What happens when the life you planned doesn’t quite line up with the life you’re living? In this solo episode, The Detour Decade: Who I Thought I’d Be, I peel back the curtain on the twists, turns, and unexpected detours that shaped my 20s and 30s.

This isn’t just about missed opportunities—it’s about redefining what success looks like when the spotlight fades, the applause quiets down, and you’re left face-to-face with yourself. I talk about the dreams I chased, the ones I outgrew, and the ones I didn’t even know I wanted until life redirected me.

If you’ve ever found yourself asking, “How did I end up here?” or “Am I behind?”—this episode is for you. Think of it as a real, raw reflection mixed with a little hope, a little humor, and a lot of truth.

And because this series ties into my collection of essays, What I’ve Learned in 30 Years, I’ll also be sharing excerpts along the way, weaving together personal storytelling with themes from pop culture—yes, even my favorite TV binges that sparked deeper conversations about life, grief, and growth.

✨ Stick around until the end for details on the complete essay collection and how this podcast series will unfold. Trust me—you don’t want to miss it.

This one’s personal.

In this solo episode of Conversations with Juls, I’m stripping back the layers — no guest, no production, just me… and a question that’s been echoing for years:
Who am I without the applause?

For most of my life, I’ve been performing — on stage, in classrooms, in relationships, at work — and somewhere along the way, I confused applause with love, and attention with affirmation. When people stopped clapping, I thought I had failed. I thought I wasn’t enough without the feedback.

But what if the silence isn’t rejection… but an invitation?

In this episode, I get real about:

• The identity crisis that happens when performance is all you know

• The grief that creeps in when the spotlight fades

• Why so many of us don’t know how to feel worthy without being needed

• And the long, messy, beautiful journey of discovering yourself offstage

This isn’t just about art or the stage — this is about all the ways we hide behind who we think we’re supposed to be.

If you’ve ever felt lost when the noise died down…
If you’re learning to love the quiet, or you’re still scared of it…
You’re not alone. And this episode is for you.

💭 Press play. Take a deep breath. Let’s unpack it together.

Hey guys! Welcome back to the Conversations with Jus podcast. Join the conversation as I sit with myself and talk about what happenes when the lights go out, the crowd goes quiet, and there's no one around to clap.

In this solo episode on Conversations with Juls, I dive into a question that's been quietly haunting me: Who am I without the applause? For years I performed: on stage, in relationships, in jobs, in... life. I measured my worth by productivity, validation, and visibility - but when all of that stopped, I was left with silence and I barely recognized myself.

If you've ever felt lost when you're not being praised, chosen, or celebrated this one's for you.

Press play, take a deep breath, and ask yourself: Who am I when no one's clapping?

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