The Adults' Table

My friends, on the last episode of season 2 I'm just yapping (in Portuguese!) about shame, discomfort, and some funny stories from back when I was living in Colombia. I also reflected on my main learnings this season from talking to amazing guests with so much valuable content to share. My intent with this podcast is to have honest, useful, adult conversations about life with accountable peopl...

In this episode, I reframe self-love as a set of actions and decisions rather than a feeling or something tied to appearance. I outline practical behaviors that in my opinion help build self-love: using kinder self-talk, investing in self-knowledge (including facing uncomfortable truths), and building self-confidence by honoring commitments, being selective with yes and no, not relying on emotions...

Ever downplayed who you are to make it easier for others to understand you? This episode is your wake-up call. Anna Luiza Barbosa, Oxford MPP student, joins me for a raw conversation about owning your story, trusting your intuition, and why your "non-fancy" background might be the most powerful thing in the room. Over the past decade, Anna has worked across diplomacy, climate policy and sustainabl...

Your attention is your most valuable currency, and everyone is competing for it. In this episode, we explore why being intentional about where you place your attention is one of the most powerful things you can do for your life.

Ever feel like you're doing everything but somehow still failing at all of it? You're not alone — and you're probably not failing either. In this episode, we sit down with Erika Ribeiro Ituassu, a Brazilian-American attorney, mom, and senior corporate counsel at Workday, who gets honest about what "having it all" actually means — and why our definition of it might be the real...

The episode challenges the belief that not knowing what you want means you’re wasting time, especially when comparing yourself to curated social media images and younger creators who seem to have it all figured out. 01:41 No One Has It Figured Out 03:15 The Myth of One Perfect Answer 04:31 More Than Your Job 06:15 Investing Time Not Wasting 07:12 How My Plan Completely Changed 12:09 Life Is About...

Is the meaning of life to be happy? What does happiness mean to you? On this episode, I reflect on a recent post by Cristina Junqueira (Nubank’s co-founder) that really resonated with me and made me think. Join me on this weekly bonus episode while I talk about one of the most important topics in my opinion: purpose, happiness, and serving life. Cristina Junqueira’s socials https://www.instagram.c...

Juliana Baranowski, Head of Platform at Brazilian VC firm Astella, shares how she unexpectedly moved from journalism and communications into venture capital. The conversation emphasizes not waiting for validation —especially for women—acting despite discomfort, being proactive and solution-oriented early in a career, and using a guiding vision of “the person I want to be” to step outside a comfort...

From Au Pair to Director at Kendo Brands (Fenty) , Priscila Pires shares her journey of starting over in the U.S., navigating career detours, and the resilience many immigrants carry in silence. We explore what it means to integrate without assimilating, how career “detours” can become advantages, and why reconnecting with your roots can be a source of power. A deeply honest conversation about bel...

TO be bored doesn’t mean to lose time. We’ve become obsessed with being constantly stimulated and productive. But the truth is that you can find a lot of inspiration, fun, and fulfillments in moments that you’re not being “productive”. In today’s episode, and the first of a series of weekly solo episodes that I’ll be launching every Friday, I talk about how I’m changing my relationship with my fre...

Ever feel like you're not confident enough to go after what you want? What if confidence isn't something you're born with, it's something you build? In this episode, Renata Koch Alvarenga, a climate leader, Harvard-trained public policy expert, Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, and the first young Brazilian to speak at the UN Commission on the Status of Women, shares how she shows up in...

Running is hard. Life is hard. What if learning to handle one teaches you to handle the other? In this episode, Rachel Allworth – a running coach who teaches everyday people to search for discomfort instead of avoiding it – shares why doing hard things builds the mental strength you need for everything else. Rachel's insights on mental strength, goal-setting, and the importance of facing fears are...

Feeling lost in your career path? Wondering if it's possible to switch lanes and find fulfillment in something new? Join us for an inspiring conversation with Ana Clara Gontijo, a multidimensional entrepreneur who transitioned from fashion buying in Norway to jewelry product management and is now taking a leap to follow her passion. Discover how she navigated career challenges, the importance...

Born in João Pessoa, Brasil, Rebeca Nepomuceno is a fashion designer who has been bringing her brand to life since 2013, reflecting her many creative facets. Rebeca found in wedding dresses a unique way of telling stories, using lines, textures and shapes to communicate emotions and establish deep connections. In this episode, she brought to the table one of my favorite topics: authenticity . From...

Ever feel like you're either doing nothing for your health or trying to do everything at once? That "all-or-nothing" mentality might be exactly what's keeping you stuck. Manoella Campello is a dietitian who ditched diet culture to focus on balance, behavior, and food freedom – proving you can be healthier without restriction. In this episode, she brought her perspective on nutrit...

Welcome back to The Adults' Table and happy 2026! Join us for the first episode of Season 2 as we reflect on Season 1 and discuss the importance of starting new projects, setting realistic goals, and embracing failure as part of the journey. Tune in to hear valuable insights and practical advice on how to break down larger goals into manageable steps and celebrate small milestones. This season...

In the final episode of the year, Fernanda shares practical strategies for setting and achieving your goals in 2026. Emphasizing the importance of realistic planning, the episode discusses the significance of understanding your limited time, energy, and resources. It also provides insights into focusing on what truly matters and being willing to pay the price for achieving your objectives, as well...

You are not for everybody, and that’s the best news of your life. In this episode, we dive into the freedom that comes when you finally stop chasing universal approval and start showing up as who you really are. Most of us confuse connection with validation. We’re so afraid of rejection that we shapeshift, hoping to be accepted by everyone. But validation without authenticity is fragile, it crumbl...

Do you really hate socializing—or do you just hate certain kinds of socializing? In this episode of The Adult’s Table , I unpack my love/hate relationship with being around people. As someone who often feels pressure to “be more social,” I share what it’s like to navigate friendships, connection, and introversion as an adult, especially after moving countries and hitting my 30s. We’ll talk about w...

We all say we want to “be authentic,” but do we even know what that means? In this episode of The Adults’ Table , I dig into the real meaning of authenticity – beyond the Instagram quotes and overused buzzwords. We’ll talk about why showing up as your true self is so difficult, how personas and validation shape who we think we are, and why belonging often clashes with authenticity. You’ll hear abo...

In this episode, we dive deep into the real meaning of discipline and why it’s the key to true freedom, especially if you don’t consider yourself naturally disciplined or full of willpower. We break down the myths around discipline, showing it’s not about punishment or living a strict, joyless life. Instead, discipline is about self-respect, honoring your commitments, and taking responsibility for...

You are creative. Even if you’ve convinced yourself otherwise. In this episode, I’m breaking down why creativity isn’t just for “artists” or “geniuses” — it’s a force that lives in all of us. I share why so many of us stopped believing we were creative, how resistance shows up to block our ideas, and why we confuse creativity with inspiration, artistic talent, or being disruptive. Then, I’ll walk...

Feeling like you don’t know who you are anymore? If life feels unfamiliar, if you’re questioning your path, your choices, or even yourself – you might be in an identity crisis. And that’s exactly what we’re unpacking in today’s episode of The Adults’ Table. We’ll explore: What identity really is: fixed, fluid, or flexible? Why identity crises happen How big life shifts can shake your sense of self...

You can’t have it all at the same time, but you can have what matters. In this episode, I’m breaking down the myth that happiness means having every area of your life at its peak all at once – and replacing it with something more realistic: focus on what you truly value. But first, you have to know what that is… and be willing to accept the consequences of choosing it. What we’ll talk about: Comin...

We often romanticize relationships so much that we lose touch with reality. In this episode, I share 20 honest truths about love: the beautiful, the difficult, and the ones no one talks about. Whether you’re single, dating, or married, these insights will help you see relationships more clearly and build something that lasts. We’ll cover: ​Why most of us don’t actually want a relationship (we want...