Note to Self

#254. This week's ASK P tackles the questions you've been scared to ask out loud — navigating friendship breakups and having no close friends in your 20s, spending your birthday alone, advocating for your needs in the bedroom, walking away from a situationship, and moving to a big city on your own. It's a little tough love, a lot of validation, and a reminder that you're allowed to want more. Send...

#253. My best friend, Kristen Ritchie, has one of those jobs everyone's curious about and nobody really understands: she's a celebrity stylist— and she's annoyingly private about all of it. So I made her explain herself. We get into what a day on set actually looks like, how she built a career by leaning on her friends and saying no to almost everything, and why she'd rather let the work speak tha...

#252. I’m mourning the loss of me… but, like, in a good way? In this episode, we are ending over a year of internal personal chaos with realizations about growth, releasing old versions of self, and stepping into a new phase of life. This episode is very much giving *classic* NTS, and for that, we are thankful.               &nb...

#251. Everyone’s favorite seasonal series – summer favorites! I’ve gathered a long list of summertime favorites, from skincare & makeup to most-listened-to podcasts and perspective-changing Substack articles. I’ll link everything linkable on ShopMy, of course. Xx ShopMy links: https://shopmy.us/shop/collections/5876064              &n...

#250. In today’s ASK P, we are discussing mostly relationship-related topics, with a little glow-up note to lighten the mood. Listeners sent in sensitive topics, like “am I dating his potential or supporting him through a period of growth?,” non-existent sex lives, and sacrifices in closing the distance gap in a relationship. The source content:  Reality Disruption: https://www.tiktok.com/t/Z...

#249. If you’ve ever felt like you lost yourself in a season of constant change, this one’s for you. I’m sharing a few things that are actually keeping me grounded right now — from the simplest possible routine to why having a responsibility (even a four-legged one) might be the most stabilizing thing in your life. Consider this your permission slip to stop waiting for things to calm down before y...

#248. Solo travel doesn't have to mean a flight, a passport, or a packed itinerary — it just has to be yours. I'm breaking down exactly how to craft the perfect solo weekend “away,” whether that's a staycation, a short drive, or anywhere in between, plus the must-haves that make it worth it on any budget. This is your sign to book a solo weekend sabbatical asap.  The source content:  Rea...

#247. Social media gets a bad reputation — and usually earns it. But this week, I make the case for the other side: what happens when you curate your feed like a curriculum and actually pay attention. Five ideas worth stealing, from the people worth following.  The source content:  Reality Disruption: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8p8S6oa/ Dealing with Uncertainty without Rumination: https:...

#246. Jaci Marie and Chelsey Jade of What We Said came prepared — and left me feeling like I actually might be too. We covered trimester zero prep, the surprising things motherhood teaches you about productivity and identity, and the parts of yourself that are absolutely worth protecting. The motherhood conversation every woman deserves to have before she needs it.      &n...

#245. In this installment of ASK P, listeners are asking questions about age gap relationships, making an  international move, the positive side of getting older, and the push and pull of situationships.                                &nbsp...

#244. 3 Way Pod is taking over Note to Self in this chatty episode for the girls. Kristen is sharing how to manifest abundance and stay lucky (hint: it’s removing men from your life), Emon is asking very Emon questions, and the girls descend into chaos by the end of the episode (probably from the many beverages consumed before and during recording). Happy 3 Way day!      &...

#243. I’m going back to school! In this episode, we are discussing my choice to go back to school in my early 30s– the why, the what, the what happens next, and what to do when you find yourself in an era of bad luck. Consider this a bit of a life update and release of the negative energy I’ve been accidentally absorbing for the last 2 weeks. It’s a spoken evil eye of sorts. Then, we’re answering...

#242. This week I’m sitting down with my friend Alexa for an honest conversation about what it actually takes to transform your life. Alexa shares how losing her grandfather sent her into one of the darkest periods of her life — and how she came out the other side genuinely the best version of herself. We get into body positivity, manifestation, and what the process of rebuilding really looks like...

#241. Megan Roup is the founder of The Sculpt Society and one of the most sought-after celebrity trainers in the country. In this episode, we get into training through pregnancy & post-partum, the undeniable link between fitness and mental health, and what it really looks like to build a business while raising children.             &n...

#240. Curation gets talked about like it's an aesthetic practice — a considered wardrobe, a beautiful home, a feed that looks a certain way. But the version I have been sitting with lately goes deeper than that. In this episode, I make the case that a truly curated life isn't built for presentation; it's built for self-knowledge. The things you keep, the rituals you protect, the choices you make w...

#239. We've been handed every framework imaginable for navigating love — the checklists, the red flags, the attachment style deep dives. And somehow we're still confused. Because the problem was never information. It was nerve. This week on Ask P, we're getting into the questions you actually sent — two crushes in the same friend group, holding your standards after a great relationship ends, rebui...

#238. My spring favorites are here — beauty, fashion, tech, rituals, TV, people worth following, and a few random things I can't stop talking about. This one's a proper list episode: personal, specific, and full of things that have actually been making my life better lately. Consider this your permission to add to cart. SHOP THE EPISODE:  https://shopmy.us/shop/collections/4429102   &nbs...

#237. YOU’RE INVITED. Because I’ve documented my love life on NTS since my now-husband and I met– from our early dating days, to moving in together & baseball craziness, to breaking up and not speaking for a year (lol), to getting back together and now tying the knot– it feels right to walk you through our wedding weekend in vivid detail. As usual, I’m getting extremely candid about my ex...

#236. I’m sitting down with content creator Greta Louise Tomé for a conversation that covers all the things your group chat has been debating. They get into the real rules around moving in together, why your community matters more than you think when it comes to baby timing, and why "what's your Plan B?" is a question worth retiring for good. Plus — Greta shares her philosophy on being sexy for yo...

#235. In this month’s installment of ASK P, we are tackling listener questions on topics like romantic relationships, to friendships, to knowing ourselves. What do I do when my life feels too boring? Should I leave my relationship due to incompatibility? When should I exit the friendship? Listen to ASK P on Note to Self every month, and write in your own Qs (anonymously) via the link below. ...

#234. Talia Hubble has a theory: when life falls apart, you set the table. The content creator and hostess extraordinaire joins Payton for a conversation about her recent home renovation, navigating a breakup in her thirties, and why her answer to heartbreak was to invite everyone she loves over for dinner. Talia talks about building a life split between New York City and her Rhode Island cottage,...

#233: In a season that glorifies romantic love, this episode is your reminder that the most important relationship you’ll ever build is the one you have with yourself. We’re talking about falling in love with yourself in ways that are both romantic and psychologically grounded — from small rituals that make you feel cared for to the science of self-trust and self-compassion. Whether you’re single...

#232. Brittany Ball joins Payton to unpack what it really looks like to choose yourself over and over again through life’s biggest transitions. They talk about young motherhood, navigating divorce, co-parenting in a non-traditional dynamic, and finding love again without losing yourself in the process. This episode is a reminder that trusting your inner knowing can open doors to a life more honest...

#231. This episode is a candid life update and a values-driven conversation about navigating the current U.S. political climate as a woman who cares deeply but needs to take small moments for herself. We talk about boundaries, nervous system care, and how to stay clear-headed, informed, and aligned.                 &nb...

#230. In this Ask P episode of Note to Self , Payton answers listener questions about navigating life’s in-between seasons — from fresh breakups and New Year resets to long-term relationship “ebbs,” family dynamics, friendship loss, and early dating red flags. This episode explores how to move through heartbreak while staying hopeful, maintain independence inside committed relationships, and set b...