Talk Podcast To Me
Welcome to "Talk Podcast to Me," the show where makeup artist and Glow Commando CEO, Courtney "Talk Curly To Me" Gilroy, infuses beauty tips and life lessons on the fly. Join Courtney on this unscripted journey where she delves into the essence of true beauty, exploring the harmony between inner self-discovery and external radiance.
Talk Podcast To Me
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We also delve into the liberating risk of self-employment, reflecting on the personal growth and opportunities that bloom when one leaves the familiar behind to chase what truly ignites their spirit.
Alyssa's story is not just about bodybuilding but about lifting each other up and the remarkable growth that comes when we commit to our own unique paths.
Hey guys and welcome back to another episode of talk podcast to me. I'm your host, courtney, and today I have a very special guest, someone who truly has inspired me, and I only met her a year ago. So I'm going to start off by I met her. I actually know her boyfriend and I met her out of the club, so I went to say hi to her boyfriend and I saw her and I'm like hi, you're so pretty, I need to do your makeup one day, and so and we just talked the rest of the night and now she's here with me and I'm going to introduce her. Her name is Alyssa Gallo hello.
Speaker 1And so Alyssa has inspired me because I've been in the industry for so long and she does body building, fitness, all that. First of all, her body is insane. We're going to give her Instagram to follow. But she inspired me because when I met her, she had like 900 followers and she just like took off and I love watching women just succeed in everything. And when I followed her, I followed her the next day. Obviously, I was like I'm doing your makeup one day and I just like watched her posting and being consistent and just putting herself out there, not caring about other people's opinions and that to me just like, attracted me more to follow her, and she did her first body building competition last year and literally took off. How many followers do you have now? I know like she's killing it. So what got you into body?
Speaker 2building. So I would say I consistently worked out from 2019 to 2021 2022 and then I honestly just fell in love with training.
Speaker 2I was seeing results and I was going so consistently. And then 2023, I was like you know what I'm going to do a body build competition. I love that my friend and I were drunk together and we were just like let's do a body building competition. And then literally the next day, I was searching for coaches and searching for coaches is actually a big deal. You want to make sure that you connect with someone and you know, like, what you're getting into. How do you look for coaches?
Speaker 1Do you just like hashtag or like Google. How does that work?
Speaker 2So I was talking around, I was literally like, do you know anyone? Because I didn't know anyone who competed, so I just wanted to make sure I was going with the right person, because there's a lot of things you want to look for. But I found my coach, taylor, literally the best, yeah. And then two weeks later I was in a prep.
Speaker 1I feel like, too, watching you, like you again, at this point we didn't even like hang out or anything, I just like really watch you, just like stick to it and just see the results. And I like how you were sharing like everything, because I feel like a lot of it too, like you were sharing. Like body dysmorphia is a thing, and one of my friends just went through a body building competition. She told me like can you like explain?
Speaker 2more of that like so that's like something I really talk about when getting into bodybuilding, because if you're going into a show like just wanting the physique of it, you're going in for the wrong reasons because, you're at that like leanness part for two weeks, yeah, and then you're eating normal food again after your show and you're getting that weight back. So I would say you have to be content with your body before going into it. You have to be training, loving training and not just doing it because you want to look at it.
Speaker 2I think like I was mentally preparing myself because I knew it was going to happen. But I know a lot of people who like got binging disorders and just a bunch of eating disorders and it's serious.
Speaker 1My friend said that her biggest thing was still wanting the results fast and just being harder on herself for that and like competition day, I even like like she just had her robe on, just didn't even look around. She just like blindfolds. Is that like what you do?
Speaker 2I would say, like I that day, people like have headphones in or just like in the zone, I was okay. Yeah, I was just looking at everyone like trying to take it all in. Yeah, like wow, I worked like for 20 weeks to get to this point. Let me enjoy it so crazy.
Speaker 1Yeah, you just started your prep again because you're doing another show, right? Yeah, when's that show in July?
Speaker 2So, yeah, I'm going to be 15 weeks out on Saturday. Oh wow, this one. I started 20 weeks out, so I've been a month in and her biggest thing she likes the Stairmaster.
Speaker 1How long do you want the Stairmaster for? She had a challenge to go. I'm just going to let you know. I'm sitting here on my phone scrolling and watching her challenge and all the people for taking and I'm not. I walked up my stairs to get to my room and down to that is my Stairmaster challenge.
Speaker 2I know I'm. Usually, though, the Stairmaster is probably the best thing, because I can't run. I hate running. I actually can't run. My clients could probably outrun.
Speaker 1Really, I can't run at all. It's so embarrassing. No, I don't think so. But what is, stairmaster like? Work versus like if you did a little treadmill?
Speaker 2So I'm trying to keep my muscle mass Okay. So, stairmaster, is a good intensity, steady state cardio. How long do you stay on for? It goes up to like 60 minutes. I'm good, my dreams You're going to come with me, I go to her.
Speaker 1I was like, after this, you want to go for a walk. And then immediately in my head, I go. Why did you just do that? You're going to be like, okay, lunch is right now.
Speaker 2I should just train you in the park. I'm scared, I'm scared, I'm scared.
Speaker 1I know I started training this morning.
Speaker 2Oh man, sorry, I didn't mean to call you out, it's totally fine, oh my God, what was I going to say to you?
Speaker 1The spray tans, oh my God, brains that you have to do that's crazy.
Speaker 2Remember that picture I sent you. Literally just blotches everywhere it's yeah, yeah, it's not, it's really but what um?
Speaker 1Back to social media. What like took I feel you was your last competition like the leading up and then like one post I feel like went like viral.
Speaker 2Yeah oh my god, of course, the one of my bikini of course Body-sick.
Speaker 1Wait, you know a post. I, literally I was crying, laughing, when you threw your boyfriend down that post.
Speaker 2I'm telling you it took me two seconds to pose. I wrote one, a one word caption. Four million views like.
Speaker 1So funny, like I was correct, when you guys go follow what is your Instagram so you can share it.
Speaker 2I'm gonna read it into it. It's bliss fit.
Speaker 1underscore it's knee-through boyfriend down and I Loved it.
Speaker 2I think he did too honestly. Oh, a hundred percent.
Speaker 1But I what is like your biggest advice for like clients that you train?
Speaker 2So, getting into fitness, I would say, like you have to be prepared to change your mindset. Yeah, like you're going into fitness knowing that you want to change your body, you want to change your life pretty much. So you have to be willing to like let go of those old habits that are holding you back.
Speaker 1So you're saying I need to let go of the stair master and just do it.
Speaker 2Well, we all have those habits where we know are just like dragging us back.
Speaker 1Do you know? Actually, this just reminded me, there's another video that you posted that I really liked because it resonated with me. The you wouldn't. You're one friend I can't remember who it was but you guys, I sound like I'm like creep it on her on Instagram. I'm like stalker, stalker. But no, like.
Speaker 1This is where I'm saying like, when I find somebody who truly inspires me, I'm like, I'm locked in, like, I'm like supporting and whatever we've talked about this, like there's people that like have come into our lives within even the past year, that we're like Supporting more than people have been in our lives for years, which we're gonna get into that, because I could lean into that. But was I say I liked the one post that you did of truly people aren't watching you at the gym, and that is something that was very hard for me. When I first, like, got into the gym Years ago, I went off birth control but after they used to cheer, so like cheering and then like not cheering and like being so Working out every single day I would have to run, like running your routine, tumbling all that and then not working out and like I truly think birth control Maybe gained so much weight not doing that. So when I went off of it, I started to lose weight, but I was like I need to like join a gym. So I finally joined a gym, but I was so nervous to go because I always felt like people were watching me and I didn't know how to work out. Yeah, like I really like it was uncomfortable for me, so like that was something that always stuck in my head that I'm like oh my god, are people around me that are obviously know what they're doing.
Speaker 1Like if I went to the gym with you and I didn't know you and I'm gonna look at you. I'm like huh, she knows what she's doing. I have no idea what I'm doing, so like I feel like that gets into a lot of people's heads. So that video you made was I really liked that and I feel like that is very For women especially. Like nobody's watching, like she was just dancing around, like doing random things. Like this is proof that nobody's watching. She went it's like right, did you go in like different areas of the gym? Yeah, no one and no one watch. And I was like you know what? Like nobody actually watches.
Speaker 2You know it's. It's such a mental thing it really is. Because I just like, when you're first going to a gym, honestly, I recommend, just like going on the treadmill looking around, know your environment, looking at people, like, but don't, don't freak yourself out, don't overwhelm yourself, like no one. Everyone's just doing their own thing, yeah, everybody's there, just and get like you wouldn't go to a gym and like look at someone and judge them now for working out. No, no one's doing it. It's so true, but it's it's so common to think like that.
Speaker 1I remember in the summertime I, when I was traveling, I had to go. I went, wanted to go work out, so I went on to the military base gym and I was so nervous and I actually thought of that video Because I was like I'm going to work out right now With a bunch of people that are way more in fit than I am and you like go and you look around only Freaking, running for like 30 minutes and whatever working on. I'm just like you'd be surprised, though, nobody even pay attention.
Speaker 2Those people are honestly the most helpful. Yeah, 100. They're the nicest.
Speaker 1Yes, they were all so nice.
Speaker 2I feel like some people have like came up to me and said that they were scared To even like approach me or whatever, but not because of how I am personally, like just by my like appearance, I guess because I'm in shape. But I am so willing to help anyone in the gym and I think like people don't realize that.
Speaker 1Yeah, Because people and that's also like power perception for social media and I feel like people just see like you have a sick body, you know, like you're killing in the gym, so they're like wait, but I'm not at my best, so like I'm nervous to go to you. Like that's also the same as like spray tanning, like I'm not gonna go to someone's house Looking how I look on Instagram and I'm gonna show up full glam, hair or makeup done, yeah, in tight clothing or whatever. Like I'm not doing that. I'm gonna make my client uncomfortable. Like you make everybody like comfortable and I feel like you truly like get to know everybody, like how, um, how do people book appointments with you?
Speaker 2Yeah, I have a website. I finally made that um, so people can just book. That's all there.
Speaker 1I which we were just talking about that in our Glam session. We had such a good we. That Glam session was like so much longer because we were just like talking about our man, social media, whatever. But one big thing too like you went to college and you like left your job and just went off on your own, which is a huge thing, because I've that's.
Speaker 2I didn't go to college, but I just went off on my own and it's hard but I was gonna bring that up Like you honestly inspired me to with that, because you said that you were in a job and you, honestly, you didn't like it. No, and going off on your own is such a big leap and knowing that like there's potential failure and there's so much uncertainty but you still did it, that's inspiring because I like being in my position. I had a full time job lined up and I knew I did not want to do that, like I just you feel it, like it just doesn't sit right with you and but now's the time to do it. Yeah, I didn't listen to anyone, you didn't and we just did our own thing and honestly, I'm so happy with the decision but I'm obviously not like where I want to be, but I got there. But it's, I think, waking up every morning and hating my life is not something I want to do, it's not worth it.
Speaker 1Just like I feel like I just actually put a story up about this, like because I wrote a book. This just came out. Hey, okay, I wrote a book, um, but like I just hone in on myself and like even just the people that I surround myself with, like if you're very negative or anything, like I wish everybody the best that comes in and out of my life. I think people come in, you know, like for a season, whatever, all these things. Like I truly think once you're in my life, unless you really do me wrong, then I won't put energy toward you, but like I'm very much in there and I try to like inspire anybody that comes like along the way. But a huge thing I feel like a lot of people nowadays try to live their life for social media, for what people think of them, what people are looking at or how they're living their life. Like I could have easily been like from December to now, like doing something, writing something, like all those countless nights where I was working, going home, starting to write chapters, and like doing these things. Like for what? For whose approval? Because, at the end of the day, the only approval that I need is mine, and that's something I've told you. Like you know, my parents were not okay with you know me quitting a full-time job to go off on my own. But I said I promise you it's going to make sense one day. I'm going to get myself out there and, if not, my fallback plan is I will go to something more steady and I truly think you should always have a fallback plan. But, like, follow your gut. Like whether you like I'm very like a godly woman, so I pray and all that. But whatever you believe in, you have the power to do everything for yourself. Like you don't need outsiders opinions and like that's something I mean you talked about.
Speaker 1It was just I said I'm like your parents aren't going to prove of it. Yeah, you have to prove of it and you just have to figure out the steps to get there and what you could do. Like you have a platform, easy enough. You will have one person that will want to work with you, that sees your progress, that's going to want to work with you and that's going to turn into two people and then, like, truly glow got known from word of the mouth.
Speaker 1Yeah, and just how you treat people and you remind me so much of myself in the sense of like it's all about how you treat people because, at the end of the day, google reviews yeah, they're going to get you things, but no, it's connections to people Like I truly, all my clients I have connections with, like I write down after every conversation that I have like okay, this person's daughter just took a test and failed. Or this person just had a promotion and this person did this, this person's getting married in two months. Like I remember those things. It's all in my clients notes because I want to build relationships with people. I don't want to just come in and then leave and like that's something that I feel like, like you like, truly do.
Speaker 2Yeah, for sure, and I also think, like you go through these moments, like they may be hard, but I think that's when you get the strongest and you really learn about yourself 100%.
Speaker 1I always say, like my breakdowns have led to breakers For sure, like the people that I still have in my life. They like, if I have like a breakdown and I call them, they're like all right, you're done crying. I'm like, yeah, all right, cool, what else? Like now what? And I'm like I just need to cry and vent. I'm good, like I'm fine. No, like I know you're going to figure it out, and I and my friends know I just need a vent. I'm like I'll figure it out, I just need to cry and vent. I always say a shower cry, no, like a good shower cry, it's the best. And then I'm good. And then I'm good and I just like I figured it out.
Speaker 2It's overwhelming. Sometimes you just keep so much bottled up. You know like that.
Speaker 1And a lot of it too, is like it's like therapy. You know, I vent to my trainer all the time about like life things, like you're taking in a lot of people's. It's an energy exchange. You're taking in a lot of like different energies. So sometimes, like that, on top of like what you're going through, you're like, oh my God, I need to release it. And then you release it and then you're good and then you figure it out.
Speaker 2But it's a lot there was one point in my prep where I was just I was at my lowest, honestly, like I'm grateful for it because I grew so much of the person. But there was times I was training my clients and I'm just like I can't do this right now, like I just can't and you went.
Speaker 1You, honestly, I feel like, did everything all at once, like you went off on your own, and I feel like you did Everything happened. Everything all happened at once and it was it's definitely overwhelming, it was hard it was definitely hard, but like I needed that. Yeah.
Speaker 2I am so much better now and I'm happy I went through that. But what would you feel like?
Speaker 1was your lowest point. That like. What did you learn from that?
Speaker 2I learned who to surround myself with. I learned where to put my energy honestly and how to spend my time, because those things were so important during that time and I was realizing certain things were draining that fucking shit out of me and I was did you find that we did kind of talk about this?
Navigating Social Media and Boundaries
Speaker 1because I found it with myself and I know that this is something that we resonated with I never, I mean, I didn't know you, like I knew you a little bit, but like I didn't know just through social media. But I found with myself, like when I feel like I started to get like somewhat of a platform, people got weird around me and it's so uncomfortable because my my like soul friends, like they will. I don't feel like I've changed at all, it's just a number, like it's not like I have like 200,000 followers or whatever, but like it's so crazy. How weird can people can get. Yeah, like I'll never forget this.
Speaker 1One time I was out and someone was like oh, she has followers, she'll post you. Like what could you give us? And I just like looked and I'm like I will not hang out with you again after this because I was so uncomfortable that I was like I never asked for unless you were like do you have me? Or willing for me to come in or something, like whatever, like I'm never that, like I don't like to be that person, to be like oh, what are you going to give me. I don't like that.
Speaker 1So I was so uncomfortable about that and like, after that it made me I I go through this thing where I'm constantly reevaluating who's in my life and like who fuels me and like whatever, and like I find the most people that I like to surround myself with other people I don't have to talk to daily. You know, like we just like reach out and like I like I comment your pictures and I'm DMing you and just giving you that little bit of motivation, like I don't feel like I need to hold your hand and be like how's your day going? Is everything okay? So, like, did you find that people got weird with you too?
Speaker 2Yes, yeah, I noticed some people who like wouldn't necessarily talk to me, getting nicer with me and I'm just like why Weird? But like in a weird way, like you can tell when it's genuine when it's not. But yeah, I don't, I don't get it because I never really thought about it like that at all and that's just it's just so crazy in that position. Like when it's happening to you, you're, it's just normal. Like it doesn't mean anything at all. It's great, my greats getting my career out there.
Speaker 2Yeah, I'm so happy that like people actually support me and I inspire these people because that's why I started it. I want to inspire other people. Yeah, 100%. But yeah, I just I don't understand why it starts to get like that weird tension.
Speaker 1I think it's just like I don't know. I always say how people treat you as a reflection of how they feel about themselves, and I think that you know a lot of people I say all the time like, a lot of people that are overly on social media and I've caught myself doing this. I'm not saying just anybody like, I've caught myself. I've gone down a rabbit hole where I kept constantly posting pictures of like me and lingerie to like get attention and validation of like what the hell am I doing? Like we kind of talked about this before. But like, like what am I doing? Like this isn't, this isn't me. Like this isn't attracting what I want. I'm attracting men to my page. I don't want men on my page, I want women on my page.
Speaker 2But that was like me too when I posted in that bikini like I was getting so many men and I'm like I don't want this. I have a boyfriend this is not the support I need, Like. But now, like, as I'm posting more, I'm realizing and I post my boyfriend more and I'm finally starting to unfollow me and I'm getting more women, I'm like yes, thank God.
Speaker 1Thank God, you're posting.
Speaker 2you're posting throwing him down and they're like I'm good, I'm not trying to do it, no, my DMs are wild. Do you get a lot of feet DMs? Cause I get a lot of feet. I got in like can you send me pictures of your abs, I'll pay you. Can you send me pictures of your qu what, what the hell? I'm not even going to say some of this stuff I got one.
Speaker 1I'll say it, I don't even care. I got one once. It was after I worked out. Somebody was in my request and they were like I was wearing that remember that jumpsuit thing that you said? I think I commented on it. Yeah, someone DMed me and was like can I have the underwear? Can you mail me the underwear that you wore in this video? And I'm like what the fuck is happening? Oh my God, we sent like those.
Speaker 2What the fuck? I'll pay you $300 an hour if you kick me in the balls.
Speaker 1Wait, you want to know. It's so crazy that you just said that I know this. I don't know who this is. I forgot who it was, but somebody told me that they met a girl out that left the bar, went outside, literally kicked someone in the balls and came back inside and she goes. It was one of my clients and they were like, what did you just do? And she's like what she's like. I have clients that they like to act like my pets. Oh, oh, my gosh, I can't tell that at all. They like to act like her pets and they'll call her when they want to get kicked in the balls and they'll pay her like whatever she wants, and then she comes back inside. It's a thing I'm like why, how, like I can't remember who it was. I was literally in this conversation a month ago and I can't remember who told me it. That's insane. Whenever this comes out, whoever it was, please message me.
Speaker 2But people will sit there and tape all these things out and send it.
Speaker 1What is the best DM? You've gotten People trying to hit on you.
Speaker 2Oh my god, I've just gotten weird. Just all weird shit. I'm going to say this one, but someone was like can I pay you to send me a picture of your shit? What the fuck is wrong with you? Like, what was your talent to pay, though I don't know. You know what, Honestly, I should have asked. You should have Thompson. Someone was like Tom should just shave his legs and you just send pictures of your legs.
Speaker 1Listen, there's your backup option. There you go. Entrepreneurship.
Speaker 2People are vile. Like it blows my mind, I had one.
Speaker 1It wasn't even about that. My pickup line. Somebody DM'd me a dog and put dot dot dot. I don't know how he walked all over here, but while he's here and I'm coming to get him, how are you? And I'm like who pays for this shit?
Speaker 2Oh god, oh my god. I wish I had my phone. I could have found all of them.
Speaker 1I know we should just do a podcast episode of, like Jim's alone.
Speaker 2This is what happens when you post yourself in a bikini. Seriously, oh my god, Like damn, I'm posting this shit for me. Leave me alone.
Speaker 1That's how I like. I mean, when I first started doing like the laundry and stuff, it was definitely like for me and then I kind of like went through some shit, went through a breakup, whatever, and then I feel like that's fine, yeah. And then I just like started posting it like a lot more and I was just like I was just getting the wrong kind of attention. I'm like, what am I doing? I've been.
Speaker 1I don't need to, and then we were kind of just talking about this before and then I started talking to someone and I was still posting it and I'm like, okay, like I probably shouldn't post stuff like this. If I'm like going to get in a relationship or whatever, like I mean, I don't want someone's like parents to find me and then be like this is your girlfriend Like coming over Sunday dinner or something it's like are you trying to?
Speaker 2watch your picture.
Speaker 1Like that's uncomfortable, Like oh yeah, sorry, it's a whole rebranding shoe.
Speaker 2I forget like parents can actually see my friend too.
Speaker 1Honestly, my mom will like DM me all the time and I'm like, what mom like? You got my number Call me. Should I go? Wait, this is so funny.
Speaker 2I'm like, oh, I'm like my parents, my brother, my brother would be like can you take this off? Oh my God, yeah, your brother want to kill you. Oh yeah, yeah, I'm like no, no, I'm so sorry I have to do it.
Speaker 1So, like, do you have like what your like goal for for like right now? Like, do you like, how do you? Okay? So I just said this to him like I have goals, like silently, but I don't have. I don't have like set times for like when I'm going to get it done. I just know what I want to do and I just like figure out how to get myself there. But like and a lot of people say, like have a timeline of like your goals. Yeah, Like it makes you, like it pushes you, but like it just like. I feel like if I put a timeline on something, it like gives me anxiety. Yes, so like, what is your like goal right now?
Speaker 2So I have, I have things I'm working on, but I realize with myself like I have a million things that I want to do a hundred percent. And it's just. I need to learn how to work on one thing at a time because I work on multiple things at a time and I'm just like, wow, nothing's getting.
Speaker 1And then it's the breakdown.
Speaker 2That was literally yeah, so I? It's a thing, though, Like when you have your own business, like you're trying to figure out everything that you want to do at once and it just it can't be done. But right now I'm really I'm focusing on just building my clientele and I'm doing this prep. I mean, you're killing it. What else, what else do you want to share?
Speaker 1What are you going to eat after your prep? I probably shouldn't even ask you this, because you're probably so hungry, right?
Speaker 2now, oh, I, I like planned it out.
Speaker 1Like a list of all the things that you eat.
Speaker 2Well, Tom's coming with Tommy Scoob.
Speaker 1Oh, let's shout him out for that.
Speaker 2Yeah.
Speaker 1So go ahead and explain that.
Speaker 2So Thomas, my boyfriend Tommy Scoob.
Speaker 1I just kept saying her boyfriend and I just like name dropped him. I didn't know if we really keep it private or not, but we're not now.
Speaker 2So we're going to go. We're introducing Tommy Scoob, true, so we have to. Now, we know, go ahead. Yeah, he has a little ice cream truck and people rent him out for his parties. You can cater it, have it at an event, but it's doing really well and it's so good and I can't wait to eat it because I work on that truck in the summer on prep.
Speaker 1Wait, does that make a generator on it? Yeah, we should do. We shall go to the rodeo and he should bring it to the rodeo.
Speaker 2That would be cool.
Speaker 1Little little ideas right now. Yeah, we're gonna have to tell him after this, just mainly because my fat ass, I don't know like how that works. If it's like no cuz, I feel like it's like a trailer and like people at this rodeo Like usually just bring like anything. It's like we're pre-gaming.
Speaker 2Yeah, I've never been to a rodeo.
Speaker 1I went to Nashville, but no, don't get me started on Nashville. Yeah, you're always there. You. Anytime I hear somebody say Nashville, I'm like let's go. We want to book a trip, no problem. I talked to you one time in life. Great, we'll go.
Speaker 2I love it there. Yeah, I was there one time two years ago. Yeah, two years ago. Yeah, I was.
Speaker 1That was a good time. It's always a good time. I brought my mom. I'm like, let me tell you I had a good time. It was me, her, and then my one friend and my mom. My mom is so funny. She just like I feel like I was the mom and like I was watching my daughter out, like it was not rolls the first. I was like, okay, you're done.
Speaker 2This is your last drink. That's me with my mom. Yeah, I'm like one more drink and then you're done and then water.
Speaker 1Are you drinking water? I'm like, did you eat? And she's like I'm fine, I only. And I soon she starts counting how many drinks she had on my ear bomb. I'm like, okay, at one point I took turn for a nap and then, quick enough, but she kept up with me, my friend. She's like okay. She like woke up. She's like I'm ready to go. I'm like I love it, ready to go, I'm not ready to go. I actually tapped out earlier than her. I was like I'm ready to go home. That was Saturday night when I ran into you. Um, when we were at Merv's, I went home. My parents got home at two in the morning.
Speaker 2I was home at 12 o'clock. That's like me, I'm. I'm literally an old lady now Same. How old are you? 24.
Speaker 1Oh, you're a baby.
Speaker 2Oh, you're four years younger than me, no, and I'm literally grandma.
Speaker 1I feel like I mean, you're definitely noticed that now, after like you don't drink for a while, then you like drink hangovers after 25. No, terrible, terrible. I'm done for like two days.
Speaker 2No, and honestly, after I stopped drinking, because I went through a phase where I was going out three times a week oh god, like that. Yeah, down the shore. Djs one, two, three, friday, saturday, sunday. Thank you.
Speaker 1No, it was, it was. How is it now going?
Speaker 2out and not drinking. I'm fine. Honestly, people are like why do you even go out? What's the point? I just get to socialize with my friends. Yeah and like have a good time towards the end. I can't because I'm. My brain is just.
Speaker 1What do you think about? Like girls that you don't even know, co-opt? You are like oh, I got your so pretty, wanted your makeup.
Speaker 2Here we are. I was drunk as fuck when you came up to me, though I was like I saw Tom.
Speaker 1I was like hey, tom. And then I just turned at you. I'm like hi, I finally meet you. I finally meet you. I didn't even know you, like what. I thought nothing happened. Though who is this girl that's coming up to me and saying, hi.
Speaker 2Like what's happening? I yeah, no, I was just, I was vibing.
Speaker 1We were at a club where we're out birch. We had birch. Yeah, that was a good time. Yeah, I was a little drunk that night.
Speaker 2I don't even know. You were with someone. I don't know who was. You know who it was, you know who it was, I don't even remember.
Speaker 1Say it after yeah of the year ago, so I'm sure everybody that follows along could figure out my timeline. Oh, oh, my god, what else? What else do you want to share? How do you feel like social media? Like what are your thoughts on like social media platform? Do you feel like you get lost in it?
Speaker 1Sometimes, because that was a big thing for me I got like lost and like you took off like a lot faster.
Speaker 1I feel like I I like got off from my friends, were on double shot, so like hanging out with them, I started to get followers and then like, yeah, my one friend, darren I always say this, Darren, I've been friends are before she went on double shot at love and and right after she like took off too.
Speaker 1She was already an influencer, um, and then she got verified and everything and like just hanging out with her people would see us hanging out and then, yeah, and just like kind of took off and I feel like I definitely went through like a roller coaster wave. I was like kind of like what do I share? Like am I like trying to be a model? Am I trying to promote my business? Am I trying to do this? And like I feel like I was like all over the place so yeah, but I feel like it gets in your head sometime through. You're just like you feel like you start to like have to give to other people and like share all the things they want to see, and then you're just kind of like who am I?
Speaker 2yeah, you know, I Think like I kind of broke it down to where, like I want to educate people and inspire them, but I also I I don't mind sharing my personal life. Obviously, like there's some things that, yeah, like you want to, you just want to keep private. I was dating life, right, yeah?
Speaker 2But, it's just like I Don't try to scroll too much. I focus on my own because I think like scrolling is gonna like Guess it's inspiring to see other people's, but it can also lead to like more like comparison, and they say that. So I just try to keep it.
Speaker 1I feel like if anything like for like me looking at you, I mean some people will probably be like, oh man, like I got a galastare master today. I'm like sitting there with bag of chips like good, I'm right here, this is me.
Speaker 2I'm eating for you. I think it's really important because my biggest thing was making sure like I was authentic, like being myself, because I don't I don't want to be like every other Fitness girl.
Speaker 1I mean, I probably am like Like I want a little lot of fitness girls because I feel like it was just getting to let me show off my ass kind of thing. Like some people Like no shape to them because like great, good for you. But like sometimes we love the confidence yeah, I love the confidence, but like some things were too repetitive where I'm just like, okay, can you show like who you are, that's what I like. Like you're very authentic and like all the videos that you make to her very like I asked you. I was like who makes your videos? And you're like I do on Instagram. I'm like wait, what you should use? Splice. It's actually really good. I'm using that, I've been using that and I feel like I like the transitions and I feel like it does everything.
Speaker 2Yeah, but no, I really I learned to just Embrace it all, like I share my insecurities on there because I think it's gonna help other girls Like my skin was a big insecurity of mine, but I'm gonna share it because I know other people are going through that and just like help. My whole off season Like I was putting on weight and yeah, I was in my head like every single day but I was sharing that because why do you have to put on weight to gain muscle?
Speaker 1Yeah, what is your um Like typical prep, like what do you eat and stuff.
Speaker 2I eat five meals a day. Okay, so I eat a lot, like I'm eating like 200 grams of protein a day, and people think, like you have to like eat nothing to cut, but it's actually the opposite.
Speaker 1When I was just doing cardio, like what it's just eating cardio.
Speaker 2Yeah, I mean, I train every single day, I do cardio every day and I eat the same meals every single day. Like carbs will change, but that's pretty much it. My gosh, yeah. So for like the next four months I'll put it like real chicken girl chicken turkey. Oh fish, what kind of fish? Salmon, cod, I've never had. Cod. Hounder, white fish yeah, it's not the best.
Speaker 1I see like I can, I don't know I that's just so much dedication, because I I get like the meal prep from eat clean bro, mm-hmm, they're so good. And then I'm thinking of like a crispy cream donut, like I'm currently thinking right now, yeah, but like, have the freaking.
Speaker 2If I was in all season I'd have it on it, you know, but I'm trying to get abs out here?
Speaker 1Yeah, not gonna happen if I do that. So the discipline, let me tell you. Well, I think this is so funny. So, lastly, um Went to pinstripes in garden, say plaza, and like they're. They said like for me to bring my friends and like everything's comped. And I'm like everything and they're like, yeah, food and everything. And I'm like they don't know who they invited. Like because Me, when I tell you I feasted?
Speaker 1No, I don't waiter cable first, like I'm eating, as if I'm going to the electric chair right now. I'm ready and I was telling my dad before I left. He's like do they not know?
Speaker 2No, how much food you're about to order, that's the unbuttoned.
Speaker 1You're working it out, though I'm. I was bowling. I was terrible at bowling. I'm gonna tell you right now, I'm never gonna try to bowling league oh no, everything. I threw it and I thought it was gonna hit the wall like, oh, I'm never getting invited here again, it's so bad.
Speaker 2I've never watched like the people in the actual league.
Speaker 1So yeah, they, they're so serious I'm telling you they have a whole yeah, they like step, step, step, run throwback and like the leg, like soops under.
Speaker 2This one lady, I was dying. Tom and I went bowling one night and she went. She looks at it, she walks back like this. We're like what. We watched it every single time.
Speaker 1I love people watching the same thing. The best is when they have like the things for, like their carpal tunnel or something. They're so serious no, they that is like yeah, that's. My fingers got caught in the ball. I was like trying to like throw it and it like flew off, do you know? No, I think on my right, my left, one's bad and I went. I actually got trigger point injections in my traps yesterday and I'm like I just probably oh man, I just like went off topic.
Speaker 2Bowing.
Transitioning to Self-Employment and Growth
Speaker 1God just shaking the table. I'm so sorry. I what else? What else you got for me?
Speaker 2like, I feel like when, like Well, since, like you kind of inspired me to go off on my own, like, talk more about like you being in that position of a job that you didn't like so I, I don't know, I just don't.
Speaker 1I just never found myself wanting to work for somebody else and it was nothing against the salon I worked for anything like I always say I have a good relationship, though one of the son. I still kind of go back and forth there if I want to do hair, but I Just, I feel like looked around my environment, I'm like, if I'm gonna do this I was 22 I was like, if I'm gonna do this, I gotta do this now. And the guy was dating at the time. He was definitely very and like he helped me a lot with that. And I always like saying to people I'm like I don't like to burn bridges with people, exes or anything, because they all Help me be who I am today. And I always like look back on that time where I was very much like my parents were like no, like you need to stay there, like what are you doing? And he was like you should just, like you could totally do it now, like you Talk to so many people and if it's a time like Go off on your own. And he was like, if you need help with anything, like I'll help you and I'm like I can't take help from other people, but I also Going to bowling or we're talking about bowling.
Speaker 1I have a shoulder injury, so that kind of Put a stop to my career and the sense of like I can't do hair full-time, like physically it hurts me. I've talked about this like prior I have it's called thoracic outlet syndrome, so basically it's like a bunch of nerves compress under your thoracic outlet and my first rib is like pushed up higher on one side. So like you're like Moving around it hurts. So I didn't know what was wrong with me and that summer and I just that year Was a crazy year for me. I lost one of my good friends, I went through a bunch of different things emotionally and I wasn't in a good place. That that's when I just kind of looked around. I was like I think I just need to change my environment because truly, you get More. I feel like you push yourself more when you get uncomfortable. So like I like to put myself in uncomfortable positions to better myself, if that makes any sense. Like no, it's a yeah, yeah. Like you're gonna like get your breakthrough being uncomfortable. Like if you're comfortable in every aspect, like you're just safe, you're playing it safe instead of Just having fall back playing. So I mean, I'm friends of the Owner of a pizzeria that if I needed to pick up a shift and learn how to do that, I could go do that. Like there's always outlets to make money, you just have to go find it.
Speaker 1And I also didn't think it was fair to the owner of the salon Like I actually helped him with his social media because at that point I just like started to build mine up, so I was work, like we're trying to find different outlets of me not doing hair so much. So I kind of took days off of doing hair and I was like helping the social media and I was like, okay, I'm seeing how much I'm building this social media. And I was the time there's three salon, so I was going to all three locations and I was building the social media and I was like, okay, like I could do this. I'm taking videos, pictures and then just meeting people. And then I was just starting to do more makeup on myself and like practicing and I'm like, okay, like this is so much time-consuming I'm doing for somebody else that I could spend the time Doing all this for myself, because social media is a full-time job in itself.
Speaker 1So I remember Glow was there first For a year and the lease was up. It was in the basement and he pulled me sign, was like do you want to keep it here? This is what the agreement is. Do you want to keep it here, do you want to take it out? And like do a multiple service? And I was like it just kind of all hit me at once and I was like, honestly, I was like I know you're not gonna like this answer. I think I just want to take that and go off of my own completely.
Speaker 1And he was just like I never gonna say anything bad, like you're not gonna step on my toes. I told him. I was like I can assure you I'm not going to go into another salon, I'm not going to go open one. I'm not going to go down the street, I'm not. I'm literally going to go to people's houses, like that's all I'm going to do. And he was just like OK, well, you're always going to have a home here. I'm obviously sad that you're leaving.
Speaker 1Because, like, I just got my chair and really started to build a clientele and I told him, like I'm not telling my clients, I'm like the only thing I'm going to tell my clients is about spray tanning.
Speaker 1I'm not doing coloring, I'm not doing anything else. And he was like that's fine. So I never, never, stepped on each other's toes in that aspect and I definitely left with not burning a bridge, and it's so important I think I always say this Do not burn a bridge with anybody, no matter what they do to you. I, I don't care if I dated you for a second or a year or whatever, or if you were a friend of mine for two weeks. I will never burn a bridge with anybody. I will treat everybody the same, even if you didn't give the same energy back, because you truly never know what people are going through and you truly never know when you'll need them. And that is like a huge thing for me that I always tell everybody, because it takes more energy to not like somebody than it does to just let go and just just be you like, just focus on you like, whatever.
Speaker 2That's something I definitely learned. Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1And it's just it helps so much and like we never burned a bridge. And I remember during covid obviously I'm a mobile service, so this was 2017. I went off of my own 2017, 2018 and covid hit. And like covid hit right when I was like consecutively busy and I left Like I said this, I've left a full time job where I was making good money and I went off on my own and I was literally making like barely anything to help pay for my car that I just bought myself.
Speaker 1But again, it all happened at once and I remember just I started going to church. That's where I feel like it also like got into me just praying and watching sermons, and like I didn't always go to church, but like I just found a pastor that I really like same Steve Furtick, and I've read like some of his books and it just feel like it just having a guidance of knowing that somebody else has me besides myself just helped guide me, and I was like everything works out. It may not work out how you want it, and I don't like I don't. I try not to play. I used to be such a big planner of like things need to be specifically how I want it to be till I realized that it's never going to go that way. So, yeah, I went off on my own in the twenty, twenty hit covid and I just wasn't working. And at the time I like everybody was getting the stimulus checks. I didn't get one at all. So I wasn't working, didn't have a stimulus check. I reached out to my accountant and she's like, well, because you just like kind of went off on your own, you're not getting it off of somebody else, you're kind of getting it off of yourself. So that was also something else I had to learn. How to do is just like paying myself and like all that that goes into it. It was so great I didn't get my stimulus check until a year after and I was like this it was just so great, there's so much that goes into it. And then I reached out to Jack and I was like, hey, when you open the salon again, can I just come like two days a week, kind of on my own schedule, whatever? And he was just like, yeah, like doors always open for you, like where do you want your station? I came in, I was helping him out and he, like we just worked out our own deals. And then, yeah, I kind of went back there and then after I feel like when the world opened up again, I got busy again. I was like, yeah, hi, about that, I kind of can't really work here, I don't really have much time. And he, just here's a key you need to come. Come if you can't. Like it was just very yeah and everything just worked itself out.
Speaker 1But I feel like a lot of times like I it was who I surrounded myself with, like my friend Alyssa that you met I can't tell you how many times I've called her like hysterically crying, and I'm like why am I doing this? Like what am I doing? Like I, I feel like I am going to fail or whatever. And she was just like Courtney, you've already come so far. Like you, you know so many people, you're a good person, it, it'll be fine. And I'm like, yeah, yeah, you're right.
Speaker 1And again I just like I'm just the type of person I just like to vent. And then I'm like I'll figure it out, like I'll be fine. But yeah, just surrounding who I surrounded myself with my sister was definitely huge impact Of things. Like, my sister worked for a corporate company, does like a lot of marketing, business planning events and she just kind of taught me to like who I'm networking with and I didn't. I don't like to step on anyone's toes in any aspect, so I would reach out to like bridal shops instead of like other makeup artists or hairstylists and be like, oh, you need me on your team, and then I feel like everything kind of fell into place.
Speaker 2Don't you feel like when you started actually investing in yourself, everything around you started to work out? Yeah, yeah, because I think like opportunities start to come to you when you start just giving good energy out and just dialing in on yourself and I always said and it's so weird to actually feel it happening.
Navigating Relationships and Self-Growth
Speaker 1It's so great, it's almost like you know, like it's so crazy, because I feel like sometimes I'm like how did I get here? Like I sit and think about it. I'm like what? Like when people come to you and say, like you inspire me, I'm like I'm like me, yeah, like thanks, but like why me? Like you inspired me, like it's just like it's so, it's unbelievable and I think throughout this, staying humble is the most important part.
Speaker 1100%, 100% I definitely I don't know. I feel like I definitely have been humble, but there's points where I was just kind of like wait, what? Like this is just crazy, like where I'm like I didn't believe that I deserved it, but then I'm like no, I do deserve it because I know I'm a good person. Yeah, like that is like huge thing and like I feel like a lot of people like could be like oh, you're saying you're a good person. Like that's kind of like cocky, but it's not because being confident yeah.
Speaker 1There's a difference between me being like I'm a good person, like you should do this for me, like I never want anything in return from anybody. I will get it myself, I'll do whatever myself. I am very like what can I do for you? What connections do I have that I could help you? Like? That's just how I am. Yeah, Um did I like? I definitely answered that Like I feel like I went like all over, no, but that's my full story.
Speaker 2I do think, like who you surround yourself with is one of the most important things throughout this. Oh yeah.
Speaker 1I also like when noticed too I've said this in previous episodes like who, who would reach out to me for what? Like if people reached out to me, a lot of, I feel like a lot of people reached out to me. Like if, like they're them and their boyfriends were like in fights and stuff, and I'm like I don't want to hear this all the time and I'm single, and I'm like I'm single, I don't have a boyfriend, like be grateful you have somebody. Like I don't know, like I'm the wrong person to vent to. I still do not understand, when I put the, put up the I can't talk, put up the question things, why people ask me for a relationship advice Like ask her, ask her she's been in a long relationship, not me. Like why I'm still trying to figure it out. Like do you walk a boyfriend? Like what do you do? How do you treat when? I don't know? I'm just kidding.
Speaker 2I don't know why people need to know that stuff.
Speaker 1I'm like I don't know. Everybody has their own connections to people Like why, if I knew how to be in a relationship, I feel like I'm being one. I don't know. I like joke with my friends.
Speaker 2Honestly, like I don't even like gossiping anymore, like that Like and just like I don't know Once I started doing all this, like talking about other people, like I have no interest, in that Don't even care, even like our whole glam session, like we like when I did her makeup, like we didn't just go back and forth on each other.
Speaker 1If I am in a place like I said this a while ago to somebody like there's a quote, like if you're at a table where they feel like they have to talk about other people to feel good about themselves, like I'm good, I want to be at a table where we're talking about goals, business goals, motivation, like put me at that table. And it even goes back to like when I was in high school like I got bullied, like I get sitting at tables. I was so uncomfortable to leave the table because I didn't want to be talked about. Like I was so uncomfortable to be like. Like for somebody to be like oh, she's like in her chair uniform today, like who does she think she is? Like that's the thoughts that went through my head versus like who cares.
Speaker 2I think in high school, like I honestly I didn't connect with anyone, Like I had friends, you know, but like there was no like actual connection. And then growing up I started to learn like wow, this is a friendship, I know, which is insane.
Speaker 1Like my best friend Alyssa. She, we and her weren't friends in high school. I'm gonna be honest, I didn't like the girl she hung out with. I'll flat out say it. You guys probably watch this, I really don't care Did not like you guys in high school.
Speaker 1I feel like you guys had to talk shit about people and let's know who I wanted to be with. And my friend Sean actually that the one that passed away he after high school, would be like come out, come hang out with us. And I'm like, okay, fine, so I would go out with them and I'm me and Alyssa just like connected, and me and Alyssa connected through one of my other friends too that I also didn't hang out in high school. Like they're just like, wait, you're funny. And I'm like me, I'm funny.
Speaker 1I mean I laugh at myself. I know I laugh at myself, but like, okay, and like I just started hanging out with like them and I'm like why didn't I hang out with you guys in high school? Because I always associated them with who, these other girls that they hung out with, that I just didn't care to be around. Because I'm like, why are we I don't want to talk about other people Like I don't care, I want everyone good, like we all. Just because a rumor got out about them and it's true. Like why did we all have shit in our lives that we don't want other people to know about? Like why fault them for their their own life, like path you know it's just honestly their own insecurities.
Speaker 2That's what I've learned.
Speaker 1It's so crazy. But yeah, me and Alyssa I actually, when I have her on a podcast episode, like how we became friends I brought her on vacation with me. We, I go camping, so I brought her on a two week vacation with me and that just made us be friends. So, like I swear, like I, because we always fight, but it's never serious.
Speaker 2Like it's a joke, yeah.
Speaker 1Well, you saw, it's like what I say, no matter who it is, what I say behind any of my friends backs, I will say right to their face, even if it's harsh, like she's witness me and Alyssa, I'm just like, look at her. I'm like why are you on your phone? Pay attention to me? I'm like, don't make me waste my time. But like Alyssa knows that, I'm not like even if I was like talking shit about her or like something like let's say I was talking shit about her, right now I'll call her and be like oh my God, I just talked shit about you on my podcast. She's like what did you say?
Speaker 2Like let me know, like it's like that sister relationship where you're pushing up that you can do that Like my closest friends now. We went to high school together. Never, we were never friends. Exactly A year ago, we both became friends and, if they're honestly, I have like a connection with them that I have never had.
Speaker 1So and it's crazy. I feel like what's once like people I don't know. It's like we take away your ego. You know, I feel like a lot of it's like ego driven, like immaturity.
Speaker 2Yeah, I mean you grow up and honestly, most people should grow up.
Speaker 1Most people don't learn high school, but the drama.
Speaker 2Yeah, I don't fault anyone for how they were in high school. I mean, how I was in high school is not who I am now. Yeah, like so it's fine, but now you should be at that point where you're not like that anymore. Yeah.
Speaker 1And honestly I'm sure, even like the people from high school that I didn't really like care to hang out with, like even if they needed something for me, I probably would still help them, and I'm like yeah, I know you guys talk shit, but I don't care. So that's like yeah, and it's just like there's no why.
Speaker 2Why do I need to hold this grudge? I was such a group like I would hold. I know.
Speaker 1I would say, probably when I turned 24, 25, where I was just like, why does that matter? Yeah, like, who cares? Like anything like it's. Like I say all the time, it's just easier to forgive than to, obviously, like you know you're never going to forget, like whatever, but it's just easier to forgive because you really never, like I. I know that there's times where I've gone through some shit, where I take it out of my friends and then I'll say like I'm so sorry, like, but it's just like learning boundaries Like my friends.
Speaker 1If, like, they call me for advice and I'm not in a good like mental state or something, if, like I have too much work going on and I just need to focus on that, and they call me and I'm like, hey, like boundary, I'm like, hey, like I love you, I'm not going to give you the best advice right now and it might trigger me and I might give you attitude, and I don't want to. I want to be in the best mental state to answer your texts, to be there for you how you need me, and that is something that that was very hard for me to do and for hard for me to learn, because I always wanted to be there for everybody, that he was draining my energy and I remember I would be so exhausted where I'm like, okay, I'm helping everybody else, but like who's helping me? I'm like drowning, oh, my God. Like, okay, everybody's calling me. Like at one point I remember it was like it was like a couple of years ago where it was like I'd hang up the phone with somebody and then like one of my other friends will call me, and then one of my other friend and I'm like, oh, when did I become like, when did I become the therapist and I can't in between clients and I'm driving around and I'm like taking that in with me and and I just start to be like I actually kind of when I started therapy, my therapist is like you don't always have to be there for everybody, like who's there for you? And I'm like I'm there for me. She's like, exactly Like learn boundaries, learn healthy boundaries and how to communicate.
Speaker 2In that aspect, my yeah, my coach just texted me this yesterday. Actually she was like promise me, when you go off on your business, you learn to set boundaries for yourself, Like don't engage in things that are draining you because it's just not worth it and don't wait until you're burned out to do something about it.
Speaker 1Yeah, which I think is so great and I mean I feel like we can end that there. So we give your Instagram again, just so we can end with that too. List fit underscore. Yeah, I'm going to tag it too. But thank you so much for coming. I'm definitely going to bring her on again. I feel like we're going to have so much to talk about after this comes out. But seriously, thank you so much for inspiring me and for coming today, and I am so proud of you. I know you haven't been in my life for a while, but I know we're going to have a long friendship and for having a new problem. And thanks for tuning in, guys. Bye, bye, bye, bye.
Speaker 2Bye.
