the for us podcast

something else that college has forced me to take a hard look at is the gap between the person i am and the person i want to be. identifying what that difference is, doing the work to get closer to that version of myself, and realizing that externals don't define me has started bring me a real sense of confidence in myself. love, nandini

in a culture of pressure, it's more important than ever to remember that mistakes are normal, rough patches are normal, and more than that, that we can get through those mistakes and rough patches with forgiveness and grace. this week, i talk about balancing grace with discipline, and how being kind to ourselves is its own kind of power.

yeah the stereotype that getting sick in college is truly horrible is true...but there are some things that i did to get myself through it that revolved around prioritizing my physical health, communicating, and giving myself grace throughout the process. stay healthy!! love, nandini

finally did an epi on my new series obsession! this series feels like the fantasy books i used to read as a kid, but with more depth and lessons to take from it. give it a read!! love, nandini

a few weeks ago i came across a bit of research that i wanted to share! the w curve is a model that helps explain the transition to college that many of us go through in our first year. it's a great tool in helping us to remember that struggle is normal, and that despite challenges, we're on our way up! love, nandini

revisiting an old topic w/ a new perspective is one of my favorite things about having a podcast!! this week i get into why it's so important to be comfortable with yourself, the joy of solo dates, and how being alone doesn't have to mean being lonely. love, nandini

now that i'm living in a dorm, it's become more important than ever to make sure that my space is a safe space for me, and being intentional about that has made my moving transition so much smoother. today, i talk about how i went about ensuring that my personal space is intentional, personal, and safe for me as i navigate change. love, nandini

the (i promise this time) last book reflection of the summer! i had to end on a mitch albom book!! this week, i talk about one of the most emotionally intense books i've ever read, but also one of the most beautifully written. 10/10 recommend! love, nandini

to wrap up our book reflections for a while (maybe i'll throw just one more in there soon), i talk about a book of short stories that i read a few months ago by clarice lispector. although it wasn't my favorite read of the year, it was a good collection of stories that reminded me of the resilience that we learn through challenges, the beauty in the seemingly ordinary, and how abstract lit...

my first episode in college!! i didn't have much planned out, so this epi is basically just a ramble from my first week in d.c., and a little re-intro to the podcast and what my goals are now that things are going to look a little different! love, nandini

in our final book reflection epi for the summer, i wanted to talk about a memoir that really shaped the way i now view change and healing. it's a reminder to slow down and allow yourself to feel. fully, humanely, imperfectly. this was one of my favorite reads of the summer. check it out!

today i literally sat down with no script to talk about my journey with confidence....so this is my warning that this episode is a little bit ranty. i get into my current struggles, the way i'm leaning into curiosity, and how trust isn't reliant on externals. love, nandini

i'm no expert when it comes to change, but this month, i was able to do a few things that helped me go through orientation in a way that left me feeling fulfilled and happy with my experience. listen to the full episode for my best tips! love, nandini

for our last book reflection episode of the summer, i picked words on fire by jennifer nielsen, a historical fiction book i read a few weeks ago. it's a beautiful reminder of the connection between interpersonal messages and global themes, the joy of finding meaningful work, and a lesson in appreciating communication. love, nandini

wildoak is a book about nature, courage, and the power of a single voice. it's an important reminder of the interconnectedness of all living things and how we can find courage in surprising places. it's a book that is honestly so unique that i can't even think of another one similar to it. give it a read! love, nandini

this summer, i've been going on more side-quests, more adventures, more spontaneous outings than ever before. and i've realized that more than just being fun, these moments have revealed more about myself than i thought possible. that's because when we strip away our attachments and subconscious norms that we've subscribed to, we enter that space where we can see ourselves as we ar...

for most of my life, i've been the control freak who couldn't deal with change or uncertainty, especially when the future was involved. but as i get closer to one of the biggest periods of change in my life, i've been approaching the process differently. this time, i've been embracing the comfort of what i can't control as an opportunity to get excited and hopeful rather than a...

we're back to regular episodes this week! and today, i'm talking about something that i already talk about a lot... w/ some nuance. why is it important to stay grounded? what does that mean for someone about to go to college? that's what i tackle today. love, nandini

the last in our little marathon of book reflections! and honestly i think this is one of my favorite reads (if not my favorite) of the summer. such a compelling story about mental health, what it means to connect with someone else, and a reminder to LIVE. 10/10 absolutely reccommend!! love, nandini

cont. with our book reflections marathon, today i talk about jennifer niven's holding up the universe , a beautiful reminder of how healing relationships grounded in empathy can be. 10/10 recommend this book to everyone, but especially if you (like me) have struggled with vulnerability in your friendships <3 love, nandini

it's important to find value and draw lessons even from books that we may not have loved... and that's what i do in today's episode on dustin thao's you've reached sam. it's a novel that explores grief, closure, and connection in a world where technology is at the center of many of our close relationships. listen now! love, nandini

this book took me back to my anxious pre-teen years, but not in the way i expected. it reminded me to have compassion for the person i was, who helped me become the person i was today. amy sarig king's book is full of raw human emotion, the ways we cope with change, and a beautiful reminder to be patient with ourselves. highly highly recommend!! love, nandini

sometimes a little healthy change is just what we need to get that spark back. today, i dive into why that change is so important, what a healthy change of scenery looks like, and how small changes have helped me deal with the bigger ones. love, nandini

happy five years to our little podcast community! this year i wanted to take this opportunity to reflect on five books that have had a deep impact on my personal growth (and the podcast). these books have all been talked about on the show before, but i wanted to especially reflect on the impact they've had on my personal journey, and how they've changed both myself and the show. love, nand...

in this part of my ultimate guide, i share my top 5 tips for staying academically strong during my high school years. one of my biggest successes, i think, was being able to stay consistent with my studying and grades across all four years while never working myself so hard that i felt overwhelmed or exhausted by academics alone. listen to the episode to get more! love, nandini