In this first voice note, I share how doomscrolling until 3 a.m. was a tough reminder on the importance of stillness and boredom.

I normally enjoy calm and quiet, but the more helpless and hopeless I feel, the more my autopilot brain would rather distract and stimulate itself than to sit still with the discomfort.

If you’ve also been reaching for distractions you don’t even like, maybe it’s time to pause, reflect, and make a change.

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Voice notes  is a miniseries within the And Didn't Die podcast.

I'm treating these like actual voice notes I would send to a friend during the messy moments of life from brain dumping and unexpected realizations to gentle reminders and pep talks.

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Interested in working together? Book a free discovery call for coaching at ⁠⁠⁠byjenniferho.com/discovery⁠⁠

Making new friends as an adult can feel risky, emotionally and physically. What if it’s awkward? What if you don’t click? What if they kidnap you in the desert?

But also what if it all goes right?

In this episode, I share the story of visiting my friend Reiko, someone I’d only ever seen on Zoom, and what it taught me about receiving care, hospitality, and friendship without feeling like I had to “earn it.”

If you’ve ever found it easier to give than to receive… if you struggle to let people show up for you… if you're craving deeper friendships but scared of being a burden… this one’s for you ♥️

I’d love to hear your version of this story. Leave a comment or send me a DM on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Interested in working together? Book a free discovery call for coaching at ⁠⁠byjenniferho.com/discovery⁠

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Topics: making friends as an adult, making friends as an introvert, internet friends, receiving, emotional labor, self-leadership, adult friendship, loneliness, introverts, community, eldest daughters, vulnerability, taking the first step, letting people show up for you

Making new friends as an adult can feel awkward, intimidating, and sometimes downright impossible. But it doesn't have to be.

In this episode, I share how I used my own framework to make friends as an introvert, my mind drama along the way, and how having dinner with 5 strangers on a Wednesday night worked out. I talk about choosing friendship instead of waiting to be chosen, and how to keep the process light and fun for yourself.

If you’ve been feeling lonely lately or telling yourself “making friends is too hard now,” and you don’t know if it’s possible to make friends as an adult, this one’s for you ♥️

I’d love to hear your version of this story. Leave a comment or send me a DM on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Interested in working together? Book a free discovery call for coaching at ⁠byjenniferho.com/discovery⁠

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Topics: adult friendship, loneliness, introverts, community, eldest daughters, vulnerability, taking the first step, making friends as an adult, making friends as an introvert, self-leadership

This is as straightforward as it gets. You asked for the speech, and here it is! With some unscripted commentary ;)

Ahh this is literally from the archives of my life since I wrote and delivered it like 15 years ago.

As always, I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment or send me a DM on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠.

I was elbow deep in Dungeness crab, and I hadn’t planned to say it, but I did. I told my mom to seek the help of a therapist instead of venting to me. And thankfully, none of my worst fears came true.

In this episode, I share what led to that scary moment that stresses me out just thinking about it and what happened after. I reflect on the unspoken emotional labor in immigrant families, and how we get to shape our relationships with our parents as adult children.

If you’ve ever wanted to set a boundary with your parents but were worried it would break the relationship, this one’s for you ♥️

I’d love to hear your version of this story. Leave a comment or send me a DM on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠.

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Interested in working together? Book a free discovery call for coaching at byjenniferho.com/discovery

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Topics: emotional labor, mental health, eldest daughters, immigrant families, boundaries, mother-daughter relationships, therapy stigma, AAPI, AANHPI, self-leadership, adult children, family dynamics

I thought becoming valedictorian would feel like a win. Instead, it felt like a quiet defeat, involving an unchosen rivalry with a white boy, a speech I didn’t want to give, and an achievement that created some of the loneliness moments of my life.

In this episode, I revisit a chapter of my life where I did “everything right” on paper, but still felt invisible. I reflect a bit the model minority myth, and I finally share what I was too scared to say back then: I wasn’t proud.

If you’ve ever followed the rules only to end up feeling confused about unfair outcomes, this one’s for you ♥️

I’d love to hear your version of a "Fortune Cookie" story! Leave a comment or send me a DM on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠.

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Topics: valedictorian, arbitrary rules, model minority myth, Asian American identity, eldest daughters, academic pressure, invisibility, unchosen rivalry, family dynamics, immigrant culture, AAPI, AANHPI

What starts as a story about missing highlighters quickly unfolds into something deeper... resentment, family dynamics, and the invisible pressure of being the eldest daughter

In this episode, I revisit a childhood moment that left me confused, silenced, and questioning right and wrong. I unpack how resentment shows up, why it’s often misunderstood, and what it actually has to teach us.

If you’ve ever held back your voice to keep the peace, or felt guilty just for having "bad" feelings, this one’s for you ♥️

I'd love to hear your version of a highlighter story! Leave a comment or send me a DM on ⁠Instagram⁠ / ⁠LinkedIn⁠.

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Topics: eldest daughter, resentment, family dynamics, asian mom, self-leadership, being seen, big feelings, eldest daughters, AAPI, AANHPI

After two years of Ask an Introvert, I did something that scared the sh*t out of me... I rebranded the podcast.

In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of why I changed the name and how and I didn’t die reflects the version of me I’m becoming. I share what I was afraid of (like saying the wrong thing, outgrowing an identity, and disappointing loyal listeners), what shifted in me, and what’s coming next.

If you’ve ever felt like evolving means you’re “quitting” or “running away,” this one’s for you ♥️

Let me know what you think of the rebrand! I'd love it if you sent me DM me on Instagram or LinkedIn.

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Topics: identity shifts, rebranding, self-leadership, podcast growth, creating from your whole self, being seen, fear of change, eldest daughters, AAPI, AANHPI