Awf The Record

Jul 23 · 1h 1m

Celebrity stylist and self-proclaimed Director of the Divas Scot Louie is taking the group chat to fashion school.In this episode of Awf The Record, Scot joins Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi for a masterclass on personal style, taste, body type, red carpet strategy, and what it really takes to become unforgettable. From styling stars like Kehlani, Ryan Destiny, and Beyoncé to building his own brand through Dinner Plus, Diva Academy, and his signature “to us,” Scot breaks down why style is not about buying the most expensive thing in the room. It is about knowing who you are, what works on your body, and how to make every look feel intentional.Scot also gets into the politics of fashion, why great styling can change someone’s trajectory, how TikTok has flattened personal style, and why people are confusing trends with identity. Whether you are building a wardrobe, shopping on a budget, dressing for your body type, or trying to unlock your inner diva, this conversation is your reminder that taste cannot be bought, but it can be studied. Tune in!KEYPOINTS:00:00 - Introduction: Scot Louie opens Diva Academy with the truth about taste02:34 - Scot defines what it really means to be a diva04:12 - How “clawing for comfort” shaped his career06:05 - The making of a diva starts with discomfort07:11 - Red carpet styling is about creating a full story10:33 - Zendaya and Law Roach show how styling becomes image architecture14:10 - Fashion still has a long way to go for women of color19:00 - Great style matters, but having a stylist is a luxury21:07 - Taste is not about price; it is about knowing what works29:35 - Dressing for your body type requires honesty, not trend-chasing39:15 - TikTok has flattened New York fashion and personal style44:03 - Being a stylist means babysitting insecurities45:48 - How “to us” and Diva Academy became part of his brandQUOTES:"Styling is a rich bitch sport."  – Scot Louie" Every diva you know has dealt with a level of discomfort, whether it be scrutiny with how they do something, how they show up, how their career is outlined. You have to sit in that discomfort. A lot of people shy away from it.” – Scot Louie"You don't need a stylist. You don't. Right? Like you need taste. There you go. That's what I'm getting at. And taste cannot be bought."  – Scot LouieGUEST RESOURCES Scot Louie Website | scotlouie.comIG | @scotlouie RESOURCES: Keep in touch with Awf The Record:Youtube: @AwfTheRecordInstagram: @awftherecordpodcastTikTok: @AwfTheRecordMona Kosar AbdiIG |  @monakabdi Jeannette ReyesIG |  @msnewslady Keep in touch with Awf The Record:Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecordFollow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcastFollow us on TikTok: @AwfTheRecordVisit our website: www.AwfTheRecord.com Follow Mona on TikTok and IGFollow Jeannette on TikTok and IG

Jul 21 · 6m

Cari Champion knew what it felt like to be watched, judged, and picked apart before she was ever fully allowed to speak. In this segment, Cari opens up about her time at ESPN and First Take, where she says everything from her outfits to her makeup to her presence on screen was scrutinized. She reflects on being told to tone it down, navigating the boys’ club, and learning that visibility in sports media did not always come with protection. Cari also gets honest about her relationship with Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless during that era, why she felt hazed in the middle seat, and how she eventually realized that being a woman, looking good, and being smart were never mutually exclusive. It’s a sharp, candid conversation about sexism, scrutiny, and what it costs to be one of the first to push the door open.RESOURCES: Cari Champion IG | @carichampionKeep in touch with Awf The Record:Youtube: @AwfTheRecordInstagram: @awftherecordpodcastTikTok: @AwfTheRecordMona Kosar AbdiIG |  @monakabdi Jeannette ReyesIG |  @msnewslady Keep in touch with Awf The Record:Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecordFollow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcastFollow us on TikTok: @AwfTheRecordVisit our website: www.AwfTheRecord.com Follow Mona on TikTok and IGFollow Jeannette on TikTok and IG

Jul 16 · 46m

Cari Champion has never been afraid to speak her mind, even when the room made it clear she was supposed to stay quiet.In this episode of Awf The Record, Cari joins Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi for a raw conversation about journalism, sports media, career reinvention, and what it really costs to be a Black woman who refuses to shrink. She opens up about starting as a one-man band in local news, getting fired in Atlanta, finding her way into sports through the Tennis Channel, and landing at ESPN’s First Take, where visibility came with intense scrutiny, sexism, and the pressure to “just tee up the topics and lay out.”Cari also reflects on leaving ESPN, betting on herself, moving into digital media and politics, dating after divorce, and why sports can never truly be separated from politics. It’s a funny, honest, and deeply validating conversation about knowing when a room no longer serves you, trusting your voice, and building a career that makes space for all of who you are.KEY POINTS:00:00 - Cari Champion reflects on becoming visible overnight and being hated for it02:07 - Cari defines herself as funny, disciplined, sensitive, and a disruptor03:28 - Speaking truth to power made Cari a problem in corporate media05:06 - Cari’s early local news career taught her the purpose of journalism08:00 - Getting fired and rehired in Atlanta became a turning point in her career14:12 - The Tennis Channel became her unexpected entry point into sports media17:39 - Cari breaks down how she landed ESPN and became a barrier-breaking host21:40 - First Take was the hardest job of her career because she was not allowed to be fully herself24:53 - Cari opens up about the criticism, sexism, and boys’ club culture she faced33:08 - Leaving First Take, finding SportsCenter, and eventually betting on herselfQUOTES:“The only time I really knew I was doing my job [was] when I knew that I was changing minds and helping people and affecting change.” – Cari Champion“It was never about making it big. It was always about telling the story.” – Cari Champion“I went from a nobody to somebody overnight, and everybody hates me.” – Cari Champion“It’s okay to be a woman and look good and be smart. None of that. Those aren’t mutually exclusive.” – Cari ChampionRESOURCES: Cari Champion IG | @carichampionKeep in touch with Awf The Record:Youtube: @AwfTheRecordInstagram: @awftherecordpodcastTikTok: @AwfTheRecordMona Kosar AbdiIG |  @monakabdi Jeannette ReyesIG |  @msnewslady Keep in touch with Awf The Record:Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecordFollow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcastFollow us on TikTok: @AwfTheRecordVisit our website: www.AwfTheRecord.com Follow Mona on TikTok and IGFollow Jeannette on TikTok and IG

Jul 14 · 6m

Kennedy Ryan knows exactly who she’s writing for, and she refuses to let publishing’s outdated assumptions shrink that vision. In this segment, Kennedy opens up about centering Black women on the page, on the cover, and in the audience, even when the industry suggests that doing so could limit sales or mainstream appeal. She breaks down why Black women are not a niche market, but a powerful readership with their own economy, cultural influence, and buying power. From sold-out theaters to New York Times bestseller lists, Kennedy makes it clear that when Black women are centered and celebrated, they show up, bring their people, and move the culture forward. This conversation is also a reminder for any creative trying to build with conviction: know your why, write from your center, and be prepared to fight for the stories that matter most.GUEST RESOURCESKennedy Ryan Website | kennedyryanwrites.com/about/ IG | @kennedyryan1Keep in touch with Awf The Record:Youtube: @AwfTheRecordInstagram: @awftherecordpodcastTikTok: @AwfTheRecordMona Kosar AbdiIG |  @monakabdi Jeannette ReyesIG |  @msnewslady Keep in touch with Awf The Record:Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecordFollow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcastFollow us on TikTok: @AwfTheRecordVisit our website: www.AwfTheRecord.com Follow Mona on TikTok and IGFollow Jeannette on TikTok and IG

Jul 9 · 1h 1m

New York Times bestselling author Kennedy Ryan is not just writing romance. She is writing Black women into love stories where they are centered, desired, protected, and loved outrageously.In this episode of Awf The Record, Kennedy joins Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi to talk about the craft, conviction, and cost behind her work. She opens up about getting her first book deal at 40, why romance is often dismissed because it centers women’s pleasure, and how writing from a specific point of view actually expanded her audience instead of limiting it.Kennedy also gets honest about burnout, depression, motherhood, marriage, and the pressure of navigating major Hollywood deals while still fighting for visibility in publishing. From centering Black women on the page and on the cover, to raising the bar for what love can look like, this conversation is a reminder to never settle, in romance, in work, or in the life you are building for yourself.KEY POINTS 00:00 - Introduction: Kennedy Ryan on Black love, romance, and raising the bar02:37 - Kennedy explains how her storytelling process evolved from ideas to intentional discourse05:39 - Kennedy shares why decades of writing in the dark prepared her for “overnight” success09:48 - Romance is often dismissed because it centers women’s pleasure14:04 - Why Kennedy centers Black women on the page, on the cover, and in the audience17:44 - Her advice to young authors: figure out your why and be prepared to fight20:23 - Kennedy opens up about the cost of success, burnout, and struggling to celebrate34:30 - Faith, community, therapy, and medication helped her survive the hardest seasons56:18 - Her relationship commandments after 29 years of marriage: trust, reciprocity, and never settleQUOTES "I want to put black women on the page who are being loved outrageously." – Kennedy Ryan "I could write the man that I believe you deserve. I could write an experience that I believe honors you, that is a partner you can trust, a partner who's faithful, a partner who honors your dreams and your ambitions." – Kennedy Ryan "There is enough in culture that tells black women we don't deserve, and that tells black women that we shouldn't expect. So, I get to write an outcome that says, no, actually, you deserve the best, and you should expect a partner who loves you and whom you can trust." – Kennedy Ryan "Racism costs us all money." – Kennedy Ryan "I call it being the architect of your own existence, build a life that you love and you're excited about, and you're not waiting for anything, and when that partner comes, invite him or her into that, but you're not waiting to build anything." – Kennedy Ryan RESOURCES: Keep in touch with Awf The Record:Youtube: @AwfTheRecordInstagram: @awftherecordpodcastTikTok: @AwfTheRecordMona Kosar AbdiIG |  @monakabdi Jeannette ReyesIG |  @msnewslady Keep in touch with Awf The Record:Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecordFollow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcastFollow us on TikTok: @AwfTheRecordVisit our website: www.AwfTheRecord.com Follow Mona on TikTok and IGFollow Jeannette on TikTok and IG

Jul 2 · 45m

This episode originally aired on 04/14/2026What does it really take to rebrand your life? In this episode of Awf The Record, Mona and Jeannette sit down with Les, host of the Balanced Black Girl podcast, to talk about reinvention, discipline, and stepping into the person you want to be.Les shares her journey of rebranding—not as a one-time makeover, but as a daily commitment to intentional growth. She dives into the mindset shifts that helped her stay consistent, the habits that shaped her transformation, and how financial discipline played a key role in her journey.This conversation breaks down the difference between wanting change and actually making it happen. Les explains why rebranding isn’t about aesthetics but about aligning your identity with your actions. She shares how she holds herself accountable, the power of daily deposits, and why tracking progress is key to building confidence. She also opens up about overcoming a scarcity mindset and embracing abundance, recognizing that more is always possible.If you’ve ever felt stuck or unsure about how to start your rebrand, this episode is the reality check and motivation you need. Rebranding isn’t a look—it’s a lifestyle. Tune in now and start shaping the future you.KEY POINTS - Les’s journey as a content creator and her rebrand- Experiences with rebranding and its challenges- How to take actionable steps towards rebranding- The importance of willingness to try new experiences - Mona and Jeannette’s strategies to stay disciplined - Have the “why” to stay motivated - Celebrating wins and overcoming challenges - On optimizing daily routines and habits- The main role of social media and accountability QUOTES “Instead of being like, do I want to get up and do this thing today? I tell myself: I am a person who does this thing, whether that's working out or whether that's like reading.” – Les Alfred“It's important to be mindful of what you consume because, sometimes, we tend to try to embody other people's habits. I tell people all the time: ‘Don't try to do what I do’.” – Les AlfredGUEST RESOURCES Les Alfred IG | @balancedlesRESOURCES: Keep in touch with Awf The Record:Youtube: @AwfTheRecordInstagram: @awftherecordpodcastTikTok: @AwfTheRecordMona Kosar AbdiIG |  @monakabdi Jeannette ReyesIG |  @msnewslady Keep in touch with Awf The Record:Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecordFollow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcastFollow us on TikTok: @AwfTheRecordVisit our website: www.AwfTheRecord.com Follow Mona on TikTok and IGFollow Jeannette on TikTok and IG

Jun 25 · 47m

This episode originally aired on 04/10/2026 Dating isn’t just about having chemistry or “vibes”—it’s actually data. In this eye-opening episode of Awf The Record, dating and relationship expert Anwar White joins Jeannette and Mona to break down the real numbers behind modern dating—and why Black and Brown women need a different playbook.From match rates to money, Anwar exposes the hard truths about dating in today’s age: how systemic issues impact your love life, why marriage isn’t always a financial win for Black women, and what the data actually says about dating success. But this isn’t about discouragement—it’s about empowerment.He dives into why dating outside your race isn’t betrayal, it’s strategy. Why setting boundaries is non-negotiable. And why the real glow-up starts with emotional healing and self-worth.If you’re ready to stop guessing and start dating with clarity and confidence, this one’s for you.KEY POINTS- Dating: qualitative and quantitative analysis - Navigating dating journeys for black and brown women - Transitioning to dating coaching as a career - Challenges and misconceptions in dating (as women) - The societal pressure, setting realistic standards- Difference between feminine and masculine energy - Strategies for successful dating - On navigating cultural and racial preferences - Is using dating apps still effective? - Dating 101: Set boundaries and timeline - Anwar’s client approach as a dating coach QUOTES “Your type is your trauma. And when you're able to actually heal the trauma, you will have the opportunity to actually widen your net and find your person.” – Anwar White“If a man is truly in his masculine, his pleasure is derived from your pleasure.”  – Anwar White“I don't believe in potential. I think potential is not real, it's imaginary, [and] it's a projection of what you want, but not what is.”  – Anwar White“You become irresistible when you become irresistible to yourself, which is like, you just can't get enough of you, and that will radiate and attract everyone.”  – Anwar WhiteGUEST RESOURCES: Anwar WhiteIG | @datingcoachanwarTikTok | @datingcoachanwar RESOURCES: Keep in touch with Awf The Record:Youtube: @AwfTheRecordInstagram: @awftherecordpodcastTikTok: @AwfTheRecordMona Kosar AbdiIG |  @monakabdi Jeannette ReyesIG |  @msnewslady Keep in touch with Awf The Record:Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecordFollow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcastFollow us on TikTok: @AwfTheRecordVisit our website: www.AwfTheRecord.com Follow Mona on TikTok and IGFollow Jeannette on TikTok and IG

Jun 23 · 9m

Etiquette is not about being stiff, fake, or elitist. It is about knowing how to move through a room, make people feel seen, and carry yourself with confidence. In this segment, etiquette expert Elaine Swann breaks down the everyday habits that can instantly change how people experience you, from giving a proper handshake to greeting people, making a graceful exit, and commanding presence without doing too much. Elaine also shares why confidence is not about being loud or perfect, but about slowing down, using your voice with intention, and honoring the people who are actually present. Whether you are at a networking event, dinner party, Zoom meeting, or family gathering, this conversation is a reminder that the small things speak loudly.GUEST RESOURCESElaine Swann Website | www.elaineswann.comIG | @elaineswannRESOURCES: Keep in touch with Awf The Record:Youtube: @AwfTheRecordInstagram: @awftherecordpodcastTikTok: @AwfTheRecordMona Kosar AbdiIG |  @monakabdi Jeannette ReyesIG |  @msnewslady Keep in touch with Awf The Record:Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecordFollow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcastFollow us on TikTok: @AwfTheRecordVisit our website: www.AwfTheRecord.com Follow Mona on TikTok and IGFollow Jeannette on TikTok and IG

Jun 18 · 57m

“Etiquette, and the concept behind it, is accessible, and it's for everyone.” –  Elaine SwannIn this episode of Awf The Record, Elaine joins Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi for a crash course in modern etiquette, from fine dining, networking, Zoom meetings, and corporate happy hours to dating, ghosting, apologies, compliments, and navigating luxury spaces without feeling like you do not belong. She breaks down what the rich actually do differently, why confidence is often quieter than we think, and how the habits we overlook, like oversharing, arguing to prove a point, or making people wait, may be quietly sabotaging us.KEY POINTS 00:00 - Cold open: Elaine Swann previews the etiquette mistakes quietly sabotaging you01:38 - Introduction to Elaine Swann and the crash course in modern etiquette02:38 - Etiquette is about how you show up and how you make people feel09:22 - The handshake mistake people still make in professional settings11:37 - Why we need to bring back greeting people and being neighborly14:14 - How eye contact, posture, body language, and voice signal confidence18:00 - Why hosts should start on time and honor the people who are present22:03 - What the rich and famous actually do differently with luxury etiquette27:55 - Fine dining rules that help you feel more confident at the table32:58 - Relationship etiquette and the “shower rule”38:23 - The proper way to accept an apology and receive a compliment40:54 - Is etiquette rooted in white supremacy or used to police people of color?44:42 - How to navigate alcohol and relationship-building in corporate spaces47:28 - Go Off or Log Off: Elaine rules on modern etiquette dilemmasQUOTES “Etiquette is being aware of how you present yourself to other people, and it is also, it also has to do with how you make others feel.” – Elaine Swann “Every single thing that comes out of your mouth, and every single thing you do becomes some part of somebody's history.” – Elaine Swann “Honor the people who are present.” – Elaine Swann “In relationships, you cannot change people. What you have to do is sometimes shift and turn that nozzle the other way.” – Elaine Swann GUEST RESOURCESElaine Swann Website | https://www.elaineswann.com/ IG | https://www.instagram.com/elaineswann/ RESOURCES: Keep in touch with Awf The Record - http://www.AwfTheRecord.com  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AwfTheRecord Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awftherecordpodcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@awftherecord Mona Kosar AbdiIG |  https://www.instagram.com/monakabdi Jeannette ReyesIG |  https://www.instagram.com/msnewslady Keep in touch with Awf The Record:Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecordFollow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcastFollow us on TikTok: @AwfTheRecordVisit our website: www.AwfTheRecord.com Follow Mona on TikTok and IGFollow Jeannette on TikTok and IG