Whether it’s a podcast, a Substack, a YouTube channel, or a business, this episode of The Grown-Ups Are Talking is about starting the thing.

Starting can feel surprisingly hard- not because you’re lazy, but because beginning requires vulnerability, self-trust, and the courage to do something before you feel fully ready.

In this episode, I share the story of how this podcast began, the projects I almost started (and didn’t), what finally helped me commit, and why messy, imperfect beginnings matter more than perfect plans. We talk about perfectionism, fear of failure, claiming a creative identity, and how confidence is built through action, not before it.

This episode is an encouragement to stop waiting for the perfect moment and start small, start imperfectly, and start now.

If there’s something you’ve been dreaming about creating, consider this your gentle push to begin.✨

This week, I found myself thinking about a question we rarely ask in our twenties: what can the end of life teach us about how to live right now?

After attending a beautiful memorial this week, I found myself thinking about something we rarely talk about in our twenties: what the end of life can teach us about how to live well right now.

Why do so many people reach the end of their lives with similar regrets? What would people say about you if they had to describe your life today? And how do we build the “roots” we need in adulthood so we actually have the freedom to grow?

In this solo episode, I reflect on:

• what funerals reveal about what really matters

• the most common regrets people have at the end of life

• identity, legacy, and the traits we’re shaping every day

• why building stability- emotional, financial, and relational - might be the real work of your twenties

This isn’t about fearing death. It’s about using perspective to realign with the life you actually want to live.

If you’ve ever felt caught between productivity, uncertainty, and trying to figure out who you’re becoming, this conversation is for you.

🎙 The Grown-Ups Are Talking is a podcast about navigating early adulthood- careers, relationships, mental health, and everything nobody quite prepares you for after graduation.

⭐ If you enjoyed this episode, leave a 5-star rating and review, and don’t forget to follow or subscribe wherever you’re listening.

📱 Follow along at @thegrownupsaretalkingpod on Instagram and TikTok, and join the conversation.

As spring arrives, everything starts to feel a little lighter: the days get longer, routines shift, and suddenly we feel the urge to reset. In this short solo episode, Abby reflects on how seasonal change mirrors the experience of early adulthood: learning to start again, clear space, and grow into new versions of ourselves.

From spring cleaning our homes (and minds), to revisiting goals that didn’t quite stick in January, to rediscovering energy, connection, and joy after the winter months, this episode is a gentle check-in for anyone navigating change or craving a fresh start.

Because maybe adulthood isn’t about having everything figured out; maybe it’s about recognising when you’re entering a new season, and allowing yourself to begin again.

In your 20s- and in early adulthood more broadly- it can feel like you’re expected to do everything at once. Build your career. Stay fit. Maintain friendships and relationships. Grow personally. Plan for the future. And somehow avoid burnout while doing it all.

In this episode, we’re talking about how to balance it all, and realistically.

This isn’t about toxic productivity or maximising every hour of your day. Your value is not tied to how productive you are. Instead, this episode focuses on building a sustainable version of work-life balance that aligns with your priorities, your energy levels, and your current season of life.

We break the conversation into three parts:

1. Understanding Your Priorities

2. Creating Systems & Routines That Reduce Overwhelm

3. Mindset Shifts for Avoiding Burnout

If you’ve been struggling with work-life balance, feeling overwhelmed in your 20s, or trying to prioritise your goals without burning out, this episode will help you create more clarity, structure, and calm in your daily life.

Balance isn’t about doing everything perfectly. It’s about intentional trade-offs, sustainable routines, and giving yourself permission to evolve.

Subscribe to The Grown-Ups Are Talking for more conversations about adulting, career growth, relationships, mental health, and navigating your 20s with intention.

In this episode, I’m taking you through every major decision I’ve made about my life and career so far- the moments where I felt completely certain I had it all figured out… and how those certainties kept evolving.

From creative writing and theatre to law school dreams, big law ambitions, financial litigation, burnout, podcasting, and producing, I’ve changed my mind more times than I can count. And each time, I was so sure I finally knew what I was doing with my future.

This is one of my most honest and vulnerable episodes yet. I sat down without a script and talked through the real turning points: choosing passion over prestige, navigating family financial pressure, chasing creative work, questioning law school, and ultimately deciding to attend Harvard Law School.

I talk about the fear of being indecisive, the tension between creativity and practicality, and what it means to admit you don’t actually know what your life will look like- even when you’re the type of person that always wants to map out a five-year plan.

By the end of the episode, I share the major decision I’ve recently made about Harvard Law and why I’m finally learning to lean into change and uncertainty instead of trying to control it.

If you’re in your twenties, navigating career changes, feeling behind, or wondering whether you’re allowed to change your mind- this episode is for you.

And maybe the goal isn’t to have it all figured out. Maybe it’s to keep choosing- and re-choosing who you want to be.

February is the month of L-O-V-E but this episode isn’t about Valentine’s plans or dating advice (though it might help with those too!)

It’s about the relationship that comes first, above all others: the one you have with yourself.

In this episode, I talk about why self-love isn’t just a buzzword or a personality trait; it’s a necessary foundation for every relationship in your life, and for going after the life you want. From self-talk and confidence to boundaries, standards, and enjoying your own company, we unpack what self-love actually looks like in real life and how you can develop it.

I share my belief that self-love is essential for healthy relationships- not meaning that you have to be perfectly healed from past experiences/traumas, but in the everyday ways it shapes how we show up, what we tolerate, and what we believe we deserve.

We’ll talk about:

• How your self-talk shapes your confidence and choices

• Why low self-esteem affects relationships- with others and with yourself

• Learning to enjoy your own company and build a life you love

• Letting go of comparison and control

• How to start developing self-trust, self-respect, and confidence

If this episode resonates, please do subscribe to the podcast and leave me a 5-star rating and review wherever you're listening!

p.s. stay till the end for bloopers!

If you want 2026 to be the year you actually achieve all your goals, this episode is for you.

In this episode of The Grown-Ups Are Talking, I’m breaking down the things that will actually transform your life: systems, consistency, and the right mindset.

I talk about how to build habits that stick, how to design your environment so success becomes easier, and why living as your future self today matters more than waiting to feel “ready.” This episode is about learning how to show up consistently, even when life gets busy, or when habits feel uncomfortable or unmotivating.

I also share the exact systems I use in my own life, from habit tracking and identifying my non-negotiables, to revisiting goals, vision boards, and protecting your time and attention in a world full of distractions (yes, including social media).

Whether your goals for 2026 involve your career, fitness, creativity, relationships, or personal growth, this episode will help you stop relying on motivation and start building a life that actually works.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why motivation is unreliable, and what to use instead

• How to build systems that make good habits easier

• The role of discipline, discomfort, and consistency in long-term growth

• How to revisit and refine your goals throughout the year

• Living as your future self without perfectionism or burnout

• Why your environment matters more than willpower

• How to align your daily habits with the life you actually want

If you’re in your 20s and trying to figure out how to balance ambition, discipline, and real life, this episode is for you. If you like the episode, subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review wherever you're listening!

In early adulthood, we’re often told to push through stress, power through anxiety, keep going, and achieve a ton, even when our bodies are clearly asking us to slow down or things are getting a bit much. But what if the foundation for a calmer, more stable, and more fulfilling life isn’t doing more… but learning how to feel safe in your own body and self?

With the pressure of a new year, many of us feel the urge to become more productive, more efficient versions of ourselves, but that pressure can create a lot of anxiety. And ultimately, there’s not much point in chasing growth if you’re too stressed to actually enjoy your life.

In this episode, I’m joined by Hannah, creator of reallygetintoitco, for a conversation about nervous system regulation: what it actually means, why it matters so much in early adulthood, and how learning to regulate your nervous system can completely change how you experience stress, emotions, and uncertainty. We talk about allowing yourself to feel the full range of your emotions, understanding what they’re trying to tell you, and practical ways to ground yourself during moments that feel overwhelming.

This conversation is especially for anyone navigating big transitions- new jobs, serious relationships, family pressures, or that quiet anxiety that comes with trying to “have it all together” in your twenties. Regulating your nervous system isn’t about being calm all the time ; it’s about creating stability so you can take risks, make decisions, and show up for your life from a place of clarity and calm instead of survival.

In next week’s conversation, I’ll be breaking down the specific systems and frameworks I’ve used to move through early adulthood, including getting accepted to Columbia, graduating with honors, being accepted to Harvard Law School, and landing a competitive first job straight out of college. This isn't to boast but rather to make one thing clear: I’m not special. I’m first-generation, my parents don’t have connections, and I’m not any smarter than anyone else. What made the difference was having the right systems in place- and I’ll be sharing exactly how you can build them too. So be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss it.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or like you’re constantly operating in fight-or-flight, this episode is a reminder that slowing down might be the most powerful thing you can do.