Figuring It Out with Ganna ♡

Have you ever looked at a friendship and realised that things just aren't the way they used to be?

In this episode of Figuring It Out with Ganna, we're talking about outgrowing people, growing apart, and learning to accept that not every friendship will stay the same forever. We'll explore why friendships change, why we sometimes miss people who are no longer part of our everyday lives, and how to move forward without pretending those relationships never mattered.

From childhood friendships and Gilmore Girls to the songs that bring back memories, this is a conversation about accepting change, letting go of expectations, and understanding that you can care about someone while recognising that your lives are moving in different directions.

Because growing apart doesn't always mean something went wrong. Sometimes, people simply grow in different directions — and that's okay.

💌 A little something to think about: Is there a friendship in your life that you're trying to keep exactly the same, even though you know things have changed?

🎧 If this episode resonates with you, follow Figuring It Out with Ganna, leave a rating or review on Spotify, and share it with someone who might need this reminder.

Have you ever wondered what it really means to find your people?

In this episode, I'm talking about friendships, the different people we meet throughout our lives, and how not every friendship has to look the same to be meaningful.

Sometimes, we look for one person who understands every part of us, someone who shares all our interests and is always there for everything. But what if different people bring different things into our lives? What if one friend understands your humour, another shares your interests, and someone else is the person you turn to when you need support?

I'm reflecting on the importance of finding people who make you feel comfortable being yourself, appreciating the connections you have, and understanding that meaningful friendships can look different for everyone.

Because finding your people isn't necessarily about having the biggest friend group or being liked by everyone. It's about finding connections where you feel valued, understood, and free to be yourself. 💗

If this episode resonates with you, follow the podcast, leave a rating or review on Spotify, and share it with someone who makes you feel like you belong. Don't forget to turn on notifications so you don't miss the next episode!

Have you ever made a mistake in front of people and wanted to disappear? 😭

In this episode, I'm talking about the fear of embarrassing yourself, being watched while you struggle, and worrying about what other people think of you.

I'm sharing some of my own experiences from Taekwondo, including my first competition, my international competition in 2024, and the moment I chose to stay and compete instead of letting my nerves take over. I'm also opening up about how the fear of being judged almost stopped me from starting Figuring It Out with Ganna in the first place.

I also want to correct a small mistake from the episode: I accidentally said the name of the podcast Bookmark’d incorrectly. The correct name is Bookmark’d by Sara Carrolli and Destiny Sidwell. 🤍

Because making mistakes in public can feel terrifying. You might replay every little thing you did, wonder whether people still remember it, or wish you could go back and do things differently.

But what if embarrassment isn't the end of the world? What if you can mess up, learn from it, and still be proud of yourself for trying?

This episode is a reminder that you don't have to get everything right to keep going. Sometimes, confidence comes after you do the thing you're scared of.

And remember: regret can last a lot longer than embarrassment. 🤍

If this episode resonates with you, follow the podcast, leave a rating or review on Spotify, and share it with someone who might need this reminder. Don't forget to turn on notifications so you don't miss the next episode!

Content note: This episode discusses the passing of a former teacher and includes reflections on loss and remembrance. Please listen whenever you feel ready.

Some people are part of our lives for only a chapter, but the memories they leave behind can stay with us for years.

In this special episode of Figuring It Out with Ganna, I'm taking a step away from my usual conversations about growing up and figuring ourselves out to remember my former drama teacher, Miss Vuyisa, who recently passed away.

She taught me in Years 7 and 8, and although we didn't know each other for a very long time, I still remember her enthusiasm, our practical drama lessons, the activities we did together, and the small moments of kindness that stayed with me.

I'll also be talking about Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo, a book I remember from our classroom projects and have decided to read this month in her honour.

This isn't an episode about having all the answers or turning loss into a lesson. It's simply my way of remembering someone who was part of my school journey, expressing the gratitude I wish I could share with her in person, and acknowledging the teachers who leave lasting impressions on their students.

I also take a moment to recognise all my former teachers, including those who made my school years memorable and those whose lessons I understood differently with time.

This episode was difficult for me to make, and I'm still processing the news myself. There's no pressure to listen as soon as it comes out. Please take your time and listen whenever you feel ready.

To Miss Vuyisa: thank you for the lessons, the memories, and the little things you may never have realised would stay with me.

You will be remembered. Rest in peace. 🤍

Thank you for giving this episode the space it deserves.

— Ganna

Have you ever tried so hard to make everyone happy that you started losing parts of yourself along the way?

In this episode of Figuring It Out with Ganna, we're talking about people-pleasing, the pressure to be accepted, and what happens when trying to protect yourself from disappointment starts changing the way you treat others.

Through reflections on Oriah Pera from The Last Sunrise, I'm exploring the struggle between wanting people to like you and staying true to who you are. We'll talk about the temptation to change yourself for approval, the fear of being hurt, and how becoming distant or shutting people out isn't always the same as protecting your peace.

A quick correction: I accidentally said Oriah Ry’s name incorrectly in this episode! Her correct name is Oriah Pera. 💗

We'll also explore boundaries, learning to say no, and remembering that you can care about people without making yourself responsible for everyone's feelings. With a reminder from the Qur'an (33:39), this episode reflects on staying grounded in what's right rather than letting other people's approval define you.

Because there's a difference between learning to protect yourself and becoming someone you don't recognise.

You can be kind without disappearing. You can have boundaries without becoming cold-hearted. And you don't have to lose yourself just to be accepted.

If this episode resonates with you, follow Figuring It Out with Ganna, leave a rating or review on Spotify, and share it with someone who might need this reminder, too. Don't forget to turn on notifications so you don't miss the next episode!

Have you ever looked back at your childhood and wondered how you became the person you are today?

In this episode, I'm taking a little trip down memory lane — from the random videos I used to make as a kid to the books, TV shows, and little things that made me who I am.

I'm reflecting on growing up, the things I miss about my younger self, and how different I am now compared to the girl I was at 12. I'll also talk about some of the things younger me would probably be shocked to learn about my life today, from Taekwondo and my achievements to starting this podcast.

Growing up is exciting, but it's also a little bittersweet. Sometimes you miss who you used to be, even when you're proud of who you're becoming.

And maybe the goal isn't to become the exact same person you were back then. Maybe it's to grow up without losing the little things that made you you in the first place.

So, here's to our younger selves, the memories we carry, and the little spark we hope we never lose. 🤍

Have you ever told yourself, “I’ll do it when I’m ready”?

Sometimes we spend so much time waiting for the perfect moment that we forget that the perfect moment might never come.

In this episode, I’m talking about missed opportunities, fear, overthinking, and the pressure we put on ourselves to feel completely ready before trying something new.

I’m also sharing a personal story about a moment in Sharm El Sheikh when I had the chance to go parasailing but let my fear convince me not to. Looking back, I wish I had just said yes.

Because sometimes, you don't need to feel ready. You just need to be willing to try.

So if there’s something you’ve been putting off because you’re waiting to feel more confident, more prepared, or less scared, this episode is for you. 🤍

What happens when the life you thought you were going to have starts changing?

In this episode, I’m talking about change — friendships changing, people growing apart, plans changing, future plans feeling uncertain, and realizing that you’re not the same person you were a year ago.

I’m also talking about Your Fault, the second book in the Culpables series, and how Nick and Noah’s changing relationship made me think about what it feels like when something you thought would stay suddenly doesn’t.

Because sometimes change is exciting.

Sometimes it hurts.

Sometimes you miss the way things used to be, even when you know you wouldn’t necessarily go back.

And sometimes the scariest part of change is simply not knowing who you’re going to become.

But maybe we’re not supposed to have the whole map yet.

Maybe we just need to take the next step.

So if you’re going through a change, questioning your future, missing an old version of your life, or just wondering what comes next, this episode is for you. 🤍

Sometimes letting go doesn’t mean losing someone. Sometimes it means accepting that things aren’t the way they used to be.

In this episode, I’m talking about the people, places, friendships, and versions of ourselves that we sometimes wish we could go back to.

I’m sharing some of my own experiences — from missing the people I grew up with, to learning how to accept that friendships can change without completely disappearing. I’m also talking about Mona, Saga, my childhood, and the version of myself I had to leave behind as I grew up.

Because sometimes you don’t actually want to let go. You just wish you could keep everything exactly the way it was.

But I think I’m finally learning that letting go doesn’t mean losing something. It’s about accepting that things are changing around you.

And maybe you can miss what was without being afraid of what’s next. 💗

Plus, a small reminder from the Qur’an about trusting that Allah knows what’s best for us, even when we don’t understand it yet.

What if the grade you’re most afraid of says absolutely nothing about the person you are?

For a long time, I thought my grades told me a lot about me — what I was good at, what I wasn’t, how smart I was, and sometimes even whether I was good enough.

But what happens when the results don’t match the story you’ve been telling yourself?

In this episode, I’m talking about academic pressure, comparison, the fear of disappointing yourself and others, and the moment you start realizing that maybe a number doesn’t have as much power over you as you thought.

I’m also sharing some of my own experiences with exams and subjects I once thought I simply wasn’t good at, along with a little Rory Gilmore moment because… obviously. 📚

This isn’t an episode about pretending grades don’t matter.

It’s about realizing that they don’t get to tell you who you are.

Plus, a small reminder from the Qur’an about what truly gives a person their worth. 💗