Priya_irl

What fun we have been having guys!!!! After posting part one of recording with Sheru, you all have been filling my inbox with so much love and laughter! Sheru and I are completely candid, going off on tangents, yet you found encouragement and learned from things we’ve said. In episode two we express how having a regimented schedule that accommodates our creativity affects our social and dating life. We discuss how important it is to prioritize your vision, remain open to receiving on all fronts, staying positive, accepting no crap... a lot of tough love. Basically, I dunno who needs to hear this but...

I take my time with things, I know this. When I finished recording all my episodes in 2019 everyone asked me, "what's next?". I kept saying they aren't ready yet. A few people reminded me that you're never really ready. But I knew that it really ready. I got a lot of encouragement to posting even a few people said that I'm wasting time. In my heart I felt like it really just isn't the time, and that's exactly why I started this podcast... something for me to explore my heart, my voice, my capacity to create and share authentically. I couldn't release something my heart didn't feel ready to share yet. And this time when I felt pressure to produce I didn't give in. I told myself that this is MINE, and I am sharing it with you. I'll do it how I want it. Sitting and editing my episode with Sheru Arora I figured out exactly why I needed to hold for a bit. I turned inward and got in touch with myself, and the girl who edited this episode heard herself speak and fell in love. In the first installment of this three part episode, this podcast turned into something different from what I had planned. I was no longer interviewing him about his creative process, we were really sitting and conversing about everything from being city kids in the sticks, horror movies, astrology...really any and everything. Come have fun with us.

When I started recording my podcast in 2019 I definitely couldn't have predicted this is where we will be in 2021. By the end of 2019 I had all of season one recorded and set up a plan for season two. Everything was set in place, but it all came to a halt as COVID regulations increased everyday I decided to take a step back from everything. I kept asking for a break, right? I took it. I've been quiet, barely sharing anything more than some song lyrics and memes. Not only did I do this on social media, I also maintained limited contact with family and friends. I made a decision to devote however long lockdown would be to all the things I want to do but keep saying that I don't have time to do. One year, a new president, and three vaccines later... oh a whole bunch has changed. I'm better for all of it eternally grateful and hopeful. I've been doing the work to get to this point, and I am happy to share a vibe with you... Me, a microphone, a laptop, and the soundtrack to the city.

It has been almost a year since my last episode, but it is definitely closer to our anniversary of "two weeks to flatten the curve". 2020 forced us to face realities not all of us were ready for; now we must adapt and grow. I battled with thinking that my podcast was no longer relevant, and here I am sharing because our voice is always relevant. There is space. This episode is a raw, impromptu one recorded in Bryant Park with my friend, Riya. We are approached by a journalism student who interviews us about what was happening in the park that day. Then, Riya tells about how she uses poetry to cope with anxiety and feelings of numbness. Riya's vulnerability is a treasure and if you've been struggling to pick up a pen and get started, listen to two ladies who found their voice and are sharing it.

You ever connect with someone over the internet, bond with them in a way that you really don't know how to put into words? You want to call them family, your kin, but you've never even met in person. This is exactly how I feel about Kuhokee. We connected on Instagram by having mutual friends in the classical Indian dance world. It was the memes that forged a bond, and the online dating horror stories that solidified a beautiful friendship, and now you can listen to us meet irl for the first time ever! Kuhokee has an infectious and genuine laugh. Her attention grabbing storytelling style wraps you into her world, and you feel exactly what she is telling she experienced. We discuss everything from the fundamentals of Indian Classical dance, Hinduism, online dating, crushes, vegetarianism, and for the first time ever someone flips the script and asks me some probing questions. Join us on what has been a life changing conversation, as we sit in a park beside Queens Boulevard, with a bag of barbecue potato chips, watching the sunset, cracking up over silly experiences and how the idea of love impacts our creativity.

Sumona's imagination is wonderfully colorful and classically refined, she shares how she brings her ideas to life, how to reign in on your potential and just begin a project even if you don't have everything you think you need. Sitting in her car, near La Guardia Airport, next to the Grand Central Parkway on a rainy autumn evening, after a day full of errands; listen to us unwind and share simple perspectives on just starting because you already have the power in you.

It took five months to make this. If you have listened to all of the episodes of my podcast, or if you only listened to my last episode, you'd understand the weight of the time between then and now. I was such a sad girl, a girl working past depression. I was burnt out, lost, numb, and I didn't recognize myself. Honestly speaking, I hated myself. In the last episode, I wasn't giving advice, or telling you how to better yourself, I was telling you that I wasn't ok and I was making it my mission to feel ok. Five months later, in this episode, you hear a whole new girl with a fresh perspective of life. You hear a happier person, a vulnerable person, a confident person who can't wait to see what's next.

The Looking Glass is the scariest thing I’ve ever done, and if you know the life I’ve led, you know I’ve done some pretty scary things. I am vulnerable, I give you insight on what is really going on while I create this podcast, and how “doing the thing” is changing me. I tell you about how each conversation has changed my perspective on life, what are my hopes for the podcast, and what I want for myself. It is certainly not my best work, but that is apart of growth, being honest with myself and continuing to learn and share. My hope for this episode is that you can see that even though it can be difficult to look at yourself and know your shortcomings, you can still rise to the occasion and make something happen for yourself because it’s your life and you are accountable for your own progression

Episode three! Guys, I am having so much fun while I am in the discovery phase, loosening up while I am learning. Editing is a time consuming process, and while I am enjoying it, it has been my biggest challenge... But, I am not stopping just because there's a challenge! In this episode, I chat with Karthik about how fitness has shaped our lives in terms of focus and goal setting. Karthik is an engineer, actor, and a model, and he explains how planning helps him manage it all. It is officially Autumn and we enjoy the falling leaves in his backyard, in Long Island, New York as we discuss how important wellness is when you set out to achieve your goals.

After recording episode one, Terry made me promise that I would share our recording with you. I got over myself, my fear of judgement, and the idea of being ready. I posted it! You all loved it! In episode two, I usher in sweater weather as autumn creeps in with the company of my friend, Marc_reign. We kick it on his backyard deck in Spanish Harlem, talking about his decision to give up mechanical engineering and pursue working in the art of filmmaking. We discuss the importance of your truth, your why, and having fun despite setbacks. Come, join us...

In this episode, my friend Terry Mardi and I do a thing! We record my first podcast! For months we would talk about starting a podcast, brainstorming ideas galore, until one day I said, "Let's just do it and see what happens!" Sitting on a rooftop in Brooklyn, New York, enjoying the last of summer sunsets we discuss creativity, spirituality, and how they go hand-in-hand. This podcast begins with the wonderful perspective of a nomad and a girl just uncovering her capabilities and how the creative process is a delicate one that needs nurturing, join us...