In this episode, I talk about what it’s really been like trying to get pregnant after spending my entire twenties doing everything in my power not to. I share how I went from never tracking my period to obsessing over ovulation sticks and smiley faces, and how coming off Zoloft for the first time in years forced me to actually face my hormones head-on. I get into my PMDD, the endless trial-and-error of antidepressants, the small lifestyle changes that finally helped me feel stable again, and the deeply unsexy logistics of “timed sex.” Mostly, I wanted to be honest about how no one prepares you for how hard this process can be—or how much it messes with your sense of control. It’s equal parts confessional, fertility crash course, and reminder that wanting a baby doesn’t automatically make it easy to have one.
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25:02
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25:02
Stop Needing A Witness For Your LIfe
Somewhere along the way, we started believing that if no one saw it, it didn’t happen — that joy requires an audience and meaning needs proof. In this episode, I talk about the psychological cost of living life through a camera roll: how documenting our memories actually weakens them, how performance has replaced presence, and why so many of our “best days” — including my wedding — end up feeling hollow when we live them for others.
From weddings to friendships to social media validation, this is about reclaiming your life from the witnesses. Because the moment doesn’t become real when you post it — it becomes real when you let it belong only to you.
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24:28
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24:28
Everybody Wants A Piece of You
I’ve ghosted more people this year than any other year of my life — and I don’t feel bad about it. The truth is, when you start building something of your own, people come crawling out of the woodwork. Old acquaintances suddenly want to “catch up,” but what they really want is a favor, a contact, a shortcut. For a long time, I said yes to everyone because I thought it made me kind. I thought giving without limits was the price of being a good person. But generosity without discernment isn’t kindness — it’s self-abandonment. In this episode, I talk about the difference between being needed and being wanted, and why it’s okay if people think you’re a “shitty person” for having boundaries. Because sometimes protecting your peace means disappointing everyone who only showed up to take a piece of you.
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25:24
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25:24
The Art of Dining Alone (and Redefining Community)
This week I’m talking about the art of dining alone, and why sometimes community is just you, your fork, and the courage to sit there unapologetically. Spoiler: I went out for sushi by myself, got seated in the middle of strangers’ dates, and somehow ended up in an accidental fake date with a man named Brad. We’ll also get into why friendships fade, why I don’t want a “big circle,” and why a Friday night on the couch with Dave, Sawyer, and Dateline might be the ultimate dinner party.
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22:42
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22:42
Everybody's Dying - Here's How It Taught Me To Live
It’s been a couple months since I dropped into your ears, and I wanted to be honest about where I’ve been. I hit pause on podcasting to rethink my career, launch my Substack (maybe both), and figure out if this mic was really the best place for me to share. In that break, I realized two things: one, I hate editing video clips more than anything in the world, and two, I still love the freedom of just talking to you like this.
So, I’m back for an eight-episode run—no promises beyond that, but I’ll be upfront with you when we get to the end. Today’s episode is about death and how losing people too soon has reshaped the way I live. I talk about stripping away the performance in friendships, birthdays, even social media, and focusing on the quiet, un-Instagrammable parts of life that actually make it worth living.
If you’ve ever felt caught in the grind of “what’s next,” this one’s for you.
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Welcome to Brutally Anna — the podcast where we stop pretending we’re fine and start telling the f*cking truth.
I’m Anna, a writer, accidental influencer, and self-appointed spokesperson for the women who feel too much, think too hard, and talk to themselves in the shower. This isn’t a self-help podcast. It’s a self-honesty one.
Each week, I dive into the mess of being a human — the shame, the silence, the spirals — and say the things we’re all thinking but too afraid to post. From heartbreak to ambition, mental health to creative burnout, loneliness to the urge to completely disappear... nothing is off-limits. If it’s brutally honest, we go there.
No fake pep talks. No toxic positivity. Just the deeply uncomfortable, strangely funny, painfully freeing truth.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re too much or not enough — you’re in the right place. Pull up a chair. Let’s get brutal. New episodes on Wednesdays.
South Africa