Podcast Summary: The blondEST – “How Did We Get Here? | Part 2”
Host: Savanna Boda (The Dallas Aesthetician)
Guest: Tyler
Original Release Date: December 22, 2025
Episode Overview
In this raw and candid episode, Savanna Boda continues her two-part series reflecting on the pivotal and painful experiences that shaped her personal and professional journey. Joined by long-time friend Tyler, Savanna opens up about the emotional complexities of her abusive marriage, the isolation she endured, and the surprising ways adversity led to her greatest blessings. The conversation dives deep into survival, self-worth, motherhood, and the importance of safe friendships, all while maintaining the unfiltered, engaging tone fans expect.
Main Discussion Points & Key Insights
1. Embracing Hardship as Growth
- Savanna’s Throughline: She reiterates her personal mantra, “Everything happens for me, not to me.” Life’s challenges, including a lack of parental support and a toxic relationship, ultimately contributed to the resilience and success she enjoys today.
- “Those situations that I thought were hindering me actually gave me two of the biggest blessings that I could ever ask God for, and it made me a lot stronger.” (Savanna, 01:00)
2. Isolation, Abuse, and Survival Tactics
- Relationship Context: Savanna reveals she was ostracized by both friends and family while in an abusive relationship, causing her to immerse herself in her work for a sense of accomplishment and validation.
- “I threw myself into work because if I was at work, I was away from my parents telling me I was a piece of shit, and I was away from a man that was abusive to me.” (Savanna, 01:25)
- Interpersonal Trauma: She describes psychological and emotional torment from her ex-husband, including him invalidating her feelings and refusing to let her out of the marriage.
- “He said it to me every day. He was like, life isn't supposed to be happy... Get over it.” (Savanna, 07:02)
3. Motherhood Amid Uncertainty
- Unplanned Pregnancy: Savanna talks about her terror upon discovering she was pregnant in a relationship she knew she didn’t want to continue.
- “Finding out I was pregnant was... probably the hardest thing that has ever happened to me, which is crazy because it ended up being the best...” (Savanna, 02:41)
- Responsibility and Guilt: The gravity of becoming a mother before feeling ready, and immense pressure to provide and support herself and her child, with her career as her only anchor.
4. The Importance of Safe Relationships
- Tyler’s Role: Tyler, a close friend, was “the only thing that kept me sane,” serving as an emotional refuge amid chaos and abuse.
- “Tyler was my safe person... I would not have survived that season of my life without you.” (Savanna, 08:24)
- Impact of Tyler’s Departure: Tyler’s eventual move away expedited Savanna’s realization of how toxic her situation had become and ultimately helped her escape.
- “Honestly, it was the best thing to happen to me because then I got out of it so much faster because I started to see how much worse it got without you there.” (Savanna, 11:09)
5. Financial Control and Asset Protection
- Lessons Learned: The podcast offers direct advice to listeners (especially women) about the necessity of securing personal and professional assets, advocating for prenups and trusts.
- “Get a prenup. Even if you think that you're in love. I wasn't. But even if you think you're in love, that's fine. Just get one.” (Savanna, 16:25)
- “If you're a single woman, you need to see an estate planner... That's the best way to protect your assets.” (Tyler, 16:42)
6. The Public, Perceptions, and Social Media Facades
- Misconceptions: Both highlight how appearances—especially on social media—are deceiving, and that followers are often unaware of the true struggles behind the scenes.
- “People will make assumptions or cast judgment on, like, past content of yours... social media is not a look into someone's real life.” (Tyler, 25:22)
7. Reflecting on Self-Worth & Healing
- Resilience and Regret: Savanna candidly discusses feeling unworthy of love and how her confidence is confined to her work, with romantic self-worth still a challenge.
- “I've always, like, had issues with feeling worthy of, like, love. And it's funny because, like, I'm very confident when it comes to my work. I'm very confident when it comes to, like, my career.” (Savanna, 24:12)
- Looking Forward: She expresses excitement—and apprehension—about discovering herself outside of survival mode and looking toward a future defined on her own terms.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On survival and validation (01:40):
“That's why I took things so personally when people would copy me... that's all I fucking had.” – Savanna -
On ambivalence towards pregnancy (03:25):
“Once you're pregnant, it's like you're either pregnant or a mom, you never can go back... your life will never be the same in a good and bad way.” – Savanna -
On emotional abuse (07:02):
“He said it to me every day. He was like, life isn't supposed to be happy.” – Savanna -
On the turning point (07:51, 08:19):
Tyler: “To me, the turning point in all of this was Italy. At the end of that trip, I feel like you had an eye opening moment.”
Savanna: “People always like, oh, they're like a throuple. They're always together. It's because Tyler was my safe person.” -
On asset protection (16:25, 16:42):
Savanna: “Get a prenup... Just get one.”
Tyler: “Best way to protect your assets... have a personal trust.” -
On the pressure to fake normalcy (19:42):
“He would purposely... tear me down and embarrass me in front of companies, in front of anyone I was speaking for.” – Savanna -
On regret and acceptance (23:10):
“I just wish that I never got married... but then again, I was like, who the gonna want a woman who had a baby at a wedlock?” – Savanna -
On parenthood standards (27:38):
“All he had to do was be a decent house husband and a good dad... Not even a great dad, but just a good dad or, like, a decent father. But he couldn't do that.” – Savanna
Important Segments (Timestamps)
- 00:05–02:31: Savanna’s early experiences of adversity, parental relationships, and the coping mechanism of work
- 03:21–04:50: Navigating pregnancy and unresolved motherhood fears
- 07:02–08:24: Emotional abuse and Tyler’s role as emotional support
- 10:55–12:01: Isolation, the impact of losing Tyler’s presence, and accelerating the escape from toxicity
- 14:13–16:42: Financial control, post-divorce revelations, and practical advice on asset security
- 18:00–20:23: The public/private disconnect, performative relationships, and abusive behavior in public settings
- 23:08–24:32: Healing, regret, confidence in career vs. personal life
- 27:37–29:02: Standards of parenthood and the line between decency and failure
Tone & Atmosphere
The conversation is frank, emotional, and unfiltered—at times heavy, but also warm with moments of camaraderie and humor, especially between Savanna and Tyler. The vulnerability and authenticity are central, with Savanna sharing not just the outcomes but also the messiness and ambivalence behind them.
Key Takeaways
- Survival is strength: Even situations that feel like setbacks can plant the seeds for future blessings and resilience.
- Safe spaces matter: The importance of friendship and having a “safe person” cannot be overstated when weathering abuse and isolation.
- Protect yourself legally: Clear, proactive financial and legal measures are imperative, no matter your relationship status.
- You only see the highlight reel: Social media rarely shows the complete picture—assumptions about others’ lives are often wrong.
- You can grow and heal: With time, distance, and support, it’s possible to come back from deeply difficult experiences and reclaim your sense of self.
For listeners seeking deeper understanding of Savanna’s journey—or anyone experiencing similar struggles—this episode offers not just context but hope, camaraderie, and practical life lessons born from hard-won experience.