Letter #46 - Podcasts as a Pick-Me-Up

To anyone wanting to start their week on a high,

It’s Sunday and for me, Sundays vary from lazy days to hyper-productive organisation days. The one thing that I can always find in my Sunday routine is listening to a podcast, or three.

Podcasts have become my recent obsession, especially the really chatty informal kind. They’re such easy listening and it can feel like I’m consuming knowledge without actually having to do anything. I can actually multitask and there’s this feeling of productivity throughout.

So here are a few of my favourites.

Love stories with Dolly Alderton

Now this podcast, by writer and journalist Dolly Alderton, is amazing! She interviews guests about the loves that made them who they are. Each episode has the same standard questions but Dolly has such a knack for getting deeper into the story of each guest. She dives right into their lives and finds such interesting stories and meaning within those stories. One of my favourite episodes is the very first one, with actress Vanessa Kirby. The two were university friends and that is exactly what t sounds like. A friendly chat and a catch up. It’s the best thing to listen to with a cup of tea at the end the day.

Ctrl, Alt, Delete - Emma Gannon

Now I don’t think there’s anyone who hasn’t heard of Emma Gannon’s podcast, which stemmed in a book of the same name. She discusses the work that her guests do and how they navigate social media in this technological age. It’s the kind of podcast that pumps you up to do something after listening to it. They have such intelligent, considered conversations about creative work and the various industries that the guest are in. She had great guest as well, from Elizabeth Gilbert, to Ava Duverney and Lena Dunham. As someone who wants to write for a living at some point, it’s such a fantastic way to devour any and all knowledge these guests have to impart about their own experiences.

Armchair Expert - Dax Shepard

So this podcast is one that I just happened upon, in my love of Kristen Bell and all that she does. This is her husband, Dax Shepard’s podcast. Again, with great guests! This has made the list for what it stands for. He interviews people about their “why”. Why did you get into this career? Why did your personality develop this way? Why did you choose this path? He’s so interested in getting to the bottom of the human condition and of gaining a deep understanding of his guests. After each episodes, I genuinely feel slightly more emotionally intelligent. And that’s never a bad thing! 

One Girl Band

This is a super helpful podcast, with a mix of shorter discussions on a topic, surrounding creativity, being in a creative industry and freelancing, and longer guest orientated discussions. The founder is Lola Hoad, who has created a space for female entrepreneurs and creatives to support each other. It's literally a pep talk! I like that there is that variety, because I won’t always have the time to listen to a full 50+ minutes podcast but the shorter 20 minute ones are perfect for when I need a boost of motivation or to get some inspiration. The discussions tend to be about working from home and the struggles and joys of such work. The guests are usually bloggers or people who work social media related industries, so it’s a really useful and informative podcast, where I come away learning a lot.


These are just a tiny handful of the amazing content out there, so even if none of these take your fancy, go and search for some podcasts that you will love. And it can take a while to warm up to it, if you’re not someone who likes having to focus on sound without a video attached to it! But if can lead to some really valuable content and if not, there’s plenty of podcasts that are much more story focused and episodic.

Now excuse me, while I go and catch up on the latest episode of Love Stories.

Until next time, be inspired...

Z

Letter #33 - Winter is coming

Dear all,

I'm so excited it's December! The minute the calendar flips, I always feel that little more cosy and safe. I know it's officially astronomically not winter yet, but for me, it is as soon as December arrives.

Winter is absolutely my favourite of all seasons and it's such a festive season at that. The fact that Christmas and New Years tie off the month make it all the more special.

Now I don't celebrate Christmas, but I love the idea. Yes, it may be commercial and more a holiday for marketing teams now but once in the swing of things, it creates such a nice atmosphere. The lights, the food, the indulgence and the chance to celebrate the year are all wrapped up in one. In essence, it's just all so pretty and I am basic enough to indulge in that and be proud of it.

This is the first year since I was about 12 that I've had a truly free holiday season. When you're in school, this was the time for term tests and extra holiday homework or as you get to university, it's the only time you have to study for exams which arrive with the new year. I am going to completely enjoy myself this month as I end the year.

So I thought I'd talk a bit about some of my favourite aspects of winter time is general. I know I'm not alone in my love for this time of year.

The air is beautiful

You know what I'm talking about. On the perfect mid winter's day, the skies will be clear and the air will feel crisp and fresh, and while you shiver, you'll also feel refreshed at the sensation. We've had a few of those days already this year, and as the weather gets even colder, I'm sure we'll have more. It makes a change to rain, and wind and even the humid summer months. I'm not at all a fan of summer, and spring and autumn tend to be too rainy for me. Winter is perfectly at peace.

The lights as they glow

In part because of how early darkness hits us, the lights can be a welcome reprieve as the sun takes its leave (that rhymed haha!). As soon as Halloween has come and gone, the Christmas preparations begin and fill the spaces of darkness with colourful and vibrant displays of light. I look forward to the annual switching on of the lights around town and the displays are beautiful. The absolute best place to witness beautiful displays and lights in my opinion is anywhere in London. There is always such a synchronicity between the store front displays and the street lights everywhere you turn. I think my love of lights and displays is similar to that of most people, but there's something about bright spots of colour dotted around an area that gives it an almost magical quality. It so perfectly complements the early darkness.

Darkness feeds my soul

As I just mentioned, it gets dark very early on in the day, usually around 4pm and alongside this, the sun is also late to rise. That is the part of the day that is my favourite. I'm an early riser most of the time, and by 6am, my eyes will open and I will have to debate whether to get up or to force myself to catch up with whatever dream I was consumed in. In the summer months, there is a busy atmosphere much earlier in the day as the sun usually peeks in through the curtains and people gladly begin their days. However, I hate that busy feeling and I much prefer solitude first time in the morning. I may be an early riser but that does not make me a "morning person". Frankly, I think of morning people as those who jump up with a smile on their face, eager to begin the day with a chat and some socialisation. I, however, much prefer a slow morning. That is the only way I can enjoy a morning properly.

I feel like I'm off on a tangent but basically, I like quiet and alone time when I wake and the winter grants that to me. I can get up at 6am, slowly become alert, and have a leisurely breakfast while other either sleep or get up with a grumble. Either way, they're not in the mood to bother me and I love that.

I also feel more productive like that, as thought I've beaten the sun to the finish line! See, I told you the darkness feeds my soul.

Excuse for sweet treats

There is a smell and a taste to winter and I think that might be my most favourite part of all. It's the season of warming soups, and hearty comfort meals; both of which I highly approve of indulging in. But it's also a time of celebration and as such, sweeties are called for. As someone who loves to bake, Christmas time is my go to for that. I become inspired and caught up in the smell of spices and fruit and it makes me more likely to bake. Cinnamon is the best smell to ever have in a kitchen and it's such a winter flavour that I can go a bit overboard with it.

As it's the season of giving, I can gift a lot of what I bake and that makes it all the more sweet when I do indulge in my treats for myself.

What inspires you in the winter and do you have a favourite month or season?

Until next time, be inspired...

Love, Z