The discussion of a person’s vulnerability is probably the most difficult conversation one could have, but it is through the break of this very barrier that one is able to exit the comfort zone and truly realise the real potential life gifts us with. Nurturing that creative part of our consciousness which permits us to dream and think ahead, not only in weeks or month but decades at a time, is only the first step to that self-improved version of ourselves. A more simple word which encompasses this entire concept may as well be goals, life-goals to be precise. But how does one actually reach a self-given goal? Is there a specific recipe which guides us to the successful completion of a goal or is it simple luck? And how many goals should one have in order to be able to achieve all of them?

Introducing Grace to the podcast was one of the funnest moments throughout the experience so far. As our first Duo Episode, we decided to talk about a very controversial topic, to which most of us feel some sort of attachment: relationships. Even more specifically situationships, chrushes, official relationships as well the un-official type, and much more.

How do we define a relationship? Is there a criteria? And why is it so difficult to connect with some people rather than others? 

Grace and I tried to dig out some answers to these very complicated questions, but only scratched the surface so far… 

We all have found ourselves lying in some situation. Whether one likes it or not, it’s part of our existence. But fewer people have found themselves stuck in a lying habit. A situation in which one snowballs from one lie to another without being able to pull the breaks. Is there a cure? Can it be fixed? In my experience, yes. But it’s not as simple as one would think…

Ever since I began middle school, my parents weren’t very forgiving with the way I looked. I definitely went through some periods in which I was clearly overweight and they didn’t hesitate to make it known that they would notice it. As much as that might seem usual to some people, it wasn’t for me. I was a very sensitive person - I still am to this day - but back then it was out of control. It made me very self-conscious and worried that I would never be “normal”. 

But it also sparked some curiosity in me. I was curious to know: what would the actual “good body type” be? 

My research wasn’t very helpful - nor was it long - because all I could find in the Internet were very fit bodies. Bodies which didn’t look like mine. And that’s when the hamster wheel began spinning in my head, never stopping to this day. 

Is Unconditional Love a spontaneous thing or is it a decision someone makes? This topic has been debated by almost every media outlet known to humanity, but no one has really given an actual conclusion. So I decided to sit down and brainstorm on this matter. It was harder than I thought. Unconditional love is actually a multifaceted dilemma, which I thought to have understood a long time ago already, but I couldn’t be more wrong. I now understand the reason behind which no one has been able to give a single-faced conclusion. Please enjoy as I spiral down in a never-ending thought process which, to this day, still haunts me.  

Mimi Karbal is an actress who currently lives in Italy. She began her career in the modelling industry only to realise her true passion lied in the acting industry. Struggling with her past, Mimi is a clear example of the self-made person. Only in her teens, she already began catching numerous producers’ attention and winning scholarships whilst booking brand new roles. 

Our conversation was full of meaningful insights from Mimi’s perspective of the world she lives in. We rarely get to understand how a specific industry works, but we even more rarely get to have two very different industries compared back to back from someone who actually has experienced both sides of the isle. 

We also had the chance to talk about the topic of racism in the modelling and acting industries, learning how difficult it can be for some people to succeed. From acting advices to mental health and trauma surviving skills to generational pressure, this episode covers a wide range of very sensitive topics which we believe aren’t spoken enough about. 

Ever since he was a very little boy, it was clear that Nicholas Rich was going to have e a successful career in the music industry. After an unforgettable encounter with Kenny Rogers, Nick began his journey in music. Initially truly inspired by Country Music, he experimented and began writing his own songs until eventually shifting towards Pop culture. Heavily inspired by Adele’s song “Hello”, Nick developed an ever-growing ability in songwriting which ultimately brought him to achieve substantial attention onto the internet. With his song “Hot Mess” charting extremely high on TikTok and his more recent hit “Devil on My Shoulder”, Nick Rich has set a clear future for his career. 

During this episode, we had the amazing chance to talk to him and truly get to know the person behind these very influential songs. Our conversations spanned from talking about the delicate process of writing and producing songs, to label signings and the pressure of maintaining a high level of success. 

If there was one word which would describe Nick Rich, it would be “honesty”. Because throughout the entire interview, we couldn’t help but notice the true place from which Nick was taking inspiration, which not always may be a pleasant state of mid. But like every human being he, too, was faced with difficult moments in life from which he was able to create a treasure that we all can benefit from: music. 

He is a true artist at heart who actively chooses quality over quantity, someone who would rather concentrate on the message rather than on the imagery. His songs are clear, direct and honest; just like writing a letter. We wouldn’t be surprised if in the near future we would spot him accepting some high-level global award, let alone becoming a celebrity himself. 

Woody Pierre is one of the first Haitian musicians to ever have moved to the US to study music. His amazing ability in playing the trumpet brought him important life-changing opportunities such as meeting Wynton Marsalis or being invited to play at extremely important venues. Our conversation has been full of reflections on where does one’s motivation come from and the ability in keeping it alive throughout the years despite inevitable challenges. 

Ever since the very beginning, Woody knew what it meant not having enough resources in order to follow one’s dream. He now makes it his life-long mission to give back and help the future generations of his home country and abroad, because he believes that it is by making all the necessary resources accessible that one is able to excel in music. As most of us, also Woody has dealt with many challenges such as language barriers or performance anxiety. In this case, he offered us a completely different view of reality and explained his own way of coping with such struggles. 

Inspired only by the greatest, Woody aims to become a teacher and spread his amazing knowledge to others; hoping that he would leave a legacy in which no one will be denied to study music ever again. 

Calista Richlen is one of the countless examples of young teachers trying to make a difference in the musical industry. Even if for a brief moment, she gave us a true glimpse of the lifestyle teachers lead. We uncovered the truth of the financial situation teachers are faced with and some horrifying stories some are forced to deal with. We also discussed the importance of becoming a role model to the upcoming younger generation, trying to break the stigma and teach them to also cope on a mental health level. 

Our conversation mostly began from a very simple question: are academics necessary in order to become successful? The truth is that there is no right or wrong answer, but it certainly did deserve the philosophical attention. 

Calista is just a very tiny - but vital - witness to our Education System and proved herself to be a very promising mentor to our future generation. 

Grace moved to the us at an extremely early age. At only 16 she was faced with a life changing choice. She was given the possibility to either stay home in Singapore and continue with academics or travel abroad and give music a chance. Given her young age, it was difficult for her to find a University which would accept her into its musical program, but luckily she made it to the US. Her strong determination and excellent skills on the piano guaranteed her a future she always wanted. We spoke about her experience when moving into her first apartment and the struggle of making friends, as well as fighting negativity with positivity and the importance of choosing the right people. Grace’s story truly reflects the one of thousands of students who bravely follow their dreams at the cost of leaving their previous lives behind.