The Messy Parts
New career advice and messy stories, every Monday.
Whether you’re at the top, or striving to get there—you may have noticed the one thing people rarely talk about: how hard it is to achieve success. The Messy Parts is the answer—a podcast where you’ll hear about the twists, turns and pivots that shape extraordinary careers. The real messy parts along the way. Host Maryam Banikarim has been through it, so she gets it. Maryam has been a transformative leader across media, hospitality and tech. Her powerhouse resume features more than 20 years in the C-Suite at companies like Hyatt, NBC, and Nextdoor—and she has a vast, influential network to match. On The Messy Parts, she brings you unparalleled access to that network. Deeply honest, vulnerable conversations with Maryam—who is never afraid to ask the questions on everyone's mind. Join us as we get real, unfiltered, and messy.
Episodes
41 episodes
From Fax Boy to CEO to Billion Dollar Sale: Patrick Steel Was Terrified (But Showed Up Anyway)
“Flooded with the Feeling of Sudden Death” Shelley Huff on Panic Attacks, Bankruptcy, Getting Fired, and Life After the Title
Paper Magazine’s Kim Hastreiter Wasn’t Satisfied. So She Built Her Own Amazing World.
“Why Can’t Mom Sit Still?” Maryam Banikarim on Why Busy Is Her Drug & the Messy Parts Are the Point
Fired from My Own Company — By My Husband: Chocolatier Katrina Markoff on Trusting Yourself and Making Bold Decisions
“Who the Hell Do I Think I Am?”: Melissa Ben-Ishay on Running Baked by Melissa While Doubting Herself
Fully Clogged: Gary Vee on Forgiveness, Living Fearlessly, and the Reality of AI
Driven by Love and Addicted to “What’s Next”: Fashion Insider Sojin Lee
The Man Who Dressed America: Fashion Legend Mickey Drexler
From Fired to Fashion Powerhouse: Jeweler Marla Aaron
Becoming the CEO of Me: Communications Icon Sally Susman
The Best of The Messy Parts: Humor, Resilience & Rewriting the Rules
Katie Sturino on Building Megababe, Owning the Mess, and Dreaming Big (Re-Release)
Ana Gasteyer Gets Real About Wicked, SNL, and the Hustle of Showbiz (Re-Release)
Rafat Ali Plays the Long Game: This Internet Pioneer Says You Should Stop Rushing Your Career
Celebrity Wedding Planner Marcy Blum Turned Fun Into a Million-Dollar Business
How to Reinvent Yourself When You "Should Have Figured It Out By Now": Kelly Kopp
The Real Cost of Staying Silent at Work with Brooke Baldwin
Turning “No” Into Opportunity: Broadway’s Michael McElroy on Rejection and Resilience
Finding Light in the Darkness: Writer Jonathan Merritt on Faith, Courage, and Starting Over.
Build a $22M Company While Surviving Layoffs, Lawsuits, Losing Friends: Create and Cultivate's Jaclyn Johnson
From Her Parents' Basement to Editor-in-Chief (Twice): Danielle Belton's Comeback Story
The Real Reason You're Paralyzed in Your Career (It's Not What You Think): Farnoosh Torabi
The Points Guy Couldn't Get His Own Credit Card: Then He Made $28 Million (at 28 Years Old)
Debunking Myths About Careers, Generation Gaps, and The Power of Side Hustles: Sam DeMase