the self-love archives
welcome to the archive. it's time to love yourself more.
the self-love archives
from jersey girl to viral voice: becoming the main character with @megthings
from just your local jersey girl to one of the state’s most influential voices- this week’s guest, meg longo shares what it’s really like to go viral and stay grounded.
we talk about how self-love plays a role in building confidence, navigating criticism, and not letting the pressure change who you are. whether you’re growing a platform or just trying to show up for yourself, this one’s for you.
follow @megthings on instagram, on tik tok
connect with julia on instagram @beautybyjulia + tik tok @juliasalvia
unlock more archive content on instagram @theselflovearchive + tik tok @theselflovearchives
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Hi Meg, how are you? I'm great. How are you? I'm good. Thank you so much for being on the Self-Love Archives podcast. My name is Julia. If you guys aren't familiar, I am your self-love bestie here to help you love yourself more. And I'm here with Meg's things. Yes. To talk about your self-love journey.'cause I'm so interested to hear, and I'm sure so many other people are to from just where you were to where you are now and the difference in those journeys. It's been
Meg Longo:a wild, wild ride. Oh my
Julia Salvia:god. Ride. Oh my gosh. Yes. I can only imagine, right? Yes. So before you became an influencer
Meg Longo:mm-hmm.
Julia Salvia:What were you doing?
Meg Longo:Ah, what was I doing? I. Don't know what I was doing. Um, no, I'm just kidding. I, it worked. I dunno what I'm doing. I, I dunno what I did yesterday. I'm like, I dunno what I did yesterday. Yeah. I just felt like I was one of those people I graduated. I just never knew what I wanted to do. I feel like that's kind of everyone, unless you're like, I want to be this or that. Yeah. But I, that wasn't me. Yeah. Um, but I worked at a non-profit for a long time. I worked there for like eight years. So kind of did the nine to five thing. You know, the corporate girl boss. Mm-hmm. And I just kind of got to a place in life where I was like. Maybe 'cause I'm a Leo, I'm like, I need to be my own boss. I need to do my own thing or else I'm going like die and be really miserable. So, um, it's that confidence in your blood. So I just decided I'm gonna go for it. So I actually came up with this crazy idea to have a mobile spray tan business, a body positive one. It was called Spray Everybody. And it was meant to make, you know, women feel comfortable when you're stripping down to get a spray tan. So I did that.
Julia Salvia:It's definitely. It's like that's, it's intimidating. Yeah. It's those two minutes of like, okay, I'm supposed to get naked now. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. They're like, you could go in a bikini. Yeah. Yeah. I don't want those tan lines. No, it's naked or nothing. Yeah.
Meg Longo:And I mean, look, when you go on spray tan pages too, it's like all the same sort of bodies and I'm like, you know, I am a curvy girl and you know, so I wanted to create that space and I did. And um, I kind of just told my husband, you know, I'm gonna roll with it. If it doesn't work in a year, I'll just. Go back to corporate, whatever. And then in the meantime, I'm sure, as you know too, when you own a business, you have to post on social media. So I started posting for my spray tan business and then I'm like, you know what? I always wanted to try to be an influencer. I'm just gonna try. Yeah. You know, I have nothing to lose. And I started posting just on my own, like other personal page. And it just kind of took off oddly. And now I'm not, I'm not spray tanning anymore, but I do feel like that journey led me. To doing this.'cause if I didn't take that leap, I just wouldn't be where I was. Yeah. Yeah. It's kind of like
Julia Salvia:just the way that the Yes. The cookie crumbles, if so to speak. Yeah. Or like the path that led you to actually getting yourself on social media Yes. In a way that you would wanna get on social media for to become an influencer.
Meg Longo:Yeah. Yeah. Like I just. I didn't even expect this. Yeah. Like people ask me like, how'd you get? I'm like, I don't know. Like I just, I took like small steps and I ended up here somehow just 'cause I felt like I was following a path of what I really wanted to do.
Julia Salvia:Yeah. Yeah. Oh, I love that so much. Yeah. It's going from like, I really don't know what I want to do to just making something happen that you actually enjoy. Yes. So do you enjoy it before I make an assumption? I, no,
Meg Longo:no. I do. I really love it. I, I really love it and I. I'm sure you understand too, like it just gives you time. And I think in a nine to five, I just felt like I didn't have time and I wasn't, I liked it, but I felt like I, okay, but I need to do something for myself. And now I wake up every day and I kind of make my own rules and my own journey. And having that ownership is just so cool. Like, yeah. I, it's something I always dreamed about. So, and you
Julia Salvia:get to do something for yourself.
Meg Longo:Yes.
Julia Salvia:Yes. Because you get to make up your schedule.
Meg Longo:Exactly, yeah. You get to choose
Julia Salvia:like, okay, I'm gonna do this. Yeah. I'm gonna work for with this person. Yes, I'm going to do things. And hopefully, you know, I always say like, hopefully all influencers are going about it this way. Like they're always doing things that are aligning. A hundred percent. It sounds like you are. Yeah,
Meg Longo:a hundred percent.
Julia Salvia:Hello?
Meg Longo:There's a little bumblebee. Is that Good luck. I hope that's good luck.
Julia Salvia:So. The journey that you had prior to mm-hmm. Becoming an influencer and the journey you have now.
Meg Longo:Yeah.
Julia Salvia:Obviously there's a lot of big differences. Yes. But what's the difference in regards to how you're loving yourself more?
Meg Longo:You know, I think that you go to, yeah. I mean, your whole life journey, you know, you're supposed to go to school, you go to college, you graduate, you get a job. You have to follow the rules that everyone else makes for you. Mm-hmm. And I think you, you feel pressure just literally from society, from family, from friends. And when you live that way, sometimes you just end up in a place you're, you wake up, you're like, what am I doing? Like, yeah, why am I listening to what society should tell me to do? And I think now I've realized that I am living for like what I want to do. And not in a selfish way, but it's just like, who do I want to be? Who do I wanna become? What are my goals? And I think I'm just so in tune with doing that now, that it's really just such a major difference.
Julia Salvia:Yeah. It's, and I think that gets really confused when it comes to like self-love and doing things for yourself. Yes. Is we are so conditioned to believe that it's selfish. Yes. When it is the, quite honestly the opposite a
Meg Longo:hundred percent.'cause if
Julia Salvia:you're not doing things for you, if you're not making yourself happy, if you're not filling your cup, then. I don't, I just don't understand someone has, how people expect you to do anything for anyone else. No.'cause if your cup's empty, what are you giving? No, nothing. The cup. Totally. Yeah. Yeah.
Meg Longo:No, I totally agree. And I'm like the most empathetic, like giving person. Like I literally would die for my family and friends, but I think it's a different thing. It's like. I can do that for them because my cup's filled. Yeah. And I feel my happiest, you know? Yeah. Oh, I
Julia Salvia:love that so much. That's so great. That's very Leo of you. I know.
Meg Longo:Yeah.
Julia Salvia:It's, that's very Leo of you. I know. Leos are just all about like confidence. Yeah. Just being like the star of the show and also doing things like they're so loyal to friends and family, so Yes.
Meg Longo:Yes. I love that. I love, I really am. Yeah.
Julia Salvia:On top of the alignment. Yeah. Before you, yeah. So. What is the one specific thing that prior to this journey that you're on now, you struggled with in regards to loving yourself? Whether that's a physical quality, a um, emotional quality, what, what, what do you think that would be for you?
Meg Longo:You know, I think it really just goes back to living for others. I thought that I had to. Get a job and be successful and like this corporate girl boss, and like that somehow would mean that I made it or I'm happy. Yeah. And I just realized like, we don't know where we're gonna end up. We don't know how life's mm-hmm. You know, we don't even know why we're here really. You know, and it's like, I think about that a lot. Yes, I do too. And I'm like, I need to stop. Let's go down the rabbit. I, I need to take an edible, go to sleep. Um, but, uh, no, I, I just think like, yeah, I, I was really lit. I was living to what I thought other people wanted to like or what I should be.
Julia Salvia:Yeah. You're living for other people. Yes.
Meg Longo:Yeah. And I, I think that the shift has really been now, and I think that really comes with age too. Like I'm in my thirties now and I think, actually it's funny when people find out I'm in I thirties, they're like shocked. They're like, how did you start? And I'm like, you can do anything at any age, you know? Yeah. And I think in my twenties maybe I was just a little less confident in going for it. Yeah. And now that I'm in my thirties, I'm like, you know what? Like. You only got so much time. Let me do it.
Julia Salvia:Yeah. Yeah. Because we're thinking so much about what other people want from us. Yes. And what other people are expecting from us. Yes. That we're like, I feel like our heads are so invested in, okay, if I do this, what is this person gonna think? Or if I do X, Y, and Z, what are all those people gonna think? Yeah. Yeah. And we're, we're raised a a lot of times in this world where we are expected to do, like you said, like. Go to school, get a job. Yeah. Get married. Mm-hmm. Have a family. Yep. When in actuality, like none of our lives are linear.
Meg Longo:A hundred percent at
Julia Salvia:all. Yeah. No. And most, most importantly, our self-love journey with ourselves Yeah. Is not linear by any means. Yeah.
Meg Longo:I always thought by now, like I, I, my husband's my high school sweetheart, so I did luck out that way. Yeah. But we grew up together, but I thought by now I'd be, you know, corporate like. Top, you know, person and kids, and, and, and it's okay. It's actually great that it didn't work out that way. Yeah. Like it, it's perfect. Yeah. I think that it
Julia Salvia:all, it all does work out the way that it was intended to work out for you. Definitely. Yeah. And if we are so tied to this, you know, this vision of what we think our life is supposed to be mm-hmm. We're just gonna keep pushing back from the life that we actually like, truly deserve and what we want. I
Meg Longo:totally agree with you. So I'm glad,
Julia Salvia:I'm glad that it like, led you to
Meg Longo:Yeah.
Julia Salvia:You know where you are today. Yeah. Is there anything like that you struggle with now? Yeah. In, in your self-love journey now that you are an influencer and Yeah. There are so many people kind of coming to you as like. Basically like Yep. Hey, has Meg's things been here? I wanna know if she likes it. Yeah. And that could be, I can see that as being like, you know, a lot of pressure.
Meg Longo:Yeah. I mean, I think, you know, I really try, everything I post, I post it 'cause I love it. So yeah, I don't feel pressure in a sense of like, if someone doesn't like it, I mean that's on you. Like whatever. I think the hardest part of being in this public facing role now that I didn't know I would end up. Kind of is really what you're talking to, like self-love, like people are starting to comment on your voice, your looks, what you're wearing, what you're doing, your life. That was a challenge at first because it's like someone's just, I'm just trying to post online and have some fun. Yeah. Someone's
Julia Salvia:just trying to, trying to throw their opinion in there and yeah,
Meg Longo:and I think that that was definitely challenging. I think I've gotten a lot better at it, but funny enough, now the bigger I've gotten, I've found the worse it gets. Yeah. So really, I totally understand that. It's really so fun. Um, but that really just goes back to people just taking, you know, their unhappiness out on me and I have to remember that. But of course that's a challenge.
Julia Salvia:It's a mirror.
Meg Longo:Yeah.
Julia Salvia:Their unhappiness is a mirror a hundred percent. So whatever, whenever you post something and you're like living your best life mm-hmm. Whatever that is. Yeah. Whether you are, you know, going here, doing this, trying that. Mm-hmm. Like someone is seeing. What you look like, what you sound like, what you're doing, and what you are like capable of, and seeing that as a mirror for everything that they dislike about themselves.
Meg Longo:Yeah, I, I agree with you. And you know, it's like people comment like mean things. I'm like, then you go do it, like you do it, like I did it, you do it, you know? And it's like, no, you're not gonna do it. You're just gonna be a troll. So, yeah. I've accepted it, but it's definitely, I, and, and I think really it's the experience of being a woman as well. Like we're already so much of our weight and our worth is put on how we look. Mm-hmm. And that's what we are inherently taught. Yeah. So when you post online and people are ripping you to shreds about your body and all of that, it's like, whoa. Like, why do I feel this way? This is, yeah. You know, it's, and it's deep rooted in that too. It's
Julia Salvia:like some sort of standard that gets Yes. Tweaked a little bit as like the years go by. Mm-hmm. Because you, I mean, I'm in my thirties too. Yeah. So you could like imagine that. As we've gotten as like anybody has gotten older. Like you see the beauty standard or the standard of beauty change Little, it's constantly changing by little changing. Yeah. But it's crazy to think because you know, you go to a different country and their standard of beauty's completely different. I
Meg Longo:know
Julia Salvia:they have a whole different, like I know. View on what's actually beautiful. Yeah. And. The thing is, at the end of the day, it's not, none of it matters like beauties. Exactly. In the eyes of the beholder. Mm-hmm. And honestly, everything is inherently beautiful. Mm-hmm.
Meg Longo:It's,
Julia Salvia:at the end of the day, it's like, it's literally a fucking opinion.
Meg Longo:I know. No, I, I agree. Yeah. It's literally an opinion. I agree. I agree. Yeah. I have to tell myself that too sometimes.'cause it's like, wow, like this is a lot, you know? Yeah, yeah. Oh,
Julia Salvia:I'm sure. Yeah. I think I, I still, to this day, to this day, yeah. Being an influencer, like right there with me, like, to this day, don't know what. What causes the audacity in some people, I don't know, to feel the need to speak their opinion in a way that is unkind. I don't know what, even in real life too. Oh, oh, yeah. Yeah. I don't know what part of someone is like, yeah, let me be really mean today.
Meg Longo:I just think it's just, I mean, there's so many factors. I think it's just anger of where they are in life. Yeah. And that's really it. I don't know. Yeah. And I wish them peace, honestly. Yep. That's
Julia Salvia:all I can do. Even when I'm driving and someone cuts me off, I'm like, wish you peace. I wish
Meg Longo:you peace, love, and light wish. Yeah, yeah, exactly. I wish
Julia Salvia:you peace. Jersey Shore traffic. You wanna cut me off? Yeah. I'm like, God, we didn't, we didn't get into an accident. Alright. Wish you Yeah, exactly. Peace. You're on your way. Yeah, I know. I hope you have a great fucking piece. I know I'm on the same page. Yeah,
Meg Longo:yeah. But yeah, it can be difficult, but it's comes with it.
Julia Salvia:Do you think that that's the most difficult part I do. Or do you think that there are other things that are kind of equally right up there? I, I
Meg Longo:think that's definitely, for me personally, that's the most difficult part. Yeah. I think because I am like a Leo, so like, I feel like if my friends and family are crossed, like if someone said that to like my friends or family, like, I'll be like, I'll cut you. Like I'm pissed, you know? But it's like me, so I feel that anger. Mm-hmm. And it's like, I'm sure you felt this way too. You, yeah. You wanna react and you wanna hit back. And I, I do sometimes. Yeah, I know. Well, yeah, I, I do too.'cause I
Julia Salvia:just love the wittiness of commenting. I know about this summer when they say something so stupid. I know, I
Meg Longo:know. I'm with you. And, um, I think, yeah, I mean I try like not to,'cause I'm like, okay, if I do this, then I'm investing more of my energy mm-hmm. Into what they want. Mm-hmm. But um, yeah, for me really that's the hardest thing. And I think, funny enough, I think 'cause I really started influencing with like food.
Julia Salvia:Yeah.
Meg Longo:And when I started that. Was like everyone's mo like why are you eating so much? Why are you doing this? Why are you doing that? And I'm like, why do you care what I'm eating, how much I'm eating? Like, and the thing is that they don't actually
Julia Salvia:know how much you're eating because No, they have no idea. Yeah.
Meg Longo:It's like 10 seconds of me eating abr, you know, whatever. And you don't know
Julia Salvia:who's sitting with you. Like Exactly. You could have 50 people, people with you, you know? Honestly,
Meg Longo:currently That's like an annoying thing too.'cause I'm out at a restaurant. Yeah. And I always take a huge group of people.'cause I'm like, I can't eat all this. Mm-hmm. And then I. Always like, how did you eat all that? I'm like, A, that's rude. Like what do you mean? Yeah, b if I wanted to eat it all I can and that's totally fine. Yep. And like c just stop. Yeah. So
Julia Salvia:I had, um, I had a, a, I, um, I was, I was out to dinner in the city. Yeah. And I really wanted to try a couple things on the menu. Yeah. And. I honestly shouldn't have. I opened up the conversation, that probably wasn't a good idea. Yeah. Or actually no, what I, you know what? I don't think I did. Yeah. Yeah. I asked this guy, I was like, how big is the salad? Because I wanted a salad, an app, and a pasta. Yeah. Yeah. I was, I was hungry. Yeah. And he goes, I think that might be a little too much for you, sweetheart. I go. Oh, I'll take all three.
Meg Longo:Yeah. Yeah. I'm like, okay, I'm eating it all. Yeah. Despite you. Yes. I know. It's just like, it's such a weird question, like how do you eat all that? Like, I, I don't know. I love pasta. Like, what do you want from me? Who cares? Yeah. I, I know. Yeah. So, you know, those kind of things are hard and, and I mean, I think just navigating like, you know, my own schedule and figuring out, you know, there's a lot coming at you. Yes. And that also another hard thing I think, and I'm sure you deal with this too, you get a lot of asks, right. And there's a lot of pressure and I'm a people pleaser, so I never wanna say no. Yeah. But now I'm learning. Okay. Like I have to set a boundary, I have to say no. I have to choose the things, you know, that really work for my brand and what I wanna do. Yeah. But it's hard to let people down. Of course. Yeah. I think that's a really difficult part of this all.
Julia Salvia:But I think at the end of the day, if this can help you or, or anyone else, to be honest with you, yeah. If it does not align with you, but you do it anyway. It's only hurting you. Exactly. And them. Yes, a hundred percent. It's not, you know what I mean? It's so, it's it's better that you do say no.
Meg Longo:Yeah.
Julia Salvia:And wait for something else, or have some, or do something else. Yeah. That's more aligning.
Meg Longo:Yeah. Yeah. And I have that outlook. Yeah. I think it's just hard to be like,
Julia Salvia:no, I know. Because you never, you never wanna let anyone down, you know? Yeah. It's like, and
Meg Longo:I think a lot of people put so much weight on, like, you know, if I, if I come to a restaurant or I come somewhere mm-hmm. There's so much weight on that. Yeah. It's like. And it's like, oh, like, I don't know, like, yes, the, you know, it's amazing. Like I have so much joy that I get to like change people's lives and businesses that way. Yeah. But you know, like you said, it needs to align. Of course. And it's just like, yeah, it's kind of like this pressure sometimes. Yeah. It's like the pressure
Julia Salvia:to like go somewhere and it's, you know, you really like it. It's really good. Yeah. Versus if you go to a place and you. Personally, like it didn't align. It wasn't good.
Meg Longo:Yeah.
Julia Salvia:You could change that business's life in one way or or the other. Yeah. Yeah. And that's a lot of pressure to like have on your shoulders, you know? Yeah.
Meg Longo:Yeah. And I really try, like I've never said anything negative Yeah. About a business or anything. It's just not my mo. Like I, yeah. People like pour their lifeblood into something. I'm not here to be like a restaurant critic and like, oh, this was bad. Yeah. So it's like for me, if I feel like something's not gonna align with me, I'm not gonna go there.'cause I don't. Say anything negative, so then it's like, kind of just doesn't work. Yeah. Yeah. Have
Julia Salvia:you gone to places where it just was really not a good experience? Yeah. And you're like,
Meg Longo:yeah, and I just don't post it. Do
Julia Salvia:you let them know?
Meg Longo:Oh, yeah. Yeah. I let them know. Yeah. I just, I'm just like, I just don't post it. Yeah, yeah. Of course. Because I'm like, I don't wanna, you know, I'll tell them what I didn't like or whatever, but
Julia Salvia:mm-hmm.
Meg Longo:I'm like, Ugh. I just, I don't want that energy. I just feel like it's bad energy for me to be like, this sucks. Like, I don't like this. You know? Like Yeah. Especially knowing like how
Julia Salvia:much, um, influence you have. Yeah. When you do go somewhere and how many people are like, oh, Meg's things. Once they went there, I wanna go there.
Meg Longo:Yeah. I, I just also, I just, I, I like my positive vibe, my energy. Yeah. That's really who I am. Yeah. At my core. And I'm like, it's not me to go on here and rip someone apart. Of course. It's just not of, yeah.
Julia Salvia:What are your. Speaking of like great places you've went to. Oh. What are your top I'm, I'm nervous to say like, I'm get in trouble
Meg Longo:here.
Julia Salvia:Okay. We'll make it Okay. Should we make it more specific?
Meg Longo:No, it's fine. I don't. Okay. Top five. Okay. I mean, Lita is like my number one lately. I love it there. I love that. It's my favorite place. The cocktails are great. Angelica's is like my go-to for Italian. I love that little courtyard. You sit outside, it's just perfect. Yeah, it's just such a vibe. It's
Julia Salvia:really cute.
Meg Longo:Um, oh boy. I love Gabriela's. I love turning up at Gabriela's. I love their food. Am I at three? Mm-hmm. Oh God. I have two more. People like, I know people hate on the block. I love the block. I always have a good time there. I think their stakes are insane. Mm-hmm. So I'd say the block, where else do I go? Oh, in Mezcal. I love mezcal. Okay. Have you been there yet? In Old Bridge.
Julia Salvia:No, not yet. Not yet. The, not the new Mexican spot. That place was insane there.
Meg Longo:Yeah. Um, mezcal that, those are my top five right now.
Julia Salvia:Awesome. I'm sorry
Meg Longo:if I pissed anyone off. I love everyone.
Julia Salvia:No, I mean there's so many, you know what I mean? Yeah. Yeah. It's like these are, these are the five that you would 1000% go back to, to Yeah. I
Meg Longo:go all the time. Yeah, yeah,
Julia Salvia:yeah,
Meg Longo:yeah. Are
Julia Salvia:you kind of like that person who like won't go to something twice?
Meg Longo:No, no. I'll go back. Yeah. And you really
Julia Salvia:like it? Yeah. If
Meg Longo:I really like it, I'll go back. Uh, all the time. I don't care. And I'll just refilm it and be like, I love this place. Here it is again. Like I, I, whatever. And it's funny 'cause like usually I'll just attract new people that didn't see my first video. Yeah. So it's fine. But I, yeah, I'm like a outfit repeater. I'm a restaurant repeater. I don't. I'll do it. I love it. Yeah.
Julia Salvia:Thank you so much to Love Bird for allowing us to film in their backyard, in their space. Yes. They have really amazing coffees. I mean, I've already downed like their matcha. So good. It's so good. This
Meg Longo:is the honey bear I
Julia Salvia:think. Yeah. Yeah.
Meg Longo:It's delicious. Mango Matcha Brew. With Honey Cole Foam.
Julia Salvia:Mm-hmm. I love a good, delicious, I obsessed with Maca and I honestly, it's their fault.
Meg Longo:Yeah. And I love these cups very cheap for like a coffee place. Different. Different, you know, gotta stand out. I like it. Yeah.
Julia Salvia:So I wanted to jump back actually to the people that are hating in your comments. Who are these people? Like, is there a specific like demographic of who these are? Because I have one in my head that always, every time I post anything. Yep. Especially when it has to do with my body. Always are up in my comments.
Meg Longo:Yeah. Okay. So it, it's like a two-parter. Mm-hmm. So it's funny because I started posting like my reels automatically to Facebook. Like just, I'm like, okay, it's extra eyes, whatever. Yeah. And I was literally joking with my husband today'cause I'm like, I th and. Oddly enough, I have 55,000 people on Facebook that follow me. And I'm like, I think they all like hate me because every time I post a video, like I post a video the other day, three restaurants I like, and this guy comments like three, I'm not going to, and I'm like, then why are you following me bro? Like, I don't get it. It's usually like, unfortunately for me, I don't know why. It's like older generation like males for some reason. I don't know why. Really? Yeah. Yeah. They like. Like them. And then like I would say sometimes older women, but not, like, not as much as men, like men more oddly. I don't know why. What about you?
Julia Salvia:I, I was just gonna say because they're fucking
Meg Longo:I know. Yeah, that too. Yeah,
Julia Salvia:I know. That's what we had to say. I know. Um. Mine is actually older women. Really? Yep. It's always older women from like the baby boomer generation. Yeah. Um, they always have like grandkids and then they're always Yeah. Commenting on like, my body and what I should or shouldn't wear, how I should or shouldn't dress. Oh, that's, um, that's so what annoying, what I should or shouldn't fix about my body. And then, um, religious people.
Meg Longo:Oh yeah. No, don't get me started on that. Yeah, I know that it's always,
Julia Salvia:and I'm just like, all right, you could go believe in Jesus Christ, that's fine. But like, yeah, I know. But over here,
Meg Longo:I went to Catholic school my whole life. Mm-hmm. And I'm not religious anymore, so really knew that. And I grew
Julia Salvia:up, I grew up Catholic my whole entire life. Yeah. Went C, c, D, the whole bit. I could get married a Catholic church if I really wanted to. I know. And I just won't be doing that. Yeah,
Meg Longo:no, I mean, look, everyone can do what they want. But yeah, it's gotten to a level where. And it doesn't even have to do religion. Like the people you're talking about, being that judgemental. And I actually have thought about this very deeply and I think those types of older generation women specifically, I think, and I'm sorry if I piss people off saying this, but I think they grew up in a time where they had to follow the path of this is what you wear, this is what you do. Yeah. This is who you marry. Shut up. You, you don't matter.
Julia Salvia:I mean, it wasn't Yeah. That far ago. No. Like far, far, like that long ago that Yeah. Women were actually able to vote Exactly. And women were actually able to buy a house. Exactly.
Meg Longo:So, or like do anything rather, and they were
Julia Salvia:alive during that time. Yeah. You know, as a, a young adult. Yeah. So, so
Meg Longo:I, I wonder. So, you know, and that's my theory, is like they see you. You have your own thing going. You doing things, you're beautiful, you're posting, you know, your outfits and your body and you're not apologizing for it. And it makes 'em uncomfortable. Like, sorry. Because you're doing everything that they wish they could have done. Exactly. Exactly. And it doesn't matter. Like you can do whatever you want and actually they can do whatever they want. They just did it. So don't take it out on you. Yeah. Mic drop. Yes. Period. Yes,
Julia Salvia:I have. A card deck actually that's coming out. Self-love card deck. Oh my gosh. And a lot of the questions in there are basically to help you get deeper with yourself.
Meg Longo:I love that. Oh, thank you. I'm gonna buy it right when it comes out. Sweetest.
Julia Salvia:Thank you. Um, and I wanna ask you one of those, one of the questions from that card deck.
Meg Longo:Okay.
Julia Salvia:So
Meg Longo:let's do it. I'm nervous, but I'm ready.
Julia Salvia:Don't be nervous. They're very like, thought provoking questions that like, sometimes like as I was putting it together, I was like, oh fuck
Meg Longo:yeah. You're like, all right, wait, I need a minute to sit with with myself. I'm like,
Julia Salvia:every time I look at a question and, and I say that and I'm like, oh shit. Like I'm like, that's the right question to go on the deck. I apologize in advance 'cause this is a really good one. Okay, that's fine. I can do it. I know you can. Yeah, we all can. So what is something you feel as though you don't deserve?
Meg Longo:Something I feel I don't deserve. Hmm. This is a good one. How Leo of it is it of me to say I deserve it all? No, I'm just kidding. Um,
Julia Salvia:it's really Leo. I know, I know. Um, you know what's interesting about Leo's actually? Yeah. Since we've been, you know, pointing to it through our conversation that as much as they're the most confident people internally, they have such a battle with themselves. Yes.
Meg Longo:Oh yeah. Like overanalyzing. Yes.
Julia Salvia:Yeah. I mean, I think.
Meg Longo:Something I don't deserve that's in
Julia Salvia:or something you think you don't deserve. Yeah. I mean, because you deserve everything in the world.
Meg Longo:Yeah. Yeah. I think when I first started out, you kind of have like imposter syndrome syndrome where you're like, am I like. I'm sure you felt this way too, like comparison is a thief of joy, right? Oh yeah. Like you see, you see other people getting like these deals and videos. You're like, am I good enough? Am I cool enough? And, and I think when I first started out, I was like thinking too much into that of like, yeah, who do I, what do I have to post and who do I have to be? And I thought like I didn't deserve like those types of things because I wasn't living to like their. I don't, not coolness, but like their vibe. I'm like, oh, I don't have enough followers. I don't have enough this, I don't deserve this. And then I think when I shifted like, wow, people really resonating with me. People really do like me. Yeah. And I am deserving of all this, you know? And I think at first if kind of feels like that imposter thing where I'm like, I don't know if I'm good enough as an influencer to deserve that. Yeah. Um. I and, and I think that's something like I've gotten better at. Yeah. Where I'm like, okay, like I can do this. I do deserve this. Yeah. Yeah. Because
Julia Salvia:you do. Yeah, you do. And so do you. Thank you. Yeah. Yeah. So have you seen the full severance series? Yes. And what did you think?
Meg Longo:Um, it's my favorite show.
Julia Salvia:Do you like psychological thrillers?
Meg Longo:Yes. Love. So
Julia Salvia:I like really do avoid. Tv.
Meg Longo:Okay. Because
Julia Salvia:I get so invested that whatever way the show ends, this is why I actually kind of enjoy the fact that you could binge Yes. But what really fucks me up is when you know you leave me on a cliffhanger and I'm left to deal with my emotions.
Meg Longo:Yes. And you're like, I wanna know. I'm like, shit. Yes.
Julia Salvia:It's not even, I wanna know, it's like, did you kill someone at the end? Yeah. Because like, I feel like you just killed my best friend. Like I got so invested, you know? Um, so you got the opportunity to go to Bell Works. When they had the whole cast there, they had all of the cool equipment and props from the actual show. Yep. And everything. The funny thing I think about this severance series and severance inherently mm-hmm. Is that there's actually like a lot of this, um, self-love tied into it. Yeah. Watching it from this, like my perspective as I watch the show, I'm like. They are literally taking the self-love from all of these people psychologically. Mm-hmm. They're like, let me separate you. Mm-hmm. And everything you hate about yourself. Mm-hmm. And bring you back to the brain that you would've had as a child. Because like when we're babies, like we are not influenced by anything. Oh yeah. You know, we're influenced by just our immediate, you know, the immediate people were around. Mm-hmm. And I guess when you, when it comes to severance, you could think of like the immediate people you're around as your coworkers and the people you know, the boss guy. Mm-hmm. The crazy, crazy lady with gray hair, like Yeah, yeah. You know what I mean? Yeah, yeah. Like you could think of those people as like the immediate people who are influencing how you feel about yourself. Yeah. So it was really interesting to watch it and like watch it. Like take all of that away from you.
Meg Longo:Oh yeah. And
Julia Salvia:then here go back to your shitty life.
Meg Longo:Yep.
Julia Salvia:Because you think your life is better in here when it's actually worse when it's not.
Meg Longo:Yeah. It's worse. Yeah. That's so interesting. I actually love that viewpoint. Yeah. Because. I, and I think when I, when I posted about severance, it was so surreal that I even got to go to that. I was like, talk about, I'm like, do I deserve this? What in the hell? How am I here? But um, yeah. It kind of ties back to what I was saying before about the nine to five. Like I feel like a lot of people and nine to fives aren't bad, by the way. Yeah. Like I think if that was my life, like I was happy As long as you find one you love. Yeah. But you know any job, and it doesn't even matter if it's this. Some days you're like, I. Need to turn my brain off. Yeah, I need a break. I feel like I'm just going through life and I'm not looking up, and I think severance that. That's why the show really resonated with so many people. Yeah. Because you think, oh, if I turn that part off and I just go do this, it's better. But is it when you're not really in tune with who you are and mm-hmm. Yourself, if
Julia Salvia:you're not actually healing the things that you need to heal? Exactly. You're just trying to run away from it. You're just trying
Meg Longo:to turn it off. Yeah. Because that's
Julia Salvia:what it comes to. Yeah. Every single person is running away from something.
Meg Longo:Yep. That they don't wanna deal with.
Julia Salvia:Exactly. Yeah. And then they come to find out what they're running away from and they're like, oh shit.
Meg Longo:Yeah. Wait, maybe I should have just dealt with this. Yeah. Maybe,
Julia Salvia:maybe it would've been better for me to just like, go to therapy or something like that. Yes,
Meg Longo:yes. Yeah. Not get severed. Yeah. That was a funny question. I, I, I saw on TikTok, a lot of people were like, would you be severed? And I'm like, absolutely not. Yeah. But I also think that's because I've like done the work of like. Like, you know, if something is hurting, I, I, I do the work to be like, okay, how can I deal with this? Or how can I overcome it? But like, to just be severed. That's intense. Oh yeah. That, that seems too intense for me. I can't do it. Yep. I need my one self. Yeah.
Julia Salvia:And it was really funny watching this, knowing I'm hosting an event at Bel Works Yes. Self love event and I'm like, oh fuck. How do I, how do I talk about the fact that this is where this psychological thriller is happening, but. I'm hosting an event that's all about loving yourself. Yeah. Like this is an interesting, like conundrum here. Yeah. Where I, there's this thing that's supposed to help you with who you are. Mm-hmm. And a show that's being filmed here is like the complete opposite of that. Yeah. So it's been really interesting to see the two tied together. Yeah. Um, but Bell Works is such an amazing new space in. Monmouth County. Yeah. And I think we've really, I think we've really been needing it.
Meg Longo:I know. I love it. I mean, they have the restaurants like walk around the shop, like the farmer's Mar like it's cute and you can like work and there's kids running around. I love it there. I'm just, I think it's perfect for your event. Yeah.
Julia Salvia:I'm just sad that I grew up down the street and like literally it didn't like I know. I know. I know. Like of course we would sell the house and I would move and I literally could have walked there.
Meg Longo:I know. And now you're like, damn. Well, and now. You can manifest it through your whole event. Yay. Bring all the love.
Julia Salvia:So it's a, it's called Bloom and it's an immersive self-love experience and it's a very much an elevated experience. Kind of like an expo event that you would go to in the city. Like we'll be in the Javit Center one day. I know it. Oh, a hundred percent. I think to focus on, you know, the small businesses that are elevated, established brands that Yeah. Are really rooted in kindness. Mm-hmm. Self-love and. Just brands that have like a good value. Yeah, like a good, a, a good value in regards to like their team and the people that they are, but also have a really cool brand or really cool product. Yeah. Because I think we're always searching for that. Yeah. And I love the local markets, but I wanna see a bunch of different ones. I wanna see something super curated. Um, we really make sure that everyone in the space is. Inclusive as well. Yes. And also creating the immersiveness of the experience. It's like how do you bring big, big brands together and smaller brands into one space? Yeah. We had, um, Maybelline a part of our event last year. We had, um, real essentials, a part of our event last year. So many really cool, you know, bigger brands as well as small businesses and kind of bringing them into that space. You know, together is a really cool experience and really fun just coming from like the influencer world and being like, okay, there's all these really cool influencer events, which I'm sure you've been to some. Yeah. You're like, this is so cool. Yeah. But sometimes they're lacking like the connectivity.
Meg Longo:Yeah.
Julia Salvia:And the ability to actually like connect on a level with these people in a way that allows you to really get to know each other. Yeah. And create more of a sense of community. And I'm like. Been there, done that. I love the aesthetic of these events, but I wanna bring aesthetic and the connection and community together. Yeah. Make it deeper. Yeah. Bring it together in one space. And I felt like just, I love it. Thank you. I feel like just what Bell Works is it's, it has that idea already of bringing, you know, it's this giant building that has so many different things. It's a, it's a workplace, it's. Has amazing restaurants. It has the marketplace. Mm-hmm. Like on Wednesdays and, and Saturdays. Like they have events and they have a bunch of small businesses. And I think they do so many cool things that really provide that sense of community. So it was the, it was the perfect connection. It's gonna be
Meg Longo:great. And it's so cool that you bring those big brands and the small businesses, you lift them up to all in the same room. It's really cool.
Julia Salvia:I think everybody deserves a spot.
Meg Longo:Yeah.
Julia Salvia:In, you know. In this type of way to be able to connect with different people.
Meg Longo:Yes.
Julia Salvia:And I think it's time. I think we need, we need an event like this. We need a day like this. Like everyone deserves a day to love themselves more and be in an environment where they get the chance to
Meg Longo:And with people who are like open to that idea too. Yes. And meet and make new connections. I think it's really fun.
Julia Salvia:Yeah. Thank you. I appreciate it. I'm so excited. I'll be there. Oh, yes, you will. Yeah, I will. Well, thank you so much for being here. I really appreciate it. Of course. It was so good to get to know you, especially like on a deeper level in regards to like your self-love journey and see like how you've grown from where you know you were to where you are today. And just seeing that how it wasn't, you know, it wasn't a linear path, it wasn't even a path you really expected, but it came to be. It came to fruition and. You're loving yourself more now.
Meg Longo:Yes. I, it was so lovely. You're such an amazing person. Thanks. And I'm just honored that you asked me to be on it. Thank you. So thank you so much.
Julia Salvia:Of course. Thank you. I appreciate it. Of course.
