Today, I’m joined by the one and only Dr. Deepika Chopra — psychologist, scientist, and creator of the “Things Are Looking Up” optimism cards. We’re talking about what it actually means to be optimistic (spoiler: it’s not about being positive all the time), and how to build emotional resilience without bypassing the hard stuff. From redefining toxic positivity to managing motherhood, burnout, and healing in real-time, this episode is filled with science-backed tools, honest reflection, and real talk about living with intention, not perfection!
💬 In this episode:
– What optimism really is (and why it’s a muscle, not a personality trait)
– The difference between toxic positivity and grounded hope
– How to regulate your emotions when life feels overwhelming
– Small daily habits to rewire your brain toward joy
– Why emotional neutrality is underrated (and powerful)
– Finding meaning in chaos — from LA fires to life transitions
– Balancing identity, motherhood, and ambition without losing yourself
– The underrated magic of micro-moments, awe, and breathwork
✨ This one’s for my deep feelers, my recovering perfectionists, my moms, creators, and anyone learning how to stay soft in a sharp world!
🎙 Connect with Dr. Deepika Chopra (The Optimism Doctor):
Instagram: @drdeepikachopra
Website: www.drdeepikachopra.com
Shop the Cards: thingsarelookingup.co
Upcoming Book: The Power of Real Optimism – coming February 2026!
🔔 Don’t forget:
✔️ Subscribe for weekly episodes
✔️ Leave a rating & review (it helps more than you know!)
✔️ Drop a comment — I always read them
✔️ Tag me in your stories @similarlydifferentpod — I’ll repost! 💬
📲 Let’s stay connected:
Instagram: @similarlydifferentpod
TikTok: @similarlydifferentpod
Submit a ‘Similarly Curious’ question: https://www.youandmemedia.co/similarlycurious

We’re back with another solo episode of Similarly Different — and this one’s extra personal. 💌 Today, I’m pulling back the curtain on my real-time dating journey (yes, like right now), and what it’s like to open up after a long season of being happily single. From rediscovering feminine energy to catching myself before I self-sabotage, we’re talking the fear, the hope, and the giddy middle ground that comes with catching feelings after being hyper-independent for so long!
💬 In this episode:
– The honest truth about dating again after being solo for years
– What it means to feel emotionally safe with someone (and why that’s so rare)
– Navigating crushes, fear, and survival mode in love
– How to shift from guarded to grounded — without losing your standards
– Why feminine energy doesn’t mean weakness, and how to stop doing everything alone
– The “screen door vs. wall” mindset when letting someone new in
– How to tell if they’re part of your next chapter… or just a detour
✨ This one’s for my soft girl era babes, my healed & healing girlies, and anyone relearning how to trust love again.
🧠 Similarly Curious Segment:
Q: “How do you know if a new crush is a part of your next chapter or a distraction from it?”
We talk about intentional dating, emotional safety, and why not every relationship needs to last forever to be meaningful.
🔔 Don’t forget:
✔️ Subscribe for weekly episodes
✔️ Leave a rating & review (it helps more than you know!)
✔️ Drop a comment — I always read them
✔️ Tag me in your stories @similarlydifferentpod — I’ll repost! 💬
📲 Let’s stay connected:
Instagram: @similarlydifferentpod
TikTok: @similarlydifferentpod
Submit a ‘Similarly Curious’ question: https://www.youandmemedia.co

In this raw and powerful episode, I sit down with the one and only Desi Perkins! We talk about what it really takes to go from content creator to CEO, navigating imposter syndrome, letting go of perfectionism, and reclaiming joy through things as simple (and sacred) as gardening. She shares untold stories about infertility, leaving major brand deals behind, and the identity shift that comes with motherhood.
This conversation is about so much more than just beauty or business—it’s about resilience, reinvention, and choosing passion even when fear is in the room. If you’ve ever felt the pressure to be more, do more, or explain yourself… this one’s for you!
💬 We discuss:
- Desi’s journey from artist to influencer to founder
- Building a brand beyond yourself
- Infertility, loneliness & sharing her story online
- From passion to empire: what changed everything
- Motherhood, identity shifts & redefining success
- Therapy, transference & growth off-camera
- What success means to her now
🔔 Don’t forget:✔️ Subscribe for weekly episodes ✔️ Leave a rating & review (it helps more than you know!) ✔️ Drop a comment — I always read them✔️ Tag me in your stories @similarlydifferentpod — I’ll repost! 💬📲 Let’s stay connected:Instagram: @similarlydifferentpodTikTok: @similarlydifferentpodSubmit a 'Similarly Curious' question: https://www.youandmemedia.co/similarlycurious
🤳Follow Desi:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desiperkins/?hl=en
Dezi Skin: https://deziskin.com/?srsltid=AfmBOophoqvXQauqaKPDUSmmYJJyTwWo_7dF8_1dElMSMvB6LZWXNO_a
Desi Eyewear: https://www.instagram.com/dezi/?hl=en

In this solo episode of Similarly Different, I’m talking about the lifelong lesson of saying no without guilt, and the real work it takes to let go of people-pleasing tendencies.
If you’ve ever felt the weight of being misunderstood, feared disappointing others, or constantly overcommitted to avoid uncomfortable conversations, this one’s for you! I open up about the messy middle of learning to set boundaries, why I used to say yes out of fear, and how protecting your peace isn’t selfish... it’s self-respect.
We also hear from a listener who asked about how to turn down a second date without ghosting or feeling like the bad guy. Spoiler: Honoring your gut is not mean, it’s necessary!
✨ Let me know in the comments: Where in your life do you need to say no more often?
🎧 Listen if you’ve ever struggled with:

• Saying no without over explaining
  
• People-pleasing and burnout
  
• Guilt for protecting your peace
  
• Feeling responsible for others’ emotions
  
• Setting boundaries with friends, family, or work
  

🔔 Don’t forget:

✔️ Subscribe for weekly episodes

✔️ Leave a rating & review (it helps more than you know!)

✔️ Drop a comment — I always read them

✔️ Tag me in your stories @similarlydifferentpod — I’ll repost! 💬

📲 Let’s stay connected:

Instagram: @similarlydifferentpod

TikTok: @similarlydifferentpod

Submit a 'Similarly Curious' question: https://www.youandmemedia.co/similarlycurious

In today’s episode of Similarly Different, I'm sitting down with Noor Siddiqui — founder of Orchid, a groundbreaking company that's changing the way we think about genetics, fertility, and embryo testing. We dive into what Orchid is, how embryo screening works, and why Noor believes we’re entering a future where everyone will use genetic testing before pregnancy! Whether you’re curious about having kids one day, actively trying, navigating IVF, or simply want to understand how genetics shapes our future... this episode is for you!
💡 Highlights:

• What is Orchid and what does embryo screening really do?
  
• Noor’s personal story and why she started this company
  
• De novo mutations, inherited conditions & polygenic risk scores (explained simply!)
  
• Why sperm health matters just as much as egg count
  
• Stress, burnout, and lifestyle’s hidden effects on fertility
  
• The controversial debate: science vs. spirituality in family planning
  

👇 Let me know in the comments: Would YOU want to know your embryo's risk for certain diseases before pregnancy?
🔗 Learn more about Orchid: https://www.orchidhealth.com

🔔 Don’t forget:✔️ Subscribe for weekly episodes ✔️ Leave a rating & review (it helps more than you know!) ✔️ Drop a comment — I always read them✔️ Tag me in your stories @similarlydifferentpod — I’ll repost! 💬📲 Let’s stay connected:Instagram: @similarlydifferentpodTikTok: @similarlydifferentpodSubmit a 'Similarly Curious' question: https://www.youandmemedia.co/similarlycurious

#FertilityAwareness #IVFJourney #EmbryoScreening #GeneticTesting #OrchidHealth #NoorSiddiqui #WomensHealth #MensHealthMatters #FertilityEducation #SimilarlyDifferentPodcast #ModernParenting #ScienceAndSpirituality #PreconceptionPlanning #HealthTech #EggFreezing #SpermHealth #KnowYourDNA #FutureOfParenting

Fresh off my birthday, I found myself sitting in some heavy but honest reflections about identity, worth, and why so many women constantly question whether they’re too much or not enough. From feeling misunderstood in relationships to being judged in professional spaces, I open up about what it means to take up space unapologetically… and how I’ve learned not to carry what was never mine to hold.
Let’s unpack it all! From societal double standards, to the real impact of criticism (especially from people we love), to how I’ve learned to set boundaries around what I choose to receive. This episode is your reminder: you are not too much and you are always enough!
🎧 Listen if you’ve ever struggled with:

• Being “too loud,” “too emotional,” or “too ambitious”
• Rejection in friendships, dating, or career
• Comparing yourself on social media
• People-pleasing or overanalyzing your interactions
• The pressure to tone yourself down to be accepted

📩 Share this with a friend who needs to be reminded of their magic!

🔔 Don’t forget:✔️ Subscribe for weekly episodes
✔️ Leave a rating & review (it helps more than you know!)
✔️ Drop a comment — I always read them
✔️ Tag me in your stories @similarlydifferentpod — I’ll repost! 💬

📲 Let’s stay connected:
Instagram: @similarlydifferentpod
TikTok: @similarlydifferentpod
Submit a 'Similarly Curious' question: https://www.youandmemedia.co/similarlycurious

In honor of Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, this episode of Similarly Different dives deep into the emotional, mental, and spiritual journey of healing with creative power couple Charlie and Paloma. From panic attacks and cultural stigmas to building a thriving relationship and business, this honest conversation covers everything men (and their partners) need to hear about mental health, vulnerability, and doing the inner work!
If you've ever struggled with anxiety, questioned therapy, or felt pressure to hold it all together... this episode is for you!
👉 Topics Covered:

• What panic attacks really feel like
  
• How therapy changed Charlie’s life
  
• Mental health in the Latinx community
  
• Working with your romantic partner in business
  
• How to support a partner through anxiety
  
• Breaking male stereotypes around vulnerability
  
• Couples therapy and emotional maturity
  

📱Follow Charlie and Paloma:

⁠@charlieguerrero⁠

@⁠palomahecht⁠

🔔 Subscribe for more raw and real conversations about self-awareness, relationships, and personal growth!
📞 If you or someone you love needs support, check out these mental health resources:
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/
https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health
https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/diseases/depression-anxiety.html
📱 Follow us on social media for updates and more:
Instagram: @similarlydifferentpod
TikTok: @similarlydifferentpod

In this solo episode, I break down the modern dating scene—flirty, fun, and fear-free. Responding to a listener submission, I dive into the truth about first dates, what makes them worth it (even when they don’t go anywhere), and why they can be powerful tools for self-discovery! Whether you’re dating again after a break, terrified of putting yourself out there, or just wondering if “he has to check every box,” this episode will help you reframe dating as a low-pressure, high-reward experience!
✨ Why first dates aren’t supposed to end in a love story
✨ How to use dates as market research for your heart
✨ Confidence, chemistry & checklists—what really matters?
✨ Real talk: Pressure, patience & personal pace in early dating
✨ Reclaiming your energy, magnetism & standards
This one’s for anyone navigating dating with curiosity, intentionality, and self-respect.
🎧 Listen in if you’ve ever wondered:
– “What if I’m just not ready?”
– “Is it okay to not feel sparks right away?”
– “Am I taking this too seriously?”
– “Can I date just for fun… and still be intentional?”
👇 Drop your thoughts in the comments, share with a friend, and submit your “similarly curious” questions below and follow @similarlydifferentpod on socials!