I'm Not Crazy, Right?

Have you ever had a four hour phone call that started as a quick check-in and ended with you Googling the same random celebrity at the same time as your best friend — without either of you saying a word about it first? If you have a long distance bestie, you know exactly what that's like. And if you don't, you're about to wish you did.In this episode of I'm Not Crazy, Right?, host Hillary Bautch sits down with her long-distance best friend Dakota — a friendship that started entirely over Slack messages and early morning phone calls back in 2019, and one that didn't become "in person" until four years later. Together they get into the question every woman with a far away best friend has quietly wondered: does distance actually make some friendships better, not worse?From the "What The F*ck Is Up Wednesday" video tradition that's kept their friendship going for years, to the very different communication styles that almost broke them (and ultimately made them closer), Hillary and Dakota get honest about what long distance friendship really looks like — the good, the hard, and the deeply, deeply random. Enjoy!In this episode we cover:Why so many women end up with their closest friendships being long-distance — and why that's not something to feel guilty aboutThe "anonymity" of long-distance friends — why it's sometimes easier to be completely honest with someone who isn't tangled up in your daily lifeNavigating different communication styles in friendship — texting anxiety, phone calls, and finding a middle ground that works for both peopleTune in for new episodes every Thursday! Follow along on social @notcrazyrightpod and @hillarybautch.

Have you ever nodded along in a conversation about investing, budgeting, or retirement accounts — and then gone home and googled every single word? You're not alone. And you're definitely not crazy.In this episode of I'm Not Crazy, Right?, host Hillary Bautch is tackling one of the most universally felt but least talked about questions women have: why does managing money feel so overwhelming, even for smart, capable, accomplished women?Hillary and her friend Rachel break down why financial literacy has a gender gap problem, why so many women feel shame around not knowing this stuff, and what you can actually do about it — starting today, starting small, and starting without judgment. Enjoy!In this episode we cover:Why smart women feel lost when it comes to personal finance — and why it's not your faultThe real reason financial literacy has a gender gapHow to start budgeting when you don't know where to beginThe basics of investing for beginners — what you actually need to knowHow to understand and manage debt without the overwhelmWhy women are actually better investors than men — and why we don't act like itHow to overcome money shame and finally open the banking appPractical first steps toward financial confidence no matter where you're starting fromTune in for new episodes every Thursday! Follow along on social @notcrazyrightpod and @hillarybautch.As promised, a glossary:Compound interest – Earning interest on your interest. The earlier you start, the more powerful it gets. The thing Einstein reportedly called it the "eighth wonder of the world."Portfolio – Your total collection of investments (stocks, bonds, real estate, etc.)Diversification – Spreading money across different investments to reduce risk ("don't put all your eggs in one basket")401(k) – A tax-advantaged retirement account offered by employers. Always contribute enough to get the full employer match — it's free money.IRA (Individual Retirement Account) – A retirement account you open yourself. A Roth IRA lets your money grow tax-free.APR (Annual Percentage Rate) – The true yearly cost of borrowing money, including fees. Critical for comparing credit cards and loans.ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund) — A basket of investments (like stocks or bonds) bundled together and traded on the stock market like a single stock. For example, buying one share of VOO gives you tiny ownership in all 500 companies in the S&P 500 at once. They're popular for beginners because they offer instant diversification at a low cost.The Market — A broad term referring to the overall system where stocks, bonds, and other investments are bought and sold. When people say "the market is up today" they usually mean the major U.S. stock exchanges are performing well.The Stock Market – Where shares of publicly traded companies are bought and soldThe S&P 500 – Tracks the 500 largest U.S. companies; often used as the go-to measuring stick for how "the market" is doing overallThe Dow Jones (DJIA) – Tracks 30 large, well-known U.S. companies like Apple, Nike, and McDonald'sNASDAQ – A stock exchange heavy on tech companies like Google, Amazon, and MetaThe Bond Market – Where government and corporate bonds are traded (generally considered safer/more conservative than stocks)

Remember when we were told that if we just hustled hard enough, wanted it badly enough, and leaned in far enough — we could have it all? And remember how that felt less like empowerment and more like exhaustion you weren't allowed to admit to? Yeah. We're talking about it.In this episode of I'm Not Crazy, Right?, host Hillary Bautch is making the case that girlboss culture didn't just burn women out — it convinced us that burning out was the whole point. From Sophia Amoruso to Sheryl Sandberg, from the gender pay gap to the impossible standard of "having it all," Hillary gets personal about her own experience working in breaking news, the moment her body finally forced her to stop, and why she's still unlearning some of it today.Spoiler: girlboss culture did set us up to fail. But that doesn't mean YOU are a failure. Enjoy!In this episode we cover:What girlboss culture actually promised women — and where it went catastrophically wrongWhy exhaustion became a status symbol and burnout became a badge of honorThe real statistics behind women and burnout — and why the gender gap is widest at the topWhy the gender pay gap made girlboss culture's promises impossible from the startHow social media keeps girlboss culture alive and why the highlight reel is making us feel like shitThe myth of "having it all" — what it actually means and why it was never realisticHillary's personal story of working in breaking news and the moment her body shut downWhy burnout is not failure — and why the system was designed to make it inevitableHow to start unlearning the idea that your worth is tied to your productivityTune in for new episodes every Thursday! Follow along on social @notcrazyrightpod and @hillarybautch.

Have you ever said yes to something you desperately wanted to say no to — not because you wanted to go, but because the guilt of not going felt worse than the inconvenience of showing up? You're not alone. And you're definitely not crazy.In the very first episode of I'm Not Crazy, Right?, host Hillary Bautch is asking the question every woman has felt but rarely says out loud: why is it so hard to choose yourself? From canceling plans to staying in relationships too long, Hillary gets honest about the guilt, the people pleasing, and the slow process of learning to put yourself first — without the shame spiral that usually follows. Enjoy!In this episode we cover:Why women default to putting everyone else's needs before their ownThe real reason guilt stops us from choosing ourselves — and why it's more irrational than we thinkHow people pleasing shows up in friendships, romantic relationships, and everyday lifeWhy staying in the wrong relationship is sometimes about proving something to everyone but yourselfWhat it actually looks like to start choosing yourself — starting small, starting nowHow to have honest conversations with friends and partners about your needs without the guiltWhy protecting your peace isn't selfish — it's necessaryTune in for new episodes every Thursday! Follow along on social @notcrazyrightpod and @hillarybautch.