Awf The Record

What really happened behind the scenes during the final days of The Wendy Williams Show?
In this episode of Awf The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi sit down with former Wendy Williams producer Norman Baker for an inside look at one of daytime television’s most unforgettable cultural eras. Norman opens up about moving to New York with $100, getting his start as a receptionist, earning Wendy’s trust on and off camera, and watching the show become a place where pop culture, gossip, shade, and Black womanhood collided in real time.
Norman also reflects on the final seasons of the show, the limbo the staff experienced when Wendy was no longer able to return, and why he has chosen not to participate in certain documentaries about her. From protecting Wendy’s legacy to the shift from Wendy to Sherri, the art of shade, and the future of daytime TV, this conversation is a funny, honest, and surprisingly tender tribute to the show that changed how we talked about celebrity culture.

KEYPOINTS:
00:00 - Introduction
02:31 - Norman broke into TV with $100 and no industry connections
03:16 - Wendy turned Norman into an on-camera personality
04:20 - Norman explains the cultural void Wendy left behind
05:12 - Norman describes the final years as a “long, slow descent”
11:15 - Norman explains why he is cautious about the Wendy documentaries
18:12 - The Wendy team never got real closure
20:33 - Norman reflects on transitioning from Wendy to Sherri
47:24 - Norman shares how he wants Wendy to be remembered

QUOTES:
“In the end this shows that what fascinates people the most is other people doing the things that they swear they never do.” – Jeannette Reyes
“I feel like no one's been able to fill the void that she and, should I say, we created.” – Norman Baker
“I feel like that show got closure, quote unquote, but it still like it struck a chord with a lot of people.” – Mona Kosar Abdi
“We were in limbo. We're like, what are we gonna do? What is this show gonna be? Is she ever gonna come back?” – Norman Baker

GUEST RESOURCES: 
Norman Baker
IG | @thenormanbaker

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

This episode originally aired on 04/16/2026

What are celebrities actually getting done… and why does everyone suddenly look younger?
In this episode of Awf The Record, top Beverly Hills facial plastic surgeon Dr. Carl Truesdale pulls back the curtain on modern plastic surgery, from facelifts and fillers to the “undetectable” glow ups taking over Hollywood.
He breaks down the biggest misconceptions about plastic surgery, why natural results are now the gold standard, and how today’s techniques are creating transformations that look subtle, not obvious. From celebrity trends to the rise of men getting work done, Dr. Truesdale shares what people are really asking for behind closed doors.
The conversation also dives into the psychology behind plastic surgery, why some people should not get it, and how to know if you’re choosing the right surgeon. Plus, he reveals the red flags most people completely miss, the real cost of facial rejuvenation, and why bad work is often easier to spot than good work.
If you’ve ever wondered what actually works, what’s overhyped, and how to approach plastic surgery the right way, this episode is a must-listen.

KEY POINTS

- 0:00 Introduction 
- 1:57 The Biggest Myth About Plastic Surgery and Black Patients
- 5:43 What Actually Makes Someone Attractive
- 8:42 The Psychology Behind Plastic Surgery
- 10:35 Most Requested Procedures Right Now
- 12:20 Why Hollywood Results Look More Natural Today
- 14:05 Who Dr. Truesdale refuses to Operate On
- 16:43 Fillers vs Facelifts: What Actually Works
- 19:13 Black People and Plastic Surgery 
- 27:07 The Real Cost of Looking Younger
- 32:10 The Biggest Red Flags When Choosing a Surgeon
- 36:52 The Future of Plastic Surgery 
- 42:33 What Are The Men Getting In Plastic Surgery? 

QUOTES 
“What I do is candy. It's sugar. It will improve your quality of life, but you don't need to do it.” - Dr. Carl Truesdale

“The hardest part of what I do is literally fulfilling the happiness piece, not related to surgery. It's a mental, psychological thing.” - Dr. Carl Truesdale

“Perfect symmetry is not actually the goal. We want things to be more symmetric, but keeping a little bit of asymmetry is the thing that makes your face, your face.”  - Dr. Carl Truesdale

RESOURCES: 

Dr. Carl Truesdale 
Website | www.doctortruesdale.com
IG | Doctor.Truesdale 

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

Astrology may feel like a Gen Z obsession, but celebrity astrologer Aliza Kelly says the conversation has been happening for generations. In this segment of Awf The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi talk with Aliza about how astrology evolved from sun sign horoscopes and ’60s compatibility culture into today’s birth chart readings, apps, and celebrity astrology. Aliza shares how technology helped people go beyond “What’s your sign?”, how her own astrology dating app helped launch her career, and why 2016 marked a major cultural shift in how people turned to the stars for answers. She also breaks down what celebrity birth charts can reveal, why public personas do not always match private realities, and the most surprising chart she has seen: Rachel Dratch’s Pisces-heavy birth chart. It’s a fun, curious conversation about astrology, pop culture, identity, and why your sign might only be the beginning of the story.

GUEST RESOURCES: 

Aliza Kelly 
Website | www.alizakelly.com 
IG | @alizakelly 

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

What if astrology is less about predicting your future, and more about finally having language for who you are?
In this episode of Awf The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi sit down with celebrity astrologer Aliza Kelly for a funny, fascinating, and surprisingly personal crash course in astrology. Aliza breaks down what astrology is and what it is not, why your birth chart is more than just your zodiac sign, and how the sun, moon, and rising signs can help you better understand your energy, emotions, perspective, relationships, and the stories you tell about yourself.
From dating compatibility and Gemini slander to the rise of astrology on TikTok, Aliza explains why astrology should be used as a tool for curiosity, connection, and self-awareness, not fear or judgment. She also reads Mona and Jeannette’s birth charts in real time, revealing why their charts are almost shockingly compatible and why their friendship may be written in the stars. This episode is for the astrology curious, the astrology skeptical, and anyone who has ever wondered if their chart knows a little too much.

KEYPOINTS:

00:00 - Introduction
02:01 - Aliza Kelly explains how astrology became her life’s work
03:54 - Astrology is an art, not a science, and Aliza says that matters
07:02 - Astrology can coexist with faith because it is not a religion
08:23 - Astrology works as a social language for connection
09:14 - The birth chart is a snapshot of the sky when you were born
13:37 - Aliza traces how astrology became mainstream again
20:50 - Men dismissing astrology often reflects a deeper disrespect for women’s interests
24:41 - Compatibility is not as simple as “this sign works with that sign”
33:17 - Mona and Jeannette’s birth charts reveal major creative compatibility
41:21 - Astrology becomes toxic when it feeds anxiety instead of curiosity

QUOTES:

“What astrology does is help us tell better stories.” – Aliza Kelly

“Something that is an art doesn't need to be a science in order for it to be meaningful.” – Aliza Kelly

“Astrology is the language, but the lived experience is actually like, do these people get along, and if so, how do they get along.” – Aliza Kelly

“Life is about being able to form those connections.” – Aliza Kelly

GUEST RESOURCES: 

Aliza Kelly 
Website | www.alizakelly.com 
IG | @alizakelly 

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

What if the reason you feel drained in friendships is not that everyone else is taking, but because you learned to give in order to earn love? In this segment of Awf The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi sit down with friendship expert Danielle Bayard-Jackson to unpack overgiving, oversharing, one-sided friendships, and the patterns that can make women feel like they are always the one doing the work. Danielle explains why the “no one shows up for me” story deserves compassion, but also deserves curiosity, especially when it keeps showing up across multiple friendships. Danielle also breaks down how to ask yourself whether you might be the common denominator in repeated friendship breakups, why feedback feels so awkward in friendships, and how social media can validate every issue without actually helping you grow. It is a sharp, honest conversation about friendship patterns, self-awareness, emotional generosity, and learning how to give without using giving as a shortcut to closeness.

GUEST RESOURCES: 

Danielle Bayard-Jackson
Website | www.daniellebayardjackson.com
IG | @daniellebayardjackson

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