The Socially Awkward Podcast The Socially Awkward Podcast

For the last time, "thank you for listening to The Socially Awkward Podcast."

The Socially Awkward Podcast turns 3, and we are taking a break. The podcast has seen John, Rebecca, and Emma through various life events, a huge collective one being the pandemic. Producing 1 episode per month during periods of Covid restrictions while juggling studies and personal life was never easy. However, the skills and memories that producing the podcast has brought are invaluable and will be forever treasured by everyone on the team.

We want to express our gratitude to everyone who helped make this podcast possible, including our families, team members, mentors, and guests!

Ethan has dialed in all the way from London where he is currently studying law. From topics like social clubs and making friends in University, to unpacking what "counts as racism", this podcast is jampacked from start to finish with every topic under the sun.

As a podcast that is mainly based in Singapore, hearing about the housing crisis in the UK, transportation and professor strikes, and street protests from Ethan has been nothing short of eye opening. Having lived in both Singapore, and now the UK, Ethan describes the different experiences he's had in these different multicultural societies.

"When you're boiling hot water, you don't see it boiling until it's boiled" Audrian shares with Emma all about their experience as an athlete who does sprint kayaking. Kayaking has helped Audrian grow to understand that progress in not linear and to navigate through various things like athlete burnout, having peers go on to join the  Canoe Sprint National Junior Team and "impostor" syndrome. They candidly share about how this sport has impacted their life in various ways, especially how it made them wrestle with the concept of gender identity. Audrian identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns. 

"You go to the grocery store and mom is not there to go like: 'oh we're not buying that' "

Going to college at the height of the pandemic, all the way overseas was not easy for Anna. Having gone through the Singapore Public Education system, homeschooling, going to college, as well as being in between cultures, moving to Minnesota for college has really grown her a lot. She shares interesting college stories, talks about how she grew to like her accounting class, gaining confidence, and learning how to accept her Asian side as well as her white side.

Did you go to college? How did that experience make you grow as a person?

When we were kids, there was probably a time in our lives when we dressed up as fictional characters. Whether it was putting on a random white coat and pretending to be a doctor, or dressing up as Superman for Halloween. Well, is cosplay any different? Claire talks about how she got into cosplaying, why she cosplays, what to be aware of when joining the cosplay community, and how to start cosplaying yourself!

Whether you share Cayley and Claire's hobby of cosplaying or are just curious as to why some people do it, have a listen to this episode! There may have been some inaccurate preconceived notions that you have as it isn't something that people come in contact with often, but the best is to listen to what someone who cosplays has to say about it.

Back again on the podcast, Ethan updates Emma with his top 3 highlights as well as future plans! After deciding to dedicate more time to music, Ethan has released original songs (linktr.ee/ethantan) and has some exciting news regarding music school! As an independent artist, Ethan shares how Tiktok has given him new perspectives and opportunities, and how that has impacted him. With content and art inevitably coexisting in this day and age, Emma and Ethan share their thoughts on what exactly "art" is, and how the mishmash of the two has impacted the music industry, especially independent producers like Ethan.