Juggling a W-2, a Toddler, and 15K Followers: How She Keeps Content Real Without Burning Out | Suhashini | Part 1

Suha has spent six years building a following - first in fashion and travel content, now in honest, unfiltered motherhood. In this episode, she talks about why she walked away from the curated version of her life, how she balances content creation with a full-time job and a toddler, and why almost no one in her day job knows she's an influencer at all.

What you'll hear:

• The shift from fashion content to raw motherhood content, and why it happened
• How she defines "wellness" while traveling with a toddler
• Her actual system for filming without losing the moment with her family
• Why she keeps her two lives - corporate and creator - completely separate

This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. Part 2 continues soon.

Chief Milestones is a video podcast featuring honest conversations with founders, parents, and investors about building real businesses, staying healthy, and raising families.

New episodes release Tuesdays and Fridays.

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Transcript

Authentic Motherhood And A Niche Shift

Suhashini Nathan 0:00

I would say a hustling mom who doesn't have it all together but trying to just take one day at a time. Realistic motherhood made me to switch to more reality. Made me more grounded. Earlier I used to wake up at 5M, go to touristy places, get realistic, beautiful pictures. But right now, I'm posting more about mental health. I'm posting about food and most used products as a mom. That is a major niche change from one extreme to another. But honestly, I'm happy about it because I'm not faking it. I'm giving them raw content and being more authentic about it.

Reshma Vadlamudi 0:51

So let's get straight into it. So who is Suhasini in this exact season of life?

Suhashini Nathan 0:57

I would say a hustling mom who doesn't have it all together, but trying hard to just take one day at a time.

Reshma Vadlamudi 1:08

Yeah. Yeah. So is it safe to say that you're sharing more food, travel, and family content recently?

Suhashini Nathan 1:18

Absolutely, yes. Because what my Instagram and my life is what it's in reality. So right now I'm not more into fashion because I don't have the time or the energy to get dressed and post most about fashion. So yeah, it's safe to say.

Reshma Vadlamudi 1:39

Yeah. Okay. I was about to ask, like, what inspired you to start taking that route?

Suhashini Nathan 1:46

Inspire is it's more like realistic, I guess. It's realistic. Motherhood made me to switch to more reality. It made me more grounded, I should say. So yeah, definitely my reality and real life made me to do the switch.

Reshma Vadlamudi 2:04

Okay. Before you would say it was more about the fashion content. Uh is that what you would say? Is that the switch that happened? Yes. Yeah.

Suhashini Nathan 2:14

Yeah, because earlier I used to wake up at 5 a.m. in the morning, go to touristy places, get dressed, take beautiful pictures, collaborate with more photographers who were looking to shoot content like this. That used to be my content earlier, but right now I'm posting more about mental health. I'm posting about food and most use products as a mom. So yeah, that is a major niche change for my Instagram from one extreme to another. But honestly, I'm happy about it because I'm not faking it. I'm giving them raw content to my audience and being more authentic about it.

Reshma Vadlamudi 2:56

Yeah, yeah, I agree.

Suhashini Nathan 2:58

Yeah, yeah.

Wellness Travel Means Energy And Food

Reshma Vadlamudi 2:59

So when you travel, what's your personal version of wellness? Is it food, sleep, the quietness, or the movement?

Suhashini Nathan 3:08

I would say it's the mix of fall, but I wouldn't say sleep because I feel more relaxed in my house, in my bed, but it's the food, it's it's the energy to get up, go see places that gives me calm and happiness to my mind. So I'm that kind of person. I wouldn't uh expect, you know, a relaxing or a comfort kind of energy or a vibe. I would rather be more energetic, get out from the hotel and see places.

Reshma Vadlamudi 3:42

Go do things, uh exactly explore things, be excited. Yeah, you're just excited to go explore what's out there.

Suhashini Nathan 3:51

Exactly. That what's the whole point of you know, resting when you go on a vacation? I'm that kind of person. Yeah. Earlier I used to not shop when I go on vacation, but right now I'm at this phase where even shopping is therapeutic, and only when I get out of my house I can do all that.

Planning Kid-Friendly Days And Destinations

Suhashini Nathan 4:09

So yeah.

Reshma Vadlamudi 4:09

Yeah. So what's your filter when choosing destinations or restaurants? What are you always looking for?

Suhashini Nathan 4:18

Always looking for good quality food. And right now at this point, I'm making sure it's kid friendly or toddler friendly, making sure that the little one also has fun. So that's a new add-on recently.

Reshma Vadlamudi 4:32

Yeah. Yeah. Okay. What about you? The um for the destinations. Yeah. I would say we haven't focused so much on travel recently. It's all business travel for us. And uh, if it's that, then uh it's definitely focused, kid-centered. Um, like even when we like wherever we go, they come. Right? So it's like even when we came here, our first thought was, what can we do with the kids? And that's how you referred the account today. And then I went through her account, and then I looked up uh the places that we could do based on the temperature today. It's too hot outside.

Suhashini Nathan 5:14

Tell me about it. Yeah.

Reshma Vadlamudi 5:16

So we had to go just plan the day around it because uh Ravan likes the vehicles and stuff like that. He was just mesmerized by looking at the train, just standing there and staring at the train for some time. And then Maya and I, we had so much fun inside that library, and they have that curious George thing going on, and then there was this splash pad across from it, and then even the restaurants, we would rather prefer something like a multiple options where we have, and then in the center where you can sit, because it's like with these multiple kids, or or even with Maya, it's even if it's just one for us, it's like they would start eating one thing, and then they're like, I don't want to be able to do it. We lose interest on it, and then they want something else. So we would rather have multiple options, and wherever we went today was perfect because there are three to four options, and then everyone was able to go get whatever they want, and it was much easier. So, definitely kid-friendly destinations and kid-friendly activities for us too.

Movement, Steps, And Vacation Mindset

Reshma Vadlamudi 6:21

But the movement, do you focus on um the movement? I meant the movement because it's the fitness. Like, as moms, it's not like you could even when you're on vacation, it's not like you can go take your gym time, or it's not like you can go take your whatever class you might be interested in. That's why I'm said like would you try rather try to focus on the movement while kids are still in that area where they could but but then you could still get your steps in and or something like that, or yeah, I I try to do that, but I keep it less on vacation to be honest.

Suhashini Nathan 6:55

Yeah. I I wanna chill. I I didn't I don't want to honestly, when you're on vacation, you're gonna be walking a lot, you're gonna burn all your calories, all that exotic food that you eat by walking, you're gonna burn up. But I I love wan and I wanna be very fit, but I don't concentrate too much about it on a weekly day. On a vacation. Uh but rather on a working day like today, I had a routine work day. Maybe once I go home, I would take a few rounds around the house and just make sure I hit that 8k or 10k steps. Yes. Yes.

Reshma Vadlamudi 7:32

Okay, okay. So not much of a priority when you are on vacations and you take it easy. Um totally.

Suhashini Nathan 7:39

I I wanna off my nine to five jobs, spings and everything, wanna just live in the moment and have some good quality time.

Reshma Vadlamudi 7:49

Time. Yeah, yeah. Okay.

Batch Content Then Live The Moment

Reshma Vadlamudi 7:52

Um so how how do you balance it? Being present on the family trips by all but also capturing all that content. Like, is there any boundary that you would set?

Suhashini Nathan 8:01

Or I do, I do. It it it is quite a task to feel that balance, but I'm so grateful for my husband who is one of the pillars and a backbone for my content creation. So he takes care of a lot of shows, even like the lighting. He would say, Oh, you have to go there, run that, just capture a few shots, come back. So it is a balance. I make sure when we go to a location, finish up and wrap up all my content, and then spend some quality time or enjoy that moment, soak that moment with my loved ones. It it I it took a while for me to hit that balance, but now I'm in this phase where yes, 15 to 20 minutes, shoot everything as much as I can, and then go back, enjoy it with so you would batch it rather than yes, so you would either get it done ahead of time, that's much easier uh getting it done ahead of time.

Reshma Vadlamudi 8:58

So that also sets up the expectations for the little one that's involved, or even for your husband. So then your husband also knows, okay, she's back, and then she can focus on the kid. And yeah.

Suhashini Nathan 9:09

Yeah, that's how we we do it now. Even before we had Calkin, it used to be just me and my husband. We used to, like I said, we used to be at 6 a.m. or 6 30 a.m. in a very touristy location, crowded place. We would go shoot some content, and then we would go to a nice coffee place, sit, relax, and you know, have some bonding time. So I always make sure that it's not just about content creation, but I also enjoy the moment also.

Reshma Vadlamudi 9:37

Yes, yes. So it's been, it's not something recent. It's always been like you always go there, get that thing first, get the work done first, and then you go play whatever.

Suhashini Nathan 9:46

Yes, totally. Because I've been in this game for almost six years now, so I I'm becoming a little better every day, but yes, definitely I do that balance hit. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Reshma Vadlamudi 9:59

Okay. So, what's been the most unexpectedly kid-friendly destination you have experienced so far?

Suhashini Nathan 10:07

Honestly, we have been traveled a lot. I knew Culkin would like the beach, but we took like a boat ride for one hour to look for dolphins, but we did not spot any dolphins. But he really enjoyed that one hour solid. He was looking at the waves, he was looking at all the co-passengers in that small boat. He loved it. I I didn't expect him to be entertained for a solid one hour, but god, he was really enjoying it. I I didn't have to carry so many toys. But he loved it. It was a surprise for me.

Reshma Vadlamudi 10:45

Yeah, yeah. I know like kids surprise you because when you least expect it is when they're so entertained and you just don't know what they might really like. And yes. Totally. What about you? Um I would say it's the same for us. Like Ravan is at that phase where he likes staring at people a lot, and that's how that's the observation all the Montessori people would talk about, I guess. And he would love to stare at every single thing. And then he used to just stare at Maya and Ivy so far, and then every time we go out now, like every restaurant, like he keeps walking, he would either hold a French fry or something, and then he keeps walking and then keeps staring at people. That's the most entertaining thing for him. Like, as long as he's allowed to do all that, he's fine.

Suhashini Nathan 11:35

Like the minute we control them, tears start pouring in the tantrums, a lot, a lot, a lot.

Reshma Vadlamudi 11:42

Yeah, I feel like it's like you you trying to interact with their own uh brain, is when they don't understand that part is what uh that's what like from Maya we observed, like all those things are yeah, yeah, that's exactly that. I think it's the same thing. Like it's not also about the moms thing, it's every baby, the toddler, they're a s pretty similar. Oh, yes. See, it's like I saw a Kulkin yesterday, right? It's like they are they are the same, they just want to have fun, they'd want to be messy as messy as messy as they could get, and they just want to have fun, that's their fun. Yeah.

Suhashini Nathan 12:20

Being messy is their fun.

Kids, Food Rituals, And Picky Phases

Reshma Vadlamudi 12:22

Do you find yourself craving luxury, simplicity, or efficiency with your travels now?

Suhashini Nathan 12:28

I wouldn't say it's totally simple, but I would also want it to be comfortable. By that means I don't want to say that I want a presidential suite to be luxurious and everything, but I want it to be simple yet more comfortable for me, Karthik and Kalkin. So yeah, I'm I would lean more towards simplicity and comfortable kind of.

Reshma Vadlamudi 12:55

Yes, and then you might have to pay a little bit more price here for you to feel comfortable, and that you wouldn't mind and can afford at this point. Exactly.

Suhashini Nathan 13:06

Whatever I could afford at this point, yes, totally give me in and count me in, but not like a sweet and uh always we cannot pray for a luxurious.

Reshma Vadlamudi 13:17

Yes, yes, the your own definition of luxury. Yeah, so yes, okay. Yeah. Are there food rituals at home or on trips that ground your family? Meals that uh feel like home no matter where you are.

Suhashini Nathan 13:32

Meals that feel like home, I wouldn't say that because you get that comfort and that, you know, warmth in home cooked meal. So I wouldn't expect that on a vacation, but I would we have rituals at home, you know, we follow a routine, we have like a pattern, we follow that. Uh but yeah, when we go outside or we travel, I keep it very low-key. Whatever is available, we we just go with it. And at this point, Calkin loves exploring food, so I'm I don't want to curtail him from trying new stuff, so we are open about it at this point. What about you guys? You have three kids.

Reshma Vadlamudi 14:16

Oh my gosh. So I I don't know how to how to answer this one. Um we do have like all of them are on a I would say the uh the second and third are much on the same page at this point. Um Ivy recently entered into that picky eating, like the day she turned three is when she started doing that a little more often. Before that, yes, yes, that's when she started doing that. But then Maya has been this way, like she has been in and out of it, and then she's too comfortable eating Indian food. Oh, yeah, she is then yes, she she loves her dal, she uh loves her dosa, her eagli. She loves that food. Um, if if we could find an Indian restaurant on the trip, like she is the most happiest person. Either the Indian restaurant or staying at a hotel to get the cereal in the morning is her favorite thing uh to do, and Ivy and Ravan they love their pasta.

Suhashini Nathan 15:21

Oh, yeah.

Reshma Vadlamudi 15:22

I did see that yesterday. So that that's there. Um, and Ravan likes the tomato sauce base a little more, and Ivy 10. Like she used to like that a lot. She's just making that switch where she's getting into that picky phase where all she wants to eat is white colored food. So that's why is what my brain is telling. But then this morning we were out, and yesterday she ate the tomato sauce, right? Maybe that's why she wanted the white one today. It's like uh she's in that uh here and there. The rituals at home, we we kind of stick to too much protein and all that at home. But then uh with uh with the vacations, everything is out of the same.

Suhashini Nathan 16:07

Yeah, I don't expect much on vacation as long as his tummy is full and he's hydrated, I'm happy.

Reshma Vadlamudi 16:15

Yes, yes. And the only thing is sometimes I try to restrict the sugars. Um that that's always there, but then uh only if they ate too much that particular day. And then that day, if they did not eat eat too much, I don't really count. When I say too much, it's more than like three or four uh ice creams or something like that. So that's what when I say too much means. But then it's summer, they they are outside playing in the pool or with the cousins or something. They might eat even without realizing they can they could eat two ice creams, and then the dinner time comes, and then they are like, we just ate dinner, now we want a treat. That's when I start to say, no, okay, let's try some fruit. Um, other than that, vacations I don't. Yeah. Makes sense. Yeah, yeah. Okay, so do you find joy um in everyday meals as much as a restaurant finds?

Suhashini Nathan 17:11

Um, I'm gonna be in the middle for this question. Uh because I love my home cooked simple meal. I absolutely love it any day, anytime. But I also crave for some fancy restaurant food. By fancy I mean it's a new dish. It's like a new cuisine that I don't make at home often. So I would absolutely love to try. Both makes me happy.

Reshma Vadlamudi 17:38

Okay, meals that make make you feel like home.

Suhashini Nathan 17:42

Absolutely. Indian food makes me feel at home. Uh, even when we travel, you know, as long as there's rice. If it's Thai, yes, there is rice, it's Mexican, yes, there's rice. I'm happy. But yes, Indian food make me more happy, give me the warmth, and yes, I'm the happiest.

Reshma Vadlamudi 18:02

What about Calkin? Does he have a preference yet?

Suhashini Nathan 18:06

Like not yet, honestly, but he is in this phase where he liked pasta yesterday and he loves idli, dosa, rice, and 80% of the time he eats Indian food, and just the 20% of the time when we head out or when I try to make something different. So he's still quite not there yet.

Reshma Vadlamudi 18:28

Okay. Yeah, yeah. Okay. And also it's it's hard uh at his age to have that preference. I know.

Suhashini Nathan 18:36

Well, when he was going to daycare, the the teacher would send me a note every day saying like he finished his breakfast, he finished his lunch. But I had a hard time believing it. But one day I went in early to see, and he did finish that plate of pasta and fruit puree. The same food, if I would give in in the house, he would have thrown in my face.

When Hotels Make Parenting Easier

Reshma Vadlamudi 18:58

Do you think today's hospitality brands do enough to create spaces for families to actually reset?

Suhashini Nathan 19:06

I would say not all, but I'm gonna mention something here. When we went to Vegas to celebrate mine and Culkin's birthday, literally we just had to carry his car seat. Everything was provided in the hotel that we stayed. There was a crib, there was everything that he wanted. Since we said birthday, they had given him toys. He was occupied, and I can remember it so well because we had so much fun. It was more comfortable. Definitely, not all places I've seen have that.

Reshma Vadlamudi 19:37

Yes, yes, exactly. Okay.

Work, Consistency, And Hidden Influencer Life

Reshma Vadlamudi 19:40

So who is Suhasini in this exact season of life?

Suhashini Nathan 19:44

I would say uh hustling mom who doesn't have it all together, but trying hard to just take one day at a time.

Reshma Vadlamudi 19:55

Yeah. Yeah, so yes, so why do you say hustle? Like what all do you do in a day?

Suhashini Nathan 20:03

I have an eight to five job and I work remote, that's a good thing. Uh a blessing not to travel or commute to work, and then I create content which is a part of my passion, and then I'm a mom. Mom being a mom is a full-time duty, and being a wife, and yeah, that's all that I do, juggle and do.

Reshma Vadlamudi 20:25

Yes, yes.

Suhashini Nathan 20:27

Yeah.

Reshma Vadlamudi 20:28

Okay. So take us inside a typical weekday for you.

Suhashini Nathan 20:33

Weekday, I would give a view of what happened today. Monday, typical Monday, a lot of meetings. We had uh go live today at work, uh big project that I had to publish and give it to my boss. And then I good thing I have a nanny to help uh with Calkin. He used to go to daycare, but he's with a nanny right now to be away from all the daycare sickness. And then evening, I'm right here sitting and doing a podcast with you, and later on maybe we'll go and have some pizza with the kids. It's very simple. I keep it light, and before coming here, I was able to shoot some content, you know. Why not? I'm dressed up, which is a rare sight. So finish up some content and get some content for Instagram. Yeah. Yeah. Okay.

Reshma Vadlamudi 21:26

So what mindset shift helped you take your content seriously while still growing uh well sorry, while still showing up for work and family?

Suhashini Nathan 21:36

It I would say truly my passion. My passion was driving me to do that. And also I I love my audience, though I don't know all the 15k by name, but they mean a lot to me. And I wanna be more authentic. I want to be present. I didn't want to pause my content at any phase of my life when I was Pregnant, I was posting more about motherhood. I was posting about my pregnancy. And I took them as a journey in my life. I didn't focus on one niche. It I just took them as a part of my life so that they are more present and they could experience different versions of soha. From uh 20 I I think I started uh content creation when I was 24, maybe. I'm 31 now, so they've seen the different seasons of soha.

Reshma Vadlamudi 22:31

Yeah. Yeah. So how do you stay consistent when life gets chaotic? What's your actual system or re rhythm for content?

Suhashini Nathan 22:41

I I wanna say I I am consistent. I have also taken breaks sometime. So to hit that consistency, I had to hit a pause sometimes, maybe a week or two to you know batch some content. Or if I want a break for my mental health, I have taken that. But throughout the six years, I have not taken more than two weeks break. I bounce back. I I I would say it's the energy and the more passion to be present on gram and to do more.

Reshma Vadlamudi 23:16

Yeah. Okay.

Virality, Boundaries, And Career Lessons

Reshma Vadlamudi 23:20

Have you ever had to hide your influencer's side at work or is it out or is it out in the open?

Suhashini Nathan 23:28

At this point, it's hidden. Nobody knows. So how is even present on Instagram? But uh at my previous workplace, my boss was super chill about it. We went on a work trip. She saw me changing multiple outfits for different meetings. And she was like, wait, what are you doing? Are you shooting content? And she caught me red-handed. But that that was a fun theme, but right now I'm keeping it as low as I can. And even to my fellow neighbors or when I meet fellow moms in the park, I don't go camping for myself. I I just keep it really low.

Reshma Vadlamudi 24:08

Like, do you post most of the content, especially when Culkin is involved after the fact that you left the place and stuff like that? Or is there something?

Suhashini Nathan 24:18

Oh yes. I for multiple reasons. One, for our security, I don't post anything while at the place. Next, I want to be more present while I'm at a restaurant. I want to enjoy the food. I want to take care of my son who is trying to enjoy the food. So it's definitely at least after a day or two that I post content. Yes, that's our rhythm.

Reshma Vadlamudi 24:42

Yeah. Okay, what's been your most surprising moment of growth or reach online?

Suhashini Nathan 24:47

Surprising few points. We were randomly shooting a reel, me and Karthik. I I I I don't think yeah, Kalkin wasn't even there. It was just me and Karthik. It was a random four-second reel that hit four million views. Is it a great reel? It's like he'll be working. I would go disturb him, and he would be like, uh, my wife is back. Something like it. It's a very funny reel, and it's barely five seconds, and it hit four million views. That was the most shocking. And that helped me hit a big number. I went literally from 5k to 12k followers in that one week.

Reshma Vadlamudi 25:30

Oh wow, yeah. So we just have to keep posting. You just don't know what to do.

Suhashini Nathan 25:34

Exactly. What you it's a hit or miss. Either it does really well, or you have to just, you know, you know what? The next one will be better. You have to keep consistent and push yourself.

Reshma Vadlamudi 25:44

So now that you said that, I want to ask the opposite. What happened? Like there will be content that you would think this would be like, oh, this is so good. I love this so much.

Suhashini Nathan 26:01

And I would be like, oh wow, this is gonna hit at least like 10k, 20k, barely hit 1500. Yeah. There's a lot of experiences like that. Especially it's your favorite brand. Yeah. And you want to showcase something that you've created, it doesn't hit really well.

Reshma Vadlamudi 26:22

So, how do you decide what parts of motherhood to share and what to protect?

Suhashini Nathan 26:28

I'm still figuring it out, to be honest, and I try my best to think twice before I post something. I I wanna be kind to another fellow mom. I don't want to offend by my content. I try my best to keep that thought constantly in my brain. But I'm also figuring it out if Carl King grows up, will he want this content on gram? And so many people would have seen it already. So I keep in mind that it should be both ways, not offending fellow moms and not offending my own child. So I I have to balance that bridge, and that's how I'm bringing.

Reshma Vadlamudi 27:12

Oh, I haven't thought about from the kid's perspective. Oh, yes.

Suhashini Nathan 27:15

Yes, in a couple years he's gonna grow up. Obviously, he will ask me what Instagram is, and he's gonna watch the videos. His friends are gonna watch videos, so make sure that it's the balance of both.

Reshma Vadlamudi 27:28

What message do you hope other moms take away from your platform?

Suhashini Nathan 27:33

Be yourself, don't overthink, and be real, that that's it. I don't want anybody to look at the just the outfits, just the products that I have. I just want them to think that if I can do it, even they can do it. Anybody who's passionate about creating content, anybody who has a message for the community, they should do it. I would see, I would say just being authentic is what they should get from my page. Yeah. Because like I said, my page is seasoned for different years. So that should be the message that they're getting. In 2021, they were seeing all fashion content, but in 2023 they saw pregnant content and now full switch to motherhood content. So that's the you know message that they should be getting, being themselves.

Reshma Vadlamudi 28:27

Yeah. Do you feel like your full-time job adds the stability or friction to your online life?

Suhashini Nathan 28:35

At this phase, I'm going to say it adds more stability because I'm not a full-time content creator. I do it out of passion. And so at this phase, I want to progress more in my career. I worked really hard in my undergrad. I did my masters here. So I want to say I want to climb the ladder, corporate ladder, and have more stability. Yes.

Reshma Vadlamudi 29:01

Okay. Yeah. What's one lesson your career has taught you that helps you as a creator?

Suhashini Nathan 29:08

Oh, patience. Patience. Which I don't have. Yes. In every task that I do, my full-time job teaches me to have more patience. It's either with human interaction or even with my brain work, I need to have more patience. Same with my content creation. Anything and everything, I definitely need more patience.

Reshma Vadlamudi 29:32

So vice versa too. So what what is one thing from your content creation that influenced in your I would say think out of the box.

Suhashini Nathan 29:42

Content creation is all about creativity. And my full-time job, thinking out of the box, is really helpful in a very complicated or intricate, you know, situations. I would definitely say that. Rather than going the normal B route, maybe you can have a C route, which could be a little less complex and more efficient. So I would say that. Yeah.