The Messy Parts

The Best of The Messy Parts: Humor, Resilience & Rewriting the Rules

This week, we are looking back at some of the most powerful, hilarious, and vulnerable moments from The Messy Parts. We created this episode with Hark Audio, gathering the standout clips that define what this show is all about: embracing the chaos and finding strength in the struggle.Whether you are new to the podcast or a day-one listener, this compilation features the wisdom you need right now. We revisit these conversations and more:Negin Farsad on finding the humor in social justice and the "messy" side of comedy.Fede Garcia on navigating communication and the power of perspective.Vanessa Barboni Hallik on the complexities of sustainable fashion and ethical leadership.Cindi Leive on redefining power structures and her journey through the media landscape.Ana Gasteyer on how you make your aspirations your identityTune in for a dose of inspiration, laughter, and real talk.Links: Check out Hark Audio: https://harkaudio.com/ Send us a textEmail us: hello@themessypartspodcast.com To stay up to date with The Messy Parts and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and review on Apple or Spotify or where ever you get your podcasts.Thank you for listening.

Katie Sturino on Building Megababe, Owning the Mess, and Dreaming Big (Re-Release)

We're going back to our first episode: Katie Sturino is no stranger to reinvention—from fashion PR hustler to viral dog-momager to founder of Megababe and author of the new romcom Sunny Side Up. In the premiere episode of The Messy Parts, she joins Maryam to talk about building a self-funded brand, the real struggles behind the Instagram gloss, and how letting the "messy parts hang out" can be your superpower. They talk all things Ozempic, Oprah, body image, revenge-fueled motivation, and working with family. Katie also opens up about her purpose: helping women stop feeling bad alone—and start feeling powerful together.Show Notes: Guest: Katie Sturino – Entrepreneur, Author, Founder of MegababeFollow Katie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katiesturino/?hl=enFollow Katie on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@katiesturinoTopics Covered:Why revenge is her greatest motivator: "Success is the ultimate revenge"Moving to NYC and relentlessly pursuing her dream job at ChanelMaking her dog Toast Instagram-famous and recognizing unexpected opportunitiesStarting 12ish Style blog after discovering the power of body representationCreating Megababe: solving problems no one talks about (thigh chafe, boob sweat)Working with family: benefits and challenges of business partnershipsWriting "Sunny Side Up": transforming pain into a romcom after 9 yearsMeeting Oprah and sparking a national conversation about weight stigmaThe messy reality of entrepreneurship that podcasts don't shareDreaming big without limits and trusting your gutMentioned:ChanelDolce & GabbanaMegababe ProductsToast (her famous dog): DogMeetsWorld12ish Style blog"Sunny Side Up" (her novel)Today ShowOprah Special: Shame, Blame and the Weight Loss RevolutionTargetWeight WatchersOzempicIna Garten’s book, Be Ready When Luck HappensThe Longest TableSend us a textEmail us: hello@themessypartspodcast.com To stay up to date with The Messy Parts and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and review on Apple or Spotify or where ever you get your podcasts.Thank you for listening.

Ana Gasteyer Gets Real About Wicked, SNL, and the Hustle of Showbiz (Re-Release)

What does it really take to build a career across Saturday Night Live, Broadway’s Wicked, network TV, and music? In this re-release of one of our favorite episodes of The Messy Parts, Ana Gasteyer joins Maryam Banikarim to reveal the messy, unglamorous parts of showbusiness — like rejection, insecurity, and feeling like an outsider. Ana turned those realities into fuel for her creativity, and tells Maryam about the power of radical preparedness in auditions, why naming her goals out loud shifted everything, and how Martin Short's life-balancing method helps her navigate the chaos of life. Whether you’re an actor, artist, writer, or anyone chasing a creative dream, Ana’s insights on resilience and reinvention will resonate deeply. A warm, hilarious, and refreshingly honest conversation about ambition, belonging, and showing up for the life you want.Send us a textEmail us: hello@themessypartspodcast.com To stay up to date with The Messy Parts and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and review on Apple or Spotify or where ever you get your podcasts.Thank you for listening.

Rafat Ali Plays the Long Game: This Internet Pioneer Says You Should Stop Rushing Your Career

Is your path too messy for success? In this episode of The Messy Parts, Maryam talks to Rafat Ali, founder of Skift and one of the most quietly influential figures in digital media. This feels like a personal conversation, Rafat opens up about the parts of his journey most people never hear: stuttering as a teenager, feeling like an outsider in America, breaking down during intense life changes, and rebuilding through resilience. Maryam guides Rafat through the unexpected threads that connect his life — curiosity, delayed gratification, instinct, and the belief that nonlinear careers often lead to the most meaningful destinations. From surviving the collapse of his industry to navigating the COVID shutdown and a banking crisis, Rafat offers real insight for anyone struggling with uncertainty.Show Notes: ✍️ Stammering to Storytelling: How Writing Became His Superpower The childhood stutter, expanding vocabulary, and discovering writing as expression.🌍 From India to Indiana: Culture Shock, Baywatch & Belonging Rafat’s honest story of early loneliness, identity, and adjusting to America as a Muslim kid.🎙️ Why Push Through? Rafat on Life Phases & the “Two-Year Rule” How he decides when to persist vs. pivot — a core framework for careers and reinvention.💼 B2B Influence > Fame: Choosing a Niche and Owning a Sector Why Rafat sought influence over money—and how niching down fueled his career strategy.🧭 Contrarian Thinking & Global Lens: Seeing What Others Miss How being an outsider shaped his instincts, travel philosophy, and entrepreneurship.🔁 Career Compounding: Staying Put to Accelerate Growth His philosophy on long careers, loyal teams, and why job-hopping kills momentum.🌐 Influence Over Money: Why Rafat Chose Impact, Not IncomeRafat reveals the driving force behind his entire career: the pursuit of influence—not wealth👨‍👩‍👧 Family, Legacy & Belonging: The Emotional Skift India Forum The powerful story of bringing his mother to his Delhi conference and finally being “seen.”💥 When Everything Breaks: COVID, SVB Collapse & Leading Through PanicInside the near-death business moments—money running out, tears, resilience, and action. 🧠 Mental Health, Compartmentalizing & the Breakdown That Changed Him Rafat opens up about his recent mental health crisis, adopting a baby, and learning limits.Send us a textEmail us: hello@themessypartspodcast.com To stay up to date with The Messy Parts and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and review on Apple or Spotify or where ever you get your podcasts.Thank you for listening.

Celebrity Wedding Planner Marcy Blum Turned Fun Into a Million-Dollar Business

How do you turn fun into a career? In this honest, funny, and inspiring episode of The Messy Parts, celebrity event planner Marcy Blum tells Maryam how she went from living on a failed commune in Vermont to organizing lavish celebrations for LeBron James, Kevin Bacon, and countless billionaires, and why “fun” is her most powerful business strategy. Along the way, Marcy opens up about sexism in the culinary world, building her brand without a blueprint, and finding purpose after burnout. It’s a story of creativity, survival, and joy — the messy kind that makes a life worth celebrating.Key Moments🎭 From Bronx Kid to Performing Arts DreamerHow a bold teenager chased art, broke expectations, and followed her creative instincts.🏡 The Commune Years: Learning the Hard Way About Belonging & FailureThe Vermont commune experiment — and the messy lessons it left behind.🍳 From “Let’s Make a Deal” to Le Cordon BleuHow depression, a mother’s push, and Paris changed everything.👩‍🍳 Breaking Barriers in a Male-Dominated KitchenBeing one of the first women at the CIA — and facing sexism head-on. 🍽️ From Miserable Chef to Accidental EntrepreneurThe bizarre lunch that led to her first big break — thanks to Ed Koch.💡 Reinvention & Risk: How Marcy Accidentally Invented Wedding PlanningThe Tony Robbins insight that pushed her to quit misery and start her business.💰 The Pricing Wake-Up Call: Why It Took 25 Years to Stop Undervaluing HerselfMarcy’s candid money talk: from flat fees to millionaire weddings — and learning her worth.🥂 The Queen of Fun: Turning Every Party Into Living TheaterHow she brings joy, surprise, and connection into every event — even for billionaires.– 💬 Real Talk: Boundaries, Asking for Help & The Power of the Specific AskWhy vague “pick your brain” requests don’t work — and how to ask for help with confidence.Send us a textEmail us: hello@themessypartspodcast.com To stay up to date with The Messy Parts and get all the behind-the-scenes content, follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating and review on Apple or Spotify or where ever you get your podcasts.Thank you for listening.