Sh*t I Wish I Knew In My Twenties
Debra Alfarone Media
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Your 20s are hard. High school dropout turned Network TV Correspondent and confidence coach Debra Alfarone made every mistake. Now she’s committed to helping you not only dodge suffering, but fast track your success in your career, life and love. Every week, Debra interviews a notable successful person from the news, entertainment, literary or business world about their toughest life lessons, to help you thrive in your twenties, not just survive.
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Oct 16, 2022
The cold call I made that got me a network TV job.......eventually
This week, host of Sh*t I Wish I Knew In My Twenties, Debra Alfarone, is sharing her personal story about how she went from dropout to dream life, and how one cold call played a huge role.
Sh*t I Wish I Knew In My Twenties (SIWIKIMT) is a podcast dedicated to helping 20-somethings thrive in their twenties, not just survive.
Host Debra Alfarone knows how tough being in your twenties can be. As a high-school dropout turned-network-TV-correspondent, she learned most of life’s lessons the hard way. She overcame the odds and now covers the White House for CBS News nationally. She’s also a confidence coach for young women in the TV news industry.
This is the last episode of the first season - but we'll be back for a star-studded season 2 in January, 2023.
PLEASE drop your email at https://shitiwishiknew.link/GTFO to be the first to know about new episodes.
Follow Debra on IG at https://www.instagram.com/debraalfarone/ and on TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/@debraalfarone
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Oct 9, 2022
This week, we’re gonna try something a little different.......
This week, host of Sh*t I Wish I Knew In My Twenties, Debra Alfarone, is sharing some of her personal sh*t about how imposter syndrome can be sneaky and insidious. It comes for us all. Buckle up for a coaching session and learn how you can kick it to the curb.
Sh*t I Wish I Knew In My Twenties (SIWIKIMT) is a podcast dedicated to helping 20-somethings thrive in their twenties, not just survive.
Host Debra Alfarone knows how tough being in your twenties can be. As a high-school dropout turned-network-TV-correspondent, she learned most of life’s lessons the hard way. She overcame the odds and now covers the White House for CBS News nationally. She’s also a confidence coach for young women in the TV news industry.
Drop your email at https://shitiwishiknew.link/GTFO to be the first to know about new episodes.
Follow Debra on IG at https://www.instagram.com/debraalfarone/ and on TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/@debraalfarone
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Oct 2, 2022
Jen Maxfield is a human being first, a NYC reporter second - plus an author too. Hear why she says she HAD TO revisit 10 unforgettable stories
Jen Maxfield is an Emmy-award winning reporter and anchor who’s covered New York and New Jersey for two decades, currently for NBC New York. Maxfield’s first book, More After the Break: A Reporter Returns to Ten Unforgettable News Stories was published by Greenleaf Book Group in July of 2022. More After the Break was an instant Amazon bestseller. In her book, Maxfield revisits the most memorable stories she has covered during her TV news career.
Jen shares her top life tips for 20-somethings, and takes us on a vicarious joyride through her TV news career, including the most mystifying job interview she’s ever been on, which included speaking in French and the capital of Australia.
Sh*t I Wish I Knew In My Twenties (SIWIKIMT) is a podcast dedicated to helping 20-somethings thrive in their twenties, not just survive.
Host Debra Alfarone knows how tough being in your twenties can be. As a high-school dropout turned-network-TV-correspondent, she learned most of life’s lessons the hard way. She overcame the odds and now covers the White House for CBS News nationally. She’s also a confidence coach for young women in the TV news industry.
Connect with Jen on IG at https://www.instagram.com/jenmaxfieldnews/ and buy her best-selling book at jenmaxfield.com
Drop your email at https://shitiwishiknew.link/GTFO to be the first to know about new episodes.
Follow Debra on IG at https://www.instagram.com/debraalfarone/ and on TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/@debraalfarone
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Sep 25, 2022
If you’re thinking about making a big life change, award-winning author & podcaster Jenny Blake has THE best advice I’ve ever heard
Jenny Blake is a podcaster and the author of three award-winning books, including Pivot (2016) and Free Time (2022), with a podcast for each. Listen, there’s a reason why her podcasts have a million-plus downloads. Jenny used to teach people how to "career" at Google; now she’s teaching EVERYONE.
One of my fave lessons she shares is how being a “daymaker” is a goal to strive for. My other fave lesson is how to set yourself up for success when you pivot (it’s soooooo good).
Sh*t I Wish I Knew In My Twenties (SIWIKIMT) is a podcast dedicated to helping 20-somethings thrive in their twenties, not just survive.
Host Debra Alfarone knows how tough being in your twenties can be. As a high-school dropout turned-network-TV-correspondent, she learned most of life’s lessons the hard way. She overcame the odds and now covers the White House for CBS News nationally. She’s also a confidence coach for young women in the TV news industry.
Connect with Jenny on IG at @jennyblakenyc and get her Free Time toolkit here: http://itsfreetime.com/toolkit
Listen to her two podcasts here: pod.link/pivotmethod and pod.link/freetime
Drop your email at https://shitiwishiknew.link/GTFO to be the first to know about new episodes.
Follow Debra on IG at https://www.instagram.com/debraalfarone/ and on TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/@debraalfarone
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Sep 19, 2022
Social Entrepreneur Alice Chun is the epitome of “Gutsy” - learn how she became part of Hilary & Chelsea Clinton’s new Apple TV+ show
Alice Chun is a social entrepreneur, professor, humanitarian, and award-winning inventor featured in Hilary and Chelsea Clinton’s new Apple TV+ series, “Gutsy.” In 2015, Chun invented Solar Puffs, the world’s only self-inflatable, portable origami solar light, in order to bring light to places that have none. We may take light for granted but it’s a matter of life or death in third-world areas and for people in countries reeling from natural disasters and war like Haiti, Puerto Rico, and Ukraine.
CONTENT WARNING: There is a mention of suicide in this episode.
In this episode, Alice shares her journey from once suicidal college student to her rise to social entrepreneur, TEDx Speaker, and featured guest on “Gutsy.”
Sh*t I Wish I Knew In My Twenties (SIWIKIMT) is a podcast dedicated to helping 20-somethings thrive in their twenties, not just survive.
Host Debra Alfarone knows how tough being in your twenties can be. As a high-school dropout turned-network-TV-correspondent, she learned most of life’s lessons the hard way. She overcame the odds and now covers the White House for CBS News nationally. She’s also a confidence coach for young women in the TV news industry.
Connect with Alice on IG: https://www.instagram.com/solight_design
Drop your email at https://shitiwishiknew.link/GTFO to be the first to know about new episodes.
Follow Debra on IG at https://www.instagram.com/debraalfarone/ and on TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/@debraalfarone
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Sep 11, 2022
Emmy-nominated journalist Lisa Mateo opens up about “what happened” to her and how others aren’t alone
Emmy award-nominated journalist Lisa Mateo embodies the word “versatile.” The mom of two reported every type of news there is in NYC, from reporting traffic from the chopper, to hard news, to weather, to hosting a show with celebrity tastemakers - before setting off for the national stage. She’s done radio, TV, public speaking, fitness coaching, and now covers business news for Bloomberg.
Content warning: In addition to a lot of laughing, there’s some crying, a lot of inspirational moments, and mentions of childhood neglect and abuse.
Lisa shares how leaving PIX 11 was the push she needed to give her life-changing Tedx talk. Her motto - “why not?” - helped create new opportunities and expand her skills again and again.
Sh*t I Wish I Knew In My Twenties (SIWIKIMT) is a podcast dedicated to helping 20-somethings thrive in their twenties, not just survive.
Host Debra Alfarone knows how tough being in your twenties can be. As a high-school dropout turned-network-TV-correspondent, she learned most of life’s lessons the hard way. She overcame the odds and now covers the White House for CBS News nationally. She’s also a confidence coach for young women in the TV news industry.
Connect with Lisa on IG: https://www.instagram.com/lisamateotv
Drop your email at https://shitiwishiknew.link/GTFO to be the first to know about new episodes.
Follow Debra on IG at https://www.instagram.com/debraalfarone/ and on TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/@debraalfarone
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Sep 4, 2022
CBS Mornings Lead National Correspondent David Begnaud is an open book, and says being “too much” is OK
David Begnaud is the lead national correspondent for "CBS Mornings" based in New York. He joined the Network in 2015 and his reporting has earned him some of journalism's most prestigious awards.
One of his most notable assignments was his coverage of Hurricane Maria when it hit Puerto Rico in October 2017. He spent more time covering Puerto Rico's recovery than any other network news correspondent. His distinctive, unmatched reporting resulted in government action, and throughout the crisis, he delivered sustained coverage on all platforms — especially on social media.
In this episode, the dog dad shares how when he started really being himself, his career took off like a rocket ship. Growing up gay in the south and dealing with managing his Tourette's Syndrome, he felt like he had to hide who he was. Not any more.
If you've ever worried that you're "too much," this is the episode to assure you you're 100% perfect the way you are.
Sh*t I Wish I Knew In My Twenties (SIWIKIMT) is a podcast dedicated to helping 20-somethings thrive in their twenties, not just survive.
Host Debra Alfarone knows how tough being in your twenties can be. As a high-school dropout turned-network-TV-correspondent, she learned most of life’s lessons the hard way. She overcame the odds and now covers the White House for CBS News nationally. She’s also a confidence coach for young women in the TV news industry.
Connect with David on IG: https://www.instagram.com/davidbegnaud/
Drop your email at https://shitiwishiknew.link/GTFO to be the first to know about new episodes.
Follow Debra on IG at https://www.instagram.com/debraalfarone/ and on TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/@debraalfarone
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Aug 28, 2022
Podcast queen Femi Redwood is unapologetically her...but she wasn’t always. How 90s icons DaBrat, Cam’ron and Ashlee Simpson helped shape her.
Femi Redwood is the Podcast Manager at 1010WINS in NYC and the Host of the Beyond Black History Month podcast, Co-chair of NABJ's LGBTQ+ Task Force, and a Board Member for NLGJA.
In this episode, the former award-winning TV Anchor and Correspondent shares how 90s icon DaBrat helped her to come out when she was 19. She shares how if you're gonna wear vintage, you just might have to accept that your a$$ may hang out, and talks about how being unapologetically you is what every human should strive for.
Sh*t I Wish I Knew In My Twenties (SIWIKIMT) is a podcast dedicated to helping 20-somethings thrive in their twenties, not just survive.
Host Debra Alfarone knows how tough being in your twenties can be. As a high-school dropout turned-network-TV-correspondent, she learned most of life’s lessons the hard way. She overcame the odds and now covers the White House for CBS News nationally. She’s also a confidence coach for young women in the TV news industry.
Connect with Femi Redwood on IG: https://www.instagram.com/femiredwood/
Drop your email at www.pages.debraalfarone.com to be the first to know about new episodes.
Follow Debra on IG at https://www.instagram.com/debraalfarone/ and on TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/@debraalfarone
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Aug 21, 2022
She got married in the NY Times, and divorced in the NY Post - NYC TV Anchor and Author Tamsen Fadal is unlocking her bold
Tamsen Fadal is an Emmy award-winning TV Anchor at PIX 11 in NYC, an Author, and a Midlife Enthusiast. She's also a wife, a bonus mom to two, and a fur mom to a 17-year-old Chihuahua.
As you'll hear, Tamsen is passionate about sharing inspiring stories about women who are changing their lives in a BOLD way. She recently turned 51, sparking new experiences, insights, and questions about this mid-life moment.
Tamsen recently launched Coming Up Next, a podcast series to support women moving through midlife changes, menopause, new career directions, and all the other new choices and possibilities that women face at this time in their life.
In this episode, Tamsen shares how she channeled the shame from going through a public divorce into becoming a best-selling author, helping countless women fall in love with themselves after divorce, how living long enough to experience menopause is a gift, how outliving her late mother is sparking new resolve in her 5th decade on this earth, and how she should probably never cut her hair really, really short ever again.
Sh*t I Wish I Knew In My Twenties (SIWIKIMT) is a podcast dedicated to helping 20-somethings thrive in their twenties, not just survive.
Host Debra Alfarone knows how hard being in your twenties can be. As a high-school dropout turned-network-TV-correspondent, she learned most of life’s lessons the hard way. She overcame the odds and now covers the White House for CBS News nationally. She’s also a confidence coach for young women in the TV news industry.
Connect with Tamsen on IG: https://www.instagram.com/tamsenfadal and on TikTok at https://tiktok.com/tamsenfadal/ and YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/c/TamsenFadalTV
If you like Sh*t I Wish I Knew In My Twenties, drop your email at www.pages.debraalfarone.com to be the first to know about new episodes.
Follow Debra on IG at https://www.instagram.com/debraalfarone/ and on TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/@debraalfarone
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Aug 7, 2022
TV Host & Producer Alex Berg says telling LGBTQ+ stories can inspire compassion & allyship
Alex Berg is an on-air host, creative director and journalist telling stories from in front of and behind the camera.
Alex is currently a producer and director of the documentary series Authentic Voices of Pride for LGBTQ Nation, the largest publisher of queer news, the co-host of the I’m From Driftwood Podcast, where she talks about LGBTQ+ topics for the eponymous storytelling organization, and a senior creative producer at Blink, where she helps brands tell their stories organically.
In this episode, Alex shares what she's learned in her 20s, including the importance of speaking your truth and dreams into the world powerfully, how telling stories of the LGBTQ+ community can inspire understanding and allyship, and how a $4 tube top from H&M taught her a critical life lesson.
Sh*t I Wish I Knew In My Twenties (SIWIKIMT) is a podcast dedicated to helping 20-somethings thrive in their twenties, not just survive.
Host Debra Alfarone knows how tough being in your twenties can be. As a high-school dropout turned-network-TV-correspondent, she learned most of life’s lessons the hard way. She overcame the odds and now covers the White House for CBS News nationally. She’s also a confidence coach for young women in the TV news industry.
Connect with Alex on IG: https://www.instagram.com/itsalexberg and on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/itsalexberg/
If you like Sh*t I Wish I Knew In My Twenties, drop your email at www.pages.debraalfarone.com to be the first to know about new episodes.
Follow Debra on IG at https://www.instagram.com/debraalfarone/ and on TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/@debraalfarone
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Jul 31, 2022
New York Times best-selling author and human guinea pig A.J. Jacobs says life is a puzzle
Today's guest, A.J. Jacobs, is an author, journalist, lecturer and human guinea pig. He has written four New York Times bestsellers that combine memoir, science, humor and a dash of self-help.
In this episode, the author of The Year of Living Biblically shares how his latest book, The Puzzler, took him on a rollicking journey to understand the enduring power of puzzles: why we love them, what they do to our brains, and how they can improve our world.
A.J. shares how gratitude for the hundreds of things that go right each day can change our lives, how he wishes he knew how comparing led to despairing in his twenties, and how he gets back 47 seconds a day using elastic shoelaces.
Sh*t I Wish I Knew In My Twenties (SIWIKIMT) is a podcast dedicated to helping 20-somethings thrive in their twenties, not just survive.
Host Debra Alfarone knows how tough being in your twenties can be. As a high-school dropout turned-network-TV-correspondent, she learned most of life’s lessons the hard w…
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Jul 24, 2022
How throwing parties in his 20s led to Nick Gray’s success and how you can do it too!
Nick Gray throws parties. Memorable parties. He's also the Founder and CEO of Museum Hack and recent author of a new handbook that will help you build big relationships, make new friends, and even boost your career. It's called The 2-Hour Cocktail Party, a step-by-step handbook that teaches you how to build big relationships by hosting small gatherings.
Over 75,000 people have watched his TEDx talk about why he hates most museums. He's been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and New York Magazine called him a host of “culturally significant parties."
Sh*t I Wish I Knew In My Twenties is a podcast dedicated to helping 20-somethings thrive in their twenties, not just survive.
Host Debra Alfarone knows how hard being in your twenties can be. As a high-school dropout turned-network-TV-correspondent, she learned most of life’s lessons the hard way. She overcame the odds and now covers the White House for CBS News nationally. She’s also a confidence coach for y…
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Jul 17, 2022
Single in your 20s? This Midlife Muse says the odds are in your favor
Amanda Hanson is a clinical psychologist turned transformational life coach for women. Her brand Revolutionizing Midlife is about redefining and reclaiming what it means to be a woman 40+. She is a self-proclaimed paradigm shifter & her contagious approach is one of limitless possibilities. Where most see roadblocks she sees opportunities.
In this episode, Amanda shares why the odds are actually in our favor for love and money (!) and how a fight turned into a night to forget the day before her wedding in her 20s. You don't want to miss this episode - it's literally life-changing.
Sh*t I Wish I Knew In My Twenties (SIWIKIMT) is a podcast dedicated to helping 20-somethings thrive in their twenties, not just survive.
Host Debra Alfarone knows how hard being in your twenties can be. As a high-school dropout turned-network-TV-correspondent, she learned most of life’s lessons the hard way. She overcame the odds and now covers the White House for CBS News nationally. She’s also a conf…
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Jul 17, 2022
The secret CBS News Anchor Jericka Duncan hid in her 20s
CBS News Anchor Jericka Duncan talks with Debra and shares the secret she held onto in her twenties as her journalism career was taking off, what she originally wanted to do with her life, and her reflections on covering racial gun violence in Buffalo, New York. She also shares how smoothies are life, stress sweats are the worst, and the one hair/makeup memory she wishes she could erase from her twenties.
Sh*t I Wish I Knew In My Twenties is a podcast dedicated to helping 20-somethings thrive in their twenties, not just survive.
Host Debra Alfarone knows how hard being in your twenties can be. As a high-school dropout turned-network-TV-correspondent, she learned most of life’s lessons the hard way. She overcame the odds and now covers the White House for CBS News nationally. She’s also a confidence coach for young women in the TV news industry.
You can watch Jericka anchor the CBS Weekend Evening News Sunday evenings. Follow her on Instagram at @iamthatreporterJD.
If you like S…
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May 27, 2022
Welcome to Sh*t I Wish I Knew In My Twenties - the podcast!
Welcome!
We're so happy to welcome you to Sh*t I Wish I Knew In My Twenties - the podcast!
Host Debra Alfarone is a Network TV Correspondent, and she used to be a high school dropout.
Debra learned all her life lessons the hard way and now she wants to share them with you.
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