Coming Home to Her

You’re not Danish because you don’t speak Danish.” A girl I’d just met at university said that to me in 2019, even though I’m half Danish, with a Danish passport and a whole Danish family. It stuck with me for years.In this episode, I’m talking about imposter syndrome: what it actually is, why it shows up, and what helps. I share where I’ve felt it most across Denmark, Portugal and Vienna, why it still shows up at work, while learning German and even with this podcast. Plus, the research: the 1978 study where 150 highly successful women all believed they’d fooled everyone, and the five types of imposter syndrome (I’m definitely the perfectionist).If you’ve ever felt like you don’t belong, in a country, a job, a friend group or a relationship, you’re not alone. You’re the majority 🤍

At 37, Robin went through a heartbreak and had to start over. The same day her first video went viral online, her relationship ended. Instead of hiding, she kept filming, and her honest, funny, sometimes tearful videos have since inspired over 30,000 people.In this episode, we talk about rebuilding yourself after heartbreak, finding structure in the chaos, why starting over isn’t “late,” and what happens when you share your life online: from strangers recognizing you on the street to the hater who later tried to match with her on a dating app. Robin also shares a grounding exercise for anxious moments, the inner-child practice that got her through her heartbreak, and why being on “cringe mountain” is part of the journey.If you’re starting over at any age, this one’s for you!Follow Robin on Insta: @pandatipi Rising Robin Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4LwUxTfxPenjJowyGpTRmf?si=a5def0ee70404527

This week I signed up for a public speaking course. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for over six months, and I kept putting it off.In this episode, I’m talking about how I want to end this year: not with resolutions, but with intention. Why I’d rather try something and fail than keep dreaming about it, the research behind why we all wait for January 1st (and why you don’t have to), and what’s on my list for the rest of the year, from five quiet minutes a day to walking by the canal, because this Maui girl needs some form of water nearby.And at the end, there’s a little homework for you.

When we were long distance, my independence came automatically. Then we moved in together, and I didn’t even notice it slowly disappearing.In this episode, I’m sharing what it was really like moving to a brand new city for my relationship: no friends, no routine, no job, and leaning on him way more than I ever expected. I talk about the day I told him “I’m sorry, I love you, but I need a day to myself,” why asking for alone time isn’t selfish, the little things that make me feel like me again (hot girl walks, girl talk and dragging him to Pilates), and the moment I finally felt like this city was my home too.If you live with your partner, or you’ve ever moved somewhere new for someone, I’d love to hear from you: what helps you feel whole on your own? Tell me in the comments 🤍

Two months into a fully remote job, and I have thoughts. The flexibility is incredible — working from a beach in Lisbon, lunch workouts, visiting family without burning PTO. But nobody really talks about what it feels like when the walls of your apartment start caving in and all you want is to say good morning to someone.This one’s for my fellow extroverts who genuinely love remote work and also kind of hate it.

Nobody tells you that moving abroad means a new appointment every week, an accent that quietly changes, and a lot of silent elevator rides.It's been almost 8 years since I left Maui, and I've lived in 4 countries. In this episode, I'm sharing what nobody tells you: the endless bureaucracy (yes, I have another appointment tomorrow), why my friends back home now call me "the Euro girl," how hard it is to make friends in a more closed-off culture, and the European habits I will never adapt to. I will always say hello in the elevator.I also get honest about the emotional side: the loneliness, the nostalgia that hits hardest right after a trip home, calling my mom crying when I'm sick, and the very specific joy of an American supermarket.It's the hardest thing I've ever done, and I wouldn't change it for anything.

At 25, Emily founded BRAINANDBABES. This year, it crossed seven figures for the second year in a row. And the strangest part? She got used to it.In this episode, Emily gets honest about what nobody tells you about hitting your big goal: the goalpost keeps moving, the hardest part isn't the numbers, and there were years she thought about quitting.But the Emily behind the business isn't quite who you'd expect. She grew up between Australia, the UK, and Munich, has a different personality in every language, needs a lot more quiet time than people think, and admits she's secretly a little type B. She's also still figuring out whether her future is in Vienna or back in Australia.And at the end, you'll find out what coming home means to her.Find them on Instagram:Emily: @emilyvelkovskiBRAINANDBABES: @brainandbabes

Why is it so easy to achieve something you once really wanted and immediately start thinking about what’s next?I recently realized how quickly I move the goalpost without actually stopping to acknowledge how far I’ve come. From finally getting a job after nine months of unemployment to starting this podcast after wanting a creative outlet for years, somehow my brain is always onto the next thing.Then I started thinking about 12 year old me, who used to film little videos of her life just because she loved it, and how she would probably think what I’m doing now is pretty freaking cool.So this episode is about learning to actually be proud of yourself before asking, “Okay... what’s next?”

Yesterday I started work at 7:30am. A friend invited me to a vineyard for sunset dinner after work. My first instinct was absolutely not.I went anyway. It was one of the nicest things I'd done all week.In this episode I'm talking about the very real tension between wanting to decompress after work and still wanting to have a life. Especially when you're in a new job, working fully remote, and your brain is completely fried by 5:30pm.We get into the difference between physical tired and mental tired, why FOMO and ROMO are both real, and how you actually have more control over your evenings than you think.

I grew up in Maui. I wear bikinis in December. I had never needed a winter coat until I was 18.And then I moved to Copenhagen.Seven European winters later, I still hate it. But I have learned a few things.In this episode, I'm sharing what actually gets me through the darker months — not the generic "light a candle and drink hot chocolate" advice, but the specific mindset shift someone gave me earlier this year that I initially thought was completely insane.Spoiler: it involves romanticizing the sound of your boots on snow. And yes, I argued back.This one is for anyone who didn't grow up in winter and is about to face another one. You're not alone. It passes. Eventually.