Podcast Summary: The blondEST

Episode: "Perfectionism vs. Reality"

Host: Savanna Boda (The Dallas Aesthetician)
Co-host: Tyler Jacoby
Release Date: November 17, 2025

Overview

In this episode of "The blondEST," Savanna Boda and Tyler Jacoby dive candidly into the challenges of balancing perfectionism with the unpredictable realities of business, personal growth, and motherhood. The conversation is raw, humorous, and peppered with honest admissions about emotional struggles, decision fatigue, and the chaos of opening a new spa location. The duo explores how admitting vulnerability, facing setbacks, and adjusting expectations play into their pursuit of success—offering an engaging behind-the-scenes look at life and entrepreneurship in the beauty industry.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Overwhelmed Minds and Scattered To-Do Lists

• Savanna opens up about feeling constantly distracted and unable to keep up with an endless list of responsibilities
  • “Everywhere I look, I’m reminded about something that needs to be done.” (Savanna, 00:29)
  • Tyler observes Savanna’s “attention span at an all-time low,” citing rapid topic-switching as evidence. (00:16–01:16)
• Savanna admits to decision paralysis and “mental gymnastics,” exacerbated by an emotional year.

2. The Emotional Toll of Growth

• Therapy opened floodgates instead of providing relief, challenging Savanna’s identity as a ‘work-first’ perfectionist.
  • “Going to therapy probably was, like, the worst thing I could have done this year.” (Savanna, 03:36)
  • “I could not have built my empire having feelings like that.” (Savanna, 04:23)
• Savanna juggles divorce, motherhood, business expansion, and relentless self-critique, leading to exhaustion and overwhelm.
  • “It opened like the floodgates of emotions... while I was supposed to be focusing on building this new spa, simultaneously getting a divorce, building a house, growing my team...” (Savanna, 05:51)
  • Humorous take on parenting struggles with her son Cyrus: “Cyrus is attached to her, like Velcro.” (Tyler, 07:13)

3. Perfectionism Collides with Reality

• Savanna’s inability to make decisions on “full moons” and during Mercury retrograde becomes a running joke.
  • “You're not supposed to make big decisions like that on a full moon. One, two. I've been making poor choices.” (Savanna, 08:50)
  • Tyler teases about Savanna’s dependence on astrology for business choices. (09:25)
• Analysis paralysis and high standards delay progress on opening the new spa location.
  • “I am such a perfectionist. The space is pretty, but…it makes me kind of like feel like a suicide bomber. So I’m not the most thrilled.” (Savanna, 14:48)
  • Invented phrases for indecisiveness: “Decision collision,” “selection deflection,” and “analysis paralysis.” (17:00–17:19)

4. Letting Go of Control—Reluctantly

• Realizing the need to delegate, Savanna faces frustration over not being able to control every detail.
  • “I just want, like, the first people that come in…to get the full experience of, like, what it is going to be like when everything comes in and is done.” (Savanna, 29:43)
  • Tyler offers perspective: “That’s why you have, like, a soft opening and then you have a hard opening...No place you’ve been to opens up [fully finished].” (Tyler, 29:56)
• Both hosts reflect on how past ventures were also imperfect at launch, and that growth is iterative.

5. Highs, Lows, and Humor

• 2025 described as a rollercoaster with extreme lows and equally high (but fleeting) highs.
  • “2025 fucked me in the ass raw 17 times. Gangbanged me and gave me syphilis, gonorrhea, and, like, crabs.” (Savanna, 13:11)
  • “The high highs were just medium.” (Savanna, 14:01)
• Comic banter on food, astrology, painting regrets, and Halloween costumes lightens the mood.
  • On regretting a costly purchase: “I paid, what is it, $60,000 for these two paintings that I absolutely hate...” (Savanna, 17:32)
  • On balancing business and motherhood: “I really wish I could, like, freeze time on Earth and, like, drift up on a cloud and, like, work for three weeks straight on cocaine so that I could stay up...I would do meth. I would do coke. I would do Adderall, Red Bull.” (Savanna, 33:33)

6. Relationship to Perfectionism: Acceptance and Growth

• Savanna recognizes the need to temper her perfectionism to move forward—and to maintain mental health.
  • “I've let go of a lot of my perfectionist tendencies this year because I had to deal with my emotions, which is like so rude and annoying.” (Savanna, 16:48)
• Tyler encourages appreciating growth and not getting stuck in the details:
  • “Sometimes I feel like you can’t see the big picture...not a single person has walked into our new space and not been blown away.” (Tyler, 19:09)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Therapy & Feelings

  • “I could not have built my empire having feelings like that.” (Savanna, 04:23)
  • “Therapy this year was awful because it opened, like, the floodgates of emotions.” (Savanna, 05:55)

• On Decision-Making & Perfectionism

  • “I have analysis paralysis and decision...collision!” (Savanna, 17:00)
  • “I'm really just honestly not super excited about this wall because I am such a perfectionist.” (Savanna, 14:48)

• On 2025’s Challenges

  • “2025 fucked me in the ass raw 17 times. Gangbanged me and gave me syphilis, gonorrhea, and, like, crabs.” (Savanna, 13:11)
  • “The high highs were just medium.” (Savanna, 14:01)
  • “This is supposed to open in July…And I’m not going to have all my action items completed.” (Savanna, 28:04)

• On Delegation and Letting Go

  • “I just want, like, the first people that come in…to get the full experience of…when everything comes in and is done.” (Savanna, 29:43)
  • “Every dollar you’ve spent is reflected in everything you see.” (Tyler, 29:30)

• Comic Banter

  • On regretting art: “I paid, what is it, $60,000 for these two paintings that I absolutely hate…” (Savanna, 17:32)
  • “I really wish I could, like, freeze time on Earth…and, like, work for three weeks straight on cocaine so that I could stay up…and, like, meth. I would do meth. I would do coke. I would do Adderall, Red Bull.” (Savanna, 33:33)
  • “Do not come until it’s all done.” (Savanna, 34:50)

• Affirmation (and Sarcasm)

  • “If you can dream it, you can do it.” (Savanna, 31:07 & 34:34)
  • “Don’t waste the drive on a mediocre spa.” (Savanna, 34:50)

Important Timestamps

• Opening: Overwhelm and scattered thoughts (00:17–03:36)
• Therapy and emotional distractions (03:36–07:16)
• Parenting struggles & spa opening stress (07:13–11:01)
• Astrology as excuse for indecision (08:34, 09:25)
• Perfectionism, decision paralysis, and spa launch woes (14:48–17:19)
• Savanna’s painting regret (17:32)
• Discussion of standards, the client experience, and delegation (19:09–30:53)
• Comic reflections on how to finish the spa (33:33)
• Closing affirmations and jokes (34:34–34:52)

Tone & Style

The episode is peppered with candid self-deprecation, dry humor, and raw admissions. Savanna’s perfectionist energy is both poignant and comedic, while Tyler offers a grounding, big-picture contrast. Their banter, full of memeable moments and pop culture references, keeps the conversation witty and relatable—especially for listeners balancing ambition, business, and the chaos of personal life.

In summary:
This episode is a vulnerable, hilarious, and unfiltered look at how striving for perfection can clash with reality—whether in business, personal growth, or just trying to get through the week. Savanna and Tyler offer both laughs and wisdom to anyone feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or too hard on themselves, ultimately reminding listeners that progress—not perfection—is what moves us forward.