an ode to anyone who's ever pursued or participated in a conversation so real & honest & authentic that when it was over, your stomach was in knots with that post-truth pit. that feeling, a vulnerability hangover, is indicative of a certain shade of bravery that, in my opinion, is the best sign of connection to self & the best way to establish connection with others.
and i think we could use a lot more of that.
no one likes a hangover, but i think this kind of hangover is one thats worth it.
i dont LOVE pain… obviously. and i’m assuming you don’t either.
BUT what i’ve learned from my first full year post-grad, hopping around jobs & living situations & adding on new friends while seeing others less… is that (and prepare for a massively corny takeaway here, everyone) the hard seasons in my life are always the ones i look back on as significant markers of my growth.
what i’ve begun to recognize is that these growing pains, as painful and uncomfortable as they may be… push me forward exponentially faster and further than anything comfortable could. the pain makes me stronger & ultimately, these hardships provide me with experiential evidence to show my future self one day when fear convinces me of my inability to make it through the next hard thing that comes along (because trust, it’s coming)
with time & age & good reflection, i’ve been discovering a path to finding comfort in the uncomfortable. peace in the pain. the hope of growth moves me forward. and more than any of that, the joy of female friendship carries me ahead. and honestly, especially friendship with my bestest friend sadie.
i hope you get a little taste of all of this and more in the episode. and i hope you leave with a bit more gratitude for ur growing pains.
with love, caroline
6 Feb 2026
i love being cringe
being in ur 20s in the digital age is an uphill battle… literally.
that uphill battle is something I once heard referred to as cringe mountain, and the term has stuck with me ever since.
we are all in one of three positions in relation to said mountain:
at the bottom (pre-climb)
on the climb (try-hard & embarassing as it may be)
on the other side of the mountain (fulfilling ur dreams)
i know where i want to be… because in my experience, to be cringe is to be free. and if u think me using that phrase is cringe, then i love you but it may be time for a vocabulary & mentality reset<3 okay bye now but pls listen ty ily
27 Nov 2025
i love hangovers
tis the season of shamelessly inviting uncomplicated joy, growing pains, and self-induced hangovers into your life. also, for me, a season marked by embracing the duality of being sick to my stomach that the implied “you” are inevitably going to perceive me… whilst also recognizing that it's exactly what i’ve willingly signed up for with this whole thing.
anyways, here’s a little why behind the question i’m sure some of you are asking: “do we really need another person to start a podcast?” & i’m not in the business of trying to prove myself to all of you, but if you’d listen to my little voice memo, it will hopefully help you understand my why just a bit.
*side note: i saw a video once of brene brown speaking about something called a vulnerability hangover. the term immediately struck me. & sat with me. & really, genuinely inspired me. because of her definition, i was finally able to articulate that awful, post-opening up, gut-wrenching feeling. as a chronic oversharer… i know the feeling all too well. i've wanted to center a podcast around the concept ever since. what a dream that i'm finally able to make it happen! & what a dream that there are so many brilliant researchers putting niche human experiences into words that give us a more complete understanding of ourselves. i'm no emotions researcher (yet), but i'll do my best to do the same:)
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