Now That I’m Here is a podcast about figuring life out in your late 20s — especially when you’re building that life far from home. Hosted by Mandy Wecksten, a Texan living in Finland, this show explores the messy in-between of growing up: shifting timelines, identity, relationships, mental health, and the big question of where (and how) you actually want to live. It’s not about having the answers — it’s about learning to build a life that actually feels like yours.
INSTAGRAM: @mandywecksten
YOUTUBE: @mandywecksten
This week I’m talking about something I keep bumping into in my late 20s: the difference between doing things because you should… and doing things that actually fit the season you’re in.
Somewhere along the way I realized that growing up isn’t just about trying new things — it’s about noticing what works for you right now, what doesn’t, and letting yourself shift without feeling like a failure. So that’s what today’s episode explores: honoring your energy, listening to yourself, and giving things permission to be “for now” instead of forever.
And yes, I’m taking a little break from the podcast while I’m in Texas — we’ll see what happens next. But for now, here’s a end-of-season reflection on the weird, fun, figuring-it-out stage of your 20s.
(Music Prod. credit to Matt Monroe)
IG/TikTok: @mandywecksten
YouTube: @mandywecksten
4 Dec 2025
Holidays hit different when you live abroad
This year, we hosted our first real Thanksgiving in Finland — and it made me realize how holidays hit completely differently when you live abroad. In today’s episode, I’m talking about what it feels like to rebuild traditions from scratch, the emotional whiplash of being far from home during the holidays, and how adulthood shows up in the smallest moments… like trying to buy canned pumpkin in a country that doesn’t even celebrate Thanksgiving.
If you’re navigating holidays in your late 20s, figuring out who you are while building a life far away from where you started — this one’s for you.
(Music Prod. credit to Matt Monroe)
INSTAGRAM/TIKTOK: @mandywecksten
YOUTUBE: @mandywecksten
20 Nov 2025
The Places I Swear I’ll Go (But Somehow Don’t)
This episode is about the funny little pattern we all fall into: saying “we should do that sometime” and then never actually doing it. My Something New challenge has been forcing me out of my usual routines, and it’s made me realize how many things I’ve been putting off for no real reason.
I talk about a few places I finally checked off my list, why it’s so easy to get stuck in autopilot, and what this month of trying new things is showing me about how I actually spend my time.
(Music Prod. credit to Matt Monroe)
INSTAGRAM/TIKTOK: @mandywecksten
YOUTUBE: @mandywecksten
6 Nov 2025
Planning Instead of Doing (& the pressure to be sure)
I spent most of October doing what I do best: planning. Planning my content, my systems, my routines... basically everything except actually doing the things.
In this quick episode, I’m talking about that habit of planning instead of doing — and how it’s really just another way of trying to feel sure before you start. Because let’s be honest, half of your 20s is just pretending to have a plan while you figure it out in real time.
(Music Prod. credit to Matt Monroe)
INSTAGRAM/TIKTOK: @mandywecksten
YOUTUBE: @mandywecksten
30 Oct 2025
When the Darkness Hits
The clocks changed this week, and suddenly it’s dark before dinner. My body feels off, my energy’s weird, and I caught myself not leaving the apartment till 6 p.m. — classic start-of-winter behavior.😅
In this episode, I’m talking about what it’s like when the darkness hits — growing up somewhere where the sun sticks around, moving to places where it doesn’t, and realizing you can’t just out-fight the season.
This episode is a lot of real talk about learning to live with slower seasons (both the weather kind and the emotional kind).
(Music Prod. credit to Matt Monroe)
INSTAGRAM/TIKTOK: @mandywecksten
YOUTUBE: @mandywecksten
23 Oct 2025
A little reset
Ten episodes in — and I wanted to take a step back.
In this episode, I’m talking about the creative side of “figuring it out.” How career uncertainty, content overwhelm, and constant comparison can make you want to quit — and what happens when you don’t.
It’s a look behind the scenes of my own creative process, how I’ve been rethinking this podcast, and what’s next for Now That I’m Here.
If you’ve ever hit a point where you love what you’re doing but don’t know how to keep doing it — this one’s for you.
(Music Prod. credit to Matt Monroe)
INSTAGRAM/TIKTOK: @mandyweckstenYOUTUBE: @mandywecksten
16 Oct 2025
When Home Is in Two Places (and Learning Not to Spiral About It)
When you love two places but can’t live in both — cue the overthinking.
In this short episode, I’m talking about that expat in-between: missing one home while trying to be present in the other, figuring out who you are in both, and learning to just be where you are for now.
For anyone living between countries, identities, or versions of themselves — this one’s for you.
(Music Prod. credit to Matt Monroe)
INSTAGRAM/TIKTOK: @mandyweckstenYOUTUBE: @mandywecksten
9 Oct 2025
Am I Supposed to Have a Career by Now?
So… I just got laid off. Which means I suddenly have a lot more time to think about what I actually want to do with my life. And honestly? It’s kind of.. exciting.
In this episode, I’m talking about careers (or whatever that means in your late 20s), what it’s like to lose the structure you had, and how I’m trying to see this new season as a reset instead of a setback.
If you’ve ever questioned your career path, wondered what’s next, or just realized you’re not where you thought you’d be — this one’s for you.
(Music Prod. credit to Matt Monroe)
INSTAGRAM/TIKTOK: @mandywecksten
YOUTUBE: @mandywecksten
18 Sept 2025
Finding Your Anchor (routines, values, grounding)
Sometimes life just feels… a lot. Big choices, new seasons, all the unknowns. And in the middle of it, I’ve realized I need anchors — the little and not-so-little things that keep me steady.
In this episode, I’m talking about mine: therapy sessions, finding a church, long walks, coffee runs that felt like survival, and friends who remind me not to take everything so seriously. Plus, how I even figured out that I needed anchors in the first place (spoiler: it wasn’t obvious).
If you’ve been in a season that feels messy or chaotic, this one’s for you.
(Music Prod. credit to Matt Monroe)
INSTAGRAM: @mandywecksten
YOUTUBE: @mandywecksten
4 Sept 2025
Building a Life Together While Still Figuring Out Your Own
When I got married, I didn’t have everything figured out — not where we’d live, when we’d have kids, or what my career would look like. (Honestly, I still don’t.) But I did know I wanted to build a life with Marcus.
In this episode, I’m talking about what it’s like to commit before you feel “ready,” why marriage hasn’t meant the end of figuring myself out, and how partnership can actually give you more room to grow, not less.
Because building a life with someone doesn’t mean you stop building your own — sometimes it’s exactly what makes you feel safe enough to keep becoming who you are.
(Music Prod. credit to Matt Monroe)
INSTAGRAM: @mandyweckstenYOUTUBE: @mandywecksten
28 Aug 2025
Friendships in Your 20s (Near and Far)
Friendships in your 20s are… different. Until college ends, you’re kind of handed friends by default — people your age, in your classes, living right down the hall. But once real life starts, there’s no roadmap anymore. Suddenly you’re out in the world trying to figure out where to even meet people, and how to build real connections when life feels more scattered than ever.
In this episode, I’m talking about the real side of making friends as an adult, why it can feel a lot like dating (especially when you live abroad), and the reality of trying to fit into circles that already exist. I’m also sharing what it’s been like to keep up with my old friends from Texas while living overseas — the missed milestones, the moments of distance, and the ways we still find to stay close.
Friendships don’t look the same as they used to, but maybe that’s part of figuring out your 20s — learning how to build and hold onto the people who matter in new ways.
(Music Prod. credit to Matt Monroe)
INSTAGRAM: @mandyweckstenYOUTUBE: @mandywecksten
21 Aug 2025
How I Decide When I Don't Know What I'm Doing (Making Decisions Without a Roadmap)
Making big choices in your 20s feels… impossible sometimes. You’re suddenly in charge of everything — where to live, what career to choose, what to do next — and every decision feels like it could set the rest of your life in stone. In this episode, I’m sharing the story of leaving Prague (a city I loved) for Finland (a city I wasn’t sure about) and what it actually felt like to make that call. Spoiler: it wasn’t clean, and I still don’t have a perfect system.
But maybe that’s the point — most of the time it isn’t one flawless decision, it’s just a series of small yes's that add up to something bigger. So if you’ve ever felt paralyzed staring at a choice, wondering how everyone else seems to know what they’re doing… this one’s for you.
(Music Prod. credit to Matt Monroe)
INSTAGRAM: @mandywecksten
YOUTUBE: @mandywecksten
14 Aug 2025
What No One Tells You About Moving Abroad
You know all those posts about moving abroad that are full of packing tips and travel inspo? Yeah… this isn’t that. This episode is about the unspoken truths of life abroad : The reality of life, the big losses, and how it changes you in ways you don’t expect. It's everything all at once: The best thing you've ever done, and the hardest thing. Even if you’ve never left your hometown, you’ve probably felt some of this any time you’ve taken a big leap.
Find me on Instagram: @mandyweckstenWatch on YouTube: @mandywecksten
(Music Prod. credit to Matt Monroe)
7 Aug 2025
You’re not behind — you’re just not where you expected to be
You know that feeling when life doesn’t look like what you thought it would.. and you might start spiraling about it? Same. This episode is all about what it means to feel “off track” in your 20s, and how easy it is to compare your path to expectations you had of yourself years ago. I’m talking about timelines, identity shifts, and the moments that force you to rethink what progress actually means. If you’ve ever asked yourself am I doing this wrong?, this one’s for you.
(Music Prod. credit to Matt Monroe)
7 Aug 2025
Welcome! Who I Am and Why I'm Here
Let’s kick things off. In this episode, I’m sharing a bit about who I am, how I ended up living abroad, and why I wanted to start this podcast in the first place. This show has been on my mind for a long time, and it’s finally happening. If you’re into honest conversations about growing up, changing plans, and figuring out what a good life actually looks like — you’ll want to stick around.
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