podcasts – C-VILLE Weekly

It goes without saying that we had to edit this interview for length. That’s what usually happens when you get best friends together—let alone best friends who’ve known each other for 20 years and have recently launched a podcast. “Well, That Was Awkward,” from Bree Luck and Mendy St. Ours, promises to celebrate authenticity and vulnerability in the way only besties can.

“Society is full of people trying to appear cool and invulnerable,” says St. Ours. “We wanted to do something authentic, empathetic, and relatable, but also entertaining and funny.”

The episodes, 30 minutes (“-ish,” says Luck) each and released on Thursdays, are produced by Luck’s Awkward Sage Media, a company she founded in 2023 that focuses specifically on personal, professional, and spiritual development shows. “Well, That Was Awkward” fits right in, spotlighting real (and real awkward) crowdsourced stories from listeners, submitted on social media or via email.

“Ultimately, we hope to provide entertainment and a reminder that it’s okay to be imperfect,” says Luck.

How did you settle on “Well, That Was Awkward” as a title and concept?
Mendy St. Ours: Pretty much every day, people tell us about something awkward in their lives. Sometimes it’s a small story—like going to a PTA meeting with your skirt tucked into your drawers—or a BIG story, like your ex showing up at your wedding with a clown nose on.
Bree Luck: That happened to me. Plus, post-pandemic statistics show that people feel a greater sense of social anxiety and awkwardness than ever before.
MSO: She doesn’t have numbers to back that up. You’ll have to trust her on that. So it just felt natural to lean into helping people normalize their most awkward moments—to laugh with them—and to mitigate or even eradicate the shame surrounding our mishaps.

What does it mean to “embrace the awkward”?
BL: Honestly, it means just taking yourself a little less seriously. As we work our way through such a polarizing period in our culture, it’s about finding that balance for taking responsibility for your missteps without delving into self-loathing. We can make mistakes, course-correct, and move on.
MSO: And learn that your worst moments can turn into fantastically entertaining tales.

How many times a day do you all say the word “awkward” and are you okay with it?
MSO: Honestly, we’ve lost count! “Awkward” is basically our love language at this point, and we’re totally okay with it. Embracing the awkward is our superpower.

Bree, is this the first podcast under the Awkward Sage Media umbrella that you’ve hosted?
BL: No, but it is the first one I’ve started while I’m busy producing a bunch of other podcasts. I started my first podcast “Pause To Go”—about navigating life transitions, like menopause and perimenopause (also awkward topics)—back in 2022. Then, about a year ago, I launched Awkward Sage Media, which offers podcast production services for coaches, healers, and educators. I currently produce eight podcasts under the Awkward Sage umbrella, and seven are featured in the Awkward Sage Network.

What’s it like taking on that particular role?
BL: Co-hosting “Well, That Was Awkward” with Mendy is exactly the project I’ve been hoping for. I get to hang out with my talented bestie, share some great stories, and (hopefully) help people feel a little less alone in their awkwardness.

Listen to “Well, That Was Awkward” wherever you listen to podcasts, or visit awkwardsagemedia.com/show/well-that-was-awkward-podcast.

In your ear: Biz podcasts help listeners level up

There is a podcast for just about any aspect of business life you can imagine–#entrepreneurlife, #bossbabelife, #contentmarketerlife–you name it. So. Many. Choices. But you have to start somewhere, and so we did. If you are looking for inspiration to help you grow as an entrepreneur, tips to introduce more work-life balance into your world, or career insights to help you find your purpose, then check out our list of recommended, must-listen-to podcasts.

“The Goal Digger Podcast”

Hosted by marketing guru Jenna Kutcher, “The Goal Digger Podcast” empowers women to “dig in, do the work, and tackle your biggest goals” and “live more and work less.” Kutcher has seemingly navigated many of the topics she discusses. She gave up a “nightmare” of a corporate job to build her own business, which has become a lucrative, motivational personal brand.

Sample Episode: A recent edition featured lifestyle influencer Sazan Hendrix, who discussed navigating new “seasons” of her life and work, including how motherhood and the evolution of the influencer space impacted her business, how she conquered fear, change, and uncertainty, and realigned her entrepreneurial path along the way.

“Secrets of the Most Productive People”

From Fast Company magazine comes a podcast focused on how to “work smarter instead of harder.” (See a modern work theme?) Hosts Kate Davis and Anisa Purbasari share pro tips, hacks, and insights on everything from the morning routines of successful people and the plausibility of four-day work weeks to managing digital distraction and staving off burnout. Each episode is short and sweet, at 30 minutes.

Sample Episode: Are you crazy busy, but still not getting everything done? Join the club. Then listen to Episode 8: “How Can We Feel Less Busy?” with time management expert Laura Vanderkam, who tells us how to slow down, expand our perception of time, and work with intention.

“Don’t Keep Your Day Job”

Host Cathy Heller spotlights creative entrepreneurs and experts, like Seth Godin, Mark Manson, and Angela Duckworth, and asks interviewees to share ways we can find more joy and purpose in life while making a living doing what we love. Episodes also pack healthy doses of the latest thinking on building a business, from disrupting the status quo to designing your creative path.

Sample Episode: Email has made a comeback in a big way. Heller talks with the co-founders of the seven-million-subscribers-strong, Oprah-approved e-news digest Daily Skimm, who reveal how they developed their millennial women-focused company, which now includes an app, book, and podcast (natch).

“Creative Pep Talk”

Creativity comes in ebbs and flows. In this podcast, host and illustrator Andy J. Miller hopes to spark more flows than ebbs as he sheds light on the intersection of creativity and business. Topics include influencer marketing for creatives, unlocking your creative biz potential, and approaching creativity and business with a healthy mindset.

Sample Episode: In “Starbucks Doesn’t Sell Coffee: This is the Secret to Unbelievable Growth,” Miller draws analogies and lessons for artists from our fave mass latte-maker, specifically, how to generate consistent income in your creative career and create art that sells.

“The Tim Ferriss Show”

Lifestyle design guru Ferriss, the bestselling author of “The 4-Hour Workweek,” chats with a variety of successful people, from Michael Pollan and LeBron James to Aisha Taylor and Cindy Eckert, sharing takeaways to help you live your best biz life.

Sample Episode: Ferriss extracts plucky business lessons from SoulCycle co-founder Julie Rice, who talks about her career journey, from launching the indoor cycling powerhouse to, later, co-working company WeWork, both of which have strong community-building components.