Love-ly: Exploring Modern Relationships

Immigrantly
Immigrantly
  • 3.9 (35)
  • Relationships
  • Updated Weekly

What happens when cultural traditions collide with the whirlwind of modern dating? Welcome to Love-ly, the podcast where our host Mehak (@whathemehak) explores the beautifully messy, deeply personal stories of love, identity, and connection. From first and second-generation immigrants balancing family expectations to Gen Z navigating dating apps and “situationships,” Love-ly dives into the heart of what it means to love in today’s tech-driven world. Every Friday, tune in for heartfelt conversations that remind us of one universal truth: no matter where you’re from or what your relationship status is, everyone has a lovely story worth telling. Hosted by: Mehak @whathemehak on TikTok 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 Apple Podcasts & Spotify to help more people find us! Don’t forget to subscribe! Follow us on IG @lovelythepod & @immigrantlypods Twitter @Immigrantly_pod TikTok @immigrantly Subscribe to our Immigrantly Uninterrupted Channel for ad-free listening Love-ly is an Immigrantly Media Production For advertising inquiries, please email info@immigrantlypod.com

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  1. 1d ago

    When Life Changes You, Stay Open to Love

    What happens when life changes you, but you still want to stay open to love? Mehak brings on Robin Ducharme, relationship educator, former matchmaker, and founder of Real Love Ready, who's spent years interviewing some of the biggest names in love about what it actually means to truly love someone. Robin opens up about her most recent breakup, three months out from losing her mother, and how partners show up — or don't — through grief. They talk about the importance of play in relationships, the "relational literacy" she learned growing up in a house with an open-door policy, and what she's really looking for on a first date: most importantly, being present and grounded in the moment. Mehak and Robin get into dating in your 30s and 40s, why it gets easier once you love yourself first, and Robin's early accidental career as a matchmaker for her best friend. Plus, they review Robin's new dating profile and close on a reminder that a relationship can be the best one you've ever been in — and still not built to last. You can follow Robin and Real Love Ready on Instagram @realloveready. Check out the Real Love Ready website for more information on her book, "Real Love Ready," and the In Bloom summit in Vancouver. Hosted by Mehak @whathemehak on TikTok Produced by Saadia Khan and Shei Yu. Written by Mehak. Theme music, sound design, and editing by Lou Raskin. Other music by Epidemic Sound. Cover art design by Josephine Chai. Executive Produced by Saadia Khan. Please share the love and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to help more people find us. Don't forget to subscribe. Follow us on IG @lovelythepod and @immigrantlypods. Twitter @Immigrantly_pod. TikTok @immigrantly. Subscribe to our Immigrantly Uninterrupted Channel for ad-free listening. Love-ly is an Immigrantly Media Production. For advertising inquiries, please email info@immigrantlypod.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  2. Aug 28

    Have We Optimized Ourselves Out of Love?

    Jeffre Behm went on a first date from a dating app, drove to a mini golf course, and spent the whole night realizing neither of them actually wanted to be there. He didn't know her well enough to suggest something they'd both enjoy, so they defaulted to what they thought a "date" was supposed to look like. It's the kind of story that sounds small until you realize how many of us are doing the exact same thing. In this episode, Mehak sits down with Jeffre Behm, dating and relationship content creator, educator, and the founder of Love School, to ask why dating feels like a second job when we say we want love more than ever. They get into why Jeffre no longer believes in soulmates, the blurry and constantly shifting line between friend and romantic partner, and "practice dating," the trend of going out with people you'd normally swipe past just to lower the stakes. This one is a nudge to stop treating dating like a performance review and start treating it like getting to know a person. Also, a challenge: the next time you're in an elevator, say hi. You can find Jeffre on socials @jeffrebehm on Instagram and TikTok. Hosted by: Mehak @whathemehak on TikTok Producer: Shei Yu | Content Writers: Mehak | Executive Producer: Saadia Khan | Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin | Love-ly Theme Music: Lou Raskin |Other Music: Epidemic Sound | Cover art design: Josephine Chai Please share the love and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify to help more people find us! Don't forget to subscribe! Follow us on IG @lovelythepod & @immigrantlypods Twitter @Immigrantly_pod TikTok @immigrantly Subscribe to our Immigrantly Uninterrupted Channel for ad-free listening Love-ly is an Immigrantly Media Production For advertising inquiries, please email info@immigrantlypod.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  3. Aug 21

    Don't Let Someone Else's Timeline Lower Your Standards

    Summer's ending, everyone around you is coupling up, and suddenly "almost right" starts to feel right enough. Here's your reminder to get pickier, not less. This week, Mehak (@whathemehak) is joined by Evelyn Alvarez (@ripeness), a New York–based entrepreneur, doula, community leader, mother, and one of the tías on Project Pulso's matchmaking show, Tía's Choice. As the first-generation daughter of Guatemalan immigrants, Evelyn brings a rare mix of warmth, humor, and hard-won wisdom to conversations about dating, identity, and womanhood. Evelyn and Mehak get into dating for the story rather than the ending, diminishers vs. illuminators (and the red flag of a date who never asks a follow-up question), and what Tía's Choice reveals about what we're really after. Their advice? Have fun, be a little selfish, and get your confidence from your life — not male attention. Follow Evelyn @ripeness on Instagram. Hosted by: Mehak @whathemehak on TikTok | @whathemehak_ on IG Subscribe & Listen 🔗 Immigrantly Uninterrupted on Apple Podcasts — $3.99/month or $34.99/year for ad-free episodes and more 🔗 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. Leave a Review: If you enjoy the show, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify — it helps more people find us. 💌 Share your thoughts: info@immigrantlypod.com Follow Us: 📸 @lovelythepod on IG | @immigrantly on TikTok Credits: Producer: Shei Yu | Content Writer: Mehak | Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin | Love-ly Theme Music: Lou Raskin | Other Music: Epidemic Sound | Cover Art: Josephine Chai | Executive Producer: Saadia Khan Love-ly is an Immigrantly Media Production. For advertising inquiries, email info@immigrantlypod.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  4. Aug 18

    The Blue Checkmark of Dating: Is Love Just Social Proof? with Alexa V.

    Fresh off a wholesome, "emotionally regulated" Valentine’s Day with her friends, Mehak (@whathemehak) dives into a deep conversation about why romantic love has become a "performance of adulthood" and a "social status symbol" in 2026. Joining the conversation is content creator Alexa V. (@lifewithlex444), who discusses her decision to opt out of intentional dating in 2026. She opens up about her journey since being diagnosed with rumination OCD and shares a truly jaw-dropping dating horror story. Together, they unpack the exhaustion of modern dating and the freedom found in choosing yourself over a societal timeline. Connect with Alexa @lifewlex444 on Instagram and @lifewithlex444 on TikTok Hosted by: Mehak ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@whathemehak⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on TikTok and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@whathemehak_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on IG Producers: 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 🔗 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 👉 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 episode or any other episode, you can contact info@immigrantlypod.com. Follow us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@immigrantlypods (IG)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@immigrantly⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (TikTok) | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@love_lypod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Love-ly is an Immigrantly Media Production. For advertising inquiries, email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@immigrantlypod.com⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  5. Aug 14

    Parental Guilt, Digital Wellness, and Why AI Falls Short with Israa Nasir (November 2025)

    In this episode of Love-ly, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Mehak⁠⁠⁠⁠ sits down with psychotherapist and @well.guide founder Israa Nasir to discuss life as a third-culture kid and why she doesn’t feel guilty about not having children, despite parental expectations. Their conversation also turns to the future of digital mental health care, inspired by Israa’s essay, “Outsourcing Emotional Labor to ChatGPT,” and to how we should be using AI in therapy (hint: definitely not your Hinge replies). Hosted by: Mehak @whathemehak on TikTok | @whathemehak_ on IGCredits: Producer: Shei Yu | Content Writer: Mehak | Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin | Love-ly Theme Music: Lou Raskin | Other Music: Epidemic Sound | Cover Art: Josephine Chai | Executive Producer: Saadia Khan Subscribe & Listen to Love-ly on Apple Podcasts — $3.99/month or $34.99/year for ad-free episodes and more. Leave a Review: If you enjoy the show, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify — it helps more people find us. 🔗 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. 💌 Share your thoughts: info@immigrantlypod.com Follow Us: 📸 @lovelythepod on IG | @immigrantly on 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

  6. Aug 7

    Maybe We Just Forgot What to Look For

    This week, no guest — just Mehak. After some health concerns forced her to slow down and put her phone down, she spent time reflecting on where she's headed — the woman she wants to become, the partner she wants to be, and the life she's trying to build. Mehak revisits the conversations she's had this year that have reshaped how she thinks about dating: Clayton Echard on nuance and rushing to judgment, Jessica Lanyadoo on remembering who you already are, Tim and Anna on what healthy love actually looks like, and Gracie Canaan on loneliness and the business of intimacy. Along the way, she unpacks the horror film Obsession as a cautionary tale about entitlement, shares notes from David Brooks on the stages of falling in love, and closes with a list of small, thoughtful gestures that would send low-effort men into a coma. Because maybe love isn't built on grand gestures — maybe it's built on hundreds of small decisions where two people keep choosing each other. Hosted by: Mehak @whathemehak on TikTok | @whathemehak_ on IGCredits: Producer: Shei Yu | Content Writer: Mehak | Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin | Love-ly Theme Music: Lou Raskin | Other Music: Epidemic Sound | Cover Art: Josephine Chai | Executive Producer: Saadia Khan Subscribe & Listen to Love-ly on Apple Podcasts — $3.99/month or $34.99/year for ad-free episodes and more. Leave a Review: If you enjoy the show, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify — it helps more people find us. 🔗 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. 💌 Share your thoughts: info@immigrantlypod.com Follow Us: 📸 @lovelythepod on IG | @immigrantly on 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

  7. Jul 31

    The Professional Girlfriend: Inside OnlyFans

    This week, Mehak sits down with Gracie Canaan—comedian, writer, actress, and OnlyFans creator—to go inside the world of digital intimacy from both sides of the screen. We love to judge the women who sell intimacy online, but who's really creating the demand? As one half of the six-part investigative podcast OnlyFantasy (made with journalist Leon Neyfakh), Gracie has spent a lot of time thinking about the harder questions this platform raises. Gracie explains how she branded herself the "professional girlfriend," and why she now chooses late-night OnlyFans conversations over Hinge dates. She sets the record straight on the roughly 90% of OF subscribers who are married, her half-joking mission to "save men," and why the real ick isn't being on the platform — it's being cheap on it. Plus, Mehak and Gracie disagree on whether OnlyFans counts as cheating, and the bigger lesson underneath it all: that inconvenience is the price of community, and rebuilding it starts with strengthening the social muscles we let atrophy. You can find Gracie @savegraciecanaan on Instagram, and catch her live shows and tour dates at graciecanaan.com/subscribe Listen to OnlyFantasy on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, or Amazon Music. Hosted by: Mehak @whathemehak on TikTok | @whathemehak_ on IG Credits: Producer: Shei Yu | Content Writer: Mehak | Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin | Love-ly Theme Music: Lou Raskin | Other Music: Epidemic Sound | Cover Art: Josephine Chai | Executive Producer: Saadia Khan Subscribe & Listen to Love-ly on Apple Podcasts — $3.99/month or $34.99/year for ad-free episodes and more. Leave a Review: If you enjoy the show, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify — it helps more people find us. 🔗 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. 💌 Share your thoughts: info@immigrantlypod.com Follow Us: 📸 @lovelythepod on IG | @immigrantly on 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

  8. Jul 24

    Pleasure in the Age of Aesthetic Capitalism with Danielle Bezalel (December 2025)

    We're bringing back a previous conversation where Mehak sits down with sex educator and pleasure expert Danielle Bezalel—host of Sex Ed with DB. Together, they unpack the motifs that shape our earliest understandings of intimacy: immigrant households where sex was whispered, cultures that mistake silence for safety, and school systems that replace curiosity with misinformation. From Danielle’s Afghan Jewish upbringing to Mehak’s own cultural reflections, this episode explores how identity, religion, shame, and generational expectations influence the way we date, desire, and perceive ourselves. Danielle also shares the turning point that led her into public health and sex education, the emotional stakes of bad sex ed in the U.S., and why pleasure still feels like a radical act—especially for women of color. We end with a Love-ly signature: a modern dating detour into why everything—including romance—feels so aesthetic now, and what it would mean to return to our bodies instead of performing our lives for the camera. This is an episode about unlearning, reclaiming, and finally giving ourselves permission to want what we truly desire. Check out Sex Ed With DB @sexedwithdbpodcasts on IG and on the website, www.sexedwithdb.com Hosted by: Mehak ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@whathemehak⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on TikTok and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@whathemehak_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on IG Credits: Producer: Shei Yu | Content Writer: Mehak | Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin | Love-ly Theme Music: Lou Raskin | Other Music: Epidemic Sound | Cover Art: Josephine Chai | Executive Producer: Saadia Khan Subscribe & Listen to Love-ly on Apple Podcasts — $3.99/month or $34.99/year for ad-free episodes and more. Leave a Review: If you enjoy the show, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify — it helps more people find us. 🔗 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. 💌 Share your thoughts: info@immigrantlypod.com Follow Us: 📸 @lovelythepod on IG | @immigrantly on 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

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3.9
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About

What happens when cultural traditions collide with the whirlwind of modern dating? Welcome to Love-ly, the podcast where our host Mehak (@whathemehak) explores the beautifully messy, deeply personal stories of love, identity, and connection. From first and second-generation immigrants balancing family expectations to Gen Z navigating dating apps and “situationships,” Love-ly dives into the heart of what it means to love in today’s tech-driven world. Every Friday, tune in for heartfelt conversations that remind us of one universal truth: no matter where you’re from or what your relationship status is, everyone has a lovely story worth telling. Hosted by: Mehak @whathemehak on TikTok 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 Apple Podcasts & Spotify to help more people find us! Don’t forget to subscribe! Follow us on IG @lovelythepod & @immigrantlypods Twitter @Immigrantly_pod TikTok @immigrantly Subscribe to our Immigrantly Uninterrupted Channel for ad-free listening Love-ly is an Immigrantly Media Production For advertising inquiries, please email info@immigrantlypod.com

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