Episodios

  • Why I Started Therapy Again & Other Important Life Updates

    Why I Started Therapy Again & Other Important Life Updates
    Oct 7 2025
    This episode is brought to you by Furtuna Skin: Italian, olive oil–based skincare that’s pure, potent, and transformative. Try their eye revitalizing cream and more at https://www.furtunaskin.com, and get 20% off your first purchase with code VALERIA20. In this solo episode of Not Alone, Valeria opens up about the emotional work she’s doing behind the scenes as she enters her next stage of growth. From revisiting therapy and learning how to embrace joy after being raised in a “survival household,” to reflecting on vulnerability, creativity, and her openness to new things living in Miami. Valeria shares an honest glimpse into the challenges and breakthroughs shaping her right now. She questions how to be both an emotional and high-functioning person and wonders if it’s possible. She answers listener questions with her signature candor, talks about the pressure of always being “on” online, and even revisits stories from her past, including her “trophy wife” days and a behind-the-scenes Victoria’s Secret moment that made her step away from modeling. It’s a thoughtful, intimate conversation on emotional growth, choosing joy and stepping into a new chapter with more presence and purpose. Shop my look from this episode: https://shopmy.us/collections/2501087?tab=collections Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/valerialipovetsky/ Books I Mentioned: The Many Lives of Mama Love - https://www.amazon.com/Many-Lives-Mama-Love-Stealing/dp/1982197668 God Wears Lipstick - https://www.amazon.com/God-Wears-Lipstick-Kabbalah-Women/dp/1571895817 The Art of Thinking Clearly - https://www.amazon.com/Art-Thinking-Clearly-Rolf-Dobelli/dp/0062219693 What we talked about: 0:24 - Start 1:10 - Working overtime on my emotional state 3:00 - Needing help for the next evolution of Valeria 4:05 - Revisiting therapy 6:35 - “I cried of course” 7:30 - Being at the right place at the right time 8:36 - Needing more joy in life 11:14 - Furtuna Skin Ad 12;33 - “I don't trust emotions” 14:49 - Being raised in a survival household 16:00 - “I’m ready to embrace joy” 17:15 - Answering listener questions 17:19 - Being vulnerable online 19:20 - Wanting to work on being less cautious online 20:31 - What I’m enjoying most about Miami 23:03 - Men being attracted to caretaker types 24:15 - Reminiscing on trophy wife days 25:48 - Pressure to always be “on” creatively 27:39 - Have any past failures kept you from trying something new? 28:48 - Victoria’s Secret story 31:30 - Ben’s camp calling Gary first 33:31 - Valeria’s Book Recs 33:42 - The Many Lives of Mama Love 35:47 - God Wears Lipstick 36:18 - The Art of Thinking Clearly Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    40 m
  • Not Skinny But Not Fat: How Amanda Hirsch Turned an Obsession Into Opportunity

    Not Skinny But Not Fat: How Amanda Hirsch Turned an Obsession Into Opportunity
    Sep 30 2025
    In this episode of Not Alone, Valeria sits down with Amanda Hirsch, the voice behind the hit podcast and Instagram account Not Skinny But Not Fat. Known for her witty, unfiltered takes on pop culture and reality TV, Amanda opens up about her journey from acting and odd jobs in Israel to becoming one of the internet’s go-to voices on celebrity culture. They dive into everything from boy-mom life and her unapologetic obsession with pop culture (yes, the Britney and Justin breakup was a turning point) to the behind-the-scenes of launching Not Skinny But Not Fat. Amanda shares how she went from a meme page to interviewing A-listers, how becoming a mom didn’t change things, and how she balances sharing opinions while navigating the sensitive side of gossip. From her first big celebrity interview to the moments that made her spiral, her reality TV recs, and what it’s really like meeting your icons, Amanda proves that loving the “silly stuff” can build a serious career. It’s a funny, honest, and refreshing conversation about building something on your own terms, and how you can feel truly content when you embrace what you love. Follow Amanda on Social Media Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notskinnybutnotfat/?hl=en TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@notskinnybutnotfat Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@notskinnybutnotfat Get Tickets to Amanda’s Live Show: https://www.livenation.com/event/k7vGFbiQbfwrP/one-night-only-with-amanda-hirsch Shop my look from this episode: https://shopmy.us/shop/collections/2478422 Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/valerialipovetsky/ What we talked about: 0:26 - Episode Intro 0:30 - Valeria on work trips and being away from home 1:24 - Intro to Amanda Hirsch 2:58 - Start of Interview 3:01 - Being a boy mom 5:02 - Amanda’s current show obsession 7:40 - The start of the pop culture obsession 8:02 - The Britney and Justin breakup 9:52 - Media-trained celeb culture 11:06 - Loving ‘Love Thy Nader’ 12:06 - Amanda Hirsch’s acting career 15:10 - Working odd jobs in Israel 17:41 - Being content with life 20:15 - The hard move back to New York 22:32 - Starting ‘Not Skinny but Not Fat’ 23:26 - Interacting with the OG Meme Accounts 24:20 - Bringing Amanda and her opinion to the account 26:51 - Knowing something would come of it all 27:45 - Not being aesthetic, being approachable 30:02 - Kids don’t stop your career 31:07 - Loving the same dumb things after kids 32:35 - Getting nitty gritty DMs & not posting 33:45 - Connecting on pop culture for water cooler talk 35:35 - Knowing all the pop culture gossip in Israel 36:50 - Sensitivity with sharing information 40:50 - Interview moments that made her spiral after 42:59 - Watching cringey celebrity interviews 44:13 - Amanda’s first big celebrity interview with Erin Foster 46:30 - Still excited to do her job 48:27 - Getting cancelled on 3 times by her idol 50:00 - Meeting her pop culture heroes 51:05 - Meghan Markle 51:51 - Amanda’s first live show 54:35 - Wanting to quit ‘Love Island’ 55:50 - Amanda’s reality TV recommendations 56:54 - Valeria’s pop culture obsession Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 h y 1 m
  • Behind Her Aesthetic: The Unfiltered, Whimsical World of Chloé Crane-Leroux

    Behind Her Aesthetic: The Unfiltered, Whimsical World of Chloé Crane-Leroux
    Sep 23 2025
    In this week’s episode of Not Alone, Valeria sits down with lifestyle photographer, cookbook author, and content creator Chloé Crane-Leroux for an inspiring conversation about art, food, and finding balance in a world that never stops moving. Chloé opens up about her early years growing up in Montreal, always driven by a “five-year plan,” and a desire to create beauty. She shares her journey from the highs and challenges of the fashion industry to discovering a more soulful creative outlet in food photography and storytelling. Together, she and Valeria dive into burnout, creative ruts, and the pressures of the internet, while also exploring the rituals and meditations, like cooking, that ground her in joy. Chloé reflects on the vulnerability of sharing her life online, the profound loss that shifted her perspective, and why she no longer clings to rigid plans for the future. At its heart, this episode is a reminder that your life is your art and your canvas, and that creativity thrives not just in output, but in presence, connection, and growth. Follow Chloe on Social Media Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chloecleroux/?hl=en TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chloecleroux?lang=en Website: https://www.chloecraneleroux.com/ Get Chloe’s Recipes: https://www.chloecraneleroux.com/recipes Shop Chloe’s Essentials: https://www.chloecraneleroux.com/chloes-essentials Chloe’s Book Recommendation: The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron Shop my look from this episode: https://shopmy.us/shop/collections/2357926 Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/valerialipovetsky/ What we talked about: 0:34 - Valeria sets up episode 1:03 - Introducing Chloe Crane-Leroux 2:19 - Start of interview 5:27 - Growing up in Montreal surrounded by art 7:35 - “I’ve had a 5-year-plan since I was 5-years-old” 8:01 - Wanting to create beauty and share it 9:10 - The toxicity of the fashion industry 11:29 - Switching to food photography 13:03 - Going in front of the camera 15:10 - Creating cookbooks with her mom 16:20 - Teaching herself to cook 20:06 - Reaching burnout 22:39 - Creative Ruts 23:18 - Getting caught up in the likes and followers 24:41 - AI making Valeria optimistic 26:24 - Creativity being down right now 29:29 - Rituals that help her slow down 31:00 - Her love of Pinterest 32:50 - “For me, cooking is meditation” 35:13 - Touching different aspects of her job, and growing within that 37:40 - The balance of being vulnerable online 39:08 - Her year of loss and how it changed her 41:20 - Thoughts on the “30 under 30” Forbes List 44:33 - Not having a 5-year-plan anymore 46:52 - “Your life is your art” / “Your life is your canvas” 47:39 - Rapid Fire Round Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    52 m
  • Life Lessons at 35: What I Know (and What I Still Don’t)

    Life Lessons at 35: What I Know (and What I Still Don’t)
    Sep 16 2025
    This episode is brought to you by CLEARSTEM: My favorite skincare brand that fights acne and aging at the same time, with zero pore-clogging ingredients, ever. Get 15% off at https://clearstem.com/Valeria with code VALERIA. In this special solo episode of Not Alone, Valeria reflects on turning 35 and what this milestone means to her. She opens up about the lessons she’s carrying forward, the habits and pressures she’s choosing to leave behind, and the aspirations guiding her next chapter. From learning to be more present and putting herself first, to accepting that not everyone will like you, Valeria shares the mindset shifts that have shaped her growth. She talks about aging in a culture obsessed with youth, embracing contradictions as part of evolution, and the importance of pausing before reacting. With honesty and vulnerability, she explores her own “hero’s journey,” reflects on her children and mother getting older, and why success is about feeling, not chasing. It’s an intimate, thoughtful conversation on awareness, boundaries, and stepping into your mid-thirties with clarity and confidence. Shop my look from this episode: https://shopmy.us/collections/2367051 Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/valerialipovetsky/ Books I Mentioned: The Art of Thinking Clearly: https://amzn.to/3Iiy9ds The Power Pause: https://amzn.to/4mYaM88 The Hero's Journey: https://amzn.to/3JYXBoY What we talked about: 0:24 - Start of the conversation 0:30 - Turning 35 2:40 - Sharing the things Valeria knows now 2:46 - Life is all about evolution and contradicting yourself 4:25 - Learning how to be more present 7:15 - The importance of putting yourself first 8:50 - Pausing 10:55 - Most things don’t need a reaction 11:50 - Being “okay” with not being liked by everyone 13:40 - Choosing your own lens on life 15:11 - Clearstem Ad 16:25 - “The Hero’s Journey” Breakdown 20:26 - Things she may never figure out 20:39 - The idea of time 22:14 - Feeling success instead of chasing the next goal 23:15 - How to age in a world obsessed with youth 26:33 - Being kind vs. being nice 29:30 - Taking more time to process emotions 30:49 - Leaving behind having answers for everything 31:54 - Overexplaining my boundaries to get approval 33:04 - Moving away from sharing too much, too fast online 36:02 - Sharing things that took a long time to process 37:10 - Admiring Pamela Anderson 38:00 - Igniting Awareness Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    42 m
  • How to Turn Struggle into Purpose: Mia Pineda’s Journey from Venezuela to Astrology

    How to Turn Struggle into Purpose: Mia Pineda’s Journey from Venezuela to Astrology
    Sep 9 2025
    This episode is brought to you by Furtuna Skin: Italian, olive oil–based skincare that’s pure, potent, and transformative. Try their Olive Lip Butter Balm and more at https://www.furtunaskin.com, and get 20% off your first purchase with code VALERIA20. This episode is also brought to you by Floatley - A bra brand offering feel-good basics that combine cloud-like comfort with reliable support. Try our bestselling Cozy Adjustable Bra at https://www.floatley.com/products/cozy-adjustable and get 20% off your order with code VALERIA20, plus free shipping on US orders over $50. In this week’s episode of Not Alone, Valeria sits down with astrologer, author and speaker Mia Pineda (aka Mia Astral) for an intimate conversation about identity, intuition, and the paths that guide us. Born to a mother who was only 14 and raised by her grandparents in Venezuela, Mia often felt like an outsider, questioning her place in the world. Astrology became the way she found her footing, transforming uncertainty into purpose. Mia shares the wisdom she learned from her grandmother, talks about leaving Venezuela to move to Miami, and the surprising path from criminology and forensic law to becoming a leading voice in Kabbalistic Astrology. Together, they explore how to tell the difference between fear and intuition, the evolution of astrology in our modern world (yes, even Taylor Swift comes up), and how to lean into discomfort as a catalyst for growth. It’s a thoughtful, soulful episode about reframing your mindset, resilience, and finding your own purpose through the stars. Follow Mia on Social Media Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mia_astral/?hl=en TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mia_astral?lang=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mia_astral Website: https://miastral.com/ Become a Member on Mia’s Website: https://miastral.com/my-account/ Shop her Books: https://miastral.com/shop/ Shop my look from this episode: https://shopmy.us/shop/collections/2146915 Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/valerialipovetsky/ What we talked about: 0:28 - Valeria on turning 35 and her birthday traditions 2:39 - Valeria on the end of summer for her family 4:40 - Introducing Mia Pineda 6:24 - Start of interview 6:37 - Mia’s unusual upbringing in Venezuela 9:19 - Being raised by her grandmother 11:59 - Figuring out her place in the world 12:50 - Grandmother’s mentality of abundance 13:47 - Getting a bad reading from a popular astrologer 15:05 - Fortuna Skin Ad 16:14 - Floatley Ad 19:29 - Understanding the mathematics of astrology 22:18 - Studying criminology and forensic law 23:31 - Discovering Kabbalah 23:51 - Leaving Venezuela and moving Miami 27:11 - Working on her mindset 29:07 - Kabbalistic Astrology 34:01 - Differentiating between intuition and fear 36:43 - The evolution of astrology 37:40 - “I’m pretty sure Taylor Swift uses an astrologer” 38:32 - Explaining eclipse seasons 45:40 - “How can you get into uncomfortable but manageable situations?” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    51 m
  • Mean Girls, Friendship Red Flags & Letting Go of Toxic People with Christie Ferrari

    Mean Girls, Friendship Red Flags & Letting Go of Toxic People with Christie Ferrari
    Sep 2 2025
    This episode is brought to you by CLEARSTEM - my favorite skincare brand that fights acne and aging at the same time, with zero pore-clogging ingredients, ever. Get 15% off at https://clearstem.com/valeria with code VALERIA. This episode is also brought to you by Vuori: Versatile athletic and performance clothing. Head to https://vuori.com/notalone for 20% off your first purchase, plus free shipping on US orders over $75. In this week’s episode of Not Alone, Valeria sits down with clinical psychologist and friendship expert Christie Ferrari to unpack the complicated world of adult friendships. They explore why friends can feel so different after childhood, and why we sometimes fight to keep certain people in our lives while letting go of others. Christie introduces the concept of growth flags vs. red flags and helps us identify what healthy, evolving friendships look like versus the ones that may be holding us back. Together, Valeria and Christie dive into questions we all face: What kind of friend am I? Am I a fringe friend? How do I deal with “mean girls” even as an adult? From cultural differences in how friendships form, to tips for approaching conflict, to understanding when it’s time to quietly distance yourself, this conversation offers both validation and practical tools for navigating relationships. If you’ve ever questioned your place in a friend group or wondered how to deepen your connections, this episode is a must-listen. Follow Christie on Social Media Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christie_ferrari/?hl=en TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@christieferrari?lang=en Website: https://www.christieferrari.com/ Subscribe to Assertive You: https://www.christieferrari.com/assertive-you Book a session with Christie: https://www.christieferrari.com/services Shop my look from this episode: https://shopmy.us/shop/collections/2205029 Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/valerialipovetsky/ What we talked about: 0:38 - Valeria sets up the episode about friendships 3:52 - Start of the conversation 4:01 - Introducing Christie Ferrari 6:33 - Why adult friendships seem so different 8:28 - Why we work for friendships & why we let them go 9:48 - Growth flags vs red flags 12:38 - Understanding what kind of friend you are 15:12 - Clearstem Ad 16:35 - Vuori Ad 17:57 - Christie’s draw to studying friendships 18:49 - The importance of being assertive 20:28 - What is a fringe friend? 23:18 - Helping a fringe friend 25:35 - Tips to find good friends 27:42 - Christie’s story on being a fringe friend 28:17 - Dealing with Mean Girls 29:29 - Why Mean Girls exist in adulthood 31:03 - Cultural friendship differences 32:05 - How Mean Girls lose power 34:10 - Approaching a friend with an issue 36:36 - When to let a friendship go 37:25 - Quiet distancing 40:14 - Mourning friendships 41:07 - Having more than one “best friend” 43:56 - Trying a friendship reset 44:48 - What healthy friendships look like 45:34 - Men’s reactions to female friendships 47:46 - Why friendships are easier in your 20s 48:35 - Underrated green flags 49:01 - Rapid Fire Questions 51:19 - Christie’s Reading Rec Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    55 m
  • Money & Marriage: An Honest Convo About Our Finances

    Money & Marriage: An Honest Convo About Our Finances
    Aug 26 2025
    This episode is brought to you by Vuori: Versatile athletic and performance clothing. Head to https://vuori.com/notalone for 20% off your first purchase, plus free shipping on US orders over $75. This episode is brought to you by CLEARSTEM — my favorite skincare brand that fights acne and aging at the same time, with zero pore-clogging ingredients, ever. Get 15% off at https://www.clearstem.com/valeria with code VALERIA. In this week’s episode of Not Alone, Valeria and her husband Gary open up about their journey with money, what it symbolized in their childhoods, how they laid everything on the table when they first got together, and the transparency they’ve had with money ever since. They revisit pivotal moments that tested and strengthened their bond—like the time Gary’s big business deal fell through before their wedding and he gave Valeria the chance to walk away. Her response, “never say that to me again,” became a defining moment in their partnership. They talk about how they approach finances in a traditional way—Gary managing everything day-to-day while Valeria leans in with curiosity and questions—and the ways they don’t always see eye to eye on how their values were worked out along the way. Together, they share lessons learned, laugh over the “ROI” of Valeria’s nutrition degree that unexpectedly sparked her career in content creation, and offer advice for couples who struggle to have honest conversations about money. This episode is both vulnerable and lighthearted, pulling back the curtain on the realities of love, trust, and building a life together. Follow Gary on Social Media Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garylipovetsky/?hl=en TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@garylipovetsky Listen to Gary’s Podcasts: https://www.youtube.com/@Gary.Lipovetsky https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rise-podcast/id1688773397 Apply for Creator Method: https://creatormethod.com/ Shop my looks from this episode: https://shopmy.us/shop/collections/2062213 Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/valerialipovetsky/ What we talked about: 0:29 - Setting up the conversation with Gary 3:07 - Start of the episode 4:30 - Gary’s childhood mindset on money 5:41 - The scarcity mindset 8:40 - Thinking of money in terms of necessity 10:06 - Valeria’s money mindset growing up 11:22 - Valeria’s mom crowdfunding with other single moms 12:24 - Vuori ad 14:42 - Financing basic needs 15:36 - The importance of financial literacy 16:32 - Valeria leaving home at 16 and making money 18:42 - People with fallback plans and people without 19:21 - Remembering their first conversation about money 20:33 - Valeria changing her approach to money 22:16 - Clearstem ad 24:30 - Gary’s big deal falling apart 26:24 - The outcome of losing out on big money 28:08 - Their traditional approach to finance 34:07 - The language difference around making money 35:30 - Agreeing on “what’s worth it” when spending 39:07 - Communication on money 39:33 - Disagreeing on how they work on or through things 42:21 - Best money they’ve ever spent 43:22 - The ROI on Valeria’s nutrition diploma 46:56 - Valeria being clueless on life and money 48:23 - What Gary wishes he knew earlier about money 52:02 - Tips for couples who struggle talking about money Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    58 m
  • Life Beyond Modeling: The Side of Emily DiDonato You’ve Never Seen Before

    Life Beyond Modeling: The Side of Emily DiDonato You’ve Never Seen Before
    Aug 19 2025
    In this week’s episode of Not Alone, Valeria sits down with model, entrepreneur, and content creator Emily DiDonato to explore the joy of trying new things, no matter how imperfectly. Emily shares the story of being discovered at a mall as a teenager, stepping into a whirlwind modeling career, and eventually finding her creative spark in content creation. We dive into how Emily channels any flickers of comparison into motivation, why she’s never been competitive or jealous, and how motherhood has redefined her version of “balance” (hint: there isn’t any!). Emily opens up about the weekly “admin meetings” she and her husband use to keep their busy lives in sync, and why she believes there’s magic in being a beginner. From career pivots to personal growth, Emily’s philosophy is simple yet powerful: it’s fun to try, it’s fun to fail, and the learning process is where the real reward lies. This episode will leave you feeling braver about starting, more forgiving of the messy middle, and reminded that the courage to try, again and again, is what truly shapes a fulfilled life. Follow Emily on Social Media Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilydidonato/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@didonatoemily?lang=en Shop Emily's Skincare Brand Covey: https://coveyskin.com/?srsltid=AfmBOore9LtSOvC5ftxSnkNL8m2rn6SoZV3Zx8KYIdYPSM9sjbQuZN2U Shop my looks from this episode: https://shopmy.us/shop/collections/2062111 https://shopmy.us/shop/collections/2071219 Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/valerialipovetsky/ Apply for Creator Method: https://creatormethod.com/ 👉Related Links: NYFW 2019 vlog: https://youtu.be/eVLdfF_4n8k Drunk GRWM: https://youtu.be/vtEL61OUvHg Emily Collab: https://youtu.be/NoobVS82bj8 What we talked about: 0:50 - Valeria’s recent trip to New York 1:30 - Creator Method Summit 3:46 - Introducing Emily DiDonato 6:06 - Start of interview 6:14 - Valeria and Emily’s friendship history 8:59 - Emily’s start in modeling 12:23 - Emily’s evolution to content creation 18:02 - “That creative outlet lit a flame for me” 18:51 - Starting on instagram and moving to YouTube 19:54 - Using comparison to push herself 21:11 - Being overwhelmed and needing help 24:45 - Spiritual challenges 26:16 - “There is no balance as a mom” 29:01 - Emily and her husband’s weekly admin meeting 31:21 - Emily on trying anything and everything 33:28 - “It’s fun to suck” 35:17 - On being vulnerable online 36:53 - Navigating negativity online 38:48 - Audience Q&A 39:29 - Who are the people behind you who help you get it all done? 41:08 - What days are you slumming it and what days are you in full glam? 42:43 - Advice to the younger generation on body image and confidence 44:28 - Things she would do differently when starting a business 46:38 - Knowing which hobbies and interests are worth pursuing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    52 m