On Air
Refined & Unhinged
A podcast about the stuff we actually think about — hosted by Editor, Ali Stricklin and her mom, Jen Dryden Hess.
We started this show because the best conversations we've ever had were never planned. They happened over coffee, on long drives, in kitchens — the kind of honest, winding, occasionally chaotic exchanges that leave you thinking differently about something you thought you'd already figured out.
Refined & Unhinged is that conversation, recorded. We talk about identity, relationships, ambition, beauty, money, self-trust, and all the places where what we were taught bumps up against what we've learned the hard way. We don't agree on everything. We don't need to. That's the point.
It's intergenerational, it's unscripted, and it's the only podcast where your mom's opinion actually makes the episode better.
Where to listen:
Episodes we'd start with:
If you're new here, these will give you the feel of the room:
- Confronting Generational Trauma & Our Family's Story of Suicide, Survival & Strength— Jen opens her heart about losing her mother to suicide and how it shaped her as a woman and mother.
- Sips & Slips: Our Stories of Drinking, Moderation & Messy Moments — Ali Stricklin and Jen Dryden Hess get real about their personal journeys with alcohol, addiction, and self-awareness.
- Botox & Cosmetic Surgery: We're feeling Explorative — We're talking about everything from Botox to facelifts, and the belief that you should do whatever makes you feel like you—whether that's going full natural or getting a little help from science.
- Let’s Talk About Sex with Guest: Deb Tsagris — We sit down with psychotherapist Deborah Tsagris for a raw, honest conversation about female pleasure, intimacy, and what actually happens behind closed doors…especially once you throw kids, careers, and real-life chaos into the mix.
Many of the ideas explored on the podcast find their way into Considered as essays, interviews, and opinion pieces. The show is where we think out loud. This is where we write it down.