Episode 125
Join host Ellie Rineck for this week’s conversation with Dr. Saumya Dave — psychiatrist, novelist, and mom of two young boys living in Brooklyn, NY. Saumya shares what it looks like to balance a clinical practice, a writing career, and family life in a city that never slows down. From tag-teaming mornings with her husband to building community, this episode is full of real talk about ambition, motherhood, and learning to let go of perfection.
In this episode, we cover:
Realistic Mornings: Switching off early routines with her husband, “living multiple lives by 9 AM,” and the small systems that help their family stay afloat.
Work-Life Design: Balancing three days of private practice and two days of writing, and learning to focus deeply (or flex when her kids are home sick).
Partnership & Planning: How she and her husband divide household tasks, use Google Calendar to keep it all straight, and hold monthly check-ins during date nights.
Friendship in the Chaos: Scheduling time with friends, weekly “proof of life” video updates, and the value of finding community with other writers.
Creative Rhythms: Writing across novels like Well-Behaved Indian Women, What a Happy Family, and The Guilty Pill, and embracing the long, nonlinear path of creativity.
Movement & Growth: How a shared personal training session every Friday morning became both self-care and connection time
Parenting Joy: The power of bedtime stories, and why she believes reading builds empathy, connection, and calm for both parents and kids.
Whether you’re juggling creative work, young kids, or just trying to find a rhythm that fits your season — Saumya’s perspective will leave you feeling grounded, inspired, and a little more at peace with the mess.
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