

soju with sarah
sarah pan
a safe space to explore adulthood, relationships, life in our 20s, careers & finance :)
đź’Ś JOIN THE COMMUNITY! đź’Ś
send us your advice column questions, life advice tips, or podcast feedback! âž https://tally.so/r/mV85KM
join our newsletter! âž https://sojuwithsarah.substack.com
send us an email! âž hello@sojuwithsarah.com
đź’Ś JOIN THE COMMUNITY! đź’Ś
send us your advice column questions, life advice tips, or podcast feedback! âž https://tally.so/r/mV85KM
join our newsletter! âž https://sojuwithsarah.substack.com
send us an email! âž hello@sojuwithsarah.com
Episodes
Mentioned books

4 snips
Apr 11, 2025 • 30min
feeling beautiful when you dont fit the beauty standard
After a transformative trip to Asia, the discussion dives into how travel prompts introspection about beauty standards. In Korea, affordability in beauty services shifts self-care norms, while social media influences insecurities. Sarah reflects on feeling out of place due to cultural beauty ideals and emphasizes the importance of self-care over vanity. She highlights that beauty is subjective and encourages listeners to embrace their natural features. The episode concludes with a reminder that everyone deserves self-care, celebrating inner growth as critical to feeling beautiful.

Apr 4, 2025 • 1h 2min
do cultural differences matter in a relationship?
hello from korea! today we're tuning in from asia and sharing some reflections we've been making / having / discussing while on this trip ~ for some soju shotties who aren't aware, james is actually korean and i (sarah) am chinese! through the years, we've both made active efforts to learn and inquire more about each others cultures but even then, it can be hard! so strap in, grab your soju mug and let's chat!drink of the day: somaek 소맥chapters(00:00:00) preview(00:06:36) does it matter if there are cultural differences?(00:11:23) personal identity (as an ABC / banana)(00:19:44) is cultural differences a dealbreaker?(00:23:54) what language do we teach our kids?(00:31:13) intermission snack!(00:43:37) the perks of being korean(00:45:00) why sarah feels comfortable in korea(00:46:54) a funny story in japan(00:51:47) yearning for a cultural experience(00:54:29) soju tasting event??(00:58:24) james is tipsy(01:01:45) bloopers

Mar 28, 2025 • 48min
do you miss being single?
welcome to today’s spicy episode where we answer a controversial question, “do you miss being single?” while there’s no clear answer to this, we do dive into the nuances of being single vs. in a relationship and our realities back when we had more “relationship independence” ~ for all of our soju shotties out there that are single, let us know your thoughts! today's specialty drink on the menu: mixed berry greenschapters(00:00:00) intro(00:06:34) do you ever wish you were single again?(00:10:01) independence & freedom(00:18:56) being in a relationship is the new norm(00:20:07) is life “more boring?” In a relationship(00:24:07) friendships are different(00:29:26) missing your “single self”(00:30:54) what I DONT miss about being single(00:35:37) self doubt & single hood(00:38:50) what if we were not in each other’s lives?(00:43:59) to our single soju shotties(00:45:17) bloopers! (recent movie recs)

Mar 21, 2025 • 52min
a guy’s perspective on dating & long-term commitment
Dive into the male perspective on dating and long-term commitment, where James candidly shares his journey through love. Discover his ideal type and his unconventional dating history. The conversation touches on the fears of commitment, vulnerabilities, and the humor found in early romance experiences. Packed with insights on building confidence and navigating societal pressures, this discussion emphasizes the emotional complexities of relationships and personal growth. Plus, enjoy some light-hearted banter and reflections on marriage readiness!

Mar 14, 2025 • 35min
my mindset as i approach 30
today we're chatting about mindset shifts as we entering our 30s ~ while 30 is still a few years away from me, the 20s can be a confusing & challenging period leading up to it. i've personally had my own existential crises in this time (as y'all have probably witnessed) so today let's break down the little bits of our late 20s that challenge us!today's specialty drink on the menu: pink lemonadechapters(00:00:00) intro(00:04:13) the idea of turning 30 (00:06:48) learning more about yourself(00:08:13) caring less about opinions(00:11:00) aging and self-care(00:12:36) health is wealth(00:16:02) listen to your body (00:17:55) my attitude towards career(00:24:10) time feels scarce(00:27:59) deciding what friends matter(00:30:25) standards for my partner(00:34:12) outro

Mar 7, 2025 • 52min
what we owe our parents (& what we don't)
today we're talking about family dynamics & growing up in an immigrant household ~ this is a topic that is near and dear to our hearts so we're diving into all things familial responsibilities, commitments & what we truly owe our families. so grab your mugs and let's chat! today's specialty drink on the menu: yogurt sojuchapters(00:00:00) intro(00:03:01) do you owe your parents? (00:12:37) why do parents feel entitled?(00:16:26) vicarious dream fulfillment(00:24:36) pressure to help siblings or partners(00:27:22) pressure from relatives (00:32:38) being selfish(00:33:21) good parenting tactics (00:38:22) what do we owe our family?(00:44:01) what do we *not* owe our family?(00:50:51) bloopers

23 snips
Feb 28, 2025 • 23min
the life advice you need to hear (pt. 2)
Dive into life-changing insights, starting with the idea of failing small to avoid bigger setbacks. Discover the power of asking seemingly 'stupid' questions to accelerate your learning. Embrace forward momentum by falling forward rather than backward in life. Learn how to attract opportunities by doing things just for fun. Sarah highlights the importance of selective criticism and encourages a healthier perspective on jealousy. Lastly, tackle procrastination with the simple two-minute rule for productivity.

Feb 21, 2025 • 1h 9min
finding your personal style
today we're having a fun chat about fashion, style & self expression ~ there will be one too many cringey outfit pics, some *lighthearted* roasts & deep dives into our fashion evolutions :)today's specialty drink on the menu: melon jelly sojuchapters(00:00:00) intro(00:09:10) drink of the day(00:10:07) james' relationship to personal style(00:14:45) sarah's relationship to personal style(00:23:54) fashion & style as a creator(00:29:13) intermission & fashion ROAST(00:50:31) don't throw away old clothes!(00:57:12) style tips(01:07:54) bloopers

Feb 14, 2025 • 57min
my ex didn't know my name... | reading your valentine's day love (& horror!) stories
read all our soju shotty 💕vday💕 submissions here! ➠https://sojuwithsarah.comfrom high school sweethearts to complete sociopaths, from soulmates to exes who didn’t even know your name—this episode is a rollercoaster. we’re diving into wild dating stories, rekindled romances, matchmaking fails, and love advice straight from the soju shotties. buckle up for some unhinged, hilarious, and heartwarming moments. 💕today's specialty drink on the menu: orange mango bikklechapters(00:00:00) intro (00:06:27) high school sweethearts (00:09:30) a complete sociopath (00:12:35) meeting your partner online (00:14:44) ex doesn't know my name (00:16:50) driving 2 hrs for first date (00:20:36) charging your ex (00:23:40) are we soulmates? (00:29:14) matchmaking for friends (00:30:53) friends to lovers (00:35:32) rekindling love (00:39:49) love advice from soju shotties (00:54:31) outro (00:56:51) bloopers

Feb 7, 2025 • 37min
being cool is overrated
today we're talking about being "cool" - the pitfalls and distractions that "coolness" creates in our lives. we talk about living in nyc, the death of subculture, and what to prioritize in life. get ready for another friday of putting us on your incognito browser at work, minimizing the window, and listening to the dulcet tones of our voices as you pretend to work on this beautiful day :)
today's specialty drink on the menu: pear soda
(00:00:00) intro
(00:02:04) "trendy" cities
(00:05:21) drink of the day
(00:08:13) episode topic
(00:11:47) does sarah care about coolness?
(00:18:29) are we cool?
(00:22:06) just do what you want
(00:25:57) attractiveness = coolness
(00:27:14) first impressions
(00:29:24) coolness never lasts
(00:32:32) outro
(00:35:49) bloopers