zi’s corner

About zi’s corner

welcome to zi’s corner — a passion project born from lived experience.i’m 23, born and bred in west london, and hope to shed some light on some real topics.this is a real and raw space where i talk about growing up in the system, figuring out adulthood, healing, unlearning, and everything that shapes who we become.come as you are. settle in. you’re welcome here.enjoy🫶🏽 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Publisher

ziza safiya

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

31 Jan 2026

Latest episode

29 Apr 2026

Latest episodes

7 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   29 Apr 2026

   learning lessons the hard way

   episode 7: learning lessons the hard way (and paying for it at 24) this episode is exactly what it sounds like i talk about the reality of making a stupid decision in thailand, getting arrested, and having to deal with the consequences- financially and mentally but this isn’t just a storytime it’s about accountability, growth, and the lessons you only seem to learn the hard way i get into: – saying no to opportunities because i didn’t think i deserved them – why so many young people feel stuck right now – the difference between being unemployed and economically inactive – what turning 24 has actually taught me so far – and why doing things scared might be the only way forward this episode is a bit chaotic, a bit honest, and very real because i don’t have it all figured out… i’m just learning as i go insta: zi’s corner🎙️✨ (@ziscornerpodcast) • Instagram photos and videos (https://www.instagram.com/ziscornerpodcast/) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

2. 

   19 Apr 2026

   friendship, fear and figuring out who you are

   back after a well-needed break! in this episode of zi’s corner, i’m joined by my good friend edan as we sit down in thailand for one of the most honest and unfiltered conversations i’ve had on the podcast so far what started as a structured idea using a number generator quickly went off track, but what came out of it was real, raw and reflective we talk about growing up, friendships, relationships, religion, travelling and what it actually means to figure life out in your twenties this episode is a little chaotic at times, but it’s grounded in honesty and lived experience because at the core of it, this podcast is about understanding who you are, where you’ve come from, and where you’re going your lived experience is a source of strength you can find edan here: instagram.com/edan.malcolm thanks for tuning in x Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

3. 

   2 Mar 2026

   you don't have to be on all the time

   i wasn’t feeling it yesterday. i felt flat, off, not myself. but i still showed up. this episode is about the in-between days. the days no one glamorises. the pressure to always be “on”, always producing, always disciplined. we talk about emotional bandwidth, nervous system burnout, gratitude, and why it’s okay not to be at 100%. the world feels heavy right now. perspective matters. you’ve still got breath in your lungs. it’s okay to be off. it’s not okay to give up on yourself. (reupload was audio was meady) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

4. 

   23 Feb 2026

   18 and on your own

   in this episode of zi’s corner, i begin part one of a three part series exploring the care experience through lived reality, not labels. this episode focuses on housing, stability, and the transition from being a looked after child to becoming a care leaver. turning 18 is often framed as freedom. for many of us, it feels more like a discharge into adulthood without a safety net. using maslow’s hierarchy of needs as a lens, i unpack why housing is not “just accommodation” but the foundation of everything. when safety and shelter are unstable, confidence, education, employment, and mental health all become harder to sustain. i share my experience of waiting five years for permanent accommodation, discovering water damage after signing my tenancy, moving multiple times in a short period, and learning how to advocate for myself with the support of settle. this is not about blame. it is about accountability, systems, and what corporate parenting should mean in practice. i also previously featured on the settle down podcast with settle, where we spoke about housing, stability, and leaving care. you can listen here: https://shows.acast.com/settle-down-podcast/episodes/6932fa01a63c6eaa5968fe5a (https://shows.acast.com/settle-down-podcast/episodes/6932fa01a63c6eaa5968fe5a) care experienced people are often reduced to statistics. behind every statistic is a nervous system, a young person, and a story that rarely gets told properly. disclaimer: this episode contains discussion of suicide, mental health struggles, housing instability, and systemic challenges within social care. please listen with care. if anything feels overwhelming, consider reaching out to someone you trust or a professional support service in your area. sources and references: my insta: @zizaanjum maslow, a. h. (1943). a theory of human motivation. psychological review, 50(4), 370 to 396. department for education (2023). children looked after in england including adoptions. https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/ (https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/) department for education (2023). outcomes for children in need, including children looked after by local authorities. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-children-in-need (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-children-in-need) become charity (2022). care leaver survey findings on housing and support. https://becomecharity.org.uk/ (https://becomecharity.org.uk/) settle, uk charity supporting care experienced young people with housing and financial stability. https://www.wearesettle.org/ part two will explore identity, attachment, and how growing up in care shapes your sense of self long before you turn 18. take care x Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

5. 

   16 Feb 2026

   love n relationships

   engaged at 19? crazy. if you’ve ever confused intensity with love, stayed longer than you should have, or wanted to be chosen more than you wanted to feel safe… this one’s for you. in this episode of zi’s corner, i’m unpacking the relationships that shaped me, the rusty foundations i didn’t realise i had, why the dating scene feels a little bit meady right now, and the psychology behind it all - attachment styles and how your childhood sets the blueprint for your adult relationships. yeah. we’re going there. my insta: @zizaanjum sources n further reading: bowlby, j. (1969). attachment and loss. ainsworth, m. (1978). patterns of attachment. mikulincer & shaver (2007). attachment in adulthood. hazan & shaver (1987). romantic love as attachment. van der kolk (2014). the body keeps the score. porges (2011). the polyvagal theory. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

6. 

   31 Jan 2026

   your experience is your strength

   **trigger warning** this episode has themes of mental health and suicide- which may be uncomfortable for some, but it's important it's spoken about. in this pilot episode of zi’s corner, i reflect on mental health, care experience, and what it means to rebuild differently. i share parts of my story not for sympathy, but to educate, to inspire, and to remind you that your lived experience is a source of strength, not weakness. mental health matters because it shapes how we move through the world, how we relate to ourselves and others, and how we survive when life feels overwhelming. for me, this topic is extremely close to my heart. i know what it feels like to keep going when you’re exhausted, to rebuild without a blueprint, and to find meaning after things fall apart. this episode is about slowing down, protecting your energy, and finding anchors that help you keep going — even when life feels heavy. it’s about choosing softness where you can, and honesty where it’s needed. if this space makes you feel a little less alone, then it’s doing exactly what it’s meant to do. my instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zizaanjum support & resources (uk): • samaritans — call free, 24/7: 116 123 • text shout to 85258 for confidential support by text • mind: https://www.mind.org.uk • nhs mental health services: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/ thank you for tuning in 🫶🏽✨ take care of yourself, always. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

7. 

   31 Jan 2026

   why we glamourise the grind (and what it’s costing us)

   2 episodes so soon? how GREEDY. in this episode, i talk about why so many of us glamourise the grind, especially in our late teens and twenties, and how that culture quietly affects our mental health, confidence, and belief in ourselves. i reflect on hustle culture, burnout, and the pressure to always be busy, alongside my own experiences and research around stress, sleep, and capacity. i also share what protecting your energy has looked like for me, without guilt and without pretending i’ve got it all figured out. this episode is for anyone who feels tired, overwhelmed, or stuck in the cycle of doing more to feel like enough. you can connect with me on instagram: @zizaanjum my linkedin: Aziza Anjum | LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/azizayasminsafiyaanjum/) if anything in this episode brings things up for you, please don’t sit with it alone. if you’re in the uk, you can call samaritans on 116 123 or text shout to 85258 sources i used: https://www.who.int (https://www.who.int) https://www.hse.gov.uk/stress (https://www.hse.gov.uk/stress) https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression https://www.sleepfoundation.org (https://www.sleepfoundation.org) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.