Exploring Halloween Traditions and Tarot Insights
In this Halloween week episode, Alyssa and Nadia explore themes of control, guidance, and finding meaning in uncertain times — with a little help from tarot cards.
Nadia opens up about getting her tarot cards read by a friend and pulling three cards representing her past, present, and future: Judgment (awakening and rebirth), Knight of Wands reversed (restlessness, impatience, burnout), and King of Cups (emotional maturity and compassion). What starts as a playful conversation about divination turns into something deeper as Nadia admits she was seeking guidance from the universe — not advice from advisors or family, but confirmation that she's doing things for the right reasons.
They discuss why tarot cards resonate: not because they predict the future, but because they offer a mirror to reflect what's already inside us. Nadia shares how she's been feeling stuck, burnt out, and craving control over her life — themes that showed up perfectly in her cards. Alyssa shares a memorable story about Nadia's dad getting his tarot read at a wedding, pulling cards that eerily captured his question about how to maintain a relationship with his daughter as she grew up.
The conversation expands into broader reflections on spirituality, organized religion, and why people seek connection with something bigger than themselves. Nadia reveals she's struggling with wanting control but recognizing she can't have it — and how that tension shows up everywhere from her busy schedule to her career uncertainties. They touch on Halloween plans, costume culture, and the fantasy of having superpowers (spoiler: they'd both freeze time).
At its heart, this is an episode about what we turn to when life feels overwhelming — whether it's tarot cards, faith, or simply the hope that we're on the right path.
Takeaways
Tarot cards aren't about predicting the future — they're about reflecting what's already inside you
Sometimes we seek guidance from "the universe" when we need permission to trust ourselves
Feeling burnt out and restless is a sign you're craving control over an uncertain future
You can't control everything, and trying to will only lead to more frustration
The power of tarot (and spirituality in general) lies in giving structure and meaning to our experiences
What we wish for reveals what we're struggling with: wanting to freeze time = feeling overwhelmed by pace
Authenticity and emotional honesty are lifelong practices, not destinations
Even organized religion and spiritual practices tap into the same human need for connection with something greater
It's okay to seek comfort and reassurance wherever you can find it — tarot, faith, or conversation
Chapters
0:11–1:10 – Halloween Week & Missing Each Other
1:11–2:43 – Bar Crawls, Costumes & Female Halloween Culture
2:44–4:39 – The Comfort of Wearing a Costume (Plus: Flash Mobs!)
4:40–6:25 – Halloween Plans: New York, Parties & Marathon Weekend
6:26–9:47 – Nadia's Tarot Card Reading: Past, Present, Future
9:48–13:05 – Why the Cards Resonated: Burnout, Restlessness & Hope
13:06–16:39 – How Tarot Works: Taking What Resonates, Leaving the Rest
16:40–19:49 – Alyssa's Story: Eric's Tarot Reading About Parenting Nadia
19:50–20:50 – Tarot, Church & Understanding Spirituality Differently
20:51–23:22 – "I Wish I Was a Witch": The Fantasy of Control
23:23–26:39 – Superpowers & What They Reveal: Freezing Time vs. Reading Minds
26:40–28:10 – Connecting the Cards to Life: Past Judgment, Present Burnout, Future Compassion
