Barely Edited

This week on Barely Edited, Montreal influencer Julia Grandoni joins us for a conversation about the Montreal influencer scene, what actually works online, and why authenticity somehow became rare. We get into creator culture, viral content, her new business, age-gap relationships, and the difference between having a real personality versus just performing one for the internet.A little nicotine, a little nonsense, a little content strategy.

This week on Barely Edited, Melissa sits down with me for what was meant to be a simple catch-up and instead gives us the beautifully chaotic, extended director’s cut of her life lately. We get into new mom life, fertility struggles, breastfeeding, mastitis, relationships, and the general madness of becoming a mother while everybody around you suddenly becomes an expert.This one is funny, a little all over the place, and full of the kind of side quests that only make sense when you’re catching up with a friend who has been storing thoughts since August.NEW EPISODES EVERY 11TH AND 22ND OF EACH MONTH

In this episode, Bianca is joined by Chancie Carnevale for a conversation about skin, self-care, wellness trends, and the very humbling realization that some of us were not raised on green juice and boundaries. They get into growing up in survival mode, why wellness now feels like a rich girl personality trait, and how social media managed to make healing feel both more accessible and more completely deranged. If you’ve ever been bloated, puffy, burnt out, underfed, under-slept, and two TikToks away from diagnosing yourself with seventeen problems, this one’s for you.

Red hair. Red soles. Red flags we ignored in friendships for years.This week Bianca sits down with Evelyn Skoutelas — a woman who owns 40 pairs of Louboutins and zero apologies — for a conversation that's equal parts shoe worship and emotional reckoning. They get into the jealousy between women that everyone feels and nobody admits, the adult friendships that start to fit like the wrong size heel, and why some women will hype you up in public and spiral about you in private — and sometimes that woman is you.Funny, sharp, and just uncomfortable enough to make you text your group chat and go quiet.

We thought we were watching a hockey show.We were not.On the first episode of Season 2 of Barely Edited, Bianca is joined by her first guest, Erica, where they spiral into the cultural phenomenon that is Heated Rivalry — the slow burn, the secrecy, the tension, the cottage scene, and the fact that none of us are mentally stable about it.Why are women simultaneously turned on and emotionally devastated? Would we tolerate an eight-year situationship in real life? Is this romance… or just a red flag with good lighting? And why does knowing certain moments were improvised make it ten times sexier?We break down obsession, domination, fantasy vs. reality, whether Shane is toxic, whether Ilya carried the emotional weight, and why women — not men — are the ones who turn stories like this into cultural events.If you’ve developed a Russian accent in your own home, can’t get the soundtrack out of your head, or considered ice skating “for the plot”… this episode is for you.We came for hockey.We stayed for the tension.Now we’re just trying to survive the wait for Season 2.

Somewhere between sober culture and scrolling culture, we lost the plot. This episode follows that thread — how going sober became the new cool, how being online became a full-time identity, and how we quietly forgot how to log off.I talk about the rise of self-diagnosis, comparison, and jealousy as background noise, and how living online long enough changes the way you feel in your own body. And when you zoom out far enough, it all points to the same thing: why making friends feels harder than ever, why adult friendships feel fragile, and why so many people are walking around feeling disconnected without knowing how they got there.This is a conversation about the friendship recession — the emotional cost of never signing off, and the quiet loneliness that comes with it.

This episode is a holiday-season panic attack disguised as a podcast. I ride shotgun through seasonal depression, Black Friday/Cyber Monday marketing insanity, and the endless flood of sale emails that turn “retail therapy” into retail trauma — because saving money never looked so triggering.The anxiety of trying to survive while working nights, missing daylight for weeks, Uber becoming my makeshift chef, and realizing cooking three meals a day is a luxury even for people without kids. I talk about the grind, the burnout, and the creeping materialism — like the internet turned us into collectors of things instead of creators of memories.Somewhere in the chaos, I get into the dating-app fatigue, the fantasy of meeting someone organically again, and the hilarious way married women gravitate toward me while I’m out here explaining, once again, why I’m actually not a lesbian. I touch on taking Plan B, questioning who the hell my pre-internet self even was, and dreaming about taking this podcast to a stage one day — Unwell, if you’re listening, hello.It’s messy, overstimulated, under-slept, and weirdly comforting — the perfect holiday-season meltdown.

This week Rough Drafts I get into the story I never told properly — mostly because it sounds like a fever dream written by a bored screenwriter during lockdown. But here we are.In this episode, I finally talk about the time I got stuck in Italy, went mildly viral by accident, became the unofficial “pandemic girl” for half the news stations in Canada, and somehow landed a six-month radio show because life loves a plot twist.I get into the version of me that existed before the internet swallowed all of us whole, the weird ways your brain rewires under pressure, why shaving after 30 should qualify for Olympic recognition, and what happens when your personal growth gets broadcasted to strangers.It’s chaotic, it’s messy, it’s very Barely Edited — and it explains a lot more about me than I expected.Rough Drafts… you’re getting the uncut version.

Seasonal depression, vape regrets, murder mysteries, and the time I told a bride to fire her maid of honor — welcome back to the chaos, Rough Drafts.This episode is a full-course meal of chaos — equal parts caffeine, confession, and Christmas panic. I talk about seasonal depression and how the sound of someone chewing can turn me into a full-blown villain, giving “holiday rage” a whole new meaning.Then there’s the part where I told a bride to fire her maid of honor — which, for the record, Stefano specifically told me not to do. But because I have a big mouth and a savior complex, I did it anyway. I just couldn’t stand there and let this poor girl’s wedding implode in real time. Sometimes you’ve gotta ignore logic, ignore Stefano, and follow your inner wedding therapist. Choose your maid of honor like you’d choose a business partner: with strategy, not guilt.From there, it’s a spiral of THC-induced shopping sprees, murder mystery birthday planning, and the last-minute chaos of building my Christmas sets with zero time and too much ambition. Somewhere between giving up vape pens and giving up control, I realize: maybe I thrive in disaster.It’s unfiltered, unstable, and somehow still festive.

Episode 27 is what happens when you hit your vape pen and accidentally open every tab in your brain. I start by revisiting all the weird jobs I’ve had — the questionable interviews, the unhinged managers, the “how did I even end up here” moments — and somehow spiral into a conversation about people who are too much.The good kind of too much — funny, loud, magnetic — that everyone loves. Until it flips, and suddenly you’re “too emotional,” “too opinionated,” or “too much work.” Because apparently being human comes with a return policy.I talk about feeling boxed in by what people expect from me on this podcast — how the minute I started talking about Tinder, Bumble, and threesomes, everyone wanted that version of me. But that’s not the only story I have. Being a creator means still showing up when you’re not in the mood, still filming when your hair’s falling out from Mounjaro, and still finding ways to make chaos entertaining.Somewhere between burnout, event planning, and my sister’s Gossip Girl–slash–murder mystery birthday, I realize maybe this episode doesn’t need to make sense — because neither do I right now.Call it unfiltered, call it a breakdown — either way, it’s a show.

This week is the definition of chaos cuisine: I start in the kitchen, where my attempt at making simple veggies and rice turned into a full-blown crime scene — burns, cuts, broken nail, the works. From there, the universe decided to spice things up by throwing me face-to-face with an ex I didn’t even recognize… until I realized he now has kids. And honestly? Nothing feels more like instant karma than watching a man who treated you like shit suddenly raising a daughter.Then we get into friendship breakups — the kind that leave you realizing you were more of a convenience store instead of a forever home. I spiral into the whataboutmeism era we’re all living in, where people don’t listen anymore; they just hijack every story as if life is one big comment section.And to top it all off? Stefano has been swiping on my dating apps like he’s auditioning for a role in my personal soap opera — accidentally matching me with people I actually know, including a friend’s girlfriend. Bon appétit.

We open with blood. A lot of it. After 22 years of getting my period, you’d think my uterus would know the drill — but instead, it showed up like a hitman. I’m at a wedding on a tampon scavenger hunt, whispering to strangers like I’m trying to score coke. One of them delivers like she’s handing off a baggie. It was dark. It was powerful. It was hot af. Then we head to the strip club — for Italbae's birthday — and a reminder that Montreal might actually have the hottest women on the planet. We didn’t get a lap dance, but we did fall in lust. Deep, horny, confusing lust.And yes, I did get banned from Tinder. But the real issue? Every single woman on there is either looking for their soulmate or trying to get me to fuck their boyfriend. Every profile feels like a Craigslist ad for a unicorn, or it’s someone’s blurry selfie on the streets or kissing their cat. We talk dating apps, red flags, bizarre bios, and what it actually means to explore your sexuality when the internet feels like one big group chat you didn’t ask to join.This one’s unhinged. And if you’ve ever felt emotionally confused in a strip club bathroom, or swiped through seven poly couples before 9 a.m., this one’s for you.

In this episode, I talk about what happens when just enough time passes for you to almost forget why you left — until you remember everything all at once.When you start to miss someone you reshaped in your mind just to survive the way they treated you. But softness isn’t love. Distance isn’t closure. And time doesn’t replace an apology.I unpack what it means to grieve the role someone played — or the version of them you had to invent — just to make staying feel safe. I talk about the weaponization of guilt when you finally speak your truth, and why repeated hurt isn’t a mistake — it’s a message. Patterns aren’t accidents. They’re choices.If it hurt you again and again, it wasn’t a phase. It was them. People constantly show us who they are. It’s time to believe them.This one’s for the version of you who swallowed your pain so no one else had to feel uncomfortable — and the version of you who’s finally done carrying that weight.

What do sexless relationships, cheating, and wedding party drama have in common? Apparently, more than you'd think.In this episode, I unpack why so many of us have been with the same man — not literally, but emotionally. The type who doesn’t touch us, doesn’t see us, and somehow still makes us feel like we’re asking for too much. I talk about the deep importance of sexual compatibility, the shame we carry when it’s missing, and the guilt that shows up when we seek it elsewhere — even though we shouldn’t feel guilty at all.Then we shift to weddings: specifically, why it makes zero sense to be hyper-picky about your venue, photographer, and table runners… but not your bridesmaids. If someone doesn’t clap for your love loudly and proudly, they don’t deserve a dress. Period.This one might hurt a little. Which means it’s probably the truth.Unfaithfully yours,B.

Some closets don’t slam open — they creak slowly. In this episode, we ease the door a little wider. I talk about finally exploring conversations with women, opening our relationship, and redefining what intimacy means in a life that doesn’t like to color inside the lines. I open up about my uneasy past with sex, how shame shaped my body before I ever could, and what it means to feel seen — fully, finally — by someone who makes growth feel like foreplay and why finding someone who supports your sexual growth is just as important as your emotional one. The truth is, the right person won’t just help you heal — they’ll show you what you were missing. This one’s intimate. And overdue. It’s honest, it’s raw, and it’s probably going to make some people uncomfortable. Which means we’re doing it right.

Spend my birthday with me 'cause I might be pregnant, and I’m questioning everything — including who the hell I even am. This week, I spiral on late periods, unmet expectations, and the unsettling thought that maybe we’re all just mosaics of everyone we’ve ever loved, lost, or envied. Are we even original, or just patchworks of borrowed traits we convinced ourselves were “us”?It’s messy, it’s raw, and it’s the kind of self-interrogation that feels like both a breakdown and a breakthrough. Because if you can’t be honest with yourself, who’s left to lie to?It’s not just my uterus in limbo — it’s my entire life.

This week I have my first-ever guest episode and it had to be with my best friend Pietro — because if I’m going to spiral publicly, I’m doing it with someone who’s fluent in chaos. We catch up after a year apart, talk about leaving Florence and moving back to a small town, and drag every tourist who thinks Italy owes them something.You’ll hear about my rollercoaster of a trip from Canada to Italy, including a plane fight over a reclined seat and a full-blown screaming match with a woman who tried to steal my spot in the van to the rental counter. (You can’t make this shit up.)We talk about possessiveness in relationships, why liking a pic doesn’t mean you’re loyal, and how if he wanted to, he would — especially in long distance. Also: the return of silky smooth legs, and the very real question… is Labubu the new Birkin?It’s chaotic, a little delulu, and exactly the kind of catch-up call we all need.

There’s something liberating about hitting unfollow — not just on people, but on versions of yourself that no longer serve you.This week, we’re talking about the soft violence of reinvention, the quiet rage of being misunderstood, and the unapologetic power of saying, this isn’t for you anymore.The soft rebrand is over — demolition has begun.Why unfollowing feels like betrayal (but isn’t), why you owe no one an explanation, and why becoming the next version of yourself means accepting who doesn’t come with you.No warning. No announcement. Just new management.

In this episode, we talk about the case that’s gripped Montreal this week — a missing child, a discovery that’s hard to stomach, and the uncomfortable truth about what happens when people have kids for all the wrong reasons.From parental pressure to societal timelines, we unpack why not everyone who can have kids should. And somewhere in the middle… something happens. It’s horrifying. It’s embarrassing. It’s very Barely Edited.It’s complicated. And yes, I said what I said — kind of. But no, we’re not cutting it.

In this episode, I’m wondering out loud: were women ever actually getting nicer, or was I just getting fatter? I thought we were done seeing each other as threats — turns out, invisibility can look a lot like sisterhood when no one sees you as competition. We’re talking pretty privilege, and why I’ll never be the girl with a zucchero papi, and why I’ll always choose to fund my own lifestyle — even if it means sitting solo in the Amex Lounge.It’s complicated — and maybe you really can’t have it all.

In this episode, we get into what happens when you’re forced to make an adult decision before you even know how to be one.This one’s for anyone who had to figure it out young, while the world judged from the sidelines. We’re talking shame, silence, and the way society loves to weigh in on bodies it doesn’t belong to. Somewhere between healthcare and heartbreak, this episode unpacks a choice that wasn’t easy — but was always mine.It’s complicated. And no, we’re not keeping it.

I used to think chaos meant love. That calm was a trap. That being bored in a relationship meant it was the wrong one. But really, I was just addicted to dysfunction—and I was the one bringing it into every corner of my life. My friendships, my work, my relationship, even the way I talk to myself.In this episode, I’m owning the fact that I’ve been the toxic one. The walking red flag. The drama. The disaster. But also? I’m learning. I don’t want to pass this down to my kids one day. I don’t want to teach them that love has to hurt to be real.Peace used to feel suspicious. Now I’m craving it. Maybe that just means I’m growing up… or maybe I’m just finally done bleeding for the plot

One minute you’re in love. The next, you’re wondering why your boyfriend pulled up in your uncle’s car. What follows isn’t just betrayal, inheritance, or family drama — it’s a full-blown murder mystery. Honestly, it sounds like a movie. Rom-com with no resolution, a few casualties, and a very expensive lesson in ignoring your gut. Sometimes when one door slams in your face, it’s just the universe dragging you somewhere better. And hey — at least my nails look great now.

In this episode I connect some very gay dots I’ve been dodging since elementary school. I talk about something I’ve always known but never really said out loud. We get into tomboy phases, girlhood weirdness, and the slow, quiet realization that maybe I wasn’t as straight as I thought. It’s not a revelation. It’s not a label. Just a long-overdue out-loud moment about identity, attraction, and figuring things out while still being fully in love with my boyfriend. It’s a little gay, a little chaotic, and very on brand. Barely straight. Barely edited. Obviously.

This week, I’m talking about the soft breakdown that comes after you’ve been strong for too long.I open up about the upcoming anniversary of my ex Shane’s passing, how his joy for life still echoes in mine, and how grief — even years later — can hit you when you least expect it. Especially when you’re finally starting to live again.We also get into what happens when you go from saying yes to everything… to saying no to literally everything. The avoidant phase. The cold era. The “cut everyone off and call it healing” moment.I’ve been in emotional witness protection, and maybe you have too.But I’m trying to find the middle. To stay soft. To let people in — without letting them take.This one’s for anyone who’s been hiding in their peace and finally wants to come home to themselves.New episodes drop somewhere between Sunday night and Monday morning — because structure is for boring people.This is Barely Edited — where nothing’s off-limits, and life’s messiest moments turn into stories worth sharing.

It starts with a laugh and ends with a soft identity crisis—so basically, a typical Sunday night.In this episode, I’m crowning my listeners my little rough drafts (because we’re all messy masterpieces in progress) and talking about the not-so-aesthetic side of healing. Crying over dumb sh*t? Check. Blocking mid-text? Double check. Googling signs from the universe at 2AM? Obviously.And just to be clear: romanticizing trauma? Not on my podcast.New episodes drop somewhere between Sunday night and Monday morning—because structure is for boring people. This is Barely Edited—where nothing’s off-limits, and life’s messiest moments turn into stories worth sharing.

Been a minute, but I’m back—and lighter in every sense.This week, we’re trimming the fat: bad friends, bad habits, bad carbs—you name it, it’s gone. I’m talking spring cleaning for the soul, how new vitamins (and some new boundaries) are changing the game, why keeping quiet online might just save your peace, and how sometimes the universe throws hands when you’re too stubborn to change course.New episodes drop somewhere between Sunday night and Monday morning—because who needs a schedule when you’re busy living? This is Barely Edited—where nothing’s off-limits, and life’s messiest moments turn into stories worth sharing.

In this episode, we dive into the quirks that drive us up the wall—those everyday pet peeves that test our patience. We also tackle the hot-button issue of partners liking photos on Instagram: harmless interaction or cause for concern? Jealousy takes center stage as we explore its roots and how it sneaks into our relationships. Plus, we unpack the baggage we all carry from past relationships and discuss how to keep it from weighing down our present.​New episodes drop somewhere between Sunday night and Monday morning—because life’s too unpredictable for a strict schedule. This is Barely Edited—where nothing’s off-limits, and every raw moment has a story worth sharing.

In this episode, we dive into Meghan's new cooking show, With Love, Meghan, which has been stirring up both praise and criticism. I share my thoughts on the series and why I found it enjoyable despite the mixed reviews. We then transition to a more serious discussion on domestic violence, highlighting warning signs to watch for in relationships and emphasizing the importance of seeking help if you or someone you know is affected. Drawing from personal experiences, I shed light on the complexities of abusive relationships and the journey to healing.New episodes drop somewhere between Sunday night and Monday morning—because life’s too unpredictable for a strict schedule. This is Barely Edited—where nothing’s off-limits, and every raw moment has a story worth sharing.SOS violence conjugale offers information, support, and referral services to persons who are victims of domestic violence and other people affected by this problem. You can call the phone line 24/7 at 1-800-363-9010.

Ever been dumped so hard it flips your world upside down? In this episode, I spill some cheeky breakup tea that sparks a wild journey into mastering the art of name-dropping and people-watching. We'll chat about how a name can be your secret superpower, why everyone’s quirks might just be their baggage in disguise, and how growing up means turning loneliness into a lesson in self-discovery. Strap in—this ride’s messy, real, and chaotic af. New episodes drop somewhere between Sunday night and Monday morning—because life’s too unpredictable for a strict schedule. This is Barely Edited—where nothing’s off-limits, and every raw moment has a story worth sharing.

Starting with a funny twist on my parents’ divorce, we get into handling toxic family members (without burning every bridge), men who act like snapping at women is a personality trait, and why breakups—and divorces—deserve way more celebration. New episodes drop *somewhere between Sunday night and Monday morning* because life happens. This is *Barely Edited*—where nothing’s off-limits, and life’s messiest moments turn into stories worth sharing.

Nothing like a dramatic haircut to signal a fresh start—except, of course, when the drama follows you anyway. This week, we’re unpacking the deep (and sometimes unhealthy) bond women have with their hair, the Chiara Ferragni and Fedez chaos that has traumatized us all, and why manifestation might be working… just not always in the way we hoped. Oh, and because no night out is ever just a night out, let’s talk about when things take a turn for the worse.New episodes drop Sundays at 9 PM… or, you know, somewhere between late Sunday and early Monday. This is Barely Edited—where nothing’s off-limits, and life’s messy moments turn into stories worth sharing.

Cookies, chaos and cops! A funny little story to kick things off—before diving into the heavy stuff.This week, I’m sharing how one simple thought helped me overcome some of the hardest addictions, the terrifying reality of being stalked for four years, and a quick take on the TikTok ban.New episodes drop Sundays at 9 PM. This is Barely Edited—where nothing’s off-limits, and life’s messy moments turn into stories worth sharing.

Who needs a bra—or perfection—when life’s a chaotic ride and we’re all just winging it? This episode, I’m spilling the tea on my post-pandemic free the t journey, how my rollercoaster with depression turned into a life-saving business, and the episode I accidentally deleted (maybe it was for the best). We’re also chatting Mounjaro updates, mental health, and the TikTok replacement you didn’t know you needed—RedNote. New episodes drop Sundays at 9 PM. This is Barely Edited—raw, real, and always up for a redo.

Who needs resolutions when the world’s still serving chaos? In this episode, I’m kicking off the year with zero filters and plenty of opinions. Resolutions? Overrated. A 2020 sequel? Let’s not. From same-sex bathrooms losing their sacred vibe to the endless “When are YOU getting married?” questions I constantly get asked working in the wedding industry, and why making friends as an entrepreneur feels impossible. Plus, a nod to Lonely Girl’s 10-year anniversary—and my take on why girl groups aren’t all they’re hyped up to be. New episodes drop Sundays at 9 PM. This is *Barely Edited*—unfiltered, unapologetic, and full of surprises.

Life’s quirks, chaos, and “wait, is it just me?” moments take center stage. I’m Bianca Vena, an entrepreneur and producer who’s diving into the big, small, and downright weird. From starting my Mounjaro weight loss journey to navigating holidays with divorced parents, having a sibling 20 years younger, and my *hot take* on why the days between Christmas and New Year are the best (yes, really)—we’re unpacking it all, one story at a time. It’s all here on Barely Edited—with humour, heart, and surprise guests you won’t want to miss.