Figuring It Out with Ganna ♡

Ganna Kolaib 🫧💘

Figuring It Out with Ganna is a little corner of the internet where growing up meets real talk — honest conversations, stories, motivation, and a little chaos. 🎙️ Hosted by Ganna, a teen balancing high school, her taekwondo career, big dreams, and everything in between. From exam stress and friendships to books, fears, dreams, and lessons learned on and off the mat, Ganna shares personal stories, funny confessions, and those comforting “wait… me too” moments. You don't have to have it all figured out. You just have to keep figuring it out. 🫶🏼 insta: @thefiguringitout_pod 💕✨

  1. 30m ago

    1 Year of Figuring It Out | Anniversary Special 🩷

    One Year of Figuring It Out. 🤍 November 13, 2025. The day I published the intro of Figuring It Out. At the time, I had no idea what I was getting myself into or where this little idea would take me. I just knew I wanted to create something of my own, share my thoughts, tell stories, and hopefully make someone feel a little less alone. Now, on November 13, 2026, we're celebrating one whole year of Figuring It Out! In this special anniversary episode, I'm taking a moment to look back on everything this journey has brought me. From the excitement and nerves of starting something completely new to the conversations I've shared, the lessons I've learned, and the moments that made this experience so meaningful. I'll be reflecting on how much I've grown, not just as a podcast host, but as a person, and how this little project has become such an important part of my life. Figuring It Out was never about having all the answers. It was about asking questions, exploring experiences, making sense of growing up, and reminding ourselves that we're allowed to be works in progress. And if there's one thing this past year has taught me, it's that sometimes the things we start without knowing exactly where they'll lead can become the things that mean the most to us. To everyone who has listened to an episode, shared the podcast, followed along, sent feedback, or supported me in any way: thank you. Whether you've been here since the very beginning or only recently discovered this little corner of the internet, I'm genuinely grateful you're here. This anniversary isn't just about celebrating a podcast. It's about celebrating the courage to start, the willingness to keep going, and all the little moments in between. One year down, and we're still figuring it out. Here's to everything we've learned, everything we've yet to discover, and all the chapters still waiting to be written. Thank you for being part of this journey. 🤍 With love, Ganna

  2. 1d ago

    Season 1 Episode 15 - The Comparison Trap

    Have you ever been happy with your own progress, only to see someone else doing something amazing and suddenly feel like you’re falling behind? Whether it’s Bookstagram, school, grades, achievements, or social media, comparison has a way of making us question ourselves — even when we were perfectly happy with where we were. In this episode, we’re talking about the comparison trap: how it can take the joy out of the things we love, why we’re so quick to measure our lives against other people’s, and how we can learn to focus on our own progress instead. From comparing creative projects to feeling behind academically and wanting to achieve more in Taekwondo, I’m sharing some personal reflections on learning to appreciate where I am while still working towards where I want to be. Because someone else’s success doesn't mean you're failing. Their timeline isn't a deadline for your life, and you don't have to turn everything you love into a competition. So, what if you're not actually behind? What if you've just been too busy looking at everyone else's progress to notice your own? Let's figure it out together. ♡ 📌 A little correction! At the end of this episode, I accidentally mentioned that Episode 16 would be next. However, because I've changed the podcast release schedule from two episodes a week to one episode a week, this is Episode 15, and the next episode will be the special one-year anniversary episode of Figuring It Out with Ganna! Thank you for understanding. 💗

  3. Oct 29

    Season 1 Episode 12 - Making Mistakes in Public

    Have you ever made a mistake in front of people and wanted to disappear? 😭 In this episode, I'm talking about the fear of embarrassing yourself, being watched while you struggle, and worrying about what other people think of you. I'm sharing some of my own experiences from Taekwondo, including my first competition, my international competition in 2024, and the moment I chose to stay and compete instead of letting my nerves take over. I'm also opening up about how the fear of being judged almost stopped me from starting Figuring It Out with Ganna in the first place. I also want to correct a small mistake from the episode: I accidentally said the name of the podcast Bookmark’d incorrectly. The correct name is Bookmark’d by Sara Carrolli and Destiny Sidwell. 🤍 Because making mistakes in public can feel terrifying. You might replay every little thing you did, wonder whether people still remember it, or wish you could go back and do things differently. But what if embarrassment isn't the end of the world? What if you can mess up, learn from it, and still be proud of yourself for trying? This episode is a reminder that you don't have to get everything right to keep going. Sometimes, confidence comes after you do the thing you're scared of. And remember: regret can last a lot longer than embarrassment. 🤍 If this episode resonates with you, follow the podcast, leave a rating or review on Spotify, and share it with someone who might need this reminder. Don't forget to turn on notifications so you don't miss the next episode!

  4. Oct 27 ·  Bonus

    The Teachers Who Stay With Us | A Tribute to Miss Vuyisa

    Content note: This episode discusses the passing of a former teacher and includes reflections on loss and remembrance. Please listen whenever you feel ready. Some people are part of our lives for only a chapter, but the memories they leave behind can stay with us for years. In this special episode of Figuring It Out with Ganna, I'm taking a step away from my usual conversations about growing up and figuring ourselves out to remember my former drama teacher, Miss Vuyisa, who recently passed away. She taught me in Years 7 and 8, and although we didn't know each other for a very long time, I still remember her enthusiasm, our practical drama lessons, the activities we did together, and the small moments of kindness that stayed with me. I'll also be talking about Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo, a book I remember from our classroom projects and have decided to read this month in her honour. This isn't an episode about having all the answers or turning loss into a lesson. It's simply my way of remembering someone who was part of my school journey, expressing the gratitude I wish I could share with her in person, and acknowledging the teachers who leave lasting impressions on their students. I also take a moment to recognise all my former teachers, including those who made my school years memorable and those whose lessons I understood differently with time. This episode was difficult for me to make, and I'm still processing the news myself. There's no pressure to listen as soon as it comes out. Please take your time and listen whenever you feel ready. To Miss Vuyisa: thank you for the lessons, the memories, and the little things you may never have realised would stay with me. You will be remembered. Rest in peace. 🤍 Thank you for giving this episode the space it deserves. — Ganna

  5. Oct 24

    Season 1 Episode 11 - People-Pleasing Is Exhausting

    Have you ever tried so hard to make everyone happy that you started losing parts of yourself along the way? In this episode of Figuring It Out with Ganna, we're talking about people-pleasing, the pressure to be accepted, and what happens when trying to protect yourself from disappointment starts changing the way you treat others. Through reflections on Oriah Pera from The Last Sunrise, I'm exploring the struggle between wanting people to like you and staying true to who you are. We'll talk about the temptation to change yourself for approval, the fear of being hurt, and how becoming distant or shutting people out isn't always the same as protecting your peace. A quick correction: I accidentally said Oriah Ry’s name incorrectly in this episode! Her correct name is Oriah Pera. 💗 We'll also explore boundaries, learning to say no, and remembering that you can care about people without making yourself responsible for everyone's feelings. With a reminder from the Qur'an (33:39), this episode reflects on staying grounded in what's right rather than letting other people's approval define you. Because there's a difference between learning to protect yourself and becoming someone you don't recognise. You can be kind without disappearing. You can have boundaries without becoming cold-hearted. And you don't have to lose yourself just to be accepted. If this episode resonates with you, follow Figuring It Out with Ganna, leave a rating or review on Spotify, and share it with someone who might need this reminder, too. Don't forget to turn on notifications so you don't miss the next episode!

About

Figuring It Out with Ganna is a little corner of the internet where growing up meets real talk — honest conversations, stories, motivation, and a little chaos. 🎙️ Hosted by Ganna, a teen balancing high school, her taekwondo career, big dreams, and everything in between. From exam stress and friendships to books, fears, dreams, and lessons learned on and off the mat, Ganna shares personal stories, funny confessions, and those comforting “wait… me too” moments. You don't have to have it all figured out. You just have to keep figuring it out. 🫶🏼 insta: @thefiguringitout_pod 💕✨