get in you are driving

maria

I'm Maria — a writer helping you find agency in a discouraging world by reminding you that you're the driver. I write one essay a week and host the podcast Get In, You Are Driving with new episodes every two weeks. If you're stuck in the fog and need someone to name what you're feeling and leave you with a way to move — you're in the right place. 🚗✨ 🔗 Connect with me: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/73XGDObE8gDeo2OcKON8E6?si=Yv86IS77S7aXK21W2KfHOA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getinyouaredriving/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@getinyouaredriving Substack: https://substack.com/@getinyouaredriving? Email: maria@getinyouaredriving.com

  1. 5D AGO

    how repressing your emotions slowly turns you into someone you don't recognize

    You told yourself you were fine. You told yourself not feeling was strength. It wasn't. And somewhere deep down — you already know that. In this episode I open up about what I call emotional dementia — the years I spent barely feeling anything, and then small intense windows where everything came flooding back. And then nothing again. I talk about how repression doesn't disappear — it leaks. As snapping at people you love. As a mood you can never shake. As feeling completely alone even when you're surrounded by people who care about you. And I talk about what happened when I finally decided to feel on purpose, before life forced me to feel by accident. This one is personal. But I think you need to hear it. 📚 Essays Mentioned in This Episode 🔗 I have emotional dementia: how years of ‘being fine’ made me half the person I am https://getinyouaredriving.substack.com/p/i-have-emotional-dementia-how-years 🔗 having a boyfriend isn’t embarrassing. Settling is. https://substack.com/inbox/post/177673522 Connect with me: 🚗 Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/getinyouaredriving/] 🚗 Substack: [https://getinyouaredriving.substack.com/] 🚗 Website: [https://www.getinyouaredriving.com/ 🚗 YouTube:⁠⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@getinyouaredriving⁠⁠ 🚗 Email: maria@getinyouaredriving.com Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. I am not a licensed therapist, counselor, or medical professional, and nothing shared in this podcast should be considered professional advice. The content is based on my personal experiences, reflections, and insights. If you are struggling with mental health challenges or serious life issues, please seek guidance from a qualified professional.

    31 min
  2. APR 8

    why you need something in your life that makes you feel "alive"

    A lot of people are walking around with everything they thought they wanted…and still feel nothing. They have the job, the relationship, the routine. But something is missing — a sense of being alive. In this episode of Get In, You Are Driving, I explore the quiet void so many of us feel and why it’s not because your life is “wrong”… it’s because your *pulse* has been outsourced. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ✨ Why feeling empty doesn’t mean your life is wrong ✨ How we unconsciously outsource our sense of aliveness ✨ What it actually means to feel “alive” (beyond motivation or happiness) ✨ The difference between the science of achievement and the art of fulfillment ✨ How to identify something in your life worth suffering for ✨ A simple framework to reconnect with your own energy and agency 📚 Articles Mentioned in This Episode 🔗 the art of being unreachable https://open.substack.com/pub/themuseandthemelody/p/the-art-of-being-unreachable?r=4t8aut&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web 🔗 why stability is a debt you cannot afford to pay [https://getinyouaredriving.substack.com/p/why-stability-is-a-debt-you-cannot] 🔗 why you need something in your life that makes you feel “alive” [https://getinyouaredriving.substack.com/p/why-you-need-something-in-your-life?r=4t8aut] Connect with me: 🚗 Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/getinyouaredriving/] 🚗 Substack: [https://getinyouaredriving.substack.com/] 🚗 Website: [https://www.getinyouaredriving.com/ 🚗 YouTube:⁠⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@getinyouaredriving⁠⁠ 🚗 Email: maria@getinyouaredriving.com

    34 min
  3. APR 8

    why you need something in your life that makes you feel “alive”

    A lot of people are walking around with everything they thought they wanted…and still feel nothing. They have the job, the relationship, the routine. But something is missing — a sense of being alive. In this episode of Get In, You Are Driving, I explore the quiet void so many of us feel and why it’s not because your life is “wrong”… it’s because your *pulse* has been outsourced. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ✨ Why feeling empty doesn’t mean your life is wrong ✨ How we unconsciously outsource our sense of aliveness ✨ What it actually means to feel “alive” (beyond motivation or happiness) ✨ The difference between the science of achievement and the art of fulfillment ✨ How to identify something in your life worth suffering for ✨ A simple framework to reconnect with your own energy and agency 📚 Articles Mentioned in This Episode 🔗 the art of being unreachable https://open.substack.com/pub/themuseandthemelody/p/the-art-of-being-unreachable?r=4t8aut&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web 🔗 why stability is a debt you cannot afford to pay [https://getinyouaredriving.substack.com/p/why-stability-is-a-debt-you-cannot] 🔗 why you need something in your life that makes you feel “alive” [https://getinyouaredriving.substack.com/p/why-you-need-something-in-your-life?r=4t8aut] Connect with me: 🚗 Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/getinyouaredriving/] 🚗 Substack: [https://getinyouaredriving.substack.com/] 🚗 Website: [https://www.getinyouaredriving.com/ 🚗 YouTube:⁠⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@getinyouaredriving⁠⁠ 🚗 Email: maria@getinyouaredriving.com

    34 min
  4. APR 6

    choosing uncertainty over fear is the only way you’ll live the life you want

    A lot of people are waiting for certainty before they let themselves fully live. They want guarantees. They want to feel safe. They want to know it will work. But certainty isn’t what creates a good life, it’s what keeps you stuck in the wrong one. In this episode of Get In, You Are Driving, I talk about why choosing uncertainty isn’t reckless, it’s necessary if you want a life that actually feels aligned. I walk you through the biggest decisions I’ve made, the patterns I’ve noticed, and how to start trusting yourself even when nothing is guaranteed. Because agency isn’t a feeling. It’s a practice. What You’ll Learn: ✨ Why waiting for certainty is fear in disguise ✨ How to recognize aligned vs. misaligned decisions ✨ Why external “safety” can disconnect you from your life ✨ How to trust yourself in uncertain seasons 📚 Articles Mentioned in This Episode (PLEASE READ THESE — they will change how you think): 🔗 the five pillars of work: how to feel safe without a job https://substack.com/inbox/post/185968228 🔗how to pick a career that actually fits for you (https://waitbutwhy.com/2018/04/picking-career.html) 🔗because I truly love you, I must go (on being the daughter who left the family business) https://getinyouaredriving.substack.com/p/because-i-truly-love-you-i-must-let 🔗why stability is a debt you cannot afford to pay https://getinyouaredriving.substack.com/p/why-stability-is-a-debt-you-cannot Connect with me: 🚗 Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/getinyouaredriving/] 🚗 Substack: https://getinyouaredriving.substack.com/ 🚗 Website: [https://www.getinyouaredriving.com/] 🚗 Email: maria@getinyouaredriving.com Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. I am not a licensed therapist, counselor, or medical professional. Nothing shared should be considered professional advice. This content is based on my personal experiences, reflections, and insights. If you are struggling with mental health challenges or serious life issues, please seek guidance from a qualified professional.

    37 min
  5. MAR 6

    the world is falling apart (but you don't have to)

    Right now, a lot of young people feel like the ground beneath their feet is shifting. Rent is high, the future feels uncertain, and the rules that once made the world feel stable seem like they’re breaking down. In this episode of Get In, You Are Driving, we talk about why the world feels so psychologically overwhelming right now, how global instability drains our emotional bandwidth, and how to regain agency in a chaotic time. The goal isn’t to ignore reality — it’s to learn how to stay steady, build competence, and move forward even when the world feels uncertain. Essays Mentioned in This Episode 🔗 The River of Money (https://jackmoses.substack.com/p/the-river-of-money) 🔗 The Only Glow Up That Matters (https://getinyouaredriving.substack.com/p/the-only-glow-up-that-matters-an) 🔗 The Most Important Negotiation Is With Yourself (https://getinyouaredriving.substack.com/p/the-most-important-negotiation-is) 🔗 Connect With Me 🚗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getinyouaredriving/ 🚗 Website: https://www.getinyouaredriving.com/ 🚗 Substack: https://amariawholikestowrite.substack.com/ 🚗 YouTube:⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@getinyouaredriving⁠ 🚗 Email: maria@getinyouaredriving.com Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. I am not a licensed therapist, counselor, or medical professional, and nothing shared in this podcast should be considered professional advice. The content is based on my personal experiences, reflections, and insights. If you are struggling with mental health challenges or serious life issues, please seek guidance from a qualified professional.

    35 min
  6. MAR 4

    the economy of suffering (why we send people the bill for our past)

    Sometimes seeing someone else have it easier doesn’t just feel unfair — it feels insulting. In this episode of Get In, You Are Driving, we explore the economy of suffering — the hidden belief that because we paid a high emotional price for our lives, other people should have to pay too. We talk about why resentment shows up when others have the support or ease we didn’t, how this dynamic quietly damages relationships, and how to finally break the cycle by closing the internal ledger. If you’ve ever felt anger when someone else had the life you had to fight for, this episode will help you understand why — and what to do with that feeling. 🔗 the economy of suffering essay https://open.substack.com/pub/getinyouaredriving/p/the-economy-of-suffering-why-we-send?r=4t8aut&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web 🔗 Connect With Me 🚗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getinyouaredriving/ 🚗 Website: https://www.getinyouaredriving.com/ 🚗 Substack: https://amariawholikestowrite.substack.com/ 🚗 YouTube:⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@getinyouaredriving⁠ 🚗 Email: maria@getinyouaredriving.com Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. I am not a licensed therapist, counselor, or medical professional, and nothing shared in this podcast should be considered professional advice. The content is based on my personal experiences, reflections, and insights. If you are struggling with mental health challenges or serious life issues, please seek guidance from a qualified professional.

    36 min
  7. FEB 23

    how to kill past versions of yourself that no longer serve you

    Some versions of you kept you safe. And some versions of you are now keeping you stuck. In this episode of Get In, You’re Driving, I talk about the fear of being a burden, the identities we build to survive, and what it actually takes to let go of versions of yourself that are hurting you — without betraying the parts that once protected you. Inspired by the Victoria Beckham documentary and the idea of “killing the WAG,” this episode explores two toxic stories I carried since childhood, the moment everything shifted, and a practical way to start outgrowing old identities with honesty and compassion. If you’ve ever struggled to receive help, felt defined by survival, or sensed you’re outgrowing who you used to be — this one’s for you. 📚 Essays That Go With This Episode 🔗 Killing the hyper-independent girl in me https://substack.com/@getinyouaredriving/p-179732536 🔗 The Medicine of Being Seen https://substack.com/inbox/post/180698331 🔗 Connect With Me 🚗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getinyouaredriving/ 🚗 Website: https://www.getinyouaredriving.com/ 🚗 Substack: https://amariawholikestowrite.substack.com/ 🚗 YouTube:⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@getinyouaredriving⁠ 🚗 Email: maria@getinyouaredriving.com Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. I am not a licensed therapist, counselor, or medical professional, and nothing shared in this podcast should be considered professional advice. The content is based on my personal experiences, reflections, and insights. If you are struggling with mental health challenges or serious life issues, please seek guidance from a qualified professional.

    43 min
  8. FEB 9

    how to stop apologizing for your privilege & start giving back

    Feeling guilty about your privilege doesn’t make you a good person, it keeps you stuck. In this episode of Get In, You’re Driving, we unpack why suffering can become seductive, why guilt without action isn’t humility, and how pain can either turn inward and harden you or move outward and make you useful. We talk privilege, responsibility, and what “giving back” actually looks like, without performative shame or shrinking your life. 📚 Essays That Go With This Episode 🔗 The Seduction of Suffering https://museguided.substack.com/p/the-seduction-of-suffering 🔗 Privilege Is Not the Problem (Not Doing Anything With It Is) https://amariawholikestowrite.substack.com/p/privilege-isnt-the-problem-not-doing 🔗 Connect With Me 🚗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getinyouaredriving/ 🚗 Website: https://www.getinyouaredriving.com/ 🚗 Substack: https://amariawholikestowrite.substack.com/ 🚗 YouTube:⁠ https://www.youtube.com/@getinyouaredriving⁠ 🚗 Email: maria@getinyouaredriving.com Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. I am not a licensed therapist, counselor, or medical professional, and nothing shared in this podcast should be considered professional advice. The content is based on my personal experiences, reflections, and insights. If you are struggling with mental health challenges or serious life issues, please seek guidance from a qualified professional.

    45 min

About

I'm Maria — a writer helping you find agency in a discouraging world by reminding you that you're the driver. I write one essay a week and host the podcast Get In, You Are Driving with new episodes every two weeks. If you're stuck in the fog and need someone to name what you're feeling and leave you with a way to move — you're in the right place. 🚗✨ 🔗 Connect with me: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/73XGDObE8gDeo2OcKON8E6?si=Yv86IS77S7aXK21W2KfHOA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getinyouaredriving/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@getinyouaredriving Substack: https://substack.com/@getinyouaredriving? Email: maria@getinyouaredriving.com