A new beginning...
Roops is done with her hiatus. Now what?
Sorry I disappeared. But I’m back!
Hi! For those of you new here, I’m Roops. I’ve hosted my podcast—Listen! Real Talk with Roops—since 2019. As a twentysomething brown girl figuring her life out, I use the podcast to learn from peers and experts in the field and explore the intersection of diversity, mental health, and personal growth. The role of identity and intersectionality in decision making and wellbeing is both fascinating and terrifying to me. What better way to learn than to pick as many brains as possible?
I’ve had the privilege of hosting conversations with popular authors, tv personalities, reputable professors, content creators, and more. With every conversation, my mosaic expands and becomes more colorful, more detailed, more rich.
My goal has always been to create a platform that amplifies diverse perspectives and provides a space for meaningful and challenging conversations. I’ve been lucky enough to have panels of amazing people on my podcast highlighting timely and important topics.
I took a little hiatus (“a little: in this case meaning almost a year, oop!) these past few months after a big move abroad for my postgraduate education. Some unexpected life events triggered a lengthy struggle with my wellbeing (an ongoing fight, as you very well know!). I spill the deets on my most recent pod episode.
Now, I’m finally ready to get back to what I do best—having funky conversations with people!!
Why Substack? Why now?
If you know me, you know that I literally do not have the ability to shut up. I will always overshare instead of being mysterious and cool and chill. My face and voice always betray me…they hide nothing ever. If someone even whispers the words Barbenheimer or 2005 Pride and Prejudice near me, my ears perk up and my brain gears up to share my never-ending thoughts on media. Now, I’m trying to lean in.
I’m trying to be unafraid to be seen trying. So here I am! :)
I wanted to be able to send you guys more thoughts and feelings with each episode—sharing little pieces of myself to my closest friends and supporters. If you’re reading this, you’ve shown an interest in my work and platform, and I don’t take that for granted. I’m so appreciative of every listen, every person, every ear coming my way. Hearing your thoughts about an episode brings me such delight.
What to expect
Going forward, I’ll send out a post to my #roopies (lol) every time a new take drops. A little stream of consciousness here, a few pictures there, an emotional monologue or two occasionally…who knows!
Here’s one, just for y’all:
I have had an interesting year. I moved to London for my MSc in Organisational Psychology. I’m currently working on (read: getting my butt kicked by) my dissertation. I’m so stoked for you to read it. I’m also working on managing my PTSD, anxiety, depression, and myriad of other things. I go into more detail on the recent pod episode, but I’m only just emerging from the fog of executive dysfunction. Even then, it takes work. This is me holding myself accountable! Spoiler alert: I will not let some random burglar completely derail my growth and life.
If you asked me if I’d make it to this point 10 years ago, or even 5, I would have said no. It feels weird to own up to that so plainly, but it’s the honest truth.
But I’ve learned to live life in segments of 6 months. Sometimes 2 months. Other times, 2 days. No more 5 year plan. Not even a 2 year plan! Things will change every 6 months. Life will move and shake, you will shed your skin, you will feel pain, and you will grow through what you go through.
I pushed out of my comfort zone this year more than ever. I moved to London. I started grad school. I said no to things, and yes to even more. I sought help, made friends, lost belongings, gained insight. So my intention for now is to simply keep going, keep trying, keep moving, keep learning.
If you’ve stuck around with me this long, I love you and you’re the best. If I haven’t met you yet, I’m so excited to one day. If you’re new, HELLO! Nice to have you in my corner.
Thank you for everything. Here’s to a new beginning, an ambiguous future, and a healthy dose of optimism. And Pedro Pascal. Can’t forget him.
New to my podcast? Here’s a good place to start:
Take #31: Has Pedro Pascal Ruined All Other Men for Me? - a conversation with a friend on resiliency in the face of trauma, discovering our selected families, and the importance of support systems in growth and recovery. Oh, and I gush about why Pedro Pascal is so important to me. I promise there’s a good reason!
Take #30: Why Is Romance the Best Genre Ever? - featuring Ali Hazelwood! - a conversation with acclaimed author Ali Hazelwood on STEM representation in romance and mental health in the publishing world
Take #27: If I Talk about Mental Health, Will the Brown Community Smite Me? - a discussion on destigmatising mental health in the South Asian community
Take #26: Permission to Be Human at Work? - an interview with a PwC partner on mental health in the workplace and burnout
Take #22: Can We Please Just Love Ourselves Already? - featuring Mike Johnson! - a discussion with a veteran and contestant on the American tv show The Bachelorette about self-love and compassion in the face of adversity
Take #20: Why Can't We All Just Show a Little More Empathy? - a conversation with a biologist and med student on his recovery from substance use disorders and destigmatising addiction through TikTok content
Take #19: How Do South Asians Fit into the American Political Landscape? - a panel discussion with South Asians on civic duty and activism, difficult conversations about politics at home, and the South Asian political experience
Take #18: How Will YOU Show up for the Black Community? - a panel discussion with Black educators and colleagues on systemic racism, microaggressions, and allyship
Take #17: Should Unsolicited Opinions from Indian Aunties Shape My Career? - a conversation with a PhD student and future astronaut on passion and identity in careers
Take #6: Does Tweeting on a Burner Account Count as Therapy? - a talk with a professor and researcher on mental health and self-care at work
Take #5: Can 30 Seconds of Meditation Really Make Me Happier? - a talk with a doctoral student and librarian on meditation and mindfulness as a student
Take #2: How Can We Make Learning Fun Again? - a conversation with a marketing professor on making classrooms and lectures engaging again
TL;DR
The Too Long; Didn’t Read of it all…basically, a whole slew of new podcast episodes are coming, and alongside those I will launch a new and improved era of self-confidence, transparency, growth, risk-taking, and learning. The last few months have been my hardest and have tested my limits and restraint and will. But the right people will always find you and love you and support you and hold your hand. So with that in mind, I will continue and create.
Thanks for reading. And more importantly, thanks for listening. <3 xx
absolutely love this and so excited to follow along!! 🤩
This is thrilling!!!