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In this episode of AWF The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi sit down with world-renowned plastic surgeon and Botched star Dr. Terry Dubrow for an unfiltered conversation about the truth behind plastic surgery, beauty standards, and reality TV.
From the deadly risks of Brazilian Butt Lifts (BBLs) to cosmetic procedures he considers a waste of money, Dr. Dubrow reveals what patients should know before going under the knife. He also reflects on the controversy surrounding The Swan, the dangers of chasing ever-changing beauty trends, and why even the best plastic surgery can go wrong. Plus, he opens up about pretty privilege, the pressures women face to be beautiful and successful, and how The Real Housewives transformed his career.

KEY POINTS

00:00 - Introduction: World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon Dr. Terry Dubrow 
02:05 – How Botched and reality TV changed the stigma around plastic surgery.
05:30 – The controversy behind The Swan and why Dr. Dubrow wouldn't do the show today.
15:32 – How beauty standards and looksmaxxing culture push people to dangerous extremes.
18:50 – Cosmetic procedures that waste money, from thread lifts to overhyped skin treatments.
22:08 – What actually works for under-eye hollows, smile lines, and facial aging.
24:44 – Why Dr. Dubrow refuses to perform BBLs and the potentially fatal complications.
29:44 – The long-term consequences of chasing plastic surgery trends.
35:33 – Pretty privilege, beauty standards, and why attractive women struggle to be taken seriously.
41:02 – How reality TV transformed Dr. Dubrow's career and the secrets to building an authentic brand.

QUOTES 

"If you send a message out that it's really your life is really only as valuable as your looks are, as good as your looks are. That is the worst message for a male, and I can't stand that." – Dr. Terry Dubrow

“I think that's the challenge women face that it's very hard for people to accept two things that you can be beautiful and qualified." – Jeannette Reyes

“A BBL, a Brazilian buttock lift. That, I won't do it because no operation is worth that fatality rate." – Dr. Terry Dubrow

GUEST RESOURCES: 

Dr. Terry Dubrow
IG | @drdubrow

RESOURCES: 

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Mona Kosar Abdi
IG |  @monakabdi 

Jeannette Reyes
IG |  @msnewslady 
Keep in touch with Awf The Record:
Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecord
Follow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast
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What if you're leaving thousands of dollars on the table every time you sign a brand deal? In this segment of AWF The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi sit down with Hollywood talent manager Stephanie Piza to uncover the truth behind influencer pay and brand negotiations. From a shocking $80,000 pay gap between creators doing the same work to the contract clauses that could cost you control of your content, Stephanie breaks down how to negotiate smarter, recognize your value, and find representation that actually fights for you.

GUEST RESOURCES: 

Stephanie Piza 
IG | @stephanie_piza

RESOURCES: 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:

YouTube: @AwfTheRecord
Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast
TikTok: @AwfTheRecord

Mona Kosar Abdi
IG |  @monakabdi 

Jeannette Reyes
IG |  @msnewslady 
Keep in touch with Awf The Record:
Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecord
Follow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast
Follow us on TikTok: @AwfTheRecord
Visit our website: www.AwfTheRecord.com
 Follow Mona on TikTok and IG
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In this episode of Awf The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi welcome Stephanie Piza, Hollywood talent manager and founder of Piza Global, to break down the new rules of the $21 billion creator economy.
From building a personal brand that attracts opportunities to turning influence into a profitable business, Stephanie shares what it really takes to stand out in an oversaturated market. They unpack the realities of influencer pay, why creators of color still face unequal opportunities, how to negotiate brand deals, and the role AI will play in the future of content creation.

Whether you're an aspiring creator, entrepreneur, or professional looking to build your influence, this conversation is about knowing your value, betting on yourself, and building something that lasts.

Join The Press Club by AWF The Record for exclusive conversations, guided challenges, and a community of women building careers, businesses, and lives on their own terms: 
patreon.com/c/AWFTheRecord 

KEY POINTS

00:00 – Introduction: The rise of the creator economy and why personal branding matters
06:24 – How to stand out, grow an audience, and turn influence into income
09:30 – Turning down $10 million and building businesses beyond brand deals
13:31 – The inequality creators of color face in brand partnerships
20:47 – How to attract brand deals and build authentic partnerships
24:08 – Building a personal brand as a creator, entrepreneur, or professional
29:34 – Negotiating higher rates, protecting your content, and avoiding costly contracts
35:27 – The $15K vs. $95K pay gap and why the right representation matters
40:54 – The future of influencing, AI, and staying ahead of the industry

QUOTES 
“I have always just bet on myself. I'm first gen; I'm going to make it work.” – Stephanie Piza 
“There comes a point in a creator's career where they realize they're providing more value than a one quick off brand deal.” – Mona Kosar Abdi
“I don't think it's too late. I think that you have to make yourself an anomaly, because again, there's so much talent out there.” – Stephanie Piza 

GUEST RESOURCES: 

Stephanie Piza 
IG | @stephanie_piza

RESOURCES: 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:

YouTube: @AwfTheRecord
Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast
TikTok: @AwfTheRecord

Mona Kosar Abdi
IG |  @monakabdi 

Jeannette Reyes
IG |  @msnewslady 
Keep in touch with Awf The Record:
Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecord
Follow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast
Follow us on TikTok: @AwfTheRecord
Visit our website: www.AwfTheRecord.com
 Follow Mona on TikTok and IG
Follow Jeannette on TikTok and IG

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How do you stop the internet from affecting your relationship? In this segment of Awf The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi talk with Kier Gaines about how social media can quietly shape the way we see love. Kier breaks down the difference between healthy comparison and harmful comparison, why online couples should not become the standard, and how repeated messages about relationships can turn into beliefs before we even realize it. His reminder: your relationship does not have to match the internet. The real question is what you actually want, and whether you can hear it past the noise.

GUEST RESOURCES: 

Kier Gaines 
IG | @kiergaines
It All Starts When You Do: A Therapist's Guide to Overcoming Self-Sabotaging and Work Towards Healing 

RESOURCES: 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:

YouTube: @AwfTheRecord
Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast
TikTok: @AwfTheRecord

Mona Kosar Abdi
IG |  @monakabdi 

Jeannette Reyes
IG |  @msnewslady 
Keep in touch with Awf The Record:
Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecord
Follow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast
Follow us on TikTok: @AwfTheRecord
Visit our website: www.AwfTheRecord.com
 Follow Mona on TikTok and IG
Follow Jeannette on TikTok and IG

Send us Fan Mail
Join The Press Club by AWF The Record for exclusive conversations, guided challenges, and a community of women building careers, businesses, and lives on their own terms: https://www.patreon.com/c/AWFTheRecord
In this episode of Awf The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi sit down with therapist and instant New York Times bestselling author Kier Gaines for a raw, honest conversation about vulnerability, masculinity, relationships, and the ways social media is quietly reshaping how we love. 
Kier breaks down why men, especially Black men, often struggle to open up, why women are exhausted by the emotional load, and how online comparison, gender scripts, and fear of being played can make connection feel harder than it needs to be. From contempt and tone to emotional maturity, self-healing, and what it really means to do the work, this conversation is a needed reset for anyone trying to build healthier relationships without losing themselves in the noise.

KEY POINTS
00:00 - Introduction: Social media is reshaping love, vulnerability, and conflict
01:35 - Kier reflects on becoming an instant New York Times bestselling author
03:19 - Kier explains why his work blends clinical expertise with real humanity
05:42 - The pressure on Black men to be impenetrable, useful, and unaffected
12:02 - Men are not women’s job to fix, but relationships need more emotional presence
16:09 - Therapy language and how it can also shrink emotional tolerance
17:58 - Social media comparison can quietly damage relationships
24:22 - Kier unpacks women’s emotional load, tone, contempt, and the work of repair
37:25 - What to look for in dating: accountability, listening, kindness, & emotional maturity
42:20 - Vulnerability requires mutual trust, safety, and time

QUOTES 
“We can't run from the fact that men don't feel like we have intrinsic value.” – Kier Gaines
“Shame, blame, and guilt-they steal all of your awareness.” – Kier Gaines
“The thing about contempt is it's not just the feeling; it's the narrative attached to it.” – Kier Gaines

GUEST RESOURCES: 

Kier Gaines 

IG | @kiergaines
It All Starts When You Do: A Therapist's Guide to Overcoming Self-Sabotaging and Work Towards Healing 

RESOURCES: 

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:

YouTube: @AwfTheRecord
Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast
TikTok: @AwfTheRecord

Mona Kosar Abdi
IG |  @monakabdi 

Jeannette Reyes
IG |  @msnewslady 
Keep in touch with Awf The Record:
Watch on Youtube: @AwfTheRecord
Follow us on Instagram: @awftherecordpodcast
Follow us on TikTok: @AwfTheRecord
Visit our website: www.AwfTheRecord.com
 Follow Mona on TikTok and IG
Follow Jeannette on TikTok and IG