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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This episode started the way many of my podcast ideas do, from a real conversation with a friend. Over dinner, she admitted she was utterly terrified about what AI might mean for our futures. Will it take our jobs? Will there even be a place for us in the workforce ten years from now?
These questions stuck with me. So I spoke to Magan, the brains behind 'GenZBestie' and the most tech-knowledgable young adult I know, to understand whether we should be afraid of AI, and how we can prepare for what’s ahead.
What does this all mean for us, the generation just entering adulthood and trying to build meaningful careers? In this episode, we unpack how AI is reshaping the job market for young adults, why fear might not be the right response, and how learning to work with AI might just be the key to thriving in the future of work.
The takeaway: Those who combine human creativity, emotional intelligence, and AI literacy will be best positioned to succeed in this new era.
Email thegrownupsaretalkingpod@gmail.com with thoughts, feedback, and suggestions for future episodes.
It’s spooky season, and I'm here with a special treat. 👻
In this bonus Halloween episode of The Grown-Ups Are Talking, we’re not just talking costumes and candy. We’re talking about what Halloween means as adults. Somewhere between trick-or-treating and tax returns, many of us forgot how to have the kind of fun that’s silly, carefree, and completely unproductive.
I explore how Halloween (this weird, wacky, wonderfully over-the-top holiday) reveals something deeper about adulthood: connection, play, creativity, and the importance of not taking ourselves too seriously.
Because maybe growing up doesn’t have to mean outgrowing the fun.
🎃 Tune in for a playful, thoughtful take on adulthood, having pure fun, and why we all need a little Halloween spirit, no matter how old we are.
This week on The Grown-Ups Are Talking, I get personal about a big life decision: quitting my corporate law job. It wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment choice — it was months in the making. In this episode, I share my journey from feeling stuck and dissatisfied, to finding inspiration in creative opportunities, and finally taking the leap into uncertainty and freedom.
We dive into:
Life working a corporate job and the challenges of balancing work, growth, and personal fulfilment
How past podcast episodes and conversations sparked a desire for a more creative path
The whirlwind of applying for a dream opportunity and what I learned from rejection
Trading financial stability for time, freedom, and a year to focus on what truly excites me
This episode is for anyone thinking about making a change, feeling stuck, or curious about what it’s like to take a leap and pursue something that really matters to them.
In this episode, Abby Thayananthan explores the common experience of feeling lost, particularly among young adults navigating their quarter life crisis. She discusses the signs of this crisis, the feelings of uncertainty and self-doubt that accompany it, and offers practical solutions for finding direction and purpose. Through personal anecdotes and insights from Reddit, Abby emphasizes the importance of reflection, self-discovery, and taking small steps towards meaningful change. The episode serves as a comforting reminder that feeling lost is a shared experience and can lead to personal growth and discovery.
Healthy living isn’t just about fitness — what you eat matters just as much. But in early adulthood, when life is busy and schedules are unpredictable, how do you actually make it work?
In this episode, I’m joined once again by Cara Chedid and Noah Tinker to talk about food and diet in early adulthood. We explore how to make healthy choices on the go, balance convenience with nourishment, navigate grocery shopping on a budget, and avoid the all-or-nothing mindset when it comes to eating.
This is Part 2 of our two-part series on healthy living in your 20s. If you haven’t already, make sure you listen to Part 1 on fitness and routines first.
Tune in, subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes, and be part of the conversation by sharing your thoughts, questions, and ideas for what you’d like to hear next.
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What does “healthy living” actually look like when you’re just starting out in adulthood? Between work, social life, and just trying to keep your head above water, wellness can feel like one more overwhelming task on the to-do list. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
In this two-part mini-series, we’re breaking it down with guests Cara Chedid and Noah Tinker — two young adults who are passionate about fitness and wellness, and are figuring out what works for them in real life. Together, we explore how to make health less intimidating and more sustainable.
In part one, we focus on movement, routines, and small lifestyle shifts that actually make a difference. From finding ways to stay active without overthinking it, to building habits that stick (and forgiving yourself when they don’t), this conversation is about approaching wellness with balance, intention, and a little bit of fun.
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Your twenties are often sold as the best years of your life—but for many of us, they’re also the loneliest. In this episode, Abby shares stories from moving back to London and a solo trip to Edinburgh, and digs into why so many young adults struggle with connection. From friendship drift to dating apps, she explores what makes this stage so isolating—and how to start finding comfort in both solitude and community.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, Abby Thayananthan speaks with guests Brennan Vacek and Kaushal Gokare to explore the complexities of navigating early career paths, job satisfaction, and the decision to leave a job. They discuss the importance of workplace culture, the balance between idealism and reality in work, and the role of personal values in shaping career choices. The conversation emphasizes the significance of self-reflection and the need to evaluate one's job satisfaction regularly, while also acknowledging the challenges faced by many young adults in the workforce today.
Chapters
00:00 Navigating the Transition to Adulthood
03:08 Career Aspirations and Job Satisfaction
05:40 The Importance of Work Environment
08:41 Evaluating Job Expectations and Reality
11:32 Recognizing When to Move On
14:06 The Role of Relationships in Job Satisfaction
16:28 Balancing Work and Personal Life
19:22 Identifying Job Pros and Cons
21:56 The Quest for Fulfillment in Work
24:43 Personal Growth and Career Reflection
32:25 Intentional Time Management and Self-Reflection
33:48 Prioritizing Workplace Culture and Personal Growth
35:29 Navigating Career Changes and Expectations
37:41 Exploring New Career Paths: Law School Considerations
40:51 Embracing Career Flexibility and Life Changes
41:41 Finding Purpose Beyond Work
45:20 Recognizing the Gray Areas in Career Satisfaction
47:56 The Importance of Self-Reflection in Career Decisions
51:44 Navigating the Balance Between Work and Life
55:27 Identifying Signs for Career Transition
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From her family’s refugee background to her acceptance at Harvard Law School, Abby shares the personal journey that shaped her transition into adulthood in this episode of The Grown-Ups Are Talking. She reflects on growing up in London, moving to the U.S., and navigating the uncertainty of figuring out who she is and what she wants. Through stories of education, identity, and shifting dreams—from a love of theater to a pursuit of law and podcasting-- with many unknowns still to come—Abby explores how we make sense of adulthood when the path forward isn't always clear. She also opens up about the origins of the podcast, its mission to facilitate honest conversations and encourage self-reflection, and the power of community in helping us feel less alone as we grow up.
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In this episode, Abby introduces a new segment called 'Question Time', where she addresses listener questions about adulting. The conversation covers pivotal themes such as career transitions, the challenges and rewards of moving abroad, and the importance of networking in professional growth. Abby shares personal anecdotes and practical advice, encouraging listeners to embrace change and seek opportunities for personal and professional development.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction from LA: A New Segment Begins
02:38 Navigating Career Pivots: When to Stay or Go
11:26 The Journey of Moving Abroad: Independence and Growth
25:27 The Importance of Networking
26:05 Shifting Mindset: Networking as Relationship Building
27:15 Leveraging Existing Connections
27:36 Effective Online Networking
30:10 In-Person Networking Strategies
32:45 Maintaining Networking Relationships
33:32 Networking Do's and Don'ts
Links Mentioned
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In this conversation, Abby Thayananthan speaks with Al Zdenek, a wealth advisor, about the importance of personal finance for young adults. They discuss how to define financial success, manage your first paycheck, the significance of emergency funds, and the difference between good and bad debt. Al shares practical advice on credit cards, common financial mistakes, and the importance of financial literacy. He also introduces Cake Club app, an app designed to help young people manage their finances effectively.
Subscribe to The Grown-Ups Are Talking so you never miss an episode, and follow us on Instagram and TikTok @thegrownupsaretalkingpod.
00:00 Introduction to Personal Finance Challenges
07:39 Al Zdenek's Journey into Wealth Management
13:34 Defining Financial Success in Your 20s
20:40 Navigating Career Choices and Financial Stability
25:56 Practical Steps for Managing Your First Paycheck
27:49 Navigating Financial Independence
31:03 Mastering Credit Card Management
34:16 Understanding Debt: Good vs. Bad
39:16 Preparing for Graduate School Debt
43:18 Entrepreneurship and Financial Literacy
48:36 Introducing Cake Club: A Financial Tool
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This week on The Grown-Ups Are Talking, I'm flying solo with a more personal episode—because honestly, life has been lifing lately. In the midst of a big move (yes, I just left New York City!), I spent my final weekend in the U.S. on a camping-style retreat with a group of strangers-turned-friends. It was peaceful, emotional, soul-feeding, and deeply reflective in all the ways I didn’t know I needed.
In this episode, I share what it was like to open up around a fireplace with a group of 20-somethings about discernment vs. consolation, adulthood anxieties, and our hopes for the future. Plus, I read you parts of the letter I wrote to my future self—and talk through the surreal, tender weirdness of moving back in with my parents in my mid-twenties.
If you’re in any kind of transition—new job, city, relationship, or just figuring out what’s next—I hope this one resonates. It’s about finding meaning in the messy middle, and reminding ourselves that we’re not alone in the uncertainty.
🎧 Subscribe to The Grown-Ups Are Talking so you never miss an episode, and follow us on TikTok @thegrownupsaretalkingpod.
📩 DM me or send a voice note about what transitions you’re going through—I’d love to hear them, and maybe even share some in a future episode.
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In this conversation, I speak with startup founders Alfonso Velasco and Madeline Park to explore the complexities of adulthood, particularly in the context of entrepreneurship. They discuss the diverging paths young adults take in their twenties, the definition of adulthood as agency and responsibility, and the unique challenges and rewards of starting a business. The founders share their personal journeys, emphasizing the importance of taking risks, learning through failure, and the transformative impact of startups on their self-identity and personal growth. They reflect on the balance between pursuing meaningful work and the sacrifices made in terms of stability and security, ultimately highlighting the value of resilience and conviction in navigating both personal and professional challenges.
I hope you enjoy the episode, and don't forget to subscribe to the show!
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Have you ever stopped to ask yourself—is your career or the track you’re heading down really you? Or did you fall into something stable, something familiar—maybe the path of least resistance, or one that’s been done before and promised success? Do you know how to network, or does that word feel icky and confusing? Do you feel confident in how to reach your goals in life, or do you not even know what they are?
In this epiosde, ’m joined by Magan, the amazing founder of yourgenZbestie, a platform that began as a TikTok account and is now growing into a full-blown startup helping Gen Z navigate big life choices. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by what comes after school, this one’s for you.
And before we dive in, don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode, and follow us on TikTok @thegrownupsaretalkingpod for updates, behind-the-scenes content, and a sneak peek at some very exciting things coming soon…
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This week, we’re talking about something that often gets overlooked in the rush of adult life: hobbies. Not side hustles, not skills for your resume — just things we do because we like them. As we transition out of college and into full-time jobs, our relationship with fun and free time starts to shift. So how do we make space for hobbies again? And why does that even matter?
I’m joined by two guests at different stages of post-grad life — one wrapping up university, and one a year into the working world. We talk about the hobbies they’ve held onto, the ones they’ve rediscovered, and the challenge of making time for joy in grown-up routines. We also get into how hobbies can support mental health, shape identity, and remind us that not everything has to be productive to be valuable.
Whether you’re into journaling, bouldering, baking, or binge-watching, this episode is a reminder that it’s okay — even necessary — to do things just for fun.
🎙️ Plus, a quick announcement: I’m always looking for guests to join the pod! If you’re a young adult with something to say about growing up, or you’re really into a hobby and want to talk about it, I’d love to hear from you. Reach out at thegrownupsaretalkingpod@gmail.com or message me on TikTok @thegrownupsaretalkingpod.
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In this episode of The Grown-Ups Are Talking, we’re talking all about long-distance relationships—a reality for so many young adults navigating careers, school, and life transitions. Whether you're a few cities or entire time zones apart, maintaining a relationship while also trying to grow as an individual is no small feat.
Our guest Maya shares her experience of being in a long-distance relationship: the highs, the hard parts, and the lessons learned along the way. We unpack what it really takes to stay connected, how to communicate better, and why long-distance might actually make your relationship—and your adulting journey—stronger.
If you're in a long-distance relationship, considering one, or just curious how people make it work, this one’s for you.
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Moving to New York City is often seen as a major step into adulthood—but does it actually make you feel like a grown-up, or just really, really tired? In this episode, we break down what it means to “adult” in one of the most exciting, expensive, and overwhelming cities in the world.
From sky-high rent and chaotic commutes to finding community in a city of millions, my guests Julian, Isaac and I talk about how NYC shapes independence, resilience, and our understanding of adulthood. Is the hustle worth it? Does the city make you feel more capable or defeated? And most importantly—do we see ourselves staying for the long haul?
Join us as we share the highs, the struggles, and the small wins that make city life worth it. If you're figuring out adulthood in NYC or another big city (or are just curious about what it's really like), this episode is for you!
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For 20+ years, life had a clear structure—school, college, summer breaks. But after graduation? There’s no syllabus, no grades, and no set path forward. The uncertainty of post-grad life can feel overwhelming, and the pressure to have everything figured out only makes it harder.
In this episode, I’m joined by Michaela, a writer whose reflections on this transition resonated deeply with me. Together, we unpack the post-grad fog—why it feels so unsettling, how to navigate the unknown, and what it really means to build confidence when the future feels unclear.
If you’ve ever felt lost after graduation, this one’s for you. Tune in, and let’s figure it out together.
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In part two of The Grown-Ups Are Talking anniversary celebration, we’re continuing our look back at the past year with a compilation of highlights from episodes focused on post-grad life. From career uncertainty and shifting friendships to redefining success, body image, and mental health, this episode revisits some of the most insightful conversations about the realities of adulthood. Join me as we reflect on the lessons, challenges, and surprises that come with navigating life after college!
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