Kiss My Angeles

It's one o'clock in the morning and my husband and I have just returned from a friend's housewarming party where some innocent flirting has launched us into a conversation about trust, jealousy, and the quirks of our relationship. I'd like to reminder you, dear reader, that we recorded this episode not because we believe our relationship is one to emulate. In the six years we've been married, we've made own rules (and sometimes scrapped rules altogether), so if you take anything from this, I hope it's that with trust and mutual respect, you can build whatever kind of life you want with the person you love. x To my wonderful husband, I am constantly reminded of how lucky I am to spend this life with you. I would not have survived these past few weeks - hell, I would not have survived, period. -  if you hadn't been there, picking up the pieces and reminding me that as long as we're together, we're exactly where we're meant to be. I love you. Unconditionally.

Hemingway said "sit down and bleed," and I certainly did that.  Now that the dust is beginning to settle, I'm ready to share my experience. I recorded this as part of my own personal healing and with the hope it may reach someone having trouble seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Believe me, it's there.

JUMP AROUND: 00:00 - 41:37:  Intro + the wave of public sexual assault and harassment accusations. 41:37 - 01:03:15:  The threats to net neutrality + our goals for 2018. 01:03:15 - 01:12:25:  Listener Question 1: With the wave of public accusations, should men change how they approach women? 01:12:25 - 01:18:38:  Listener Question 2: What is the best way to approach a girl in the gym? 01:18:38 Closing inspiration 01:20:39 Bonus Clip: I want to "Tom Cruise" Cat Callers More: https://wp.me/p1vZqN-cA

I met Jaymee Payan, a Doula, Placenta encapsulator, and soon-to-be surrogate mother, through the Tattoos for Planned Parenthood fundraiser. She joins me on the podcast, along with her sister Tommee who's also had a career in childcare, to share her experiences as a doula, explain what the hell a placenta encapsulator does, and let me in on her journey to surrogacy. Reminder: Respect for pregnancy and childbirth fall under the umbrella of respect for women and women's rights to decide what happens to our bodies. Whatever decision you make about your body is the right decision for you. Episodes like this serve to inform and share real experiences with a wider audience.

February was good to me! #TattoosForPlannedParenthood raised over $25,000, and shops across the country are following suit. The idea is to maintain this momentum in creative ways that engage my mind as well as the community's. If you're an Angeleno, don't forget to vote for Los Angeles Mayor in the primary elections on Tuesday, March 7th! Enjoy the episode!

With the impending deconstruction of Obamacare and the threats to defund Planned Parenthood, I thought it important to record an episode on reproductive rights. Sometimes I feel people (generally men) who haven't had to rely on Planned Parenthood, or Medicare, or who haven't felt the strain of a government hell bent on legislating women's bodies, it may be hard to empathize. I hope this episode helps those people understand this complex issue a little better, or at least encourages them to find compassion. When it comes to protecting reproductive rights, I am proud to call myself an angry feminist.

Nothing like the illusion of a fresh start, right? I'm kicking off 2017 with a solo, stream of consciousness episode that I recorded yesterday. It's from the heart and I hope you enjoy it. Tweet me your resolutions @thesleepybandit, and let's kick 2017's ass!

Is your money working for you? If you're anything like me, facing the complexities of a responsible financial life is daunting to say the least. It was embarrassing to admit I wasn't perfectly financially literate, or that I was still digging myself into debt. But in a capitalist society, where it's impossible to ignore the influence of money, we are the last group of people who should be squandering it without second thought. In this episode, I am joined by Jen Bailey and Carla Pineda, who work in the financial advising and investments industry and offer excellent advice on educating, motivating and planning for the future.

This week, I'm picking up the conversation about race with Noel Tarifi, Jasmine Samuels, and Courtney Linsey. In this half, we scratch the surface of media power, fear, the LGBT movement, and our individual responsibility in shifting a culture.

In times of great racial tension, we often feel hopeless. With recent events, it's obvious we are a far cry away from racial equality in our country. I decided at the very least, it was important to sit down with my Black brothers and sisters for a real conversation about race and class. I believe progress begins with addressing how much we still have to learn about one another, and how much there is to unlearn within our deeply-rooted socialized bias. Thank you to Noel Tarifi, Jasmine Samuels, and Courtney Linsey for lending your time and insight to this conversation. Look out for Part 2 of this episode in 2 weeks!

When it comes to college sports, there's much at stake and even more being wagered. Are higher institutions looking out for young athletes? I sat down with Will Smith, who works with the men's football team at the University of San Diego and sports journalist Evan Barnes from the Los Angeles Daily News to scratch the surface of what's missing in the infrastructure of American sports.

Some of my favorite feminist conversations, the ones that truly birthed this podcast, have been with men. In this episode, Stacey Fontaine and I talk dating in L.A. with Brandon Webster and Ian Grow, two LA-transplants navigating the waters both online and IRL.

Today is the first day of Ramadan! For those of us who grew up in Muslim households, the excitement in the next 30 days is incomparable. Though living in the United States means a different kind of challenge, it's also an opportunity to practice tolerance, compassion, and understanding among our peers of all backgrounds. Joining me in sharing our experience are friends and fellow Muslims Farheen Dayala and Hannah Mansour. Ramadan Mubarak! DEFINITIONS: Suhūr: "of the dawn", "pre-dawn meal"; an Islamic term referring to the meal consumed early in the morning by Muslims before fasting, sawm, before dawn during or outside the Islamic month of Ramadan. The meal is eaten before fajr prayer. Iftar: the evening meal when Muslims end their daily Ramadan fast at sunset. Zakat: charity given to the poor at the end of the fasting in the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Eid al-Fitr: "festival of breaking of the fast"), an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of Ramadan.

I had the pleasure of talking with two Los Angeles women who happen to be entrepreneurs, community activists, and mothers. Women like me, who don't have children, are often shrouded in speculation when it comes to what it's really like to balance a new life with your own. Lizet Serrano and Ashley Erikson tell me how they keep both in focus.

I don't know about you, but this election season has me worried, confused, and a little nauseous. I sat down with my good friend and fellow average voter Amir Lehman for a conversation about our democratic system and why young voters are difficult to wrangle. I know discussing politics can be intimidating, but if we can get past the idea that we're supposed to know it all, we can start to open ourselves up to learning more from the world around us.

Perhaps it's because I work for a music school/artist collective, but the issue of women in music, or the lack thereof, has been weighing heavily lately. Joining me for this episode are three young artists- Aaron Perez (aka Castor Troy), Nina Sung, and Emma Maidenberg of PRXZM -currently releasing music and navigating the industry with much promise. Together we explore how gender can impact an artist's career, and how a new generation is changing our collective consciousness.

Who and what impact the distribution of power? What are the global consequences of the way power is currently structured? I sat down with Arman Matevosyan and Melissa Archer, two lawyers who've offered their personal experiences in the industry in this exploration on power dynamics. Arman is currently working as a litigator, and Melissa (who I was employed under at one point!) is currently lending her experience in a corporate capacity. [TRIGGER WARNING: rape and sexual assault]

If you follow me on Twitter, you know that my 20-year-old cousin, a college junior, is currently living with us. Watching her navigate the ins and outs of her academic map, while attempting to prepare for the work force brought the issue to the forefront of my mind. What was missing from my own college experience? Did I truly feel prepared to navigate the real world when I graduated? For this episode, I, along with Hannah, sat down with UCLA Career Counselor Garineh Demirjian to discuss the misconceptions surrounding the college experience, and how to be best prepared when it's over.

I had so much fun with Nik Cherwink and Stephanie Camorlinga, two uniquely successful individuals, discussing traditional expectations and the shifting conversation around singles. Unsurprisingly, we spent most of the hour talking about sex.

With the controversy surrounding The Academy's blinding whiteness and Hollywood's overwhelmingly male scope, I thought it pertinent to discuss the matter with two professional actresses, Stacey Fontaine and Emily Bell. Together, we try to shed light on the different hurdles women face when pursuing a career in Hollywood, and how the digital era is helping marginalized groups find their voice.