This week’s episode brings you another dose of Small Talk before we get deep. We start by explaining why our last episode mysteriously disappeared in some countries, an overdue Spice and Strike birthday recap, and discuss the important midweek truth that all good stuff drops on Wednesdays... Including Dancing with the Stars and, of course, us. From there, we spiral into some random hard-hitting questions: can you actually work out with your hair down? Why do some gym bros wear a cap to workout? Is Skims’ new “bushy underwear” collection giving 15th-century Merkin revival? Because apparently, there's a reason you probably didn't know why people used to wear merkins.

Then it’s time for Big Talk, where we get real about what it means to live in a body that doesn’t always cooperate. Nadya shares the moment it hit her that she was actually sick, how “trusting your body” takes on new meaning after a chronic illness diagnosis, and the misconceptions that still surround autoimmune diseases. We also talk about grief, joy, and what it takes to keep showing up for yourself when your body feels unpredictable. Whether you’re navigating your own health journey or just want to understand it better, this episode is equal parts laughter, honesty, and hard-earned wisdom.

Thanks for talking!

For the first time ever, we’re welcoming a guest on the pod! Join your co-hosts Marie and Nadya for a special conversation that marks a new chapter for Can You Talk?

We kick things off in "Small Talk" with some light-hearted life updates: Marie shares birthday feels as her big day approaches, while Nadya talks about her recent cacao ceremony experience, yes, the drink that kind of tasted like soil, but the emotional clarity it brought her was anything but earthy.

Then, for "Big Talk" we dive into a deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation with our first guest, Kia Sebastian who is a Filipino-Chinese third culture kid, free diver, fitness enthusiast, photographer, and first-time mom currently living in Sweden and working in the flexible workspace industry. From chasing diplomatic dreams in Hong Kong to marine conservation in the Philippines to the health and wellness space in Hawaii, and now navigating motherhood far from home, Kia opens up about how her identity has shape shifted across continents and life chapters.

We talk about:

-Letting go of past selves and embracing reinvention

-The raw truths of postpartum and motherhood in a new country

-Raising a multicultural child far from home

-Reconciling body image and self-worth

- How interpersonal relationships like friendships, romance, and the self shift through major transitions

Kia reflects on what it means to be more than a mom... as a woman, a creative, and a global soul. Whether you're navigating new beginnings or reflecting on who you’ve become, this episode will resonate one way or another! Tune in for a conversation on change, culture, connection, and coming home to yourself.

Thanks for talking!

Follow Kia on Instagram: @kiasebastian

Check out her photography work too: @kiasebastianphoto

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Follow Marie ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@mariedinolan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Nadya ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @nadya.abuzar⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To reach us, email canyoutalkpodcast@gmail.com

Hikes, Happy Meals, and the Love Language of Birthdays... Welcome to another episode of Can You Talk. By the end of this one, you’ll walk away with 5 ways to rethink how you show up for someone’s birthday- and your own!

In today’s Small Talk, Marie recaps her annual retreat to the Catskill Mountains, Nadya shares a gratitude journal update, and some thoughts on punchy birthday branding (Spice & Strike, anyone?).

For Big Talk, we ask: How do you celebrate someone in a way that actually feels good to them? Whether it's throwing a party or just ordering takeout, the answer lies in their love language. We talk about why some people dread their birthdays, how past disappointments and discomfort with attention can shape their experience, and what it means to show up in a way that feels most supportive.

We dig into questions like:

• Is it fair to encourage someone to celebrate if they hate their birthday? Do they really hate it or do they just not know how to ask for what they want? How do you celebrate someone who doesn’t like being celebrated especially when you yourself love birthdays? And how can you celebrate yourself with intention on your own special day?

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Follow Marie ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@mariedinolan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Nadya ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @nadya.abuzar⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To reach us, email canyoutalkpodcast@gmail.com

In this episode’s Small Talk, we’re kicking things off with a quick Love Is Blind France recap, specifically one couple’s clash over money and how financial expectations can quietly (or loudly) shape a relationship. Then, Marie shares her unexpected encounter with none other than Bryan Cranston at the dog park (yes, that Bryan Cranston).

In Big Talk, we dive into the heart of the episode: If a friendship doesn’t last, was it ever real? We unpack the messy emotions, the blurred lines, and the questions that come up when once-close connections fade. Were they ever real or just real for a time?

We also talk about what defines a successful friendship, what counts as a breaking point, how to handle the unraveling, and how to honor a friendship without erasing it even when it doesn’t make it to forever.

Follow Can You Talk? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@canyoutalkpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Marie ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@mariedinolan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Nadya ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @nadya.abuzar⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To reach us, email canyoutalkpodcast@gmail.com

It’s a new season in more ways than one! In this cozy fall kickoff, the ladies reintroduce themselves and their freshly rebranded segments. What you once knew as Manic or Mature Marie/Normal or Neurotic Nadya stories is now being renamed to "Small Talk" and what was once simply the main topic of each episode is now called "Big Talk". Come for the renamed segments, stay for the same crazy energy and stories!

This episode's first "Small Talk" includes: sharing the books and shows they’re loving—like Black Rabbit on Netflix (where are the Jude Law and Jason Bateman fans at?), the Charlie Sheen documentary, Project Runway Season 21 (go, Veejay!), and Love Is Blind France (a testament to how low-key scary and spicy French people are!).

For their "Big Talk", they’re fully embracing cinnamon roll season as they chat about fall scents, farmers markets, and friendship—including the origin story of Marie and Nadya’s friendship, the beginnings of Can You Talk?, how their bond and confidence have evolved, and how they balance it all: life, business, and being besties. Grab something warm and settle in.

Thanks for talking!

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Follow Marie ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@mariedinolan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Nadya ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @nadya.abuzar⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To reach us, email canyoutalkpodcast@gmail.com

Warning: This episode discusses suicide. (35:18-37:35)

Is it just convenience or are we actually forming emotional bonds with AI? The ladies explore the growing tendency to turn to ChatGPT for emotional support, self-reflection, and even companionship. What does it mean when we feel more heard by an algorithm than by real people? Is this harmless digital comfort, or a deeper sign of disconnection? Let’s talk about loneliness, technology, and the blurry line between convenience and confidant.

Marie and Nadya catch up at the top of the episode over Marie's recent film shoot on a Hamptons beach at 3AM, high school glow-ups and glow-downs, an inspiring Asian-American community event at the Signature Theatre, a lesson on how to respectfully compliment a woman while humbly accepting rejection on these NYC streets, and Nadya's 28-day journal challenge towards a more grateful mindset.

This week's Manic or Mature Marie story is about helping a homeless man and receiving help herself at the end of the day in the middle of a downpour to seeing another recognizable character again, a "Jesus Saves" lady outside Penn station. Is this good karma?

Then they dive into what it means to rely on ChatGPT for validation, comfort, and deep late-night chats. Why does talking to a "nonjudgmental" AI feel... strangely comforting? Is this the future of self-care or are we just avoiding human connection? Why do we open up so easily to a machine? What does this say about our relationships, our mental health and what are the trade-offs? From work conveniences to a rising loneliness epidemic to instant gratification to free accessibility to shocking facts about this developing technology, this episode is a must-listen!

Join our gentle reflection on the role AI plays in our emotional lives. No shame, just honesty. Thanks for talking!

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Follow Marie ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@mariedinolan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Nadya ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @nadya.abuzar⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To reach us, email canyoutalkpodcast@gmail.com

• The ladies do a deep dive into Netflix documentary Unknown Number: The Highschool Catfish and their relief of not having to grow up with access to the internet and iPhones.

  
  

  This episode's Normal or Neurotic Nadya story is about a Jay Shetty sighting at an Ayurvedic dinner with a friend. What type of celebrities need to be exiting through the back and which ones can just walk straight through the front door?

  
  

  Then, they reflect over Nadya's unmet expectations in her twenties. As she is about to enter her final year of this decade in just a few months, she shares her vulnerable thoughts, fears and desire to have a change of attitude in terms of manifesting and adapting the life she wants. Looking at what is in front of us and not just what's missing, breaking up with a current mindset that's not productive, redefining success and fulfillment and loosely building a new vision are takeaways from this episode one can carry into any stage of life.

  
  

  Marie's Munchies is on Claud- a sleek, stylish restaurant with a shared plates menu, ingredient-focused cooking and a seasonal menu as well as a few fixed favorites. Come for classic, simple sounding dishes that explode with flavor. Visit Penny- their sister restaurant just a floor above. A wonderful raw bar and seafood restaurant.

  
  

  Thanks for talking!

  
  

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  Follow Marie ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@mariedinolan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Nadya ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @nadya.abuzar⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  
  

  To reach us, email canyoutalkpodcast@gmail.com

This episode is a love letter to New York City and a re-introduction to 1/2 of the podcast, Marie Dinolan.

The ladies begin with core childhood memories of dancing in the living room and forcing your parents/siblings/neighbours to be your audience, and Nadya's passport photo updates plus a call to action for FaceTune services at the embassy.

Then, this week's Mature or Manic Marie story is short and sweet about enjoying the golden days of the summer.

Marie shares 11 things she's learned from leaving the Philippines and living in New York City for 11 years- from reinventing yourself to working with what you got to having thicker skin, this ep is a celebration of a beautiful city and the life lessons it can teach you that you can take anywhere.

The episode ends with Nadya's Nomnoms on Red Farm, a great restaurant serving innovative Chinese cuisine with playful dimsum, bold flavors and whimsical presentations with locations on the Upper West Side and West Village. Yum!

Thanks for talking!

Follow Can You Talk? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@canyoutalkpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Marie ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@mariedinolan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Nadya ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @nadya.abuzar⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To reach us, email canyoutalkpodcast@gmail.com