The 20s Lens

This week’s episode is part two of my Erasmus experience-  but recorded now, four months later, after it’s all done. Instead of first impressions, this one is about the bigger reflections that only came with time.I talk about what Erasmus actually taught me, what changed in me along the way, and the conclusions I’ve been able to make now that I have some distance from it all.  If you’ve ever finished a chapter and only understood it once it was over, this one’s for you.Make sure to follow The 20s Lens on Spotify so you don’t miss future episodes 🤍If you’d like to share your own experiences or thoughts with me, feel free to reach out on Instagram @the20slenspodcast -I’d love to hear from you.

After over a month away… I’m back. The past weeks have been full of stress, anxiety & and not really knowing what’s next. I felt a little stuck, a little overwhelmed, and definitely overthinking everything - which led to a minor existential crisis.This episode is a casual catch-up on where I’ve been mentally, what spiraled in my head, and why sometimes disappearing is just part of figuring things out. No dramatic life revelations, just honest thoughts and a soft reset.Make sure to follow The 20s Lens on Spotify so you don’t miss future episodes 🤍If you’d like to share your own experiences or thoughts with me, feel free to reach out on Instagram @the20slenspodcast -I’d love to hear from you.

I am a social media addict, and honestly, it’s hard not to be. Today I decided to talk about our social media use nowadays and reflect on the growing “offline” trend that is becoming the new "cool". I also dive into the performative nature of online spaces, the idea of digital detoxing, and some pros and cons of going offline. I share the small actions I’m trying to turn into habits to use social media more intentionally and less often- because trust me, I’m there ALL THE TIME. Below you can find a small poll that will help me improve my podcast further. All answers are appreciated and considered!If you’d like to share your own experiences or thoughts with me, feel free to reach out on Instagram @a.cholewaa - I’d love to hear from you!

Last week, I rewatched a certain movie that really shifted my focus toward villains and the phrase “hurt people, hurt people.” While looking into it further, I learned how pain and trauma can actually alter our brains- and how that often translates into our behavior.In this episode, alongside sharing what I discovered, I reflect on unhealed pain, emotional reactions, and why hurt people sometimes end up hurting others.If you’d like to share your own experiences or thoughts with me, feel free to reach out on Instagram @a.cholewaa - I’d love to hear from you!

My initial plan for this episode was completely different but it didn’t feel right to talk about other things when I felt so out of place. So Instead, in this episode, I talk about being homesick and all the feelings that come with it. Confusion, unfamiliarity, and the newness of emotions. I reflect on what it’s like to sit with feelings you don’t fully understand yet and question your own reactions. If you’ve ever felt homesick or emotionally lost, this short episode is a gentle space to pause and reflect.If you’d like to share your own experiences or thoughts with me, feel free to reach out on Instagram @a.cholewaa - I’d love to hear from you!

Welcome to the Open Inbox series - where you send me your questions, opinions, and discussion points on different areas of life, and I try my best to gather my thoughts and share my honest take on them.For this episode, I asked you to send me anything and everything related to dating, and here I am thinking out loud while sharing my perspectives. We talk about admitting feelings, jealousy, listening to your body, and navigating trauma within relationships.I hope you’ll enjoy this series as much as I enjoyed reading and answering your insights. Get comfy and listen through 🤍If you’d like to share your own experiences or thoughts with me, feel free to reach out on Instagram @a.cholewaa  - I’d love to hear from you!

Today’s episode is a great example of a typical rant. I talk about my pet peeves- the small things that send me into instant rage. I go through the everyday habits and situations that give me the ick and talk about why they bother me way more than they should. A dramatic episode? Maybe. A relatable one? For sure :) If you’d like to share your own experiences or thoughts with me, feel free to reach out on Instagram @a.cholewaa - I’d love to hear from you!

In this episode, I dive into attachment styles with a major focus on the chaos that an anxious-avoidant dynamic creates. I decided to overshare a little and give some insight into my dating life and past relationships to show how this attachment style actually plays out. If you’ve ever wondered why some relationships feel like emotional push-and-pull or constant fight-or-flight mode, this episode might explain a lot-  because trust me, there is A LOT behind it. It’s a long one, but I hope it brings some understanding and maybe even makes a few people relate :) If you’d like to share your own experiences or thoughts with me, feel free to reach out on Instagram @a.cholewaa - I’d love to hear from you!

Recently, a friend of mine said that it must be so nice to just study and move places all the time. And honestly, as much as I’d love to just answer “hell yea,” it’s not all butterflies and rainbows. In this episode, I talk about the side of living abroad no one really mentions: the sacrifices. We all know there are so many pros that come with it, but not many people mention the costs you need to be prepared for. From changing friendships to shifting dating expectations and never fully belonging anywhere, I share the quiet costs of always being on the move. If you’ve ever felt caught between homes or unsure of your next step, this one’s for you.If you’d like to share your own experiences or thoughts with me, feel free to reach out on Instagram @a.cholewaa- I’d love to hear from you!

In this episode, things get a little more serious. I unpack the quiet exhaustion that comes from constantly measuring myself against others- their careers, looks, skills, and timelines. Since comparison is something I struggle with (some days more than others), I wanted to verbalize my thoughts and store them in this creative outlet aka episode 3.I talk about where comparison even comes from and reflect on my own experiences with it - from social media and daily life to growing up as a dancer. While I don’t have the perfect answer for how to deal with comparison, I hope you can relate to some of the things I share here.

In this episode, I share what my Erasmus experience in Rome has really been like so far- the good, the not-so-great, and how it compares to what I expected. From terrible public transport experiences, to making new friends, to questioning my life choices- here are the pros, cons, and everything in between. Since we’re only (or already?) two months into this mess, this won’t be the last time I’ll be yapping about my exchange; another episode will drop toward the end of this little side quest. This one is a bit longer (I go off-topic… a lot), so just bear with me :)

Episode one is all about setting the stage—why I started The 20s Lens, what you can expect, and how we’ll navigate the chaos of our twenties together. It’s short and sweet so sit back, get comfy, and let’s dive in.