The path to our dreams is never linear. 

In today's episode, I discuss all things about my college application journey, and I don't hold back at all! Here is the truth guys - it was messy, and went so wrong and so bad at times and I was so distressed, but I ended up ok.

To those of you out there who are either starting their college apps or thinking about them, or maybe you have already done them but are still recovering, you are going to be ok. It's always ok in the end. Even when things are so messy and unclear and you have no idea where you are going to go or how life will end up, it will be ok. I hope you find comfort in my story, I hope you can see that I made it out alive and you too will. I hope I help. I hope you find some peace. I hope that you take whatever pressure there is off your shoulders - there is no need to stress because the things that are meant for you will find you.

All my love, Lydia

‘Children of Divorce’ is available wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube

Find me on TikTok & Instagram under @childrenofdivorcepod and @lydianathenson

Hey everyone! Thank you so much for joining Carolina and I - she's the best, right?! Today's episode was so much fun to film, and even funnier to watch back. I really do hope you enjoy it.

In the episode, Carolina and I spoke through our 'Healthy Friendship List' which we made the second time we hung out. I'm down to post the list on instagram if you guys want to see it, but don't worry, it will be coming to bookstores near you at some point in the future...

Both of us haven't had serious relationships, but we have had about 30 friendships, which is something we bonded over. This time around, we're trying something different with friendship, demonstrated by our 'Healthy Friendship List.' From feeling like your friends don't care about you, to over(and under!)communicating, this list covers it all.

Now, I'm not saying that you have to go and make a friendship list with every person you see - this was an abnormal circumstance and somehow, it just worked...but I do think some of the stuff we brought up today is food for thought. How do you want to be treated in a friendship? How do you want to show up for your friends? All things to ponder when one has the time! But, remember, we're not perfect, friends aren't perfect, it's never going to be 'perfect,' but it can be beautiful and wonderful, and you can make amazing connections with people that you meet on a random Thursday in a park :)

Thanks again for listening, all my love and appreciation, Lydia XXX

PS: and thank you to my wonderful queen, Carolina, for joining us today - she was fantastic!

‘Children of Divorce’ is available wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube

Find me on TikTok & Instagram under @childrenofdivorcepod and @lydianathenson

Sometimes we just want connection and we want to feel that we are cared for. 

In today’s episode, I speak about my relationship with wanting to be desired and how my journey with intimacy has changed throughout the years.

* I want to specify, there is no shame here. NO guilt. When I say that I felt disgusting, I am not calling you disgusting, I am just sharing how I felt after certain intimate moments with people. Another trigger warning, the topic of sexual abuse is briefly mentioned. *

I am brutally honest in the episode today, with myself, with what I’ve been through, with how I act now with boys and with how I used to act. I just share, and try to make sense of it, and I share some more. I hope you find comfort in my story, I hope you find comfort in the fact that you are not alone. At the end of the day, we just want to feel good in our bodies and loved. You are not to blame, you have nothing to feel guilty for - everyday you try your best, and one day it will make sense and be ok. I love you guys, take care XXX Lydia 

‘Children of Divorce’ is available wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube

Find me on TikTok & Instagram under @childrenofdivorcepod and @lydianathenson

TRIGGER WARNING: Topics such as physical and sexual abuse are discussed

From feeling like the odd one out when everyone is at DARTIES at college to feeling like the odd one out because all the other girls you know are close with their mums, this episode covers it all.

It can be hard to feel like you don't quite fit in and you never perhaps will. It can be hard to not enjoy the same moments others do. It's hard to trust your gut and your instincts when sometimes it leaves you alone. It's hard to watch others and wish for their lives but also know it would never be possible. It's hard to want something you could never have. It's hard to go back to where you once were when you are someone else now. It's impossible to rewrite the past and it's impossible to change what has shaped you to become who you are to this day. But we have the ability to choose what happens to us today, and tomorrow, and so on.

We are not defined by our pasts, we are not defined by our differences. Those are our superpowers. Those provide us perspective, and perspective is our secret weapon. Whoever you are, I'm proud of you for making it to this day. I know, I know, it was so hard. I know it was challenging. I know you didn't think you would make it a million times. You are the odd one out and that's fantastic! That's so brilliant. I'm celebrating that and one day the world will celebrate you for that, but until then, don't forget that you are incredible. All my love, Lydia XXX

‘Children of Divorce’ is available wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube

Find me on TikTok & Instagram under @childrenofdivorcepod and @lydianathenson

I used to be the least spontaneous person I knew and now I find it hard to find someone who can match my level of random side quests! There's such a joy that comes from being spontaneous: unplanned meet-ups with friends, a new restaurant or food spot that you passed perchance and it ends up being your fav, a walk in a different direction that takes you to an undiscovered wooded area. You get it, the point is, being spontaneous allows for amazing discoveries! (and also very poor moments too, don't get me wrong...but we are focusing on the good here)

Similarly, practicing flexibility is a life skill guys. We can't expect to go through life according to our rigid routine. I mean we can, it just won't be super enjoyable will it? Stop beating yourself up that you didn't do this at that time, and instead work towards adopting a mindset of adaptability. That's the real skill. It's not how often you do something, it's can you still do it when the world is upside down? You tell me.

You guys have got this, and again, I never am pushing you to do anything. I know you try your hardest, I know life is hard, and I know it's always easier said than done. I'm just proud that you are trying, that you gave a self-help podcast a listen, and that you allowed yourself to think for a bit about your behaviours and patterns. It's never bad ok? You're never doing something wrong. You're just doing your best and that's all we can do :) I appreciate you guys so much!!

XX Lydia

‘Children of Divorce’ is available wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube

Find me on TikTok & Instagram under @childrenofdivorcepod and @lydianathenson

Oh it’s hard out here girls. We are just looking for the one that will be able to meet our standards, the one who will take that step forward and talk to us, the  one who will even just know our name at this point….

In my head I’ve dated close to 50 people, and broken up with them as well, and they have no clue that this ever even happened. In today’s episode I deep dive into all my campus crushes I’ve had so far at university, what I learnt from them, and what I didn’t learn from them!

The most important takeaway from today’s episode is…it’s not just you! There are countless of us girls out here forming connections and crushes and attachments to randoms we see at school or at college or on the street or whatever. IT’S NORMAL! IT’S NATURAL! We just want connection - it’s what we’re hardwired to do as humans. 

REMEMBER: 

A) don’t punish yourself for it, it’s normal 

B) TELL SOMEONE! It’s makes it easier/a funny thing rather than so serious 

C) remind yourself what you are looking for & work on your sense of self instead (if possible, requires a lot of maturity) 

All my love out there to you guys, it’s hard out here. Thanks for listening and see you in the next episode! XX Lydia

‘Children of Divorce’ is available wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube

Find me on TikTok & Instagram under @childrenofdivorcepod and @lydianathenson

Ahhh...popularity. This notion of popular girls and groups has existed forever - in our movies, in our schools, and in our literal realities. I'm here to debunk a) that the parties you see all the kids going to are ALL that and b) that you're the only one who spends a lot of time alone at school.

Coming from someone who was both a popular girl and a loner (yes, I have lived all the lives and stereotypes), popularity isn't all that but being alone is challenging as well. How do we stay true to ourselves but also not isolate ourselves? How do we find our people in a small town/school? How do we keep hope that we'll find those friendships that last when so many have failed? Well, I wish I had the answers, but I certainly do spend all my time thinking about these kind of things and I put those thoughts into an episode. I hope you guys enjoy! You know where to find me,

KISSES! XX Lydia

‘Children of Divorce’ is available wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube

Find me on TikTok & Instagram under @childrenofdivorcepod and @lydianathenson

We all go back to people we ‘shouldn’t’, we all relapse on that thing we’re trying to quit, we all get fed up that the fucking yoga class was just as hard 8 months in as it was on the first day. That’s normal, that’s human.

You are not a machine. Your improvement cannot be drawn graphically, nor is it a linear line. You are improving I promise, even if it might not feel like it at times. Progress isn’t tangible sometimes, it’s just the fact that you said no to someone for the first time in years, or that you tried extra hard today but didn’t quite manage to set boundaries with that person. A lot of the time we can’t see our progress, especially when we are working on self improvement, because it’s not a quick and easy fix. But a year from now, five years from now, you’ll see it. My goodness you’ll see it and it will make sense. And until then, you are doing your best! Be kind to yourself. Forgive yourself. There is no need to be angry with yourself, you’re doing great. 

Proud of you guys, thanks as always for listening. 

Xx Lydia 

‘Children of Divorce’ is available wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube

Find me on TikTok & Instagram under @childrenofdivorcepod and @lydianathenson

For my entire life I’ve basically tried to hold onto any bit of stability or control I had, and that created a fear of change and discomfort in even the slightest of those changes. What I’ve realised is that I’m never going to be able to control my environment nor the changes happening around me - the only thing I can do is become so sure and confident in myself that it doesn't phase me anymore. Easier said than done, but that's why I'm documenting this journey of mine!

I hope you all enjoyed todays episode, I appreciate all of you who listen!

Kisses! Lydia XX

‘Children of Divorce’ is available wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube

Find me on TikTok & Instagram under @childrenofdivorcepod and @lydianathenson

I get scared sometimes when I compare myself to other women. If they’re prettier, if they’re thinner. Maybe they have a better chance at finding love? Maybe men only find them attractive. Maybe I will never have a partner who accepts me 1000% and finds me completely beautiful.

In today’s episode, we step back from reality and real physical looks and instead discuss how it is actually all to do with feelings. It really is a simple fix - we don’t need to change anything about ourselves and our body and how we look, just the way we think. As soon as we realise that, we will understand that we are more than beautiful enough to love. The right person will make you feel beautiful, you don’t need to make yourself ‘beautiful’ for someone to love you. 

I hope this episode made sense and it was helpful. I was a tad delirious but I enjoyed filming nevertheless. 

All my love, Lydia XXX

‘Children of Divorce’ is available wherever you get your podcasts, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube

Find me on TikTok & Instagram under @childrenofdivorcepod and @lydianathenson