It's been awhile! Her recent birthday brings with it a reflection on past events in Meral's life, and the need to let go of the past and a possible future that, let's face it, probably will never be - and learn to embrace the present and the possible future that still can come to pass.

Do you find it hard to live in the now? Do you also tend to look back at the past and wonder. "what if?" - What do you do when something you searched for and hoped for is taken from you the moment you finally find it?

Music: Lost In The Dark by Steven OBrien

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10010-lost-in-the-dark

Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Music: Cinematic Logo 06 by TaigaSoundProd

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/8266-cinematic-logo-06

Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

In this episode, Meral talks about the show on everyone's lips: Baby Reindeer on Netflix.

Being an introvert and an expert on spending time alone, Meral looks at the public perception of both leads Donnie and Martha and if we are all capable of going too far in the name of loneliness, rejection, and what we believe is love or the only good thing in our lives.

Music: Lost In The Dark by Steven OBrien

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10010-lost-in-the-dark

Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Music: Cinematic Logo 06 by TaigaSoundProd

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/8266-cinematic-logo-06

Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

It's the third month into the New Year. How are those resolutions coming?

Yeah, me neither.

It's not strictly an introvert thing to procrastinate or self-sabotage, but it might be an introvert thing to find an empty void where no one can shift attention from me in order to verbally expel it from my brain and out of my mouth!

Join me this week where I look inward as to why failure is a powerful word and a learned behaviour from childhood that makes us feel like we are not good enough.

Do you feel like 2024 is passing you by and you've just been letting it?

Just me? Alrighty then...

Music: Lost In The Dark by Steven OBrien

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10010-lost-in-the-dark

Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Music: Cinematic Logo 06 by TaigaSoundProd

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/8266-cinematic-logo-06

Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

It's the New Year! What does this mean to you? What does it mean to this particular introvert?

Catch up with Meral and her trips to the theatre, her adventures in the kitchen (it's an adventure when cooking stresses you out!) and her plans to be 100% faithful ONE DAY.

Have you missed her? Cos she's missed you too. But just like an introvert, she kinda needed her space. Now she's back! For now. Enjoy while you can.

Music: Lost In The Dark by Steven OBrien

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10010-lost-in-the-dark

Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Music: Cinematic Logo 06 by TaigaSoundProd

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/8266-cinematic-logo-06

Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Christmas is coming and this is the month Meral indulges in non-stop xmas content!

While extroverts probably take the lead in most Christmas movies, the introverts tend to be the heart of the movie. Without those characters, you wouldn't find your heart growing 3 sizes!

Are you an introvert who will be spending this time alone and need streaming inspiration? Or maybe you are an introvert who is mentally preparing fo the social onslaughtng your way and need a little reassurance from beloved introverts.

Are you an extrovert who is curious and want to find out what makes introverts so important in a Christmas movie? Have a listen.

Music: Lost In The Dark by Steven OBrien

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10010-lost-in-the-dark

Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Music: Cinematic Logo 06 by TaigaSoundProd

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/8266-cinematic-logo-06

Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

The holidays are coming!

Lights, trees, Mariah Carey... we have all this coming up. Love it or hate it, it's impending. The stores would have you believe it's been Christmas since 1st November! Join Meral as she talks about her relationship with this time of year. She'll also be talking about forms of self-care if you are an introvert who has been stretched thin lately, but also gives the less introverted amongst you a guide on how to reach your inner introvert. How to learn to love spending time with little old you. Especially at a time where you are either going to lack having time to yourself, or if this time of year is a lonely one for you.

It's hard to find work.

Being an introvert, personally, means I have to think really hard about what kind of job I can realistically work in. I'd been lucky enough to find the exact job that suited my personality, only to lose the good ship Career to the ocean. Since then, it's just been me trying to my best to cling onto whatever debris has been left floating behind. Nothing quite keeping me afloat. Nothing I can make another boat with.

Not having the belief in myself that I can create something out of nothing, and not having the social battery to last in the jobs I can get has left me here.

Today's episode is as scattered as the debris in the ocean. I guess it's where I am mentally at the moment.

Have you struggled to find a place to suit your introvert energy? How did you do it? Any tips welcome.

Music: Lost In The Dark by Steven OBrien

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10010-lost-in-the-dark

Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Music: Cinematic Logo 06 by TaigaSoundProd

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/8266-cinematic-logo-06

Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Just like my busted, leaky roof, I've felt like I've been coming apart lately too.

Avoid things long enough, allowing damage will inevitable lead to it slowly seeping with no way of stopping it.

With all that's happening in the world, my own personal sorrows and the addition of a beloved Friends actor passing away, the dam is threatening to burst!

I've always been pretty good at finding some kind of light in the dark and I've always prided myself on that... however, not it's not that brave when you can't even face the dark.

This week I'll be talking personally about grief and sorrow in relation to what's been happening and how it's affected me. This is not necessarily a look into grief from an introvert's perspective. I'd be interested in knowing who else has felt the way I do.

I'll also be looking at Buddhist teacher Roshi Joan Halifax and psychotherapist Francis Weller, exploring moral distress and divine discontent.

Music: Lost In The Dark by Steven OBrien

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10010-lost-in-the-dark

Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Music: Cinematic Logo 06 by TaigaSoundProd

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/8266-cinematic-logo-06

Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Halloween is coming and I've been watching A LOT of horror!

I realised a lot of the characters that have resonated with me are introverts. Quiet, thoughtful, usually a little detached from the social animals around them. Happy to work alone. These characters are so often the final girl (or guy sometimes!) Why? Give my podcast a listen and see what their MBTI personality type says about them.

A lot of characters will be missing from this. There are so many great tv shows but I wanted to stick to series you could binge a lot easier than 6+ seasons of something.

An introvert and stuck for plans this Halloween weekend? Follow my guide and celebrate the introverts! Not into horror? There are a couple of lighter movies in the list. And not to give you spoilers but the majority of these characters DO make it (at least in the first movie...)

An extrovert and are curious about which epic characters are introverts and why we are the best characters in horror? Give this episode a listen!

Music: Lost In The Dark by Steven OBrien

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10010-lost-in-the-dark

Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Music: Cinematic Logo 06 by TaigaSoundProd

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/8266-cinematic-logo-06

Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Funny how the smallest things happening in our lives can awaken years of embarrassment and what could have beens!

A tiny non-encounter sets me, Meral, off on a pathetic journey of past non-encounters as I am a self-confessed intro-flirt. Meaning I'm an introvert who can't flirt to save my life!

Introverts are not great at showing you they are into you as our way of connecting is pretty subtle (unless we just come out and tell you, and that requires a LOT of guts or alcohol... or both!) Wanna know if the cute (or strange) introvert in your life likes you? Have a listen.

Also an introvert who struggles to connect to someone you are attracted to? Join my club!