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REALTALK: Honest Conversations for High-Functioning Humans
REAL TALK began as a response to a traumatic event that swept the globe.
In the early days of the pandemic, when the world felt uncertain and disconnected, Emma G used her platform as a singer-songwriter, coach, and speaker to keep people inspired, grounded, and mentally well. What started as a simple idea — let’s talk honestly about how we’re really doing — quickly became something more.
REAL TALK evolved into a space for curious, compassionate conversations about resilience, creativity, leadership, and mental health — especially for people who are often expected to “hold it together.”
At its core, the show brings together people from different backgrounds, beliefs, and lived experiences to explore wellness with integrity, nuance, and heart.
Season One: Holding Space During the Pandemic
Season One was hosted solo by Emma G and featured conversations with creatives, leaders, and thinkers navigating their inner worlds while continuing to show up publicly.
Guests included fashion designer Kenny “Kas” Flanagan, motivational speaker Billy Alsbrooks, politician Laila Harré, hip-hop artist King Kapisi, and the Punk Rock Doc herself, Dr. JJ Kelly, among many others.
These were conversations about staying human in an inhuman moment — about mental health, meaning, identity, and how we care for ourselves when everything familiar is stripped away.
Season Two: Mental Health Sounds Like This
In 2025, REAL TALK returned with a new chapter.
Season Two was co-hosted by Rawinia Judson (Ra) — authenticity and leadership coach — and leaned more deeply into what mental health actually sounds like for high-functioning humans: leaders, entrepreneurs, creatives, and changemakers.
Together, Emma and Ra explored burnout, self-trust, purpose, nervous system health, and authenticity through conversations with guests like Andrew Buerger, Robert Heath, Stephen Warner, and Sam Harvey.
Season Two wasn’t about quick fixes.
It was about naming what’s real, reducing stigma, and reminding listeners they weren’t alone.
Season Three: Raising the Vibration
Season Three marks a natural evolution — not away from mental health, but into integration.
Co-hosted by Emma G and Dinah Simpson, founder of High Ki Living, this season expands the conversation into holistic wellness — mind, body, and spirit — while staying grounded, practical, and deeply human.
Emma’s bold, expressive “rockstar-meets-mindful” energy is balanced by Dinah’s calm, nourishing presence. Together, they create a space that is both activating and regulating — honest without being heavy, elevated without bypassing reality.
This season features conversations with guests such as Dr. Dave Snell, Angela Kingdon, Molly Ruland, and Dr. Robb Kelly — people working at the intersection of mental health, leadership, healing, culture, and systems change.
Season Three is about raising the vibration not by escaping life — but by meeting it with awareness, embodiment, and intention.
What REAL TALK Is Really About
REAL TALK exists because:
- High-functioning humans struggle too
- Wellness isn’t one-size-fits-all
- Healing doesn’t always look quiet
- Growth shouldn’t come at the cost of your nervous system
- And honest conversation remains one of the most powerful tools we have
This podcast isn’t about perfection or performance. It’s about presence, perspective, and staying connected to yourself while doing meaningful work in the world.
REALTALK livestreams every Monday at 6pm EST starting January 5, 2026 through to March 23, 2026.
Episodes
Thursday Apr 24, 2025
Thursday Apr 24, 2025
REAL TALK: Mental Health Sounds Like This | Episode 1: Music as Medicine with Iliana Fernandez
Welcome to the very first episode of REAL TALK: Mental Health Sounds Like This — a podcast where creatives, leaders, and changemakers get real about navigating mental health, purpose, and healing while making an impact in the world.
In this episode, hosts Emma G (singer/songwriter, TEDx speaker, empowerment coach) and Rawinia Judson (life & leadership coach, author) sit down with Iliana Radovina, a music therapist who explores the power of music as a tool for somatic healing, nervous system regulation, and storytelling.
We discuss:
- The science + soul of music therapy
- How sound helps move emotions through the body
- The courage it takes to share your story
- Why safe spaces are essential to healing
- How creativity connects us to our identity and power
This is a space for healing, self-expression, and truth-telling.
👉 Subscribe for future episodes
👉 Comment below with what resonated most
👉 Follow us on Instagram: [@emmagmusic | @rawiniajudson]
Disclaimer: This podcast discusses mental health and may be sensitive for some listeners. If you're struggling, please reach out:
🇺🇸 US: Call/text 988 or text HOME to 741741
🇳🇿 NZ: Call/text 1737 or Lifeline at 0800 543 354
What is REAL TALK?
REAL TALK: Mental Health Sounds Like This is where high-performing humans, creative leaders, and changemakers get honest about the messy, beautiful, and brave work of staying mentally, emotionally, and spiritually well while doing meaningful work in the world.
Hosted by award-winning singer/songwriter, author, and youth empowerment coach Emma G, and life and leadership coach Rawinia Judson, this podcast is a space for candid conversations about the realities behind resilience. From navigating burnout to healing through music, embracing vulnerability to redefining success — nothing is off limits.
Emma and Rawinia first bonded over early morning CrossFit sessions in New Zealand, where carpool chats quickly turned into soul-deep sisterhood. Now living on opposite sides of the world (Emma in the U.S., Rawinia in Canada), they're teaming up to bring you a podcast rooted in realness, laughter, and the deep belief that your story matters.
Each episode features intimate, unscripted conversations with guests who are courageously rewriting the narrative around mental health — one story, one strategy, one moment at a time.
This is not therapy. This is not perfection. This is REAL TALK.
And this is what mental health sounds like.
Disclaimer:
This show may discuss topics related to mental health that could be sensitive for some listeners. If you're struggling, please know you are not alone. Support is available.
New Zealand: Call or text 1737 or Lifeline at 0800 543 354
U.S.: Call or text 988 (National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or text HOME to 741741
This podcast is not a substitute for professional care.
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