Work Wives & Real Lives

  Everyone loves supporting women... until a woman gets the promotion, opportunity, spotlight, or success they secretly wanted for themselves. In this episode, Katie and Ava dive into the difference between performative support and genuine female empowerment. From comparison culture and scarcity mindsets to the women who changed our lives, we're having an honest conversation about what it rea...

We're back with a much-needed catch-up episode! It's been a while since Katie and Ava sat down together, and life has been anything but boring. From pregnancy updates, hospital visits, and moving to travel adventures, weddings, work, motherhood, and everything in between, we're sharing all the behind-the-scenes moments that have kept us busy lately. Of course, we couldn't end t...

How do you know if you need a weekend off… or a complete career change? This week, we’re diving into the difference between burnout and misalignment — because sometimes exhaustion isn’t about needing rest… it’s about being in the wrong environment altogether. We talk about the pressure women feel to “hold it all together,” the signs you may have outgrown your job, and the fear that comes with star...

Life doesn’t slow down—even after a major announcement. This week, Ava and Katie catch up on pregnancy updates, chaotic life moments, and yes… a little husband roasting. From spotting Cybertrucks in the wild to navigating homeownership and the mental load women carry, the conversation is real, unfiltered, and relatable. Then, we dive into the main topic: why modern workplaces are drowning in meeti...

We had a whole episode planned… and then life said absolutely not.   In this raw, emotional, and unexpectedly funny episode, Ava drops a surprise that completely shifts the conversation—she’s pregnant! What follows is an unfiltered, real-time reaction between best friends and “work wives” navigating shock, excitement, and the immediate “what now?” moments that come with life-changing news.  From s...

Everyone says they hate office politics… but somehow they still shape every workplace.  In this episode, we’re breaking down the game no one admits they’re playing — office politics . Not the backstabbing, gossip-filled version you see on TV, but the real dynamics that influence careers: visibility, relationships, power structures, and knowing how decisions actually get made.  We share the politic...

High standards… or just high cortisol?  In this episode, we’re unpacking the leadership behaviors many of us were taught to tolerate — the ones disguised as “high standards,” “fast-paced environments,” or “just being blunt.” From micromanagement to emotional volatility, we’re talking about the red flags that workplaces normalized for far too long.  We share stories from our own careers, the leader...

What actually worked, what was a scam, and what nearly broke us. If productivity hacks actually worked the way the internet promises… we’d all be millionaires with color-coded lives by now. Instead? We tried everything so you don’t have to. In this episode, Ava and Katie unpack the chaos of modern productivity culture—from overpriced planners and aesthetic routines to mindset tricks that lasted le...

Confidence is powerful—but performing it? Exhausting.  In this episode, we revisit the idea of main character energy and unpack how the internet quietly turned confidence into a full-time job. From aesthetic morning routines and curated vulnerability to the pressure to look healed, happy, and productive at all times, we talk about the difference between living your life and performing it for appro...

Everyone wants a “soft life” — but no one talks about the hard choices it actually requires. In this episode, we unpack what the soft life really means (and what it doesn’t ). From career pivots and uncomfortable boundaries to letting go of hustle culture and redefining success, we’re getting honest about the decisions that don’t make it to social media — but change everything behind the scenes. C...

Season 2 is officially here.  We’re kicking things off with a full reset — what changed, what we’re no longer tolerating, and the boundaries we’re actually keeping this year. From burnout lessons and unpopular opinions to Katie’s travel days from hell and a reality TV deep dive into Real Housewives of Salt Lake City and The Traitors, this episode is equal parts growth and chaos. Intentional bounda...

  🚨 EMERGENCY EPISODE ALERT 🚨 Because apparently people do not stop peopling during the holidays—and we officially could not catch a break.  This week, we’re joined by our biggest fan: Katie’s husband, Garrett (aka GBaby) . After months of interrupting during filming, he finally makes his debut—offering live reactions to the madness, sharing his own work horror stories, and bravely sitting in si...

In our last episode of the year, we’re doing a full year-end inventory: the wins that flew under the radar, the losses that taught us the most, and the moments that stretched us emotionally, professionally, and personally. We talk career growth, shifting boundaries, burnout survival, friendship, and how Work Wives & Real Lives became more than just a podcast this year. You’ll also meet our new...

In this episode of Work Wives and Real Lives , Ava and Katie step into the yearly whirlwind that is December—the month where the to-do list triples, emotions run high, and somehow we’re all still expected to “soak up the magic.” Spoiler: We’re soaking up something , but it’s definitely not magic.  From holiday events and business deadlines to membership pushes, teacher schedules, family chaos, gif...

Starting a business sounds cute… until you’re crying in your car between meetings, Googling “how to do taxes for adults,” and wondering why no one warned you about any of this. In this episode of Work Wives and Real Lives , we’re pulling back the curtain on the parts of entrepreneurship that don’t make it to Instagram — the messy beginnings, the unexpected failures, the tiny wins that kept us goin...

Work Wives & Real Lives — where business, friendship, and chaos collide In this episode, Ava and Katie unpack what it really means to step into your Main Character Energy —and when that confidence accidentally drifts into full-blown burnout performance. From Italian adventures to retail markdown meltdowns, this one is equal parts unhinged, honest, and career-girl validating. Whether you'r...

This week, Ava & Katie report live from a cruise ship in Croatia — breaking down vacation chaos, reality TV drama, and how they actually use AI to work smarter, not harder. 🌊💻🍾 Katie checks in from somewhere between Dubrovnik and Split (wine in hand - obvi) sharing cruise highlights. Ava reacts from home, pretending not to be jealous. Then, they dive into their favorite ChatGPT hacks — from...

Because apparently… we can’t even talk about pizza anymore. 🍕🔥 This week, Ava & Katie unpack the unpopular opinions that the internet loves to fight about — from pineapple on pizza to why people weaponize “professionalism” when women dare to have a personality. We kick things off with weekend chaos: sleepwalking incidents, a run-in with what may or may not have been a drug house , and an emo...

Why trend fatigue is the new burnout - and how to stop letting the algorithm tell you who you are. If you’ve ever felt exhausted trying to keep up with “the latest aesthetic,” or if you’ve changed your entire personality because TikTok told you to… this one’s for you. In this episode, we dive into the chaos of microtrends (looking at you, “67 trend”) and talk honestly about the pressure to constan...

 Weekend chaos, dramatic emails, and a collective energy crisis — welcome back to another episode of Work Wives and Real Lives, where we catch up, spiral a little, and unpack why burnout keeps finding us no matter how many “self-care Sundays” we schedule.  This week we’re talking burnout — the contagious kind that spreads faster than a group text meltdown. From inbox insanity and unrealistic expec...

Because sometimes the soft launch turns into a full-blown pivot. In this week’s episode, Katie and Ava are officially in their Rebrand Era —but not just the Instagram-bio kind. After a weekend filled with chaotic stories (camping trip mishaps, “boy mom” moments, and a full breakdown of Taylor Swift’s latest album), they dive into what it really means to reinvent yourself. From personal pivots and...

Saying “yes” to everything is the fast track to burnout—so why is “no” the most terrifying word in our vocabulary? In this episode, we break down the power of boundaries in work, friendships, creative life, and small business. From customer service horror stories to Housewives-level audacity, we’re reclaiming peace one “nope” at a time.  We kick things off with a live IV drip moment, chaotic weeke...

We’re taking you behind the scenes of Katie’s vow renewal weekend - a celebration filled with love, laughter, and plenty of unforgettable moments. From the sweet ceremony details to the late-night shenanigans, we’re spilling it all! Join us for a full recap of the events, stories you won’t want to miss , and a whole lot of laughs along the way.

Sometimes the strongest move you can make—in your career, business, or life—is knowing when to say no. In this episode, Katie & Ava dive into the underrated skill of walk-away power : what it is, why it matters, and how to actually build it. Expect laughs, chaos, and a little tough love along the way.  From weekend shenanigans to our first-ever chargeback drama, to real stories of staying too...

Why we’re all drowning in calendar invites — and how to take back our time. From dramatic email readings to reality TV tangents, Katie & Ava break down the chaos of modern work life, pointless meetings, and protecting your time (while still finding space to laugh about it). ⏱️ Episode Timestamps 0:00:00 – Intro 0:00:31 – Weekend recap + Katie & Ava shenanigans 0:31:00 – Dramatic email read...