Awf The Record

What does a real glow up actually look like?
In this episode of Awf The Record, Mona Kosar Abdi and Jeannette Reyes sit down with lifestyle entrepreneur and digital creator Jaz Turner, whose thoughtful approach to self-investment, wellness, and intentional living has built a global audience of more than one million followers.
But Jaz’s story didn’t begin with morning routines and glow-up advice.
Before becoming a creator, she was on track to become a lawyer. After earning a full ride to law school and landing a prestigious position in sports and entertainment law, she found herself deeply unhappy, battling anxiety, burnout, and an identity crisis.
What followed was the messy middle: leaving law school, rebuilding her life from the ground up, and discovering that growth isn’t glamorous. It’s lonely, uncomfortable, and deeply transformative.
In this conversation, Jaz opens up about the truth behind personal growth, the power of journaling and self-reflection, navigating friendship breakups, setting boundaries, and why the glow up actually starts where it hurts. They also dive into routines, relationships, and the mindset shifts that helped Jaz rebuild her life, and why the most powerful transformation happens internally first.
Felt stuck in a career that looks perfect on paper, or ever wonder what it really takes to reinvent yourself? This episode is for you.

KEY POINTS
Jaz Turner’s journey from law school student to lifestyle creator 
Why chasing the “perfect career” left her burned out and unhappy
The identity crisis that comes when your job no longer defines you
Why the glow up actually starts with anger, pain, and honesty
The messy middle of reinvention and rebuilding your life
The morning routines and mindset shifts that changed everything
Friendship breakups, boundaries, and protecting your growth
How reframing failure helped Jaz transform her life
Why internal growth always comes before the external glow up

QUOTES 

“It’s a loss of identity when your whole life has been built around your career.”  – Jaz Turner
 
“The messy middle is where you learn the tools to handle the life you deserve.” – Jaz Turner

“Don’t be a loser in your own story.” – Jaz Turner

“Nobody is coming to save you, and that’s actually the most empowering thing in the world.” – Jaz Turner

RESOURCES: 

Jaz Turner 

Youtube: @jazturner16 
Instagram: @jazturner16/ 
TikTok: @jazturner16 

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
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In this segment from the Eboni K. Williams interview, Eboni breaks down why relationships, appearance, marriage, motherhood, and opportunity all operate within real social “marketplaces.” From Michelle Obama’s recent comments on appearance as currency to the controversy around advising women to prioritize partnership earlier, Eboni challenges listeners to think less about what feels fair and more about what creates leverage, choice, and long-term positioning.

RESOURCES: 

Eboni Williams
Website: .ebonikwilliams.com
IG: instagram.com/ebonikwilliams/ 

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, attorney, TV host, author, and Judge Eboni star Eboni K. Williams joins the group chat for an unfiltered conversation on dating standards, the infamous “bus driver” controversy, single motherhood by choice, and why she refuses to apologize for being clear about what she wants.
From her time on Real Housewives of New York to navigating public backlash, Eboni opens up about what it means to be a Black woman who is outspoken, ambitious, and completely unafraid of being misunderstood. She breaks down her views on relationships as a marketplace, why women should be honest about their standards, and the decision to become a mother on her own terms.
The conversation also dives into career ambition, partnership, political compatibility in dating, and why so many women feel judged for making unconventional life choices.

KEYPOINTS:

0:00 Introduction
 Real Housewives, Race, and Being the First Black Cast Member
The “Bus Driver” Controversy Explained
Eboni’s Dating Advice for Ambitious Women
Why She Chose Single Motherhood
The Backlash to Becoming a Solo Mom by Choice
Control, Independence, and Executive Decision-Making
Hot Takes on Dating, Money, and Relationships
Political Compatibility in Relationships
Can Women Really Have It All?

QUOTES:

“I'm a woman who's always operating on an agenda without apology.” – Eboni Williams 

“I love the executive decision-making I get as a solo parent.” – Eboni Williams 

“If I feel like I need to check your phone, the relationship is over.” – Eboni Williams 

“My right to exist freely and humanely as a black person in America is not a political issue.” – Eboni Williams 

“I don't know that we can have them all at the same time.” – Eboni Williams 

RESOURCES: 

Eboni Williams
Website: .ebonikwilliams.com
IG: .instagram.com/ebonikwilliams/ 

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

What does it really take to build a successful fashion brand?
In this segment, fashion designer Sergio Hudson breaks down the reality of the fashion industry, from scaling a small brand to navigating luxury retail stores like Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, and Neiman Marcus. He shares the hidden costs of production, the risks of wholesale, and why many fashion brands struggle to survive.
This conversation also highlights the pressure of building as a Black designer and the importance of purpose, representation, and resilience in a highly competitive industry.

RESOURCES: 

Sergio Hudson

Website: sergiohudson.com
IG: @sergiohudson

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

In this episode of AWF The Record, legendary fashion designer Sergio Hudson opens up about the journey from small-town South Carolina to dressing some of the most powerful women in the world, including Michelle Obama, Beyoncé, Kamala Harris, and Kendall Jenner.
Known for his razor-sharp tailoring, sculpted silhouettes, and unapologetic glamour, Sergio gets candid about the defining moment that changed everything: Michelle Obama’s viral inauguration look that crashed his website and launched his brand into another stratosphere. He shares the emotional reality of surviving the fashion industry as a Black designer, the business lessons that nearly broke him, and why staying true to his instincts became the key to building a global luxury brand.
The conversation dives deep into the hidden economics of fashion, the pressure of dressing celebrities, Met Gala chaos, and the challenges independent Black designers face behind the scenes. Sergio also reflects on Americana, legacy, and why he sees himself as part of a larger cultural lineage rooted in American history.
Sergio also gives unfiltered takes on quiet luxury, fast fashion, tailoring, baby hairs, super long wigs, Met Gala prep, and the fashion trends that seriously need to end. Tune in as this episode is a masterclass in vision, resilience, branding, and what it really takes to build an iconic fashion house.

KEYPOINTS:
0:00 Introduction
3:14 How his mother became the blueprint for the Sergio Hudson woman
5:16 Defining the “Sergio Hudson woman” and dressing powerful women
6:42 Moving to LA, celebrity styling, and building the brand
11:57 Why real garment construction is becoming a lost art in fashion
13:10 The expensive business lessons that nearly cost him everything
15:11 Sergio reacts to Hanifa pausing operations and the realities Black designers face
20:58 The Michelle Obama inauguration moment that changed his life overnight
33:26 Dressing 18 people for the Met Gala and the chaos behind the scenes
43:11 Sergio’s hot takes: quiet luxury, tailoring, fast fashion, baby hairs, and long wigs

QUOTES:

“You can tell when a designer knows how to make clothes and when they just know how to design clothes.” – Sergio Hudson

“You’re like the personification of your ancestors’ wildest dreams.” – Jeannette Reyes

“The art of being a clothing designer is almost dying.” – Sergio Hudson

“A well-fitted outfit always beats an expensive one.” – Sergio Hudson

“When the rubber hit the road, the designers of color were the first ones to be dropped.” – Sergio Hudson

RESOURCES: 

Sergio Hudson

Website: sergiohudson.com
IG: @sergiohudson

Keep in touch with
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