Mona and Jeannette open up about the emotional toll that working in the news industry took on their mental health. From the impossible hours and sleepless nights to the heartbreaking stories they had to cover, both reflect on the weight of constantly witnessing tragedy up close. Mona shares how the pressure she placed on herself to reach “network level” success pushed her to physical and mental limits, while Jeannette recalls the loneliness of working in a new city, being far from her husband, and the moment a mentor helped her realize she was depressed.

Together, they reflect on the hardest stories they've had to tell—from children lost to gun violence, to the chaos of reporting during the early days of COVID-19. They also discuss the lingering effects of constantly being exposed to pain and loss, and how it began to skew their sense of humanity. This segment is a vulnerable look behind the headlines and into the hearts of two women who gave everything to their careers—until they realized they had to choose themselves.

RESOURCES:

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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
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Follow Mona on TikTok and IG
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What would you tell your 22-year-old self chasing the dream? In this segment, Jeannette and Mona get real about ambition, imposter syndrome, and the unnecessary pressure we put on ourselves to prove we belong. From newsroom nerves to learning how to enjoy the ride, they open up about the grind, the growth, and the freedom that comes when you finally stop doubting yourself.

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

In this deeply personal season finale, Jeannette and Mona take off the armor and speak straight from the heart. What starts as a conversation about vulnerability quickly unravels into a much bigger exploration of fear, identity, legacy, and healing. From life coaches and mindset breakthroughs to childhood trauma, grief, and the fear of criticism, this is the kind of talk that doesn’t just stay in the group chat—it transforms it.

Jeannette opens up about how playing it safe protected her for years—but also limited her growth—and how she’s finally reckoning with the cost of hiding her process in favor of only sharing polished outcomes. Mona shares what it's like being raised in a culture where emotions were buried, not expressed, and how that shaped her struggle with vulnerability and validation. Together, they navigate the pressures of being “good,” being “enough,” and being seen.

They reflect on generational patterns, the stories we bury for survival, and the courage it takes to break cycles. This episode is doing the scary thing, speaking the unspeakable, and learning to share not just the result—but the process. It’s messy, it’s real, and it’s exactly what this season needed to close on.

Whether you’re learning to let go, questioning if you’re enough, or carrying grief you’ve never spoken out loud—this one’s for you. And whatever you do, don’t let THAT fear stop you from being who you are, or from choosing who you’re becoming.

KEY POINTS

- Past struggles vs. current challenges

- Hindsight vulnerability

- How culture and family affect openness

- The mental toll of managing perceptions

- Tools to spot and question your inner critic

- The fear of criticism?

- Why real connection trumps perfect presentation

- On moving beyond the reward system = “self-worth”

- How avoiding grief and loss keeps us stuck (and alone)

QUOTES

“When you're vulnerable, you'll get to the right people, but on the way there, you're gonna get to you're gonna pass through the haters.” - Jeannette Reyes

“I was raised in a reward system, so.. I always saw value in achievements... You have to be the best, and so, and there's always like: ‘you could have done better.’” – Mona Kosar Abdi

“You're vulnerable—but it's in hindsight—you'll share what you went through, not what you're going through you're you'll share what you figured out, not what you're trying to figure out.” - Jeannette Reyes

“I don't feel successful ever, but that's because I always think that like people are doing better... Maybe it is like that. I don't feel like I'm enough.” – Mona Kosar Abdi

RESOURCES:

Keep in touch with Awf The Record:

Youtube: @AwfTheRecord

Instagram: @awftherecordpodc

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