Pod By Pen

Simi Polonsky and Chaya Gestetner-Chanin built The Frock NYC together as sisters - and even after closing that chapter, they’ve stayed close, both in life and online. In this episode, they open up about what it means to keep sharing the real stuff publicly: loss, addiction, family, and the messy, ongoing work of figuring out who you are when life doesn’t look like you thought it would.
This one’s personal for Penina too - her own connection to Simi’s story shapes the conversation from the start.

Follow Simi: @thelifeofsimi
Follow Chaya: @chaya.chanin

@podbypen | podbypen@gmail.com

This week, I sat down with therapist Rachel Husney, LCSW, for a candid conversation about navigating friendships as adults, dealing with rejection, managing expectations, setting boundaries, and learning not to take everything so personally.
Rachel brings her signature blend of honesty, humor, and straight talk as we explore why friendships often feel harder in adulthood, how our past experiences shape our relationships, and what it actually means to show up for the people we care about.
Rachel Husney is a New York City-based therapist who works with adults struggling with anxiety, depression, and the lasting impact of trauma.
Connect with Rachel:
@rachel_husney
Rachelshusney@gmail.com
https://rachel-husney.clientsecure.me/contact-widget

This episode is sponsored by Sukiru Beauty 
Created by professional makeup artist Batya Reyz,
Sukiru Beauty was born from years of working on thousands of faces and testing countless products to create makeup that is high-performance, easy to use, and genuinely fun to wear.

Beautiful shades. Foolproof formulas. Incredible staying power.
Shop the full collection at:
https://sukirubeauty.com
@sukirubeauty
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Follow along:
@penkunstler | @podbypen
For sponsorships and collaborations:
 podbypen@gmail.com

This week on Pod By Pen, I’m joined by Adina Kamkhatchi, founder of Adina Eden Jewelry.
Most people know the brand.
What they don’t know is the story behind it.
Before the celebrity placements, major retailers, and multi-million dollar company, Adina was a kid growing up in Brooklyn, NY. What began with a handmade necklace, a few hundred dollars, and a dream eventually grew into one of the most recognizable jewelry brands in the country.
But success was only one chapter.
In this conversation, Adina opens up about her infertility and IVF journey, becoming a mother to twins, navigating life as a single mom, and the reality of carrying enormous responsibility both at home and in business.
We talk about resilience, identity, motherhood, entrepreneurship, and what happens when life teaches you lessons that hard work alone can’t solve.
Most importantly, we explore the woman behind the brand - and what she would say today to those who are in a chapter of building a business and navigating life.
This episode is for anyone building something, becoming someone, or finding their way through a season they never planned for.
Follow Adina: @itsadinaeden @adinaeden_

Pod By Pen is a podcast spotlighting authentic conversations with Jewish women about business, motherhood, resilience, faith, wellness, and everything in between.
Follow along: @penkunstler
For sponsorship inquiries: podbypen@gmail.com

In this episode of Pod by Pen, I sit down with marriage coach Rachaeli Glucksman for a candid conversation about one of the hardest lessons many of us face in relationships: learning to focus on ourselves instead of trying to control the people we love.
We discuss respect in marriage, personal responsibility, communication, and the uncomfortable truths that often lead to the biggest breakthroughs. Rachaeli shares lessons from her own journey through divorce, remarriage, and rebuilding relationships, along with the tools she now teaches women navigating their own marriages.

This conversation isn’t about blame, perfection, or pretending relationships are easy. It’s about understanding your contribution, letting go of control, and creating healthier dynamics built on respect and connection.

Whether you’re married, remarried, dating, or simply interested in personal growth, this episode offers thoughtful insights and practical takeaways that may challenge the way you think about relationships.

Connect with Rachaeli:
@rachaelglucksman
Follow along:
Instagram: @penkunstler @podbypen
For sponsorships, collaborations, or guest inquiries:
podbypen@gmail.com

A quick disclaimer before diving in: these are simply my raw thoughts, personal experiences, and honest musings in real time.
I cope with a lot of life through humor and sarcasm, and this episode definitely reflects that. Nothing here is meant to be universal advice - just one woman candidly sharing her perspective and experience.
In this solo episode, I’m answering anonymous questions about remarriage, step parenting, blending families, boundaries, relationships, motherhood, healing, and navigating the emotional complexity of building a life the second time around.
Some questions are funny, some are uncomfortable, some are deeply personal — and I tried to answer all of them honestly.
This episode is less polished advice and more real conversation. The messy middle, the humor, the hard parts, the growth, and all the things people often think about but don’t always say out loud.
 Pod by Pen
For sponsorship inquiries, collaborations, or guest requests:
Podbypen@gmail.com
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Instagram: @penkunstler