Have you ever felt like the "good one," the "pretty one," or the "smart, put-together one"? You may be even admired on the outside, but quietly crumbling under pressure on the inside?

In this solo episode, Valeria returns with an honest update to explore the hidden cost of being placed on a pedestal—by others and by yourself. She opens up about growing up under the "overachiever" label, and how chasing admiration often comes hand-in-hand with self-rejection, burnout, and loneliness.

This episode is for you if:

• You've ever felt pressure to be perfect
• If you feel you have to embody a certain role or image within your career or relationships
• You’ve struggled with rejection after changing your path, setting boundaries, or simply showing your human side
• You’re learning to embrace imperfection, vulnerability, and authenticity

Valeria also shares personal updates—including her pivot from medicine to business school—and practical strategies for setting boundaries, practicing self-compassion, and building a life that feels good instead of just looking good.

💬 Connect with Valeria:

If you need support navigating rejection or feeling lost, book a private meeting at calendly.com/valerusu55. I may not have all the answers, but there is beauty in sticking together in tough times 🫶

💌 Join The Rejections Room Facebook group (safe space to share & heal): https://www.facebook.com/groups/466124329823199/

☕ Support Valeria's work by donating: buymeacoffee.com/valeriarusnak

📸 Follow along for additional updates and content: @the_rejectedpremed_podcast

🙏 Special Thanks:

To our generous donors—including Qing and our anonymous supporter—thank you for helping this message reach more people. 💛

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to provide legal, medical, or professional advice.

Listen Now on Your Favorite Platform: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | RSS

In this powerful episode, Valeria sits down with multidisciplinary artist, author, and businessman Karan Wadhwani to talk about how rejection often starts from within—and how embracing intuition, creativity, and spiritual practice can lead to a more fulfilling and resilient life.

In This Episode, We Explore:

• Why “others can only reject you when you reject yourself”
• The difference between fear and intuition
• Building resilience through adaptability, self-trust, and self-compassion
• Why being your own best friend is the key to overcoming external and internal rejection
• What it means to be successful—and how to redefine failure
• Tai Chi, spirituality, and how martial arts can teach us how to flow with rejection
• The importance of making the most of every moment and acting despite fear
• Creative balance, joy, and how to not hold yourself back
• Lessons from The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
• Understanding that we’re all walking our own paths, but not alone

Career Advice You’ll Love: Karan shares why liking what you do matters more than titles, and how working across industries made him more resilient. Hear his practical tips on building a path that’s authentic—even when it's unconventional.

Karan’s Book: So You Want To Be A... – Order now on Amazon

Learn more: karanwadhwani.ca

Connect with Karan:

• Instagram: @kwadhwan
• Email: info@whoiskaran.com

📢 Connect with Us:

📸 Instagram: @the_rejectedpremed_podcast

💼 LinkedIn: Valeria Rusnak

📩 Email: valerusu55@gmail.com

☕ Support the show: buymeacoffee.com/valeriarusnak

If you need support navigating rejection or feeling lost, book a private meeting at calendly.com/valerusu55. I may not have all the answers, but there is beauty in sticking together in tough times 🫶

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to provide legal, medical, or professional advice.

Listen Now on Your Favorite Platform: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | RSS

Remember: "Don’t be fearful of things that are intuitively who you are." Let go of the fear and let yourself become who you're meant to be.

Discover the real meaning of resilience with Dr. Michael Ungar, Canada Research Chair at Dalhousie University and the world’s leading social work scholar. In this inspiring conversation, Dr. Ungar unpacks the science of adaptation, the power of community support, and how moments of rejection can spark profound transformation in your life.

🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn:

🌱 Why resilience is not a fixed trait—it’s a skill anyone can develop through adaptation and community support. 💡 How setbacks, rejection, and failure can be stepping stones to transformation and personal growth. 🏘️ The vital role of community support systems in building resilience and helping you thrive, even in uncertain times. 🌍 How cultural differences shape our adaptation strategies and definitions of success, from academic achievement to meaningful social connections. 🎭 Why you’re more than a single career—embrace your multidimensional self for a richer, more satisfying life. ⚠️ How to recognize the difference between healthy resilience, toxic positivity, and knowing when it’s time to persevere, pivot, or let go.

📚 Whether you’re a premed, former premed, or anyone facing rejection and questioning your path, this episode will help you harness adaptation, lean on community support, and embrace transformation.

🎙️ Bonus: Hear Dr. Ungar’s personal stories, including the teacher who changed his life, plus insights from his groundbreaking books on resilience and adaptation.

🔗 Connect with Dr. Michael Ungar 📍 Canada Research Chair in Child, Family and Community Resilience 📍 Director, Resilience Research Centre, Dalhousie University 📬 Email: Michael.Ungar@dal.ca 📞 Phone: (902) 494-3445 (Office) | (902) 229-0434 (Cell) 🌐 Website: www.michaelungar.com 🌐 Resilience Research Centre: www.resilienceresearch.org 📘 Follow on X: @MichaelUngarPhD

📚 Explore Dr. Ungar’s Books & Resources: 📖 The Limits of Resilience: Knowing When to Persevere, When to Change, and When to Quit 📖 Change Your World: The Science of Resilience and the True Path to Success 📖 Multisystemic Resilience: Adaptation and Transformation in Contexts of Change (Open Access) 📖 Working with Children and Youth with Complex Needs: 20 Skills to Build Resilience (2nd Ed.) 📘 What Works: A Manual for Designing Programs that Build Resilience (Free Download) 📝 Nurturing Resilience Blog, hosted by Psychology Today

📢 Connect with Us:

📸 Instagram: @the_rejectedpremed_podcast

💼 LinkedIn: Valeria Rusnak

📩 Email: valerusu55@gmail.com

☕ Support the show: buymeacoffee.com/valeriarusnak

If you need support navigating rejection or feeling lost, book a private meeting at calendly.com/valerusu55. I may not have all the answers, but there is beauty in sticking together in tough times 🫶

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational, educational, and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to provide legal, medical, or professional advice.