Welcome to Overthinking Summer: a 7-part mini-series exploring the complicated realities behind our favourite season. From body image to burnout, beach reads to party culture, we’re diving into the pressure, nostalgia, and contradictions of summertime.

In this second episode, we’re talking books: do we need them to look smart, or are glasses enough?

Just kidding. Glasses are never enough.

Books are empowering; they teach us so much about the world, how it works, and empathy.

But not everyone reads, so in this episode we look at who does? And surprise, girls read. A lot.

*unfortunately I had a small mic issue on this one which kicks in about 70% of the way in! sorry about that! hopefully it doesn't bother you*

Books discussed:

• Toni Morrison - Beloved
• Toni Morrison - Song of Solomon
• Ash Sarkar - Minority Rule
• Caroline Criado Perez - Invisble Women
• Owen Jones - Chavs

sources:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/mar/06/new-poll-finds-40-of-britons-have-not-read-a-book-in-the-past-year?CMP=share_btn_url

https://unherd.com/2021/05/publishing-is-now-a-leftist-bubble/

https://www.warwickeconomicssociety.com/unpaid-work#:~:text=This%20work%20has%20consistently%20fallen,1.5%20hours%20worked%20by%20men

https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/130388/html/#:~:text=Data%20from%20the%20Higher%20Education,female%20(UCAS%2C%202023).

Welcome to Overthinking Summer: a 7-part mini-series exploring the complicated realities behind our favourite season. From body image to burnout, beach reads to party culture, we’re diving into the pressure, nostalgia, and contradictions of summertime.

In this first episode, we’re starting with something a little unexpected: sadness.
Why do we sometimes feel low when everything around us screams sunshine and serotonin? Is it the pressure to be happy?

Or maybe just the (emotional) hangover of doing too much?

Let’s unpack the melancholy of a season that’s supposed to heal us and why sometimes, the sun doesn’t fix everything (i know i was also shocked by this).

Ever felt stuck in between? In between what, you may ask? I don't know. You just know you're in between phases, but you don't know what comes next.

In this episode, I reflect on a journal entry that made me realise I’ve been living in a kind of standstill for months. From career uncertainty and flat hunting to post-uni structure collapse and the dizzying disorientation of spring turning into summer, I unpack what it means to feel stuck, why progress often goes unnoticed, and how we can start shifting our perspective.

I'm back <3

in this episode, I discuss our (toxic?) relationship to labels and aesthetics

Apologies in advance for the mic quality! I don't know why I thought I could wing this with only my phone and the tiny fluffy mic rip

See you next week for a real episode!!

In this episode, I discuss my experience living away from home as someone who moved abroad in her teens, and never looked back.

We'll touch on themes like growing up, spending your teens in the countryside and finding a place you want to call "home" as an adult

Welcome to the third episode of The Career Diaries: a mini-series where I unpack everything we’ve been taught to believe about jobs, success, and what it means to "" have it all together ""In this episode, I get quite personal about the decision to quit my first full-time job: what led up to it and why quitting went against my entire belief system

We’re often told to stick things out and just be grateful for what we have, but sometimes, quitting is the bravest thing to do

In this episode, we're unpacking the pressures that keep us stuck in the wrong roles, challenging the stigma around quitting, and I'll be sharing what I’ve learnt (so far (I may be wise but I'm only 24)) about choosing better for yourself even when it’s scary

Welcome to the second episode of The Career Diaries: a mini-series where I unpack everything we’ve been taught to believe about jobs, success, and what it means to "" have it all together ""

In a world where everyone seems to be a painter/tiktok person/have a sick startup job in Shoreditch, it's easy to feel like getting a corporate job was a big mistake after allCan creativity thrive in work environments? Can we?

What is a creative job?

How do spreadsheets enhance our work life balance?

enjoy xx

Welcome to the first episode of The Career Diaries: a mini-series where I unpack everything we’ve been taught to believe about jobs, success, and what it means to """have it all together""""
today’s episode is all about prestige: why some careers get a gold star and others get a lot of sh*t, how we internalise status, and why so many of us feel lowkey/highkey panicked about our paths.

is it societal pressure?

internalised capitalism?

is it just what having LinkedIn feels like?

or is it all in our heads?enjoy xx

this episode will transport you down the rabbit hole of manifestation and online trends

we've all had lucky girl syndrome at some point: got a new job, a great haircut and a free cookie on the same day? the sun is finally shining? it has to be luck... or does it?