Love-ly: Exploring Modern Relationships – Details, episodes & analysis

What does real intimacy look like? And how often do we mistake control for care? This week on Lovely, Mehak gets personal about love, entitlement, and learning to walk away from relationships that don’t feel safe. She shares her own experiences with intimacy—both the kind that left her questioning herself and the kind that finally made her feel seen. Then, she sits down with sexuality educator Justine Ang Fonte, a leading voice in consent and boundaries, to unpack how cultural expectations shape our understanding of love. Together, they explore the immigrant lens on intimacy, dating while unlearning, and what it truly means to choose yourself. If you've ever felt love was something you had to earn, this episode is for you. Hosted by: Mehak @whathemehak 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!  If you want to share your thoughts about this or other episodes, reach out at info@immigrantlypod.com Follow us on IG @immigrantlymedia On TikTok @immigrantlypodcast Follow Mehak on Tiktok @whatthemehak Love-ly is an Immigrantly Media Production. For advertising inquiries, email info@immigrantlypod.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the very first episode of Love-ly, your new favorite podcast about the messy, funny, and painfully honest world of love and dating. Hosted by Mehak, a 30-something techie by day, aspiring TikTok star by night, and forever navigating the trenches of modern romance in downtown Toronto—this isn’t your typical advice podcast. Instead, it’s a mix of personal stories, hilarious mishaps, and heartwarming (or head-scratching) moments that’ll have you saying, “Wow, I feel so seen.” Since it’s Valentine’s Day, we’re kicking things off with matchmaking, featuring two incredible guests: Hoda Abrahim, founder of Love, Inshallah, and Yasmin Elhady, lawyer and comedian. They are both the stars of Hulu’s Muslim Matchmaker. These modern-day fairy godmothers share their insights, personal dating stories, and what makes Muslim matchmaking different from the Sima Aunty school of "compromise, beta.” Plus, Mehak spills the tea on her own matchmaking “success” story from Brat Summer blind dates to spotting red flags faster than a Taylor Swift lyric drop. Will this episode inspire her mom to stop texting her rishtas? Probably not, but it’s worth a shot. Tune in for laughs, lessons, and maybe a little love because on Love-ly, the journey is just as important as the destination.  Don’t forget to check out Muslim Matchmaker on Hulu, dropping February 11th! Hosted by: Mehak 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!  If you want to share your thoughts about this or other episodes, reach out at info@immigrantlypod.com Follow us on IG @immigrantlymedia On TikTok @immigrantlypodcast Follow Mehak on Tiktok @whathemehak Love-ly is an Immigrantly Media Production. For advertising inquiries, email info@immigrantlypod.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to Love-ly! Hosted by Mehak, this isn't your typical advice show—no perfect love stories or sugar-coated romance here. Instead, Mehak takes you on a hilarious, brutally honest, and sometimes painfully awkward journey through the highs, lows, and "what was I even thinking?" moments of modern dating. From dodging her mom's "When are you getting married?" interrogation to unpacking the chaos of dating apps, Mehak spills it all. And she's not alone—each week, she's joined by dating experts, friends, and guests who bring their own wild love stories to the mix. So whether you're prepping for a date, nursing a heartbreak, or just avoiding your to-do list, Love-ly is your perfect companion. New episodes drop every Friday—tune in wherever you get your podcasts! Hosted by: Mahek 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!  If you want to share your thoughts about this or other episodes, reach out at info@immigrantlypod.com Follow us on IG @immigrantlymedia On TikTok @immigrantlypodcast Follow Mehak on Tiktok @whathemehak Love-ly is an Immigrantly Media Production. For advertising inquiries, email info@immigrantlypod.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Love-ly, host Mehak and her close friend Mikey explore the whirlwind of dating in the 20s versus 30s, where chaos meets clarity. They discuss personal growth, shifting priorities, and the journey from chasing red flags to embracing green ones. Mikey opens up about coming out, navigating heartbreak, and the power of accountability in friendships, while Mehak shares her recent dating misadventures and hard-earned lessons. From self-validation to emotional maturity, they break down what really changes over the years and leave listeners with advice on building fulfilling and loving relationships. Hosted by: Mehak @whathemehak 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!  If you want to share your thoughts about this or other episodes, reach out at info@immigrantlypod.com Follow us on IG @immigrantlymedia On TikTok @immigrantlypodcast Follow Mehak on Tiktok @whatthemehak Love-ly is an Immigrantly Media Production. For advertising inquiries, email info@immigrantlypod.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, our Love-ly host Mehak sits down with Genesis Sol, founder of the comedy variety show Witty Titties, to explore the impact of strict parenting, cultural identity, and growing up as a second-generation child of immigrants with a Venezuelan mother and Croatian father. Genesis shares hilarious and heartfelt stories of her mother’s overprotectiveness, how it shaped her social experiences, and the challenges and unexpected benefits of a conservative upbringing. They also dive into her experiences with her boyfriend’s daughters, her take on men’s social behaviors, and the deeper themes of immigrant family dynamics, gender biases, and the role of empathy in relationships. 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!  If you want to share your thoughts about this or other episodes, reach out at info@immigrantlypod.com Follow us on IG @immigrantlymedia On TikTok @immigrantlypodcast Follow Mehak on Tiktok @whathemehak Love-ly is an Immigrantly Media Production. For advertising inquiries, email info@immigrantlypod.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mehak is back with another Love-ly deep dive, and this time, we’re getting into the male mind, well, at least one of them! Actor, comedian, and self-proclaimed TikTok hopeful Shareef Taher joins the conversation to break down dating from a guy’s perspective. Why do some men come in strong and then vanish? Can men and women really be just friends? And what’s the deal with the “I’m bad at texting” excuse? Mehak asks hard-hitting questions, and Sharif does his best to keep up. It’s a fun, honest, and slightly chaotic episode you won’t want to miss! Hosted by: Mehak @whathemehak 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 ApplePodcasts & Spotify to help more people find us!  If you want to share your thoughts about this or other episodes, reach out at info@immigrantlypod.com Follow us on IG @immigrantlymedia On TikTok @immigrantlypodcast Love-ly is an Immigrantly Media Production. For advertising inquiries, email info@immigrantlypod.com   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever been on a date that went so sideways that you wished there was a commercial break? In this hilarious and heartfelt episode of Lovely, host Mehak dives deep into love, relationships, and the dating trenches with comedian Richard Sarvate. From navigating family expectations to figuring out if we date people or their careers, Richard brings humor and insight into modern romance—plus shares some truly cringe-worthy dating disasters, including an ill-fated international trip. Topics we cover: How upbringing shapes our views on love Why dating apps aren’t for everyone When a romantic getaway turns into a survival challenge The importance of humor in relationships And why getting "the ick" might actually be your problem Tune in for the laughs, the lessons, and the love! Hosted by: Mehak @whathemehak 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 ApplePodcasts & Spotify to help more people find us! Don’t forget to subscribe! If you want to share your thoughts about this or other episodes, reach out at info@immigrantlypod.com Follow us on IG @immigrantlypods On TikTok @immigrantly Love-ly is an Immigrantly Media Production. For advertising inquiries, email info@immigrantlypod.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Love-ly, Mehak gets candid about dating outside the box and her culture. After calling off a budding long-distance romance, she reflects on the deeper reason: she's done settling for anything (or anyone) that doesn't align. Enter comedian Mariza Brussolo, who joins Mehak for an honest, hilarious, and profoundly relatable convo about cross-cultural dating, growing up with traditional values, and navigating love across borders—literal and emotional. From celibacy to cowboy fantasies (yes, she wants a rancher!), they unpack what it means to date with intention, how family and culture shape our "rules," and why finding a true gentleman in the age of dating apps is more complicated than ever.   Whether you're first-gen, cross-culturally curious, or just fed up with mediocre men and manicure-loving bros, this one's for you! Hosted by: Mehak @whathemehak 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 ApplePodcasts & Spotify to help more people find us! Don’t forget to subscribe! If you want to share your thoughts about this or other episodes, reach out at info@immigrantlypod.com Follow us on IG @immigrantlypods On TikTok @immigrantly Love-ly is an Immigrantly Media Production. For advertising inquiries, email info@immigrantlypod.com   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this heartfelt solo episode, Mehak takes the mic to reflect on her transformative journey through the first seven episodes of Love-ly. From navigating the highs and lows of her 2025 dating adventures to unpacking powerful lessons on boundaries, vulnerability, and healing, this is an unfiltered, introspective ride. Mehak shares what each guest and story taught her about love, self-worth, and the art of letting go. Whether it’s the rule of three from matchmakers Huda and Yasmine, the quiet power of safe love with Justine Ang Fonte, or the emotional maturity of guests like Richard—this episode is packed with insights that hit home. So whether you're walking, sipping coffee, or need a moment of connection, come along as Mehak opens up like never before.  Tune in for your weekly dose of vulnerability, laughter, and real talk. Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and slide into the DMs on IG(@whattheheck_ or @immigrantlypods) to share your thoughts and future topic ideas! Hosted by: Mehak @whathemehak 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 ApplePodcasts & Spotify to help more people find us! Don’t forget to subscribe! If you want to share your thoughts about this or other episodes, reach out at info@immigrantlypod.com Follow us on IG @immigrantlypods On TikTok @immigrantly Love-ly is an Immigrantly Media Production. For advertising inquiries, email info@immigrantlypod.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is brought to you by Zocdoc. Stop putting off those doctor appointments and visit http://Zocdoc.com/Lovely to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today. What does it mean to truly live life on your own terms? In this powerful episode of Love-ly, Mehak is joined by Natasha Chandel, comedian, TV writer, voice artist, and former host of the hit podcast “Kinda Dating,” for a candid conversation about commitment, cultural expectations, and rewriting the rules of love.  Natasha opens up about her journey from serially dating emotionally unavailable men to unexpectedly finding “the one” right before the COVID-19 lockdown. Through an honest conversation, they explore how immigrant identity shapes dating, why politics and values matter more than ever in relationships, and how self-worth plays a role in who we choose to love.  Whether you’re single, healing, or questioning your love life, this episode reminds you that it's okay to change your mind, and it's never too late to choose a life that actually feels like yours.    Hosted by: Mehak @whathemehak on TikTok and @whathemehak_ on IG   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 ApplePodcasts & Spotify to help more people find us! Don’t forget to subscribe!   If you want to share your thoughts about this or other episodes, reach out at info@immigrantlypod.com   Follow Natasha on IG & TikTok: @natashachandel Follow us: @immigrantlypods (IG) | @immigrantly (TikTok)   Love the episode? Please share it, rate us, and leave a review!   Love-ly is an Immigrantly Media Production.   For advertising inquiries, email info@immigrantlypod.com       Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices