In this special on-the-road episode, Rob and Helen meet in person for the first time in almost six years — to celebrate Mark+Fold’s 10-year anniversary at their Brick Lane pop-up.

Recorded between a noisy East London bar and the beautifully minimalist Mark+Fold shop, this episode is a blend of celebration, nostalgia, and stationery-fueled creativity.

Apologies for some of the audio quality - London doesn't have many quiet bars and restuarants!

You’ll hear:

• The Stationery Freaks origin story — how a shared love of pens and notebooks sparked a 7-year podcast
• Why Mark+Fold’s aesthetic hits so deeply for creatives
• How notebooks help ideas become real — from novels to meetings to films
• What Helen did and didn’t buy (and what Rob tried to encourage…)

Plus two brilliant spontaneous mini-interviews:

• Terri, a writer whose tiny handwriting and Bangkok-sourced micro-nib pens inspired us both
• Vicky, a second-generation bookbinder behind the stitching of Mark+Fold’s planners and notebooks

It’s a celebration of longevity — Mark+Fold’s 10 years, Stationery Freaks’ 7 years — and the creative habits, tools, and people that keep us all moving from idea → creation.

Links & Mentions

• Mark+Fold Pop-Up Shop – Open until 25th November 2025 - Find the store at 228 Brick Lane, London, E2 7EE
• Mark+Fold Monthly Planners & Notebooks
• Choosing Keeping (London stationery shop)
• Blackwing Pencils
• Hobonichi Techo & A6 notebooks
• Oxford Notebooks & Yellow Legal Pads

Key Moments

00:00 — Meeting in person for the first time in years
03:10 — Why Mark+Fold’s design philosophy resonates
07:40 — How the Stationery Freaks podcast began
14:00 — Why we record even when the audio is imperfect
18:30 — What we learned from early listeners & global analytics
22:50 — Interview with Terry (writer + micro-nib pen enthusiast)
30:40 — Interview with Vicky (bookbinder who sews Mark+Fold’s planners)
38:00 — Live from the shop floor — Helen “lightly shopping”
46:00 — Reflections on creativity, tools, and 10 years of making things