Kristen and Whitney's best friends, Coti and Ally stop by for some candid girl talk. We get personal as we dive into our favorite segments; YAY and NAYs, Fresh out of Fu***, Rollin with the Homies and Let that Shit go. We share some major secrets, so tune in to find out who has never used an uber, who's peed in a starbucks cup while driving, who has dated Steve Urkel, and who has a major phobia of the clavicle bone. Grab a cocktail and get ready for happy hour with your favorite BFFS.



Follow along at @tglpodcast on Instagram
Get social using #tgltuesdays
Don't forget to stalk your hosts: @kgrace01 and @positivelyposie

Listen to this episode here!

On this episode Kristen and Whitney sit down with Chekesha Van Putten a professional spokesmodel, actress and former Laker Girl, with over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry. She is also the founder of Castango an online job marketplace for performing talent. Castango takes out the middle man so now companies can search, hire and pay talent on-demand. On this episode we chat about building a brand when seeing a need, being a woman in the tech world, and why we all need to try Castango.
Some questions we chat with Chekesha about!

1. We want you to go way back and give us a little bit of your story. 
2. Where did the name and inspiration for Castango come from?
3. Can anyone apply? 
4. What is one thing you would tell your younger self? 
5. At this point in your career, what is one thing you are most proud of. 
6. What’s one piece of advice you would give someone who wants to be a model/ talent or /influencer? 
7. You saw a need and conquered it in the tech world. Talk to us about being a woman in the tech world? 
8. You have cut out the middleman for  models and actors..how does this help your clients... time, money etc
9. What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced so far starting a company 
10. I heard you on another podcast say something so brilliant and I want you to you to share more about it for all of our listeners who have a business or want to start one...you have to learn this quick...”fail fast and pivot”
11. The tech world is changing so fast... has your company had to pivot or change anything recently because of the ever-changing tech world.
12. Where do you see yourself, and Castango in the next 5 years?
13. Where can our listeners find you? Tell us all the details? 
14. What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received from your best friend. 

OUTFIT ONE //
Jumpsuit
Belt
Heels

OUTFIT TWO //
Jumpsuit
Blazer
Heels

OUTFIT THREE //
Blazer
Pants
Shirt

OUTFIT FOUR //
Jacket
Hoodie
Jeans
Sneakers


OUTFIT FIVE //
Tracksuit Top
Tracksuit Pants

OUTFIT SIX //
Sweater
Skirt
Heels

OUTFIT SEVEN //
Tank
Jacket
Jeans

On this episode we sit down with Ashley Rose Reeves of Ashleys' Fresh Fix to discuss finding body love as an adult. Ashley shares how her journey to find love for her body helped form an amazing online community of women looking to better themselves. She chats about sharing her journey online and how she got to the point of creating her better love program. This interview is raw + honest and might make you shed a few tears...we know we did.




To connect with Ashley on Instagram
To learn more about 10 days to Better Body Love Program

Some questions we chat with Ashley about!

1. Where does your go-get em attitude come from?
2. I have followed you and your journey and your story and I definitely connect with you on having low self esteem due to being super tall and different. Did you ever think your experiences then would help create this powerhouse of Ashley’s Fresh Fix, creating awareness of body image and acceptance. 
3. What we believe about ourselves dictates so much of our mental and emotional state. You’ve created Better Body Love program to help women stop spending so much time hating their body. Tell us about the inspiration behind this course.
4. Can you share a few nuggets on some actions we can take away to retain our brain on how we view our body?
5. People crave authenticity and your ooze it especially on IG. What’s your ultimate goal through all this openness and realness on IG?
6.  You are a busy mom of 4 and having all the business  you do, how do you decide what you spend your time on?
7. What is one thing you want your daughter to always know?
8. What is one thing you want our listeners to know about you? Or to take away from this podcast. 
9. On TGL, we do one yay (thing you are currently loving) and one nay (thing you don’t love), what’s your yay and nay?
10. What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received from a best friend.

Listen to episode 19 here:

The sun emits ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which is comprised of intense wavelengths that are naked to the human eye. These wavelengths, which come in the form of UVA and UVB rays, both play a large role in premature aging, eye damage, and the development of skin cancers. Although both can pose harm, it’s important to decipher the differences between UVA and UVB rays.

You’ll likely expose yourself to a large amount of UVA rays during your life. They are present during all daylight hours and can even penetrate through clouds and glass. UVA rays infiltrate deeper into the skin and are a huge contributor to premature aging.

On the other hand, UVB rays are less invasive and are responsible for sunburns and tans. However, they play a significant role in the development of skin cancer. These cause year-round damage and intensify at higher altitudes.
Although you can’t see UV rays, you certainly can see their damaging effects. Here are a few ways the sun poses harm to your health, and what you can do to reverse and prevent it:

Sunburns // You’ve probably experienced a sunburn at some point in your life, but do you know how a sunburn actually affects your skin? While sunburns fade into a darker complexion over time, they can accumulate and cause long-lasting harm to your skin. As the sun penetrates your unprotected skin, it damages the skin’s cells and can even cause DNA mutation. Your sunburn will eventually heal, but a portion of the remaining cells may escape repair and remain mutated.

Age Spots // Dark, patchy spots can develop on the skin as the result of sun exposure. These pigmentations typically develop due to accumulated exposure over the years and are more apparent as you age. Although these are signs of sun damage, they don’t typically pose harm to your health. Age spots are commonly found on the back of the hands, shoulders, face, and back.

Acne Hyperpigmentation // Many who experience acne are under the impression that the sun can cure acne, as breakouts typically clear up after repeated exposure. However, the sun only temporarily “heals” acne. Sun exposure doesn’t actually cure acne but instead dries out the skin, making any active acne dry out as well. While the sun dries out your skin, it also contributes to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation by stimulating melanin production. This means that, although it may seem that the sun is clearing your acne, it’s leaving you with marks to remember them by.

Wrinkles // Sun overexposure can disrupt the health of your skin and exacerbate signs of premature aging. It can dehydrate the skin and inhibit collagen production. Collagen is essential in maintaining the elasticity and firmness of your skin. Over time, you may notice the development of sagging skin, fine lines, and wrinkles.

Dry, Faded Hair // Don’t let those sun-kissed highlights fool you into thinking the sun is making your hair better. Contrarily, this can be a sign that the sun is taking a toll on your hair. Damage can be seen through dry, faded, and frizzy hair. Additionally, if you notice that your hair is shedding more than normal, this can also be a tell-tale sign that your hair has endured sun damage.

Cataracts // When exposed to light, a majority of UV rays penetrates the eye through its lens, damaging the eye. Eventually, this can lead to the development of cataracts. When this happens, the lens may become red, irritated, cloudy, and can even lead to vision loss.

How to Reverse Signs of Damage: Although it’s impossible to reverse all signs of sun damage, there are a few essential ingredients you can introduce to your routine to help. Here are a few things you can add to your daily regimen:

• Retinol - A great way to boost collagen production and reduce acne breakouts is by using skin-care products that contain prescription-strength retinol. These stimulate cell turnover, which allows your skin to shed its outer layers to reveal smoother, more radiant skin. If you plan to use or are currently using a retinol treatment, be sure to only use it in your nighttime routine as it can cause sun sensitivity if worn during the day.

• Azelaic Acid - This ingredient is essential for reversing signs of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) caused by acne. It not only reduces inflammation but also speeds up cell turnover. The only catch with this ingredient is you won’t find it in stores as it needs to be prescribed by a healthcare professional. 

• Vitamin C - The skin needs antioxidants in order to fight off free radicals from sun exposure. It helps protect your skin from damage while simultaneously brightening your complexion. Vitamin C can be found in many forms including serums, sprays, and creams.

• Plant Oil Mask - For dry and damaged locks, try using a hair mask that contains plant oils for intense hydration and repair against sun damage. Coconut, tamanu, and sunflower seed extract are all great ingredients for after-sun hair care.

How to Prevent Damage Altogether:

1. Use Sunscreen Daily: Sunscreen is a necessity in order to protect your overall health. For optimal protection, you should apply it multiple times throughout the day. You should also use it every day since UVA rays can penetrate the skin even on overcast days. Check each label when searching for sunscreen and make sure it offers broad-spectrum protection, which protects you from both UVA and UVB rays. If you’re concerned about sunscreen worsening breakouts, don’t worry. There are certain sunscreens specifically formulated for acne-prone skin.
2. Wear UV Protective Clothing: To ensure you’re fully protected from the UV rays’ harmful effects, try using UV protective clothing and accessories. You can choose clothing that contains UV protection within the fabric to assert safety. A tip to see if your clothing will protect you is by holding it up to the light; if you see light shining through, your skin will be exposed to the sun even underneath the clothing. Additionally, to prevent eye and hair damage, always wear UV-blocking sunglasses when outside and a floppy hat to protect your hair and any exposed skin. 
3. Reference the UV Index: The UV index is a scale that signifies the strength and risk factor of the sun’s rays. When learning how to read a UV scale, it’s important to note that any rating over a level 5 index means that it’s especially dangerous to be outside. During these instances, be sure to stay inside or in the shade as much as possible. The index is typically at its highest between 10am and 4pm, so on high index days, it’s a good idea to only spend time outside in the morning or evening. 

On this episode Kristen and Whitney sit down with Karalynne Call of Just Ingredients to discuss the ingredients in our food and the food industry. We talk about deciphering food labels, how to decode ingredients, the top 5 ingredients to completely avoid, and organic vs non-organic.



Connect with Karalynne Call on Instagram

Connect with This Girl Life on Instagram

Here are some questions we ask Karalynne Call.

1. Introduce yourself to the TGL community?
2. Tell us how you got into investigating what is in our food?
3. Can you give specifics on things you changed immediately when you started to research food? 
4. Organic vs non organic and the importance of USDA what is the difference and importance and why should we be buying organic food even the processed stuff?
5. Reading labels: labels they frustrate me because they are so hard to trust and know what all these chemicals are... So how do you break down a label and what are some important things to look for and avoid?
6. Okay let’s dive into Glyphosate: it is in everything from grain to milk and people are just now starting to talk about it. For those who don’t know anything about glyphosate can you share all about?
7. As someone who is gluten intolerant you actually blew my mind when you started talking about a glyphosate intolerance. You personally had this happen to you can you share your story.
8. Sucralose aka artificial sweeteners good ole splenda, it seems like it’s in everything. But the FDA as down played its effects on us ruling it out of having a link to cancer. What are the popular products people are consuming that contain LOTS of sucralose and what are some healthier options for people to switch to? 
9. On a past episode of TGL we discussed infertility, throughout your research how do you think our food and beauty products are affecting our reproductive abilities?
10. I’m sure you get this question all the time… where do I start if I want to change my food patterns?
11.  You are a busy mom of 6 how do you prep for grocery shopping and were are some of your favorite places to shop?
12. If our listeners could take away one KEY takeaway from our conversation today what would that be?

Listen to episode 18 here: