Unconscious Bias in Hollywood, Female Film History & Overcoming Fear of Rejection with Tessa Blake
Director and advocate Tessa Blake joins host Danielle Savre for Part 1 of a captivating two part conversation that is equal parts Hollywood history lesson and masterclass in human behavior. Tessa breaks down the real science of cultural unconscious bias in the entertainment industry and shares why rejection impacts women differently than men. Together, they trace the lost history of women in cinema, highlighting pioneers like Alice Guy Blache who helped birth naturalism in film. From embracing Shondaland sets to dismantling the fear of hearing no, Tessa brings sharp clarity, vulnerability, and incredible wisdom to how we view representation and storytelling today.
Ayahuasca Journeys, Placenta Previa & Growing in the Unknown with Jodi Moore Lewis
Actor and writer Jodi Moore Lewis joins host Danielle Savre for a wildly honest dive into the twists that shape a full life, from her early love for singing until vocal nodules altered her path, leading to her life's passion for performing. Together, they reflect on her fearless younger years versus navigating the weight of the world today, the rush of performing live, and how stepping into the unknown is where we grow the most. They dedicate time to discussing the short film HEARD, diving into its honest look at consent, the gray areas of sexual assault, and the heavy cloud of shame and guilt that can make these confusing encounters so painful to navigate and talk about. Jodi gets completely vulnerable about her pregnancy journey, navigating placenta previa, and the profound beauty of grieving the woman she was before stepping into motherhood. It is a deeply real conversation about showing up present for your life, embracing your vulnerability, and finding value in every single moment along the way.
The Art of Makeup, Confidence & Building an Academy with Celebrity Makeup Artist Athena Efstathiou
Our London tour continues! Live on the road, powerhouse celebrity makeup artist, educator, and master of glam Athena Efstathiou joins host Danielle Savre. Knowing from a young age that she was born to do makeup, Athena went against her parents wishes to pursue law and chose her true calling instead. In this vibrant and deeply honest conversation, we dive into her life purpose of making women feel incredible in their own skin, overcoming childhood bullying, and building her own makeup academy. Athena opens up about the relentless hustle of freelance life, navigating burnout, and why a little delusional confidence is key to going after what you want. From crying it out to owning your self worth, this episode is a masterclass in standing firm in who you are.
The Art of Creating Social Media Content For Television with Digital Manager Sophie Ross
Sweet and Savre is on the road! Live from London for our first on the go episode, host Danielle Savre turns the microphone around on her social media manager, Sophie Ross. From childhood dreams of TV presenting to seeing her name in television credits, Sophie shares her fast paced journey through the media world. In this candid and lively conversation, we dive into her roots in Bromley, her work on major UK sets like This Morning and Love Island, and taking big leaps across the pond. She opens up about the reality of unpaid internships, navigating the emotional aftermath when a project falls through, and why you should never be afraid of the no.
Sneaking Onto the Disney Lot to Producing Euphoria with Sara E. White
From sneaking onto the Disney lot to steering massive cultural touchstones like Iron Man, Sweet Home Alabama, Euphoria, Cruel Intentions, and Grey's Anatomy, the phenomenal producer of film and television Sara E. White joins the podcast. Rooted in her Midwestern upbringing, Sara brings a powerful but quiet strength to a round-the-clock, high-stakes industry. In this grounded and honest conversation, we dive into her early days of risking it all to move to California, the sharp attention to detail required to excel, and her beautiful perspective on what it truly means to own your work. We explore the reality of balancing family life, a deep-rooted sense of self, and the heavy lifting behind the camera, all while navigating the Hollywood machine with immense grace and an unwavering belief that "we can figure this out."
How Hollywood's Celebrity Nail Stylist Turned Passion Into a Profession
From school-day rebel to dressing the fingertips of Hollywood royalty, premier celebrity and editorial nail artist Lisa Wong joins the podcast for a brilliant, lively, and inspiring conversation. With over thirty years of experience, Lisa treats a tiny nail bed like a canvas for a masterpiece—creating the gorgeous period looks for Palm Royale, character styling for Abbott Elementary, and collaborating with icons like Quinta Brunson, Alison Janney, Taylor Swift and Sally Fields. In this episode, Lisa shares her journey to dominating the "Met Gala of nail competitions," winning Best in Show two years in a row, and surviving a nail boot camp. We dive deep into her incredible transition from traditional salon work to major film and television sets, the importance of visualizing your goals, and her beautiful philosophy on what happens when you truly turn your passion into your profession.
Before Hollywood: How 7 Different Careers Built a Born Director with Nicole Rubio
Hit TV director Nicole Rubio is a powerhouse who has spent her entire life creating her own path and making sure not a single opportunity passed her by. This episode explores the fascinating, diverse chapters she conquered through sheer determination, including working for a space shuttle defense contractor, performing as an NFL cheerleader for the Rams, and traveling the world as a flight attendant. Once she turned her sight toward Hollywood, she seamlessly transitioned into acting (most notably as Paramedic Nicole on Grey's Anatomy) before mastering the intricate world of script supervising on iconic film sets like Blade and Training Day, proving the incredible things that happen when you believe in yourself and go after it.
Healing From Loss, An Immigrant Story & Building a Business with Erika Bañuelos
Danielle sits down with the incredible Erika Bañuelos for a deeply moving conversation about family, resilience, and the pursuit of independence. Accompanied by translator Valentina, Erika shares stories of her vibrant childhood in Mexico and the profound impact of a father who taught her what a good man looks like. She opens up about the devastating loss of her first child, which became the catalyst for her to immigrate to the US at eighteen in search of better healthcare. After years of dedicating herself to raising her two sons, Erika discusses her inspiring transition into entrepreneurship, turning a housekeeping job into a thriving business with a mission to lift up and empower other women to find their own financial and personal independence.
Running With The Bulls, Air Force Survival & Processing Grief with Macey Marshall
The conversation continues as Macey dives into the reality of her military deployment in Germany and her global travel adventures. She pulls back the curtain on the intense mental and physical resilience it took to navigate being one of the only women in her unit, opening up about the terrifying reality of her service and what it took to survive. They balance the gravity of those experiences with wild travel stories, from drinking wine out of watering cans with monks to running with the bulls. Finally, Macey gets vulnerable about her father's sudden passing, navigating heavy grief without closure, and choosing to never let fear dictate her life.
Hodgkin’s Lymphoma to Lucy Hale: Building a Convention Empire with Dream It Conventions
The incredible powerhouses behind Dream It Conventions, Maria and Aurelia, dive straight into the personal journeys that shaped their empire. From Maria navigating a Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis at 16 and learning to live life constantly saying yes, to Aurelia leaving Paris for Ohio as an exchange student to fully immerse herself in American culture, this conversation explores how a shared love for television brought this yin and yang duo together. They break down the early struggle of building a business when no one believed in them, and the groundbreaking moment they risked it all to secure Lucy Hale from Pretty Little Liars, kicking off a massive story that absolutely warranted a part two.
Ego Can Drown Out Your Inner Voice: Hollywood Casting Secrets with Jamie Castro (Ep. 14)
Danielle sits down with Emmy nominated casting director, 200 hour certified yoga master, and dear friend Jamie Castro for a raw and unfiltered look behind the scenes of Hollywood. From her early VHS recorded dance days to thriving in the legendary Shondaland boom, Jamie pulls back the curtain on how the entertainment industry really works. They dive into the high stakes adrenaline of casting and recasting, the intense reality of fighting for actors, and how a dedicated yoga practice sharpens the intuition required to find the true soul of a character. It is a deeply candid conversation about why your ego can drown out your inner voice, the challenge of staying human in a business that feels like it is going extinct, and why casting was quite literally written in her last name.
Styling Venus Williams While Driving a Hooptee
From personal shopping for Beyoncé to taking the ultimate leap of faith into Hollywood, Tai Young’s journey is a masterclass in raw hustle, resilience, and pure ambition.
In this episode, we dive into:
Her Texas roots and hauling thousands in diamonds in a hooptee to get to styling gigs
Moving to Los Angeles fueled by a lifelong drive to succeed and a childhood conviction that Barbie was definitely not marriage material
The traumatic, premature birth of her son and the profound life shift that followed
Tai’s heart and her hustle are truly inspiring, and this conversation is packed with wisdom, laughter, and incredible storytelling. Welcome to the show, Tai Young.
Ep. 11.1 - Emily Culver: Wisconsin Roots & Writers' Rooms
Today is a historic day because we are finally attempting something that has apparently been cursed: interviewing writer and powerhouse Emily Culver! In part one of this special sit-down, our deep friendship completely seeps through as we dive into Emily’s roots growing up in Wisconsin with a sex therapist mother, her move to LA, and how she first fell in love with storytelling. It’s lighthearted, juicy, and proof that some things are worth the wait.
Ep. 10 - Valentina D’Empaire Medici: Venezuelan Roots, Escaping a Kidnapper, and the Family Bond
In part 1 of 2, Danielle sits down with civil engineer Valentina D’Empaire Medici to reflect on her vibrant life in Venezuela, from her cherished upbringing and all girls Catholic school pranks to the sudden trauma of an attempted kidnapping that changed everything. They explore the heartbreaking reality of seeking asylum in the United States at just sixteen, a transition that forced her into adulthood overnight while navigating a school system that underestimated her intelligence. Through it all, Valentina emphasizes that her family is her entire world and the foundation of her resilience. It is a raw and honest look at leaving a home you love for the sake of survival and the courage required to set boundaries and rebuild from the ground up.
Ep. 9 - Nichele Filoso: From Fifth Element Dreams to Surviving a Stalker
Danielle sits down with Nichele Filoso for a two part event on Sweet and Savre. An intimate conversation about the invisible hurdles of her youth including navigating a learning disability and not reading until age twelve as well as the grounded faith that keeps her rooted in her church choir today. From the high pressure world of collegiate opera to the terrifying shadow of a real life stalker and a piece of shit named Alex, this first installment is a raw and hilarious look at resilience. It is the story of a doer with a heart of gold who traded the stage for a life of service and found joy in enriching the lives of those around her.
Ep. 8 - Courtney Stone: The Rhythm of Healing and the Food Enough Philosophy
Danielle sits down with licensed therapist Courtney Stone to break down the complexities of modern mental health. They dive into the Food Enough philosophy, offering a practical, no nonsense framework for nourishing ourselves amidst the pressures of perfectionism and ADHD. They explore the vital role of rhythm in grounding our chaotic daily lives, the importance of financial autonomy in relationships, and how to build a stronger emotional vocabulary. It is an honest look at the transition from theater to therapy, the necessity of building sustainable frameworks for mental health, and the reminder that we do not have to be perfect to be enough.
Ep. 7 - Taylor Kottke: Leaving Sabrina Carpenter to Bet on Myself
Danielle sits down with actress and filmmaker Taylor Kottke for a raw and unfiltered look at life From the acting scams of her youth to the high pressure world of music management for Sabrina Carpenter, Taylor pulls back the curtain on it all. They dive into the surreal Black Widow stunt training incident that almost went wrong and discuss the terrifying yet liberating decision to walk away from a lucrative career path for the sake of her own peace. It is a candid conversation about the reality of making it, the grind of indie filmmaking, and the radical bravery required to choose happiness over someone else’s vision of success.
Ep. 6 - Leven Rambin: Beyond the Hollywood Bulls*** and the Road to an Oscar
Danielle sits down with actress Leven Rambin for an unfiltered look at the high-stakes world of Hollywood and the personal toll of life in the spotlight. From leaving home at fifteen and booking powerhouse roles to the paralyzing reality of onset panic attacks and imposter syndrome, Leven opens up about the moments that forced her to stop. Their conversation explores her journey through the "rock bottom" moments of a cult, a traumatic divorce, and the decision to fire her team and return to her Texas roots to find a foundation outside of acting. It is a raw, inspiring discussion on the necessity of therapy, the hustle of New York versus the "bullshit" of LA, and the unwavering belief that it is never too late to rebuild a life on your own terms.
Ep. 5 - Jayne Trimble: Rebellion, Resilience, and Empowering Women
Danielle sits down with Jayne Trimble to trace an extraordinary journey of radical transformation. From an alcoholic household in Ireland to finding her voice through the rebellion of drama school, Jayne’s path has been anything but conventional. Their conversation follows her evolution from a religious cult to the music world as Oxlip and building a six-figure management empire, before a profound transition toward the Empower Women Show. It is a raw, electric look at a life lived with fierce authenticity and Jayne’s unwavering mission to champion women through every chapter of their own stories.
Ep. 4 - Vandana Khanna: The Quiet Power of the Woman’s Voice
Danielle sits down with acclaimed poet Vandana Khanna to trace a journey that began with a move from India at age two and a calling to her craft at just eight years old. Their conversation follows the winding trajectory of a life dedicated to the creative arts, from the milestones of finding her academic voice to the ways 9/11 reshaped her perspective to exploring the Hindu goddesses that inhabit her latest collection. Vandana remains a fierce champion of the woman’s voice. It is a resonant look at identity, grace, and the extraordinary power found in the quiet complexities of a life lived fully.