Thoughts from your gal pal

My guest is Ms. Worldwide! Get a sneaky peek into Bailey Denton's move to Miami, Florida last summer and all the associated hopes, blues, and to-dos that come with moving to a new city after being fat and sassy in your home state for 20+ years. Features include: why not liking coffee is Bailey's worst personality trait, why being horizontal for a day is good for your health, and why home is people not a place *tears*

Delighted to break my podcasting hiatus with Bobby Edwards 🥳

This is the first in a series of three episodes all about moving to a new city, state, or in Bobby’s case - country 🦘

We talk all about his move to Australia 3 (!!!) years ago 🇦🇺 Why did he move? What did his family/friends think? How did he wrangle the intricacies of immigration paperwork to live over there? So many questions! So many thoughts!

Watch the interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/P9YMdOAv2aw

Subscribe to my Substack: https://clarajennings.substack.com/

Over the last few weeks, we’ve been burned and swindled by Netflix. We’ve been gaslit by Simon and duped by Anna. Amidst all the lies and deceit emerging in our goldfish-attention-span pop-culture cycle, I wonder: Is there an entertainment medium where the relationships we tenderly pursue actually care about us? Where can we escape and feel desired, tantalized, and whisked off to a faraway place, all in the comfort of our living room/bedroom/train/bus/etc?

I write to you on this last day of February: In Defense of Romance

My argument is bolstered by the spicy, flirty, and shockingly well-read Jordan Purdy, my friend, and fellow bibliophile (though she takes it to a whole new level). She has romance novel insight that spans decades… well technically, one decade… and provides context on a book genre that historically garners flack, scoffs, and eye rolls.

But this trend in perception is changing, which we discuss in today’s episode of the Thoughts from your gal pal podcast. Perhaps it’s the proliferation of TikTok and its format, as the app highlights and celebrates niche hobbies. Interests that used to be dubbed as strange, out there, unusual, dorky, etc, now have sub-communities within TikTok to showcase their fandom in bitesize, digestible nuggets.

BookTok is busting at the (paperback) seams with excitement for romance novels… and it’s kiiiinda changing the game. In the same way Twilight and Fifty Shades of Grey forever changed the romance space in the 2010s, TikTok is transforming it in the 2020s. And maybe getting the average reader a little curious about what the buzz is about?

Youth is changing, which inevitably means society is changing, and I think this acceptance slash curiosity trend is generally for the better. Instead of othering people with highly specified hobbies or interests, we’re gawking at their devotion from a voyeuristic perspective behind our phone screens.

Jordan and I discuss it ALL on this February special episode. We go down rabbit holes, she recommends books (duh), and we revel in the shared delight of talking to a friend who geeks out on the same shit you do.

So today, I invite you to listen, laugh at our banter, and take notes as Jordan and I argue: In Defense of Romance.

Spoiler alert: you won't be able to 😵 | Reader shoutouts: Khali A, Emma C, Megan K, Clare F, Margaret C, Caroline R, Kat S | Read the original essay here | Product recommendations: Bondi Sands Self Tanning Foam, Coco & Eve, Jergens Tanning Mousse, Eco Tan Face Tan Water, Tan Luxe 

The three main reasons why communication among friends increases pre-date | Read the original article here

Requesting patience and listening ears rather than loyal readers today | Shoutouts: Kristin Y, Emily T, Alli S, Josh M, Carson H, Esme C, Jessica A, Christy M, and Rachel B | Sign up to receive weekly essays

and to share more about a cause he's passionate about - his calves! | Read the original essay here | Reader shoutouts: Maggie V & Hank W

The inaugural interview style episode featuring friends and zaddies Oliver Feng and Peter Lyons. On this ep, we're talking ALL things online dating: how to craft your profile, timelines, scheduling, if you're "here for the right reasons," race, and how to pick yourself up when you're having a bad day. This one is FUN and will make you LOL. 

Want to see us while you listen? Here's the YouTube video of our Zoom chat. Excuse the jump cuts, I had to cut this interview down from 1 hour 15 minutes so WHATEVER: https://youtu.be/rR6bPKnW0Fw

Subscribe to my weekly essays (or don't, just don't tell me): https://clarajennings.substack.com/

Six questions to ask to lead you to the answer | Reader shoutout: Whitney L | Read the original essay here

You may have heard of big dick energy, but have you heard of big bus energy? | Reader shoutouts: Alexa D, Maggie K. R., Kristin Y. | Read the original essay here