She's So Lucky

#371: I’m kicking off November with a solo episode, and this one’s a little different. Instead of playing big sis with all the answers, I’m bringing you the questions my friends and I keep debating in our group chats and Slack channels.

We get into whether critique culture has gone too far, whether everyone really needs a personal brand, why visibility isn’t the same as power, and what to do when you’ve hit your goals but still feel like something’s missing. Plus, I share why I’m stepping off the content hamster wheel to build something no one can take away from me.

Episode Links:

• Watch Episode 369, Elaine Welteroth on Knowing When to Pivot: https://youtu.be/NFFlEm0ziK8?si=q_ylBoOCFba_pwFr

Keep in Touch with Les:

• Ready to apply what you hear? Subscribe to the She’s So Lucky Newsletter to get weekly episode guides and journal prompts: https://shessolucky.kit.com/newsletter
• Subscribe to The Lucky Playbook on Substack: https://lesalfred.substack.com/
• Follow Les on IG @lesalfred
• Follow She’s So Lucky on IG @shessoluckypod
• Follow Les on TikTok @theluckyles
• Follow She’s So Lucky on TikTok
• Visit our website at http://shessoluckypodcast.com

Sponsors:

• Nutrafol: Get $15 off your first month of Nutrafol by using the code BALANCEDLES at https://www.nutrafol.com
• Rula: Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/lucky #rulapod
• Cozy Earth: Head to https://www.cozyearth.com and use code LUCKYLES for up to 20% off home and sleepwear.
• OSEA: Go to https://www.oseamalibu.com and get up to 32% off curated holiday sets and an additional 10% off your first order with code LUCKY.
• IM8: Go to https://www.IM8health.com/lucky10 and use code LUCKY10 to get a free welcome kit, five free travel packs, plus 10% off your order.
• Dipsea: Dipsea is giving our listeners their first week FREE then 25% off after that when you sign up at https://www.dipseastories.com/LUCKY

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#370: Dominique Morgan has a way of making you laugh, think, and see yourself differently all in the same breath, and she brought every bit of that to this week’s conversation.

Dominique joins me to talk about what her version of creating luck looks like: knowing your magic, keeping the right people around you, and recognizing a moment as early as possible. We get into why reaching every dream on her list still left her feeling empty, what changes when you start dreaming from abundance instead of survival, and the strategy behind the content that has her reaching millions of people every month.

This episode is a masterclass in putting the science behind your magic so no one else gets to decide what it’s worth.

We talk about:

• Dominique’s three-part formula for creating your own luck
• Owning your magic and letting yourself enjoy it
• Dreaming from abundance instead of survival
• Why your biggest wins can throw you off track faster than your hardest moments
• The science behind going viral, and how she built her own system
• Knowing your value well enough to name your price
• Why you have to be a fan of the people around you

Episode Links:

• Follow Dominique on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedominiquemorgan/
• Follow Dominique on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thedominiquemorgan?lang=en
• Subscribe to Dominique’s Substack: https://thedominiquemorgan.substack.com/

Sponsors:

• IM8: Go to https://www.im8health.com/lucky and use code LUCKY for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus ten percent off your order.
• Square: Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://www.square.com/go/lucky
• FreshBooks: Right now, my listeners can get FreshBooks for less than $3 a month for your first four months — that’s 90% off. Go to https://www.freshbooks.com/podcast to get started.
• Quince: Find the fall pieces you’ll reach for most at Quince. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to https://www.quince.com. When Quince asks where you heard them, let them know it was She’s So Lucky.
• Ladder: If you have an iPhone, head to https://ladder.fit/LUCKY and take a quick quiz to find your perfect Ladder plan. Use my link and get a free 7-day trial and $10 off your first month if you join.
• Arca Wealth: Book a complimentary fiduciary planning call at https://www.arcawealth.com/lucky.

Connect with Les:

• Ready to apply what you hear? Subscribe to the She’s So Lucky Newsletter to get weekly episode guides and journal prompts: https://shessolucky.kit.com/newsletter
• Subscribe to The Lucky Playbook on Substack: https://lesalfred.substack.com/
• Follow Les on IG @lesalfred
• Follow She’s So Lucky on IG @shessoluckypod
• Follow Les on TikTok @theluckyles
• Follow She’s So Lucky on TikTok
• Visit our website at http://shessoluckypodcast.com

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#369: In this week’s episode I’m joined by author, journalist, and birthFUND founder Elaine Welteroth for a special conversation. Recorded live at Create & Cultivate, this conversation turned into church about five minutes in. If you're at the edge of a pivot, or you've realized the hustle that got you here won't get you where you're going, this one's for you.

Elaine and I get into how to know when it's time to walk away from something that looks great from the outside, what changes when you measure success by what you give instead of what you get, and how she raised nearly $10 million for maternal health in two years without ever planning to run a nonprofit.

This episode is for anyone looking ahead at their next chapter excited for what’s to come.

We talk about:

• Knowing when it's time to pivot, and getting through the waiting that comes after
• Moving from scarcity to abundance
• Why it matters for women to talk about money
• How Elaine’s relationship with ambition has changed in her 20s and 30s
• The importance of building your own table instead of playing someone else's game
• Why maternal health affects every one of us, and requires all hands on deck
• What's next for birthFUND

Episode Links:

• Get involved with birthFUND: https://www.thebirthfund.com/get-involved
• Follow Elaine on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elainewelteroth/
• Subscribe to Elaine’s Substack: https://substack.com/@elainewelteroth
• Shop Elaine’s collab with Look Optic: https://www.lookoptic.com/pages/davis
• Shop my look from the episode: https://shopmy.us/shop/collections/7751817

Sponsors:

• Quince: Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to http://Quince.com. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns
• Dipsea: Go to http://Dipseastories.com/LUCKY for your first week FREE - then 25% off.
• Brickhouse Nutrition: Go to http://BrickhouseNutrition.com and use code LUCKY for 20% off and free shipping
• Butcherbox: Go to http://ButcherBox.com/lucky to get $20 off your first box, plus chicken breast in every box for life or filet or NY strips for a year— with free shipping always
• Monarch Money: Use code LUCKY at http://Monarch.com to get your first year of Monarch Core half off at just $50
• IM8: Go to http://IM8HEALTH.com/lucky10 and use code lucky10 for a Free Welcome Kit, five free travel sachets, plus 10% off your order

Connect with Les:

• Ready to apply what you hear? Subscribe to the She’s So Lucky Newsletter to get weekly episode guides and journal prompts: https://shessolucky.kit.com/newsletter
• Subscribe to The Lucky Playbook on Substack: https://lesalfred.substack.com/
• Follow Les on IG @lesalfred
• Follow She’s So Lucky on IG @shessoluckypod
• Follow Les on TikTok @theluckyles
• Follow She’s So Lucky on TikTok
• Visit our website at http://shessoluckypodcast.com

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#368: Y'all called it before I could even say it. Yes, I invested in the beverage brand Sensori! Co-founders Darean and Shanna are back on the show, and since the last time we talked, they've raised almost a million dollars from more than 40 creators (me included) to scale their business instead of going the VC route.

Today we’re pulling back the curtain on their fundraising strategy and why I decided to invest. If you've ever wondered whether there's another way to fund a business, you need to hear this one. I also pulled some messy questions from Threads, getting into the nitty-gritty of the raise, and they answered every single one.

We talk about:

• Why Sensori said no to VC for now, and when they'd reconsider
• How a creator-funded raise works, from cap tables and SPVs to check sizes and the creator match
• Why I chose to invest in Sensori
• Community questions about equal shares, exclusivity and what creator investors actually do
• Building a cap table that helps you beyond the check
• Why selling your company doesn't have to mean selling out
• How Sensori is scaling into retail
• A first taste of their new flavors Tropical Hibiscus and Yuzu Peach

Episode Links:

• Watch episode 337 with the Sensori team: https://youtu.be/3S0iOQTKNDg
• Get 10% off your next Sensori order at https://drinksensori.com/utm_source=creator_investor&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=lestraundra-alfred with code LES10
• Follow Sensori on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drinksensori/
• Follow Sensori on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drinksensori
• Follow Darean on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dareanrhodes/
• Follow Shanna on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shannapearre/

Sponsors:

• Nutrafol: Nutrafol is offering our listeners $15 off your first month’s subscription and free shipping when you visit https://www.nutrafol.com and enter promo code BALANCEDLES.
• Monarch: Use code LUCKY at https://www.monarch.com to get your first year of Monarch Core half off at just $50.
• Bask & Lather: Go to https://www.baskandlatherco.com and use code LUCKY for 20% off.
• Ladder: If you have an iPhone, head to https://ladder.fit/LUCKY and take a quick quiz to find your perfect Ladder plan. Use my link and get a free 7-day trial and $10 off your first month if you join.
• Instant Hydration: For a better way to stay hydrated, go to https://www.instanthydration.com/solucky and use my promo code SOLUCKY for over 40% off your first subscription order - it’s Instant Hydration’s best offer available.

Connect with Les:

• Ready to apply what you hear? Subscribe to the She’s So Lucky Newsletter to get weekly episode guides and journal prompts: https://shessolucky.kit.com/newsletter
• Subscribe to The Lucky Playbook on Substack: https://lesalfred.substack.com/
• Follow Les on IG @lesalfred
• Follow She’s So Lucky on IG @shessoluckypod
• Follow Les on TikTok @theluckyles
• Follow She’s So Lucky on TikTok
• Visit our website at http://shessoluckypodcast.com

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Produced by Dear Media.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#367: I’m starting the fourth quarter off with a solo episode! This week I'm unpacking the advice our grandmothers swore by: you don't have to touch a stove to know it's hot.

I'm sharing the lessons I learned the hard way with money, friendships, career, and relationships to help you navigate these areas better. Plus, I'm finally giving you the full update on my first two angel investments, the thesis behind them, and some big news about the show as She's So Lucky turns eight.

Episode Links:

• The Truth About Angel Investing with Jaclyn Johnson: https://youtu.be/sL355JwiNkQ
• Learn more about Sensori: https://youtu.be/3S0iOQTKNDg
• Learn more about YouPop: https://www.youpop.ai/

Keep in Touch with Les:

• Ready to apply what you hear? Subscribe to the She’s So Lucky Newsletter to get weekly episode guides and journal prompts: https://shessolucky.kit.com/newsletter
• Subscribe to She’s So Lucky on Substack: https://lesalfred.substack.com/
• Follow Les on IG @lesalfred
• Follow She’s So Lucky on IG @shessoluckypod
• Follow Les on TikTok @theluckyles
• Follow She’s So Lucky on TikTok
• Visit our website at http://shessoluckypodcast.com

Sponsors:

• Cotton: Cotton is the Fabric of Our Lives. To learn more, head to https://www.thefabricofourlives.com
• IM8: Go to https://www.IM8health.com/lucky and use code LUCKY for a free welcome kit, five free travel packs, and 10% off your order.
• OSEA: Go to https://www.oseamalibu.com and get 10% off your first order with code LUCKY.
• Rula: Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/LUCKY#rulapod
• Dae: Visit https://www.daehair.com and use code LUCKY at checkout for 20% off your first purchase until October 31, 2026.
• Dipsea: Go to https://www.dipseastories.com/lucky for your first week FREE then 25% off your subscription.

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#366: If you've ever wondered why some people seem to have opportunities fall into their lap, this conversation is for you.

Jessica Nabongo and I get into what luck really looks like when your life is in alignment, how to tell the difference between chasing something and letting it find you, and why getting clear on who you are might be the most powerful thing you can do for your career. She also shares what it's taken to protect her energy, sit with hard seasons, and show up as more than the one thing people know her for.

We talk about:

• Why the key to luck is increasing your risk tolerance
• Luck, alignment, and treating your life's work like an assignment
• Building a career where everything comes to you
• Protecting your energy online and knowing when to log off
• Being seen as more than the one thing people know you for
• What it took to create a cookbook with a recipe from every country in the world

Episode Links:

• Pre-order Jessica’s new book Catch Me in the Kitchen: https://bookshop.org/a/55347/9781426224843
• Subscribe to Jessica’s Substack: https://thecatchmeifyoucan.substack.com/
• Follow Jessica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicanabongo/

Sponsors:

• Cotton: Cotton is the Fabric of Our Lives. To learn more, head to https://www.thefabricofourlives.com
• Nutrafol: Nutrafol is offering our listeners $10 off your first month's subscription and free shipping when you visit https://www.nutrafol.com and enter the promo code BALANCEDLES.
• Square: Square is offering listeners up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://www.square.com/go/lucky
• ButcherBox: Go to https://www.butcherbox.com/lucky for $20 off your first box, plus ground beef and bacon in every box for life along with free shipping.
• Dae: Visit https://www.daehair.com and use code LUCKYY at checkout for 20% off your first purchase until October 31, 2026.
• CashApp: Download Cash App Today: https://click.cash.app/ui6m/lg4tlqvs #CashAppPod. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. Cash App Visa® Debit Flex Cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC, and The Bancorp Bank, N.A., pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. See terms and conditions for the Sutton prepaid card, Sutton debit flex card, and Bancorp debit flex card. Cash App Green features, Savings, Direct deposit, Round ups, Overdraft coverage and Discounts provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit http://cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures.

Connect with Les:

• Ready to apply what you hear? Subscribe to the She’s So Lucky Newsletter to get weekly episode guides and journal prompts: https://shessolucky.kit.com/newsletter
• Subscribe to The Lucky Playbook on Substack: https://lesalfred.substack.com/
• Follow Les on IG @lesalfred
• Follow She’s So Lucky on IG @shessoluckypod
• Follow Les on TikTok @theluckyles
• Follow She’s So Lucky on TikTok
• Visit our website at http://shessoluckypodcast.com

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#365: Three years ago when Blake Newby first joined me on the show, life looked a little different. She was in the thick of her Saturn return, still untangling herself from traditional media, betting everything on herself with zero proof it would work.

She's back, and now she's watching those bets pay off in ways she couldn't have scripted. Blake joins me to talk about what it actually feels like when the things you manifested start coming true, and why getting there doesn't erase what it cost to get there.

This is an honest conversation about staying grounded while an entire industry falls apart around you: building your own platform when nobody's handing you opportunities, protecting your integrity when the money gets tempting, and learning to call on something bigger than yourself to keep moving.

We talk about:

• Revisiting the thesis of Blake's first episode, "it's expensive to dream," three years later
• Protecting your integrity as the stakes (and the money) get bigger
• The collapse of traditional and digital media, and why you have to build your own thing now
• Becoming a more responsible, media-literate consumer in the age of misinformation and AI
• Beauty and fashion as inheritance, joy, and politics, not just aesthetics
• Finding alignment through spirituality

Episode Links:

• Follow Blake on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blakelawren/
• Follow Blake on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@blakenewby_
• Episode 207: The Truth About Working Towards Your Dream Career with Blake Newby: https://youtu.be/2dElf_NyOSE
• Subscribe to Blake’s podcast, According to Blake: https://www.youtube.com/@AccordingToBlake

Sponsors:

• Quince: Elevate your fall wardrobe with Quince. Visit https://www.quince.com/balancedles for free shipping and 365-day returns.
• Ladder: If you have an iPhone, head to https://ladder.fit/lucky and take a quick quiz to find your perfect Ladder plan. Use my link and get a free 7-day trial with NO credit card, and $10 off your first month if you join.
• Instant Hydration: For a better way to stay hydrated, go to https://www.instanthydration.com/solucky and use my promo code SOLUCKY for over 40% off your first subscription order.
• ButcherBox: Go to https://www.butcherbox.com/lucky to get $20 off your first box, plus your choice of free ribeye, New York strip, or filet mignon in every box for a year, with free shipping always.
• Monarch: Write your own money story with Monarch. Use code LUCKY at https://www.monarch.com to get your first year of Monarch Core half off at just $50.
• Arca Wealth: Book a complimentary fiduciary planning call at https://www.arcawealth.com/lucky

Connect with Les:

• Ready to apply what you hear? Subscribe to the She’s So Lucky Newsletter to get weekly episode guides and journal prompts: https://shessolucky.kit.com/newsletter
• Subscribe to The Lucky Playbook on Substack: https://lesalfred.substack.com/
• Follow Les on IG @lesalfred
• Follow She’s So Lucky on IG @shessoluckypod
• Follow Les on TikTok @theluckyles
• Follow She’s So Lucky on TikTok
• Visit our website at shessoluckypodcast.com

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#364: In this week's episode of She's So Lucky, I'm sitting down with returning guest, psychologist, and bestselling author Dr. Marisa G. Franco to talk about the science of self-worth and why so much of what we call "identity" is actually just an old memory in disguise.

You might remember Marisa from our February 2023 conversation on platonic intimacy, which ended up being our top episode of the year. She's back this time to talk about her new book, Worth: The New Science of Self-Esteem and Secure Attachment, and this conversation picks up right where that one left off.

Marisa breaks down the difference between the "good twin" and "bad twin" of high self-esteem, why the healthiest people are often the ones who feel their feelings instead of pushing them away, and how memory reconsolidation can actually change the way old pain sits in your body.

Marisa and I talk about how attachment styles became status symbols, why "secure" turned into something people perform instead of something people feel, and why she prefers the term "secure-ish." We also talk about ambition, and why wanting more doesn't automatically mean you're operating from a wound.

This one's tender, it's smart, and it's going to have you thinking about your own memories differently for a long time after you finish listening.

This episode is for you if:

• You've ever felt like the other shoe is about to drop, even when things are going well
• You reject compliments or feel weird when people are nice to you
• You've used attachment theory or self-help language to build an identity instead of understanding a feeling
• You're tired of the "love yourself unconditionally, all the time" messaging and want something more real
• You're questioning whether your ambition is coming from a healthy place or an old wound
• You want to understand the actual neuroscience behind why certain memories keep showing up in your body
• You're ready to stop shaming the parts of yourself that are still healing
• You want language for what it feels like to be loved and still not feel lovable

Episode Links:

• Intimacy in Friendships: Having Healthier Friendships and Making Friends As An Adult with Dr. Marisa G. Franco: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0YZPgrhNWqFtJLyN1BSj2r?si=338a3c77357d46e2
• Get Dr. Franco’s new book Worth: The New Science of Self-Esteem and Secure Attachment https://bookshop.org/a/55347/9798217046591
• Follow Dr. Franco on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drmarisagfranco/
• Check out Dr. Franco’s website: https://drmarisagfranco.com/

Sponsors:

• Dae: Just for She's So Lucky listeners, visit https://www.daehair.com and use code LUCKY at checkout for 20% off your first purchase.
• Monarch: Monarch is the personal finance app that tracks everything — accounts, investments, savings goals, and spending. Get your first year of Monarch Core for half off at https://www.monarch.com using promo code LUCKY.
• Opill: Preventing pregnancy is as easy as Opill. You can find Opill at most major retailers, in-stores and online.
• Bask & Lather: Explore viral bestsellers and products of healthier hair of ALL types from Bask and Lather. Go to https://www.baskandlatherco.com and use code LUCKY for 20% off.
• Shopify: Start your free trial at https://www.shopify.com/lucky.
• Cozy Earth: Head to https://www.cozyearth.com and use my code LUCKYLES for an exclusive 20% off on home and sleepwear.

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#363: In two years, Marina Middleton went from a first-time Create & Cultivate attendee to co-owner and CEO of the company. Now, three years into running it, she’s sharing the honest truth about what it looks like to be on the other side of a major quantum leap.

Marina joins me to talk about the moment she realized she’d lost her spark, and what she did to get it back. If you’ve ever felt like you have to choose between the career you’re building and building a family, or you struggle with tying your work to your worth, this one is for you.

This episode is an honest conversation about reclaiming your ambition without sacrificing the people you love, or running yourself into the ground.

We talk about:

• The DM that turned Marina into co-owner and CEO of Create & Cultivate
• How to separate your worth from your work
• Why ambition isn’t something to be ashamed of, and how to reclaim it
• How to get your spark back after a period of burnout
• Cutting out frenemies and building real boundaries (plus her checklist that went viral)

Episode Links:

• Related Episode: How to Start Angel Investing with Jaclyn Johnson https://open.spotify.com/episode/664zbiSkUF9AGIyigNt6Yg?si=iUN_FVZFQ8uNplFY58MD6Q
• Follow Marina on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marinaamiddleton/
• Follow Create & Cultivate on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/createcultivate/
• Check out the Create & Cultivate Festival in LA on September 19 and 20: https://www.createcultivate.com/festival

Sponsors:

• Cotton: Cotton is The Fabric of Our Lives. Learn more at https://www.thefabricofourlives.com
• IM8: Get a free welcome kit, five free travel packs and 10% off your order at https://www.IM8health.com/lucky code LUCKY
• Rula: Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/lucky #rulapod
• Ladder: Remove the guesswork with Ladder and get a real coach telling you exactly what to do for every workout. If you have an iPhone, head to https://www.ladder.fit/lucky to take a quick quiz and find your perfect ladder plan. Use my link and get a free 7-day trial and $10 off your first month if you join.
• OSEA: Go to https://www.oseamalibu.com and get 10% off your first order with code LUCKY.
• Dae: Just for She’s So Lucky listeners, visit https://www.daehair.com and use code LUCKY at checkout for 20% off your first purchase.

Connect with Les:

• Ready to apply what you hear? Subscribe to the She’s So Lucky Newsletter to get weekly episode guides and journal prompts: https://shessolucky.kit.com/newsletter
• Subscribe to The Lucky Playbook on Substack: https://lesalfred.substack.com/
• Follow Les on IG @lesalfred
• Follow She’s So Lucky on IG @shessoluckypod
• Follow Les on TikTok @theluckyles
• Follow She’s So Lucky on TikTok
• Visit our website at http://shessoluckypodcast.com

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Produced by Dear Media.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#362: Stephany Faublas built her platform on radical honesty, and she’s bringing her signature candor to this week’s conversation.

Stephany joins me to talk about what raising herself looks like right now, in the season after the court wins, after the healing, after she stopped performing being "okay" and started taking the steps to shift from surviving to thriving. We get into the mom sabbatical she took this summer, the boundary that changed her life, and what creating her own luck looks like in real-time.

This episode is a masterclass in what it actually looks like to design your life instead of just surviving it.

What you'll take from this episode:

• How to stop performing "okay" what it takes to truly get out of survival mode
• A new way to think about the oxygen mask advice everyone gives but nobody actually follows
• How to release the shame that comes with choosing yourself
• Why you can’t process what you don’t let yourself feel
• How to think about money as a tool for freedom, not just survival, and where to start if you don't have a plan yet
• A reminder that your life is something you can design, and the first steps to doing so

Episode Links:

• Follow Stephany on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stehfuhnee_/
• Follow Stephany on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@stehfuhnee_?lang=en
• Subscribe to Stephany’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvk7Yw5lbM7xwNG8QJeVtgA
• Subscribe to the Afterbirth Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@afterbirthpodcast

Sponsors:

• LILYSILK: Right now LILYSILK is celebrating its Anniversary Event with limited-time savings. Visit https://www.LILYSILK.com/lucky and use code lucky at checkout for 20% off your purchase.
• Larine: Larine is offering our listeners up to 50% off at https://www.buylarine.com/lucky
• Instant Hydration: For a better way to stay hydrated, go to https://www.instanthydration.com/solucky and use my promo code SOLUCKY for over 40% off your first subscription order.
• Brickhouse Nutrition: Visit https://www.brickhousenutrition.com/lucky for 20% off and free shipping.
• Shopify: Start your free trial at https://www.shopify.com/lucky.
• Dae: Just for She's So Lucky listeners, visit https://www.daehair.com and use code LUCKY at checkout for 20% off your first purchase.

Connect with Les:

• Ready to apply what you hear? Subscribe to the She’s So Lucky Newsletter to get weekly episode guides and journal prompts: https://shessolucky.kit.com/newsletter
• Subscribe to The Lucky Playbook on Substack: https://lesalfred.substack.com/
• Follow Les on IG @lesalfred
• Follow She’s So Lucky on IG @shessoluckypod
• Follow Les on TikTok @theluckyles
• Follow She’s So Lucky on TikTok
• Visit our website at http://shessoluckypodcast.com

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Produced by Dear Media.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#361: Tareasa “ReesaTeesa” Johnson went viral in February 2024 with "Who the F Did I Marry?", the 50-part TikTok series that ended up in front of half a billion people. This week she's back with something different: her memoir, "What TF Do I Do Now?" just dropped, and she’s bringing us even deeper into her story.

We also get into the parts nobody wants to admit out loud: what she calls the viral tax, the real cost hiding behind every brand deal and TV offer, and the loneliness that shows up even when your name is a hashtag half the world knows. She's honest about the fact that alone and lonely aren't the same thing, but they've overlapped for her more than she wanted to say in the book.

This episode is for you if...

• You're learning how to trust your gut
• You're curious what actually happens financially and mentally after a story goes viral
• You need the reframe from "what if I'm wrong" to "what if I'm right" in your own life right now
• You're doing the quiet work of forgiving yourself
• You want to hear how someone rebuilds trust with her own intuition after ignoring it

Episode Links:

• Get your copy of What TF Do I Do Now, by Tereasa “ReesaTeesa” Johnson: https://bookshop.org/a/55347/9798217088607
• Follow Reesa on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@reesamteesa?lang=en
• Follow Reesa on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reesateesa/

Sponsors:

• Monarch: Monarch is the personal finance app that tracks everything — accounts, investments, savings goals, and spending. Get your first year of Monarch Core for half off at https://www.monarch.com using promo code LUCKY.
• Superpower: Visit https://www.superpower.com and use code LUCKY for $20 off your $199 Superpower membership.
• Square: Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://www.square.com/go/lucky
• Quince: Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to https://www.quince.com/balancedles. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.
• Nutrafol: For a limited time, Nutrafol is offering our listeners $10 off your first month’s subscription and free shipping when you visit https://www.nutrafol.com and enter promo code BALANCEDLES.
• Shopify: Start your free trial at https://www.shopify.com/lucky.
• Opill: Opill is birth control in your control, and you can use the code BALANCEDLES for 25% off your first month at https://www.opill.com.

Connect with Les:

• Ready to apply what you hear? Subscribe to the She’s So Lucky Newsletter to get weekly episode guides and journal prompts: https://shessolucky.kit.com/newsletter
• Subscribe to The Lucky Playbook on Substack: https://lesalfred.substack.com/
• Follow Les on IG @lesalfred
• Follow She’s So Lucky on IG @shessoluckypod
• Follow Les on TikTok @theluckyles
• Follow She’s So Lucky on TikTok
• Visit our website at http://shessoluckypodcast.com

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#360: In honor of my 37th birthday, I’m sharing seven mindset shifts I’m bringing into my 37th year. From wellness, to having more audacity, to better time management, these seven shifts are moving the needle for me, and I think they can help you too.

Episode Links:

• 35 Things I Learned by My 35th Birthday: https://youtu.be/XBYilEerUrg?si=5Lrev2xDXY5j98DN

Sponsors:

• Nuuly: Visit use code LUCKY at https://www.nuuly.com to get $28 off your first month.
• IM8: IM8's Daily Ultimate Essentials replaces 16 supplements in one single drink. Go to https://www.IM8health.com/lucky and use code LUCKY for a free welcome kit, five free travel sachets, plus 10% off your order.
• Bask & Lather: Explore viral bestsellers and products of healthier hair of ALL types from Bask and Lather. Go to https://www.baskandlatherco.com and use code LUCKY for 20% off.
• LILYSILK: Right now LILYSILK is celebrating its Anniversary Event with limited-time savings. Visit https://www.LILYSILK.com/lucky and use code lucky at checkout for 20% off your purchase.

Keep in Touch with Les:

• Ready to apply what you hear? Subscribe to the She’s So Lucky Newsletter to get weekly episode guides and journal prompts: https://shessolucky.kit.com/newsletter
• Subscribe to The Lucky Playbook on Substack: https://lesalfred.substack.com/
• Follow Les on IG @lesalfred
• Follow She’s So Lucky on IG @shessoluckypod
• Follow Les on TikTok @theluckyles
• Follow She’s So Lucky on TikTok
• Visit our website at http://shessoluckypodcast.com

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Produced by Dear Media.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#359: If you're learning how to embrace the fear of not knowing what's next, this conversation is for you. Today I'm sitting down with Hunter Harris and Peyton Dix, writers, creatives, tastemakers, and co-hosts of the pop culture podcast Lemme Say This. We dig into the media and pop culture moments that helped them create their own luck, and the creative pivots they’ve made along the way.

We also talk about navigating seasons of transition, and what it really looks like to leave your comfort zone and figure out your next best step when you’re in the messy middle.

This episode is for you if:

• You're in a season of not knowing what's next and need to hear that the in-between can be the best part
• You've ever felt like your value was tied to a job title or company name
• You want permission to embrace fear again instead of only chasing what's comfortable

We talk about...

• The pop culture moments that shaped their taste and career, and what "divas" reveal about our current culture
• How they’ve maintained their friendship while building a business together, and what it actually takes to build something with someone you love
• Leaving big mastheads behind and learning who you are outside of a job title
• The difference between a hot take and an honest opinion, and why manufactured outrage isn't it

Episode Links:

• Listen to Lemme Say This: https://lnk.to/lemmesaythisSL
• Follow Hunter on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hunterh/
• Follow Peyton on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peytondix/
• Follow Lemme Say This on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lemmesaythispod/
• Subscribe to Lemme Say This on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LemmeSayThisPodcast

Sponsors:

• IM8: IM8's Daily Ultimate Essentials replaces 16 supplements in one single drink. Go to http://IM8health.com/lucky and use code LUCKY for a free welcome kit, five free travel sachets, plus 10% off your order.
• Monarch Money: Monarch is the personal finance app that tracks everything — accounts, investments, savings goals, and spending. Get your first year of Monarch Core for half off at http://monarch.com using promo code LUCKY.
• Opill: Preventing pregnancy is as easy as Opill. You can find Opill at most major retailers, in-stores and online.
• Larine: Larine is offering our listeners up to 50% off at https://www.buylarine.com/lucky
• LILYSILK: Right now LILYSILK is celebrating its Anniversary Event with limited-time savings. Visit https://www.lilysilk.com/lucky and use code LUCKY at checkout for 20% off your purchase.
• ButcherBox: Go to https://www.butcherbox.com/lucky to get $20 off your first box, plus your choice of free ground beef for life, or free chicken thighs or top sirloins in every box for a year, with free shipping always.

Connect with Les:

• Subscribe to She’s So Lucky on Substack: https://lesalfred.substack.com/
• Follow Les on IG @lesalfred
• Follow She’s So Lucky on IG @shessoluckypod
• Follow Les on TikTok @theluckyles
• Follow She’s So Lucky on TikTok
• Visit our website at http://shessoluckypodcast.com

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Produced by Dear Media.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#358: Today's solo episode started as a reflection on my own disillusionment and turned into a bigger theme: de-influencing. De-influencing myself from glow-up culture, from FOMO, and so much more. The more I let go of what I'm "supposed" to want, the luckier I actually feel — and I think most of us have at least one thing we're still letting an algorithm or a comment section talk us into.

If you've ever gone along with something because you thought you were supposed to want it, only to realize once you were in it that it didn't actually feel good, this episode is for you. I'm getting into what it looks like to actually listen to that feeling instead of pushing through it, and what's on the other side when you do.

This episode is for you if…

• You're tired of contorting yourself to be palatable and want permission to stop.
• You've ever felt FOMO about an event, a trip, or an opportunity and needed someone to talk you off the ledge.
• You're ready to get harder to influence, and luckier for it.

Sponsors:

• Luxe Tribes: Visit https://www.luxetribes.com and use code LUCKY at checkout for $100 off your first trip.
• Rula: Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/lucky #rulapod
• Cotton: Cotton is The Fabric of Our Lives. Learn more at https://www.TheFabricofOurLives.com
• Brickhouse Nutrition: Go to https://www.brickhousenutrition.com and use code LUCKY for 20% off and free shipping.

Keep in Touch with Les:

• Subscribe to She’s So Lucky on Substack: https://lesalfred.substack.com/
• Follow Les on IG @lesalfred
• Follow She’s So Lucky on IG @shessoluckypod
• Follow Les on TikTok @theluckyles
• Follow She’s So Lucky on TikTok
• Visit our website at http://shessoluckypodcast.com

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Produced by Dear Media.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#357: Recho Omondi launched The Cutting Room Floor as "Fashion's Only Fashion Show" back in 2018, when nobody understood why a fashion podcast should exist. Now she's just closed a multi-year partnership with Patreon, the platform she's been exclusively building her community with since 2021.

This week we trace it all: the art school pivot from pre-med, the accidental embroidery business that out-earned her fashion label, and the meeting where she walked into Patreon's C-suite and pitched them a deal nobody had ever been offered before.

We also get into the parts nobody wants to admit out loud: what it actually feels like when your biggest win gets met with silence, and why the algorithm might be doing more damage to how we see each other than many of us are willing to admit.

This episode is for you if...

• You're building something slow and unsexy that nobody's clapping for yet, but you know it's working
• You've ever had a huge win met with silence from someone who was supposed to be happy for you
• You want a reframe on jealousy that isn't just "ignore it and move on"
• You're curious what it actually takes to build a paid community from scratch, no borrowed audience, no shortcuts
• You need permission to trust your gut over everyone else's opinion

Episode Links:

• Subscribe to The Cutting Room Floor on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/thecuttingroomfloor
• Follow The Cutting Room Floor on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecuttingroomfloor/
• Follow Recho on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omondi/
• Follow The Cutting Room Floor on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tcrfff

Sponsors:

• Nuuly: Visit use code LUCKY at https://www.nuuly.com to get $28 off your first month.
• Square: Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at https://www.square.com/go/lucky
• Superpower: Visit https://www.superpower.com and use code LUCKY for $20 off your $199 Superpower membership.
• Shopify: Start your free trial at https://www.shopify.com/lucky

Connect with Les:

• Ready to apply what you hear? Subscribe to the She’s So Lucky Newsletter to get weekly episode guides and journal prompts: https://shessolucky.kit.com/newsletter
• Subscribe to The Lucky Playbook on Substack: https://lesalfred.substack.com/
• Follow Les on IG @lesalfred
• Follow She’s So Lucky on IG @shessoluckypod
• Follow Les on TikTok @theluckyles
• Follow She’s So Lucky on TikTok
• Visit our website at shessoluckypodcast.com

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#356: Wilglory Tanjong doesn't wait for luck to show up. She builds it, asks for it, and stays ready to receive it. The founder of handbag brand Anima Iris is sitting down for a conversation that moves from grief to grit to greatness, and somehow makes all three feel like the same story.

Wilglory opens up about leaving a six-figure corporate job at the start of the pandemic, why she calls business school "MBA school," and the importance of f*ck-up capital for women founders. And yes, she talks about the ongoing series where she's asking MacKenzie Scott for a billion dollars for Black women entrepreneurs, one video at a time.

This episode is a masterclass in what it actually looks like to alchemize your own luck. Not the manifestation version. The version where you build the thing, ask for what you need, and keep going even when nobody handed you the blueprint.

Press play if you're:

• Thinking about leaving a stable job to build something that's actually yours
• Curious whether business school is worth it (Wilglory has thoughts)
• Building a business with little to no outside capital and need to hear you're not alone
• Someone who struggles to ask for help

Grab your notes app for:

• Wilglory's take on what business school actually teaches you versus what it's marketed to teach you
• Her framework for networking with elite institutions without ever enrolling in one
• Why margin for error is a form of privilege
• How the Ambitious Girl Dinner Series started as a casual meetup and ended with Oprah in her comments
• Why she believes entrepreneurship, not waiting on outside saviors, is how real generational wealth gets built

Episode Links:

• Follow Wilglory on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wilgloryy/
• Shop Anima Iris: https://animairis.com/
• Read Start with Yourself by Emma Grede: https://bookshop.org/a/55347/9781668085486

Sponsors:

• Quince: Make your summer wardrobe feel easier. Go to https://www.quince.com/balancedles for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.
• Shopify: Start your free trial at https://www.shopify.com/lucky
• Rula: Go to https://www.rula.com/lucky for quality therapy that's actually covered by insurance
• Bask & Lather: Explore viral bestsellers and products of healthier hair of ALL types from Bask and Lather. Go to https://www.baskandlatherco.com and use code LUCKY for 20% off.
• Lola Blankets: For a limited time, you can get 40% off select Lola Blankets products with code LUCKY at https://www.lolablankets.com
• Opill: Opill is birth control in your control, and you can use the code BALANCEDLES for 25% off your first month at https://www.opill.com

Connect with Les:

• Ready to apply what you hear? Subscribe to the She’s So Lucky Newsletter to get weekly episode guides and journal prompts: https://shessolucky.kit.com/newsletter
• Subscribe to The Lucky Playbook on Substack: https://lesalfred.substack.com/
• Follow Les on IG @lesalfred
• Follow She’s So Lucky on IG @shessoluckypod
• Follow Les on TikTok @theluckyles
• Follow She’s So Lucky on TikTok
• Visit our website at shessoluckypodcast.com

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#355: Luck isn’t something that happens to you. It’s something you build piece by piece, and today’s guests have done just that.

I'm joined by Lex P and Drea Nicole, serial entrepreneurs, media personalities, and co-hosts of Pour Minds. We get into the $86 check that told them they were onto something, how they balance business and friendship, the beliefs at the root of the luck they’ve created, and why they both believe you can't get lucky until you learn how to clap for other people first.

I think you're going to walk away thinking about the word "lucky" in a completely new way, which feels like exactly the point of this whole show.

Press play if you're...

• Convinced everyone else's glow up came out of nowhere (it didn't, keep listening)
• Currently waiting for your moment instead of building toward it
• Still thinking about that one friend who got quiet on you the second things got good
• Nosy about the actual numbers behind turning a podcast into a real business

Grab your notes app for…

• The real difference between getting lucky and being ready when opportunity shows up
• How Pour Minds turned an $86 ad check into a fully self-funded, sold out tour
• The friendship red flags Lex and Drea learned to spot the hard way, and the green flags to look for instead
• Why clapping for other people's wins is directly tied to unlocking your own

Episode Links:

• Get your tickets to the Still Sippin’ Tour: https://www.pourminds.com/
• Subscribe to Pour Minds on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DreaAndLex
• Follow Pour Minds on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pour_minds/
• Follow Drea on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dreanicoleee/
• Follow Lex on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lex_p_/

Sponsors:

• Nutrafol: For a limited time, Nutrafol is offering our listeners $10 off your first month’s subscription and free shipping when you visit https://www.nutrafol.com and enter promo code BALANCEDLES.
• Monarch Money: Monarch is the personal finance app that tracks everything — accounts, investments, savings goals, and spending. Get your first year of Monarch Core for half off at https://www.monarch.com using promo code LUCKY.
• Cotton: Cotton is The Fabric of Our Lives. Learn more at https://www.TheFabricofOurLives.com
• Larineco: Larineco is a chewing gum that strengthens and repairs enamel with every chew, using the same mineral your teeth are made of. Get up to 50% off your order at https://www.buylarine.com/lucky
• ButcherBox: Go to https://www.butcherbox.com/lucky to get $20 off your first box, plus your choice of free ground beef for life, or free chicken thighs or top sirloins in every box for a year, with free shipping always.

Connect with Les:

• Ready to apply what you hear? Subscribe to the She’s So Lucky Newsletter to get weekly episode guides and journal prompts: https://shessolucky.kit.com/newsletter
• Subscribe to The Lucky Playbook on Substack: https://lesalfred.substack.com/
• Follow Les on IG @lesalfred
• Follow She’s So Lucky on IG @shessoluckypod
• Follow Les on TikTok @theluckyles
• Follow She’s So Lucky on TikTok
• Visit our website at http://shessoluckypodcast.com

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#354: This month's solo episode is a little different — I walked into the studio with zero plan, and that felt pretty on brand for where I'm at right now.

With the visibility series wrapped, solo episodes are back to being just me, unscripted, telling you the truth about what's going on. And the truth is: my life outside of work is genuinely thriving — three years in New York, a community I actually love, a summer that's off to a great start — while my career is a big puzzle I just haven’t been able to solve.

Instead of faking it, I'm giving you the real, current-state version of where my head's at, and introducing what I'm calling my "lucky girl summer" — a season built around releasing instead of pushing, for once.

What we're getting into:

• Why I'm trying a "lucky girl summer" — a season of letting go instead of grinding, and what that means when your whole identity has been built on work ethic
• The honest split between my career and my personal life right now, and why burnout hits different when you haven't "made it" yet
• What rest and ease can look like when you genuinely can't afford to take your foot all the way off the gas
• Redefining luck — not as hitting one specific number, but as always finding a way to figure it out

This episode is for you if…

• You've got one part of your life thriving and another part completely stuck, and you're tired of pretending everything's fine across the board.
• You've built your identity around hustle and work ethic and are starting to wonder what happens when that stops being enough.
• You grew up without a lot and are still figuring out how to carry that history into the person you're becoming.
• You're craving permission to not have a plan right now and to trust you'll figure it out anyway.
• You want a wider definition of luck — and success — than just hitting a number.

Sponsors:

• Nuuly: Get $28 off your first month of Nuuly clothing rental at https://www.nuuly.com using the promo code LUCKY.
• IM8: Go to https://www.IM8health.com/lucky and use code LUCKY for a free welcome kit, five free travel packs, and 10% off your order.
• Rula: Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/lucky #rulapod
• Opill: Opill is birth control in your control, and you can use the code BALANCEDLES for 25% off your first month at https://www.opill.com

Keep in Touch with Les:

• Ready to apply what you hear? Subscribe to the She’s So Lucky Newsletter to get weekly episode guides and journal prompts: https://shessolucky.kit.com/newsletter
• Subscribe to The Lucky Playbook on Substack: https://lesalfred.substack.com/
• Follow Les on IG @lesalfred
• Follow She’s So Lucky on IG @shessoluckypod
• Follow Les on TikTok @theluckyles
• Follow She’s So Lucky on TikTok
• Visit our website at http://shessoluckypodcast.com

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#353: We've spent this entire visibility series talking about what it means to be seen — in your career, in your work, in the world. But this final episode brings it all the way home, because the most personal version of that question lives inside your closest friendships.

We all want to feel seen by the people who know us best. And this week's guest shows us exactly how complicated that gets when a wedding is involved.

I'm joined by Ru Wolle, journalist and author of I Hope You Elope. After feeling financially and emotionally stretched by the obligations of being a bridesmaid, Ru made a decision that went viral — and sparked a conversation so many of us were quietly waiting to have. We get into the ways wedding culture has turned friendship into a loyalty test, how unspoken expectations create resentment, and why so many women walk away from a wedding weekend having lost a friendship they thought would last forever.

This one hit. I think you're going to feel very seen — which feels like exactly the right note to end this series on.

This episode is for you if...

• You've ever said yes to something when every part of you wanted to say "can we talk about this first?"
• You've felt the financial pressure of wedding culture but didn't know how to name it
• You're navigating a friendship where something big went unsaid
• You want to celebrate the people you love — without it costing you the friendship

We talk about:

• Why friendships get tested hardest around major life events — and what's really underneath that
• The unspoken expectations that quietly build resentment between even the closest friends
• How social media has changed what we feel like we owe each other in big seasons
• What honest communication actually looks like when the stakes feel too high to say anything

Episode Links:

• Follow Ru on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ru_wolle/
• Read I Hope You Elope — A Bridesmaid Survival Guide: https://bookshop.org/a/55347/9781668095683

Sponsors:

• Nebula: Go to Nebula: Spiritual Guidance Space https://nebulaapp.onelink.me/AaEA/nskvi42c and get 3 minutes for free to chat with 3 psychics matched to you.
• Momentous: Momentous Fiber+ is a complete, 3-in-1 formula with soluble fiber, insoluble fiber, and a prebiotic resistant starch. Visit http://livemomentous.com and use promo code lucky for up to 35% off your first order.
• ButcherBox: ButcherBox delivers over 100 premium protein options straight to your door, from grass-fed beef to wild-caught seafood, all raised and sourced responsibly. New members get their choice of free ribeyes for a year, or ground beef or chicken breast for life, plus $20 off when you go to http://butcherbox.com/lucky.
• Square: Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at http://square.com/go/lucky #squarepod
• Quince: Visit http://quince.com/balancedles to get free shipping and 365-day returns.

Connect with Les:

• Ready to apply what you hear? Subscribe to the She’s So Lucky Newsletter to get weekly episode guides and journal prompts: https://shessolucky.kit.com/newsletter
• Subscribe to The Lucky Playbook on Substack: https://lesalfred.substack.com/
• Follow Les on IG @lesalfred
• Follow She’s So Lucky on IG @shessoluckypod
• Follow Les on TikTok @theluckyles
• Follow She’s So Lucky on TikTok
• Visit our website at http://shessoluckypodcast.com

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#352: If you've ever felt the pressure to say yes to everything — every opportunity, every invitation, every trending topic — just because it's available, this conversation is for you. Today I'm welcoming Eni Popoola back to the podcaster. Eni is a content creator, storyteller, and former lawyer, who left Big Law three years ago and has spent every day since building a path that's entirely her own.

Eni gets real about what it actually feels like to walk away from a plan you've had your whole life, why she's stopped chasing virality and started chasing alignment, and the subtle but powerful difference between friends who agree with you and friends who truly get you. We also get into what visibility has taught her about herself, how she thinks about privacy as a professional boundary, and why the soft life is something you work hard for — not something that just happens.

This episode is for you if:

• You're wondering whether the "impressive" path is actually the right one for you
• You've gone viral and realized it wasn't what you thought it would be
• You want to build a following that's small but mighty and deeply aligned
• You're trying to figure out what to share online and what to keep for yourself
• You're in your 30s (or approaching them) and finally starting to care less about what people think

We talk about...

• What it felt like to leave law with no plan and no expectations — and why that was actually freeing
• Why she's stopped trying to go viral and what she's chasing instead
• The "appropriateness epidemic" and how she decides what belongs on the internet vs. the group chat
• How increased visibility taught her she's more social than she ever thought
• Why her friends don't have to agree with her — but they do have to understand her
• The journaling practice that helps her know herself well enough to pick the right people
• What running her business "like a CEO" actually looks like day to day
• Why she includes a therapist on her professional team
• Travel as a creative necessity — and all the places she's headed next
• What luck means to her: you can't have it without the work behind it

Episode Links:

• Watch episode 206, The SECRET to Choosing Yourself with Eni Popoola: https://youtu.be/ewjZAqS-KaQ?si=6b36EVB6UhLkkPVK
• Follow Eni on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enigivensunday/
• Follow Eni on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@enigivensunday?lang=en

Sponsors:

• IM8: IM8's Daily Ultimate Essentials replaces 16 supplements in one single drink. Go to http://IM8health.com/lucky and use code LUCKY for a free welcome kit, five free travel sachets, plus 10% off your order.
• Quince: Get your summer wardrobe essentials at Quince. Go to http://quince.com/balancedles for free shipping and 365-day returns.
• Bask and Lather: Explore viral bestsellers and products of healthier hair of ALL types from Bask and Lather. Go to http://baskandlatherco.com and use code LUCKY for 20% off.

Connect with Les:

• Ready to apply what you hear? Subscribe to the She’s So Lucky Newsletter to get weekly episode guides and journal prompts: https://shessolucky.kit.com/newsletter
• Subscribe to The Lucky Playbook on Substack: https://lesalfred.substack.com/
• Follow Les on IG @lesalfred
• Follow She’s So Lucky on IG @shessoluckypod
• Follow Les on TikTok @theluckyles
• Follow She’s So Lucky on TikTok
• Visit our website at http://shessoluckypodcast.com

This episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

Produced by Dear Media

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.