What I’d Lean Into If I Created A Podcast in 2025 (A Case Study)

You know those conversations that start with “okay, I have to tell you something” and somehow spiral into a three-hour deep dive on life, relationships, and why we all need a new favorite mascara? The kind where you leave feeling lighter, more seen, and maybe even a little braver?

That’s what a great podcast should feel like.

I’ve been absolutely loving What’s The Juice lately because it gives me exactly that—raw, unfiltered, human-to-human conversations that aren’t trying too hard, don’t feel overly produced, and most importantly, feel real. It’s not just another show spitting out self-help tips or trying to go viral with a hot take—it’s a space where you can land, sit in the mess, and actually feel something.

If I created a podcast in 2025, this is exactly what I’d lean into. Because in a world that’s increasingly digital—where AI can basically write your emails, edit your audio, and even pretend to have conversations—this is the kind of stuff it can’t do for us.

Why I’m Loving What’s The Juice

I’ve been listening to a few standout episodes lately, and what’s been hitting me is how much this show has evolved along with its host, Olivia Amitrano. It’s gone from being information-packed to feeling more integrated—less about dumping knowledge and more about sharing wisdom from lived experience. It’s honest, fluid, and meets you exactly where you are—which, let’s be real, is all any of us actually want from a podcast.

Letting the Podcast Evolve (Like Life Does)

One thing I love is how she’s allowed her podcast to change instead of forcing it into a rigid structure. She’s leaned into:
✔ Honest, unfiltered conversations with friends instead of hyper-produced interviews.
✔ Solo episodes that feel like you’re FaceTiming a bestie.
✔ The “death and rebirth cycle” of content—because sometimes, things need to shift.

✔ Launching in seasons to give space and perspective to always be realigning.

This is what I’d lean into in my own podcast: I wouldn’t want to stick to some rigid format just because it’s “what works.” I’d let it evolve, knowing that who I am today is not who I’ll be in a year.

Bravery in Vulnerability: The Conversations That Hit Different

One of the most powerful episodes? Why Being Seen Feels So Scary and Why You Need to Do It.

We all want to be understood, but actually letting people see us? That’s a whole different level of terrifying. It’s something I personally have always needed to work on – ever since I cried when I made the spelling bee finals in 8th grade because I had to be on stage in front of the entire school. This episode dives into the fear of judgment, the stories we tell ourselves, and why real connection comes from allowing yourself to be seen—even when you feel messy and imperfect. This episode is actually what inspired me to share my most vulnerable post yet. And it’s not lost on me that the guest talks about getting pregnant unexpectedly.

✔ It’s raw. It’s real. It’s exactly the kind of conversation I want more of.
✔ It makes you sit there like, holy sht, I thought I was the only one who felt this way.*
✔ And it reminds you that bravery isn’t about not being scared—it’s about showing up anyway.

Letting the Conversation Flow > Sticking to a Script

This is another huge reason What’s The Juice is hitting so well—she actually listens and flows with the conversation, rather than sticking to a pre-set list of questions.

So many interview-based podcasts feel robotic because the host is just waiting for the guest to finish talking so they can move on to the next question. It’s actually one of my biggest pet peeves when a host follows up something a guest shares with a question totally out of left field instead of being curious about what the guest is actually saying and responding accordingly (good conversation 101). Need an example? Look no further. Olivia’s fully present, feeling the energy, and letting the conversation unfold naturally.

✔ This resonates way more with the audience because it feels like we’re part of the conversation, not just listening to a Q&A.
✔ The energy is felt, not just heard—it’s organic, engaging, and never forced.
✔ You can tell she’s leading with curiosity rather than just trying to “get through” an interview.

This is what I’d lean into in my own podcast: No forced segues, no “let’s circle back” moments, just real, present-moment conversations.

Only Showing Up When It Feels Right

Another reason I love What’s The Juice? She doesn’t just put out content for the sake of staying on a schedule. She releases episodes when she’s actually ready to talk about something.

A perfect example is My Journey with Cannabis: How I Quit & Overcoming Addiction. She didn’t share her experience immediately after quitting—she waited three or four years before fully reflecting on it. Because some things need time before they’re ready to be talked about.

This is what I’d lean into in my own podcast: Knowing the difference between when it feels right to put certain information out there and when you feel pressure to share just to “stay consistent.” By waiting, you can provide a wider perspective, and create more meaningful insight for your listeners.

Navigating the Void & Letting Life Be Unproductive

One of the biggest themes in her podcast is giving yourself permission to pause—to not constantly be producing, planning, and pushing forward.

What To Do When You’re Completely Lost In Life & It’s Time to Reinvent Yourself hit me hard. We’re so conditioned to think we need to have a plan at all times, to always be “figuring it out.” But what if not knowing is actually part of the process?

✔ Sitting in the unknown without rushing to “fix” it.
✔ Not beating yourself up for needing a break.
✔ Realizing that clarity comes after rest, not before.

When I was navigating my grief journey in 2021 after losing my grandmother, I had to sit in how uncomfortable it felt to be okay with doing the bare minimum. I have always been an over achiever and derived my self-worth from what I was doing. Learning that who I am is inherently worthy has been a huge unlock for me to accept and love myself.

Most of our lives are spent sitting in the unknown. The “aha” moments aren’t the norm, they’re the reward we get from being brave enough to sit in the eye of the storm. Furthermore, we need friction to move. We need to get so uncomfortable we can’t stand still to grow sometimes. The key is to not expect life to be any different.

What AI Can’t Do for Us:
AI can generate content. It can predict trends. But it can’t sit with uncertainty. It can’t feel grief, joy, doubt, or peace. And it definitely can’t take a step back and say, I’m not sure yet. That’s what makes human conversation irreplaceable.

If I Created a Podcast in 2025…

It would feel like the ultimate girlfriend conversation. Not a show that’s trying too hard to be perfect, not a place where we only talk about things when we’ve “figured them out.” Just a real, messy, ever-evolving space where we can land, talk about life, and say the things we really mean.

Where we can see ourselves in someone else’s experience and know we’re not crazy or alone in what we’re going through. To know that someone else made it through, and we will too.

Because no matter how much AI advances—no matter how much it sounds like us—it will never be able to replicate the magic of being seen and validated.

And that? That’s exactly why we need more of it.

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