Best Sophia Rae Podcasts (2025)

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Chani Nicholas and Sonya Passi on Building a Business to Last 34:15

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10M ago34:15

34:15

CHANI is the second largest astrology app on the market, even though its founders have prioritized growing slowly and sustainably. Today we speak to its founders, Chani Nicholas and Sonya Passi about their company's mold-breaking benefits package, what they think about work culture today, and how other companies might follow their lead. Learn more …

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Sophia Amoruso is Still Proud of #Girlboss 30:48

10M ago30:48

30:48

In 2014, Sophia Amoruso was the founder and CEO of Nasty Gal and her book #Girlboss was a New York Times bestseller – plus responsible for coining the hashtag-turned-cultural-phenomenon. Since then her company has folded and the "girlboss" has been declared all but dead... yet Sophia is haunted by its ghost. Today, she addresses the legacy of the p…

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The Four Day Week Works, Just Ask Chelsea Fagan 33:53

10M ago33:53

33:53

Chelsea Fagan first started The Financial Diet as a personal blog about her own financial mistakes. Now it’s a cross-platform media company run by a small team of women who work four days a week and share profits. This week, we talk to Chelsea all about the finances of her business. Plus, why she spent 50k of her own cash publishing a romance novel…

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Aurora James Wants to Redefine Luxury and Build Black Wealth 35:04

10M ago35:04

35:04

When Aurora James was launching her luxury shoe line, Brother Vellies, she didn’t know that she’d eventually launch a non-profit and an equity fund dedicated to supporting black-owned businesses. But after the pandemic and Black Lives Matter protests of 2020 that’s what she did. Today, we talk to Aurora about how that’s going, and how she keeps her…

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Imara Jones on the Strategy Behind Trump’s Anti-Trans Ads 39:45

11M ago39:45

39:45

Imara Jones didn't necessarily set out to be the founder of a news organization: her company, TransLash Media, grew out of a documentary series she made in 2018 about being trans in the age of Trump. The organization has been reporting on the trans community ever since — reporting that is now more urgent than ever. So today, we speak to Imara about…

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Claire Mazur & Erica Cerulo Want to Give Romance the Marvel Treatment 35:58

11M ago35:58

35:58

Claire Mazur and Erica Cerulo love a steamy, swoony romance novel. They also love a good business opportunity (Claire & Erica were behind the beloved yet shuttered retail company Of a Kind). And as they got deeper into the romance genre, they saw one: people don’t just read romance novels – they build universes around them with fan fiction and live…

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Puja Patel on Leading — and Leaving — Pitchfork 41:24

12M ago41:24

41:24

In 2018, Puja Patel was named editor-in-chief of Pitchfork, the legendary music criticism publication. She had a vision for the site: make it more accessible, maybe a little less pretentious. Then, in January this year, Condé Nast announced that GQ would absorb Pitchfork. Immediate uproar ensued — both from fans and musicians. Puja left the company…

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How Celebrity Esthetician Renée Rouleau Got Big by Saying No 33:10

1y ago33:10

33:10

Today, the start of a new special series about work. Hosted by friend of The Cut Samhita Mukhopadhyay, former executive editor of Teen Vogue and author of The Myth of Making It: A Workplace Reckoning. We’ll talk to women at the top of their fields, each with different perspectives on ambition and success. Women business leaders who pay their employ…

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In Her Shoes: Taraji P. Henson 18:54

1+ y ago18:54

18:54

Actor, producer, and entrepreneur Taraji P. Henson talks to Lindsay about her illustrious career, including her roles in Hustle & Flow, EMPIRE and, most recently, The Color Purple. Plus, Henson talks about her fight for equal pay in the industry, her work in mental health advocacy through her Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, and why she's recently…

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In Her Shoes, at SXSW: Dina Asher-Smith, Haley Rosen & Chloe Kim 46:15

1+ y ago46:15

46:15

Female athletes, both college and professional, continue to make gains in pay and TV-airtime equity, shatter records and break into once male-dominated sports. Today's conversation delves into those topics and more with three accomplished athletes. It comes to you from a rooftop panel at this year's South by Southwest conference. Guests: Dina Asher…

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In Her Shoes: Tracy Reese 38:32

1+ y ago38:32

38:32

In the summer of 2018, host Lindsay Peoples wrote a piece called Everywhere and Nowhere, What it’s Really Like to be Black and Work in Fashion. It shook the table and ushered in a conversation on race in the industry. She interviewed over 100 people, including designer Tracy Reese—who's been working in fashion for more than five decades. For the fi…

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In Her Shoes: Natalie Johnson and Black Love Letters 16:26

1+ y ago16:26

16:26

Today's episode illuminates an essential foundation of Black life: namely, Black love. A new book from Zando Press assembles letters and original illustrations on the topic from celebrated Black writers and thinkers. The collection, Black Love Letters, explores the concept of Black love in all its facets, from diasporic connection to familial and c…

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In Her Shoes: Jamila Wideman 21:12

1+ y ago21:12

21:12

Jamila Wideman has a fascinating career trajectory that's spanned law, advocacy, and basketball—and mentorship has been a thread stitched through all of it. Wideman made history in 1997 when she was drafted for the inaugural WNBA season by the Los Angeles Sparks. While there, she launched an afterschool program for marginalized teens, "Hoopin' With…

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Moving from loneliness to connection 30:00

2y ago30:00

30:00

In this episode, Sophia and I discuss the epidemic of loneliness, which millions are suffering from around the world. We open with the surprising detrimental effects that loneliness has on our mental and physical health, like how it rewires our brains and increases inflammation markers. What's tricky about loneliness, however, is that we often can'…

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In Her Shoes: Geraldine Chung 25:41

2y ago25:41

25:41

Our guest on In Her Shoes this week is Geraldine Chung, the founder of the beloved online fashion brand LCD. It began as an online destination, showcasing an inspired mix of emerging independent designers. The brand grew fast—within a few years, Chung went on to open a brick and mortar location in Los Angeles. But like so many other small businesse…

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In Her Shoes: Cathy Horyn 34:28

2y ago34:28

34:28

It's been a little over a month since the Cut wrapped its coverage of Paris Fashion Week. It's time to take the long look back at the full year in fashion. With industry vet and Cut Editor-At-Large Cathy Horyn, we review the standout designers and trends of 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

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Repair and Recovery: The key to lasting relationships 35:55

2y ago35:55

35:55

This stellar conversation is the fourth and final episode (for now) with our champion guest speaker, Sophia's Dad, and my hubby, Blair Abbass. We begin with updates on our lives since we chose to postpone our pod to give our chat with Cindy Thompson from A Resilience Project Podcast its full moment in the sun. It was a difficult one, but a beautifu…

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In Her Shoes: Mara Hoffman 36:05

2y ago36:05

36:05

Mara Hoffman started her eponymous label in 2002 out of her Upper East Side apartment. More than a decade in, she had an epiphany about the fashion industry: without sustainable practices, it was a toxic business that was bad for the earth. And with the perspective of becoming a new mom, she was also thinking about her legacy differently. Hoffman b…

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In Her Shoes: Ayanna Pressley 37:09

2y ago37:09

37:09

Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley has been a trailblazer pretty much her entire political career. In 2010, she was the first Black woman elected to the Boston City council and then would later go on to become the first Black woman elected Congress from Massachusetts. As a member of congress, she’s been a constant voice on issues like reproductive right…

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In Her Shoes: Audie Cornish 32:40

2y ago32:40

32:40

Audie Cornish is a journalism vet whose voice was our north star on NPR’s, All Things Considered for ten years. After being a public radio girl for most of her career, she’s embarking on a new journey. She’s now hosting a weekly Podcast on CNN called The Assignment with Audie Cornish. She talked about leaving NPR, her career in public radio and of …

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Let's talk about our red flags...ft Blair Abbass 35:55

2y ago35:55

35:55

In this third episode of our four part mini series on relationships with therapist, mindfulness teacher and educator, Blair Abbass, we discuss everything from dysfunctional relationships and red flags to healthy connections and green flags. We each share three red flags that arouse a sense of caution in us, such as addiction, criticism and lack of …

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In Her Shoes: 50 Years of Hip Hop 36:45

2y ago36:45

36:45

This year marks the 50th anniversary of hip hop since the genre first erupted on the scene in the Bronx. On this episode, we hear from Bevy Smith, Debra Lee and music writer Kiana Fitzgerald on how far hip hop has come and how much work still needs to be done when it comes to women in the industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastcho…

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Into It: Olivia Rodrigo and the year of the girl 41:05

2y ago41:05

41:05

As Olivia Rodrigo releases Guts, we take stock of the singer-songwriter who seemed to come out of nowhere, fully realized as an artist, back in 2021. How did Olivia surprise us so much before, and can she repeat her success a second time? Sam chats with Lindsay Zoladz, pop music critic at The New York Times, about the dualities of Olivia Rodrigo: S…

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Foster Healthy Relationships with the Law of Attraction 26:12

2y ago26:12

26:12

In this touching and informative family conversation, we discuss the popular phrase 'law of attraction' with regards to attracting partnerships. I start off by reminding us that our intimate relationships are the most important choice we'll ever make, so it's worth our time and reflection. Our guest, Blair Abbass (my husband and Sophia's father), s…

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Summer 2023 Wrap up- Camp highlights, Epiphanies, Meeting the Prime Minister.... 41:42

2y ago41:42

41:42

Join us for our Summer 2023 Wrap up and Reflection! The practice of 'recapitulation' is a meaningful way of closing any experience, or season. Reflecting on the last season helps us to deepen our insight and savour the goodness we've enjoyed. This is what Sophia and I discuss in this episode, as we share: 1. A peak experience 2. A lesson learned 3.…

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Into It: #FreeBritney’s Dark Turn 44:10

2y ago44:10

44:10

At the end of Britney Spears’s conservatorship in November of 2021, most of her fans rejoiced. But conspiracy theories have a subset of #FreeBritney fans convinced she’s still not really free. They focus on what they see as oddities or glitches in some of her Instagram posts. Vox reporter Rebecca Jennings says there are even theories that Britney h…

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In Her Shoes: Tracy Margolies 20:35

2y ago20:35

20:35

Tracy Margolies is the Chief Merchandising Officer at Saks Fifth Avenue. She continues to create innovative conversations and connections in fashion, changing the way we think about brands and shop them too. In this episode, Tracy talks about her career, her start in the industry and what it’s like balancing motherhood. Learn more about your ad cho…

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In Her Shoes: Kenya Moore 37:16

2y ago37:16

37:16

Kenya Moore sits on the Mount Rushmore of Real Housewives legends but she’s been Gone With the Wind fabulous since before the show. The forever beauty queen has given us quality content since she joined the franchise in 2012. On This episode from January, Kenya talks about her career, her journey through motherhood and what it was like going throug…

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Mini series: Let's chat about intimate relationships- an introduction 23:48

2y ago23:48

23:48

In this episode with our repeat guest, the one and only Blair Abbass, we share a surprisingly serious and deep conversation about intimate relationships. After 22 years of being together, we continue to refine and define our partnership, and we share the details of our winning formula. As a witness to our relationship, and a participant within the …

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In Her Shoes: Katori Hall 30:06

2y ago30:06

30:06

Katori Hall has a way of making the most dynamic, interesting characters come to life and there’s been no better display of that than the world she’s created on the show P-Valley. On this episode, Katori talks about her career, her writing process and what's next in her journey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

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Unveiling the Truth about Self Harm 28:32

2y ago28:32

28:32

In this moving and emotional episode, Sophia and I have a very real conversation about the prevalence of self-harm (TW). We want to be clear that we discuss this topic in it's broadest sense, not by what is presented in the DSM-5, which describes self-harm as: Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), is defined as the deliberate, self-inflicted destruction …

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In Her Shoes: Bevy Smith 49:31

2y ago49:31

49:31

Bevy Smith knows how to command a room and she’s had our attention for over two decades. Her Ted Talk was one of the most viewed of 2022 and her book, Bevelations: Lessons From a Mutha, Auntie Bestie serves as the ultimate guide in reinventing yourself. On this episode, Lindsay and Bevy get a chance to catch up and talk about why it gets greater la…

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Musicians, Meaghan Smith and Jason Mingo, on success in the industry and in parenting. 1:01:13

2+ y ago1:01:13

1:01:13

In this exciting SPARK episode, we chat with the one of a kind duo, singer/songwriter Meaghan Smith and her producer husBAND, Jason Mingo. It's fascinating to hear about them starting out, living and working in LA with the likes of renowned producer Greg Kurstin (who also worked with Pink and Tegan), and how Jason found inspiration in his modest re…

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In Her Shoes: Maggie Smith 30:06

2+ y ago30:06

30:06

In 2016, Maggie Smith experienced what it was like to go viral. Her poem, Good Bones was shared all over the internet. Celebrities shared it. Mothers who could relate shared it. Even Meryl Streep read at an award show. After that moment, her life changed. In her memoir, You Could Make This Place Beautiful, She details for us exactly how her life ch…

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Into It: Christy Carlson Romano Turns Disney Nostalgia to Her Advantage 37:21

2+ y ago37:21

37:21

Christy Carlson Romano was ubiquitous on the Disney Channel in the early 2000s, starring in ‘Even Stevens,’ ‘Kim Possible,’ and ‘Cadet Kelly.’ But after the roles stopped and the checks dried up, she lost money to psychics, struggled with family relationships, and grappled with addiction. Now she processes those experiences on her popular YouTube c…

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How to Think Big and Pursue Your Deepest Dreams 35:37

2+ y ago35:37

35:37

In this moving and frankly, inspiring conversation, this mother-daughter duo discusses the challenges and rewards involved in pursuing your own passions, even and especially when they lie outside of the cultural norm. This topic arose from Sophia's first big keynote speech that she did for the Mental Health Symposium in NB a few weeks ago (at the a…

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In Her Shoes: Debra Lee 32:47

2+ y ago32:47

32:47

Debra Lee is truly in a league of her own. With over 30 years of experience in the entertainment business, she was often one of the first and only women in the room. As the former CEO of BET, she was at the forefront of curating Black culture with fidelity. Now she finally gets a chance to tell her story. On this episode, she talks about her new me…

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In Her Shoes: Atsuko Okatsuka 26:07

2+ y ago26:07

26:07

Atsuko Okatsuka is the comedian whose video you’ve probably shared with one of your friends. She has this adorable innocence and instant relatability that makes her so charming and convincing on stage. On this episode, she talks about how she got into comedy, Asian American representation in media and what it’s like going viral. Learn more about yo…

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Three Generations- A Mothers Day Special 43:17

2+ y ago43:17

43:17

In this very special Mother's Day episode, we chat with Emily Kierstead, my (Jenny's) mother, Sophia's grandmother and a woman who's lost three of her four children. The three generations discuss Mom's early years when she bravely left NB to attend theological college in Toronto, which women didn't commonly do back then, and how that experience sha…

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In Her Shoes: Margaret Cho 29:49

2+ y ago29:49

29:49

Margaret Cho is undeniably a comedy giant and a stand up legend who paved the way for so many women in comedy we see today. She gave Asian American women the liberty to be loud, vulgar, quirky and outright hilarious. Her comedy hits on the topics of race, gender, politics, sexuality and all the controversial things we’re not supposed to talk about.…

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The Courage To Change 34:51

2+ y ago34:51

34:51

In this beautiful conversation on the sometimes frightening yet necessary experience of change, we open with our stories of change and how important they were for our personal growth and alignment of our true path. We then reference and unpack the beloved Jewish, Austrian psychiatrist and nazi concentration camp survivor, Dr. Victor Frankl, who onc…

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In Her Shoes: Shiza Shahid 30:47

2+ y ago30:47

30:47

Shiza Shahid has been impressive pretty much all her life. At 14, she was working as a volunteer in women’s prisons. At 18, she was off to Stanford. A few years later, she returned to her home, Pakistan, where she co-founded the Malala fund with now Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Malala Yousafzai. These days, she’s running the cookware company, Our Pl…

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Into the Mind of a Teen- two conversations, a year apart. 45:07

2+ y ago45:07

45:07

In this crazy amazing episode, Sophia and her bestie, Mylene Cormier, share two different conversations, a year apart. The first one is when they were both 15 and the second one was recorded a year later. In these chats, they openly discuss friendship, motivation, body image issues, depression, anxiety and perfectionism and more. Despite their yout…

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In Her Shoes: Robin Thede 37:29

2+ y ago37:29

37:29

Sit down, be humble? Naw, not Robin Thede. She's uncontestedly hilarious and she knows it. On this episode, she spills the details on the fourth season of a Black Lady Sketch Show, and gives us a little advice on how to take up space. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

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The three forbidden C’s: Conflict, Confrontation and Communication 25:32

2+ y ago25:32

25:32

In this episode, this mother-daughter duo discusses the uncomfortable, yet necessary topic of conflict and confrontation. Sophia starts us off with a quote from the Guardian: “Confrontation is the willingness to address difficult topics, while conflict is the willingness to engage in tense interpersonal relationships” We discuss our relationship wi…

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In His Shoes: Law Roach 1:07:42

2+ y ago1:07:42

1:07:42

As Hollywood’s most powerful stylist, Law Roach has been the image architect for the biggest names in the industry — Zendaya, Celine Dion, Priyanka Chopra, Anne Hathaway, Ariana Grande, and Anya Taylor-Joy, to name just a few — yet he still struggles as one of the few Black stylists working with A-list talent and luxury brands. This past weekend af…

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In Her Shoes: Abby Phillip - Behind the Cover 45:13

2+ y ago45:13

45:13

Abby Phillip is a voice and a face that's guided us through the news an anchor on CNN. Two years ago, she graced the cover of The Cut and on this episode, Lindsay and Abby reminisce on what that moment in time was like. They talk about Lindsay's first cover as Editor in Chief of the The Cut and what's changed for both her and Abby since. Learn more…

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The silent devastation of living with an eating disorder 35:07

2+ y ago35:07

35:07

Happy International Women's Day everyone! In this episode, we begin with the IWD mandate: Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women's equality. From there, we springboard into ou…