Work Wives & Real Lives
Welcome to Work Wives & Real Lives - the podcast where two best friends (and coworkers) spill the tea on business, boundaries, and all the beautiful chaos in between. From workday wins to real-life messes, we're talking through it all - unfiltered, unpolished, and always putting friendship first. Think of it as your weekly catch-up with your favorite coworker turned soul sister. Grab your coffee (or your wine) ...let's get into it!
Episodes
28 episodes
Episode 28: “Is It Burnout or Is This Job Just Not It?”
How do you know if you need a weekend off… or a complete career change?This week, we’re diving into the difference between burnout and misalignment — because sometimes exhaustion isn’t about needing rest… it’s about being in the wrong en...
Episode 27: "Meetings, Micromanagers & Mental Health"
Life doesn’t slow down—even after a major announcement. This week, Ava and Katie catch up on pregnancy updates, chaotic life moments, and yes… a little husband roasting. From spotting Cybertrucks in the wild to navigating homeownership and the ...
Episode 26: "Plot Twist: We’re Not Okay (But We’re Pregnant)!"
We had a whole episode planned… and then life said absolutely not. In this raw, emotional, and unexpectedly funny episode, Ava drops a surprise that completely shifts the conversation—she’s pregnant! What follows is an unfi...
Episode 25: "Office Politics for People Who Hate Office Politics”
Everyone says they hate office politics… but somehow they still shape every workplace. In this episode, we’re breaking down the game no one admits they’re playing — office politics. Not the backstabbing, gossip-filled version...
Episode 24: "That’s Not a Leadership Style"
High standards… or just high cortisol? In this episode, we’re unpacking the leadership behaviors many of us were taught to tolerate — the ones disguised as “high standards,” “fast-paced environments,” or “just being blunt.” From mic...
Episode 23: "We Tried the Productivity Hacks So You Don’t Have To"
What actually worked, what was a scam, and what nearly broke us.If productivity hacks actually worked the way the internet promises… we’d all be millionaires with color-coded lives by now. Instead? We tried everything so you don...
Episode 22: "Main Character Energy, Revisited"
Confidence is powerful—but performing it? Exhausting. In this episode, we revisit the idea of main character energy and unpack how the internet quietly turned confidence into a full-time job. From aesthetic morning routines...
Episode 21: "Soft Life, Hard Decisions"
Everyone wants a “soft life” — but no one talks about the hard choices it actually requires.In this episode, we unpack what the soft life really means (and what it doesn’t). From career pivots and uncomfortable boundaries to let...
Episode 20: "Season 2, New Boundaries"
Season 2 is officially here. We’re kicking things off with a full reset — what changed, what we’re no longer tolerating, and the boundaries we’re actually keeping this year. From burnout lessons and unpopular opinions to Katie’s tra...
Episode 19: "Sticky Socks, Sticky Fingers & Why We Can’t Have Nice Things"
🚨 EMERGENCY EPISODE ALERT 🚨Because apparently people do not stop peopling during the holidays—and we officially could not catch a break. This week, we’re joined by our biggest fan: Katie’s husb...
Episode 18: "Closing the 2025 Chapter"
In our last episode of the year, we’re doing a full year-end inventory: the wins that flew under the radar, the losses that taught us the most, and the moments that stretched us emotionally, professionally, and personally. We talk career growth...
Episode 17: "The December Delulu Episode: We're Not Okay, But We're Here"
In this episode of Work Wives and Real Lives, Ava and Katie step into the yearly whirlwind that is December—the month where the to-do list triples, emotions run high, and somehow we’re all still expected to “soak up the magic.” Spoiler:<...
Episode 16: "The Startup Secrets No One Tells You About: Behind the Scenes of Building a Business"
Starting a business sounds cute… until you’re crying in your car between meetings, Googling “how to do taxes for adults,” and wondering why no one warned you about any of this.In this episode of Work Wives and Real Lives,...
Episode 15: “The French Riviera & Main Character Energy”
Work Wives & Real Lives — where business, friendship, and chaos collideIn this episode, Ava and Katie unpack what it really means to step into your Main Character Energy—and when that confidence accidentally dr...
Episode 14: “Coming to You Live from the Adriatic (and ChatGPT)”
This week, Ava & Katie report live from a cruise ship in Croatia — breaking down vacation chaos, reality TV drama, and how they actually use AI to work smarter, not harder. 🌊💻🍾Katie checks in from somewhere between Dubrovnik and Spl...
Episode 13: “Opinions That Might Get Us Canceled”
Because apparently… we can’t even talk about pizza anymore. 🍕🔥This week, Ava & Katie unpack the unpopular opinions that the internet loves to fight about — from pineapple on pizza to why people weaponize “professionalism” wh...
Episode 12: “Offline Is the New Flex”
Why trend fatigue is the new burnout - and how to stop letting the algorithm tell you who you are.If you’ve ever felt exhausted trying to keep up with “the latest aesthetic,” or if you’ve changed your entire personality b...
Episode 11: "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Burnout"
Weekend chaos, dramatic emails, and a collective energy crisis — welcome back to another episode of Work Wives and Real Lives, where we catch up, spiral a little, and unpack why burnout keeps finding us no matter how many “self-care Sunda...
Episode 10: "The Rebrand Era"
Because sometimes the soft launch turns into a full-blown pivot.In this week’s episode, Katie and Ava are officially in their Rebrand Era—but not just the Instagram-bio kind. After a weekend filled with chaotic stories (camping tr...
Episode 9: “Boundaries, Burnout & Saying No”
Saying “yes” to everything is the fast track to burnout—so why is “no” the most terrifying word in our vocabulary? In this episode, we break down the power of boundaries in work, friendships, creative life, and small business. From customer ser...
Episode 8: Katie’s Vow Renewal Recap — Love, Friendship & All the Shenanigans
We’re taking you behind the scenes of Katie’s vow renewal weekend - a celebration filled with love, laughter, and plenty of unforgettable moments. From the sweet ceremony details to the late-night shenanigans, we’re spilling it all! Join us for...
Episode 7: "The Power of Walking Away"
Sometimes the strongest move you can make—in your career, business, or life—is knowing when to say no. In this episode, Katie & Ava dive into the underrated skill of walk-away power: what it is, why it matters, and how to actually ...
Episode 6: “Meetings That Could’ve Been an Email”
Why we’re all drowning in calendar invites — and how to take back our time.From dramatic email readings to reality TV tangents, Katie & Ava break down the chaos of modern work life, pointless meetings, and protecting your time (while...
Episode 5: “How to Be Work Wives Without Getting Divorced”
Mixing business with besties—dream come true or recipe for disaster? 💍👯♀️ This week we’re spilling the tea on what it really takes to be work wives without the messy breakup. From awkward “reply all” email fails, to setting boundaries...
"From Burnout to Balance: A Candid Conversation with Kelsey Etter"
This week, we’re joined by our friend Kelsey for a fun and honest conversation about everything from weekend recaps to TikTok comments, balancing side hustles, and the pressure of perfection. We dive into finding balance in a busy life, ...