Episode 6

full
Published on:

12th Nov 2025

Born to Fangirl: Because Passion Is Power with Leire Garcia

Being a fangirl isn’t something to outgrow — it’s something to own, radiant icons*.*

In this week’s tea time sesh, Amanda is joined by Leire, the creator of the Born To Fangirl podcast, for a conversation that redefines what it means to fangirl loud and proud.

Leire opens up about how she built her platform during a season of uncertainty, turning her love for pop culture and motorsport into a movement that empowers women to embrace their passions unapologetically. Together, Amanda and Leire spill the tea on how fangirling is more than excitement — it’s community, confidence, and connection.

Because around here, we don’t shrink ourselves to fit in — we dare to be iconic. ✨

Connect with Leire:

https://beacons.ai/leireontrack

Connect with Amanda:

Follow Amanda's DTBI Journey!

Submit your order for the Two Years, One Iconic Celebration Sale!

Stream the Radiant Reign Era Playlist!

Explore the DTBI shop today!

Discover your iconic signature scent with Oakcha!

Got a question for Amanda or a topic you'd love to hear discussed on a future episode? Submit your question to the "Dare To Be Iconic Hotline" today!

Time Stamps:

00:00 Welcome to Dare To Be Iconic

02:32 Introducing Leire, Creator of Born To Fangirl

04:03 The Essence of Fangirling

05:33 Creating Born To Fangirl

08:42 The Power of Community

14:35 Upcoming Excitements and Future Plans

17:25 Challenges and Inspirations

22:06 Reflecting on Childhood Expectations

22:27 Turning Passion into Work

22:53 Embracing and Sharing Passions

24:17 Advice for Fellow Fangirls

27:03 Dream Clients and Fangirl Moments

34:00 See You Next Week!

Transcript
Amanda Paolicelli:

What's up, Radiant Icons and welcome back to Dare To Be

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Iconic, the podcast made for icons

who are daring to be themselves.

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I'm your host, Amanda Paolicelli and

for today's Tea Time sesh, radiant icon.

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My goodness, I'm so excited.

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I'm so excited I have

to sing radiant icons.

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But anyway, and anywho I am so excited

and honored and privileged to welcome our

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very first everyday icon of season three.

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You may know her as the host of The

Born to Fan Girl podcast or you may

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know her as Dare To Be Iconic's very

own social media intern, Leire is on

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Dare To Be Iconic today to spill the

tea about all the iconicness that is

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Born To Fangirl because you know we love

fangirling here at dare to be iconic.

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Okay, from one fan girl to another.

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This tea time sesh was packed with

Iconicness and I truly cannot wait for

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you guys to hear the piping hot tea.

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But before we get into all of that

radiant icons, make sure to connect with

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me on socials on Instagram and TikTok.

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It's @amandapaolicelli_

and @daretobeiconic_.

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And if you're on LinkedIn radiant icons,

you already know what I'm gonna say.

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Make sure to connect me on there.

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It's Amanda Paolicellli.

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All of my socials are linked

in the show notes below.

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And since we are speaking of show

notes, make sure to secure your very

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exclusive offer for the holiday season

because as I mentioned in last week's

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tea time sesh, we have extended our two

years, one iconic celebration sale to

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the end of November so that you can rep

your DTBI pride this holiday season.

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So make sure to secure that deal by

clicking the link in the show notes below.

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Anyway, let's get to the tea, shall we?

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Are you ready?

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radiant icons because your

tea time sesh is starting now.

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Leire welcome to Dare To Be Iconic.

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It's been a long time coming, and

I know I say that a lot, but it's

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really been a long time coming.

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How are you?

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Leire Garcia: I know, I know.

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I'm really good.

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Really happy to be here.

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Amanda Paolicelli: Yes.

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I'm so excited that you're here

so we can spill all the tea about

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Fangirling and your new podcast, Born

To Fangirl which is out right now.

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So radiant icons, make sure to click

the show notes below to, you know, make

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your podcast lineup even more iconic.

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Um, but before we get into the DTBI

essentials, I do have to say prepping for

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this tea time sesh was one of my favorite.

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Because I was like, I have to challenge

Leire essence, her vibe, her energy.

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And so what better way than

to listen to Harry Styles in

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five seconds of summer like you

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Leire Garcia: is so right.

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Amanda Paolicelli: I did, I did.

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Because, you know, I'm a one direction

girl, you know, I'm a directioner.

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But I, I was like, I have to

channel her for this tea time sesh.

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So I just wanna let you know I

have five seconds of summer's.

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Um, heart heartbreak on the big screen.

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Is that, is it, is it

heartbreak or heartache?

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I always get confused.

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Leire Garcia: Now I'm

confused too, to be honest.

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Amanda Paolicelli: Stop I'm so dead.

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Leire Garcia: Like it's been a long

time since I haven't listened to 5SOS..

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Amanda Paolicelli: No, that's so fair.

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'cause they're back in their

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Leire Garcia: confused,

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Amanda Paolicelli: they're coming back

in their prime and I know you were Yeah.

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Here for it.

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And I love every minute

of this for you, but

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Leire Garcia: I'm so excited.

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Amanda Paolicelli: I cannot wait.

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I, I'm literally so excited for you.

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But before we go into all of this

iconicness that is Born To Fangirl

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and just fangirling in general, we

need to do some DTBI essentials.

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So what does dare to be iconic

mean to you and how do you dare to

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be iconic in your everyday life?

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Leire Garcia: Okay, so I

think dare to be iconic.

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For me it means more like having

the courage to show up as myself.

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And like trusting myself.

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Even when it feels like scary or yes or

really different, and especially ignoring

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what others might think or, or might say.

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Mm-hmm.

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Um, so that's also my way of like

daring myself to be iconic in every day.

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I dare myself to be iconic

even when I'm doubting myself.

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I mean, to be honest, I

doubt myself all the time.

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Amanda Paolicelli: Girl,

you not alone in that.

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Leire Garcia: Yeah.

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I know.

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Even when I'm overthinking, I keep going.

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I keep showing up, I keep doing

content, you know, so it's like even

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if I can't, I trust myself and I trust

what I can do and what I'm able to do.

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Amanda Paolicelli: Exactly.

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And like we've, we've spoken a lot,

like we speak every single day actually.

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So let me not even be

like, oh, we speak a lot.

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We speak every single day.

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We're like in a committed

relationship actually.

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Leire Garcia: Yeah.

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Amanda Paolicelli: Um, and you know,

piggy back off of what you said about,

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you know, trusting yourself is how you

dare to be iconic in your everyday life.

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I feel like that's kind of

translated into Born to Fangirl.

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And correct me if I'm wrong here, and

I know you're creating your own path

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in this world of, um, fandom culture.

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And I was wondering what was the moment

for you where you realized that you

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didn't have to wait for the opportunity

to create a space, like Born To Fangirl.

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So, so basically what inspired

you to create what is now

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the Born To Fangirl podcast?

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Leire Garcia: So the moment, I think,

first of all, I'm unemployed, so

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finding a job has been so hard and I'm

still on the on the way to find one.

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Amanda Paolicelli: The job market

is horrible right now, girl.

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Leire Garcia: Yeah, it's

horrible and I think it's

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horrible everywhere in the world.

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So I live in Spain.

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The whole working thing is so difficult

right now, especially because I

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don't have a lot of experience.

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I'm just 22, so it's normal.

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But yeah, I'm unemployed and I'm

really bored at home and I was

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like, I need to do something.

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But it wasn't until I was talking with

you, by the way that you told me, we

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were talking about all of this, that

how, how is it so hard to find a job?

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Yeah, exactly.

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And how maybe living where I,

where I live at the moment.

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Mm-hmm.

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It's, we have a different

culture and Exactly,

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Amanda Paolicelli: yes.

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Leire Garcia: Not a lot of people

aim to have dreams so, so big.

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No,

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Amanda Paolicelli: exactly.

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Leire Garcia: Um, so I was talking

with you, I was telling you all of

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this and you, you were the one who told

me maybe you need to start creating

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the opportunities for yourself.

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Yeah.

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And I was like that,

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Amanda Paolicelli: just like me.

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Yeah.

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That sounds like an Amanda thing.

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Leire Garcia: You.

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Everything.

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Amanda Paolicelli: Yeah.

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Leire Garcia: And I was

like, wait, she's right.

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She's so right.

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And, and you know, so that

whole unemployment being bored.

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Yeah.

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And you telling me that

was like, I have an idea.

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And by that, by that time I was already

creating this whole podcast thing.

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Amanda Paolicelli: Yeah.

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Leire Garcia: But I

think that motivated me.

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Amanda Paolicelli: Exactly like

everything clicked for you.

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Wow.

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I actually didn't realize how similar

stories are, to be honest with you,

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because I was unemployed when I

came up with the idea of Dare to be

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Iconic, and it was someone that like

in the same position as I am to you.

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Right.

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I had someone that was close

to me who was like, just do it.

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Like you want to do it,

just do the damn thing.

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Make dare to be iconic.

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Even if you don't know what the

hell you're doing, just do it.

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I didn't realize how similar

our stories were, but

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Leire Garcia: I

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kind

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Amanda Paolicelli: love

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Leire Garcia: that maybe

being unemployed is

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Amanda Paolicelli: Yeah.

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Leire Garcia: The the,

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Amanda Paolicelli: the key moment.

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Yeah,

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Leire Garcia: exactly.

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Amanda Paolicelli: Maybe that

that's the key for everyone.

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We just have to be unemployed.

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Yeah.

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To push ourselves further to

do the thing that we wanna do.

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Yeah.

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Leire Garcia: Maybe it's not so bad.

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Amanda Paolicelli: Exactly.

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Exactly.

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Maybe being unemployed is actually

like the secret sauce, like

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the secret little ingredient to

making your dreams come true.

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Hmm.

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Mm-hmm.

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Maybe we're onto something, I think.

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Yeah, we're cutting edge actually.

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I, I love it.

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So speaking of Born to Fangirl and that

coming out of a, a time where, you know,

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you're kinda like, oh, what, what do I do?

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Right?

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How do I move forward from here?

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I wanna focus on the word fan girl in

particular, because as you and I both

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know, the word fangirl goes so much deeper

than just a word that often gets dismissed

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particularly in the sport that we're both

like, you know, fangirl of Formula One.

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I know.

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So, I would love to get your

opinion on what does being a fangirl

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truly mean to you, and how do you

think it really empowers women?

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Leire Garcia: So I think that being

a fan girl is more than just being

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a fan and being a goat, you know?

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Exactly.

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It's more than that.

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It's about loving something so deeply

that it inspires you to, I don't know.

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Yes.

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Create a podcast, for example.

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Amanda Paolicelli: Exactly.

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Leire Garcia: Exactly.

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Um, or like go to events and meet people.

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It, it motivates you, you know?

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It's like, it's emotional, it's creative

and it's so po powerful for women.

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Um, yeah.

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'cause it shows us that

women's passions also matter.

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You know, it's not only about men's

passions and loving football and

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everything, what we like it's also

important so it empowers us by letting

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us know that we can love things

without feeling same and turning

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all this energy into great things.

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Amanda Paolicelli: No, you're so right.

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You're, you're basically creating

a safe judgment free zone for

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fangirls everywhere to love what

they love so unapologetically.

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And I think that is something

that is so vital, especially

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in today's society, right?

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Like women are judged for everything

that we do, not just for the stuff

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that we love unapologetically.

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It's like every single thing we breathe

and we get judged for it, right?

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I think it's so beautiful what

you're doing with Born to Fan Girl

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because it's built off of connection

and fan girl culture, like you

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said is rooted in connection.

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So is there a moment for you that you

can kind of like look back and think of

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like, wow, like this is so much bigger

than myself, so much bigger than what I

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am creating with Born To Fangirl where

that connection really stood out for you?

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Leire Garcia: So I, I feel like

there is two key moments for this.

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One is, um, especially, and obviously

every time I get at the end of

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someone telling me that my content

has been helping them or that

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when they tell me this is so me,

or I thought I was the only one.

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So like those comments from

people really helped me realize

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how yeah, big community can be.

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And I also realized how big

community can be and how welcome

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you can feel in a, as in a space.

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When I went to the Formula one GP in

Barcelona in:

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like being surrounded by everyone.

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I was thinking all the time.

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Oh my God, all these people

like the same thing as me.

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Even if we don't have the

same favorite drivers.

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Amanda Paolicelli: Exactly.

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Leire Garcia: We all are here

to watch this and we Exactly.

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We enjoy being two hours sitting

down watching cars go by.

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Amanda Paolicelli: Yes, exactly.

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Yeah.

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That's what we enjoy.

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Leire Garcia: So it was like,

okay, community is like so

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big and it can help you a lot.

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So yeah, it was, I was

amazed, to be honest.

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Amanda Paolicelli: Do you

have a really crazy fan girl

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story that you want to share?

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Maybe it's from the Barcelona GP

that we both were at actually,

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we just didn't know each other

at the time, which is so insane.

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But do you have any crazy like,

fan girl stories that maybe

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go back to that connection and

community that you just mentioned?

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Leire Garcia: I don't think they are too

crazy, you know, but for me, um, I was

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always, as a kid, I was always told that

I, I'm really shy and like, everyone

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tells me that all the time, and for

me, I mean it's not a crazy story, but

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just being able to meet people online

and then get all together in the same

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place and not being nervous to meet them

because you know, we like the same thing.

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So it was like, maybe I'm not that shy.

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Amanda Paolicelli: No, no, I, I think,

I think it's also because like the

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generation that we're in, we just

think it's so normal to meet people

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online and then meet them in person.

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You know, 'cause we build these

friendships, these long lasting

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connections that all start because

we have something that we both

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love and we're like, we just

talk about it every single day.

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And then we plan to go maybe halfway

across the world and travel with

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them after we've only met them once.

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Right.

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Like it's all these

like crazy cool things.

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So, no, it's a great fan girl story

and I can't wait to hear more on Born

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to Fan Girl 'cause you're going to

the big Time Rush concert, correct?

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Leire Garcia: Yeah,

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Amanda Paolicelli: in November.

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Leire Garcia: November 30,

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Amanda Paolicelli: yeah.

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Oh my God, girl.

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Leire Garcia: And it's my

first ever concert too.

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So

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Amanda Paolicelli: your

first ever concert?

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Oh my goodness.

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Leire Garcia: I have to say I

was waiting for Harry Styles,

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but since he second, A long time.

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Amanda Paolicelli: Yeah.

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Leire Garcia: To give Big Time

Rush a chance because they, they

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were my favorites as a child.

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So

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Amanda Paolicelli: really, wait,

who was your favorite big time rush?

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Like member

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Leire Garcia: Uh, this is so

hard because I remember when I

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started watching it was James.

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Amanda Paolicelli: Okay.

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Fair.

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Leire Garcia: But then I grew up

a little bit and it was Logan.

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And it was Logan because I always

liked as a kid, like the nerdy guys.

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Amanda Paolicelli: Yeah, no, me too

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Leire Garcia: girl.

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So he was more in the nerd

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Amanda Paolicelli: side.

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Leire Garcia: Yeah.

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Amanda Paolicelli: No,

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Leire Garcia: and I

realized I liked him more.

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Amanda Paolicelli: Yeah.

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No, Logan was my favorite

from the beginning.

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Yeah.

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So it, it chalks up.

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It makes sense for us.

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Leire Garcia: So like,

and he's my favorite.

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Amanda Paolicelli: Yeah.

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Yeah.

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No, I'm so excited for you

and I can't wait to hear more

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about it on Born To Fangirl.

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So can you give the radiant to icons a

little bit, like a sneak peek of what

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they can expect from your podcast and

kind of like what you have in store

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for the future of Born To Fangirl.

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Leire Garcia: I mean, we have an exciting

year ahead because the Formula One

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season is going to end pretty soon, to

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Amanda Paolicelli: be

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Leire Garcia: honest.

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Yeah.

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I'm going to my first ever concert

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Amanda Paolicelli: exactly.

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A

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Leire Garcia: new Five

Seconds of Summer album.

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Amanda Paolicelli: Oh my,

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Leire Garcia: uh, the last

season of a Stranger Things.

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Mm-hmm.

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Um, I mean this is not for this year, but

Five Seconds of Summer is going on tour.

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Amanda Paolicelli: On tour, and

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Leire Garcia: I'm obviously

going to try to get tickets, so

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Amanda Paolicelli: Of course I would

expect nothing less than for you to try,

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Leire Garcia: right?

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Yeah.

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Like we have, I I have to try.

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Amanda Paolicelli: Exactly.

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Exactly.

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You have to.

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Um,

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Leire Garcia: we also have like new

Marvel movies on the way, so it's like

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I have a bunch of things to talk about.

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There's not going to be a break.

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Amanda Paolicelli: I love it.

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So you're basically just trying

to change the world for fan girls.

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What is like the big ultimate

dream for Born to Fangirl?

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Leire Garcia: I know that changing

the whole world is a challenge.

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Um, but for me, the biggest dream is like

to just have a safe space for everyone.

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And I don't care if you like

Formula One, Marvel, stranger

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Things or any other thing, you know?

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Amanda Paolicelli: Mm-hmm.

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Leire Garcia: I mean, I always talk

about fangirls but fanboy are welcome to.

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Exactly.

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Yes.

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I don't care.

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Um, as long as we all respect each

other, so like the biggest dream apart

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from building this safe space, it's

like maybe to change the world, not

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only for fangirls but people surround

fingers too, because I know a lot

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of people think that we are crazy.

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We are too obsessed.

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So if I can't make any of these

people change their mind and

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see that we are not crazy, it's

all of this is built by passion.

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It'll be amazing.

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Amanda Paolicelli: You are basically

redefining what the word fangirl

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means to you and to the world, right.

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For the next generation, so let me,

let me challenge you a little bit.

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What does fangirl mean

for the next generation?

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Leire Garcia: If I could redefine the

word fan girl, I think I would say it just

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means being someone who loves something

so deeply that, um, it's inspired by it,

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you know, it makes them dream bigger and

create whatever and connect with others.

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Like no matter what you like, it somehow

helps you feel better about yourself.

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Amanda Paolicelli: So what I'm hearing

from that, that definition of fangirl

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for the Next Generation is kind of

rooted in your core values for your

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podcast and your community, which are

authenticity and fun and inspiration.

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And it's at the heart of everything

that you do, whether it's for Born

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To Fangirl or your content creation.

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So which of those values that I just

mentioned, so authenticity, fun, and

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inspiration has challenged you the

most to live by as a fangirl and which

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has guided you the most as a fan girl.

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Leire Garcia: I think the one

that challenged me the most

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is inspiration, basically.

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I mean, we have already talked about this.

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Yeah.

373

:

I live in Spain and I feel like

I don't have any reference to

374

:

follow, like , no one to surrounding

me has achieved a big dream.

375

:

Mm-hmm.

376

:

Um, they are always, all of them

are comfortable with their lives and

377

:

not doing crazy things, you know?

378

:

So I feel like I have to be

my own inspir inspiration.

379

:

I have, like, I have to take

whatever is in my head as a reference

380

:

and not follow what others do.

381

:

So, inspiration is a big

challenge in that case.

382

:

But, community is the one

that guides me the most.

383

:

I, I have already said getting dms all

the time, seeing how you can help people.

384

:

It makes me want to keep doing what I do.

385

:

Amanda Paolicelli: Yeah.

386

:

And when it gets challenging, right?

387

:

So as you mentioned, like living in

Spain and having these big dreams,

388

:

like the opportunities may not or

are not there as compared to someone

389

:

in America like myself, right?

390

:

And obviously there's a big gap there

that we as a society or as a world like

391

:

have to do better in that because it

should not be where, you know, I have more

392

:

opportunities just because of the country

I live in as compared to you, right?

393

:

Like that's just not fair.

394

:

That's not right.

395

:

Everyone should have equal

opportunity no matter where you

396

:

are from or where you are based.

397

:

And so when it comes to content

creation and starting your own

398

:

thing and having that inspiration.

399

:

It's also vulnerable at times.

400

:

Right.

401

:

'cause you're putting your

heart like hope for Yeah.

402

:

For the world to judge, right?

403

:

You're, you're putting yeah.

404

:

Your, your most precious thing out there

and hoping that people relate to it.

405

:

And that's great when we get the

dms of people being like, thank you

406

:

so much for making me feel seen.

407

:

However, it is hard to

keep moving forward.

408

:

How do you stay grounded and keep

believing in your voice when that

409

:

self-doubt creeps in, which we've

briefly touched on, but I think it's

410

:

a big thing, in, in the world that

we live in and what we do, self-doubt

411

:

is the thing we all deal with.

412

:

So how do you deal with it?

413

:

Leire Garcia: We all overthink,

we are all overwhelmed.

414

:

Um, I doubt, doubt myself all the

time, and I think we all do it is just

415

:

that we don't talk about it enough.

416

:

I think I stay grounded and believe,

in my voice by letting me, my,

417

:

letting myself feel all that

doubt and all that overthinking.

418

:

You know, I, I try to

push those thoughts away.

419

:

I think it's normal as

humans to feel that way.

420

:

So at the same time, I let myself

feel, but also try to ignore it

421

:

and, and just keep believing in

what I'm doing and what I dream of.

422

:

Because you can obviously have a bad

day, but maybe tomorrow you're going

423

:

to be super motivated and do exactly

all the crazy things you wanna do.

424

:

So you can take a day, two, three,

a week, and then come back stronger.

425

:

Amanda Paolicelli: So as you mentioned

we all experience self-doubt.

426

:

No matter what career field

we're in, we are all human.

427

:

We all experience those feelings or

those thoughts of, oh my goodness,

428

:

like, I'm just not good enough.

429

:

Or, oh, why is x, y, and Z

opportunity not happening for me?

430

:

And everything that you said

I completely resonate with.

431

:

And I feel like our friendship and our

working relationship has really pushed

432

:

us to kinda battle that self-doubt

together and really motivate us to keep

433

:

going when we're not really feeling it.

434

:

And that has been really healing for me.

435

:

What has been the most surprising

or healing part of this

436

:

journey for you personally?

437

:

Leire Garcia: So the most surprising

part, I think it's been realizing

438

:

that how much I still love to fangirl.

439

:

I, I think as a child, as a

kid, I thought that by now.

440

:

I would have changed completely.

441

:

And it's not, it's not, I'm still

the same, I still fangirl over the

442

:

same things that I used to finger.

443

:

So it's like the most surprising part.

444

:

You know, if, if my younger self was here,

she would be really surprised about this.

445

:

I also thought that turning this

passion into like work would make

446

:

me hate it at some point, or, yeah.

447

:

Amanda Paolicelli: No,

that's always the fear.

448

:

Yeah.

449

:

That is always the fear.

450

:

Yes.

451

:

Leire Garcia: Yeah.

452

:

I, I thought I was like, going

to do all of this and in a couple

453

:

of months be like, Hmm, I give

454

:

Amanda Paolicelli: up.

455

:

Yeah.

456

:

Like, I'm good, I'm done.

457

:

It was fun while it lasted type thing.

458

:

Yeah.

459

:

Leire Garcia: Yeah.

460

:

No, but after like more than a year

of creating content and even if I

461

:

feel really overwhelmed sometimes

about it and I want to give up,

462

:

I still love doing all of this.

463

:

So it's like I'm not going to go anywhere

and talking about all the things that

464

:

I am obsessed with and that I love is

just so healing to me because as a kid

465

:

I always try to hide what I liked and

not let anyone into my inner world.

466

:

I will never tell anyone that I like

victim brush or like if I wanted

467

:

to speak about something I like, it

was just talking to me to myself.

468

:

Even if that sounds crazy.

469

:

Amanda Paolicelli: No, not at all, girl.

470

:

No.

471

:

I

472

:

Leire Garcia: myself

473

:

Amanda Paolicelli: all the time like,

474

:

Leire Garcia: but it's been so healing to

like just not think about that and ignore

475

:

other people and just do what I want.

476

:

Amanda Paolicelli: I love that because

it reminds me of this quote that I

477

:

actually have on my vision board.

478

:

I, I may have mentioned it

maybe two tea time sessions ago.

479

:

Um, but it's, she needed a hero, so

that's what she became, and that's

480

:

basically what you are becoming

for your younger self, right?

481

:

That, that felt like she had to

hide or shrink herself, and all,

482

:

all the things that she loved.

483

:

And I think that's so beautiful and I,

I can relate to that with my mission

484

:

for DTBI for dare to be iconic.

485

:

So I'm wondering what would you say

to a radiant icon out there that is

486

:

listening to this right now that can

relate to you that loves something so

487

:

deeply, whether it's Formula One, a

band, a TV show, whatever it is, right.

488

:

But feels like they have to hide

it or tone it down to be taken

489

:

seriously, what would you tell them?

490

:

Leire Garcia: So I tell them to not

hind their passions because loving

491

:

something so deeply, even if it can be

seen as a weakness, it's something that

492

:

makes you unique and you don't have

to tone it down to be taken seriously.

493

:

And I also tell them to really

investigate what they love because

494

:

for the longest time, I was so

lost with what to do with my life.

495

:

I didn't know what path to take when

I was like 16, 17, and it was right

496

:

in front of my, you know, of my face.

497

:

You can literally take being a fan

girl as a career you can do really.

498

:

No,

499

:

Amanda Paolicelli: you really can.

500

:

Leire Garcia: Like I think we have

talk about this, um, lately, fangirls

501

:

are, are taking over the music industry

502

:

Amanda Paolicelli: Oh, a thousand percent.

503

:

And you're gonna be right

there with them, like right

504

:

Leire Garcia: there

505

:

Amanda Paolicelli: with them.

506

:

Leire Garcia: And like many people

with fan accounts have somehow

507

:

managed to, um, be social media

managers for singers, for bands.

508

:

Exactly.

509

:

For whatever.

510

:

I'm pretty sure that there

are many fangirls working in

511

:

Formula One at the moment, so

512

:

Amanda Paolicelli: Absolutely.

513

:

A thousand percent we

changed the face of F1.

514

:

I will be a thousand percent on that.

515

:

Like I will die on that hill.

516

:

Leire Garcia: Absolutely.

517

:

Yeah.

518

:

Like we are taking over the world.

519

:

So I just simply tell them to stop hiding.

520

:

Take that passion to do something really

powerful that can change the world.

521

:

Amanda Paolicelli: Fan girls are the

heart of every industry, and they are

522

:

working in these high level positions,

really changing the face of it and

523

:

bringing more fan girls into the mix.

524

:

So I absolutely love how we're taking over

and yeah, seeing your journey from even

525

:

when we first started working together

to now, it's just so inspiring and I'm

526

:

so honored to be a part of it and hear

everything that's going on, because

527

:

I've known about Born To Fangirl for a

while, radiant Icons, so I knew Yeah, you

528

:

Leire Garcia: have helped too, so.

529

:

Amanda Paolicelli: Oh, oh my God.

530

:

Well, of course, anything for you.

531

:

You helped me so much.

532

:

I have to give you

533

:

Leire Garcia: rights.

534

:

Amanda Paolicelli: Stop.

535

:

No.

536

:

Oh my God.

537

:

No, no, no, no.

538

:

But you've helped so much with DTBI, so

I'm just honored that I get to be here

539

:

for your Born to Fangirl journey and

hearing everything that you've said.

540

:

I want to end with this last

question because I just think it's

541

:

so beautiful to look at the growth

from Little Baby Leire to now.

542

:

What would you tell her?

543

:

What would you tell her on this journey?

544

:

Leire Garcia: If I could talk with my

younger self and tell her what I'm doing

545

:

now, first of all, she wouldn't believe

me because as a kid, I, even if I was a

546

:

fangirl, I wanted to be a hairdresser.

547

:

I

548

:

Amanda Paolicelli: love that.

549

:

I saw that on your broadcast channel.

550

:

I said, girl, what?

551

:

I did not expect that.

552

:

Leire Garcia: No idea why.

553

:

I just wanted to be a hairdresser.

554

:

And so she wouldn't believe me.

555

:

She would be like, you are crazy.

556

:

Shut up.

557

:

That's not true.

558

:

Um, oh my God.

559

:

But yeah, I, at the same time, I want, I

also wanted to be famous for some reason,

560

:

but it's like, I have no artistic talent.

561

:

How could I do that?

562

:

You know?

563

:

Amanda Paolicelli: I'm so, I

think we all wanted to be famous

564

:

because of Hannah Montana.

565

:

Like, let's be so real.

566

:

Like Hannah Montana made us feel like

we could be living the best of both

567

:

worlds, which I think, honestly, our

generation is like, are you kidding me?

568

:

No.

569

:

Leire Garcia: And I, I used

to dance, so it was like, I

570

:

want to be her backup dancer

571

:

Amanda Paolicelli: as

you should wait, period.

572

:

Leire Garcia: Yeah.

573

:

So like, she wouldn't believe me at all.

574

:

And I think she wouldn't believe me also

because I already said I was really shy.

575

:

So she would be like, there's no way you

are putting yourself in front of a camera

576

:

and telling everyone about your life.

577

:

Like, no way.

578

:

So if I could, I would tell

her to not be scared of change.

579

:

Amanda Paolicelli: Yeah.

580

:

Leire Garcia: You know, because

life can change so fast,

581

:

Amanda Paolicelli: girl,

582

:

Leire Garcia: and

583

:

Amanda Paolicelli: preach.

584

:

Leire Garcia: I know.

585

:

You know?

586

:

Amanda Paolicelli: Yeah,

587

:

Leire Garcia: I know.

588

:

You know.

589

:

Yeah.

590

:

So, yeah, I would tell myself to not be

scared and to embrace that change because

591

:

that change is what made me be here today.

592

:

So I tell her to just keep fangirling.

593

:

To keep putting posters

everywhere she wants,

594

:

Amanda Paolicelli: as

595

:

Leire Garcia: she should, to keep

buying kinder joys like I'm doing now.

596

:

To get like those stranger things,

things so, so yeah, I just hope at

597

:

her to keep being herself and not

be so scared of everything and just

598

:

ignore what other people think, say,

or sometimes they don't even say it.

599

:

Yeah.

600

:

I'm just overthinking.

601

:

No, that's, and thinking that they are

602

:

Amanda Paolicelli: true.

603

:

I feel that,

604

:

Leire Garcia: you know, so yeah, I would

just stop myself from being that insecure.

605

:

Amanda Paolicelli: Yeah.

606

:

Just tell her to dare to be iconic.

607

:

Like she'sbeen doing.

608

:

Leire Garcia: Exactly.

609

:

Exactly.

610

:

Amanda Paolicelli: I lied, I

have one more question for you.

611

:

This is a curve ball, so, um.

612

:

We talked about your younger self, right.

613

:

And how she would not

believe you whatsoever.

614

:

Mm-hmm.

615

:

And you would tell her,

girl, keep on fangirling.

616

:

Who is, I'm so excited.

617

:

Who is your dream client to work with?

618

:

It could be Formula One, it could

be a band, a show, whatever it is.

619

:

Leire Garcia: Oh my god.

620

:

Amanda Paolicelli: Your dream client

that younger, you would've actually like,

621

:

scream, cried, throwed up about like who?

622

:

Leire Garcia: No, if it was my

younger self, they would say,

623

:

will have said Big Time Rush.

624

:

Period.

625

:

Amanda Paolicelli: Period.

626

:

Leire Garcia: It's straight.

627

:

Like not even think about it.

628

:

Or even like the Jonas Brothers maybe.

629

:

Amanda Paolicelli: Oh my God.

630

:

Okay.

631

:

And who would

632

:

Leire Garcia: Joe Jonas

was my first question.

633

:

Amanda Paolicelli: Joe.

634

:

Joe.

635

:

Really?

636

:

Oh, okay.

637

:

I was a Nick girl.

638

:

Yeah, I was a Nick girl.

639

:

No, I know.

640

:

But now Joe, I see all the Jonas brothers

because again, I wasn't a big JoBros girl.

641

:

Like I love them.

642

:

But one direction will

always have my heart.

643

:

Yeah,

644

:

Leire Garcia: I know.

645

:

Amanda Paolicelli: Yeah.

646

:

Yeah.

647

:

One thing about Amanda, she'll

always talk about one direction.

648

:

Um, but I see the things of

Joe, like the tiktoks of him.

649

:

I go,

650

:

Leire Garcia: yeah, there is so

many edits of like the one of him

651

:

kneeling down in front of the,

652

:

Amanda Paolicelli: like the cowboy hat.

653

:

Yeah.

654

:

Have you seen the cowboy hat one?

655

:

Leire Garcia: Yeah.

656

:

Amanda Paolicelli: Save Horse.

657

:

Ride Cowboy.

658

:

Oh God.

659

:

He's, he's so good looking.

660

:

Divorced did him really good.

661

:

Divorced did him really good.

662

:

Leire Garcia: Yeah.

663

:

Amanda Paolicelli: Really good.

664

:

Um.

665

:

Okay, so, so the Jonas brother, we're

666

:

Leire Garcia: getting this

conversation is going somewhere else.

667

:

Amanda Paolicelli: No, it's okay.

668

:

I love it.

669

:

I love it.

670

:

I love it.

671

:

I mean, like, why not?

672

:

It's fangirling at it's finest.

673

:

Um, okay, so the Jonas brothers

in big time rush for younger you.

674

:

Okay.

675

:

What about you now?

676

:

And I think I already know this

answer, but for the radiant icons

677

:

who don't know, please share.

678

:

Please share.

679

:

Leire Garcia: Are you,

do you, are you, sure?

680

:

You know,

681

:

Amanda Paolicelli: I, I, would you want me

682

:

Leire Garcia: to say what I think

is maybe, is it maybe, because

683

:

I talk about him every day.

684

:

Amanda Paolicelli: Yes, absolutely.

685

:

You're husband.

686

:

Leire Garcia: Duh.

687

:

I mean, I have two husbands right now.

688

:

Amanda Paolicelli: Well,

girl, of course we have to,

689

:

Leire Garcia: we have

or make more than two

690

:

Amanda Paolicelli: as you should though.

691

:

You should have seen little baby

Amanda telling everyone at Catholic

692

:

school who her husbands were.

693

:

I had like, everyone was my

husband and I still have that

694

:

to this day, so I understand.

695

:

It's okay.

696

:

No judgment, but I, I do think I know.

697

:

Pedro and Harry.

698

:

Leire Garcia: Good.

699

:

What?

700

:

Sorry?

701

:

Amanda Paolicelli: Pedro

and Harry is in not

702

:

Leire Garcia: Yeah, yeah.

703

:

It is.

704

:

Yes.

705

:

It's,

706

:

Amanda Paolicelli: yeah.

707

:

See, I know you.

708

:

I know you.

709

:

Exactly.

710

:

Leire Garcia: If you go to my Instagram

or TikTok, it's all like, I'm going down

711

:

on TikTok and it's like a pedro edit.

712

:

Next one, I harry edit.

713

:

Next one, pedro edit.

714

:

And it's like over and over again.

715

:

Amanda Paolicelli: No, if, if people

saw our TikTok messages or insta

716

:

message honestly any of them, they'll

be like, we went, do you know the

717

:

TikTok where it's like you and your

best friend, they read the group

718

:

chat in court and they automatically

like arrest you or whatever it is.

719

:

Leire Garcia: Yeah,

720

:

Amanda Paolicelli: us US.

721

:

Because

722

:

Leire Garcia: Totally.

723

:

So yeah, if I could, I

could work with any of them.

724

:

Like if I just got an email

of saying, do you want to work

725

:

with, I will be like, yeah,

726

:

Amanda Paolicelli: absolutely.

727

:

Like

728

:

Leire Garcia: I even know what I

729

:

Amanda Paolicelli: would say.

730

:

Leire Garcia: Yeah.

731

:

Like I don't care about the money.

732

:

I don't care if I got, I have to

go to the other side of the planet

733

:

Amanda Paolicelli: world.

734

:

Yeah.

735

:

Leire Garcia: I don't care.

736

:

I will spend all my money on that.

737

:

Amanda Paolicelli: No.

738

:

Literally me.

739

:

Literally.

740

:

Yeah.

741

:

No, I understand.

742

:

For me, hmm.

743

:

This is all fun.

744

:

I would always say I would drain my

life savings to see one direction again.

745

:

Like I said, that till I was blue in the

face, it unfortunately will never happen.

746

:

Um, but I, I would've done

anything, anything for that.

747

:

So

748

:

Leire Garcia: I know,

749

:

Amanda Paolicelli: I guess for

me, the next one would be like

750

:

Lando Norris, like Formula One,

which I guess is true because I,

751

:

Leire Garcia: we have to do something with

Lando, like Born To Fangirl and Dare To

752

:

Be Iconic has to do something with Lando.

753

:

Amanda Paolicelli: Absolutely sign me up.

754

:

We

755

:

Leire Garcia: have to send this to him.

756

:

Amanda Paolicelli: Yes.

757

:

Actually, can we?

758

:

Should we?

759

:

I think we should.

760

:

I think we should actually.

761

:

I think

762

:

Leire Garcia: we should.

763

:

Yeah.

764

:

Amanda Paolicelli: I think we should.

765

:

Lando Norris, If you're listening to Dare

to Be Iconic because you know you wanna

766

:

be on Dare To Be Iconic and you wanna be

on Born To Fangirl, make sure to email us.

767

:

Thank you so much.

768

:

Yes,

769

:

Leire Garcia: please.

770

:

Amanda Paolicelli: All

right, radiant icons.

771

:

That is your tea time session for today.

772

:

If you enjoy today's episode, make

sure to subscribe to leave a Rating, a

773

:

review to tell your friends about us,

to tell everyone and anyone, because

774

:

you know we love what More radiant

icons in our iconic community of ours.

775

:

Oh, radiant icons.

776

:

I'm never gonna get tired of saying

that, but I'm also never going

777

:

to get tired of saying thank you.

778

:

Thank you Leire for coming on

dare to be iconic and spilling

779

:

the tea about Born to Fangirl.

780

:

I absolutely love the

Born to Fan Girl podcast.

781

:

I mean, honestly, your podcast lineup Rudy

and t icons just got even more iconic.

782

:

Like, hello.

783

:

So you need to subscribe to both of them.

784

:

You just have to, but, but anyway, thank

you Leire for spilling the tea with us

785

:

today and coming on Dare to be Iconic

and sharing your heart and sharing your

786

:

truth and your passion for fangirling.

787

:

And I also wanna say thank you for

being a part of Dare to Be Iconic's

788

:

very, very small, but very iconic team.

789

:

Thank you for sharing your talents

with me and with the radiant icons.

790

:

I am forever grateful for you and

I'm so happy you are on my team.

791

:

Now enough with the mushy gushy.

792

:

'cause I'm about to cry.

793

:

Let's talk about something.

794

:

Well, it's not emotional

or maybe it is emotional.

795

:

I don't know.

796

:

You know, I, you know, I

love to cry radiant icons.

797

:

But anyway, maybe I won't

be crying about Vegas.

798

:

So next week, radiant icons.

799

:

We are spilling the tea on all my

preparations for the Las Vegas Grand Prix.

800

:

I truly can't believe, like, I can't

believe those words actually came

801

:

outta my mouth and into this microphone

like it has been months and months

802

:

in the making, and I can't believe

that it's finally coming to fruition.

803

:

The reason why I'm going to Vegas

is because of your love and support

804

:

for myself and dare to be iconic.

805

:

So I just have to say, first off,

thank you so much for being here and

806

:

supporting me and supporting DTBI like

that is the reason why I get to do

807

:

really cool shit and then come back

here on this very podcast and spill

808

:

the tea about my experiences and the

lessons I learned from those experiences

809

:

that I get to go on with you guys.

810

:

I get to do it because of you,

so thank you, and I can't wait.

811

:

I truly can't wait to bring you on

this very chaotic, very unhinged,

812

:

and very, very iconic trip to Vegas

because if there's one thing I know

813

:

is that this Amanda right here, right

here speaking to you on this mic.

814

:

This, Amanda is ready for Vegas.

815

:

Miami Grand Prix amanda, she

definitely was not ready for Vegas,

816

:

but this Amanda, the Amanda that I

have become in my radiant reign era

817

:

is ready to take Vegas by storm.

818

:

And honestly, all you single

men that are in Vegas, woo.

819

:

Lord, I pray for you.

820

:

I pray for you because you are

not ready for Hurricane Amanda.

821

:

My interns call it the Amanda Effect,

and you already know radiant icons,

822

:

that I will be not only securing the

free drinks, I will be documenting and

823

:

capturing every iconic moment, and every

iconic moment will be first on TikTok.

824

:

So make sure to follow me on there.

825

:

TikTok is my best friend on

travel 'cause I'm able to just

826

:

tell y'all shit in the moment.

827

:

And well, for any live update you

wanna be on TikTok and then you wanna

828

:

be here on December 3rd for my full

recap of everything that is Vegas.

829

:

But honestly, I'm scared

for the men in Vegas.

830

:

I mean, I'm not scared for them.

831

:

They should be scared of me because

Hurricane Amanda is coming and she's

832

:

securing those free drinks and she's

being sexy, single, and iconic because

833

:

maybe I'll walk away with a husband.

834

:

Who knows.

835

:

Who knows?

836

:

But I deserve it.

837

:

I deserve it because I'm the prize like

we talked about in Dating Dilemmas,

838

:

we are the prize radiant icons.

839

:

Don't you forget it.

840

:

But anyway, I'm getting off topic.

841

:

I'll chat with y'all next week.

842

:

Remember, radiant icons.

843

:

Dare to be iconic.

844

:

Bye.

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About the Podcast

Dare To Be Iconic
Embrace Your Iconic Self
Are you ready, radiant icons?

Welcome to "Dare To Be Iconic," the podcast made for icons daring to be themselves. Hosted by your favorite icon, Amanda Paolicelli, "Dare To Be Iconic" is not just another self-help podcast—it's your weekly tea time session where Amanda spills all the tea on topics like self-confidence, self-improvement, healing, and personal growth.

Why Choose "Dare To Be Iconic"?

~Real Talk, Real Transformation: Amanda's journey from heartbreak to triumph is the heartbeat of the show. This podcast is a safe space for raw, authentic conversations about healing, self-confidence, self-improvement, and personal growth.

~Practical Tips: Amanda shares practical, actionable tips that you can implement in your daily life. From overcoming setbacks to cultivating a positive mindset, each episode equips you with tools to navigate your dare-to-be-iconic journey.

~Community of Radiant Icons: Join a community of like-minded individuals who are also on their dare-to-be-iconic journey. The podcast is an invitation to be part of a supportive community that celebrates victories, learns from challenges, and grows together.

~Midweek Boost: Need a midweek pick-me-up? Tune in every Wednesday for your weekly tea time session.

Subscribe now, radiants icons, because your tea time session is starting.
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About your host

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Amanda Paolicelli