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Send us Fan Mail Join The Press Club by AWF The Record for exclusive conversations, guided challenges, and a community of women building careers, businesses, and lives on their own terms: https://www.patreon.com/cw/AWFTheRecord  In this episode of AWF The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi sit down with Ludmila Woodruff, strategic relationship advisor to high-achieving individuals and couples, for an unfiltered conversation about why successful women sometimes struggle with love, intimacy, and letting go of control. From inherited anger and childhood patterns to emotional vulnerability, relationship standards, and the pressure to always be strong, Ludmila challenges women to examine the behaviors that may be keeping them disconnected.  The three unpack how to stop bringing work-mode into your marriage, communicate your needs without criticism, and build relationships where success and softness can coexist because having it all shouldn't mean feeling alone in it. KEY POINTS 00:00 – Introduction: Why high-achieving women can have everything on paper but still feel disconnected in love and life. 03:12 – How independence, control, and career-driven behaviors can complicate dating, marriage, and intimacy. 10:58 – Why the need for control often comes from childhood experiences, fear, and the search for emotional safety. 15:24 – How successful women can transition out of work mode and reconnect with themselves and their partners. 22:35 – Why men and women are struggling to meet each other's changing emotional expectations in modern relationships. 28:45 – The vulnerability problem: Why powerful women express anger instead of admitting they're hurt. 30:22 – Inherited rage: How generational experiences and childhood conditioning shape conflict in relationships. 38:40 – The Slavic woman mindset: Setting standards, knowing your worth, and refusing to compromise your non-negotiables. 47:54 – How to break unhealthy relationship patterns, communicate better, manage conflict, and recognize warning signs in marriage. QUOTES  "If you look at performance, it will never be enough for you to feel worthy." – Ludmila Woodruff "Even when you were given the example of when someone doesn't meet my expectation, or I feel like there's a gap in what I thought you were going to do and what you did, and the disappointment, the only response I know is anger."  – Mona Kosar Abdi "I have to respect myself enough to know that if my standard is being tested, I'd rather choose the standard than the men." – Ludmila Woodruff GUEST RESOURCES:  Ludmila Woodruff Website | www.ludmilawoodruff.com IG | @ludmilawoodruff 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

Send us Fan Mail What separates reality TV stars who build lasting businesses from those whose fame fades? In this segment of Awf The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi sit down with Dr. Terry Dubrow to discuss the opportunities and risks of joining The Real Housewives. From Lisa Vanderpump's success to how his reality TV exposure helped lead to Botched, Terry shares why authenticity matters more than chasing a quick payday. His biggest advice? Don't launch a business just because you have an audience. Build on what you already know, let opportunities develop naturally, and make sure what you're selling is real. GUEST RESOURCES:  Dr. Terry Dubrow IG | @drdubrow 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

Send us Fan Mail Join The Press Club by AWF The Record for exclusive conversations, guided challenges, and a community of women building careers, businesses, and lives on their own terms: https://www.patreon.com/cw/AWFTheRecord  In this episode of AWF The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi sit down with world-renowned plastic surgeon and Botched star Dr. Terry Dubrow for an unfiltered conversation about the truth behind plastic surgery, beauty standards, and reality TV. From the deadly risks of Brazilian Butt Lifts (BBLs) to cosmetic procedures he considers a waste of money, Dr. Dubrow reveals what patients should know before going under the knife. He also reflects on the controversy surrounding The Swan, the dangers of chasing ever-changing beauty trends, and why even the best plastic surgery can go wrong. Plus, he opens up about pretty privilege, the pressures women face to be beautiful and successful, and how The Real Housewives transformed his career. KEY POINTS 00:00 - Introduction: World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon Dr. Terry Dubrow  02:05 – How Botched and reality TV changed the stigma around plastic surgery. 05:30 – The controversy behind The Swan and why Dr. Dubrow wouldn't do the show today. 15:32 – How beauty standards and looksmaxxing culture push people to dangerous extremes. 18:50 – Cosmetic procedures that waste money, from thread lifts to overhyped skin treatments. 22:08 – What actually works for under-eye hollows, smile lines, and facial aging. 24:44 – Why Dr. Dubrow refuses to perform BBLs and the potentially fatal complications. 29:44 – The long-term consequences of chasing plastic surgery trends. 35:33 – Pretty privilege, beauty standards, and why attractive women struggle to be taken seriously. 41:02 – How reality TV transformed Dr. Dubrow's career and the secrets to building an authentic brand. QUOTES  "If you send a message out that it's really your life is really only as valuable as your looks are, as good as your looks are. That is the worst message for a male, and I can't stand that." – Dr. Terry Dubrow “I think that's the challenge women face that it's very hard for people to accept two things that you can be beautiful and qualified." – Jeannette Reyes “A BBL, a Brazilian buttock lift. That, I won't do it because no operation is worth that fatality rate." – Dr. Terry Dubrow GUEST RESOURCES:  Dr. Terry Dubrow IG | @drdubrow 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

Send us Fan Mail What if you're leaving thousands of dollars on the table every time you sign a brand deal? In this segment of AWF The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi sit down with Hollywood talent manager Stephanie Piza to uncover the truth behind influencer pay and brand negotiations. From a shocking $80,000 pay gap between creators doing the same work to the contract clauses that could cost you control of your content, Stephanie breaks down how to negotiate smarter, recognize your value, and find representation that actually fights for you. GUEST RESOURCES:  Stephanie Piza  IG | @stephanie_piza 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

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Awf The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi welcome Stephanie Piza, Hollywood talent manager and founder of Piza Global, to break down the new rules of the $21 billion creator economy. From building a personal brand that attracts opportunities to turning influence into a profitable business, Stephanie shares what it really takes to stand out in an oversaturated market. They unpack the realities of influencer pay, why creators of color still face unequal opportunities, how to negotiate brand deals, and the role AI will play in the future of content creation. Whether you're an aspiring creator, entrepreneur, or professional looking to build your influence, this conversation is about knowing your value, betting on yourself, and building something that lasts. Join The Press Club by AWF The Record for exclusive conversations, guided challenges, and a community of women building careers, businesses, and lives on their own terms:  patreon.com/c/AWFTheRecord  KEY POINTS 00:00 – Introduction: The rise of the creator economy and why personal branding matters 06:24 – How to stand out, grow an audience, and turn influence into income 09:30 – Turning down $10 million and building businesses beyond brand deals 13:31 – The inequality creators of color face in brand partnerships 20:47 – How to attract brand deals and build authentic partnerships 24:08 – Building a personal brand as a creator, entrepreneur, or professional 29:34 – Negotiating higher rates, protecting your content, and avoiding costly contracts 35:27 – The $15K vs. $95K pay gap and why the right representation matters 40:54 – The future of influencing, AI, and staying ahead of the industry QUOTES  “I have always just bet on myself. I'm first gen; I'm going to make it work.” – Stephanie Piza  “There comes a point in a creator's career where they realize they're providing more value than a one quick off brand deal.” – Mona Kosar Abdi “I don't think it's too late. I think that you have to make yourself an anomaly, because again, there's so much talent out there.” – Stephanie Piza  GUEST RESOURCES:  Stephanie Piza  IG | @stephanie_piza 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

Send us Fan Mail How do you stop the internet from affecting your relationship? In this segment of Awf The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi talk with Kier Gaines about how social media can quietly shape the way we see love. Kier breaks down the difference between healthy comparison and harmful comparison, why online couples should not become the standard, and how repeated messages about relationships can turn into beliefs before we even realize it. His reminder: your relationship does not have to match the internet. The real question is what you actually want, and whether you can hear it past the noise. GUEST RESOURCES:  Kier Gaines  IG | @kiergaines It All Starts When You Do: A Therapist's Guide to Overcoming Self-Sabotaging and Work Towards Healing  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

Send us Fan Mail Join The Press Club by AWF The Record for exclusive conversations, guided challenges, and a community of women building careers, businesses, and lives on their own terms: https://www.patreon.com/c/AWFTheRecord In this episode of Awf The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi sit down with therapist and instant New York Times bestselling author Kier Gaines for a raw, honest conversation about vulnerability, masculinity, relationships, and the ways social media is quietly reshaping how we love.  Kier breaks down why men, especially Black men, often struggle to open up, why women are exhausted by the emotional load, and how online comparison, gender scripts, and fear of being played can make connection feel harder than it needs to be. From contempt and tone to emotional maturity, self-healing, and what it really means to do the work, this conversation is a needed reset for anyone trying to build healthier relationships without losing themselves in the noise. KEY POINTS 00:00 - Introduction: Social media is reshaping love, vulnerability, and conflict 01:35 - Kier reflects on becoming an instant New York Times bestselling author 03:19 - Kier explains why his work blends clinical expertise with real humanity 05:42 - The pressure on Black men to be impenetrable, useful, and unaffected 12:02 - Men are not women’s job to fix, but relationships need more emotional presence 16:09 - Therapy language and how it can also shrink emotional tolerance 17:58 - Social media comparison can quietly damage relationships 24:22 - Kier unpacks women’s emotional load, tone, contempt, and the work of repair 37:25 - What to look for in dating: accountability, listening, kindness, & emotional maturity 42:20 - Vulnerability requires mutual trust, safety, and time QUOTES  “We can't run from the fact that men don't feel like we have intrinsic value.” – Kier Gaines “Shame, blame, and guilt-they steal all of your awareness.” – Kier Gaines “The thing about contempt is it's not just the feeling; it's the narrative attached to it.” – Kier Gaines GUEST RESOURCES:  Kier Gaines  IG | @kiergaines It All Starts When You Do: A Therapist's Guide to Overcoming Self-Sabotaging and Work Towards Healing  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

Send us Fan Mail Tennesha Wood takes Mona and Jeannette inside her matchmaking process, from two-hour interviews and home tours to reference checks and conversations about money, family, therapy, sex and past relationships. She also explains why someone who is overly focused on looks can be a dating red flag, why chemistry can grow over time, and why she refuses to create relationships built solely around beauty and money. Then, Tennesha breaks down why matchmaking packages can cost a lot of money, what clients are actually paying for, and why she created a matchmaking service specifically designed to help Black professionals find one another. GUEST RESOURCES:  Tennesha Wood  Website | www.thebroomlist.com  IG | @tenneshawood 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

Send us Fan Mail What happens when you’ve built the career, earned the degree, bought the house, and still haven’t found the relationship you want? Professional matchmaker Tennesha Wood joins Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi for a reality check on the modern dating market, especially for high-achieving Black women. Tennesha breaks down what men and women are actually asking for, why accomplishments don’t automatically translate to compatibility, and how rigid standards around income, height, looks, and “type” may be shrinking the dating pool. They also get into the strategy behind Tennesha’s matchmaking process, why attraction can grow, the importance of self-awareness and accountability, how to communicate in high-achieving relationships, when dating should become intentional, and why finding love may require the same level of planning you’ve given every other major goal in your life. KEY POINTS 00:00 – Introduction 01:47 – A reality check on what’s actually happening in today’s dating market 03:34 – Why dating can be harder for high-achieving Black women and where to meet compatible partners 04:51 – What successful men and women are actually looking for in relationships 09:01 – How unrealistic checklists and the search for perfection can keep people single 12:22 – Why focusing too heavily on looks can be a dating red flag 20:00 – Why your usual “type” may not actually be your best match 22:17 – The role of accountability and self-awareness in being ready for a relationship 24:00 – Why height, income, and other preferences may unnecessarily shrink your dating pool 32:31 – How career success can become your identity and affect the way you date 49:03 – Why finding love may require the same intentional strategy you use for your career and other life goals QUOTES  “You're not going to get everything on your list.” – Tennesha Wood “Who your type should be is who your values align with.” – Tennesha Wood “If you're not at a place where you understand what you did wrong in your last relationship or how you could have changed or improved it within yourself, then that's not going to bode well for the next relationship either.”  – Tennesha Wood GUEST RESOURCES:  Tennesha Wood  Website | www.thebroomlist.com  IG | @tenneshawood 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

Send us Fan Mail What do you do when you become your family’s financial safety net? In this segment of Awf The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi talk with Vivian Tu about the pressure of being the person everyone turns to when money gets tight, especially in immigrant families and communities of color. Vivian explains why constantly giving from your own savings can keep you from building the future that would allow you to help more meaningfully later. She breaks down the difference between giving a gift and creating a loan that turns into a family fight, why a “gift fund” can help create boundaries, and how to decide whether a request is an emergency or an expectation. Honest, practical, and deeply relatable, this conversation is about learning how to say no without abandoning the people you love. GUEST RESOURCES:  Vivian Tu Website | https://www.yourrichbff.com/  IG | https://www.instagram.com/your.richbff/  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

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Awf The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi welcome  Vivian Tu, aka CEO and Founder of Your Rich BFF and Ask Dolly, for a no-fluff conversation about why so many people still feel broke even when they are making good money. Vivian breaks down the money blueprint most of us inherited, why working hard is no longer enough, and how asset ownership, investing, budgeting, and career strategy can help people build real financial security. From fake wealth on social media to salary negotiation, dating with financial clarity, family money boundaries, trad wife culture, credit scores, debt, and the cost of adulthood, Vivian brings the group chat version of financial advice: honest, sharp, funny, and deeply practical. This conversation is for anyone trying to stop chasing a lifestyle that does not actually exist and start building a life that can hold them. KEY POINTS 00:00 - Introduction: Vivian Tu breaks down the new rules of money 01:15 - The old money blueprint no longer works 03:30 - Social media is making fake wealth look normal 08:18 - Budgeting starts with knowing what you can actually afford 10:00 - Career security means being loyal to yourself first 11:38 - The “up and out” rule has changed in this job market 14:41 - Raises require receipts, confidence, and self-advocacy 17:56 - Major life milestones now require tradeoffs and timelines 24:19 - Family planning and benefits are part of the money conversation 27:04 - Money in relationships requires honesty, equity, and autonomy 39:13 - Rich people spend based on value, not performance 41:30 - Debt, credit scores, and family money need better boundaries QUOTES  “Let me be entirely clear. Those people are broke. The vast majority of the showy, loud, portrayed wealth that you're seeing on social media is fake.” – Vivian Tu  “It's not how good you are with money; it's how good you are at playing this game.” – Vivian Tu  “Debt has been made into like this swear word when real rich people know that debt is leverage.” – Vivian Tu  GUEST RESOURCES:  Vivian Tu Website | https://www.yourrichbff.com/  IG | https://www.instagram.com/your.richbff/  App link | http://askdolly.com/Awf 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

Send us Fan Mail How do you date again after someone used vulnerability as a strategy? In this segment of Awf The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi talk with Reesa Teesa about trust, dating, and the psychological aftermath of being deceived by someone who seemed to say all the right things. Reesa reflects on how her ex “beat her to the story,” sharing false details about past relationships, therapy, and heartbreak before she could even ask the questions that might have protected her. She also opens up about why her circle is smaller now, why dating still scares her, and why she believes background checks should be part of modern dating. Honest, sharp, and deeply relatable, this conversation is about what happens when someone learns your wounds, flips the truth, and makes you question how easily trust can be weaponized. GUEST RESOURCES:  Reesa Teesa IG | @reesateesa Amazon book | What (TF) Do I Do Now?: Reclaiming Myself, One Piece at a Time  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

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Awf The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi sit down with Reesa Teesa to talk about life after the viral Who TF Did I Marry? series, the red flags she missed, the shame that kept her silent, and the healing she is still walking through in real time. Reesa opens up about dating from potential instead of reality, realizing she had married a pathological liar, and why the fear of admitting “I’m getting played” felt scarier than the truth itself. From background checks and desperation dating to miscarriage, loneliness, faith, book deals, TV development, and learning how to edit the dream without giving up on it, this conversation goes far beyond the viral story. It is honest, funny, painful, and deeply human, reminding women that being single is never worse than being married to the wrong person. KEY POINTS 00:00 - Introduction: Reesa Teesa’s story became a viral cultural moment 02:15 - Reesa reflects on life after going viral 03:50 - Reesa summarizes the story behind Who TF Did I Marry? 05:26 - Reesa explains why accountability shaped the story’s reception 09:27 - Reesa pushes back on the “it could never be me” mindset 12:30 - Reesa explains how dating potential made her vulnerable 15:14 - Reesa admits that facing the lie meant facing her own fear 18:16 - Reesa breaks down how a pathological liar builds a false foundation 22:39 - Reesa explains how money became part of the manipulation 24:46 - Reesa explains how he “beat her to the story” and damaged her trust 28:46 - Reesa opens up about the book, healing, and loneliness 40:19 - Reesa talks about the TV series, business, shame, and life after virality QUOTES  “I tend to date off of potential and not reality.” – Reesa Teesa “There’s a difference between being alone and lonely.” – Jeannette Reyes “Being single is nowhere near as bad as being married to the wrong person.”  – Reesa Teesa GUEST RESOURCES:  Reesa Teesa IG | @reesateesa Amazon book | What (TF) Do I Do Now?: Reclaiming Myself, One Piece at a Time  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

Send us Fan Mail What did we really lose when The Wendy Williams Show ended? In this segment of Awf The Record, Jeannette Reyes and Mona Kosar Abdi sit down with former Wendy Williams producer Norman Baker to reflect on the cultural force Wendy created, the final season that left the team in limbo, and why no one has been able to fill the space she left behind. Norman opens up about Wendy’s brilliance, her fearlessness, and the rare freedom of working on a show where a Black woman could speak her mind every single day on daytime television. He also shares why he has been cautious about participating in documentaries about Wendy, what it felt like to learn major updates through the media, and how the transition into Sherri challenged him to adapt his voice, sharpen his comedy, and keep the spirit of hot topics alive in a new way. 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

Send us Fan Mail 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