Podcast Summary: Add to Cart with Kulap Vilaysack & SuChin Pak
Episode: What to Keep, What to Leave: 2025
Release Date: January 7, 2025
Host/Authors: Kulap Vilaysack & SuChin Pak
Producer: Lemonada Media
Introduction
In the inaugural episode of 2025, Kulap Vilaysack and Sujin Pak dive deep into their personal reflections, exploring what they intend to keep and what they aim to leave behind as they usher in the new year. The conversation is candid, introspective, and sprinkled with humor, setting the tone for a series focused on consumerism and personal growth.
Reflecting on the Past Year
The hosts begin by acknowledging another revolution around the sun, emphasizing the lessons learned over the past year. Sujin Pak shares her struggle with identifying epiphanies versus mere observations, expressing the need for external advice to navigate her thoughts (02:50).
What to Leave Behind
Sujin’s Bathroom Vanity Light Metaphor
One of the central themes revolves around Sujin’s metaphor of the bathroom vanity light—symbolizing her tendency to magnify minor issues into significant stressors. She recounts her frustration with burnt-out bulbs, likening them to unresolved personal habits that disrupt her daily life:
“I turned two to one because why am I rushing the process? This bitch can't change a light bulb.” — Kulap Vilaysack (07:03)
Sujin elaborates on how this minor household issue mirrors her broader challenges with decision fatigue and the overwhelming mental load, particularly as a mother. She poignantly states:
“What I'm leaving behind is this thing that I do when I'm faced with something very inconsequential... It becomes a months-long journey...” — Sujin Pak (06:17)
Decision Fatigue
Expanding on the theme, Sujin discusses her daily battle with decision fatigue, outlining how it drains her energy and impedes her productivity:
“I have five good decisions a day... I'm at this place of like, I don't know... I'm just going to be happier.” — Sujin Pak (24:03)
Kulap resonates with this struggle, sharing her own experiences with self-doubt and the mental exhaustion it brings:
“Self-doubt is sort of self doubt and it has to do with decision making... it's just a lot of noise and it drains the adrenals...” — Kulap Vilaysak (29:09)
What to Keep
Embracing Mindfulness and Quality Time
Kulap emphasizes the importance of doing less to accomplish more, especially after battling vertigo. She shares her commitment to being more mindful of her body’s signals:
“I'm up to my body that I have to listen to my body... As we get older is what we have to do.” — Kulap Vilaysak (10:11)
Sujin agrees, highlighting the significance of maintaining quality time with her family despite the challenges:
“I want to be making decisions all the time and be productive, but I'm not. So how do I build a life that is true to who I am?” — Sujin Pak (24:42)
Navigating Relationships and Domestic Responsibilities
A substantial portion of the discussion delves into the dynamics of managing household responsibilities and maintaining a healthy relationship. Kulap candidly talks about the imbalance in setting up date nights and ensuring both partners' needs are met:
“I have to pull things out of him. Are you okay? Do you need a massage? What do you need?” — Kulap Vilaysak (39:57)
Sujin highlights the importance of mutual understanding and support in relationships, especially when juggling parenting and personal well-being:
“We have to do monthly date nights... It has been harder with the baby.” — Kulap Vilaysak (40:51)
Embracing Self-Acceptance
Both hosts converge on the necessity of self-acceptance as a pathway to genuine happiness. Sujin reflects on societal pressures and the importance of defining personal happiness independent of external validations:
“Stop fighting who you are and stop living a life that... makes you so unhappy.” — Sujin Pak (27:32)
Kulap reinforces this sentiment by discussing the liberation that comes with accepting one’s limitations and talents:
“I feel that I become more secure in myself every year... So I'm keen on leaving that behind.” — Kulap Vilaysak (29:09)
Insights and Takeaways
-
Mental Load Reconnaissance: Both hosts shed light on the invisible burdens carried by women, particularly mothers, emphasizing the need for societal recognition and personal strategies to manage mental loads.
-
Decision-Making Strategies: The conversation underscores the importance of minimizing unnecessary decisions and creating structured routines to alleviate decision fatigue.
-
Relationship Dynamics: Effective communication and shared responsibilities are essential for maintaining healthy partnerships, especially in demanding life stages.
-
Self-Acceptance: Embracing one’s true self and rejecting societal expectations is pivotal for achieving authentic happiness and personal fulfillment.
Conclusion
As Kulap Vilaysack and Sujin Pak wrap up their heartfelt conversation, they encourage listeners to introspect on their own lives—identifying what to keep and what to leave behind. Their reflections serve as a guide for those looking to enter 2025 with clarity, purpose, and a commitment to personal well-being.
“You can find happiness even though it all looks like shit.” — Sujin Pak (45:08)
Kulap adds a hopeful note:
“Blessings all around. Another year in the can.” — Sujin Pak (46:05)
Listeners are invited to engage with the hosts via Instagram and share their own journeys, fostering a community of support and shared experiences.
Notable Quotes:
- “What I'm leaving behind is this thing that I do when I'm faced with something very inconsequential...” — Sujin Pak (06:17)
- “Self-doubt is sort of self doubt and it has to do with decision making...” — Kulap Vilaysak (29:09)
- “Stop fighting who you are and stop living a life that... makes you so unhappy.” — Sujin Pak (27:32)
- “You can find happiness even though it all looks like shit.” — Sujin Pak (45:08)
Thank you for tuning into "Add to Cart with Kulap Vilaysack & SuChin Pak." Follow us on Instagram at @AddToCartPod and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts to stay updated on our latest episodes and exclusive content.