Episode description
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In this week’s episode, Valeria sits down with poet, author, and activist Aija Mayrock for a powerful conversation about healing, identity, and how we reclaim our voice after trauma. Aija opens up about being bullied for eight years, living with speech impediments, and how writing a book as a teenager saved her life. She shares her journey from self-publishing to becoming a bestselling author, performing spoken word at Madison Square Garden, and ultimately finding empowerment through creative expression. Valeria and Aija also unpack the pressures of growing up in immigrant families, what it means to choose life after darkness, and how reconnecting with Jewish identity transformed Aija’s mission. They speak candidly about confidence, judgment, legacy, and the complex dynamic between women in today’s world. Plus, Valeria exclusively chats with Aija about her romance with Nuseir from Nas Daily.
Follow Aija: https://www.instagram.com/aijamayrock/
Aija’s books: https://www.aijamayrock.com/books
Items mentioned:
The Shvestsers: https://www.instagram.com/theshvesters/ (Yiddish singing sisters)
The Choice by Edith Eger: https://a.co/d/4rl6bSP
New Earth by Eckhart Tolle: https://a.co/d/9odFZs9
Follow me: https://www.instagram.com/valerialipovetsky/
Shop my look from this episode: https://shopmy.us/collections/1437523
What we talked about:
01:07 Aija Mayrock: Writing a book at 16 after years of bullying
07:12 Valeria on invisibility, insecurity, and showing up
10:59 Selling a TV show and choosing to get an MBA
19:42 Rediscovering Jewish identity and heritage
29:00 Performing spoken poetry at Madison Square Garden
35:45 Choosing life and finding strength after trauma
37:10 How parents can help kids open up
40:00 Traveling the world to document Jewish communities
44:00 Women vs. women—why the real divide isn’t gender
58:00 Falling in love after October 7th and facing backlash
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