authenticity vs performance: when influencers stop 'influencing'

what no one told me about adult friendships

happy 2026 lovelies! 💕 this week, we're gonna talk about adult friendships and how sometimes, the real test of friendships lies in the way we deal with different seasons of life. Substack article mentioned: On Adult Friendships and Diverging Timelines [https://unloadingthoughts.substack.com/p/on-adult-friendships-and-diverging] Follow Between the Covers for more Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/0ZWsWR8cZL8jpOfl6RQSS2?si=ee13498d4c8a465d] Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/vn/podcast/between-the-covers/id1782662657] IG [https://www.instagram.com/louvre.sentiment] Mia's Substacks @unloadingthoughts [https://unloadingthoughts.substack.com/]

curiosity is an underrated form of intimacy

Between the Covers is back on another friday, this time in video!! (hands still sweating at the thought of this 🥹). how often do we actually take time to be curious about our loved ones? in this episode, we're dissecting the lost art of conversation (i.e., asking questions), curiosity as the deepest form of intimacy, and how to become a better villager. Follow Between the Covers for more: Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/6gmQzxpXJbeEktXeFHenjW?si=38d68157bcbd44d0] Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/vn/podcast/between-the-covers/id1782662657] IG [https://www.instagram.com/louvre.sentiment/] Mia's Substacks [https://unloadingthoughts.substack.com/] Resources mentioned: * why boredom might be the most underrated skills [https://ayushithakkar.substack.com/p/why-boredom-might-be-the-most-underrated] * we're not bored anymore and we should be [https://postcardsbyelle.substack.com/p/were-not-bored-and-we-should-be] * interview with relationship expert Jillian Tuckery [https://youtu.be/v_Z6lpjg_ZI?si=LPn5C5B-NcwX5QM7&t=3599] * interview with Simon Sinek [https://youtu.be/I3WUiD8HYn8?si=d7JBFMsGeUobi7of&t=1116] * the archaeology of intimacy [https://softperception.substack.com/p/the-archaeology-of-intimacy] Chapters 00:00 intro + yap 03:15 the lost art of conversations 05:25 we're curious about strangers more than our loved ones 06:40 to be interesting, you have to be interested 09:00 we're not bored anymore, and that's on the internet 13:03 boredom is the basis of creativity 14:50 curiosity is an underrated intimacy skill 18:00 each conversation has a 'main recipient' 19:12 stress makes you a bad listener 22:18 the comfort of silence in relationships 25:00 the sign to let go is when they no longer want to understand 26:18 how to become a better villager 27:23 let's bring back inconvenience in friendship 30:33 outro

authenticity vs performance: when influencers stop 'influencing'

Perhaps, the true currency of a personal brand is authenticity. A label might get you impressions and trust initially, but it’s ultimately verifiable. Authenticity holds real value. It’s what keeps people relevant long after the trend has faded. 🎙️ Follow Between The Covers [https://www.instagram.com/louvre.sentiment/] ⭐️ Follow Mia [https://www.instagram.com/_miahng/] Resources mentioned: authenticity is too expensive [https://clubreticent.substack.com/p/authenticity-is-too-expensive?utm_source=%2Fsearch%2Fauthenticity&utm_medium=reader2#footnote-2-157608514] the lost art of authenticity [https://lifeofrileyh.substack.com/p/the-lost-art-of-authenticity] Have A Sip: Cuộc Sống Là Một Chuỗi Những Bài Kiểm Tra | Dương Ngọc Trinh [https://youtu.be/Q_gR5V0SITs?si=Y9Cz_TI0dFnkKXDy] How To Build A Personal Brand Before It's Too Late ft Chris Do [https://youtu.be/890eAEHu0NU?si=lsMpnwOBhar7z7z7] Chapters: 00:00 intro + episode premise 02:25 recent online discourse around influencers in Vietnam 05:26 wtf is authenticity? 07:53 to be authentic is to look shame dead in the eye 11:00 building a personal brand means coming back to the source 13:45 internet persona + social media niches 15:25 the downside of being a lifestyle influencer 17:25 does being authentic mean oversharing? 20:10 the real currency of a personal brand

the art of beginning anyway

Fear is the antithesis to curiousity. Sometimes, to grow is to decide to 'just ship it', and to become something is to act like we are that thing. 🎙️ Follow Between The Covers [https://www.instagram.com/louvre.sentiment/] ⭐️ Follow Mia [https://www.instagram.com/_miahng/] Resources mentioned: * What Is Imposter Syndrome [https://www.webmd.com/balance/what-is-imposter-syndrome] * Imposter Syndrome As Defined By Dr Gabor Maté [https://youtu.be/gwlepoi1TNE?si=fWS9iPT23EVZnEr4&t=5417] * Where Does Imposter Syndrome Come From & Why It Matters [https://impostorsyndrome.com/articles/where-does-impostor-syndrome-come-from-and-why-it-matters/] * Imposter Syndrome Is The Price of Showing Up [https://www.wildbarethoughts.com/p/imposter-syndrome-is-the-price-of?r=2ik6bx&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false] * David Larbi, Mindful Moments Podcast Episode 58 [https://www.instagram.com/p/DMU1TUMN43m/?img_index=1] * James Clear, Atomic Habits [https://jamesclear.com/quotes/every-action-you-take-is-a-vote-for-the-type-of-person-you-wish-to-become-no-single-instance-will-transform-your-beliefs-but-as-the-votes-build-up-so-does-the-evidence-of-your-new-identity] * Rick Rubin, The Creative Act: A Way Of Being [https://ia600503.us.archive.org/33/items/the-creative-act-by-rick-rubin/The%20Creative%20Act%20By%20Rick%20Rubin.pdf] Bravata, D.M., Watts, S.A., Keefer, A.L. et al. Prevalence, Predictors, and Treatment of Impostor Syndrome: a Systematic Review. J GEN INTERN MED 35, 1252–1275 (2020). Thomas M, Bigatti S. Perfectionism, impostor phenomenon, and mental health in medicine: a literature review. Int J Med Educ. 2020 Sep 28;11:201-213. Chapters: 00:00 intro + episode premise 03:50 what is imposter syndrome, actually? 07:33 causes & influnces 08:55 does imposter syndrome come from parenting styles? 10:45 imposter syndrome in my childhood 14:04 the fear of rejection cause you to reject yourself 16:35 'just ship' mantra 17:30 let your ideas come into contact with reality 20:55 create while feeling self-conscious 22:23 the process of becoming #impostersyndrome #selfexpression #creativity

is it possible to be a hopeful romantic in 2025?

with the rise of anti hopeless romantics, pathologizing and misdiagnosing relationship behaviors, and the endless choices of love prospects, how and is it even possible to be a hopeful romantic? Follow Between The Covers [https://www.instagram.com/louvre.sentiment/] Chapters: 00:00 intro + episode's premise 00:55 my (not so convincing) attempt at film review 03:07 are we a geneneration of cynical romantics? 04:40 the trajectory of hopeless romantics 07:20 pathologizing relationship behaviors 10:20 why are we all looking for love? 12:50 a very tmi invitation into my intrusive thoughts 15:23 if love is so temporary, then what' the point? 19:16 what does 'hopeful romantic' even mean? References: Watch This If You're Ready to Rethink Romantic Relationships [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olzuQmLQlSQ] Deciphering my extremely honest and blunt notes on love and heartbreak 🖤 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDQInE86_Xs&t=2403s] Love Without Evidence [https://museguided.substack.com/p/love-without-evidence] Love Is Not Enough [https://museguided.substack.com/p/love-is-not-enough] Hopeful Romantics [https://scribbledmilk.substack.com/p/hopeful-romantic]