Episode 8: My Origin Story (and a bit from my book, “Improvising Adulthood”)
In this special Thanksgiving-week solo episode, I invite you into a more intimate corner of my personal story. I read from my book Improvising Adulthood: What I Wish Someone Had Told Me and share the origin story that shaped who I am, how I think, and why Mighty Forces exists at all. Through scenes from my college years—loneliness, questioning, creative sparks, depression, and ultimately a reclamation of agency—I reflect on what it means to veer off script, listen to your inner “yes,” and carve a life that feels true. I also close with reflective prompts to help you connect to your own internal signals of belonging, misalignment, and possibility. I think you’ll find this episode warm, vulnerable, funny, and full of the signature mix of depth and silliness that draws the Mighty Forces community together.
What I Talk About
My unexpectedly rough transition from high school to college
Feeling like an outsider at Penn and the loneliness of not finding my people
The long-distance relationship that made sense to me (but maybe not to everyone else)
How switching to an English major unlocked joy, creativity, and self-trust
The plays I wrote that helped me find her voice (and fun!) again
The independent study that planted lifelong themes: intentionality, agency, and service
Being honored for doing things my own way and what that taught me
Why following your inner “yes” is messy, meaningful, and freeing
Mentioned in This Episode
