Not Alone

Overwhelmed by Wellness Trends? The Health Shift Women Need to Hear with Aggie Lal

This episode is brought to you by CLEARSTEM! If you’re looking for skincare that’s both anti-acne and anti-aging, CLEARSTEM has you covered. Their science-backed formulas help you achieve clear, glowing skin without pore-clogging ingredients. And we have a special deal for you—get 15% off your order when you visit https://www.clearstem.com/valeria and use the code VALERIA at checkout! In this week’s episode of Not Alone, Valeria sits down with wellness expert, author, and content creator Aggie Lal for a refreshingly honest conversation about the current state of modern health culture for women, and what it really means to feel well in today’s world. Aggie shares her personal journey from rigid routines, veganism, and biohacking for good labs to finding balance by reconnecting with her intuition, hormones, and overall purpose. Together, she and Valeria dive deep into the pressure to be “healthy” at the expense of joy, the shame around beauty choices like Botox, and why women are often left out of mainstream health narratives. Plus, a powerful discussion on how to separate your roles from your identity - so you can thrive, not just survive. Whether you’re burnt out by wellness trends or looking to redefine your relationship with health and womanhood, this episode is a must-listen. Follow Aggie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aggie Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/valerialipovetsky/  Shop my looks from this episode: intro/ads: https://shopmy.us/collections/1952399  aggie: https://shopmy.us/collections/1983674  What we talked about:  0:55 - Valeria’s Family trip to Spain 3:29 - Introducing Aggie Lal 5:40 - Aggie’s First Impressions of Valeria 7:13 - The World of Biohacking 9:35 - Being Vegan 10:30 - Body Trends 11:59 - Clearstem Ad 13:50 - Pillars of Biohacking  15:25 - What is Different for Females 18:00 - Aggie’s Favorite Health Rituals 19:08 - Hypnotheray  23:45 - 4 Pillars of Health 24:10 - The Importance of Purpose 27:20 - Valeria’s POV on Motherhood 29:55 - The Role of Mothers 31:57 - Best Methods of Recovery 38:04 - Ways to Connect with your Partner 40:32 - Pushing the Definition of Wellness 42:33 - Health Habits that Don’t Work 45:52 - Aggie’s Pregnancy 49:15 - Everything Women Must Juggle 51:30 - The Importance of Rest 53:50 - The Beauty of Feeling Free 56:25 - What’s Next for Aggie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Redefining Your Path: From Quitting a Dream Job to Egg Freezing with Danielle Robay

In this week’s episode of Not Alone, Valeria sits down with journalist, content creator, and “queen of questions” Danielle Robay for a thought-provoking conversation about identity, ambition, and the pressure to have it all figured out. Together, they unpack what it means to chase your dreams, navigate career pivots, and show up authentically - both professionally & personally. From quitting her “dream job” to manifesting a show at Hello Sunshine, Danielle opens up about what it took to get where she is today & her super power - asking good questions! She shares stories about her childhood dinner table, dating in the modern world, and freezing her eggs. Together, she and Valeria explore the fear of not living up to your potential, the vulnerability of putting yourself first, and the courage it takes to say ‘I don’t know.’  Danielle is the host and co-executive producer (alongside Reese Witherspoon) of ‘Bookmarked’ from Hello Sunshine, the podcast ‘Question Everything,’ and E!’s ‘While You Were Streaming.’  Follow Danielle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daniellerobay/  Follow Danielle on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@daniellerobay  Subscribe to Danielle’s podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/question-everything/id1550883345  Shop the QUESTION EVERYTHING Card Game: https://questioneverythingshop.com/collections/shop Shop my look from this episode: https://shopmy.us/collections/1972268https://shopmy.us/collections/1972338 Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/valerialipovetsky/  What we talked about:  0:40 Valeria’s Realization 2:35 Introducing Danielle Robay 5:43 Interview Begins 6:28 Why the Beginning of Podcasts are Awkward 7:00 Valeria’s Mom’s Resilience 8:01 How to Successfully Manifest 9:02 Danielle Manifesting a Job at E! & Hello Sunshine 11:30 How Valeria Manifested Her Career 17:45 Feeling Embarassed on the Internet 18:55 Living Up to Your Potential 22:56 Gary Predicting Their Career 25:07 The Power of Being Selfish  26:50 The Big Piece of Chicken 29:49 Danielle’s Career & the Power of Questions 35:40 The Importance of Being in the Room 37:55 Not Asking for Advice & Not Going to Therapy  40:00 Danielle’s Love Life & Going Deep 43:27 Courage is a Big Word 44:38 Danielle’s Egg Freezing Journey 47:55 Pros & Cons of Being a Young Mom  50:33 The Part of Feminism We’re Still Figuring Out 51:19 Do Married Couples Still Have Sex? 55:30 Why Gary Triggers Women 57:49 The Message vs The Delivery Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Starting Over at Any Age: What It Really Takes with Heidi Clements

In this week’s very special 100th episode of Not Alone, Valeria sits down for a powerful and deeply honest conversation with writer and creator, Heidi Clements. Known for her unfiltered storytelling and viral presence online, Heidi opens up about aging, sobriety, 25 years without sex, surviving trauma, and what it means to live life on her own terms. The two explore the emotional realities behind choosing a nontraditional path, including living single, redefining intimacy, and navigating the invisibility many women feel after 50. They discuss how society conditions women to seek validation, how the male gaze has shaped generations, and why self-approval is the ultimate freedom. With humor, heart, and vulnerability, this episode is a candid look at healing, wholeness, and the courage to tell your story out loud. Follow Heidi: https://www.instagram.com/welcometoheidi/  Shop my look from this episode: https://shopmy.us/collections/1909988  Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/valerialipovetsky/  What we talked about:  00:00 Not Alone’s 100th Episode! 00:14 The Humbling Journey of Podcasting 01:38 Overcoming Perfectionism and COVID Challenges 02:28 The Birth of 'Not Alone' 02:58 Finding My Groove in Podcasting 04:07 Introducing Heidi Clements 06:12 Heidi's Journey to Internet Fame 07:43 Navigating Social Media and Personal Growth 13:11 The Impact of Sobriety and Personal Trauma 16:06 Empowering Women and Challenging the Patriarchy 20:07 Generational Shifts and Future Hopes 36:00 Gen X and Menopause: A New Conversation 37:02 Cultural Silence and Women's Health 38:52 Living Shamelessly and Embracing Authenticity 41:57 Intimacy and Sobriety: A Personal Journey 45:43 Redefining Intimacy and Relationships 52:47 The Evolution of Self-Love and Acceptance 01:01:47 Visibility and Aging: Embracing Change 01:05:07 Final Thoughts and Reflections Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From Facebook Friends to Business Moguls: The Monday Swimwear Story

In this week’s episode, Valeria sits down with Natasha Oakley and Devin Brugman, best friends and co-founders of Monday Swimwear, for an honest and energizing conversation about building a business, growing through friendship, and redefining leadership. Natasha and Devin open up about the rare bond that has held them together for over a decade, one built on unwavering trust, shared values, and deep emotional loyalty. They reveal how they’ve come to trust each other even more than their romantic partners, and why that unshakable connection is the foundation for everything they’ve built. The trio also explores how they launched a globally recognized brand without formal fashion training, what it means to lead as women, manage teams with heart, and stay grounded while scaling a company. From navigating dating in your 30s and freezing eggs to staying obsessed with work and each other, this episode is a love letter to ambition, authenticity, and choosing the people who lift you higher. Follow Tash: https://www.instagram.com/tashoakley/  Follow Devin: https://www.instagram.com/devinbrugman/  Follow Monday Swimwear: https://www.instagram.com/mondayswimwear/   Shop Monday Swimwear: https://mondayswimwear.com/  Book Recommendations:  Excessively Obsessed by Tash Oakley https://a.co/d/aski91P  The Power of Now by Ekchart Tolle https://a.co/d/8DeuoAV  Sex at Dawn by Christopher Ryan https://a.co/d/2ZiptCN  Good Morning, Monster by Catherine Gildiner https://a.co/d/3ud8vUW  Attached by  Amir Levine and Rachel Heller https://a.co/d/ivLtVkS  Only Love Is Real: A Story of Soulmates Reunited by Dr. Brian Weiss https://a.co/d/4nVFYrT The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan https://a.co/d/4LEoWHX The Diary of a CEO by Steven Bartlett https://a.co/d/iS1jwER Shop my look from this episode: https://shopmy.us/collections/1898265  Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/valerialipovetsky/  What we talked about:  01:00: Swim Week in Miami04:00: How Tash and Devin first met 07:00: Building a business on friendship and trust 12:00: The secret to their communication style 14:00: Managing team dynamics with empathy 20:00: The Bikini A Day origin story 24:00: Designing swimwear that actually fits 31:00: Choosing partners 34:00: How Monday Swimwear became the standard 38:00: Dating in your 30s with clarity 41:00: Freezing eggs and taking the pressure off 47:00: Opening a store and staying playful 51:30: Wellness habits that keep them grounded 54:00: Advice for aspiring influencers 56:00: Running a brand that lasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I Hated the Baby Years & Other Truths No One Talks About

I’m back for another solo episode! In this one, I’m catching you up on everything: life lately, parenting epiphanies, personal shifts, and a few hot takes I had to get off my chest. From summer travel plans and raising pre-teens to why I’m not falling for every wellness trend online, this one's a mix of honest reflections and playful rants (yes, we’re talking about fantasy books, healing culture, and capri pants). I also open up about feeling disconnected from social media, the emotional weight of parenting older kids, and the importance of building real community. If you’re navigating your own in-between season or need some camaraderie in the messy, beautiful chaos of life, this one's for you. Shop my look from this episode: https://shopmy.us/collections/1825890  Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/valerialipovetsky/  What I talked about:  00:26 Life Updates 01:32 Puppy Adventures and Parenting Reflections 03:08 Navigating Parenting Challenges 13:30 Father's Day Reflections 15:47 Summer Plans and Travel Excitement 19:40 Social Media Presence and Personal Growth 21:45 Rediscovering Myself 22:03 Current Projects and Redirections 23:07 Book Recommendations and Reading Journey 24:39 Motherhood and Community 25:18 Propaganda I’m NOT Falling For  25:54 Supplements and Personalized Health 30:05 I read ACOTAR… 31:45 50/50 Relationships and Equity 32:55 Political Views and Social Media 34:20 Fashion and Overdressing 37:02 Healing and Self-Improvement 40:10 Contradictions and Personal Growth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices