Aveline

What if you didn’t have to choose just one path?In this episode of Aveline, Aleks Arwood sits down with Ella Ryan Cottrell—a college student, aspiring dentist, and emerging singer-songwriter—to talk about what it really looks like to navigate your 20s, pursue multiple passions, and embrace the uncertainty of becoming.Ella shares her journey as a first-generation college student studying regenerative bioscience while simultaneously stepping into the world of music. From losing herself in academics to rediscovering creativity, she opens up about identity, burnout, ambition, and the pressure to “have it all figured out.”This is a raw and honest conversation about:Balancing passion and practicalityNavigating college expectations vs. realityPursuing music while building a stable career pathFinding your identity in your 20sLetting go of the need for certaintyThe power of mentors, creativity, and self-expressionIf you’re in a season of transition, questioning your next step, or feeling stuck in the “messy middle,” this episode will remind you that you don’t need all the answers to keep moving forward.You are allowed to be in the process of becoming.Connect with Aleks: https://www.instagram.com/aleks.arwood/Follow Aveline: https://www.instagram.com/avelinemagazine/Explore more at: https://www.avelinemagazine.com/If this episode stayed with you, share it with a friend who’s in her becoming too.

How do you turn a childhood passion into a thriving business—while still in college?In this episode of Aveline, Aleks Arwood sits down with Sophie Snyder, founder of Sophie Cheffy, a luxury wedding cake brand that started as a simple Instagram page in middle school. Now at 22, Sophie is not only running a successful business but also preparing to scale across Auburn University’s campus after winning a major entrepreneurial pitch competition.Sophie shares her journey from baking with her childhood best friend to building a brand rooted in intentionality, excellence, and service. She opens up about the realities of entrepreneurship as a young woman, including setting boundaries, overcoming overwhelm, navigating business logistics, and trusting God’s timing in uncertain seasons.This episode is for aspiring entrepreneurs, creatives, and anyone feeling behind or unsure of their next step. Sophie’s story is proof that you don’t need a perfect plan—you just need the courage to begin.In this episode, we talk about:Starting a business as a teenagerTurning a passion into a profitable brandLearning how to set boundaries in businessNavigating college and entrepreneurship at the same timeThe power of mentorship and communityFaith, timing, and trusting the processScaling a business while maintaining qualityIf you’ve ever felt like you’re behind or unsure where you’re headed, this conversation will remind you: you’re exactly where you need to be.Subscribe for more conversations that remind you that you are still becoming.Connect With Sophie: https://www.instagram.com/sophie_cheffy/Learn More about Sophie Cheffy: https://www.sophiecheffy.com/Connect with Aleks: https://www.instagram.com/aleks.arwood/Follow Aveline: https://www.instagram.com/avelinemagazine/Explore more at: https://www.avelinemagazine.com/If this episode stayed with you, share it with a friend who’s in her becoming too.

There’s a season of life no one really prepares you for—the in-between.The space where you’re dreaming big, questioning everything, and wondering if you’ve somehow fallen behind.In this deeply personal pilot episode, Aleks Arwood introduces Aveline, a space created for young women navigating the messy middle of becoming. Through her own story, she opens up about feeling lost in college, battling comparison, and learning that clarity doesn’t come all at once.This episode is a reminder that you don’t have to have everything figured out to begin. That uncertainty doesn’t disqualify you—it means you’re in motion.Welcome to Aveline.You’re not behind. You’re becoming.Connect with Aleks: https://www.instagram.com/aleks.arwood/Follow Aveline: https://www.instagram.com/avelinemagazine/Explore more at: https://www.avelinemagazine.com/If this episode stayed with you, share it with a friend who’s in her becoming too.