Episodes

  • Should I Stay or Should I Go? Love, Breakups & Emotional Truths with Laura Caruso

    Should I Stay or Should I Go? Love, Breakups & Emotional Truths with Laura Caruso
    Jun 13 2025
    Subscribe to Hyphenly, our new newsletter with hot takes, heartfelt stories, and all the feels of living in between cultures. Come for the nuance, stay for the vibes. ⁠⁠⁠https://immigrantlys-newsletter.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠ This episode is brought to you by Zocdoc. Stop putting off those doctor appointments and visit Zocdoc.com/Lovely to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today. Therapist and writer Laura Caruso joins our host Mehak for a raw, real-time conversation about heartbreak, emotional regulation, and the hard question we’ve all faced in relationships: “Should I stay or should I go?” Mehak and Laura unpack the fear of commitment, the empathy gap in modern love, and how to process breakups with clarity and compassion. Plus, a sneak peek into Laura’s upcoming book, “The Empathy Deficit”. Whether you're deep in the feels or thriving solo, this one will hit home. Hosted by: Mehak @whatthemehak on TikTok and @whatthemehak_ on IG Producer: Saadia Khan and Shei Yu | Content Writers: Mehak I Editorial Review: Saadia Khan I Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin I Love-ly Theme Music: Lou Raskin | Other Music: Epidemic Sound | Cover art design: Josephine Chai | Executive Producer: Saadia Khan Please share the love and leave us a review on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ApplePodcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to help more people find us! Don’t forget to subscribe! If you want to share your thoughts about this or other episodes, reach out at info@immigrantlypod.com Follow us: @immigrantlypods (IG) |@immigrantly (TikTok) Love-ly is an Immigrantly Media Production. For advertising inquiries, email ⁠⁠⁠⁠info@immigrantlypod.com⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    54 mins
  • Infidelity, Red Flags, and Dating App Survival Guide

    Infidelity, Red Flags, and Dating App Survival Guide
    Jun 6 2025
    Subscribe to Hyphenly, our new newsletter with hot takes, heartfelt stories, and all the feels of living in between cultures. Come for the nuance, stay for the vibes. ⁠⁠https://immigrantlys-newsletter.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠ This episode is brought to you by Zocdoc. Stop putting off those doctor appointments and visit Zocdoc.com/Lovely to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today. This one has it all. Hot air balloons, missing luggage, toxic exes, hinge horror stories, and cheating scandals that broke the internet. This week on Love-ly, Mehak sits down with dating coach Genny Diehl to break down everything from early-stage dating mistakes to the viral! Wizard Liz cheating drama. Why do people cheat? Can you really avoid getting cheated on? How do you set boundaries on dating apps without sounding "too much"? And how do you protect your peace in the era of love bombing? Whether you're swiping, healing, or thriving solo, this episode is your cheat code for navigating modern dating with confidence. Plus, Mehak spills the wild story of how she found out her ex was cheating (spoiler: it involves Crave passwords). If you've ever had a pit in your stomach before a date, this one's for you. Tune in. Share with your besties. And always bet on yourself. Hosted by: Mehak @whatthemehak on TikTok and @whatthemehak_ on IG Producer: Saadia Khan and Shei Yu | Content Writers: Mehak I Editorial Review: Saadia Khan I Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin I Love-ly Theme Music: Lou Raskin | Other Music: Epidemic Sound | Cover art design: Josephine Chai | Executive Producer: Saadia Khan Please share the love and leave us a review on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ApplePodcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to help more people find us! Don’t forget to subscribe! If you want to share your thoughts about this or other episodes, reach out at info@immigrantlypod.com Follow us: @immigrantlypods (IG) |@immigrantly (TikTok) Love-ly is an Immigrantly Media Production. For advertising inquiries, email ⁠⁠⁠info@immigrantlypod.com⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    50 mins
  • Almost Relationships, Hinge Disasters, and Saying No Without Guilt

    Almost Relationships, Hinge Disasters, and Saying No Without Guilt
    May 23 2025
    Subscribe to Hyphenly, our new newsletter with hot takes, heartfelt stories, and all the feels of living in between cultures. Come for the nuance, stay for the vibes. ⁠https://immigrantlys-newsletter.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠ On this episode of Love-ly, host Mehak sits down with TikTok creator and tech professional Jocelyn Chow for a refreshingly honest take on dating in NYC, from weird first dates and love bombing to why “almost relationships” can hurt more than real breakups. Jocelyn also opens up about growing up as the daughter of Burmese immigrants, unlearning people-pleasing, and how safety concerns often keep women from speaking up on dates. Together, Mehak and Jocelyn unpack how dating apps have changed, what to actually look for in a partner, and why third-wheeling your best friend might be the best relationship prep out there. Hosted by: Mehak @whatthemehak on TikTok and @whatthemehak_ on IG Producer: Saadia Khan and Shei Yu | Content Writers: Mehak I Editorial Review: Saadia Khan I Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin I Love-ly Theme Music: Lou Raskin | Other Music: Epidemic Sound | Cover art design: Josephine Chai | Executive Producer: Saadia Khan Please share the love and leave us a review on ⁠⁠⁠⁠ApplePodcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠ to help more people find us! Don’t forget to subscribe! If you want to share your thoughts about this or other episodes, reach out at info@immigrantlypod.com Follow us: @immigrantlypods (IG) |@immigrantly (TikTok) Love-ly is an Immigrantly Media Production. For advertising inquiries, email ⁠⁠info@immigrantlypod.com⁠ This episode is brought to you by Zocdoc. Stop putting off those doctor appointments and visit Zocdoc.com/Lovely to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    45 mins
  • Love, Trauma, and Sex: The Conversations We Are Not Having

    Love, Trauma, and Sex: The Conversations We Are Not Having
    May 16 2025
    This episode is brought to you by Zocdoc. Stop putting off those doctor appointments and visit http://Zocdoc.com/Lovely to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today. Subscribe to Hyphenly, our new newsletter with hot takes, heartfelt stories, and all the feels of living in between cultures. Come for the nuance, stay for the vibes. https://immigrantlys-newsletter.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠ In this deeply personal episode of Love-ly, host Mehak reconnects with licensed marriage and family therapist Samar Haroon, founder and clinical director of Therapy in Colour, a mental health collective centering on BIPOC and South Asian clients. The two first met as teenagers in Karachi, and now they sit down for their first real conversation, diving into topics such as therapy, bicultural identity, and generational trauma, as well as why dating today feels more complicated than ever. Samar shares how her upbringing, moving between the U.S. and Pakistan after 9/11, growing up in a single-parent household, and later navigating hyper-religious family dynamics informs her work. She and Mehak unpack the cultural shame around therapy in South Asian communities, the impact of the Me Too movement on gender dynamics, and why so many smart, accomplished women are struggling with connection, intimacy, and dating today. This episode is for anyone navigating love, healing, and identity across borders and expectations. Hosted by: Mehak @whatthemehak on TikTok and @whatthemehak_ on IG Producer: Saadia Khan and Shei Yu | Content Writers: Mehak I Editorial Review: Saadia Khan I Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin I Love-ly Theme Music: Lou Raskin | Other Music: Epidemic Sound | Cover art design: Josephine Chai | Executive Producer: Saadia Khan Please share the love and leave us a review on ⁠⁠⁠ApplePodcasts⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ to help more people find us! Don’t forget to subscribe! If you want to share your thoughts about this or other episodes, reach out at info@immigrantlypod.com Follow us: @immigrantlypods (IG) |@immigrantly (TikTok) Love-ly is an Immigrantly Media Production. For advertising inquiries, email ⁠info@immigrantlypod.com⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    49 mins
  • Why Is Misogyny Still So Normal?

    Why Is Misogyny Still So Normal?
    May 9 2025
    This episode is brought to you by Zocdoc. Stop putting off those doctor appointments and visit http://Zocdoc.com/Lovely to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today. This week on Love-ly, Mehak sits down with Srijan Makkena, a psych student and content creator who’s been speaking out about the quiet (and not-so-quiet) ways misogyny shows up, especially in South Asian communities. They talk about everything from family double standards and emotional repression to childhood trauma, healing, and what real love looks like when you’ve done the work. It's raw, real, and full of moments that might hit closer to home than expected. Hosted by: Mehak @whatthemehak on TikTok and @whatthemehak_ on IG Producer: Saadia Khan and Shei Yu | Content Writers: Mehak I Editorial Review: Saadia Khan I Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin I Love-ly Theme Music: Lou Raskin | Other Music: Epidemic Sound | Cover art design: Josephine Chai | Executive Producer: Saadia Khan Please share the love and leave us a review on ⁠⁠ApplePodcasts⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠ to help more people find us! Don’t forget to subscribe! If you want to share your thoughts about this or other episodes, reach out at info@immigrantlypod.com Follow us: @immigrantlypods (IG) |@immigrantly (TikTok) Love the episode? Please share it, rate us, and leave a review! Love-ly is an Immigrantly Media Production. For advertising inquiries, email info@immigrantlypod.com Subscribe to Hyphenly, our latest newsletter, for a chance to win a gift card: ⁠https://immigrantlys-newsletter.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    30 mins
  • Do We Really Need to Live Together? A Relationship Hot Take You Didn't See Coming

    Do We Really Need to Live Together? A Relationship Hot Take You Didn't See Coming
    May 2 2025
    This episode is brought to you by Zocdoc. Stop putting off those doctor appointments and visit http://Zocdoc.com/Lovely to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today. Subscribe to Hyphenly, our latest newsletter, for a chance to win a gift card: https://immigrantlys-newsletter.beehiiv.com/subscribe Can you have a healthy, long-term relationship without ever living together? This week on Love-ly, Mehak sits down with her best friend, Waleed, for a vulnerable, hilarious, and thought-provoking conversation that flips traditional relationship norms on their head. From TD Bank interview shenanigans to deep reflections on immigrant identity, generational trauma, and personal healing, this episode dives into why space might just be the secret to sustainability. Waleed shares his unconventional but heartfelt take on why separate homes could lead to stronger love. Mehak opens up about her evolving ideas on intimacy, safety, and dating after a lifetime of being told what not to do. If you've ever questioned marriage, cohabitation, or what "doing it right" even means in modern relationships—this one's for you. Hosted by: Mehak @whatthemehak on TikTok and @whatthemehak_ on IG Producer: Saadia Khan and Shei Yu | Content Writers: Mehak I Editorial Review: Saadia Khan I Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin I Love-ly Theme Music: Lou Raskin | Other Music: Epidemic Sound | Cover art design: Josephine Chai | Executive Producer: Saadia Khan Please share the love and leave us a review on ⁠ApplePodcasts⁠ & ⁠Spotify⁠ to help more people find us! Don’t forget to subscribe! If you want to share your thoughts about this or other episodes, reach out at info@immigrantlypod.com Follow us: @immigrantlypods (IG) |@immigrantly (TikTok) Love the episode? Please share it, rate us, and leave a review! Love-ly is an Immigrantly Media Production. For advertising inquiries, email info@immigrantlypod.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    50 mins
  • No Promposal, No Problem: Aidan Taylor on Dating Late & Owning It

    No Promposal, No Problem: Aidan Taylor on Dating Late & Owning It
    Apr 25 2025
    This episode is brought to you by Zocdoc. Stop putting off those doctor appointments and visit http://Zocdoc.com/Lovely to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today. Is it ever too late to start dating? On this week’s episode of Love-ly, Mehak sits down with Aidan Taylor—host of Banterly—to unpack what it really means to be a “late bloomer” in the chaotic world of modern dating. From his first real date at 21 to navigating New York City’s intense queer dating scene, Aidan gets candid about identity, rejection, and learning to love yourself before anyone else does. They talk about first dates, ghosting, gay bar drama (yes, including a bathroom incident), dating as a person of color in a hyper-curated app world, and what it's like to feel "behind" when everyone around you is getting engaged. It's funny, heartfelt, and full of the kind of real talk we all need more of. If you're queer, single in your 20s, or just tired of dating timelines, this one's for you. Hosted by: Mehak @whatthemehak on TikTok and @whatthemehak_ on IG Producer: Saadia Khan and Shei Yu | Content Writers: Mehak I Editorial Review: Saadia Khan I Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin I Love-ly Theme Music: Lou Raskin | Other Music: Epidemic Sound | Cover art design: Josephine Chai | Executive Producer: Saadia Khan Please share the love and leave us a review on ApplePodcasts & Spotify to help more people find us! Don’t forget to subscribe! If you want to share your thoughts about this or other episodes, reach out at info@immigrantlypod.com Follow us: @immigrantlypods (IG) |@immigrantly (TikTok) Love the episode? Please share it, rate us, and leave a review! Love-ly is an Immigrantly Media Production. For advertising inquiries, email info@immigrantlypod.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    57 mins
  • Dr. Wendy Walsh on Coffee Dates, Chaos, and Choosing Better

    Dr. Wendy Walsh on Coffee Dates, Chaos, and Choosing Better
    Apr 18 2025
    This episode is brought to you by Zocdoc. Stop putting off those doctor appointments and visit http://Zocdoc.com/Lovely to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today. Ever dated someone and thought, “Wait… is this love, lust, or just emotionally expensive?” This week on Love-ly, host Mehak sits down with THE Dr. Wendy Walsh—America’s relationship expert, PhD in psychology, Time Magazine Person of the Year, and low-key TikTok therapist to unpack the mess and magic of modern dating. From decoding avoidant attachment styles and calling out the myth of high-value men to understanding why "nice" guys might actually be the ultimate green flag, this episode is your crash course in dating with brains and boundaries. Oh, and yeah, Dr. Walsh proposed to her husband. On live radio. No big deal. If you've ever wondered why your type is basically “walking red flag” or felt weird about liking someone who treats you well… this one’s for you. Hit play! Hosted by: Mehak @whatthemehak on TikTok and @whatthemehak_ on IG Producer: Saadia Khan and Shei Yu | Content Writers: Mehak I Editorial Review: Saadia Khan I Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin I Love-ly Theme Music: Lou Raskin | Other Music: Epidemic Sound | Cover art design: Josephine Chai | Executive Producer: Saadia Khan Please share the love and leave us a review on ApplePodcasts & Spotify to help more people find us! Don’t forget to subscribe! If you want to share your thoughts about this or other episodes, reach out at info@immigrantlypod.com Follow us: @immigrantlypods (IG) | @immigrantly (TikTok) Love the episode? Please share it, rate us, and leave a review! Love-ly is an Immigrantly Media Production. For advertising inquiries, email info@immigrantlypod.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    50 mins
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