When you’re young, criticism doesn’t land as feedback - it lands as identity. Being called “stupid” by teachers didn’t just hurt in the moment: proving them wrong quietly cost me friendships, joy, and a sense of self.

Isolation, Perfectionism, High Achiever, Academic Validation.

I cry at the Olympics, and in this episode, I unpack why - is it because of the comparisons I didn’t know I was making?

Spoiler: It was never about sport.