The Angsty Pod

It's early 2019 and I've just arrived in Thailand. I'm staying with my best friend who is, like me, a bit of a mess but trying to hold it all together. We eat until we can't eat anymore, walk until we can't walk anymore, sweat until... you get the idea. In this episode, I uncover the real reason why I went to Thailand and it's only partially selfish. I pine for a good man back home who I am weeks away from breaking up with and eat fried chicken alone in my hotel room. This episode is fully of friendship, conflict, and nostalgia.

Part two is comin' at you next week - come with me to Koh Samui where I almost died multiple times and my life changes forever in the Bangkok airport. 

For more info on my work as a writing coach or to sign up for workshops, head to www.doulaofwords.com

Follow on IG & threads @doulaofwords

To sign up to be a guest, please email Yoda at [email protected] - we'd love to have you!

Find my books here <3

------------

Kid's Help Phone: You can reach a professional counsellor at Kids Help Phone in English or French 24/7 by calling 1-800-668-6868

9-8-8: Call or text from anywhere in Canada or the U.S., anytime

CMHA: Call Reach Out at 1-866-933-2023 to receive mental health and/or addictions support

This episode is an absolute rollercoaster. I've just turned 16 and am spending every waking moment of my life (when I'm not in Driver's Ed!) with my uber possessive/moody boyfriend. I haven't seen my friends in months. Both my parents are M.I.A. which just leaves me and my boyfriend, making out all over the place. Make sure you listen to this one til the end because I share one of my most favourite stories which involves a mini skirt and a pair of scissors. Enjoy!!

For more info on my work as a writing coach or to sign up for workshops, head to www.doulaofwords.com

Follow on IG & threads @doulaofwords

To sign up to be a guest, please email Yoda at [email protected] - we'd love to have you!

Find my books here <3

------------

Kid's Help Phone: You can reach a professional counsellor at Kids Help Phone in English or French 24/7 by calling 1-800-668-6868

9-8-8: Call or text from anywhere in Canada or the U.S., anytime

CMHA: Call Reach Out at 1-866-933-2023 to receive mental health and/or addictions support

In part two of this two-part episode, my lover Siva and I cuddle up in his basement and record a super sweet episode that makes my heart sing. This episode is a departure from the usual angst, but don't worry... it's still full of big emotions, drama, and laughs.

In this episode, it is November 2021, and Siva and I have just met for a friendly coffee date where we think we are agreeing to become good friends, but really we have opened the door for our dynamic and wonderful love story to begin. 

It was so much fun to record this sweet episode with Siva and I hope you all enjoy it as much as we did!!

For more info on my work as a writing coach or to sign up for workshops, head to www.doulaofwords.com

Follow on IG & threads @doulaofwords

To sign up to be a guest, please email Yoda at [email protected] - we'd love to have you!

Find my books here <3

------------

Kid's Help Phone: You can reach a professional counsellor at Kids Help Phone in English or French 24/7 by calling 1-800-668-6868

9-8-8: Call or text from anywhere in Canada or the U.S., anytime

CMHA: Call Reach Out at 1-866-933-2023 to receive mental health and/or addictions support

In part one of this two-part episode, my lover Siva and I cuddle up in his basement and record a super sweet episode that makes my heart sing. This episode is a departure from the usual angst, but don't worry... it's still full of big emotions, drama, and laughs.

I read diary entries from our first, second, and third date, and we discuss how it felt when I broke things off with him. Then, we both tell the story of how it felt to reconnect and (almost) immediately fall in love.  I cry multiple times and there is so much sweetness and laughter (I'm talkin' about the episode, but also our relationship, lol) and it was so nice to reminisce.

I also reveal how I first came up with the prompt, Dear Future Lover, which eventually turned into a whole anthology of poetry. Siva reads my favourite poem and shares what the last three years has been like for him, dating this wild and angsty human. 

I love how we love; I love how we fight. I'm excited to share our story with my listeners. Hope you all enjoy!

For more info on my work as a writing coach or to sign up for workshops, head to www.doulaofwords.com

Follow on IG & threads @doulaofwords

To sign up to be a guest, please email Yoda at [email protected] - we'd love to have you!

Find my books here <3

------------

Kid's Help Phone: You can reach a professional counsellor at Kids Help Phone in English or French 24/7 by calling 1-800-668-6868

9-8-8: Call or text from anywhere in Canada or the U.S., anytime

CMHA: Call Reach Out at 1-866-933-2023 to receive mental health and/or addictions support

It's January 2004. I'm 15 going on 30 and am falling for the boy-next-door who sells pot and has sideburns. We spend our days making out and quoting Mall Rats. We are falling hopelessly while we try to navigate the rollercoaster that is our young love. Hormones rage. Jealousy rages. Our love blooms and brawls.

In this episode, I share the embarrassing story of the first time I saw/touched a p*nis and then just a few days later, losing my virginity to the boy who stole my heart. This episode is surprisingly light-hearted and I even laugh at myself a little. 

I hope you enjoy the story and reflect on your own if it feels right to do so. <3

For more info on my work as a writing coach or to sign up for workshops, head to www.doulaofwords.com

Follow on IG & threads @doulaofwords

To sign up to be a guest, please email Yoda at [email protected] - we'd love to have you!

Find my books here <3

------------

Kid's Help Phone: You can reach a professional counsellor at Kids Help Phone in English or French 24/7 by calling 1-800-668-6868

9-8-8: Call or text from anywhere in Canada or the U.S., anytime

CMHA: Call Reach Out at 1-866-933-2023 to receive mental health and/or addictions support

I'm 15 going on 16 and about to fall in love for what feels like the hundredth time. But this time, something feels different. I'm scared to get vulnerable with Grant because "what if he wastes all his goodness on me." There are too many love triangles to count in this one... my bestie is crushing on my ex, the love of my life is in love with someone else, the guy who might like me used to like my sister... it's WILD how I managed to function given all this angst and drama. I'm not sure how well I am functioning though - I *never* go to class and spend my entire day smoking weed with older boys and then my weekends partying my face off with my sister. This one is a gem and also like ten soap operas in one.  It ends on a cliffhanger so make sure you tune in next week!!

For more info on my work as a writing coach or to sign up for workshops, head to www.doulaofwords.com

Follow on IG & threads @doulaofwords

To sign up to be a guest, please email Yoda at [email protected] - we'd love to have you!

Find my books here <3

------------

Kid's Help Phone: You can reach a professional counsellor at Kids Help Phone in English or French 24/7 by calling 1-800-668-6868

9-8-8: Call or text from anywhere in Canada or the U.S., anytime

CMHA: Call Reach Out at 1-866-933-2023 to receive mental health and/or addictions support

"Writing is less about filling the page and more about discovery..."

I am very into Julie Fontes as a writer and as a hilarious, sweet, genuine human being. My interview with her went in every direction imaginable... we candidly chat about ED, sobriety, toxic relationships, the life of a writer, social media addiction, mental wellness, and more. I personally love how this conversation just flowed and flowed and I particularly enjoyed listening to Julie read from the diary she wrote (and hid under her bed!) in 1994, which she aptly titled: "My Crazy Life" in black ink.

Julie Fontes (pronounced fonts!) (she/her) is a full-time sober server/author, athlete and cat enthusiast. She just published her first book, "Like a Normal Person" which you can find anywhere you buy books or at any of the links below.

You can also follow Julie on substack which is where we "met": https://juliefontes.substack.com/ but don't follow her on IG (jk, @juliefontesaf)

Get 'Like A Normal Person' today! 
- https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?CnEW50tY7zbi4OuzMoOy5anOZdUT5ANt8IFFGfmV51q
- https://www.amazon.com/Like-Normal-Person-Julie-Fontes/dp/B0DHFLYHN3

For more info on my work as a writing coach or to sign up for workshops, head to www.doulaofwords.com

Follow on IG & threads @doulaofwords

To sign up to be a guest, please email Yoda at [email protected] - we'd love to have you!

Find my books here <3

------------

Kid's Help Phone: You can reach a professional counsellor at Kids Help Phone in English or French 24/7 by calling 1-800-668-6868

9-8-8: Call or text from anywhere in Canada or the U.S., anytime

CMHA: Call Reach Out at 1-866-933-2023 to receive mental health and/or addictions support

It's the summer of grade 9 and I am throwing my bestie a surprise birthday party. It's very pop-and-chips - a bunch of kids just playing games and fighting in the pool. At the party, my mom reveals something that changes the course of my childhood forever. Also, in this episode, I am struggling with my sister's weight loss/ED and swooning over too many boys. It's a wild ride and you'll need your seatbelt for this one.

I also want to say, reading these diaries has been getting a bit tough. I'm finding it difficult to reconcile the fact that a lot of my core memories aren't accurate and that things unfolded differently than I've always told myself they unfolded. I've been more emotional than usual lately, and it's been bleeding out into my life. I'm not going to quit... but just taking extra good care of myself lately has been my priority.

For more info on my work as a writing coach or to sign up for workshops, head to www.doulaofwords.com

Follow on IG & threads @doulaofwords

To sign up to be a guest, please email Yoda at [email protected] - we'd love to have you!

Find my books here <3

------------

Kid's Help Phone: You can reach a professional counsellor at Kids Help Phone in English or French 24/7 by calling 1-800-668-6868

9-8-8: Call or text from anywhere in Canada or the U.S., anytime

CMHA: Call Reach Out at 1-866-933-2023 to receive mental health and/or addictions support

I'm halfway through my first year of high school. I'm about to break up with my first boyfriend (Nick Lachey from Episode 8!) but not before I enter into a super weird love triangle with my friend, who I will call "J," who is 6 years older than me. I have moved on from O-Town and am very into Dashboard Confessional and quote them to my journal every chance I get. I hate the way I look in the mirror and cry about it often. I start smoking cigarettes on the regular and I introduce my nexy big love story. Buckle up -- this one is a bit bumpy but full of love and earnest teenage angst. 

-- 
To learn more about Exhale Pro-Voice, head to https://exhaleprovoice.org/ 

For more info on my work as a writing coach or to sign up for workshops, head to www.doulaofwords.com

Follow on IG & threads @doulaofwords

To sign up to be a guest, please email Yoda at [email protected] - we'd love to have you!

Find my books here <3

------------

Kid's Help Phone: You can reach a professional counsellor at Kids Help Phone in English or French 24/7 by calling 1-800-668-6868

9-8-8: Call or text from anywhere in Canada or the U.S., anytime

CMHA: Call Reach Out at 1-866-933-2023 to receive mental health and/or addictions support

I've just entered highschool and had my first real kiss AND my first real boyfriend so basically, total chaos. My friendships are unravelling, my parents are fighting. My OCD and ED are on fire but no one knows except me and my dear old diary.

This one is a goodie and less intense than the last few. I hope you all enjoy it!

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To read more about my friend Austen's story, you can go here: https://cmhatv.ca/ways-to-give/abc-2024/ and here: https://austenberletcampout.com/

If you or someone you know is in immediate crisis or has suicide-related concerns you can text 9-8-8 at any time for immediate support.

For more info on my work as a writing coach or to sign up for workshops, head to www.doulaofwords.com

Follow on IG & threads @doulaofwords

To sign up to be a guest, please email Yoda at [email protected] - we'd love to have you!

Find my books here <3

------------

Kid's Help Phone: You can reach a professional counsellor at Kids Help Phone in English or French 24/7 by calling 1-800-668-6868

9-8-8: Call or text from anywhere in Canada or the U.S., anytime

CMHA: Call Reach Out at 1-866-933-2023 to receive mental health and/or addictions support