Love-ly: Exploring Modern Relationships

Love-ly: Exploring Modern Relationships

What happens when cultural traditions collide with the whirlwind of modern dating? Welcome to Love-ly, the podcast where our host Mehak (@whathemehak) explores the beautifully messy, deeply personal stories of love, identity, and connection. From first and second-generation immigrants balancing family expectations to Gen Z navigating dating apps and “situationships,” Love-ly dives into the heart of what it means to love in today’s tech-driven world. Every Friday, tune in for heartfelt conversations that remind us of one universal truth: no matter where you’re from or what your relationship status is, everyone has a lovely story worth telling. Hosted by: Mehak @whatthemehak on TikTok Producer: Saadia Khan and Shei Yu | Content Writers: Mehak I Editorial Review: Saadia Khan I Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin I Love-ly Theme Music: Lou Raskin | Other Music: Epidemic Sound | Cover art design: Josephine Chai | Executive Producer: Saadia Khan Please share the love and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify to help more people find us! Don’t forget to subscribe! Follow us on IG @lovelythepod & @immigrantlypods Twitter @Immigrantly_pod TikTok @immigrantly Subscribe to our Patreon Love-ly is an Immigrantly Media Production For advertising inquiries, please email info@immigrantlypod.com

Episodes

You're Not Unlucky in Love, You're Addicted to Intensity with Allie Zheng (@yourlocaltorontogirlie)

March 6, 2026 • 53 mins
Mehak (⁠@whathemehak⁠) shares a Ramadan and dating update — including her hot take that divorce is actually chic — before sitting down with Toronto's own Allie Zheng (@itsyourlocaltorontogirlie) to talk all things love, heartbreak, and what it really means to be a lover girl. Allie gets real about her dating patterns: falling too fast, chasing intensity, and taking shortcuts to intimacy — and what she's had to unlearn. She breaks ...
Mark as Played

Feed Drop: These modern dating rules are keeping my friends single

February 27, 2026 • 19 mins
This week, we're featuring an episode from Small Talk With Sheila. Imagine Bridget Jones had a self-help podcast, and you’re pretty close to the charming chaos that is Sheila’s world. In this episode, Sheila gets candid about the dating rules that are keeping her friends single. From waiting to be pursued, to overanalyzing texts and emojis, to treating dating like a job interview, she breaks down the mistakes holding women back f...
Mark as Played

The Blue Checkmark of Dating: Is Love Just Social Proof? with Alexa Valavicius

February 20, 2026 • 51 mins
Fresh off a wholesome, "emotionally regulated" Valentine’s Day with her friends, Mehak (@whathemehak) dives into a deep conversation about why romantic love has become a "performance of adulthood" and a "social status symbol" in 2026. Joining the conversation is content creator Alexa Valavicius (@lifewithlex444), who discusses her decision to opt out of intentional dating in 2026. She opens up about her journey since being diagno...
Mark as Played

How to Date Intentionally: Politics, Patterns, and Planning with Talia Koren

February 13, 2026 • 49 mins
It's Lovely's first anniversary! 🎉 To celebrate, Mehak (⁠⁠@whathemehak⁠⁠) sits down with Talia Koren, creator of the Dating Intentionally podcast, to discuss what it really means to date with purpose. Talia shares her unconventional dating journey—150 dates with 64 people in 10 months—and the surprising patterns she discovered by tracking every single one in her Notes app. From navigating political alignment in today's climate t...
Mark as Played

Are Women Outpacing Men? The Modern Dating Divide with Thomas Darya

February 6, 2026 • 39 mins
What happens when a viral TikTok about Toronto’s "struggle" dating scene turns into a deep dive on the evolution of the modern man and woman? In this episode of Love-ly, host Mehak (⁠@whathemehak⁠) brings actor Thomas Darya (@thomas_darya) into the studio to dissect the growing sentiment that women are rapidly outpacing men in both professional drive and personal growth. Thomas pulls from his experience as an immigrant and a cre...
Mark as Played

Why Do We Watch Ourselves Live? with Julia Sunderland

January 23, 2026 • 38 mins
Is your dating life a lived experience, or just a curated performance? In this episode of Love-ly, Mehak (@whathemehak) sits down with somatic therapist and scholar Julia Sutherland (@JoyfullyJuliaa) to unpack the psychological toll of viewing ourselves from the "outside-in." Together, they unpack the concept of "self-objectification" and why women in particular tend to monitor their external appearances over their internal comfo...
Mark as Played

Feed Drop: How to Date NATO (Not Attached To Outcome) with Erika Ettin

January 16, 2026 • 62 mins
This week, we're featuring an episode from Dating Intentionally, a podcast dedicated to making dating more enjoyable. Dating coach Erika Ettin joins Talia Koren to break down the mindset shifts that make dating feel calmer, clearer, and more intentional. You’ll learn about dating NATO (not attached to outcome), avoiding pen-pal dynamics, reading texting patterns, and staying open without over-investing too early. At the end, they...
Mark as Played

Friction-Maxxing & Finding Your 2026 Obsession

January 9, 2026 • 24 mins
We’re officially in 2026, and the vibe is… intentional. After spending the holidays recovering from a flu-from-hell, Mehak (@whathemehak) is back in the studio for a solo deep dive into the trends and transitions defining the start of the year. This episode covers everything from personal dating updates to the rise of "Friction-maxxing"—the radical art of choosing the inconvenient path for the sake of deeper relationships and a li...
Mark as Played

A Holiday Yap Session: Dating, Discernment, and Delusion

December 19, 2025 • 40 mins
In this holiday special, Love-ly closes out 2025 with a cozy, unfiltered yap session between three friends. Host Mehak (@whathemehak) is joined by former guests Erik (@erikhruszowy) and Waleed (@wearswali) to reflect on the year and share holiday hot takes—keeping things funny, warm, and very real. The conversation ranges from holiday dating do’s and don’ts to how a double Gucci belt nearly brought Mehak to tears, Waleed’s hot tak...
Mark as Played

Trad Wives and the Myth of Domestic Perfection with Jo Piazza

December 12, 2025 • 47 mins
What is a trad wife, really? What are they selling—and what are we not seeing? This week on Love-ly, Mehak sits down with bestselling author, journalist, and podcaster Jo Piazza, widely considered one of America’s sharpest observers of women, motherhood, and the influencer economy. Together, they unpack the increasingly visible and controversial world of “trad wives”—women who embrace and promote full-time homemaking on social med...
Mark as Played

Pleasure in the Age of Aesthetic Capitalism with Danielle Bezalel

December 5, 2025 • 44 mins
This week on Love-ly, Mehak sits down with sex educator and pleasure expert Danielle Bezalel—host of Sex Ed with DB. Together, they unpack the motifs that shape our earliest understandings of intimacy: immigrant households where sex was whispered, cultures that mistake silence for safety, and school systems that replace curiosity with misinformation. From Danielle’s Afghan Jewish upbringing to Mehak’s own cultural reflections, thi...
Mark as Played

Addiction and Sobriety: Healing, Relationships & Emotional Wellbeing with Kendall Bierman

November 21, 2025 • 41 mins
How are substance addiction and love addiction connected? In this episode of Love-ly, host ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mehak⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ welcomes licensed therapist Kendall Bierman, who shares her personal journey through anxiety, substance addiction, and the path to sobriety. She reflects on the influence of her family dynamics, competitive upbringing, and the turning points that led her to pursue a career in therapy. The discussion dives into dating while ...
Mark as Played

Feed Drop: Keeping Pleasure Alive in Long-term Monogamy with Dr. Lexx Brown-James

November 14, 2025 • 58 mins
This week on Love-ly, we’re sharing some sage wisdom from Sex Ed with DB — your go-to show for smart, science-backed sex education. Each episode delivers trusted insights from top experts on sex, sexuality, and pleasure. In this episode, DB talks with Dr. Lexx about the many different kinds of pleasure — and how to keep pleasure centered in a long-term monogamous relationship. It’s not always just about sex; pleasure can come fro...
Mark as Played

Parental Guilt, Digital Wellness, and Why AI Falls Short — with Israa Nasir

November 7, 2025 • 45 mins
In this episode of Love-ly, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Mehak⁠⁠⁠⁠ sits down with psychotherapist and @well.guide founder Israa Nasir to discuss life as a third-culture kid and why she doesn’t feel guilty about not having children, despite parental expectations. Their conversation also takes a turn into the future of digital mental health care, inspired by Israa’s essay, “Outsourcing Emotional Labor to ChatGPT,” and how we should be using AI for in ther...
Mark as Played

Have We Lost the Plot on Human Connection? with Aubrey Aust (Hint of Trauma)

October 31, 2025 • 38 mins
Why is building human connection so difficult in modern dating? This week on Lovely, ⁠⁠Mehak⁠⁠ talks to Aubrey Aust, researcher and podcast host of Hint of Trauma, to decode the complexities of modern relationships. They explore how cultural norms have warped our perceptions of love (and boyfriends) and dive deep into the cycles of hyper-independence versus people-pleasing. This episode is a masterclass on why vulnerability is t...
Mark as Played

Why I’m Not Rushing Love: The Power of the In-Between Era

October 24, 2025 • 20 mins
In this week's episode, Mehak opens up about being in her “in-between era,” a space where she’s rediscovering herself. After a recent breakup, she reflects on emotional maturity, intuition, and the lessons that come with letting go. From unlearning survival habits to recognizing relationship patterns, Mehak shares what it means to stop romanticizing potential and start honoring her inner voice. She also gets candid about reentering...
Mark as Played

How Men Heal: Masculinity and Emotional Growth with Samir Mourani (Gent's Talk)

October 17, 2025 • 50 mins
In this episode of Love-ly, Mehak sits down with Samir Mourani, host of Gent's Talk, to explore masculinity, men’s mental health, and emotional healing. Samir shares his personal journey breaking the stigma around male vulnerability, how his divorce reshaped his views on manhood, and the role of self-awareness and male friendships in his growth. Together, they unpack how men heal—and how women can support without taking on all the ...
Mark as Played

Toronto Dating Chaos with Lara (Dumb Blonde Diary)

October 3, 2025 • 41 mins
Subscribe to Hyphenly,  our new newsletter with hot takes, heartfelt stories, and all the feels of living in between cultures. Come for the nuance, stay for the vibes. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://hyphenly.beehiiv.com What happens when TikTok’s Dumb Blonde Diary Lara Simonot brings her wildest dating stories to Love-ly? From Ukrainian roots to Toronto nightlife, Lara shares how she balances independence, music, and the chaos of modern dating....
Mark as Played

Decentering Parents Without Guilt: Finding Confidence & Independence with Shazmeera Qadri

September 26, 2025 • 50 mins
Subscribe to Hyphenly,  our new newsletter with hot takes, heartfelt stories, and all the feels of living in between cultures. Come for the nuance, stay for the vibes. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://hyphenly.beehiiv.com What does it take to walk away from cultural expectations and finally choose yourself? In this raw and empowering episode of Love-ly, host Mehak sits down with TikTok creator and confidence coach Shazmeera Qadri. From growing up ...
Mark as Played

The Upside of Conflict with Dr. Jen Fry

September 19, 2025 • 39 mins
Subscribe to Hyphenly,  our new newsletter with hot takes, heartfelt stories, and all the feels of living in between cultures. Come for the nuance, stay for the vibes. ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://immigrantlys-newsletter.beehiiv.com/subscribe⁠⁠ Why do we shy away from conflict when it might actually bring us closer?? This week, Mehak (@whathemehak) sits down with conflict resolution expert Dr. Jen Fry (jenfrytalks.com) to explore how disagreemen...
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    Stuff You Should Know

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Betrayal Season 5

    Betrayal Season 5

    Saskia Inwood woke up one morning, knowing her life would never be the same. The night before, she learned the unimaginable – that the husband she knew in the light of day was a different person after dark. This season unpacks Saskia’s discovery of her husband’s secret life and her fight to bring him to justice. Along the way, we expose a crime that is just coming to light. This is also a story about the myth of the “perfect victim:” who gets believed, who gets doubted, and why. We follow Saskia as she works to reclaim her body, her voice, and her life. If you would like to reach out to the Betrayal Team, email us at betrayalpod@gmail.com. Follow us on Instagram @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.

    Dateline NBC

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    The Breakfast Club

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!

    Crime Junkie

    Crime Junkie

    Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

Explore

iHeart

Live Radio

Podcasts

Artist Radio

Exclusives

News

Features

Events

Contests

Photos

Information

About

Advertise

Blog

Brand Guidelines

Contest Guidelines

Subscription Offers

Jobs

Get the App

Automotive

Home

Wearables

© 2026 iHeartMedia, Inc.