Before anyone rolls their eyes and dismisses this, I just want to note that I’m about to piss some people off… so if you’re a Cancer or Aquarius specifically… sorry in advance! This is the episode about all things astrology (only on the surface though since we would be here forever if I got into all the details…) with some of my and YOUR spiciest takes!!! Disclaimer: None of this is actually supposed to be taken literally… (I mean if the shoe fits!!!) and it’s all for good fun! I will do a fair amount of roasting of the signs, but bias is impossible to remove so enjoy my skewed opinions with a sprinkle of honesty of course (with love too, from one chaotic Virgo)!

Background Music: OneEightFour via Anchor by Spotify

Sources:

“12 Zodiac Signs: All You Need to Know” via Astrology.com https://www.astrology.com/zodiac-signs

“What is Astrology?” via Co-Star + Cafe Astrology

https://www.costarastrology.com/ + https://cafeastrology.com/

Happy New Year, my lovely listeners! I am so excited to officially announce and launch my new bonus segment aptly titled “lena’s lo-fi life lessons” where I offer my unsolicited advice and thoughts on a wide range of different topics, from unpopular opinions, my hot takes on pop culture news, and a little more introspection from me to you… Let’s take a look back at 2022 and learn why I think the best conversations take place at 4 a.m. Thank you for staying with me on this ride for me as we embark on another leg of our journey together!

Background Music: Introduction Snippet: “Prague Jazz End” by ERH via https://freesound.org/people/ERH/sounds/40110/#

Episode Music: “Coffee Shop” by Audio Library PH via YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-0buJ-NH2Y

Bonus Segment Cover Art: Designed by Sophia Qin (@sophiayqin)

Following the trend of uplifting and showcasing my talented community, special thanks to Sophia Qin for designing and animating the art for this bonus segment. She is OPEN for commissions, see below for more information.

Sophia is an artist and UX/UI designer based in San Francisco. Her work explores loneliness and the quiet sublime of living in the wide world. Through analog and digital processes she translates her experiences into delicate animations and multimedia artworks.

She was recently named “Giphy’s Artist to Watch in 2023.” In the past, she has collaboratively exhibited work in the SFMOMA Gallery and FutureLab in Shanghai. She double majored in Art and Human-Computer Interaction at Carnegie Mellon University in 2020 with university & college honors.

For all inquiries and commissions, feel free to DM her directly on Instagram (@sophiayqin) or via email at [email protected] for more formal requests. She does work in animation, illustration, and music videos, as well as creative UX design work such as interactive infographics and website design. Check out her art website (https://www.sophiaqin.art/) and design website (https://sophiayqin.com/) to see more of her brilliant work!

As the holidays are approaching, it is a time for celebration, community, and most importantly, of course, all about food… With that, I had the honor of inviting my lovely friend and foodie, Katharine (@katnapsss), to share her thoughts on the intersections of food and community through a decolonial lens. Based in Oakland/Ohlone land, Katharine strives to learn more about her community and self through her art, photography, and home-cooked meals. She someday hopes to compile all her recipes into a cookbook that would be available to anyone who is struggling to create delicious, cultural meals under tight budgets. Together, we share anecdotes, histories, and legacies stemming all the way back from the meals of our ancestors to how we continue to evolve those traditions in the contemporary moment.

Cover Art: Designed by our lovely guest, Katharine (@katnapsss)— thank you so much!

Background Music: “beats to wfh/study/relax to | work from home vol. 1 | mr. hong mix” via YouTube by Mr. Hong (@mrhongmusic) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKMmVQHyXko

This episode’s background music was brought to you by Mr. Hong (@mrhongmusic), an Asian-American musician from San Francisco, my hometown! Please make sure to check out all of Mr. Hong’s wonderful work here: https://linktr.ee/mrhongmusic

I want to give a special thank you again to Katharine for being an honorary guest and sharing her knowledge with us. You can find her on Instagram and Tik Tok (@katnapsss) where she shares her food adventures as well as her shenanigans with friends.

Please check out Katharine’s personal highlights below and show them some love!!!

Sources:

Nourish: Food + Community: Watch the film and check out their Discussion Guide for Q’s!

https://www.nourishlife.org/about/the-initiative/

“Family-style dining: Bringing people and food together” (2016) by Liana Robberecht

https://www.restobiz.ca/family-style-dining-bringing-people-food-together/

[KQED] “What It Means to Decolonize Your Diet” (2019) by CUESA

https://www.kqed.org/bayareabites/135518/what-it-means-to-decolonize-your-diet

Want to learn more? Check out these interesting reads as well…

“THE POWER OF FOOD: BUILDING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY” (2020) via Willow Run Farmstead

https://www.willowrunfarmpa.com/blog/the-power-of-food-building-a-sense-of-community

“Creating a Sense of Home and Community Through Food” (2022) by Kohleun Adamson via Healthier Generation

https://www.healthiergeneration.org/articles/creating-a-sense-of-home-and-community-through-food

CW: brief mention of suicide, hanging

NOTE: This was recorded prior and meant to be released the night before Halloween… enjoy!

‘Twas the night before Halloween… and I thought to myself what better way to get in spirit than to learn of the various unique traditions and superstitions that you should keep in mind for this spooky season! Ranging from various cultural ghost stories to why black cats and bats are signs of bad luck, join me as I spill the secrets just in time for this All Hallow’s Eve… Whatever you do, make sure you lock your doors to keep any unwanted guests from coming in…

Background Music: “Halloween Spooky Ambience - Haunted Houses Village | Rainy Halloween” (2021) by Cozy Rain via YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zeXHpWVSfs

Purchase Link: https://cozyrain.gumroad.com/l/PmeqT

Sources:

“Halloween 2022” via History.com

https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween#:~:text=The%20tradition%20originated%20with%20the,of%20the%20traditions%20of%20Samhain.

“13 Halloween Superstitions & Traditions Explained” (2011) by Remy Melina

https://www.livescience.com/16677-halloween-superstitions-traditions.html#:~:text=Trick%2DOr%2DTreating%20in%20Costumes&text=The%20superstition%20was%20that%20the,and%20being%20cursed%20or%20haunted.

“Common Halloween Superstitions” (2022) by King Halloween

https://kinghalloween.com/halloween-favorites/common-halloween-superstitions/

“Why You Can’t Write Your Name in Red” (2019) by Kristin Wong

http://folklore.usc.edu/why-you-cant-write-your-name-in-red/

“9 Ghosts And Demons In Vietnamese Folklore That Had Us Check Under Our Beds As Kids” (2021) by Toan Ngo

https://thesmartlocal.com/vietnam/vietnamese-ghosts-demons/

“13 Interesting Superstitions in Vietnam” (2021) by William

https://vietnamdaily.ca/culture/13-interesting-superstitions-in-vietnam/

In honor of spooky season, this episode explores the realm that lies between fantasy and reality... welcome to the world of dreams, both lucid and daydreams and unfortunately, this includes nightmares! Dreams have always been in the forefront of many classics over the years, stemming from as early as Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (1820) all the way up until Wes Craven's A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) film franchise. Let's dive into what makes dreams such a compelling subject and why it seems to be the perfect inspiration for all things horror… good night and sweet dreams everyone!

Introduction Snippet: “The Twilight Zone (Intro)” (1959) by The Ventures

Background Music: “Midnight Lofi: Halloween Mini Vibe” by The Midnight Society https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5EpzQBMR3Y

Ending Theme: “Goosebumps (Theme Song)” (1995) by Jack Lenz

Sources:

“Different Types of Dreams and What They May Mean About You” (2020) by Jamie Elmer,

Reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, PhD, PsyD

https://www.healthline.com/health/types-of-dreams

“Lucid Dreaming: A State of Consciousness with Features of Both Waking and Non-Lucid Dreaming” by Ursula Voss, PhD. Dr. Romain Holzmann, Dr. Inka Tuin, & J. Allan Hobson, MD

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2737577/

“Science of Daydreaming” (2011) via Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Science

https://sites.dartmouth.edu/dujs/2011/02/03/science-of-daydreaming/#:~:text=Daydreaming%20is%20defined%20as%20%E2%80%9Cspontaneous,during%20wakefulness%E2%80%9D%20(1)

“Nightmares” (2022) via Psychology Today

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/conditions/nightmares

“The Nightmares of Halloween” (2021) by Kelly Bulkeley Ph.D. via Psychology Today

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/dreaming-in-the-digital-age/202110/the-nightmares-halloween

“What Inspired 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’?” (2019) by Lesley Kennedy

https://www.techtimes.com/articles/89829/20151001/real-history-sleepy-hollow-much-legend-ties-series.htm

“Dream Sequences in the A Nightmare on Elm Street Series” (2020) by Josh Sweeney

https://horrorobsessive.com/2020/11/16/dream-sequences-in-the-a-nightmare-on-elm-street-series/

“Dreams, Interpretations, Anxieties, and A Nightmare on Elm Street” (2020) by Anthony Caro

https://horrornews.net/153185/dreams-interpretations-anxieties-and-a-nightmare-on-elm-street/

Welcome my lovely listeners and happy spooky season! After listening to Nat King Cole and Lady Ella on repeat, I am so excited to announce that it’s the best time of the year… Now, what’s so great about autumn? Is it nostalgia? Is it the pumpkin spiced lattes and apple cider? Is it the color changing leaves and rainy weather? Is it the fashion? Join me as I make my declaration of love to the fall season and what it symbolizes both personally and as a whole. Don’t forget to check out my curated list of media to consume especially since it’s peak season to do so!

Introduction Monologue: “You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown” (1967) by John Gordon

Background Music: “reading a book on a cozy autumn day | a jazzy autumn playlist” via nadia on YouTube: https://youtu.be/SFuGnTzSsks

Sources:

‘Tis Autumn by Nat King Cole Trio (1949) via YouTube Music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hph8xZTq2ZY

“Symbols And Symbolism Of Autumn” by Rose Mulu

https://symbolsage.com/autumn-symbols-and-symbolism/

“How Different Countries in Asia Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival” by Chad De Guzman

https://time.com/6212026/countries-celebrate-mid-autumn-festival/

“Autumn Nostalgia: Confronting the Inevitability of Change” by Elizabeth Burnam

https://medium.com/swlh/autumn-nostalgia-confronting-the-inevitability-of-change-66c4dd8f92df

“How to Find Small Moments of Joy in Dark Times” by Angela Haupt

https://time.com/6216726/how-to-find-joy-dark-times/

Fall Inspiration/Things to Check Out:

anything remotely aesthetic, nostalgic, or fantasy— bonus points if it’s all three!

“Inside Out: Emotional Theory Comes Alive” by Nerdwriter1 on YouTube

https://youtu.be/xXYhua4IwoE

“A BOY NAMED CHARLIE BROWN (1969) Analysis” by Toonrific Tariq via YouTube

https://youtu.be/NJPpbx1qDQg

“The Gentle Principles of Hey Arnold | Video Essay” via Quality Culture on YouTube https://youtu.be/AYHo6pKaPXs

“Frog and Toad: The Philosophy of Simple Living | Video Essay” via Quality Culture on YouTube: https://youtu.be/dUwV1LdWWIA

“The Moomins Nostalgia” by Noralities via YouTube: https://youtu.be/StPPKdqNbig

“Over The Garden Wall a masterpiece? | Video Essay” via M. Grawey Films on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ha5iX7fxRZI

We’re back to business as usual… and the first thing that comes to mind unfortunately is burnout… Burnout is often overlooked since it’s easy to dismiss as temporary fatigue, but if left untreated can lead to physical, emotional, and psychological issues. In this episode, we cover how to spot burnout and ways to address the issue before it leads to further consequences.

If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, or worried about a friend or loved one, help is available. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 [TALK], or text TALK to 741-741 for free confidential emotional support 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Background Music: OneEightFour via Anchor by Spotify

Sources:

“A Guide to Burnout” (2019) by Juli Fraga, Reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, PhD, PsyD

https://www.healthline.com/health/tips-for-identifying-and-preventing-burnout

“Burnout Recovery: 11 Strategies to Help You Reset” (2021) by Crystal Raypole, Reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph.D., MSN

https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/burnout-recovery

“Understanding What a Mental Breakdown Is (and How to Get Help)” (2021) by Futures Recovery Healthcare

https://futuresrecoveryhealthcare.com/blog/mental-breakdown/

“How to Recognize and Treat the Symptoms of a Nervous Breakdown” (2022) by Annamarya Scaccia, Reviewed by Nicole Washington, DO, MPH https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/nervous-breakdown#symptoms

Let’s look back on some of the inspirations behind the mini-series based on bell hook’s cult classic: all about love: new visions (2000). Come join me as I walk through some of my inspirations behind the mini series, my relationship with love as a whole, and finally stay tuned to the very end to hear about an upcoming new series on the podcast… Special thank you to my lovely guests, Eli and Sarah, as well as shoutout to Gia of the voice memo diaries podcast (theevmdiaries) for making this series possible! 

Show some love to my lovely friend and upcoming artist for my new bonus segment, Sophia Qin (@sophiayqin) on Instagram and follow her there! 

Background Music: OneEightFour via Anchor by Spotify

If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, or worried about a friend or loved one, help is available. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 [TALK], or text TALK to 741-741 for free confidential emotional support 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Sources:

all about love: new visions (2000) by bell hooks

https://bellhooksbooks.com/product/all-about-love/

CW: Self-Hate, Depression, Anxiety, Grief

Welcome my lovely listeners to the final part of my mini-series based on bell hook’s cult classic: all about love: new visions (2000). This week I am exploring the topic of healing through coping honestly, and fair warning that this is an unexpectedly heavy topic for me. Join me as I walk you through the rollercoaster of emotions, hurt, and trauma that have been top of mind but offer unsolicited advice on how to begin to work on healing. It starts with your inner child and what the little moments of our day offer to us… We’re also now active on TikTok at @ageneralgoodtimepodcast and on Twitter at @aggtpodcast, thank you for the ongoing love!

Background Music: OneEightFour via Anchor by Spotify

If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, or worried about a friend or loved one, help is available. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 [TALK], or text TALK to 741-741 for free confidential emotional support 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Sources:

all about love: new visions (2000) by bell hooks

https://bellhooksbooks.com/product/all-about-love/

“Coping Mechanisms: Dealing with Life’s Disappointments in a Healthy Way” (2017) by Courtney E. Ackerman, MA.

https://positivepsychology.com/coping/

“Let It Hurt, Let It Heal: Why is it so important to let yourself feel pain?” (2017) by Denise Fournier Ph.D.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mindfully-present-fully-alive/201707/let-it-hurt-let-it-heal

Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022) Film: Directed by The Daniels

https://a24films.com/films/everything-everywhere-all-at-once

“8 Ways to Start Healing Your Inner Child” (2021) by Crystal Raypole, Medically Reviewed by Alex Klein, PsyD

https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/inner-child-healing#reach-out