I spent most of October doing what I do best: planning. Planning my content, my systems, my routines... basically everything except actually doing the things.
In this quick episode, I’m talking about that habit of planning instead of doing — and how it’s really just another way of trying to feel sure before you start. Because let’s be honest, half of your 20s is just pretending to have a plan while you figure it out in real time.
(Music Prod. credit to Matt Monroe)
INSTAGRAM/TIKTOK: @mandywecksten
YOUTUBE: @mandywecksten
The clocks changed this week, and suddenly it’s dark before dinner. My body feels off, my energy’s weird, and I caught myself not leaving the apartment till 6 p.m. — classic start-of-winter behavior.😅
In this episode, I’m talking about what it’s like when the darkness hits — growing up somewhere where the sun sticks around, moving to places where it doesn’t, and realizing you can’t just out-fight the season.
This episode is a lot of real talk about learning to live with slower seasons (both the weather kind and the emotional kind).
(Music Prod. credit to Matt Monroe)
INSTAGRAM/TIKTOK: @mandywecksten
YOUTUBE: @mandywecksten
Ten episodes in — and I wanted to take a step back.
In this episode, I’m talking about the creative side of “figuring it out.” How career uncertainty, content overwhelm, and constant comparison can make you want to quit — and what happens when you don’t.
It’s a look behind the scenes of my own creative process, how I’ve been rethinking this podcast, and what’s next for Now That I’m Here.
If you’ve ever hit a point where you love what you’re doing but don’t know how to keep doing it — this one’s for you.
(Music Prod. credit to Matt Monroe)
INSTAGRAM/TIKTOK: @mandyweckstenYOUTUBE: @mandywecksten
When you love two places but can’t live in both — cue the overthinking.
In this short episode, I’m talking about that expat in-between: missing one home while trying to be present in the other, figuring out who you are in both, and learning to just be where you are for now.
For anyone living between countries, identities, or versions of themselves — this one’s for you.
(Music Prod. credit to Matt Monroe)
INSTAGRAM/TIKTOK: @mandyweckstenYOUTUBE: @mandywecksten
So… I just got laid off. Which means I suddenly have a lot more time to think about what I actually want to do with my life. And honestly? It’s kind of.. exciting.
In this episode, I’m talking about careers (or whatever that means in your late 20s), what it’s like to lose the structure you had, and how I’m trying to see this new season as a reset instead of a setback.
If you’ve ever questioned your career path, wondered what’s next, or just realized you’re not where you thought you’d be — this one’s for you.
(Music Prod. credit to Matt Monroe)
INSTAGRAM/TIKTOK: @mandywecksten
YOUTUBE: @mandywecksten
Sometimes life just feels… a lot. Big choices, new seasons, all the unknowns. And in the middle of it, I’ve realized I need anchors — the little and not-so-little things that keep me steady.
In this episode, I’m talking about mine: therapy sessions, finding a church, long walks, coffee runs that felt like survival, and friends who remind me not to take everything so seriously. Plus, how I even figured out that I needed anchors in the first place (spoiler: it wasn’t obvious).
If you’ve been in a season that feels messy or chaotic, this one’s for you.
(Music Prod. credit to Matt Monroe)
INSTAGRAM: @mandywecksten
YOUTUBE: @mandywecksten
When I got married, I didn’t have everything figured out — not where we’d live, when we’d have kids, or what my career would look like. (Honestly, I still don’t.) But I did know I wanted to build a life with Marcus.
In this episode, I’m talking about what it’s like to commit before you feel “ready,” why marriage hasn’t meant the end of figuring myself out, and how partnership can actually give you more room to grow, not less.
Because building a life with someone doesn’t mean you stop building your own — sometimes it’s exactly what makes you feel safe enough to keep becoming who you are.
(Music Prod. credit to Matt Monroe)
INSTAGRAM: @mandyweckstenYOUTUBE: @mandywecksten
Friendships in your 20s are… different. Until college ends, you’re kind of handed friends by default — people your age, in your classes, living right down the hall. But once real life starts, there’s no roadmap anymore. Suddenly you’re out in the world trying to figure out where to even meet people, and how to build real connections when life feels more scattered than ever.
In this episode, I’m talking about the real side of making friends as an adult, why it can feel a lot like dating (especially when you live abroad), and the reality of trying to fit into circles that already exist. I’m also sharing what it’s been like to keep up with my old friends from Texas while living overseas — the missed milestones, the moments of distance, and the ways we still find to stay close.
Friendships don’t look the same as they used to, but maybe that’s part of figuring out your 20s — learning how to build and hold onto the people who matter in new ways.
(Music Prod. credit to Matt Monroe)
INSTAGRAM: @mandyweckstenYOUTUBE: @mandywecksten
Making big choices in your 20s feels… impossible sometimes. You’re suddenly in charge of everything — where to live, what career to choose, what to do next — and every decision feels like it could set the rest of your life in stone. In this episode, I’m sharing the story of leaving Prague (a city I loved) for Finland (a city I wasn’t sure about) and what it actually felt like to make that call. Spoiler: it wasn’t clean, and I still don’t have a perfect system.
But maybe that’s the point — most of the time it isn’t one flawless decision, it’s just a series of small yes's that add up to something bigger. So if you’ve ever felt paralyzed staring at a choice, wondering how everyone else seems to know what they’re doing… this one’s for you.
(Music Prod. credit to Matt Monroe)
INSTAGRAM: @mandywecksten
YOUTUBE: @mandywecksten
You know all those posts about moving abroad that are full of packing tips and travel inspo? Yeah… this isn’t that. This episode is about the unspoken truths of life abroad : The reality of life, the big losses, and how it changes you in ways you don’t expect. It's everything all at once: The best thing you've ever done, and the hardest thing. Even if you’ve never left your hometown, you’ve probably felt some of this any time you’ve taken a big leap.
Find me on Instagram: @mandyweckstenWatch on YouTube: @mandywecksten
(Music Prod. credit to Matt Monroe)
You know that feeling when life doesn’t look like what you thought it would.. and you might start spiraling about it? Same. This episode is all about what it means to feel “off track” in your 20s, and how easy it is to compare your path to expectations you had of yourself years ago. I’m talking about timelines, identity shifts, and the moments that force you to rethink what progress actually means. If you’ve ever asked yourself am I doing this wrong?, this one’s for you.
(Music Prod. credit to Matt Monroe)
Let’s kick things off. In this episode, I’m sharing a bit about who I am, how I ended up living abroad, and why I wanted to start this podcast in the first place. This show has been on my mind for a long time, and it’s finally happening. If you’re into honest conversations about growing up, changing plans, and figuring out what a good life actually looks like — you’ll want to stick around.