After a lifetime of relationships and a fear of being alone, Sheila Paylan is discovering that solitude can be liberating, even thrilling. From handing out apartment keys to near-strangers to enjoying her own company, she explores what happens when you stop looking for someone to complete your life.

After meeting a man in Artsakh who vowed never to leave, Sheila Paylan feared he had died when more than 100,000 Armenians fled Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023. Years later, a fallen wheat wreath makes her reconsider what it means to keep a promise, love a homeland and choose to survive.

In this special edition of “Unleashed”, Sheila Paylan examines the arrests and prosecutions of Armenia’s political opponents, asking whether the fight against oligarchy is being pursued with consistent standards and respect for judicial independence. She argues that defending democracy requires holding power accountable, even when those targeted are difficult to defend.

Why do we turn celebrities, influencers and political leaders into modern-day gods? Sheila Paylan explores the psychology of hero worship, personality cults and our willingness to surrender critical thinking in exchange for admiration and belonging.

Drawing from a deeply personal chapter of her life, Sheila Paylan reflects on the hard, often unflattering work of trying to become better. Exploring relapse, discipline and self-forgiveness, she argues that progress is not erased by the moments we fall, but revealed in how we rise again.

As Armenia heads to the polls, Sheila Paylan reflects on the meaning of voting, the temptation of strategic choices, and why the only truly wasted vote is the one never cast.

This month for Unleashed, Sheila Paylan draws a line from childhood bullying to Armenia’s unexpected rise into the global spotlight, reflecting on how people and countries can use pain and rejection to rise above and beyond what tried to break them.

A reflective Easter meditation on boundaries, self-worth and the power of walking away. Drawing from personal and professional experience, Sheila Paylan argues that refusing to tolerate disrespect is not loss, but a necessary act that creates space for growth and better possibilities.

In this month’s Unleashed, Sheila Paylan challenges the double standards that celebrate women for a day but judge them the rest of the year, and makes the case for women to live boldly, freely, and unapologetically on their own terms.