Trash Talk: Where Bad Advice + Cliches Get Taken Out

“Let Them”  Round II / Mel Robbins In this episode, we close out our guru series by circling back to the origin story: Mel Robbins and the “Let Them” phenomenon; specifically, we get into domain “leakage” and the uncomfortable truth about expertise that travels well. We also recap patterns we’ve charted over the course of these episodes, a few things became hard to ignore:  The reality is, that we...

“We can do hard things.” Cute. Catchy. But somewhere along the way, it shape-shifted from a comforting reminder into a borderline threat. This conversation starts with Glennon Doyle’s cultural footprint: her phrase, her storytelling style, and why her work landed so strongly in a moment when everyone was already maxed out. From here, Erica and Erin explore how their definition of “hard things” has...

Our guest Adriana Tica drops some hard truths about the shiny, influencer-driven promises of “rapid growth at all costs.” Together we explore the psychology behind the hype (why your brain loves the idea of exponential growth even when it’s a terrible fit for reality) and practical ways to reframe growth so you can focus on what actually works–all backed by Adriana’s 2026 State of Solopreneurship...

Lee Densmer knows a thing or two about real-life chaos and she joins us on the podcast today to explain why platitudes like “this will make you stronger” aren’t it. We explore what real strength and support look like, and sharper, smarter lenses for navigating hardship without feeling like you’re failing at growth. The Trash Talk Hotline Tell us about a cliche that bothers you every time you hear...

This week, we’re taking a short break from our regular episode schedule. We’ll be back next week with a special guest, Lee Densmer, joining us for a conversation around the theme “What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger.” Thanks for your patience and support while we reset and get ready for the next episode. New episode drops next week.

This week, we take a closer look at one of hustle culture’s most beloved cliches—through the lens of Tyra Banks and the high-gloss, high-pressure world of America's Next Top Model. What’s the phrase “Work it!” really selling? On the surface, it’s about effort, “fierce” photoshoots, ambition, and showing up. But underneath, it’s as though there is an entire tough-love industrial complex to nav...

To keep things fresh (and avoid going stale or dull), we turn to Erin’s 14-year-old daughter for the real scoop on the cliches today’s teens actually face, and that we’ve all faced at some point too. And maybe even a few on our plates today.  Neve Thomas is here to weigh in on: aesthetics, glowups, matching energy, boys, the pressure to define yourself, and more. The Trash Talk Hotline Got a story...

Curiosity killed the cat? Maybe. But the real question is: who decided curiosity needed a morality clause in the first place?  In this episode of Trash Talk , Erica Breuer and Erin Thomas take the mantra “Choose curiosity over fear” for a spin. Popularized by Elizabeth Gilbert, examining how borrowed wisdom and parasocial admiration sneaks into our identity-building. There is a fine line between i...

The Divine Feminine: nurturing, abundant, inspiring… and apparently complicated IF your guru is Deepak Chopra.  Erica Breuer and Erin Thomas dig into why “activating your feminine energy” suddenly feels way less mystical when the messenger shows up in Epstein files.  Does the Divine Feminine empower? Or is it a trap? The Trash Talk Hotline Leave a message on the Trash Talk hotline at (719) 819-217...

They say you should stop apologizing. But is that always true? We sat down with Kelly Elaine Garthwaite who shares how the phrase “stop apologizing” reshaped her life, and how she (and we) still question the situations where it truly applies. Here’s to figuring out where apologies belong… and where they don’t! The Trash Talk Hotline Ever received bad advice? Is there a self-help cliche or phrase y...

Yup: We’re talking about Brené Brown, AGAIN. Why are we so quick to outsource our authority to her? And what does “vulnerability is courage” actually mean? We talk credentials, timing, and the uncanny way this guru blends warmth, data, and storytelling to make her ideas stick. We also unpack what happens when the advice mutates: oversharing, performative vulnerability, and all the ways this phrase...

What does it really mean to let people see the truer version of you?  In this episode of Trash Talk , Ché Ugwuala introduces a bold reframe: the art of unveiling yourself on your own terms. Forget the pressure of a “big reveal”—Ché shows how to reclaim agency regarding your real story. This is a conversation about disclosure reimagined, where power stays with the person sharing (rather than audien...

Welcome to the official kickoff of All the Gurus , our feature experiment in examining ideas that don’t *always* deserve to be nodded at. In this episode, Erica Breuer and Erin Thomas take on “Everything is Figureoutable,” the phrase that launched a thousand vision boards and at least one bestselling book.  Popularized by Marie Forleo, this mantra promises forward motion, and it’s a case study for...

Everyone has advice. Most of it’s garbage. On Trash Talk , we dig into the cliches everyone swears by and figure out what’s actually worth keeping. If you’re new here, jump in anywhere — you’ll get it. New episodes return February 17th, every Tuesday. Don’t forget to leave a review and call the hotline to share your favorite or most cringe-worthy cliches: 719-819-2175 Links   Follow Erica Breuer:...

We’re back, unannounced, and ready to shake up your New Year’s Eve. In this bonus episode, Erica Breuer and Erin Thomas examine overhyped New Year’s Eve rituals. They dissect the promises these practices make, the cultural pressures behind them, and why so many self-help platitudes leave us burned out, skeptical, or just plain exhausted.  If you’ve ever rolled your eyes at motivational hype (or fe...

Erin and Erica agree about a lot of things, but this cliche isn’t one of them.  Whether you attribute it to Brené Brown, Melissa Hartwig, or somewhere else in the wellness-industrial complex, “Clarity is kind” is THE cliche where they don’t see eye to eye. Erica gets real about her baggage when it comes to this cliche (spoiler: that baggage has three luscious layers), and Erin does her best to per...

Yep, Trash Talk is skipping a week.  Thanksgiving, leftovers, existential dread…pick your excuse.  Consider this week a breather for your ears and brain, or a chance to get caught up on those episodes that almost got away. Tell us about the TRASHIEST advice you hear over the holiday… Call the Trash Talk hotline at 719-819-2175 and share your story.  Honestly, your weird, wild, or painfully familia...

In this second installment of cliches they love and live by, Erin and Erica reveal the traits that make a cliche worth keeping. The TLDR version: "Done is better than perfect," "Gotta start somewhere," "Your vibe attracts your tribe," "The road to hell is paved with good intentions," "Tell the story only you can tell," "Don’t put all your eggs...

Just because Trash Talk is the podcast where clichés go to die doesn’t mean Erica  and Erin hate all of them.  This is the episode where they examine cliches they actually live by.  From “clear is kind” to “baffle them with bullshit,"  Erin and Erica get honest about cliches that stick for them, as well as where they backfire. Don’t forget to leave a review and call the hotline to share your...

“Community is everything,” they say. But what if that “everything” is actually a drain on your time, energy, and sanity?  Erica and Erin sit down with Dr. Kalpana Sundar, health and wealth strategist for MedSpa and healthcare entrepreneurs, to untangle the truth behind one of the most overused platitudes in business. Kalpana brings data and a hefty dose of reality on how to build community that li...

Erica and Erin dig into the viral #maincharacterenergy phenomenon, weighing its appeal, its dark side, and what it really means to claim agency in your own life. Together, they ask the question that underlies it all: just who decides who gets to be the main character anyway? Reviews help, but your weird, wild, or painfully familiar cliches are the real gold.  Share them via our hotline:  719-819-2...

What does it actually take to hear your inner voice when your brain- and life- doesn’t work like a Zen meditation retreat?  In this episode, Erica and Erin dismantle the quiet-whisper mantra, why stillness isn’t universally accessible, and how this advice quietly reinforces control (and yes, capitalism). Have a story about when someone hit you with “Your soul speaks in whispers, not shouts”? Leave...

This week, Erica and Erin take on the cult of productivity with guest Nick Power, marketer, creator, and professional chaos enthusiast.  Nick shares how he first heard the phrase (hint: it didn’t go well), and how it still haunts the way we talk about work and worth. They also get into what counts as success, how “results-only” thinking dulls creativity, and what might actually be worth measuring...

Show notes “You can’t pour from an empty cup”...but what if your cup isn’t empty? From misreading your cup to questioning learned helplessness, Erica and Erin go beyond individual self-care and discuss the messy (mostly) terrifying context of today’s world—shrinking rights, disappearing resources, and structural chaos–and how we might think about cups in a way that generates some much-needed hope....

Two of the most recycled pieces of advice— “Get out of your comfort zone” and “Stay in your lane” —sound helpful on the surface. Push yourself! Focus! Hustle! Specialize!  When these concepts collide, the absurdity becomes obvious. Erin and Erica analyze two cliches that seem at odds, but that also define a new reality in the tension that lives between them. Don’t forget to leave us a review or ca...