After six months of isolation, I sat down with Lulu (fresh out of UC Berkeley) to talk about what happens when the noise disappears and you’re stuck with yourself. We get into this really human thing we all do: when we feel terrible, we hunt for something to blame—work, friends, parents, whatever. But when you’re alone, it’s way harder to outsource the problem, and it forces this uncomfortable self-awareness where you’re like… damn, maybe it’s me. That’s where the real growth mindset stuff starts, even if it sounds cliche. We talk honestly about coping habits—like using alcohol because it “works” in the moment, especially when it’s accessible and you’re isolated. We also get into college and that first taste of freedom after being sheltered, how people swing hard, and how a lot of emotions you never dealt with show up all at once. From there we go into oversharing, compulsively messaging people when you’re stressed, and how unloading your emotions can cross boundaries and turn friendships toxic if nobody says anything. Toward the end, we touch on childhood stuff—core beliefs, insecurity, abandonment triggers—and the idea that you might not erase them, but you can recognize when you’re triggered and choose not to react. I’m not a psychologist, but I’ve learned that looking in the mirror beats blaming the world every time.