Hello, {Real} World!

Goodbye, SF 🌉 Hello, NYC 🗽 While moving to New York is top of mind for many, it wasn’t an easy decision for Emily — especially after just getting settled into San Francisco. In this episode, she shares her experience making big life choices and the pressure that can come with having more freedom. Emily opens up about her first few months in NYC, how she’s adjusting, and what it takes to settle into a new city. She also touches on how SF and NYC compare (i.e., how your lifestyle can bring out different parts of ourselves) and what she’s learned about herself through it all.

Life happens… and sometimes, you burn out. This podcast never had a hard deadline, but it’s been on our minds (for a while) to come back and catch up! In this episode, Carol shares her winter arc in Pittsburgh — how she hit a wall, and more importantly, what it took to find a way out. If you’ve ever felt stuck or are currently in a rut, this one might resonate. If not, feel free to tune in just to catch up 🙂 P.S. Thank you for being patient with us! We're touched by all the supportive DMs and questions on when the next ep is coming while we were gone. We’re glad to be back ❤

For most of lives so far, we’ve looked forward to getting older and becoming an adult. Now that we’re ‘here’, that anticipation seems to be quickly replaced by anxiety and the fear of growing old (aka “FOGO”). In this episode, we chat through some of the pressures of growing up — Feelings of needing to accomplish as much as possible in our 20s, opportunity costs, and biological clocks. We also discuss why FOGO is so common in modern society and in contrast, all that we’re still looking forward to. Music: Tape Star by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com Thank you for listening! Support us by subscribing, reviewing and sharing this podcast with your friends.  SUBSCRIBE TO US! @hellorealworld on Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts STAY UPDATED! Instagram @hellorealworldpodcast Twitter @hellorealworld_ FEEDBACK OR TOPIC SUGGESTIONS: https://forms.gle/ekuwLJMiT6htfCqv7 EMAIL US! hellorealworldpodcast@gmail.com

A month into the New Year, how are your resolutions doing?  Setting goals are important, but developing habits are often overlooked. While it’s hard to see the impacts of our everyday actions, building and preserving small habits can compound to have powerful long-term effects. In this episode, we reflect on the habits that were instrumental in getting us through our busy schedules as university/college students, as well as the ones we’ve recently picked up as new grads. We also touch on the habits we’re currently trying to dispel, in hopes of building an even healthier and more productive lifestyle 🌱. _________________________________________________ Music: Tape Star by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com Thank you for listening! Support us by subscribing, reviewing and sharing this podcast with your friends. → SUBSCRIBE TO US! @hellorealworld on Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts → STAY UPDATED! Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hellorealworldpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hellorealworld_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ → EMAIL US! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hellorealworldpodcast@gmail.com⁠

Happy belated new year ✨ 2023 was a year full of important milestones, travel, and big life transitions for us. As an end of year ritual, we took some time to pause and reflect on all the experiences, feelings and challenges that shaped us over the past year. We reflect on everything from the bittersweet last couple months of studenthood, to the ambiguity of new grad, to holding more flexible identities.  Thanks to everyone who discovered, listened and supported us in 2023 🫶.  _________________________________________________ Music: Tape Star by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com Thank you for listening! Support us by subscribing, reviewing and sharing this podcast with your friends. → SUBSCRIBE TO US! @hellorealworld on Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts → STAY UPDATED! Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hellorealworldpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hellorealworld_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ → EMAIL US! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hellorealworldpodcast@gmail.com

Does distance really make the heart grow fonder? 💖 While not ideal, long-distance relationships have become common in this post-grad stage of our lives. In this episode, we’re joined by @filmwcolleen to talk about our experiences in LDRs. What are the most challenging parts? How have we been able to make it work so far? What would we tell someone who’s considering a long-distance relationship? Tune in to find out! Time stamps (00:00) - Intro (2:46) - Our Relationship History (09:14) - Challenges of being long distance (21:03) - Communication, rituals and visiting (30:47) - Tips/advice for LDR (37:17) - Perks of LDR (46:23) - What we’ve learned about ourselves (48:20) - What to consider when debating entering a LDR (5):42) - Hot takes _________________________________________________ Music: Tape Star by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com Thank you for listening! Support us by subscribing, reviewing and sharing this podcast with your friends. → SUBSCRIBE TO US! @hellorealworld on Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts → STAY UPDATED! Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hellorealworldpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hellorealworld_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ → EMAIL US! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hellorealworldpodcast@gmail.com

It’s been a hectic past few months as we’ve moved to new cities and started our first full time jobs. Big life transitions and changes often come with a mix of emotions, new experiences and unexpected challenges. Tune in to hear us talk about navigating ambiguity as a new grad, making friends in a new city, adjusting to full-time life, and new adult responsibilities. Timestamps: (00:00) - Intro (02:05) - Feelings moving to a new city (7:30) - Feeling lost/directionless after graduating (18:17) - Making friends as an adult in a new city (29:18) - Maintaining long-distance friendships (31:40) - Learning to say no and FOMO  (34:51) - What full-time has been like  (39:28) - Work culture in SF (44:51) - Adulting (51:10) - Concluding thoughts __________________________________________________________ Music: Tape Star by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com Thank you for listening! Support us by subscribing, reviewing and sharing this podcast with your friends. → SUBSCRIBE TO US! @hellorealworld on Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts → STAY UPDATED! Instagram ⁠⁠⁠@hellorealworldpodcast⁠⁠⁠ Twitter ⁠⁠⁠@hellorealworld_⁠⁠⁠ → EMAIL US! ⁠⁠⁠hellorealworldpodcast@gmail.com

As new grads, we know first-hand how stressful and challenging recruiting can be. This episode is meant to be a comprehensive guide to help those recruiting in tech for their first full-time jobs 👩‍💻!  We’ll be sharing our experiences recruiting for software engineering (thanks to our friend Lynn Kim), product design, and product management roles. From applying and interview prepping, to negotiating your offer and managing stress, we talk about every part of the process. Resources mentioned can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hOEb3KtuO892gVMHySKnhwpWRKkal-mhrIHK65drlNo/edit Timestamps: (00:00) - Intro (2:49) - Application Timelines & Finding Opportunities (8:26) - Referrals and networking (13:40) - Application Success Rates (20:11) - Application Process Tips (22:54) - Software Interview Process (28:09) - Design Interview Process (31:18) - Product Interview Process (34:50) - Internship vs FT recruiting (38:29) - Finding a support network  (41:35) - Interview Tips (49:32) - Factors to consider when choosing a job (55:59) - Negotiation (1:03:58) - Managing stress and mental well-being ___________________________________________________________ Music: Tape Star by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com Thank you for listening! Support us by subscribing, reviewing and sharing this podcast with your friends. → SUBSCRIBE TO US! @hellorealworld on Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts → STAY UPDATED! Instagram ⁠⁠@hellorealworldpodcast⁠⁠ Twitter ⁠⁠@hellorealworld_⁠⁠ → EMAIL US! ⁠⁠hellorealworldpodcast@gmail.com

In this episode, we catch up on what we’ve been up to in our *last* summer break before full-time. We talk about our eye-opening grad trip in Southeast Asia, what it was like backpacking and traveling with a big group of friends. We also chat about convocation, more travels, Emily’s summer job as a camp counsellor, and getting ready for our move to the States. ___________________________________________________________ Music: Tape Star by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com Thank you for listening! Support us by subscribing, reviewing and sharing this podcast with your friends. → SUBSCRIBE TO US! @hellorealworld on Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts → STAY UPDATED! Instagram ⁠⁠@hellorealworldpodcast⁠⁠ Twitter ⁠⁠@hellorealworld_⁠⁠ → EMAIL US! ⁠⁠hellorealworldpodcast@gmail.com

Our romantic relationships as adults are heavily influenced by our childhoods. We talk about attachment theory and how we repeat the relationship dynamics and patterns we experienced growing up. What are our attachment styles? Do we date people that remind us of our parents? What have our families taught us about love and relationships? ___________________________________________________________ Music: Tape Star by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com Thank you for listening! Support us by subscribing, reviewing and sharing this podcast with your friends. → SUBSCRIBE TO US! @hellorealworld on Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts → STAY UPDATED! Instagram ⁠⁠⁠@hellorealworldpodcast⁠⁠⁠ Twitter ⁠⁠⁠@hellorealworld_⁠⁠⁠ → EMAIL US! ⁠⁠⁠hellorealworldpodcast@gmail.com⁠

Family is a foundational and important component of our lives. In this episode, we reflect and analyze how our upbringings and childhoods have shaped our personalities, perspectives, and core values today.  How have our relationships with our parents evolved as we’ve gotten older? Does birth order theory apply to us and our siblings? Do we ever wish our parents did things differently? ___________________________________________________________ Music: Tape Star by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com Thank you for listening! Support us by subscribing, reviewing and sharing this podcast with your friends. → SUBSCRIBE TO US! @hellorealworld on Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts → STAY UPDATED! Instagram ⁠⁠⁠@hellorealworldpodcast⁠⁠⁠ Twitter ⁠⁠⁠@hellorealworld_⁠⁠⁠ → EMAIL US! ⁠⁠⁠hellorealworldpodcast@gmail.com⁠

The university/college experience…some say are the best, worst, or “peak” years of your life. As (soon-to-be) new grads, we recap what it was like studying Systems Design Engineering at the University of Waterloo. From first year imposter syndrome and navigating school during COVID, to figuring out our careers and fostering new relationships, we look back on all of the defining moments that shape who we are today. Big shoutout to the SYDE department, our roommates, and all the amazing friends we made along the way that made our experience so great  ❤️ Timestamps: (01:47) - First year  (20:14) - Second year (36:44) - Third year (48:18) - Fourth year (55:23) - Biggest takeaways (1:05:00) - Closing thoughts/advice ___________________________________________________________ Music: Tape Star by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com Thank you for listening! Support us by subscribing, reviewing and sharing this podcast with your friends. → SUBSCRIBE TO US! @hellorealworld on Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts → STAY UPDATED! Instagram ⁠⁠@hellorealworldpodcast⁠⁠ Twitter ⁠⁠@hellorealworld_⁠⁠ → EMAIL US! ⁠⁠hellorealworldpodcast@gmail.com⁠

“So, how do you feel about graduating?” is a question we’ve been asked countless times in our final term of university - and it’s become really hard to answer in a few sentences. Lately, life feels like it’s been hurtling towards the finish line of graduation, and so we wanted to pause and talk about all the unexpected emotions that come with graduating. We reflect on our last couple months on campus, losing the “student” part of our identity, what we’re excited and nervous about for new grad, and saying goodbye to many friends and family. ___________________________________________________________ Music: Tape Star by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com Thank you for listening! Support us by subscribing, reviewing and sharing this podcast with your friends. → SUBSCRIBE TO US! @hellorealworld on Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts → STAY UPDATED! Instagram ⁠⁠@hellorealworldpodcast⁠⁠ Twitter ⁠⁠@hellorealworld_⁠⁠ → EMAIL US! ⁠⁠hellorealworldpodcast@gmail.com⁠

What is life like as a medical school student? From surviving a competitive undergrad to finding the right specialty, our friend Sonya Batth joins us in this episode to share her journey in becoming a doctor. As two people in the tech bubble, we found it fascinating to learn about what her pre-med experience was like, what her day-to-day is currently, and what her future in medicine may hold. What types of people make it to medical school? What are some unexpected realities of pursuing med? Is there a large emotional toll underneath it all? Tune in to find out! Timestamps: (00:00) - Intro (02:32) - Why medicine? (06:50) - Path to becoming a doctor  (15:00) - Types of people that get into med school (26:00) - Day in a life of a med school student (39:00) - Ethics, morals, and idolizing doctors (43:30) - Debunking med student stereotypes   (51:00) - Work life balance, emotional toll & burnout  (01:05:00) - Sonya’s plans for the future ___________________________________________________________ Music: Tape Star by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com Thank you for listening! Support us by subscribing, reviewing and sharing this podcast with your friends. → SUBSCRIBE TO US! @hellorealworld on Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts → STAY UPDATED! Instagram ⁠@hellorealworldpodcast⁠ Twitter ⁠@hellorealworld_⁠ → EMAIL US! ⁠hellorealworldpodcast@gmail.com

“Will I find love or will I end up alone?” According to psychology, our 20s is a defining period where we may learn to form some of most intimate relationships or experience some of the greatest feelings of isolation and loneliness. In episode 25, we discuss this theory in-depth and reflect on our personal experiences. Carol shares her experience learning how to be intimate in her first serious romantic relationship and Emily talks about finding connection in friends after leaving a long-term relationship. ___________________________________________________________ Music: Tape Star by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com Thank you for listening! Support us by subscribing, reviewing and sharing this podcast with your friends. → SUBSCRIBE TO US! @hellorealworld on Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts → STAY UPDATED! Instagram @hellorealworldpodcast Twitter @hellorealworld_ → EMAIL US! hellorealworldpodcast@gmail.com

We’re great at sharing and celebrating successes, but how often do we talk about failure? In this episode, we sit down with our friends Chris Nguyen and Justin Zhang to discuss the personal failures we’ve faced, how we’ve learned to cope with it, and how we’ve been able to use it as a tool for success. We talk about expectations, comparison, the cost of success and muse over questions like: Why is failure important? How does experiencing failure bring purpose and fulfillment into our lives? Tune in to hear our thoughts. ________________________________________________________________________ Music: Tape Star by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com Thank you for listening! Support us by subscribing, reviewing and sharing this podcast with your friends. → SUBSCRIBE TO US! @hellorealworld on Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts → STAY UPDATED! Instagram @hellorealworldpodcast Twitter @hellorealworld_ → EMAIL US! hellorealworldpodcast@gmail.com

In today’s episode, we talk about how our Asian Canadian identity has shaped us. We reflect on feelings of being different, share our “lunchbox” stories, and talk about how our relationship with our culture has evolved over time. Did we ever feel ashamed of being Asian? When did we start to appreciate and embrace our culture? How do we want to stay in touch with our roots? Tune in to find out. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Music: Tape Star by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com Thank you for listening! Support us by subscribing, reviewing and sharing this podcast with your friends. → SUBSCRIBE TO US! @hellorealworld on Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts → STAY UPDATED! Instagram @hellorealworldpodcast Twitter @hellorealworld_ → EMAIL US! hellorealworldpodcast@gmail.com

Happy New Year 🥂! The start of a new year is always a hopeful time full of anticipation for what’s to come and goals/resolution setting. We talk about both what we’re excited about and what we’re dreading in 2023 - From our last term as students to grad trips to moving to new cities. We’ve historically not been the best at keeping up with New Year's Resolutions… So this year, we talk through our answers using some guiding prompts to help us determine what our focuses and goals are for the year. __________________________________________________ Music: Tape Star by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com Thank you for listening! Support us by subscribing, reviewing and sharing this podcast with your friends. → SUBSCRIBE TO US! @hellorealworld on Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts → STAY UPDATED! Instagram @hellorealworldpodcast Twitter @hellorealworld_ → EMAIL US! hellorealworldpodcast@gmail.com

How is it already the end of the year 😩!? From traveling & studying abroad to summer internships to fourth year in Waterloo - this year was filled with new experiences, learnings and realizations. We reflect on the people, places, and themes that made 2022 the (best and worst - Emily) or (busiest and slowest - Carol) year.  __________________________________________________ Music: Tape Star by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com Thank you for listening! Support us by subscribing, reviewing and sharing this podcast with your friends. → SUBSCRIBE TO US! @hellorealworld on Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts → STAY UPDATED! Instagram @hellorealworldpodcast Twitter @hellorealworld_ → EMAIL US! hellorealworldpodcast@gmail.com

To celebrate our 20th episode, we share the story of how we met, the ups & downs in our friendship, and what ultimately led us to this podcast. We share our first impressions of each other, when we knew the other person was a good friend, and how our relationship has evolved along the way. We'll also take some time to reflect back on the goals and motivations we had a year ago for starting Hello, {real} world! and talk about future plans for the pod!  Whether this is your first episode or 20th, thank you for being here :) __________________________________________________ Music: Tape Star by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com Thank you for listening! Support us by subscribing, reviewing and sharing this podcast with your friends. → SUBSCRIBE TO US! @hellorealworld on Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts → STAY UPDATED! Instagram @hellorealworldpodcast Twitter @hellorealworld_ → EMAIL US! hellorealworldpodcast@gmail.com