The Bets Life

Annie and Liz are best friends who realized that they could finally help women answer the age-old question: “Does this look good on me?” They founded The Color Key, a company that offers comprehensive and customized seasonal color analysis to identify once and for all your best colors! Their mission is to empower clients to always show up as their most vibrant and confident selves. The Color Key h...

Did you know that nearly 35% of the American population experiences trouble sleeping? Getting a good night’s rest is just as important as eating a healthy diet and exercising, and yet a lot of us are lacking in the quantity and quality of sleep. Sleep is essential to every process in the body and impacts our physical and mental functioning, immune system, metabolism, weight, and chronic disease ri...

Kristina McKean is the founder and owner of The Elephant Project, a women-led and women-run social give-back business. For as long as she can remember, Kristina has felt a deep-rooted kinship with animals, and the welfare of elephants has become Kristina’s passion and life quest.  With a background in design and product development, Kristina was able to build a thoughtful stuffed animal brand to r...

Good news: Fun isn’t just for the kiddos anymore. As we age, it’s easy to view fun as frivolous or unproductive, but in reality, fun experiences are crucial for our health and well-being. I discuss the many psychological and physical benefits of fun and how you can (easily) incorporate more fun into your day-to-day life.  In this episode, I break down the different types of fun (there are three!),...

Mary Wessely is a second-generation intuitive with over three decades of experience as a Tarot advisor. She specializes in assisting clients to identify and reframe patterns of behavior to make way for personal, professional, and spiritual growth. As Mary says, “Life doesn’t have to be filled with unexplainable challenges. Tarot readings can help you understand and reframe your life story - to one...

Have you felt incapacitated by your own thoughts or worries about falling behind? Have you grasped at subpar opportunities due to the irrational fear that nothing better would come your way? Have you experienced anger or envy when friends or coworkers succeeded or advanced? If so, you may have been stuck in a scarcity mindset. Don’t worry, we’ve all been there, but how do we free ourselves from th...

If you are a Santa Barbara local, you may have spotted Vivian strutting her stuff at a drag brunch or hosting a fun karaoke or bingo night downtown. In this episode, we discuss how Vivian first started performing, how she embodies her drag persona (hint: she channels one of my favorite singers/performers), and the LGBTQIA+ community in Santa Barbara (and the ways that we can all show up and suppor...

Want to attract your desires like a magnet? Explore yourself and your true goals? Obtain more positive outcomes with positive thinking? Maybe you’ve heard about manifestation, but you don’t actually know where to start?  While the practice of aspirational thinking is far from a new concept, there’s no denying that manifestation is having a major moment in pop culture – “ #Manifestation ” has over...

Ottocina Ryan joins the podcast to share the story of how she went from intern to owner of Santa Barbara Life & Style Magazine. We discuss the not-so-glamorous side of photoshoots, travel writing, how the magazine and Santa Barbara have changed over the years, and so much more. Santa Barbara Life & Style Magazine prides itself on being a fun approach to fashion, dining, living, wellness, a...

We’ve all heard the phrase or been offered the advice to “love yourself more,” but that can be easier said than done. By practicing self-love, you are appreciating your own well-being, worth, and happiness. Like building any muscle, loving yourself takes time and consistency, and it’s something you may have to revisit daily to strengthen. I know that there are days where I have to work a little ha...

Have you thought about living a more sustainable life but struggled to know where to start? Or have you been overwhelmed by the pressure to be a “perfect” example of eco-friendly living? Calling all current or interested imperfect environmentalists to this conversation! Allie and I discuss slow vs. fast fashion, top thrift finds, experiences vs. stuff, and easy (and realistic) ways to embrace sust...

Ever wondered about finding your true passion? Whether your interests are passions or simply hobbies? How the heck you even know what you’re really passionate about? If so, you’ve come to the right place. I unpack why pursuing your passion is important and the steps that you can take to fully realize your true passion. Unearthing your passions can lead to a more content, fulfilled, and happier lif...

I’m so excited to kick off this season’s first guest episode with Jenny Schatzle! I personally love following Jenny – her energy and passion are truly contagious! Jenny has been in the fitness industry for decades, and is the co-owner of Bond Fitness (previously the Jenny Schatzle Program). She’s a motivational speaker and author of the book, Breaking the Cycle: Free Yourself From the Story That&a...

Welcome to Season 3 of The Bets Life Podcast! I’m thrilled to be back, and I can’t wait for all of the incredible topics and guest interviews to come! Many of you have wanted to know more about my time in France, so I thought that I would kick off season 3 by diving into my experience living abroad. My husband and I spent over 4.5 months living in France (2 months in the South of France and 2.5 mo...

Disclaimer: This episode is for educational and informational purposes and does not substitute for professional medical advice, as I am not a doctor or healthcare provider. If you are seeking medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment always consult a medical provider or healthcare professional.  I’m putting all of my cards on the table for today’s episode and sharing openly and honestly what I’ve be...

With a background that spans corporate communications, journalism, and narrative personal writing, Sarah Powers brings a clear voice and compassionate tone to conversations surrounding motherhood, family life, and getting things done. Sarah is the co-host of the top 10 parenting podcast, The Mom Hour. She lives in Santa Barbara, CA with her husband and three kids, ages 10-14. Sarah’s parenting ess...

Why does it feel so hard to be happy sometimes? You may have wondered about happiness, and if it’s possible to become a happier person. I’m here to tell you that there are lots of ways to build your happiness (many simpler and easier than you could ever imagine). While some factors are out of your control, you can influence about 40% of your own happiness. Turns out, we usually look for happiness...

Today’s guest is Erica Brown, the founder and owner of Dylan Star, a local Santa Barbara clothing boutique with two locations – one in the Funk Zone and one at the Paseo Nuevo mall. Erica was the 2022 BRAVO “Woman Business Owner of the Year” award recipient from the SB chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners.  Erica believes in the experience of shopping and that wearing somet...

Exploring a creative endeavor can be scary and intimidating, and there is SO much that I wish I would’ve known before starting The Bets Life. By building any kind of new business, you will experience a range of emotions and learn some hard truths along the way. I hope to cheer you on and offer advice, support, and reality checks with this episode. I know that I’ve had to learn some lessons the har...

I am thrilled to have Pamala Oslie, a consultant, best-selling author, visionary, professional psychic intuitive, medium, and aura expert on today’s episode. Pam has appeared on ABC, CBS, The View, Dr. Oz, and hundreds of other radio and television shows. She has also been featured in many national magazines and is the author of five successful and popular books. Pam has spoken at TedX Talks, the...

I know it can be hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel if you are currently suffering from burnout. If you feel like you’ve been stuck moving at 100 mph and are completely exhausted, you are not alone. In a 2021 survey of 1,500 U.S. workers, over half said they were feeling burned out. In this episode, I break down what burnout is, how to identify it, and how to recover and move forward....

There’s no denying that your wedding day is one of the most memorable and joyous days of your life, and I trusted my big day with Jessica Kuipers, a Santa Barbara-based wedding planner. I think that most brides will agree that wedding planning can be exhausting and overwhelming, so thank goodness for wedding planners (worth every penny in my opinion). Jessica is an event planner that serves Califo...

Wouldn’t life be so much easier if curing a vulnerability hangover just took an Advil and a greasy meal? If you’ve ever felt shame or fear bubble up inside of you after opening up to someone, this episode is for you. Believe me, we’ve all been there. I discuss what it means to have a vulnerability hangover, how to heal from it, why being vulnerable is so important, and some tips on moving forward...

As Josette hilariously shares, there’s nothing in life that a good booty shake can’t take care of (Amen to that). Josette Tkacik is a Zumba Fitness Hero who leads weekly classes in downtown Santa Barbara at the Historic Carrillo Ballroom. She is known as the world's (!!!) most successful Zumba Instructor and leads the most well-attended Zumba class.  Josette is the #1 author on DailyOm and an...

I’m guessing that you’ve heard of imposter syndrome before or have even dealt with it personally. Don’t worry, you’re not alone if you are currently struggling with this or if you have previously experienced these feelings. Women (specifically women of color) are at a higher risk, and 70% of adults may experience imposter syndrome at some point in their lives. This episode breaks down exactly what...