Aparna and the Self-Loathing Introvert
Proxy with Yowei Shaw
Yowei Shaw
4.8 • 589 Ratings
🗓️ 20 May 2025
⏱️ 45 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
The case of the introvert who keeps waiting for personality puberty to hit.
For most of her life, Yowei saw her introversion as a character flaw to fix. Then Yowei read Unreliable Narrator by comedian Aparna Nancherla and realized she wasn't the only one who felt this way.
In this episode, Yowei talks introvert-to-introvert with Aparna about self-loathing, performance, the extrovert ideal, Asian woman stereotypes, why “be yourself” is terrible advice, and how to take up space without trying to become someone else.
From the episode:
— Aparna Nancherla, author of Unreliable Narrator: Me, Myself, and Imposter Syndrome — on Instagram @aparnapkin: www.aparnacomedy.com
— Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain
New to Proxy? Try Bisexual Wife Guy for a classic case, or Yowei Can't Speak Bro for a story where Yowei tries to understand the terrifying emotional language known as bro-speak.
For episode liner notes, show gossip, and dispatches from the emotions beat, get our free newsletter File Under Feelings at proxyhq.org.
Proxy is an independent show, supported mostly by listeners. Paid members get bonus episodes, ad-free listening, live Proxy hangs, and the satisfaction of keeping emotional investigative journalism alive 🍏
Follow us on Instagram — @proxypodcast @yoweishaw
Visit — proxypodcast.com
Get in touch — proxythepod@gmail.com
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Hey. |
| 0:05.9 | Hey, babe. |
| 0:06.8 | Hi. |
| 0:08.1 | Okay, so if you had to write a billboard for this episode, go would it be? |
| 0:15.7 | Uh, geez, this is not my strong suit. |
| 0:19.7 | Hmm. |
| 0:21.1 | Let's see. |
| 0:25.6 | Don't feel bad about who you are. |
| 0:33.4 | Being quiet is also sick. |
| 0:50.6 | This is PRAXY, and I'm Yo-A-Shah, your emotional investigative journalist. |
| 0:57.2 | Today, the case of the self-loathing introvert who keeps wishing for personality puberty to hit. That's after the break. Ever wondered why some trends are just suddenly everywhere? |
| 1:22.1 | Newsflash, nothing gets popular by accident. |
| 1:25.7 | I'm Brittany Luce, and on the It's Been a Minute podcast, |
| 1:28.5 | I take the things you and I are both obsessing over |
| 1:31.2 | and show you the invisible forces behind the scenes |
| 1:34.2 | that make us love it or hate it. |
| 1:36.8 | Be smarter about what you're consuming. |
| 1:39.2 | Listen to the It's Been a Minute podcast today. |
| 1:41.4 | Today. |
| 1:53.5 | Music minute podcast today. So there's a story I'm not proud of. |
| 1:56.8 | A while ago, I had a brunch at my house. |
| 1:59.7 | It was a brunch for local journalists. |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Yowei Shaw, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Yowei Shaw and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.

