Vivian Van reflects on growing up in a large extended family, the pressure to please others, and the struggle to find her true self. She discusses the importance of recognizing different personality types in group dynamics, embracing diversity, and the journey of self-discovery. Vivian also delves into her career transition and the power of self-acceptance and personal storytelling.

Rowena Tsai, mental health advocate and content creator, joins the hosts for an in-person interview. They discuss growing up in different countries, resisting societal expectations, the power of words and finding help, and the challenges faced by content creators. They reflect on personal experiences and express gratitude for human connection.

The hosts apologize for their unannounced hiatus, share updates and future plans, reflect on their personal growth, discuss the meaning of life, and tease upcoming projects and guests for Season 2.

Kicking off this week with a sweet little story time: Viv meets a listener for the first time IRL! 🥰 In this episode, ⁠Rowena⁠ and ⁠Vivian⁠ share about their experience growing up Asian-American and the influence that culture and ethnicity have on various aspect of their lives. From navigating between two cultures, to redefining success and forging their own paths, the duo each share their own unique stories from childhood to present time. We appreciate all of you for being here! ❤️ Say hello, give us feedback, or share any topics/questions you’d like to hear in future episodes. Leave us a review on Apple Podcast or rate us on Spotify or Apple - it really helps and your support means so much! 💌 Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@voicehugspodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📷 IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@voicehugspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🫧 Viv's IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vivianxvan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🦈 Ro's IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rowenatsai⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/voicehugs/support

What is your jealousy trying to tell you? We’ve all experienced it firsthand. Whether in romantic, platonic, or familial relationships, jealousy can show up in various facets of our lives often bringing forth complex emotions and challenging our sense of self. In this episode, Ro and Viv explore the origins of their jealousy and how it may be more closely related to other emotions such as fear and sadness. After all, jealousy tends to arise as a response to a perceived or threatened loss or sense of inadequacy. The duo talk about the difference between feeling jealous versus acting jealous, and how embracing the emotion can help us understand ourselves a little more. A friendly reminder that you’re not “crazy” for feeling jealous 😇  We appreciate all of you for being here! ❤️ Say hello, give us feedback, or share any topics/questions you’d like to hear in future episodes. Leave us a review on Apple Podcast or rate us on Spotify or Apple - it really helps and your support means so much! 💌 Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@voicehugspodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📷 IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@voicehugspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🫧 Viv's IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vivianxvan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🦈 Ro's IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rowenatsai⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/voicehugs/support

Fear of intimacy can show up in our lives in many different and unexpected ways. Connection is so important to our human experience, yet we are often afraid of it. In this episode, Ro and Viv dive into a listener’s question of why it's difficult to truly open up, and why it's often harder to open up to strangers than it is with ourselves. In order to connect, we must first want to connect and be ready to do so! Ro shares how experiencing loss at a young age led to her fear of disappointment which kept her away from forming connections in her 20s. Viv shares her realization that her fear of abandonment may stem from a deeply rooted belief that she's a "bad" person. They explore the concept of learning to judge the “bad” or “less desirable” parts of ourselves less, and instead try to see why it exists so that instead we can turn it into a superpower! (rather than something we’re guilty or ashamed of). Finally, the duo discuss the importance of creating a safe and intimate space for ourselves because the fear of intimacy isn't just with others, but also within you. Thanks for staying with us til the end on this one! It was a harder episode for Viv to record and the resistance was real hehe We appreciate all of you for being here! ❤️ Say hello, give us feedback, or share any topics/questions you’d like to hear in future episodes. Leave us a review on Apple Podcast or rate us on Spotify or Apple - it really helps and your support means so much! 💌 Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@voicehugspodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📷 IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@voicehugspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🫧 Viv's IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vivianxvan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🦈 Ro's IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rowenatsai⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/voicehugs/support

Having trouble communicating with your loved ones? Are you tired of feeling misunderstood? Do you ever feel like your words get lost in translation? This week, Ro and Viv explore the world of nonviolent communication (NVC), a method of communication that promotes understanding, empathy, and connection between people. The foundation of NVC encourages us to focus on our needs and emotions and to express them in a way that is respectful and empathetic towards others. They discuss the four components of NVC - observation, feeling, need and request - and how each one contributes to effective communication. Whether it’s expressing to your partner you’ve been wanting to spend more quality time or letting a friend know something that has been bothering you, NVC can be applied in our daily lives to help us listen empathetically, express ourselves clearly, and seek common ground with others. We hope this episode sheds light on the art of nonviolent communication and how it can help us build more empathetic and connected relationships. By practicing the principles of nonviolent communication, we can create a more harmonious and peaceful world, one conversation at a time. 💌 Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@voicehugspodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📷 IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@voicehugspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🫧 Viv's IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vivianxvan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🦈 Ro's IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rowenatsai⁠ Mentions: Book: Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life by Marshall B Rosenberg --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/voicehugs/support

We've all heard of the 5 love languages, but have you heard of the 5 apology languages? In this episode, Ro and Viv explore the intricacies of apologizing and dive into the 5 different apology languages. Discover why it can be difficult to apologize and how understanding the different apology languages can improve communication and relationships. Tune in for insights on how personality types and individual preferences can influence the way we give and receive apologies. We appreciate all of you for being here! ❤️ Say hello, give us feedback, or share any topics/questions you’d like to hear in future episodes. Leave us a review on Apple Podcast or rate us on Spotify or Apple - it really helps and your support means so much! 💌 Email: ⁠⁠⁠hello@voicehugspodcast.com⁠⁠⁠ 📷 IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@voicehugspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🫧 Viv's IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vivianxvan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🦈 Ro's IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@rowenatsai Mentions: Apology Language Quiz - https://5lovelanguages.com/quizzes/apology-language --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/voicehugs/support

On this episode of Gossip, Viv and Ro take a deep dive into the world of gossip and its impact on our daily lives. They explore the power of words and the importance of being mindful of how we use them. Tune in as they discuss whether gossip can ever be good, the act of talking about someone behind their back, and the allure of spilling tea. Along the way, they share their past experiences with gossip and the impact it had on them. This thought-provoking conversation will make you question your own relationship with gossip. We appreciate all of you for being here! ❤️ Say hello, give us feedback, or share any topics/questions you’d like to hear in future episodes. Leave us a review on Apple Podcast or rate us on Spotify or Apple - it really helps and your support means so much! 💌 Email: ⁠⁠hello@voicehugspodcast.com⁠⁠ 📷 IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@voicehugspodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🫧 Viv's IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@vivianxvan⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🦈 Ro's IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@rowenatsai Mentions: Book: The Four Agreements – "Be impeccable with your words" https://amzn.to/3Uz0rlI --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/voicehugs/support

Grief is a universal feeling that comes in many shapes and sizes. Whether it's the loss of a loved one, the loss of who you used to be, or what could have been, grief is a difficult emotion that we all experience. In this episode, Ro and Viv share their personal experiences with grief. Ro lost her sibling at the age of 17, and Viv recently lost a parent. They both talk about how they coped with their loss and the challenges of adjusting to a new reality. They also offer ways to be there for a friend who may be grieving. Grief is a personal journey, and everyone processes it differently and on their own timeline. It can be a difficult time, and your brain is occupied with trying to reorganize a reality that no longer makes sense. While grief may never fully leave you, it is possible to integrate it into your life in a beautiful way. So grab some tissues and a sweater hug, and join us as we talk about the five stages of grief, making sense of loss, and being kind and patient with yourself on your journey of grieving. A gentle reminder that it’s okay to be not okay. We appreciate all of you for being here! ❤️ Say hello, give us feedback, or share any topics/questions you’d like to hear in future episodes. Leave us a review on Apple Podcast or rate us on Spotify or Apple - it really helps and your support means so much! 💌 Email: ⁠hello@voicehugspodcast.com⁠ 📷 IG: ⁠⁠⁠@voicehugspodcast⁠⁠⁠ 🫧 Viv's IG: ⁠⁠⁠@vivianxvan⁠⁠⁠ 🦈 Ro's IG: ⁠⁠⁠@rowenatsai --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/voicehugs/support