Never Wear Boring Socks

Your favorite sock-loving, podcasting cousins are back! To kick off Season 2 of Never Wear Boring Socks, Anna and Maria are joined by Dr. Nancy Van Sloun for a conversation about integrative and holistic medicine, the importance of mind-body practices, and more. Our hosts also share some updates about what to expect in the new season, and the new direction they’re taking with future episodes of the podcast.

As Season 1 wraps up, Anna and Maria give some updates on the podcast and on their lives as a whole. Maria starts things off with yet another PMA story involving an airport (is it fate?). Our two co-hosts then discuss where they’re at in their college and post-college lives, and the insights they’ve gained in the past year. They also reflect on their experience with Never Wear Boring Socks thus far. Finally, this week’s episode wraps up with some quick co-host questions and some favorites.

As Season 1 wraps up, Anna and Maria give some updates on the podcast and on their lives as a whole. Maria starts things off with yet another PMA story involving an airport (is it fate?). Our two co-hosts then discuss where they’re at in their college and post-college lives, and the insights they’ve gained in the past year. They also reflect on their experience with Never Wear Boring Socks thus far. Finally, this week’s episode wraps up with some quick co-host questions and some favorites.

This week’s episode is all about envy and comparison. In particular, Anna and Maria delve into what it’s like to experience these feelings in the realm of our creative outlets. We regularly compare ourselves to others in all sorts of ways, but as creatives, we can get particularly obsessed with comparison when it comes to our craft. Our hosts talk about their own experiences being both inspired and discouraged by others’ creative output, and explore the ways in which comparison can get in our way when we’re trying to produce original work. Ultimately, they apply PMA to the situation and arrive at a conclusion that allows them to use envy as a tool for self-reflection. Maria shares an envy-exploring exercise involving alumnae/i magazines, and Anna brings in a classic bit of wisdom from none other than Dr. Seuss.

This week’s episode is all about envy and comparison. In particular, Anna and Maria delve into what it’s like to experience these feelings in the realm of our creative outlets. We regularly compare ourselves to others in all sorts of ways, but as creatives, we can get particularly obsessed with comparison when it comes to our craft. Our hosts talk about their own experiences being both inspired and discouraged by others’ creative output, and explore the ways in which comparison can get in our way when we’re trying to produce original work. Ultimately, they apply PMA to the situation and arrive at a conclusion that allows them to use envy as a tool for self-reflection. Maria shares an envy-exploring exercise involving alumnae/i magazines, and Anna brings in a classic bit of wisdom from none other than Dr. Seuss.

Anna and Maria delve into the diverse topic of self care this week. Self care is pretty trendy right now, but what is it exactly? Our co-hosts discuss what it means to take care of ourselves and how this fits into the traditional perceptions of self care, and why self care is so important (especially within our current busy lifestyles). They talk about some of their favorite self care practices and the individualized nature of self care, as well as the need to evolve our self care routines. Ultimately, self care is about being in touch with our bodies and minds and taking time for ourselves in order to be well and do well. Remember: self care is not selfish, and it allows us to be present in our own lives and in our relationships with others.

Anna and Maria delve into the diverse topic of self care this week. Self care is pretty trendy right now, but what is it exactly? Our co-hosts discuss what it means to take care of ourselves and how this fits into the traditional perceptions of self care, and why self care is so important (especially within our current busy lifestyles). They talk about some of their favorite self care practices and the individualized nature of self care, as well as the need to evolve our self care routines. Ultimately, self care is about being in touch with our bodies and minds and taking time for ourselves in order to be well and do well. Remember: self care is not selfish, and it allows us to be present in our own lives and in our relationships with others.

As creative people, we love inspiration. It feels great...that is, when you have it. So how do we go about getting inspired? What is inspiration, anyway? Our hosts discuss a wide range of inspiration-related topics, including the inspiration we find in other people’s work, and the mysterious and ineffable qualities of this elusive force. Is inspiration something we take in from the world around us, or is it something that already exists inside each of us? Is it a unique entity with a mind of its own? Is it, perhaps, all of the above? We hope you enjoy this fascinating and rather philosophical discussion as much as we did!

As creative people, we love inspiration. It feels great...that is, when you have it. So how do we go about getting inspired? What is inspiration, anyway? Our hosts discuss a wide range of inspiration-related topics, including the inspiration we find in other people’s work, and the mysterious and ineffable qualities of this elusive force. Is inspiration something we take in from the world around us, or is it something that already exists inside each of us? Is it a unique entity with a mind of its own? Is it, perhaps, all of the above? We hope you enjoy this fascinating and rather philosophical discussion as much as we did!

This week Anna and Maria welcome a very special guest, Alanna Okun. Alanna is a writer, editor, and crafter...in other words, a very appropriate guest for Never Wear Boring Socks. An avid knitter, she even makes her own un-boring socks. Alanna’s work can be found on Racked, Buzzfeed, NPR, Apartment Therapy, The Hairpin, and The Billfold, and she’s appeared on Good Morning America and The Today Show. Our hosts talk to Alanna about crafting, writing, and her recent project that merges the two: her first book, The Curse of the Boyfriend Sweater. Alanna also talks about paid creative work vs. creativity for its own sake, why crafting is so welcome in today’s tech-focused world, and her extensive yarn collection.