What happens when you stop hiding the parts of yourself the world taught you to soften?

In this episode, I sit down with Indio Skinner to talk about what it truly means to live unapologetically with a disability. After years of downplaying his spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) to avoid being treated differently, Indio made a bold decision: to show up fully and visibly as himself. That choice didn’t limit him, it empowered him.

We explore how embracing disability can deepen relationships, strengthen identity, and redefine confidence.

This conversation goes beyond disability. We talk about the courage to show weaknesses without seeking validation, the quiet power of small daily acts, and why surrounding yourself with diverse perspectives strengthens who you are. We also reflect on helping others as a form of healing, and how true purpose often lives in everyday human connection, not titles or recognition.

This episode is a reminder that confidence is not about perfection.
It’s about ownership.
It’s about presence.
It’s about loving yourself - unapologetically.

If you’ve ever felt pressure to hide parts of yourself to fit in, this conversation is for you. Thank you so much for listening!
-V.

Ever wondered what it’s like to grow up offline, deep in the jungle, at a tiny Indian boarding school? In this episode, I chat with Praneeth Koneru about his nine-year adventure at Rishi Valley School, a place with no Wi-Fi, no phones, and barely any contact with the outside world.

We dive into the unique challenges and joys of boarding school life: building friendships in tight quarters, navigating strict rules, surviving basic dorm living, and discovering independence the hard and sometimes hilarious way. Praneeth shares how the experience shaped his life skills, confidence, and ability to handle conflict, lessons that still help him today.

This conversation is not about criticizing India, but about appreciating its incredible diversity, culture, and traditions. From South Indian cuisine and customs to the way students learn self-discipline and relationships, we explore how cultural context shapes education and identity.

If you’re curious about growing up differently, navigating identity, and learning life lessons in unexpected ways, this episode is for you. You’ll laugh, reflect, and maybe gain a new appreciation for the many ways childhood can happen, even without Wi-Fi.

Hi everyone, there are conversations that challenge you loudly and then there are the ones that quietly rearrange how you think.

This episode belongs to the second kind. Sitting down with Ari, what began as a conversation about monogamy slowly unfolded into something much deeper: a reflection on queerness, intimacy, chosen structures, and the invisible rules we’re taught to follow when it comes to love. Not because they fit us, but because they’re familiar.

We talk about monogamy not as a default, but as a choice. About queerness not as a category, but as a lens. About relationships not as something to label, but something to experience honestly. This episode isn’t here to give answers or define what love should look like. It’s here to sit in the questions, the uncomfortable ones, the tender ones, the ones we don’t always say out loud.

If you’ve ever felt like the traditional relationship narrative didn’t quite fit, or if you’ve found yourself curious about what intimacy could look like beyond expectation, this conversation invites you to listen, slowly, openly, and without needing to decide anything at all. Enjoy listening to this episode and stay tuned for a new episode next week!