder, or are we just romanticizing bad rec...

You know her, you love her—Frenchie is back for more as we dive into the curious ways identity forms, from semi-secretly singing the National Anthem to the character in a name. We chat about French’s unbridled free will, the grounding act of picking up horse-shit, and all the humbling, hilarious moments that remind us to stay centered while juggling the many selves we carry through work, life, and...

This week’s guest is so fabulous, we had to split the episode into two parts! Sophia’s roommate, Frenchie, joins us to share the story of their serendipitous living situation, wild skydiving adventures, and the surprising wisdom found in both Burning Man and middle school morning announcements. We also unpack the idea of balance—work-life and beyond—and explore how we navigate the dualities within...

[Friends S1E2] This is the one where we immediately hype each other up, tell tales of awkward run-ins with exes and pregnancy scares, and are assigned honorary siblings thanks to the talented and equally hilarious, Brooke Sessler.

Unthawing is the same as freezing? Either way… today we're exploring the cycle of freezing and thawing (aka getting stuck and unstuck) both metaphorically and literally. Peep our references to Lauryn Hill and Jay Shetty as we dive into decision paralysis, the slow-nature of a freeze, and how embracing flow can lead to more fulfilling days (plus, the simple joy of a coffee & a half).

Our second guest is our dear friend, Mattson Pearce-Williams! He and Sophia were each other’s first true NY roommates for three years during their undergrad, at which point he met Hailey. Mattson is a head-turning dancer/performer who simultaneously assists multiple brands & designers with his passion for art and aesthetics. Listen as we reflect on how we each speak love a little differently (via...

In this episode we launch our new sitcom series, Friends with Friends —where we watch an episode of Friends with, well… a friend, and then chat all about it. [Friends S1E1] This is the one where we talk about the cult of NY-based sitcoms, break down the brilliance of the Friends setup and debate socks on vs. socks off with the Rockette & pop culture connoisseur, Meena Jay.

Today we're diving into contentment—what it means, how to find it, and why it's essential to making life feel fuller amidst the chaos. We explore the power of 'the path of least resistance,' and romanticizing the mundane, along with sharing new personal practices like vlogging (ironic, right)?

We’re back, baby! In our first release of 2025 we delve into the highs and lows of professional and personal shifts, from job loss to rediscovering creativity. Join us as we discuss the potential of manifestation (we're deep in our "woo-woo" era and we're loving it) and the continual significance of surrounding ourselves with supportive communities.

After a month away, we have so much to catch you up on; idyllic international travels, health & holiday scaries, plus a sneak peek into upcoming plans for the pod. We’re off on another hiatus following this episode’s release but don’t fear, we’ll be back in 2025 with a vengeance. Xx - Soph & Hails

In today’s episode, we celebrate the essence of autumn & the simple pleasures that make it so special. We begin with the present—savoring sensations like flannel sheets, warm fireplaces, and freshly fallen leaves—and then journey into the past to reminisce about childhood Halloween costumes and memories of Sundays back at home.

[Sex and the City S5E2] Today’s SATC episode takes us in a new direction as we open up about religion and belonging, navigating family dynamics/traditions, and striking the delicate balance between optimism and realism in our everyday lives.

In part two, we shift from the meta of social media to how it’s affected us individuals, sparking a candid conversation about our friendship. It’s easy to develop many personas over social media; does this hinder our authenticity or is it vital for personal growth? Shit gets real, y'all!