cont. with our book reflections marathon, today i talk about jennifer niven's holding up the universe, a beautiful reminder of how healing relationships grounded in empathy can be. 10/10 recommend this book to everyone, but especially if you (like me) have struggled with vulnerability in your friendships <3

love,

nandini

it's important to find value and draw lessons even from books that we may not have loved... and that's what i do in today's episode on dustin thao's you've reached sam. it's a novel that explores grief, closure, and connection in a world where technology is at the center of many of our close relationships. listen now!

love,

nandini

this book took me back to my anxious pre-teen years, but not in the way i expected. it reminded me to have compassion for the person i was, who helped me become the person i was today. amy sarig king's book is full of raw human emotion, the ways we cope with change, and a beautiful reminder to be patient with ourselves. highly highly recommend!!

love,

nandini

sometimes a little healthy change is just what we need to get that spark back. today, i dive into why that change is so important, what a healthy change of scenery looks like, and how small changes have helped me deal with the bigger ones.

love,

nandini

happy five years to our little podcast community! this year i wanted to take this opportunity to reflect on five books that have had a deep impact on my personal growth (and the podcast). these books have all been talked about on the show before, but i wanted to especially reflect on the impact they've had on my personal journey, and how they've changed both myself and the show.

love,

nandini

in this part of my ultimate guide, i share my top 5 tips for staying academically strong during my high school years. one of my biggest successes, i think, was being able to stay consistent with my studying and grades across all four years while never working myself so hard that i felt overwhelmed or exhausted by academics alone. listen to the episode to get more!

love,

nandini

back with the first book reflection of the summer!! this week i talk about roll of thunder, hear my cry by mildred d. taylor, and i don't know how it took me so long to pick up this book, but i couldn't have read it at a better time. it's culturally significant but also an gem of individual experiences that feel universal. stay tuned for more book reflections in coming weeks!

love,

nandini

shower realization to podcast topic pipeline is so real because this entire episode is based on something i realized last month... and it's that the things that we do while being scared, rather than trying to shove down that fear, are often the things we're the most proud of. today, i talk about how that fits in to times of change, why we don't need to fear our fear, and how we can simultaneously hold our anxiety without letting it hold us back.

love,

nandini

college decisions aren’t just about where you get in. sometimes, that means choosing integrity over pride, even when it’s hard. in this episode, i’m talking about how pride can cloud judgement in the college decision process (people-pleasing, chasing prestige, ignoring your gut), and why living in your values means more than living up to external expectations.

love,

nandini

in this episode i continue my ultimate high school survival guide, focusing on junior and senior year. i talk about how junior year becomes a time to challenge yourself, but in a way that’s actually for you and not just for validation or external pressure. then senior year shifts again. it’s less about proving anything and more about appreciating how far you’ve come, being present, and learning to say yes to the moments that matter.

love,

nandini