Under the Influence with Jo Piazza

Sometimes the only thing that gets you through real life is diving headfirst into someone else’s dumpster fire. This week we’re talking about the celebrity memoirs that make you so happy you're not famous! From Ione Skye’s steamy Gen X nostalgia to Mariah Carey’s perfectly chaotic brilliance, we unpack the stories that stick with us, the confessions we wish more people would make, and why every woman needs at least one ride-or-die friend to stop her from marrying a man named Sticky Ricky. Joining us is celeb memoir guru Chelsea Devantez, author of her own memoir, I Shouldn't be Telling You This, and the creator of the wonderful podcast Glamorous Trash. Buy Chelsea's book I Shouldn't Be Telling You This here. Binge Glamorous Trash here. Join our newsletter community here. Pre-order EVERYONE IS LYING TO YOU here. Visit our lovely sponsors here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rain on your wedding day is supposed to mean good luck, but for Allison and John, it meant they were about to have the worst year of their lives. From John experiencing a life-changing set-back in his career, to Allison losing her beloved mother to a rare neurological disease, their time as newlyweds was anything but peaceful. But in the inaugural episode of the podcast, John and Allison dissect how this rough patch ultimately strengthened their commitment to an institution that many feel is no longer necessary. If you would like to submit a “Marriage Moment’ or suggest a future episode topic, email us at ⁠startermarriagepodcast@gmail.com⁠. Learn more about the possibilities of modern marriage with a copy of ⁠I DO (I THINK): Conversations About Modern Marriage⁠. Purchase Allison’s new romcom novel ⁠Save The Date.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this engaging discussion, Dr. Jonathan Zelken, a board-certified plastic surgeon, dives into the fascinating intersection of AI, social media, and beauty perceptions. They explore how filtered images skew our understanding of beauty and drive trends in plastic surgery. Dr. Zelken shares insights on why celebrities are opening up about their surgical enhancements, the psychology behind cosmetic fillers, and how social media is shaping new beauty standards. Expect revelations about what’s possible in surgery versus the fantasies created online.

What if the entire wellness internet—bee venom facials, jade eggs, raw dairy—could be traced back to one woman? Gwyneth Paltrow didn’t just win an Oscar and marry a rock star. She built Goop, turned luxury wellness into a global machine, and maybe even helped create the Maha influencer pipeline. Journalist Amy Odell, author of the brand-new biography Gwyneth, spent three years and 200 interviews uncovering Gwyneth’s meteoric rise, the media’s obsession with tearing her down, and how she rewrote the rules of modern fame. Order GWYNETH here. Follow Amy on Substack here. Join our newsletter community here. ORDER EVERYONE IS LYING TO YOU here. Visit our lovely sponsors here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

So many of us are wondering why our government is not working for us today. Why our representatives are so ineffectual - simple bills that would protect so many vulnerable children from lead exposure like The Lead Paint Right to Know Act get stuck in committee and never brought to the floor for a vote regardless of the fact that it passed the assembly with the largest margin yet: 106 to 40. You're about to listen to LEAD, an audio drama made by a mom who's son suffered from extensive lead poisoning and what's she doing to make sure it doesn't happen to more children. Listen to more episodes of LEAD here. Join our newsletter community here. ORDER EVERYONE IS LYING TO YOU here. Visit our lovely sponsors here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a candid conversation, Dr. Kim Einhorn, an OB-GYN and founder of The Menopause Collective, tackles the often-taboo topic of perimenopause. She reveals the reality behind symptoms like sleepless nights and shifting hormones. Dr. Einhorn emphasizes the need for better healthcare communication and empowers younger women with knowledge to navigate their own experiences. From hormone therapy options to the importance of sleep, she advocates for proactive health management and open dialogue about this natural life stage.

Today, we're diving into the untold history of four women who risked everything to fight fascism in WWII Italy. Author Suzanne Cope joins Jo to talk about her new book Women of War, which profiles badass resistance fighters who smuggled weapons, organized underground strikes, and wrote radical newspapers while the men were often hiding in the hills. These women didn't wait for permission to lead—they just did it. Jo and Suzanne explore what made them so effective, why history has buried their stories, and how their legacy might just be the blueprint we need right now. Order Women of War here. Join our newsletter community here. Pre-order EVERYONE IS LYING TO YOU here. Visit our lovely sponsors here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Unladylike is an absolute delight. Host Cristen Conger dissects the myths, messes, and media shaping modern womanhood—and un-womanhood. From bisexual imposter syndrome to tall girl therapy, gun culture to birth control backlash, she gets into it all—backed by deep research, sharp interviews, and just enough unseriousness to demystify the uncanny valley of 21st-century patriarchy without doomspiraling. I'm actually on this episode talking tradwives, but if you want to binge something else check out their whole feed here. Join our newsletter community here. Pre-order EVERYONE IS LYING TO YOU here. Visit our lovely sponsors here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There are very few influencers who can actually influence me these days, but Grace Atwood is one of them. And that's because I trust her. The business of influencing has changed a lot and Grace has been navigating those changes for 15 years. From Blogspot to Substack, affiliate links to brand deals, she’s built a full-fledged media brand by being transparent, trustworthy and having impeccable taste. In this episode, we talk about the evolution of content creation, the emotional labor of staying “authentic,” and why influencers are still underestimated, even as they’re driving millions in revenue. If you’ve ever wondered how the business really works, Grace is here to break it all down with a whole lot of candor. Read Grace's blog The Stripe here. Follow her on Substack here. Find her on Instagram here. Join our newsletter community here. Pre-order EVERYONE IS LYING TO YOU here. Visit our lovely sponsors here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While social media feeds overflow with‬‭ polished success stories, a new‬ ‭ podcast is asking: what if the biggest career breakthroughs come from the moments we’re least‬‭ likely to share? The Messy Parts cuts through the highlight reel to explore‬‭ the raw, unfiltered reality behind achievement.‬ Host Maryam Banikarim, a powerhouse executive with 20+ years in the C-Suite at Nextdoor,‬‭ Hyatt, NBC Universal, and Univision, created the show after growing tired of the facade. “I’ve‬ ‭been 'successful’ by most measures, and it’s messy as hell,” says Banikarim. “There are days‬ ‭even the people who 'have it all’ can barely get out of bed. We want listeners to know they’re not‬‭ losing their minds alone.” ‭The premiere episode features Katie Sturino, founder of Megababe, discussing building a‬ ‭self-funded brand, the real struggles behind Instagram gloss, and how “letting the messy parts‬ ‭hang out” became her superpower.‬ ‭  Listen to more episodes of The Messy Parts here. Buy Katie's book Sunny Side Up here. Join our newsletter community here. Pre-order EVERYONE IS LYING TO YOU here. Visit our lovely sponsors here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices