In this episode of Talking with Tanya, my best friend and I dive into one of our favorite kinds of conversations—the ones that start out lighthearted and somehow end up making us question everything.

We talk about the difference between explaining and overexplaining, finding a healthy work-life balance, what authenticity really looks like, and how simply being yourself can make you stand out in ways you don't even realize. We also discuss learning to enjoy your own company, taking accountability for your actions, and why we're all just "adult kids" trying to figure life out.

I also share a childhood memory that stayed with me for years and how witnessing a simple moment with my niece completely changed the way I understood it. Sometimes it's the smallest experiences that shape us the most.

We also explore the decline of close male friendships, why vulnerability is essential for building trust, and how loyalty becomes one of the greatest gifts we can offer the people we love.

Whether you're navigating friendships, healing from childhood experiences, learning to embrace who you are, or simply trying to become a little more intentional in your everyday life, I hope this conversation reminds you that you're not alone.

Thanks for listening, and as always, thank you for being part of this journey.

Follow Me On 👇:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tan.gaaa?_t=zt-8zsmpjzylgn&_r=1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanya.villalobos

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Tanya.Villalobos

Email: [email protected]

💖 Support the Channel:If you enjoyed this episode and would like to support my work, you can do so here:

Venmo: @TV0719

CashApp: $TVill719

Kofi: ko-fi.com/talkingwithtanya

In this episode of Talking with Tanya, I open up about my experience stepping into leadership and how much it challenged me emotionally, mentally, and personally. I talk about the discomfort of asserting myself into other people’s spaces, navigating conflict in real time, learning to trust myself under pressure, and realizing that being a good leader doesn’t mean everyone will like or understand you.

Leadership became the ultimate people pleaser test for me. I’ve had to learn how to hold boundaries, stay grounded in my values, and stop seeking validation from how others perceive me. At the same time, I’ve also experienced the rewarding side of leadership, seeing people feel motivated, supported, and genuinely cared for under my guidance.

I also share updates about life outside of work, including getting back into dating, personal growth, and the unexpected lessons this season of life has been teaching me.

This episode is for anyone learning how to take up space without abandoning themselves in the process.

Follow Me On 👇:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tan.gaaa?_t=zt-8zsmpjzylgn&_r=1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanya.villalobos

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Tanya.Villalobos

Email: [email protected]

💖 Support the Channel:If you enjoyed this episode and would like to support my work, you can do so here:

Venmo: @TV0719

CashApp: $TVill719

Kofi: ko-fi.com/talkingwithtanya

One year ago, I started this podcast with no plan—just a desire to grow, understand myself, and share what I was learning along the way.

36 episodes later… I’m not the same person.

In this episode, I’m taking you through a timeline of my journey—not just the episodes I’ve recorded, but the versions of myself that existed within them. From wanting to help others, to learning how to use my voice, to setting boundaries, to finally choosing myself… this past year has changed me in ways I didn’t expect.

This isn’t just a recap.
It’s a reflection on growth, self-awareness, and becoming.

To be loved is to be seen… and this year, I finally started seeing myself.

Follow Me On 👇:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tan.gaaa?_t=zt-8zsmpjzylgn&_r=1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanya.villalobos

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Tanya.Villalobos

Email: [email protected]

💖 Support the Channel:If you enjoyed this episode and would like to support my work, you can do so here:

Venmo: @TV0719

CashApp: $TVill719

Kofi: ko-fi.com/talkingwithtanya

APPLY HERE FOR INTERNSHIP:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScvOqwOofnDUaotWPGnl_Z66BkuMYGwhkFgGJDJUxDtacx7_Q/viewform

There’s a version of me that used to feel like I needed connection to feel complete…and this version of me?I actually enjoy my own company.In this episode, I talk about what it’s been like outgrowing people, redefining connection, and realizing that emotional fulfillment starts within. I’ve been learning that I don’t need everyone to meet me—I just need the right people to meet me where I am.I also share a moment that made me question myself—when I didn’t feel someone else’s emotions the way I used to—and what that taught me about empathy, boundaries, and not losing myself in other people.Lately, I’ve been noticing how many people struggle with setting boundaries… and how easy it is to overgive when you don’t realize you’re allowed to choose differently.This episode is about:- enjoying your own company- emotional depth and what it actually means- why some connections stop feeling fulfilling- learning to be seen without performing- choosing people who are emotionally available- and trusting that what you’re building will reach who it’s meant toI’m not speaking from a place of needing validation anymore… I’m speaking from a place of understanding.

Follow Me On 👇:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tan.gaaa?_t=zt-8zsmpjzylgn&_r=1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanya.villalobos

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Tanya.Villalobos

Email: [email protected]

💖 Support the Channel:If you enjoyed this episode and would like to support my work, you can do so here:

Venmo: @TV0719

CashApp: $TVill719

Kofi: ko-fi.com/talkingwithtanya

APPLY HERE FOR INTERNSHIP:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScvOqwOofnDUaotWPGnl_Z66BkuMYGwhkFgGJDJUxDtacx7_Q/viewform

In this episode, I talk about what it really means to start living with intention.

Recently, I had a moment that made me realize how much I’ve changed—how I move differently, how I see people differently, and how I choose what aligns with me instead of just accepting attention.

We get into:

• the difference between attention and alignment

• learning from past mistakes without staying stuck in shame

• how self-worth changes your standards

• why you can’t always save people from their own lessons

• and what it feels like to grow into a new version of yourself that doesn’t always feel “natural” at first

I also open up about times where I’ve led people on, avoided honesty, and had to take accountability for my actions—and how those experiences shaped the way I move today.

This episode is for anyone who feels like they’re outgrowing old patterns, questioning their choices, or learning how to trust themselves more.

You’re not behind. You’re becoming.

Follow Me On 👇:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tan.gaaa?_t=zt-8zsmpjzylgn&_r=1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanya.villalobos

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Tanya.Villalobos

Email: [email protected]

💖 Support the Channel:If you enjoyed this episode and would like to support my work, you can do so here:

Venmo: @TV0719

CashApp: $TVill719

Kofi: ko-fi.com/talkingwithtanya

APPLY HERE FOR INTERNSHIP:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScvOqwOofnDUaotWPGnl_Z66BkuMYGwhkFgGJDJUxDtacx7_Q/viewform

In this episode of Talking with Tanya, I reflect on something that’s been on my mind lately: Do people actually like me for who I am, or just for how I make them feel?I talk about learning to match people’s energy, the exhaustion that can come from overgiving in relationships, and what happens when you start going through an identity shift. As I continue growing and becoming more aware of my patterns, I’m realizing how important balance and reciprocity are in all kinds of relationships.This episode is a real-time reflection on growth, boundaries, and what it means to truly be seen.

Follow Me On 👇:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tan.gaaa?_t=zt-8zsmpjzylgn&_r=1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanya.villalobos

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Tanya.Villalobos

Email: [email protected]

💖 Support the Channel:If you enjoyed this episode and would like to support my work, you can do so here:

Venmo: @TV0719

CashApp: $TVill719

Kofi: ko-fi.com/talkingwithtanya

APPLY HERE FOR INTERNSHIP:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScvOqwOofnDUaotWPGnl_Z66BkuMYGwhkFgGJDJUxDtacx7_Q/viewform

Sometimes the hardest part of growth isn’t the breakthrough, it’s the uncertainty in between.

In this episode, I open up about financial insecurity, wondering if I should change career paths, health worries, emotional detachment, and the pressure I put on myself to always be “profound.” I talk about vulnerability hangovers, trauma minimization, and what it means to trust yourself while you’re still figuring things out.

This is about becoming, not arriving.

Follow Me On 👇:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tan.gaaa?_t=zt-8zsmpjzylgn&_r=1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanya.villalobos

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Tanya.Villalobos

Email: [email protected]

💖 Support the Channel:If you enjoyed this episode and would like to support my work, you can do so here:

Venmo: @TV0719

CashApp: $TVill719

Kofi: ko-fi.com/talkingwithtanya

APPLY HERE FOR INTERNSHIP:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScvOqwOofnDUaotWPGnl_Z66BkuMYGwhkFgGJDJUxDtacx7_Q/viewform

Growing up isn’t just about getting older, it’s about understanding.

We share personal stories from our childhoods, reflect on the hardships our parents faced, and unpack how those experiences formed who we are today. We talk about fear, resilience, independence, chosen family, and learning to see our parents as human.

You can’t truly appreciate the good without experiencing the hard. And sometimes, growth means revisiting the version of you that didn’t have the words yet.

This one is honest, reflective, and deeply human.

Follow Me On 👇:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tan.gaaa?_t=zt-8zsmpjzylgn&_r=1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanya.villalobos

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Tanya.Villalobos

Email: [email protected]

💖 Support the Channel:If you enjoyed this episode and would like to support my work, you can do so here:

Venmo: @TV0719

CashApp: $TVill719

Kofi: ko-fi.com/talkingwithtanya

APPLY HERE FOR INTERNSHIP:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScvOqwOofnDUaotWPGnl_Z66BkuMYGwhkFgGJDJUxDtacx7_Q/viewform

This maybe a new series. I came home after a long day not expecting to create this episode but here it is.

Have you ever realized you understand people deeply… but they don’t always meet you there? In this episode, my friend and I talk about:

– Not over-giving anymore

– Being the “mirror” in friendships

– Why discernment matters more than availability

– The struggle of always being the spontaneous one

– And how to articulate your truth without trying to offend anyone.

We even explore uncomfortable hypotheticals about leadership and loyalty and what it really means to choose wisely when stakes are high.

This episode is about boundaries, growth, and finally standing steady in your own energy.

I see you. I’m still choosing me.

Follow Me On 👇:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tan.gaaa?_t=zt-8zsmpjzylgn&_r=1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanya.villalobos

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Tanya.Villalobos

Email: [email protected]

💖 Support the Channel:If you enjoyed this episode and would like to support my work, you can do so here:

Venmo: @TV0719

CashApp: $TVill719

Kofi: ko-fi.com/talkingwithtanya

APPLY HERE FOR INTERNSHIP:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScvOqwOofnDUaotWPGnl_Z66BkuMYGwhkFgGJDJUxDtacx7_Q/viewform

Leadership isn’t always loud or recognized. Often, it’s shaped quietly through lived experience — through moments of integrity, boundary-setting, and choosing what’s right even when it’s uncomfortable.

In this episode, I reflect on personal stories from childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood that shaped my understanding of leadership long before I ever held a title. We talk about standing up for others, learning from harmful leadership, and how character is formed in moments where no one is watching.

This conversation explores what makes a good leader, how growth becomes integrated over time, and why real leadership is less about power or charisma and more about self-regulation, empathy, and clarity.

If you’ve ever felt different or like you were developing at a different pace than the people around you, this episode is for you.

Follow Me On 👇:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tan.gaaa?_t=zt-8zsmpjzylgn&_r=1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanya.villalobos

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Tanya.Villalobos

Email: [email protected]

💖 Support the Channel:If you enjoyed this episode and would like to support my work, you can do so here:

Venmo: @TV0719

CashApp: $TVill719

Kofi: ko-fi.com/talkingwithtanya

APPLY HERE FOR INTERNSHIP: