The In-Between Years Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:27:50 -0400 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2465498 en-us © 2026 The In-Between Years yes 908e050b-9c76-578a-884f-0c1ac99d6a23 Meghana Narayanan episodic false A fun, candid, and sometimes messy exploration of what it’s really like to be in your mid-twenties and juggling multiple goals—like a full-time job, side hustle, relationships, and figuring out your personal life. Through lively conversations with guests from all walks of life, you’ll laugh, learn, and reflect on the ups and downs of this transitional phase.

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Meghana Narayanan https://storage.buzzsprout.com/gje60f6gprawq8aiu5ivcr642kin?.jpg The In-Between Years Ep 5: What No One Tells You About Friendship in Your 20s Ep 5: What No One Tells You About Friendship in Your 20s Welcome back to the In-Between Years! - the space where we unpack the chaos of growing up and figuring life out one messy chapter at a time. Whether you’ve been tuning in since the beginning or you’re just joining the ride, I’m so glad you’re here :)) 

Today’s episode hits close to home for so many of us - we’re diving into something we don’t talk about nearly enough: friendship. You know that weird shift that happens as you get older? Suddenly, the people you used to see every day are scattered across different cities, careers, and life stages. Between chasing goals, managing responsibilities, and trying to keep yourself sane, maintaining friendships can start to feel like one more thing on the to-do list.

In this episode, i'm joined by THREE very special guests and we’re getting real about the growing pains of adult friendships. We talk about the natural drift from childhood connections, how to nurture meaningful relationships when everyone’s on a different path, and lot's of other exciting things! It’s honest, a little bittersweet, and hopefully, a reminder that you’re not the only one trying to figure it all out.

So if you’ve ever felt like your friendships are changing faster than you can keep up, or you’re trying to find your people again in the middle of a quarter-life whirlwind — this one’s for you.

]]> Welcome back to the In-Between Years! - the space where we unpack the chaos of growing up and figuring life out one messy chapter at a time. Whether you’ve been tuning in since the beginning or you’re just joining the ride, I’m so glad you’re here :)) 

Today’s episode hits close to home for so many of us - we’re diving into something we don’t talk about nearly enough: friendship. You know that weird shift that happens as you get older? Suddenly, the people you used to see every day are scattered across different cities, careers, and life stages. Between chasing goals, managing responsibilities, and trying to keep yourself sane, maintaining friendships can start to feel like one more thing on the to-do list.

In this episode, i'm joined by THREE very special guests and we’re getting real about the growing pains of adult friendships. We talk about the natural drift from childhood connections, how to nurture meaningful relationships when everyone’s on a different path, and lot's of other exciting things! It’s honest, a little bittersweet, and hopefully, a reminder that you’re not the only one trying to figure it all out.

So if you’ve ever felt like your friendships are changing faster than you can keep up, or you’re trying to find your people again in the middle of a quarter-life whirlwind — this one’s for you.

]]> Meghana Narayanan Buzzsprout-18079714 Sun, 26 Oct 2025 22:00:00 -0700 2507 1 5 full false Ep 4: Finding Purpose in the Chaos - Passion vs. Paycheck Ep 4: Finding Purpose in the Chaos - Passion vs. Paycheck Welcome back to the podcast, where we navigate the rollercoaster of adulting, one tough decision at a time. It’s been a little while, but I’m SO happy to be back! If you're new here, welcome! And if you've been hanging around patiently, thank you for your support. I had to step away for a bit to focus on some other things and just take a breather—hopefully, you’ve had time to catch up on some old episodes while I’ve been away. But now, I’m thrilled to be back and bringing you fresh conversations, starting with today’s episode.

We’re tackling one of the most pressing dilemmas of modern life: do you chase your passion, or do you follow the paycheck?

It’s that constant tug-of-war between doing what you love and doing what you need to survive—especially when the bills keep piling up and job security feels like a distant dream. We’re diving into the chaos of choosing between creativity and stability, purpose and practicality, and how we search for that elusive sweet spot where both can coexist.

I’m joined by two incredible guests, Kaavya and Shayla, who bring a wealth of insight and fresh perspectives to this conversation. Together, we dive into the pressures of balancing your dreams with the reality of financial survival, and how we’re all navigating that tricky tension between passion and practicality.

So, if you’ve ever found yourself torn between doing what you love and doing what pays, this one’s for you.

]]> Welcome back to the podcast, where we navigate the rollercoaster of adulting, one tough decision at a time. It’s been a little while, but I’m SO happy to be back! If you're new here, welcome! And if you've been hanging around patiently, thank you for your support. I had to step away for a bit to focus on some other things and just take a breather—hopefully, you’ve had time to catch up on some old episodes while I’ve been away. But now, I’m thrilled to be back and bringing you fresh conversations, starting with today’s episode.

We’re tackling one of the most pressing dilemmas of modern life: do you chase your passion, or do you follow the paycheck?

It’s that constant tug-of-war between doing what you love and doing what you need to survive—especially when the bills keep piling up and job security feels like a distant dream. We’re diving into the chaos of choosing between creativity and stability, purpose and practicality, and how we search for that elusive sweet spot where both can coexist.

I’m joined by two incredible guests, Kaavya and Shayla, who bring a wealth of insight and fresh perspectives to this conversation. Together, we dive into the pressures of balancing your dreams with the reality of financial survival, and how we’re all navigating that tricky tension between passion and practicality.

So, if you’ve ever found yourself torn between doing what you love and doing what pays, this one’s for you.

]]> Meghana Narayanan Buzzsprout-17839652 Sun, 14 Sep 2025 17:00:00 -0700 2890 full false Ep 3: The Side Hustle - From Passion Project to Potential Burnout Ep 3: The Side Hustle - From Passion Project to Potential Burnout Welcome to another episode of the podcast, where we untangle the beautiful mess that is adulting. This time, we’re diving into the world of side hustles—where passion meets productivity… and sometimes, burnout.

Joining me is my uber talented friend Ambika, a full-time product designer and published author, who shares her journey of writing alongside her 9-to-5. We talk about what inspired her to start writing, how she keeps the spark alive while working a demanding job, and the emotional rollercoaster of doing all the things—from motivation highs to guilt trips and everything in between.

Whether you’re deep in your hustle or just flirting with the idea, this episode is a thoughtful check-in on why we start, what keeps us going, and when it’s okay to take a break.

Follow Ambika's Writing Journey! - https://www.ambikavohra.com/
Ambika's Book: [Amazon Link]
Ambika's Spotify Writing Playlist: [Link] 

]]> Welcome to another episode of the podcast, where we untangle the beautiful mess that is adulting. This time, we’re diving into the world of side hustles—where passion meets productivity… and sometimes, burnout.

Joining me is my uber talented friend Ambika, a full-time product designer and published author, who shares her journey of writing alongside her 9-to-5. We talk about what inspired her to start writing, how she keeps the spark alive while working a demanding job, and the emotional rollercoaster of doing all the things—from motivation highs to guilt trips and everything in between.

Whether you’re deep in your hustle or just flirting with the idea, this episode is a thoughtful check-in on why we start, what keeps us going, and when it’s okay to take a break.

Follow Ambika's Writing Journey! - https://www.ambikavohra.com/
Ambika's Book: [Amazon Link]
Ambika's Spotify Writing Playlist: [Link] 

]]> Meghana Narayanan Buzzsprout-17043692 Sun, 27 Apr 2025 17:00:00 -0700 2504 full false Ep 2: Living Alone, Growing Up - Navigating Independence Ep 2: Living Alone, Growing Up - Navigating Independence Welcome to another episode of the podcast, where we get real about the many twists and turns of adulting. Today, we’re talking about one of the biggest milestones in early adulthood—moving out and learning to live on your own. It’s a moment filled with excitement, freedom, and a whole lot of uncertainty.

For this introspective conversation, I am joined by Aniruddh, who’s been living away from home for over 8 years across different cities and countries. We talk about what that transition was like at 18, how it shaped his sense of identity and independence, and the emotional rollercoaster that comes with building a life from scratch—far from home, family, and everything familiar.

Tune in for an honest conversation about independence, belonging, and the moments that shape who we become.

]]> Welcome to another episode of the podcast, where we get real about the many twists and turns of adulting. Today, we’re talking about one of the biggest milestones in early adulthood—moving out and learning to live on your own. It’s a moment filled with excitement, freedom, and a whole lot of uncertainty.

For this introspective conversation, I am joined by Aniruddh, who’s been living away from home for over 8 years across different cities and countries. We talk about what that transition was like at 18, how it shaped his sense of identity and independence, and the emotional rollercoaster that comes with building a life from scratch—far from home, family, and everything familiar.

Tune in for an honest conversation about independence, belonging, and the moments that shape who we become.

]]> Meghana Narayanan Buzzsprout-16968266 Sun, 13 Apr 2025 17:00:00 -0700 2404 1 2 full false Ep 1: Adulting... But Do We Really Have It Together? Ep 1: Adulting... But Do We Really Have It Together? Welcome to the first episode of our journey as we discuss the ups and downs of adulting! Joined by Swarali, my best friend from school, we dive into the universal struggle of trying to "have it all together" in your 20s. The truth is, we often feel pressured to have everything figured out, while the reality is quite the opposite - everyone’s just figuring it out as they go.

We unpack the struggles and the lessons that come with this stage of life, and talk about the importance of self-leadership - It's all about owning your growth and development. 

So, if you’ve ever felt like you’re behind or that everyone else has it together, or if you just want to listen along to this fun chat, this episode is for you! 

Tune in to get real about adulting, growth, and the thrilling, messy journey of your 20s :) 

]]> Welcome to the first episode of our journey as we discuss the ups and downs of adulting! Joined by Swarali, my best friend from school, we dive into the universal struggle of trying to "have it all together" in your 20s. The truth is, we often feel pressured to have everything figured out, while the reality is quite the opposite - everyone’s just figuring it out as they go.

We unpack the struggles and the lessons that come with this stage of life, and talk about the importance of self-leadership - It's all about owning your growth and development. 

So, if you’ve ever felt like you’re behind or that everyone else has it together, or if you just want to listen along to this fun chat, this episode is for you! 

Tune in to get real about adulting, growth, and the thrilling, messy journey of your 20s :) 

]]> Meghana Narayanan Buzzsprout-16882451 Sun, 30 Mar 2025 17:00:00 -0700 2223 1 1 full false