Ep. 52: The Next Best Thing | 眼前最好的一步

Ep. 52: The Next Best Thing | 眼前最好的一步

From The Spark Podcast 火花电台 by Amy Tianyi Zhao & Meg Dowaliby

March 12, 2026 · 51 min

About this episode

The hosts reflect on their personal growth and transitions over the past year, discussing motherhood, career changes, and the importance of knowing oneself.

As the Western New Year and the Chinese New Year pass, the two hosts take a moment to look back on the moments from 2025 that they are proud of. For Meg, the year was defined by becoming a mother and navigating the physical, emotional, and mental shifts that came with it—and reconsidering what work, creativity, and personal space now look like in this new stage of life. For Amy, the year involved a different kind of transition: adjusting to sudden career changes while learning to accept her own strengths and values without trying to reshape herself to meet every external expectation. Continuing the conversation from the previous episode, Amy speaks candidly about the humbling process of searching for her next role. As she works through uncertainty and the pressure to define long-term goals, she reflects on a quieter realization: Knowing who you are often matters more than constantly trying to reinvent yourself . Meg offers a perspective drawn from her experience with motherhood: Life rarely allows for a perfectly mapped plan . Instead, she suggests focusing on the next best step available at the moment. Together, they discuss routines that keep them grounded, the challenge of…

People in this episode

Hosts: Amy Tianyi Zhao, Meg Dowaliby

Topics covered

  • motherhood
  • career transitions
  • personal growth
  • self-acceptance
  • navigating change

Keywords

  • New Year
  • motherhood
  • career changes
  • personal space
  • growth
  • persistence

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