Welcome to Above Average. For the women who want the career, the family, the marriage, AND the personal goals.
Candid conversations about it all!
Being a high achiever doesn't mean you have it all figured out. It means you never settle.
Hosted by Lorissa Violet
I Knew Something Was Wrong”: Cancer During Pregnancy & Fighting for Answers
When Gabby began experiencing concerning symptoms at six months pregnant with her third baby, she knew something wasn’t right.
What followed was a long and frustrating journey of appointments, questions, and searching for answers before she finally received a diagnosis that would change everything: cancer, with a mass in her colon and lesions on her liver.
In this episode of Above Average, Gabby shares what it was like navigating a life-altering diagnosis while becoming a mother of three, undergoing treatment, and learning just how important it is to advocate for yourself when it comes to your health.
We talk about the symptoms she wishes she had pushed harder on, what she learned about navigating the medical system, conventional and holistic approaches she explored throughout her journey, motherhood in the middle of treatment, and why she now wants other women to trust themselves when they know something isn’t right.
This conversation is about more than cancer. It’s about asking questions, seeking another opinion, advocating for your body, and refusing to accept “everything is fine” when you know it isn’t.
Gabby is now on the road to recovery and using her experience to help other women advocate for their health.
Above Average with Lorissa Violet is a podcast for people who want to think deeper, live intentionally, and refuse to settle for average.
Discover Lorissa’s List at LorissaViolet.com (http://LorissaViolet.com) — a trusted search platform for vetted products, providers, resources, and expert-backed research for women and families.
Disclaimer: This episode shares personal experiences and is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual health and treatment.
24 Aug 2026
Beyond Beauty: Niki Metz on Celebrity Makeup, Breast Cancer & Finding Her Purpose
Celebrity makeup artist Niki Metz has built a career in beauty that has taken her from working with names like Tori Spelling and Diane von Furstenberg to Paris and New York Fashion Week—but her story goes far beyond what happens in the makeup chair.
In this episode of Above Average, Niki sits down with Lorissa to talk about her decades in the beauty industry, the lessons she's learned working at the highest levels of fashion and entertainment, and the next chapter of her career: opening NEOS Atelier, her own studio offering makeup, microblading, facials, and elevated esthetic services.
But for Niki, beauty has always been about something deeper: being of service to the person sitting in front of her.
Niki also opens up about one of the most personal chapters of her life—her breast cancer diagnosis and the journey that ultimately led her to some of the world's leading holistic practitioners. She shares how investigating the potential root causes of her illness led her to discover an infection in her mouth that she believes was connected to her breast cancer, and what she learned about looking beyond a diagnosis and asking deeper questions about the body.
Now cancer-free, Niki shares how the experience changed her perspective on health, beauty, purpose, and the kind of work she wants to put into the world.
In this episode:
• Niki's path to becoming a celebrity makeup artist
• Working with Tori Spelling and Diane von Furstenberg
• Behind the scenes at Paris and New York Fashion Week
• Why she decided to open NEOS Atelier
• Makeup, microblading, facials, and her approach to beauty
• Why being "of service" is at the heart of her work
• Her breast cancer diagnosis and healing journey
• Working with leading holistic practitioners
• The oral infection she believes was connected to her breast cancer
• Why asking questions and looking for root causes became so important to her
• How surviving cancer changed the way she sees beauty, health, and life
Explore more from Lorissa:
Discover Lorissa's List, The Ledger, curated products, trusted providers, and more at LorissaViolet.com (http://LorissaViolet.com).
The health experiences discussed in this episode are personal experiences and are shared for informational purposes only. They are not medical advice.
17 Aug 2026
Shayne Lamas on Growing Up in Hollywood, Marrying a Stranger & Choosing Motherhood
Shayne Lamas has spent nearly her entire life in the spotlight. The daughter of Hollywood icon Lorenzo Lamas, she grew up surrounded by fame, went on to win The Bachelor, starred in reality television, and lived a life that—from the outside—looked quintessentially Hollywood.
But there is so much more to Shayne’s story.
In this episode of Above Average, Shayne opens up about what it was really like growing up in a famous family, being up for the role of Serena van der Woodsen on Gossip Girl alongside Blake Lively, and one of the wildest chapters of her life: meeting Nik Richie in Las Vegas and marrying him less than 24 hours later.
But what I found most fascinating is where Shayne is today.
After a lifetime of attention, cameras and public interest, she has intentionally chosen a much quieter life—one centered around her children, her family and being the best mother she can be.
We talk about fame, identity, relationships, motherhood, walking away from the need to be seen, and what happens when the life you once thought you wanted no longer feels like the life you're meant to live.
Shayne is funny, candid, completely herself, and full of stories you truly cannot make up.
This is such a fun—and unexpectedly meaningful—conversation.
Listen to Above Average now on YouTube and everywhere you listen to podcasts.
And for more of what I’m loving, researching and recommending, visit LorissaViolet.com (http://LorissaViolet.com) and join the Lorissa’s List community.
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