It's Paula's 26th birthday! In this episode, Pia and Paula discuss all things birthday, including the significance of birthdays as an opportunity to pause, reflect, and appreciate another year of growth and lessons learned. But, which birthday is the most important? Why did their 18th birthday parties cost $12,000? How do you efficiently plan birthday dinners as schedules get fuller? Plus, Paula's horrible poker face makes opening gifts in front of others almost impossible, and while Pia loves receiving birthday messages from her followers, she admits it can sometimes get overwhelming.

IN THIS EPISODE, PIA & PAULA TALK ABOUT:

- (2:36) Which birthdays hold greater significance than others

- (8:30) Going all out for their traditional Filipino debuts

- (15:27) Why it’s so awkward to open gifts in front of other people 

- (21:26) Their ideal birthday party 

- (28:13) The Filipino stereotypes they face in America and advice for challenging them

RESOURCES

- Leave us a voicemail at (512) 827-8730 for a chance to get featured on the pod! Tell us what you’re second guessing.

- Follow the podcast on Instagram HERE

- Listen on your favorite platform HERE

- Shop Ignited Apparel HERE

CONNECT WITH PIA

On Instagram: @sophiacuerquis

On YouTube: @sophiacuerquis

On TikTok: @sophiacuerquis

CONNECT WITH PAULA

On Instagram: @paulacuerquis

On TikTok: @paulacuerquis

In this episode, Pia and Paula deep dive into the concept of closure, share their experiences with seeking it, and second guess if having closure is really necessary. They question whether closure is about finding answers, mutual agreement, accepting reality, or reinforcing what they already know. The sisters acknowledge that while closure can be helpful for processing emotions and gaining clarity, you also need to be prepared to adapt and move on without dwelling on the need for it. Plus, Pia and Paula discuss the "talking stage" of a relationship and at what point it's appropriate to ask for exclusivity. 

IN THIS EPISODE, PIA & PAULA TALK ABOUT:

- (1:05) What it means to seek closure 

- (9:43) Embracing an "it is what it is" mindset

- (16:54) Does closure blow things out of proportion?

- (19:45) Situations where closure is hurtful

- (26:44) Understanding how closure affects you and the importance of inner work 

- (28:23) The “talking stage” and advice for moving to the next step in your relationship

RESOURCES

- Leave us a voicemail at (512) 827-8730 for a chance to get featured on the pod! Tell us what you’re second guessing.

- Follow the podcast on Instagram HERE

- Listen on your favorite platform HERE

- Shop Ignited Apparel HERE

CONNECT WITH PIA

On Instagram: @sophiacuerquis

On YouTube: @sophiacuerquis

On TikTok: @sophiacuerquis

CONNECT WITH PAULA

On Instagram: @paulacuerquis

On TikTok: @paulacuerquis

Between work, socializing with friends, house hunting, recording their podcast, traveling, creating TikToks, and spending time with family, Pia and Paula can hardly find moments to catch their breath! But the sisters are determined to manage everything without being overwhelmed by the stress. They believe finding balance is the key, and in this episode, the sisters dive into what balance means to each of them, how they carve out time for self-care, and their tips for preventing burnout before it’s too late. Their priorities shift week by week, but today, Pia is focused on purchasing her first house while Paula concentrates on her career growth. Plus, they share advice for overcoming procrastination because they know how tempting sitting on the couch can be!

IN THIS EPISODE, PIA & PAULA TALK ABOUT:

- (4:08) What balance means for each of the sisters 

- (11:18) How to manage burnout and effectively set boundaries 

- (17:53) Being an introvert versus an extrovert 

- (23:50) The challenge of finding family time

- (27:21) Their top three priorities and ways they make time for them 

- (37:40) Advice for procrastination 

RESOURCES

- Leave us a voicemail at (512) 827-8730 for a chance to get featured on the pod! Tell us what you’re second guessing.

- Follow the podcast on Instagram HERE

- Listen on your favorite platform HERE

- Shop Ignited Apparel HERE

CONNECT WITH PIA

On Instagram: @sophiacuerquis

On YouTube: @sophiacuerquis

On TikTok: @sophiacuerquis

CONNECT WITH PAULA

On Instagram: @paulacuerquis

On TikTok: @paulacuerquis

What does it mean to live as your authentic self? Pia and Paula are still figuring it out! In this week's episode, they want to take you on their journey of self discovery! The sisters discuss the steps they're taking to find their authentic selves, compare the person they are now to who their younger selves wanted to be, and the ways they manage the opinions and perspectives of those who care about them. Paula talks about looking out for her best interest, even if it means occasionally disappointing others. Pia opens up about how her difficult decision to move away from her family opened the door for her to think more freely. Plus, Pia shares her early anxieties about establishing herself as a creator.

IN THIS EPISODE, PIA & PAULA TALK ABOUT:

- (6:44) How moving away from her family forced Pia to be introspective 

- (10:13) The ways social media affects authenticity 

- (13:17) Different layers of self-expression 

- (18:41) Their experiences with code-switching 

- (23:50) Answering the question, “Would your younger self be proud of the person you are now?”

- (31:10) Navigating the stress of others' opinions, trusting intuition, and taking ownership of decisions

- (35:40) How Pia manages her anxieties as a growing creator

RESOURCES

- Check out The Defining Decade HERE

- Check out 101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think HERE

- Leave us a voicemail at (512) 827-8730 for a chance to get featured on the pod! Tell us what you’re second guessing.

- Follow the podcast on Instagram HERE

- Listen on your favorite platform HERE

- Shop Ignited Apparel HERE

CONNECT WITH PIA

On Instagram: @sophiacuerquis

On YouTube: @sophiacuerquis

On TikTok: @sophiacuerquis

CONNECT WITH PAULA

On Instagram: @paulacuerquis
On TikTok: @paulacuerquis

You may know bits and pieces of Pia and Paula’s background, but in today’s episode, they take a deep dive into their origin story! The girls go all the way back to their birthplace in the Philippines and open up about how they balanced a traditional Filipino upbringing with their New Jersey, All-American childhood. Paula gets real about finding freedom in college, and Pia talks about how, ever since she was little, she’s always felt happiest doing content creation. Make sure you stick around until the end of the episode to hear their second thoughts about alcohol. 

IN THIS EPISODE, PIA & PAULA TALK ABOUT:

- (1:46) The sisters’ experience moving from the Philippines to the US

- (4:38) The origins of the names Pia & Paula 

- (11:52) How the girls learned English

- (17:41) Why Paula wanted her mom to pack her sandwiches for lunch instead of Asian food

- (25:53) Their different experiences of college

- (34:47) Their newfound appreciation for their parents 

- (38:18) Pia & Paula compare the people they are now to who they were growing up 

- (49:48) How they respond when someone asks, “Where are you from?”

- (50:46) Second guessing alcohol 

RESOURCES

- Leave us a voicemail at (512) 827-8730 for a chance to get featured on the pod! Tell us what you’re second guessing.

- Follow the podcast on Instagram HERE

- Listen on your favorite platform HERE

- Shop Ignited Apparel HERE

CONNECT WITH PIA

On Instagram: @sophiacuerquis

On YouTube: @sophiacuerquis

On TikTok: @sophiacuerquis

CONNECT WITH PAULA

On Instagram: @paulacuerquis

On TikTok: @paulacuerquis

THE CUERQUIS SISTERS ARE BACK! After a year of some major life changes––*hint hint* press play to get all the deets––Pia and Paula are back on the mic sharing stories about the realities of life in their 20s. In today’s episode, Pia talks about her big move to Austin and updates on the growth of her business as a content creator. Paula explains why one of her hands feels a little bit heavier… And her plan for her next career pivot!

IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT:

- [1:19] Updates about the podcast’s new beginnings

- [2:55] Pia’s big move

- [9:35] Paula’s engagement story

- [18:41] Pia’s plans for the near future

- [23:30] Paula’s plans to pivot in her career

[36:39] Updates on “Thought of the Day” and its new name!

RESOURCES

- Leave us a voicemail at (512) 827-8730 for a chance to get featured on the pod! Tell us what you’re second guessing.

- Follow the podcast on Instagram HERE

- Listen on your favorite platform HERE

- Shop Ignited Apparel HERE

CONNECT WITH PIA

On Instagram: @sophiacuerquis

On YouTube: @sophiacuerquis

On TikTok: @sophiacuerquis

CONNECT WITH PAULA

On Instagram: @paulacuerquis

On TikTok: @paulacuerquis

LOVE YO'SELF! In the second part of their two-part Valentine's Special, Paula & Pia talk about the most important type of love—self-love. The girls discuss their own insecurities, fears, and doubts and they look back at moments in their life where they've fought back against self-sabotaging and self-loathing. Tune in for a candid conversation about their best practices for finding and maintaining self-love and how they gained confidence in themselves and their actions.

Do you have a 'Thought of the Day'? Leave a voicemail at 609-808-2185 or an email at [email protected]. You can share any thoughts you might be having (advice, good news, gossip, etc.) and the girls will give their best advice or reactions!

Follow Paula & Pia on social: @secondthoughtspod, @sophiacuerquis, @paulacuerquis

Looking for cute, eco-friendly loungewear? Shop Ignited Apparel!

Let's talk about LOVE! In this week's episode of a two-part Valentine's Special, Paula & Pia talk about their experiences with love thus far. The girls talk about their learnings from their past relationships and the standards & expectations they look for in romantic partners. They define what love looks and feels like for them and answer questions you guys submitted! Tune in for a candid conversation on the realities of love and the happiness (but also baggage) it brings! 

Do you have a 'Thought of the Day'? Leave a voicemail at 609-808-2185 or an email at [email protected]. You can share any thoughts you might be having (advice, good news, gossip, etc.) and the girls will give their best advice or reactions!

Follow Paula & Pia on social: @secondthoughtspod, @sophiacuerquis, @paulacuerquis

Looking for cute, eco-friendly loungewear? Shop Ignited Apparel!

Paula & Pia are back with their first episode in 2022! Join them for a conversation around goal-setting, new year's resolutions, and the power of intentions. In this episode, Paula & Pia share some life updates (their COVID Christmas, Sophia's new clothing line, etc.), then they get into their "Rules for 2022" and what they want to accomplish this year. Tune in for best practices on setting goals and/or intentions that align with your values. Make the most of this new year by manifesting the best version of yourself. 

Do you have a 'Thought of the Day'? Leave a voicemail at 609-808-2185 or an email at [email protected]. You can share any thoughts you might be having (advice, good news, gossip, etc.) and the girls will give their best advice or reactions!

Follow Paula & Pia on social: @secondthoughtspod, @sophiacuerquis, @paulacuerquis

Looking for cute, eco-friendly loungewear? Shop Ignited Apparel! 

The girls are bringing back another advice column! Every few weeks, the girls read through listener emails/submissions and share their *solicited* advice and wisdom! In this episode, they talk about how to deal with a territorial mother-in-law, setting resolutions, telling a friend they're a friend no longer, & SO MUCH MORE! This will be the last episode of S3 and of 2021. Tune in for S4, coming Feb 2022! 

Need advice? Send an email to [email protected] with the subject line 'Advice Column', for a chance to have your submission read in the next advice column episode. You can also leave a voicemail at 609-808-2185.

Follow Paula & Pia on social: @secondthoughtspod, @sophiacuerquis, @paulacuerquis

Shop Ana Luisa: Pieces start at $39 with sales up to 25% off. Buy a gift for yourself, your friend, or your significant other at https://shop.analuisa.com/secondthoughts. New jewelry collections are released every Friday.