Love-ly: Exploring Modern Relationships

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 Love-ly host Mehak sits down with relationship therapist and content creator Laura Caruso in one of the show’s most memorable conversations; it’s so powerful, it’s being re-released. Recorded while Laura was in the middle of a breakup, literally waiting on a text that could end her relationship, the episode captures the raw emotions behind the timeless question: Should I stay or should I go? This re-release offers listeners both vulnerability and hope, with an inspiring update on where Laura is now. For anyone navigating love, loss, or the messy process of healing, Mehak’s conversation with Laura is a reminder that endings can also be beginnings. Hosted by: Mehak @whathemehak on TikTok and @whathemehak_ 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

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://hyphenly.beehiiv.com In this episode, host Mehak explores the complexities of adult friendships with journalist and author Anna Goldfarb, whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Time, The Cut, and more. Anna’s latest book, “Modern Friendship: How to Nurture Our Most Valued Connections,” offers a practical toolkit for building stronger, more intentional relationships. Mehak and Anna discuss why friendships can feel so fragile, the tiers of intimacy that shape our social lives, and how to show up with more clarity and wholeheartedness for the people who matter most. Hosted by: Mehak @whathemehak on TikTok and @whathemehak_ on IG Producer: Saadia Khan and Shei Yu | Content Writers: Mehak | 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to help more people find us!  Don’t forget to subscribe!  If you'd like to share your thoughts about this or other episodes, you can contact 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

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://hyphenly.beehiiv.com Dating in 2025 feels harder than ever; apps are exhausting, hookup culture dominates, and rejection is everywhere. In this episode of Love-ly, host Mehak sits down with her friend Eric, a former competitive figure skater turned entrepreneur, to talk about love, dating, and connection in today’s world. Eric shares his journey growing up as an only child, coming out, navigating family expectations, and why he’s waited for the right relationship instead of settling. Together, Mehak and Eric unpack the complexities of hookup culture, the allure of long-distance sparks, self-awareness in love, and why saying hello to strangers feels nearly impossible in modern dating. If you’ve ever felt like the dating bar is “in hell” but still crave authentic connection, this heartfelt and funny conversation will remind you what love can look like in 2025. Hosted by: Mehak @whathemehak on TikTok and @whathemehak_ on IG Producer: Saadia Khan and Shei Yu | Content Writers: Mehak | 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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

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://hyphenly.beehiiv.com What do Pedro Pascal, a bad Hinge date, and the rom-com Materialists have in common? They all expose the messy math of modern love. In this solo episode of Love-ly, Mehak spills on the good, the cringe, and the downright bizarre of dating in 2025, from men asking for exclusivity after a single dinner to the exhausting cycle of deleting and redownloading apps. Along the way, she breaks down Materialists (starring Pascal, Dakota Johnson, and Chris Evans) and why movies keep trapping women in false binaries between money and passion, stability and desire. Spoiler: the real power move isn’t choosing him, it’s choosing yourself. Funny, raw, and painfully relatable, this episode is for anyone who’s ever thought “if he wanted to, he would” and then realized capacity matters more than desire. Hosted by: Mehak @whathemehak on TikTok and @whathemehak_ on IG Producer: Saadia Khan and Shei Yu | Content Writers: Mehak | 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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

Feeling tired, moody, or breaking out for no reason? We thought it was just burnout—until we tried Function Health. Function tracks over 160 biomarkers, including hormones, stress, Vitamin D, and more, to help users understand what’s going on inside. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.functionhealth.com/LOVELY⁠⁠⁠⁠. She’s back and she’s bringing the truth bombs! In her return to Love-ly, attorney, comedian, and Muslim Matchmaker star Yasmin Elhady sits down with Mehak for a hilarious, heartfelt, and brutally honest conversation about modern love. From dismantling silly dating “icks” to exposing overconfidence, Yasmin shares how self-trust, spirituality, and the “three A’s” attraction, admiration, and adoration shape healthy relationships. She opens up about protecting your energy, setting standards without closing your heart, and why confident women attract exactly the kind of partners they deserve. Whether you’re single, dating, or just here for the laughs, this one’s a must-listen. Hosted by: Mehak @whathemehak on TikTok and @whathemehak_ on IG Producer: Saadia Khan and Shei Yu | Content Writers: Mehak | 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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 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://hyphenly.beehiiv.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feeling tired, moody, or breaking out for no reason? We thought it was just burnout—until we tried Function Health. Function tracks over 160 biomarkers, including hormones, stress, Vitamin D, and more, to help users understand what’s going on inside. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠www.functionhealth.com/LOVELY⁠⁠⁠. This week on Love-ly, Mehak sits down with Izz, a Haitian-born, Montreal-based Muslim woman with a story that’s anything but predictable. From growing up between cultures to converting to Islam in her 20s, Izz shares how embracing faith helped her redefine her self-worth, navigate heartbreak, and ultimately walk away from a year-long situationship. They get into the messiness of dating while trying to honor their values, what it means to set real boundaries, and why choosing yourself is the most underrated love story of all. Hosted by: Mehak @whathemehak on TikTok and @whathemehak_ on IG Producer: Saadia Khan and Shei Yu | Content Writers: Mehak | 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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 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://hyphenly.beehiiv.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feeling tired, moody, or breaking out for no reason? We thought it was just burnout—until we tried Function Health. Function tracks over 160 biomarkers, including hormones, stress, Vitamin D, and more, to help users understand what’s going on inside. Learn more at ⁠⁠www.functionhealth.com/LOVELY⁠⁠. Why do so many emotionally available men still feel lost in the dating world? This week on Love-ly, host Mehak sits down with Kavitha Ajwani, founder of Dashing Date, to unpack the myth of the “nice guy,” modern masculinity, and why emotional depth is the new dating currency. Kavitha shares her deeply personal story of love and loss — and how it shaped her powerful, purpose-driven coaching approach that helps men form genuine, lasting relationships. Special Offer: Kavitha is gifting our listeners free access to her exclusive two-part masterclass, normally a paid program. You'll learn how to break out of Nice Guy Syndrome, embody “Kind King” energy, and confidently connect with women without the cringe. To access, DM our host’s name to @dashingdate on Instagram.  Tap play for an honest, heartfelt, and profoundly empowering conversation about dating, identity, and the courage to be seen. Hosted by: Mehak @whathemehak on TikTok and @whathemehak_ on IG Producer: Saadia Khan and Shei Yu | Content Writers: Mehak | 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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 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://hyphenly.beehiiv.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feeling tired, moody, or breaking out for no reason? We thought it was just burnout—until we tried Function Health. Function tracks over 160 biomarkers, including hormones, stress, Vitamin D, and more, to help users understand what’s going on inside. Learn more at ⁠www.functionhealth.com/LOVELY⁠. Why is female pleasure still a whisper topic? This week on Love-ly, host Mehak sits down with Anna and Meredith Sweet from Tempt, a female-focused audio erotica app designed to close the pleasure gap and normalize intimate storytelling. From closed-door romance to steamy werewolf fantasies, Tempt offers a judgment-free zone for women to explore their desires on their terms. They dive into immigrant identity, intergenerational shame, and how romance novels are helping women reconnect with themselves and their partners. Hosted by: Mehak @whathemehak on TikTok and @whatthemehak_ on IG Producer: Saadia Khan and Shei Yu | Content Writers: Mehak | 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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

Feeling tired, moody, or breaking out for no reason? We thought it was just burnout—until we tried Function Health. Function tracks over 160 biomarkers, including hormones, stress, Vitamin D, and more, to help users understand what’s going on inside. Learn more at www.functionhealth.com/LOVELY. In this episode of Love-ly, host Mehak sits down with Leanne Yau, British sex and relationship educator and the voice behind @polyphiliablog, to unpack the nuances of polyamory. From her first open relationship at 17 to living non-hierarchically with multiple partners, Leanne shares her journey, debunks common misconceptions (like “polyamory is just for people bad at monogamy”), and explains terms like relationship hierarchy, relationship escalator, and relationship anarchy. Whether you’re monogamish, poly-curious, or somewhere in between, this conversation offers a thoughtful and judgment-free look at how we define love, connection, and commitment. You can find Leanne's content on YouTube (@PolyPhilia) and Instagram (@polyphiliablog). Hosted by: Mehak @whathemehak on TikTok and @whatthemehak_ on IG Producer: Saadia Khan and Shei Yu | Content Writers: Mehak | 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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

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://hyphenly.beehiiv.com This week’s Love-ly episode is a real one—like, voice-memo-real. When listener and freelance podcast producer Teja Pallikonda reached out with a recent dating story, we knew we had to share it. It starts like a modern fairytale: hours-long phone calls, a dreamy first date, and the kind of potential that gets you hopeful. But then… came the slow ghost. Excuses. Cancellations. Confusion. Teja brings receipts — literally. She plays us the actual breakup voice memo she sent this Hinge man (yes, he heard it, and now so will you), and unpacks what it taught her about communication, self-worth, and managing dating anxiety. Our host, Mehak, offers her hot takes on why she never gives strangers the benefit of the doubt, and what it means to set standards in the age of soft boys and disappearing acts. Romance, realness, and voice notes? Hit play. Hosted by: Mehak @whathemehak on TikTok and @whathemehak_ on IG Producer: Saadia Khan and Shei Yu | Content Writers: Mehak | 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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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

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 week on Love-ly, Mehak sits down with the unapologetically charming Uzi for a wildly entertaining, refreshingly honest conversation about dating in the age of ghosting, rejection, and situationships. From chasing strangers by the waterfront to getting called out mid-flirt for shady texts, Uzi shares his unfiltered takes on confidence, emotional availability, and why being a “nice guy” sometimes backfires. They get into the real stuff: what women often misunderstand about men, how to approach someone in real life without being weird, and whether liking bikini pics while cuffed is ever okay. Plus, Uzi opens up about immigrant identity, therapy, fake-it-till-you-make-it confidence, and why he’s pressing pause on dating for now. If you've ever felt nervous shooting your shot or wondered if you’re too much or not enough, this episode is your sign to go for it. Hit play. Share with your group chat. Maybe even send it to your situationship! Hosted by: Mehak @whathemehak on TikTok and @whathemehak_ 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

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 Ready to romanticize your single summer without the drama? In this solo episode, Mehak drops 10 must-hear reminders for anyone navigating love, loneliness, and Love Island obsessions. From dodging red flags in warm weather to why Snapchat is not a love language (seriously, stop), this is your emotional reset button. Whether you're solo or boo’d up, it’s time to pick peace, wear the bikini, eat the fries, and live your main character moment. Let’s make this the summer of you. Hosted by: Mehak @whathemehak on TikTok and @whathemehak_ 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

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 @whathemehak on TikTok and @whathemehak_ 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

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 @whathemehak on TikTok and @whathemehak_ 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

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 @whathemehak on TikTok and @whathemehak_ 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

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 @whathemehak on TikTok and @whathemehak_ 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

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 @whathemehak on TikTok and @whathemehak_ 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

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 @whathemehak on TikTok and @whathemehak_ 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

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 @whathemehak on TikTok and @whathemehak_ 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

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 @whathemehak on TikTok and @whathemehak_ 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