Riyan's POV

A brain dump episode

A catch up episode —I moved again, started school, and somehow made friends in a town where I knew no one. But the heart of this episode is about being hyper-independent, dealing with friendship trauma, and learning how to actually let people in.

Because making friends means giving people access—it means opening the gate a little. And that’s something I’ve really been learning lately. At some point, doing it all alone starts to feel like isolation. And maybe—just maybe—it’s okay to let people show up for you.

not to toot my own horn but the art of being unbothered? mastered it. there’s so much freedom in not caring. life gets lighter when you stop performing.

A long overdue sit-down with my sister, Bahja Abdi.
We talked about everything; moving out, sisterhood, adulting, med school, growing up, and just figuring life out as we go. It’s a Q&A, an advice session, and a little bit of a rant all in one.

This is the full pre-med debrief. From working in clinics, research labs, and volunteering to studying for the MCAT and everything in between — I’m walking you through exactly what I did, how I did it, and what each job actually looked like day-to-day. If you’re curious about what pre-med actually takes, this one’s for you.

(I might do a part two!)

This episode is all about dropping the mask, letting go of the performance, and learning how to be real — even when it’s uncomfortable.

I got this question during a Q&A and realized it deserved a whole episode. The fear of being perceived is something we all struggle with, but once you learn to let go of it — everything changes. In this episode, I’m talking about what it really means to be seen, why it’s so scary, the science behind it, and how I rewired my mindset to show up as my full self.

In this episode, I reflect on everything my gap year taught me — from protecting my energy to redefining success and learning to live with intention. If you’re in a season of change, this one’s for you.

Transition periods aren’t always easy — in fact, they’re usually exhausting. I’m learning to trust myself to make the right decisions, and as someone who’s not quite an extrovert or an introvert, I’ve realized I need to stop overexerting myself because it takes me at least three days to recharge my social battery.

How I stopped trying to fit into an aesthetic and started becoming it — one outfit, one photo, one small moment at a time.