A podcast all about social sciences, art, creativity and healing. Hosted by Uma Vij, this podcast is grounded in indigenous knowledge and research. This podcast aims to disrupt systems of power and supremacy through unpacking our belief systems and societal “norms.” Join me as I discuss controversial topics such as spirituality, gender/ hetero patriarchy, settler colonialism, the power of nature, and the current divide amongst humans.
Podcast Overview
A podcast all about social sciences, art, creativity and healing. Hosted by Uma Vij, this podcast is grounded in indigenous knowledge and research. This podcast aims to disrupt systems of power and supremacy through unpacking our belief systems and societal “norms.” Join me as I discuss controversial topics such as spirituality, gender/ hetero patriarchy, settler colonialism, the power of nature, and the current divide amongst humans.
Language
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Publishing Since
10/10/2025
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Recent Episodes
December 17, 2025
How Aesthetics and TikTok Drive Inauthenticity
<p><strong> This episode explores how identity is being reshaped in the digital age by algorithms, aesthetics, and constant self-comparison. We discuss how TikTok’s personalization system shapes our tastes, how trends minimize individuality, and how the male gaze and feedback loops influence our self-expression.</p><p><br></p><p>We examine why performative numbness has become the new “cool”, why enthusiasm feels embarrassing, and why so many people today are terrified of standing out. The episode also explores how the solitude, intuition, and the slow rebuilding of an authentic self is so powerful in creating a unique identity.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Thank you for listening <3</p><p><br></p><p>Sources:</p><p><br></p><p>Anne Burns (2015) Burns, A. (2015). “Self(ie)-discipline: Social regulation as enacted through the discussion of photographic practice.”</p><p>International Journal of Communication.</p><p><br></p><p>Alison Hearn (2017 / 2019) Hearn, A. (2017). “Affective Labor, Communicative Capitalism, and the Politics of Personal Branding.”</p><p>Hearn, A. (2019). “On Branding the Self.”</p><p><br></p><p>Cheney-Lippold, J. (2011). “A New Algorithmic Identity: Soft Biopolitics and the Modulation of Control.”</p><p>Theory, Culture & Society.</p><p><br></p><p>Gu, M., et al. (2022). Study on TikTok usage among Gen Z.</p><p>(Exact title varies depending on the specific dataset, but this is the research tied to TikTok demographics.)</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Music:</p><p><br></p><p>"The Sky of our Ancestors" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)</p><p>Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License</p><p>http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</strong></p>
December 1, 2025
The Science of Awe and the Wisdom of the Earth
<p><strong> </p><p>In this episode of In a Parallel Universe, we explore the science and ancient wisdom behind awe — how it shapes our biology, connects us to one another, and reminds us of our deep relationship with the natural world.</p><p><br></p><p>We look at how trees communicate through fungal networks, how fungi have given us life-saving medicines, why grounding resets the nervous system, and how even a 20-minute walk in nature can lower stress and shift the brain.</p><p><br></p><p>We dive into Indigenous teachings like Māori kaitiakitanga, Native American seven-generation thinking, and the idea that water, forests, and rivers deserve personhood just as much as corporations. We also reflect on the Whanganui River’s legal rights in New Zealand and what it means for the future of guardianship here in America and why corporations in America have more rights than nature. </p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Sources:</p><p> • Dacher Keltner — Awe and Greater Good Science Center studies</p><p> • Emotion Journal (2020): Awe walk research</p><p> • Dr. Suzanne Simard — Mycorrhizal network studies (Nature)</p><p> • Dr. Tara Swart — The Source; grounding studies (2012, 2023)</p><p> • PNAS (2015): 90-minute nature walk & brain activity</p><p> • Te Awa Tupua Act (2017): Whanganui River personhood</p><p> • Burwell v. Hobby Lobby (2014): Corporate personhood</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Music:</p><p><br></p><p>"The Sky of our Ancestors" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)</p><p>Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License</p><p>http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</p>
November 24, 2025
The Beauty Myth: How the Beauty Industry Became the Patriarchy’s Greatest Distraction
<p><strong></p><p>In this episode, we explore how the beauty industry became one of patriarchy’s most effective tools of control. Drawing on the work of Naomi Wolf, Florence Given, and Cat Bohannon, we uncover how the “beauty myth” turns women’s bodies into currency and distractions—keeping us exhausted, divided, and striving for perfection that doesn’t exist. Together, we unpack the professional beauty qualification, the Madonna–whore complex, and how self-objectification steals our time, power, and joy. This episode is a reminder that our bodies were never meant to be ornaments for display—they are instruments for living, laughing, feeling, and creating.</p><p><br></p><p>** If you haven’t already I recommend reading all of the book used in this podcast you can find them below **</p><p><br></p><p>Sources & References</p><p> • Wolf, Naomi. The Beauty Myth: How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women. HarperCollins, 1990.</p><p> • Given, Florence. Women Living Deliciously. 2024</p><p> • Bohannon, Cat. Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution. Knopf, 2023.</p><p> • Engeln, Renée. Beauty Sick: How the Cultural Obsession with Appearance Hurts Girls and Women. Harper Wave, 2017.</p><p><br></p><p>Music:</p><p><br></p><p>"The Sky of our Ancestors" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)</p><p>Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License</p><p>http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</strong></p>
5 total episodes available
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- What is In a Parallel Universe?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
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This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
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No, this podcast does not typically feature guests.
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