You can build a big life online without handing your whole life to the internet. That’s the tension we explore with Sophia Spallino—creator, entrepreneur, and global lesbian matchmaker—whose path runs from early vlogging and age-gap virality to a values-led queer dating practice grounded in privacy, faith, and fierce resilience.

Sophia opens up about the era when vulnerability was the growth hack and how the bill eventually came due. She shares the pivotal move to serve queer women worldwide, the business lessons learned from the dating industry, and why compatibility rests on shared values and daily rhythms more than lofty ideals. We dig into the moment she realized her influence, the reality of being recognized in everyday spaces, and what changed when she came out and centered the community she truly wanted to help.

The most gripping stretch unpacks a platform crisis: targeted reports that almost erased her business and jeopardized her team. Sophia walks through the systems she built to recover—relationships at platforms, diversified content, spiritual grounding, and a stubborn commitment to kindness under pressure. We also step into the practical: her daily nervous system care, how she shares love without exposing privacy, and a creator strategy that balances niche focus with personal latitude so future pivots don’t require starting from zero.

If you’re a creator, founder, or anyone navigating public work with a private heart, this conversation offers a blueprint for sustainable growth. You’ll leave with concrete ideas on niche selection, boundary-setting, values-based matchmaking, and the mindset it takes to lead through backlash while staying rooted in purpose. Listen, share with a friend who’s building something brave, and if the conversation resonated, subscribe, rate, and leave a quick review so more people can find us.

Birth doesn’t follow a script—and that’s exactly why thoughtful preparation, true collaboration, and culturally responsive support matter. We sit down with licensed midwife Shatamia Webb, owner of Baby Catcher Birth Center (the first Black-owned freestanding birth center in Louisiana), to explore how personalized care can transform the way families experience pregnancy, labor, and postpartum.

Shatamia opens up about the real pathway to becoming a midwife—years of schooling, extensive clinical mentorship, and about 70 required births across observation, assist, and primary roles. She breaks down the difference between midwives and doulas in plain language, details the safety protocols and emergency readiness most people never see (from hemorrhage meds to oxygen and transport plans), and explains why longer prenatal visits change everything. Her stories—from a hotel birth during a hurricane evacuation to a first-time mom driving 3.5 hours each way for culturally aligned care—reveal both the complexity and the heart of modern midwifery.

We also get candid about access and policy. Hospital midwives are growing in Louisiana, yet licensure and regulations still create friction for community-based practices. Shatamia shares how she collaborates with OBs, pediatricians, lactation consultants, and chiropractors to keep care seamless and safe. For parents, she offers a clear checklist for choosing a provider: licensure, training, respectful communication, emergency prep, and a genuine willingness to partner in decisions. For the rest of us, it’s an invitation to rethink what birth can be when science, vigilance, and dignity meet.

If you found this conversation useful, subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube, share it with someone expecting, and leave a review to help others find the show. Your feedback shapes future episodes—what question do you want us to explore next?

What does healing really look like when a survivor is believed, safe, and supported? We sit down with Faith House’s executive director to trace the path from crisis to stability for women and children experiencing domestic violence, and we unpack the practical steps that turn safety into long-term independence. From the first confidential call to counseling, legal navigation, children’s services, and financial coaching, we walk through a comprehensive model that meets people where they are and moves at the pace of trust.

You’ll hear the origin story of Faith House—from a late-1970s response to homelessness to a focused mission on domestic violence—and how the organization now serves seven parishes with shelters, non-residential offices, transitional housing, and a Family Justice Center. We tackle persistent myths head-on: abuse is not limited to any one demographic, leaving is not always the safest option, and children carry trauma even when violence isn’t directed at them. A powerful story from a former child resident shows how a safe playground and steady care can redirect a life toward college, career, and joy.

If you’re a friend or family member trying to help, we share clear, humane guidance: avoid ultimatums, don’t cut off contact, and connect your loved one with trained advocates who can safety-plan and navigate courts with them. For those asking how to support, the answer is both simple and vital—donate household essentials like paper towels, toiletries, and cleaning supplies, volunteer your skills, and keep sharing accurate resources. Healing isn’t instant, but with consistent support, survivors don’t just get out; they rebuild with dignity.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube, and share this episode with someone who needs a path to safety. If the conversation moved you, leave a review—it helps more people find these life-saving resources.