Honey Toast Podcast

About Honey Toast Podcast

Honey Toast is a podcast about womanhood, friendship, and everything in between. Hosted by best friends Danielle Schleese and Briana Donaldson, Honey Toast is where the conversations usually saved for the group chat get a microphone. From motherhood, relationships and sex to beauty, body image, identity, health, friendship and getting older, Danielle and Briana get into the things women are actually thinking about, without pretending to have it all figured out. Some episodes go deep. Some get weird. Some are just two best friends trying to make sense of being women in a world with a lot to say about how we should do it. Come for the conversation. Stay because it feels like you’re already part of it.

Publisher

Danielle Schleese and Briana Donaldson

Category

health & fitness · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

27 May 2025

Latest episode

3 Mar 2026

Latest episodes

19 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   3 Mar 2026

   Filters, Flesh, and the Future of Being Human

   In this episode, we step into a cultural tension most people feel but rarely articulate. AI is no longer just a tool. It is a mirror. And mirrors shape identity. We trace how beauty filters may have been our first mass experience of artificial intelligence. Long before ChatGPT, we were smoothing skin, enlarging eyes, reshaping noses, and rehearsing synthetic perfection on our own faces. What started as play became normalization. What felt harmless became infrastructure. From there, the conversation widens. What happens when tools become authorities? When attention becomes currency? When algorithms quietly reward one type of face, one type of body, one type of youth? We examine the pressure to remain perpetually optimized and the growing cultural discomfort with aging. Why does natural aging now feel like resistance? Why are women in particular expected to compete with filtered, surgically refined, AI-enhanced versions of themselves? We also experiment directly with AI during the episode, asking it philosophical questions about reality, language, and desire. The answers are striking. But the deeper question remains: are we using these systems as tools, or are we slowly reorganizing ourselves around them?

2. 

   10 Feb 2026

   Why Even Resting Feels Exhausting & The Hidden Cost of Being Self-Aware

   Why does rest still feel exhausting, even when we’re doing all the “right” things? In this episode of Honey Toast, we unpack burnout from a different angle. Not as a productivity problem, but as an identity one. We explore how being self-aware, informed, and committed to healing can quietly become another form of output, and why so many women feel overwhelmed even when they’re slowing down. This conversation is about the gap between awareness and embodiment. About why slowness can feel unsafe. About how nervous system burnout often shows up as constant motion, over-functioning, and the inability to simply land in ourselves without a role to perform. Danielle shares openly about her recent health wake-up call, nervous system dysregulation, and beginning somatic work, including a powerful first session that revealed how deeply ingrained performance and self-monitoring can be. Brianna reflects on identity shifts, pressure, and how change requires more than insight. Together, they explore why burnout isn’t a lack of resilience, but grief for the parts of us that don’t get to exist unless they’re useful. This episode is for anyone who feels tired of performing their own life, even in the name of healing. Topics we cover: • Why burnout isn’t about doing too much, but being too many things at once • The difference between awareness and embodiment • Why slowing down can feel unsafe • How healing can turn into another task • Nervous system regulation and identity loss • Performance, shame, and early survival strategies • Why consistency matters more than transformation • Asking for help and relearning rest Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome back + season pause reflections 03:00 – Life transitions, moves, and nervous system overload 07:30 – Why rest doesn’t actually feel restful 10:00 – Awareness vs embodiment 14:30 – When healing becomes another form of output 18:30 – Burnout, busyness, and the fear of stillness 22:00 – Asking for help and community support 25:30 – Creating space for nervous system regulation 28:00 – Danielle’s first somatic coaching session 33:00 – Shame, performance, and early survival patterns 36:30 – Why burnout is grief, not failure 39:00 – Integration, consistency, and closing reflections Follow the show: Instagram: @thehoneytoastpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thehoneytoastpodcast/) Follow us personally: Danielle: @danielleschleese (https://www.instagram.com/danielleschleese/) Brianna: @brianadonaldson (https://www.instagram.com/briana.donaldson/) If this conversation resonated, consider following the podcast, sharing the episode, or leaving a review. Your support helps these conversations reach the people who need them.

3. 

   11 Nov 2025

   Birth Is Not the Trauma, The System Is: Healing Birth Trauma & Trusting the Body with Emmy Robbin

   Birth is not the trauma, the system is. This week on Honey Toast, Danielle and Briana sit down with birth worker, somatic trauma coach, and best-selling author Emmy Robbin  (https://www.instagram.com/emmyrobbindoula/)to talk about birth as initiation, power, lineage, and the remembering of what women have always known. From fear-based systems and disassociation to sovereign birth and nervous-system trust, this episode explores how trauma is often systemic, not personal, and how true healing begins when we restore faith in our bodies. A must-listen for anyone navigating pregnancy, postpartum, or the lifelong relationship with the feminine body. ✨ Follow Emmy on Instagram @emmyrobbindoula (https://www.instagram.com/emmyrobbindoula) 📖 Get her book Faithful Beginnings (https://www.emmyrobbindoula.com/book) 🎧 Listen to her podcast Empowered Birth, Love & Life (https://empoweredbirthloveandlifepodcast.buzzsprout.com/)

4. 

   28 Oct 2025

   The Bloodline Revolution: Reclaiming the Feminine Body as Sacred, Not Sanitary with Marieke Bodyn

   What if the very thing women are taught to hide holds the key to their deepest power In this conversation with Marieke Bodyn (https://www.instagram.com/mommariki/) artist philosopher midwife and cyclical living guide we unravel the centuries of shame that have buried the feminine body under patriarchy’s logic and the medical system’s quick fixes. Together we trace the lineage of womanhood through blood and soil from red tents and ancient priestesses to the modern woman’s quiet rebellion of tracking bleeding resting and listening This episode explores: • The lost initiations of the first bleed and how their absence shapes generational disconnection • The ancient practice of returning menstrual blood to the earth as nourishment and ceremony • The emotional and energetic language of cramps PMS and cyclical pain what your body is actually trying to say • How the patriarchy rebranded the sacred feminine into something messy and how women are rewriting that story through ritual • The biological poetry of maternal lineage how your grandmother’s eggs live within you • Why reclaiming cyclical living is not regression but the most radical form of evolution This is not a conversation about periods It is a conversation about power The kind that cannot be sterilized outsourced or systematized Listen if you have ever felt at war with your own body and are ready to remember that she has been on your side all along Listen on Spotify Apple and YouTube Subscribe (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBiNUxCGCOCOY5x7TSGmioQ) to Honey Toast for new episodes every Tuesday Follow us on Instagram at @thehoneytoastpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thehoneytoastpodcast/) for behind the scenes clips guest highlights and reflections Share this episode with a woman who is ready to remember the power of her own body Leave a review and tell us what part of this conversation awakened something in you

5. 

   14 Oct 2025

   The Body Was Never the Problem: Returning to Feminine Rhythm and Self-Trust

   The Body Was Never the Problem it’s where the feminine revolution begins. Hosts Danielle & Briana of Honey Toast sit down with Rebecca Akat (https://www.instagram.com/rebeccaakat/), creator of Blume Womb (https://www.instagram.com/blumewomb/), for a deep dive into cyclical living, body wisdom, and the soft rebellion of slowing down. They explore what happens when women stop treating their cycles as inconveniences and start honoring them as portals to creativity, intuition, and self-trust. From hormone awareness to somatic embodiment, this episode invites you back into relationship with your body—the way nature intended. 🌿 In this episode: The rise of burnout and the myth of the 24-hour woman Reclaiming rest and sensuality as sacred power Womb intelligence, emotional alchemy, and the art of embodiment How to live in tune with your inner seasons 💭 This episode is for the woman who’s tired of fixing herself, and ready to remember she was never broken. 🎧 Subscribe wherever you listen: Apple, Spotify, Amazon, Google, and more. ✨ Connect with us: [@thehoneytoastpodcast (https://www.instagram.com/thehoneytoastpodcast/)] | [honeytoastpodcast.com]

6. 

   23 Sept 2025

   From Survival Mode to Gut Wisdom: How Ayurveda Reconnects Body + Mind with Devin Eliason

   Your gut isn’t just about digestion, it’s where stress, burnout, and imbalance first take root. In this conversation with Clinical Specialist Devin Eliason, we explore how the principles of Ayurveda reveal the hidden links between your gut, your emotions, and the way you move through the world. Devin shares how living out of rhythm with your body shows up as inflammation, anxiety, hormone swings, and chronic fatigue, and how simple shifts in food, routine, and daily awareness can transform survival mode into grounded vitality. If you’ve ever wondered why your “gut feelings” are so often ignored in Western medicine, why your symptoms feel scattered but connected, or how to bring ancient practices into a modern lifestyle, this episode will leave you seeing your body in an entirely new way. Tune in to this week’s Honey Toast episode on Spotify (#) or Apple Podcasts (#) or wherever you listen, and join us in re-imagining what gut health really means. Devin (Hall) Eliason's Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/ea_s__e/) + Website (https://easeayurveda.myflodesk.com/linkinbio?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAadfVpfx1JS8vi_gdaVJ0N_KsnULTYx_75kpp1F8RtWkSG_dqGcqgUshVHioiQ_aem_GBowuM1iYT7pe5vjvVqsOg)

7. 

   9 Sept 2025

   The Fall Season of Womanhood: Silent Initiations, Loneliness, and Renewal

   Season 2 is here! Welcome back to Honey Toast Podcast. In this opening episode, we’re diving into the silent initiations women face, the unspoken identity shifts, cycles, and transformations that shape womanhood. From the epidemic of loneliness and craving for sisterhood, to the seasonal wisdom of fall as a time of release, change, and renewal, this season explores what women go through silently yet universally Expect raw conversations on: ✨ Silent initiations of womanhood, from menstruation to motherhood and beyond ✨ Why loneliness is so pervasive for women today, and how sisterhood heals it ✨ Identity shifts and life transitions that deserve to be honored, not hidden ✨ Embodiment, feminine wisdom, and the rituals that bring us back to ourselves 🌍 This season features voices from around the globe, women in birthwork, embodiment, sensuality, and ancestral traditions, all sharing what it means to live fully in the body, in community, and in connection For detailed show notes, navigate using the timestamps below: [0:00] Introduction - What to expect from season 2 [1:30] Life updates from the hosts [7:30] All of us have felt less than at some point or another [9:23] Hosts share biggest difficulty going from the first season to now [13:38] Insight on what is coming in season 2 [20:00] How this season will help women Follow us! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@honeytoastpodcast (https://www.youtube.com/@honeytoastpodcast) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehoneytoastpodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/thehoneytoastpodcast/)

8. 

   12 Aug 2025

   Sensual Embodiment for Women: Unlock Creative Flow Through Feminine Energy

   What if your next creative breakthrough was already alive in your body, whispered through your breath or revealed in the way your hips moved? In this episode, we explore the deep connection between women’s sensuality and their creative power. From the pressure to always be productive, to redefining what it means to feel safe and expressive in your own skin, this conversation is a soft yet powerful invitation to reconnect with your inner rhythm. We talk about balancing masculine and feminine energies, how sensuality deepens connection (yes, even in the bedroom), and why maybe…we all need to dance a little more. For detailed show notes, navigate using the timestamps below: [0:00] Introduction - the pressure to show up, to grind, and to produce [4:17] Women sensuality unlocks their powerful selves [10:30] Women don’t need to provide as much as men [16:31] Masculinity and feminine need to be balanced [21:54] Connected sensuality makes “making love” feel closer [28:21] Accept yourself and be comfort within the sensual space you create [34:17] We should all dance Follow us! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@honeytoastpodcast (https://www.youtube.com/@honeytoastpodcast) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehoneytoastpodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/thehoneytoastpodcast/)

9. 

   5 Aug 2025

   Rediscovering Yourself in Motherhood: From Overwhelm to Ownership

   Motherhood is life-changing—beautiful, messy, and at times, identity-shifting. In today’s episode, we’re diving into the often unspoken journey of what it means to be a mom and a woman rediscovering herself. From the instinctual ways moms just seem to know what to do, to the challenge of reconnecting with who you are outside of parenting, this conversation is a reminder that your identity matters too. We also talk about the roles we adopt, how to network meaningfully as a mom, and offer encouragement and advice for anyone walking this path. Whether you’re in the thick of raising littles or just starting out, this episode is for you. For detailed show notes, navigate using the timestamps below: [0:00] Motherhood is life-changing [8:17] Moms just know what to do [10:45] How to reconnect after being a Mom [17:14] The roles we give ourselves [23:56] Networking for Mothers [25:00] Advice for Mothers Follow us! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@honeytoastpodcast (https://www.youtube.com/@honeytoastpodcast) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehoneytoastpodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/thehoneytoastpodcast/)

10. 

    29 Jul 2025

    Did We Just Ghost Each Other? Modern Friendship Breakups No One Prepares You For

    Long-distance friendships, slow fades, and friendship breakups — why do they hurt just as much as romantic ones? In this episode, we get honest about how hard it can be to maintain adult friendships, especially when life pulls you in different directions. We talk about asking hard questions about who gets to stay in your life, how to know when to let go, and what it really takes to make long-distance friendships work. Because the truth is: friendship heartbreak is real, and it deserves just as much care and healing as any breakup. [0:00] Teaser for episode [4:46] Asking yourself difficult questions choosing your friends [12:44] Know when to let go of friendships [14:35] Why are romantic relationships messier than friendships [22:28] Making long distance friendships work [29:19] Podcast recap For detailed show notes, navigate using the timestamps below: Follow us! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@honeytoastpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehoneytoastpodcast/

11. 

    22 Jul 2025

    Why Female Loneliness is an Epidemic and How Sisterhood Heals It

    We weren’t meant to do life alone, but somewhere along the way, the world started glorifying independence, especially for women. In this episode of The Honey Toast Podcast, we’re talking about how that cultural shift might actually be leaving many of us feeling isolated, disconnected, and more lonely than ever. From the pressure to "hustle" to the silence that can come after loss, career changes, or even a global pandemic, women are carrying a heavy load, often without a village around them. Let’s explore why deep relationships and chosen family matter more than ever, and how we might be unknowingly pushing people away. Are we becoming too stand-offish when someone genuinely wants to connect? And more importantly, how do we begin rebuilding the community and connection we all deeply crave? For detailed show notes, navigate using the timestamps below: [0:00] We aren’t supposed to be alone. [8:33] The hustle might just be harming women more than we think. [12:33] We need to form deep bonds [15:33] How career, loss, and even COVID isolated women [19:43] Society back in the day supported a lot of fellowship in communities [23:31] helpful tips to create more community in your life Follow us! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@honeytoastpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehoneytoastpodcast/

12. 

    15 Jul 2025

    How Can You Learn to Love Yourself and Not the Face You Put On

    This episode is for the ladies—and for anyone who’s ever felt pressured to “fix” themselves. From 9-year-olds asking for skincare and makeup to grown women chasing eternal youth, we’re diving deep into how today’s world makes women feel perpetually self-conscious. Why are we taught we have to keep our faces young, hide every flaw, and banish every stray hair? Danielle opens up about her own experiences with beauty products at a young age, and we explore how none of us come into this world believing we’re not enough—it’s a story we’re taught. Join us as we talk about how our skin, bodies, and souls are perfect as they are, why looking inward might reveal the true “flaws” we need to heal, and how practices like mirror work can help us love ourselves first. For detailed show notes, navigate using the timestamps below: [0:00] Teaser for the episode [1:42] Everyone has a face… [7:01] Danielle talks about how she was into products at a young age [10:32] We don’t come into this world thinking we need to edit ourselves [16:48] Our skin doesn’t work the way the world wants it to [20:31] The flaws could be the need to look inward [25:38] Love yourself first [30:21] Discussion of mirror work Follow us! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@honeytoastpodcast (https://www.youtube.com/@honeytoastpodcast) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehoneytoastpodcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/thehoneytoastpodcast/)

13. 

    8 Jul 2025

    When Doing More Still Feels Like Not Enough

    Hosts Danielle and Briana explore the challenges of tying self-worth to external validation, roles, and achievements, offering insights on recognizing inherent value.

14. 

    1 Jul 2025

    True Wellness Journey: When Wellness Becomes Burnout & Redefining What Healthy Means

    Hosts Briana and Danielle examine the fine line between wellness and burnout, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and listening to your body's needs over strict routines.

15. 

    24 Jun 2025

    Healing in a Toxic World: Why Lifestyle, Rest & Intention Matter

    Hosts Danielle and Briana explore personal healing journeys, discussing rest, social media habits, and breathwork to nourish mind, body, and soul in this episode.

16. 

    17 Jun 2025

    What Is Femininity? Embracing Your Feminine Energy in a Masculine World

    Podcast hosts Briana and Danielle explore the multifaceted concept of femininity, sharing personal experiences and offering insights on embracing feminine energy in a world that often prioritizes masculine traits.

17. 

    10 Jun 2025

    Navigating Cycles of Change: Using Difficult Times to Become Your Best Self

    Hosts Briana and Danielle explore navigating life's cycles of change, discussing how difficult times shape personal growth and identity, and offering insights on releasing external pressures.

18. 

    3 Jun 2025

    The Double-Burden: Societal Expectations Hold Women Back

    Hosts Briana and Danielle explore the double-burden placed on women by outdated societal expectations, examining how these beliefs impact women's roles and create feelings of guilt and inadequacy.

19. 

    27 May 2025

    Honey Toast Podcast Trailer

    The Honey Toast Podcast introduces itself as a comforting and unfiltered conversation exploring womanhood, sensuality, and identity, aiming to navigate life's complexities.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

18,179

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.0 / 5

4 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 32 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

5

Social presence

91

YouTube

72

Engagement

32