The Hidden Pages Podcast

Episode 010: Want a Good Relationship? 3 Things to Do Before & After You’re In One |

Want a Good Relationship? 3 Things to Do Before & After You’re In One | The Hidden Pages Podcast Love is beautiful, messy, and sometimes downright confusing. Whether you're single and preparing for love or in a relationship and wanting to strengthen it, this episode of The Hidden Pages Podcast is for you. I share three things you need to do before getting into a relationship and three things to maintain a strong, lasting partnership once you're in one. After 13 years together, 7 years of marriage, and raising a child, I’ve learned that love isn’t just about finding the right person—it’s about choosing them every day and doing the inner work to build something real. Join me as I share personal stories, relationship lessons, and insights on what truly makes a relationship thrive. ✨ Visit The Hidden Pages Podcast website [https://www.thehiddenpagespodcast.com/] for detailed show notes, more episodes, and ways to connect. 🔖 Episode Highlights: 00:00 - Introduction: Why relationships take work 01:00 - My love story: 13 years, long distance, and major life changes 06:40 - 3 things to do before getting into a relationship 07:00 - Know who you are and what you want 08:45 - Heal your wounds (your partner isn’t responsible for them) 09:50 - Be okay with being alone first 10:30 - 3 things to do to maintain a relationship 11:00 - Choose your partner every day 12:40 - Communicate like you’re on the same team 14:30 - Keep laughing and having fun together 16:50 - Final thoughts: Love is about growth, not perfection 💬 Let’s Connect: Follow me for updates, relationship tips, and real talk about love! 📸 Instagram: @hiddenpagespodcast [https://www.instagram.com/hiddenpagespodcast/] 🎥 TikTok: @thehiddenpagespodcast [https://www.tiktok.com/@thehiddenpagespodcast] 📚 Keywords for Your Journey: healthy relationships, relationship advice, preparing for love, self-love before dating, relationship growth, how to build a strong relationship, marriage advice, dating in your 30s, emotional maturity in relationships, choosing the right partner

Episode 009: Quarter-Life Crisis? How to Find Yourself & Start Over in Your 30s | The Hidden Pages Podcast

In this relatable and candid episode of The Hidden Pages Podcast, I dive deep into what it means to go through a quarter-life crisis—because, trust me, I’m living it right now. If you’ve ever found yourself questioning your career, your passions, or even who you truly are in your 30s, you're not alone. We explore: Why you feel stuck in a life you thought would make you happy How to break free from societal expectations and pressures Practical steps to start clearing the path for the new you Overcoming fear and shame to explore what truly excites you Giving yourself permission to pivot and try something new The truth is, your 30s are not too late to redefine your path, and this episode will help you take that first step toward a life that feels authentic and fulfilling. ✨ Visit The Hidden Pages Podcast website [https://www.thehiddenpagespodcast.com/] for detailed show notes, more episodes, and ways to connect. 🔖 Episode Highlights: 00:00 - Welcome to The Hidden Pages Podcast 01:14 - What is a quarter-life crisis, and why am I feeling this way? 03:50 - Why we made decisions that don’t fit our true selves 07:10 - The pressure to have it all figured out in your 20s 10:30 - How to start clearing the path for the real you 14:15 - Exploring your passions without fear of failure 17:40 - Why it’s never too late to start over 20:00 - Practical steps to finding yourself again 22:30 - Your challenge: Three things to explore this month 📚 Episode Resources & Links: Books That Inspired This Episode: The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter and How to Make the Most of Them Now by Meg Jay - (https://amzn.to/4aoLVoI [https://amzn.to/4aoLVoI]) Atomic Habits by James Clear - (https://amzn.to/3PHqSUD [https://amzn.to/3PHqSUD]) Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself by Dr. Kristin Neff - (https://amzn.to/4jmADFA [https://amzn.to/4jmADFA]) Practical Tools for Your Journey: Weighted Blanket for Stress Relief - (https://amzn.to/4asvt6F [https://amzn.to/4asvt6F]) 💬 Let’s Connect: Follow me for updates, challenges, and healing tips! 📸 Instagram: @hiddenpagespodcast [https://www.instagram.com/hiddenpagespodcast/] 🎥 TikTok: @thehiddenpagespodcast [https://www.tiktok.com/@thehiddenpagespodcast] 📚 Keywords for Your Journey: quarter-life crisis, finding yourself in your 30s, self-discovery journey, starting over in your 30s, navigating life changes, overcoming feeling stuck, embracing personal growth, how to find your passion again, career pivot in your 30s, reinventing yourself at any age 🎧 Listen now and take the first step toward rediscovering yourself!

Episode 008: Why I’m Speaking Out: The Humanity Behind the Palestine Conflict | The Hidden Pages Podcast

In this deeply personal episode of The Hidden Pages Podcast, I open up about why I feel compelled to speak out about the ongoing Palestine conflict. As someone with close personal ties—my husband is half-Palestinian, and my daughter carries Palestinian heritage—this issue is more than just a headline; it's personal. This episode isn’t about politics or changing anyone’s mind—it’s about humanizing individuals, breaking down harmful generalizations, and standing for shared humanity. I reflect on my experiences with cultural generalization as an immigrant and how it has shaped my perspective on the importance of identity, empathy, and speaking out for those who can’t. Whether you're deeply invested in this issue or just looking to understand it from a human perspective, my hope is to encourage compassion and remind us all that everyone deserves freedom and safety. ✨ Visit The Hidden Pages Podcast website [https://www.thehiddenpagespodcast.com/] for detailed show notes, more episodes, and ways to connect. 🔖 Episode Highlights: 00:00 - Welcome and trigger warning 01:06 - My personal connection to the Palestine conflict 03:00 - The dangers of generalizing cultures and conflicts 06:12 - The impact of cultural identity and why it matters 09:25 - The human cost of the conflict: why I had to take a break 12:40 - Why I chose to speak out now 15:00 - Challenging biases and standing for humanity 17:30 - Final thoughts and the importance of compassion 📚 Episode Resources & Links: Educational Resources: Understanding the Palestinian Struggle [https://www.unrwa.org/] - (https://www.unrwa.org/ [https://www.unrwa.org/]) Breaking Down Generalizations and Bias [https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest.html] - (https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest.html [https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest.html]) Books to Explore: Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid by Jimmy Carter [https://amzn.to/3BK4ZRp] - (https://amzn.to/3PNh7nS [https://amzn.to/3PNh7nS]) The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine by Ilan Pappé [https://amzn.to/41JvzVd] - (https://amzn.to/3DZ9aJY [https://amzn.to/3DZ9aJY]) Ways to Help: Help people in Gaza and the West Bank - (https://crisisrelief.un.org/opt-crisis [https://crisisrelief.un.org/opt-crisis]) Learn More - (https://www.savethechildren.org/us/where-we-work/west-bank-gaza [https://www.savethechildren.org/us/where-we-work/west-bank-gaza]) 💬 Let’s Connect: Follow me for updates, challenges, and healing tips! 📸 Instagram: @hiddenpagespodcast [https://www.instagram.com/hiddenpagespodcast/] 🎥 TikTok: @thehiddenpagespodcast [https://www.tiktok.com/@thehiddenpagespodcast] 📚 Keywords for Your Journey: Palestine conflict explained, human cost of war, standing with Palestine, personal stories about Palestine, Gaza conflict, breaking down cultural stereotypes, understanding humanity in war, why I stand with Palestine, immigrant experiences and identity, empathy in a divided world 🎧 Tune in now and let’s have an honest conversation about humanity beyond the headlines.

Episode 007: Is it Too Late to Rediscover My Passion? Starting Over in My 30s - Journey to Art & Self-Discovery | The Hidden Pages Podcast

In this deeply personal episode of The Hidden Pages Podcast, I open up about starting over in my 30s and rediscovering my long-lost passion—art. After years of therapy and shedding layers of expectations, I finally reached a place where I could explore who I am beyond the roles I’ve been expected to fill. Through my journey, I’ve realized that it's never too late to pursue what truly lights you up. Inspired by The Artist's Wayby Julia Cameron, I’m embracing creativity, overcoming self-doubt, and taking steps toward a life that aligns with my true self. If you're in your 30s (or beyond) and feel like you've missed your chance to follow your passion, this episode is for you. Whether you're longing for a fresh start or just need encouragement to reconnect with what you love, know that it’s never too late to begin again. ✨ Visit The Hidden Pages Podcast website [https://www.thehiddenpagespodcast.com/] for detailed show notes, more episodes, and ways to connect. 🔖 Episode Highlights: 00:00 - Welcome to The Hidden Pages Podcast 01:14 - My year of healing and the journey to self-discovery 03:50 - How I realized I didn’t know myself anymore 07:10 - The emotional process of finding my true self 10:30 - Why I never allowed myself to pursue art 14:15 - The Artist’s Way and reconnecting with creativity 17:40 - The fear of failing and embracing my dream 20:00 - My goals for 2025 and pursuing art without pressure 22:30 - Encouragement for anyone feeling stuck in their dreams 📚 Episode Resources & Links: People I love that inspired me: LETTER IT OUT By Jenn Lee Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/letteritout_book] LETTER IT OUT By Jenn Lee BOOK [https://jennleecreates.com/shopbook/p/letteritout] Jenn Lee Creates Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/jennleecreates/] Jenn Lee Creates Website [https://jennleecreates.com/] Charly Clements Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/charlyclements/] Charly Clements Portrait Party [https://portraitparty.com/] 💬 Let’s Connect: Follow me for updates, challenges, and healing tips! 📸 Instagram: @hiddenpagespodcast [https://www.instagram.com/hiddenpagespodcast/] 🎥 TikTok: @thehiddenpagespodcast [https://www.tiktok.com/@thehiddenpagespodcast] 📚 Keywords for Your Journey: rediscovering passion in your 30s, starting over in your 30s, finding purpose through art, self-discovery podcast, following your dreams later in life, personal growth journey, healing through creativity, the artist's way challenge, overcoming self-doubt, embracing creativity at any age 🎧 Tune in now and let’s embrace our creative journey together!

Finding Your True Purpose Beyond Expectations | Hidden Pages Podcast

In this empowering episode of The Hidden Pages Podcast, I sit down with Mary Ruiz, a provisionally licensed counselor with an incredible story of transformation. Mary shares how she went from helping manage a multimillion-dollar company to completely pivoting her life and career in her 30s, all while prioritizing her mental health and well-being. Together, we peel back the layers of societal expectations to get real about what it takes to uncover your dream life. This episode is for anyone who feels stuck or unable to pivot toward a more authentic and fulfilling existence. We discuss the importance of self-compassion, letting go of what no longer serves you, and the courage it takes to embrace who you truly are. If you’re ready to stop feeling trapped by societal pressures and start living authentically, this episode will leave you inspired and encouraged to take that first step. ✨ Visit The Hidden Pages Podcast website [https://www.thehiddenpagespodcast.com/] for detailed show notes, more episodes, and ways to connect. Episode Highlights: 00:00 - Introduction to the Hidden Pages Podcast 02:15 - The weight of societal expectations and peeling back the layers 06:30 - Mary Ruiz’s story: Leaving corporate success to prioritize well-being 12:45 - Dr. Kristin Neff’s approach to self-compassion and discovering your true self 18:00 - How societal roles shape our identity and create feelings of being stuck 24:30 - The fear of pivoting in life and how to overcome it 31:15 - Redefining success: Living authentically and letting go of external pressures 38:00 - The power of self-compassion in creating your dream life 45:20 - Building self-awareness and identifying what truly makes you happy 51:40 - Practical steps to begin living authentically 56:00 - Final reflections and encouragement to take the first step toward change Episode Resources & Links: * It Didn’t Start with You by Mark Wolynn [https://amzn.to/3Z5OuH1] * Atomic Habits by James Clear [https://amzn.to/41igNVm] * Self-Compassion by Dr. Kristin Neff * The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook [https://amzn.to/3BK4ZRp] * Fierce Self-Compassion: How Women Can Harness Kindness to Speak Up, Claim Their Power, and Thrive [https://amzn.to/41JvzVd] * Learn about Dr. Kristin Neff’s self-compassion work: Self-Compassion.org [https://self-compassion.org/what-is-self-compassion/#the-elements-of-self-compassion] * Weighted Blanket for Stress Relief [https://amzn.to/41LBDMY] * Follow me for updates, challenges, and healing tips! 📸 Instagram: @hiddenpagespodcast [https://www.instagram.com/hiddenpagespodcast/] 🎥 TikTok: @thehiddenpagespodcast [https://www.tiktok.com/@thehiddenpagespodcast] discovering purpose, societal expectations, redefining success, personal growth, self-compassion, Dr. Kristin Neff, mental health, career pivot, embracing change, Hidden Pages Podcast, Mary Ruiz interview, Vanessa Saleh