Our Style Editor Launches word. by Tanya Monaghan, a Podcast Where Meaningful Conversations Unfold in Real Time

Tanya, you’ve been a storyteller with Southbay magazine for over a decade. What inspired you to create a podcast?

Tanya Monaghan: Storytelling has always been the thread running through my career. For years I’ve had the privilege of telling people’s stories through the pages of our magazine—sitting across from remarkable individuals in our community and trying to capture their voice, their spirit and their truth on paper. But lately I felt the pull to take those conversations somewhere deeper.

Podcasting allows you to hear the pauses, the emotion, the laughter, the vulnerability. There’s something incredibly powerful about hearing someone tell their story in their own voice. I kept thinking about all the extraordinary people I meet through my work and through my life here in the South Bay, and how many meaningful conversations happen off the page. Creating Word. by Tanya Monaghan felt like a natural extension of what I’ve been doing for years, just in a more intimate and immediate format.

How does live storytelling differ from writing for you?

Writing gives you the gift of reflection. You can sit with a conversation, shape it, polish it and craft the narrative. Podcasting is different. It’s alive in the moment. There’s a rawness to it that I actually love.

When you’re sitting across from someone with microphones on, you’re responding to energy and emotion in real time. You can hear when a story lands, when someone is searching for the right words, when something deeply personal is being shared. It’s less about controlling the narrative and more about creating space for truth to unfold. I’ve found that incredibly powerful.

Who do you hope your audience will be?

Honestly, anyone who is curious about people and the human experience. I want Word. to be a place where listeners feel like they’re sitting at the table with us—listening to thoughtful, honest conversations with people who are doing meaningful things in the world. That might be community leaders, creatives, activists, entrepreneurs, wellness experts or parents navigating life’s challenges.

The South Bay is filled with fascinating, inspiring people, but the themes we’ll explore are purpose, resilience, growth, wellness, community—and these are universal. I hope listeners feel inspired, learn something new or simply feel more connected.

Tell us about your first guest and why you chose her.

My first guest is Jenn Levi, the mother of Braun Levi, whose life was tragically taken by a drunk driver. I chose Jenn because her story embodies exactly what this podcast is about: truth, courage and purpose. What she has endured is unimaginable, yet she continues to move through the world with extraordinary grace and strength. Through the Live Like Braun Foundation, she is channeling her grief into action—advocating for safer streets and carrying her son’s light forward in the most beautiful way.

Sitting with Jenn for that conversation was deeply moving for me. It’s the kind of story that reminds you how fragile life is and how powerful love and purpose can be.

Who is coming up next on the podcast?

One is Jennifer Shaffer, a well-known psychic medium. Jennifer helps people connect with loved ones who have passed, and her ability to bring comfort and clarity to families who are grieving is extraordinary.

Another upcoming guest is Lisa Phillips, an Epstein survivor who was featured in our recent Women’s Issue cover story. Lisa has become a powerful advocate for survivors of sexual abuse and now hosts her own podcast dedicated to giving survivors a voice. 

I’ll also be welcoming Dr. Jaclyn Tolentino, my doctor at Love.Life, who will be a recurring guest on Word. She is brilliant when it comes to integrative health and wellness, and we’ll be diving into everything from hormones and longevity to how we can all take better care of ourselves.

Are there any other podcasters, especially local, who speak to you?

Local podcasters on my feed are Judging Meghan, Glennon Doyle and Abby Wambach for We Can Do Hard Things, and Lisa Phillips with her From Now On.

The magic of podcasting isn’t about perfectly scripted interviews. It’s about the human moments in between.

You chose the name Word. to title your podcast. This may sound cliché, but why do words matter?

I’ve always believed words carry weight. They shape how we understand the world and how we connect with each other. Words can comfort, challenge, inspire and sometimes even spark change.

“Word” has always meant truth to me. It’s a way of saying, “I stand by that.” I wanted the podcast to feel grounded in that idea—that when someone speaks on Word., they’re sharing something honest and meaningful.

In a world where we’re constantly scrolling past headlines and sound bites, I wanted to create a space where conversations slow down and words actually mean something.