Me, But Make It Thriving

Season 3 Episode 27 | Loss, Love, & Legacy: Father’s Day Reflections

In this epiksode of The Mariah Effect, I invited my mom Darsana to join me for what turned out to be one of the most honest conversations we've ever had.   This wasn't an easy episode to record. We probably said things we've never said out loud before. But I think that's what grief does, it makes you raw and real in ways you didn't expect.   If you've lost a parent, if Father's Day felt heavy this year, if you're watching someone you love navigate that loss, or if you're just trying to understand what it means to keep loving someone who's not here anymore, this one's for you. My mom and I figured some things out together, and maybe our messy, imperfect conversation will help you figure some things out too.   Please be gentle with yourself if this brings up difficult feelings. I've included some grief support resources below. Grief Support Resources: * What's Your Grief - WhatIsYourGrief.com [http://WhatIsYourGrief.com] (articles, podcasts, and community support) * GriefShare - GriefShare.org [http://GriefShare.org] (find local support groups) * The Dinner Party - TheDinnerParty.org [http://TheDinnerParty.org] (grief support for 20s and 30s) * Crisis Text Line - Text HOME to 741741 (24/7 crisis support) • • Modern Loss - ModernLoss.com [http://ModernLoss.com] (stories and resources for navigating grief) Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-mariah-effect--5832015/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-mariah-effect--5832015/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss].

Episode 26: Embracing My Truth

In this episode of The Mariah Effect, I'm joined by my best friend Malory for a deeply personal conversation about love, identity, and the beautiful complexity of human connection.   For Pride Month, I wanted to create space for the kind of raw, honest dialogue that this community deserves: one that goes beyond surface-level celebration to explore what it actually means to show up authentically in a world that doesn't always make room for who we are.   Mallory opens up about her journey with asexuality, sharing what it's like to navigate a society that often equates love with romance and connection with physical intimacy. Her perspective challenged me to think differently about the ways we experience and express love, and how those expressions are all equally valid and profound.   We talk about the courage it takes to claim your identity, the exhaustion of constantly having to explain yourself, and the freedom that comes when you finally stop apologizing for who you are. This conversation reminded me that Pride isn't just about celebration; it's about visibility, understanding, and the radical act of loving ourselves and each other exactly as we are. If you've ever felt like you didn't quite fit into the boxes the world created for you, or if you're still figuring out what love and connection mean for you, this episode is for you.   I hope this conversation gives you permission to embrace your truth and the courage to love yourself and others without limits. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-mariah-effect--5832015/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-mariah-effect--5832015/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss].

Episode 25 | The Cost of Caring

In this episode of The Mariah Effect, I’m sharing a really personal look at my mental health journey and what it looked like to show up for others while quietly struggling myself. Over the years, I have worked in a lot of different mental health settings, from crisis centers to sober living homes. Each role taught me something different about empathy, boundaries, and the weight of carrying other people's pain.  But the truth is, I was not always taking care of myself in the process. I found myself giving advice I was not following, offering tools I had not fully embraced, and pushing through while silently unraveling. In this episode, I reflect on what it took to finally start prioritizing my own healing. I talk about the importance of therapy, how hard but necessary it is to ask for help, and how self care became a lifeline rather than a luxury to me. If you have ever felt overwhelmed, exhausted, or like you had to be the strong one to support everyone else (even when you’re struggling yourself), this episode is for you. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-mariah-effect--5832015/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-mariah-effect--5832015/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss].

Me, But Make It Thriving

In this episode of The Mariah Effect, I’m opening up about some of the big changes happening in my life like moving through grief, encouraging growth in myself, and reshaping the direction of this podcast. I’ve been learning to put my own needs first and make decisions based on what I want (not what others expect).   I also touch on what I’m most excited about as I step into this new season (including bringing video into the mix!). I hope this episode of The Mariah Effect inspires you and reminds you that growth is always worth it. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-mariah-effect--5832015/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-mariah-effect--5832015/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss].

The Give and Take of Grief

Grief doesn’t just show up after someone is gone—it begins in the waiting, in the witnessing, and in the quiet moments in between. In this deeply personal episode, I share the story of my grief as I walk alongside the final days of Roland Merrill, a man who was not my biological father, but who loved me and showed up for me like a dad. I talk about what it means to grieve while someone is still here, how hospice changes time, and what it feels like to navigate love, loss, and family dynamics that make grief even more complex. I open up about the struggle of showing up for others while managing my own health and full-time life, and how this moment echoes the grief I felt after losing my grandpa in 2021—but with an intensity and surrealness all its own. This episode is an offering—for anyone grieving, for anyone who’s ever felt alone in that grief, and for anyone learning to care for themselves in the midst of it. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-mariah-effect--5832015/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-mariah-effect--5832015/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss].