Through the Looking Glass

Lavanya Uthaman

Are you an ambitious individual part of the South Asian diaspora, trying to find your authentic voice and place in a community? Look no further! Through the Looking Glass podcast, with Lavanya Uthaman, is one Zillennial’s viewpoint on life’s struggles. She explores different perspectives by sharing personal stories with guests and solo episodes biweekly. Her vision is to empower listeners, even in the smallest way possible, to enhance personal well-being and cultivate an inclusive community. Get to know the Host better: https://www.instagram.com/lavanyauthaman/

  1. 10/03/2024

    Things I wish I knew in my 20s

    Are you looking for some guidance? Do you want to thrive in your 20s? In this week’s episode, Lavanya shares her list of things you wish you knew in your 20s! Lavanya turning 30 recently reflects on the lessons, tough truths, and personal growth that shaped her during her 20s. From learning the power of saying “no” to cultivating financial independence and recognizing the value of self-love, Lavanya shares invaluable insights to help you navigate this transformative decade. Whether you're dealing with uncertainty, seeking better relationships, or aiming to build confidence, this episode will empower you to thrive. Tune in, take what resonates, and start living your best life! Get to know me better on Instagram: ⁠Lavanya | Podcast Host (@lavanyauthaman) | Instagram profile⁠ TikTok: https://tiktok.com/lavanya.uthaman YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@throughthelookingglasspod Chapters 0:00 Introduction 1:32 1. "No" is a full sentence 2:10 2. Stop being friends with Negative People 3:03 3. Financial Independence 4:01 4. Money Empowers You 4:38 5. Time Doesn’t Heal Everything 5:22 6. You Won’t Find Someone by Not Looking 6:07 7. Wait 30 secs Before Reacting 6:41 8. Don’t Work for “Free” 7:32 9. Let Go of Things You Can’t Control 8:03 10. Not Everyone Has Your Best Interest 8:29 11. Keep It Private Until It's Official 9:03 12. Avoid Long-Distance Relationships 9:38 13. Stop Waiting for the Right Time 10:15 14. Only Compare Yourself to Yourself 10:53 15. No One Is Thinking About You 11:43 16. Enjoy Being Young & Hot 12:15 17. Over-Communicate 12:45 18. Stop Being Nice to Everyone 13:19 19. Spend on Experiences, Not Things 13:59 20. No One Will Love You as Much as Yourself

    15 min
  2. 09/05/2024

    Identity, Family and Mental Health as a South Asian Woman with Dr. Nadia Huq

    Are you a second generation South Asian trying to balance cultural expectations? Navigating traditional gender roles, generational conflicts, parental pressure can all be challenging! In this week’s episode on "Through the Looking Glass," Lavanya interviews Dr. Nadia Huq, a clinical psychologist specializing in family dynamics. Dr. Huq shares insights on generational shifts, the nuances of managing parental expectations, particularly around marriage, and setting boundaries while maintaining healthy relationships. This podcast offers practical advice for young South Asian women navigating these unique cultural and ethnic identity challenges. Get to know Nadia more: Dr. Nadia Huq earned her Bachelor's in Brain, Behavior, and Cognitive Science from the University of Michigan in 2008, followed by a Master's and PhD in Clinical Psychology from UNC Greensboro by 2016. She completed her Pre-doctoral Internship at Children’s National Health Systems and a Postdoctoral fellowship in Clinical Child Psychology at NYP-CUIMC. Dr. Huq served as a clinical psychologist and faculty member at Columbia University Irving Medical Center for six years, specializing in therapy for children and families and training psychology interns. She joined TMB Psychological Services in 2023. Get to know me better on Instagram: ⁠Lavanya | Podcast Host (@lavanyauthaman) | Instagram profile⁠ TikTok: https://tiktok.com/lavanya.uthaman Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@throughthelookingglasspod Chapters: 00:00 Intro to Dr. Nadia Huq 02:24 Understanding gender roles in South Asian families 05:25 Cultural identity and acculturation conflicts 09:42 Managing parental expectations 14:32 Mental Health in South Asian Immigrant families 18:25 Navigating toxicity in families 22:37 How to set boundaries w/family 30:28 Navigating familial pressure 38:22 Marriage in South Asian culture 49:55 Advice for brown girls in their 20s

    53 min
  3. 07/17/2024

    Entrepreneurship with a dose of Imposter Syndrome with Dhaval Patel

    Are you considering starting your own company? And you feel like an imposter? Highly recommend tuning into this episode of Through the Looking Glass, with Dhaval Patel. He is the CEO and founder of Lotus Labs, dedicated to empowering individuals with limited mobility. Dhaval shares his personal disability story that sparked the creation of the Lotus ring and how he went from an Apple engineer to an entrepreneur. We spoke about the challenges, triumphs, and all of the self-doubt in between. Are there philosophical motivations behind taking the entrepreneurial leap? We took a real look at the reality of entrepreneurship – passion, resilience and mindset. Gain insights into Dhaval’s perspective as a South Asian tech founder and how he counteracts imposter feelings. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or navigating the corporate world as a minority, this episode provides inspiration and actionable lessons! Get to know me better on Instagram: ⁠Lavanya | Podcast Host (@lavanyauthaman) | Instagram profile⁠ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttlg_podcast Get to know Dhaval: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhaval-c-patel/ Learn about Lotus Ring: https://getlotus.com/ Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 03:10 How did you get started with your company? 05:55 Is finding purpose in work important? 10:38 How to choose co-founders/partners 20:05 How did you overcome a challenge in entrepreneurship? 27:30 How was your experience as a minority entrepreneur? 37:00 Uncharted career path as a South Asian 42:27 How to shift out of imposter syndrome 47:42 Dhaval’s advice for aspiring entrepreneurs

    51 min
  4. 05/29/2024

    How to Heal Anxious Attachment Style

    Are you someone who constantly needs reassurance in a relationship? Do you have a fear of abandonment? Do you think you can only count on yourself? – You may have an insecure attachment! This week on Through the Looking Glass, Lavanya delves into attachment styles. With social media overload about anxious and avoidant attachment styles, it's hard to what information is accurate. If you are serious about your dating goals, understanding attachment theory is critical. Lavanya personally experienced anxious attachment, so she is invested in sharing tips to move towards a secure attachment. This episode focuses on understanding signs of anxious attachment and how to heal your wound. Lavanya summarizes what is attachment theory and how it is developed in early childhood. You will get scenarios to identify signs of anxious attachment with 10 explicit signs to look out for. The remainder of the episode focuses on 5 step guide to healing anxious attachment. Thank you for joining me on this journey to heal anxious attachment. I hope you found these tips helpful. Feel free to share your experiences or suggestions. Get to know me better on Instagram: ⁠Lavanya | Podcast Host (@lavanyauthaman) | Instagram profile⁠ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ttlg_podcast Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:24 Understanding Attachment theory 05:47 Recognizing Anxious Attachment (10 signs) 08:47 Step 1 – Inner work 10:56 Step 2 – Identifying Triggers 12:30 Step 3- Avoid Overreacting 14:19 Step 4- Give and Take Space 16:05 Step 5 – Setting Boundaries 17:35 Bonus tip and summary

    19 min
5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Are you an ambitious individual part of the South Asian diaspora, trying to find your authentic voice and place in a community? Look no further! Through the Looking Glass podcast, with Lavanya Uthaman, is one Zillennial’s viewpoint on life’s struggles. She explores different perspectives by sharing personal stories with guests and solo episodes biweekly. Her vision is to empower listeners, even in the smallest way possible, to enhance personal well-being and cultivate an inclusive community. Get to know the Host better: https://www.instagram.com/lavanyauthaman/