We will do ANYTHING except sit with ourselves in silence. But surely there are alternatives to meditation that can give us some peace?! Read The Cut article here: https://www.thecut.com/2020/01/giving-up-meditating.html

We are SORRY for the long break between episodes!! Who knows how many of you have persevered... but thank you if you're still here listening. We're back to chat about G-Banger's birthday in Daylesford, my screenwriting course, a recent LinkedIn post about 30 Under 30 lists and my ex-boyfriend's new TV series Sugar.

It's storytime today on the podcast. A few years ago, I decided I wanted to learn how to write. But somehow, this "hobby" turned into a side hustle and all the joy was sucked out of it. Linda also realises her only true hobby has been collecting James Dean posters and postcards... Hmm, that's certainly a hobby I've never heard of, but whatever floats your boat, Linda!

I recently watched the new Netflix show 'Carol & The End of The World' and wanted to do an episode on the show's main themes: life, death and finding meaning. I emailed Linda the episode plan - with the placeholder episode title "Death & Consciousness" - and it was the end of her world. She replied to my email, "Heavy!!" But here we are. The Brian Cox videos: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/b4sSw9MC-zY https://www.youtube.com/shorts/KSgNly0bSug

It's new year, and a new Linda! I've just returned from Thailand where I had a near-death experience (spoiler: it was just a panic attack) and have been thinking a lot about what I want to do better this year. If you like this pod, please rate and review on Apple and Spotify... But for the love of god, please don't unfollow me on Instagram lol. Here's the Ben Affleck video I talked about in the episode: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/LrJPTSCSNwI

I'm joining you today from Lamai Fitness in Thailand to explain why I had the worst birthday ever, and why I think celebrating birthdays is overrated. Naturally, Linda disagrees with me and LOVES her birthday.

This is probably the most requested topic from listeners... and it's finally here!! There's a Thailand trip for EVERYONE in this episode. The spiritual seeker, the adventurer, the party gal... and more! I hope you love Thailand as much as I do x Poo photo link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/iaaf4odpl75dctmg0dlpj/PHOTO-2023-12-07-10-44-16.jpg?rlkey=xjfhq1ce6ykc330nztiwxjlem&dl=0 The itineraries below... The spiritual seeker: The Tri Bay @ Koh Phangan, which is made up of Haad Tien, Haad Yuan & Why Nam Beach The Sanctuary Thailand is the main resort on Haad Tien The quickest way to get there from Melbourne: Flight to Koh Samui via Singapore, then a boat to Koh Phangan The backpacker route: Flight to Bangkok, then fly to Surat Thani, then bus & boat to Koh Phangan Once you're there, you can get a taxi to Haad Rin beach and take a long-tail boat to Haad Tien The wellness reset: Koh Samui or Phuket Mum's recco: Phuket Cleanse My recco: Lamai Fitness The adventurer Fly from Bangkok to Chiang Mai (3 nights) Bus to Pai (2 nights) Bus to Chiang Rai (2 nights) Fly from Chiang Mai to Koh Samui (3-4 nights) Then boat to Koh Phangan (3-4 nights) Boat to Koh Tao (2 nights) You can travel over to the other side and do Phuket, Krabi and Phi Phi if you have time You can fly out of Phuket back to Australia The party gal: Koh Phangan: Srithanu, The Tri Bay or Haad Rin for the Full Moon Party The backpacker route: 2-3 month loop around Southeast Asia Cambodia: Phnom Penh, Siam Reap, Kampot, Koh Rong islands Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi Laos, then you can cross the border to Chiang Mai and make your way down south

As Linda would say, "I'm back bitches!" Here's everything that has happened in the last four months while I've been gone.

This podcast used to be about me being single. Then I met someone (oops). Now my mum and I just talk sh*t for 30 mins. 

Today, Ruby and I discuss the article I Used To Be A Human Being by Andrew Sullivan. You can read the article here: https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2016/09/andrew-sullivan-my-distraction-sickness-and-yours.html It's a CACOPHONY of ideas! Other articles discussed: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/stephaniemcneal/influencers-quitting-instagram https://lynzyandco.com/why-i-am-leaving-instagram/

Today, Ruby and I discuss why we prefer The Real World over creating Reels, and why it's been so hard for me to take a break from social media. You can read my Medium article on the same topic here: https://medium.com/the-narrative-arc/i-went-to-thailand-to-take-a-break-from-social-media-816ab0445c74?sk=d908a2ba4236d463eb01f04b47344b22 Single Minded is also having a lil refresh! We hope you like the new format.

"Junk food has taken over our diets, and it is making millions of people physically sick. A growing body of scientific evidence suggests that something similar is happening with our minds — that they have become dominated by junk values, and this is making us mentally sick, triggering soaring rates of depression and anxiety.” - Johann Hari On today's episode, Ruby and I discuss our own junk values and compare these to the values we're striving to live by now. We try to understand why it's so hard to do what feels right in a world dominated by success porn (hi LinkedIn), and wonder whether we've set the bar too high - do we need to lower our expectations of life in order to be happier? Links to books & articles discussed: Lost Connections by Johann Hari: https://www.amazon.com.au/Lost-Connections-Uncovering-Depression-Unexpected/dp/163286830X LA TIMES - We know junk food makes us sick. Are ‘junk values’ making us depressed: https://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-hari-kasser-junk-values-20180121-story.html Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport: https://www.amazon.com.au/Digital-Minimalism-Living-Better-Technology/dp/0241453577/ THE ATLANTIC - We’re Learning the Wrong Lessons From the World’s Happiest Countries: https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2021/06/worlds-happiest-countries-denmark-finland-norway/619299/

A lot happened in today's episode! Here's everything you need to know... Let's start with Fran & Will's PERFECT First Dates episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EFaUUGxh9I Next, we have my FAVE new comedian Jessica Kirson's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JessicaKirsonComedy Hannah Zaslawski also joined me to chat all about her TikTok dating experiment. Watch her fifty first dates on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hannahzaslawski

Holly is a modern-day matchmaker and the founder of MATCHSMITH. She joins me today to discuss all things dating apps. She helps clients redesign their dating app profiles to get the right matches for them... And for a select number of clients, she actually does the swiping for them! Holly has reviewed many dating app profiles and knows what works and what doesn't... The questions we answer on today's episode: One of your services is a review of someone's current dating app profile: What are the biggest mistakes you see on dating app profiles? Do you think it's important to design your dating app to attract the right matches as opposed to the most matches? What are your top tips for designing a dating app profile? Is there a formula? You also offer a service where someone can fully outsource their dating app swiping to you - it's like a modern-day matchmaker service! What are you looking for in potential matches? Do your clients disclose to their dates that they haven't done the actual swiping? I'm so interested to hear what you think of dating apps in general: Have they helped or hindered IRL connections? You can find Holly's website here: https://www.matchsmith.com/ Her Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/match_smith/

According to Harvard's Happiness study: "Close relationships, more than money or fame, are what keep people happy throughout their lives." But what makes a romantic relationship stand the test of time? What does the research say? I wanted to find out! Here are the secrets to a happy relationship, according to research. I think these will help ANYONE no matter they're relationship status. Let's call these the ultimate green flags: 1. Someone who shares in your triumphs: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-happy-couple-2012-10-23/ 2. A positive mindset & shows gratitude: https://www.happify.com/hd/the-science-behind-a-happy-relationship/ 3. Healthy shared passions (not obsessive passion): https://www.thecut.com/2018/04/how-to-know-when-healthy-passion-becomes-obsessive-passion.html 4. More positive interactions than negative ones during conflict: https://www.gottman.com/blog/the-magic-relationship-ratio-according-science/ 5. Someone who believes in you: https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/articles/201901/the-michelangelo-effect 6. Diffusing fights: https://www.happify.com/hd/the-science-behind-a-happy-relationship/ 7. Friendship: https://www.gottman.com/blog/8-myths-about-relationships/ 8. Kindness: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/06/happily-ever-after/372573/ Harvard study: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/04/over-nearly-80-years-harvard-study-has-been-showing-how-to-live-a-healthy-and-happy-life/

What happens when you don't want to ghost someone after one or two dates?? Linda and I discuss the best way to let someone down if you're not interested. I'm also joined by career coach Leah Lambart to discuss how personality testing can inform your next career change, and how a "portfolio career" might be the best path to more freedom and flexibility. Leah's website: https://www.relaunchme.com.au/ Leah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/relaunchmecareerconsulting/

Kate is a Confidence Coach and meditation teacher who helps women build self-belief to find their direction in life. We answer the following questions on today's episode: What is self-compassion? How does someone know if they're being too hard on themselves? How do you cultivate self-compassion? As part of your workshop, you talk about "real" confidence - how would you define this? How does ego differ from real confidence? You talk about confidence being more about "helping you make life choices that feel genuinely right for you" - how does someone define what their path is? What are the first steps for someone to live more in alignment with their values? Kate's website: https://totalbalance.com.au/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/total_balance/ Meditations: https://insighttimer.com/katejames

Ruby is BACK and today we're talking about judgement, including the judgment of others, our own self-judgement and, most importantly, how to live our lives without worrying too much about what others think of us. We answer the following questions: Why are people so judgemental of others? How can we be less critical of others? How can we care less about what other people think of us? How can we live the life we want without worrying too much about how others will perceive us? The Atlantic article is here: https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2021/11/how-stop-caring-what-other-people-think-you/620670/ Thanks to our sponsor SkinCeuticals! Here are the products mentioned in the episode Hannah's routine: Phloretin CF Vitamin C Serum: https://www.skinceuticals.com.au/skincare/skin-type/phloretin-cf-vitamin-c-serum/SKC_0002.html HA Intensifier Hyaluronic Acid Serum: https://www.skinceuticals.com.au/skincare/facial-serums/ha-intensifier-hyaluronic-acid-serum/SKC_0003.html Metacell Renewal Skin Tightening Cream: https://www.skinceuticals.com.au/skincare/anti-ageing-creams/metacell-renewal-skin-tightening-cream/3606000400429.html Linda's routine: C E Ferulic Vitamin C Serum: https://www.skinceuticals.com.au/skincare/facial-serums/c-e-ferulic-vitamin-c-serum/SKC_0001.html A.G.E Interrupter Advanced-Wrinkle Cream: https://www.skinceuticals.com.au/skincare/corrective-creams/a.g.e-interrupter-advanced-anti-wrinkle-cream/SKC_0016.html Retinol 0.5 Anti-Ageing Night Cream: https://www.skinceuticals.com.au/skincare/retinol-creams/retinol-0.5-anti-ageing-night-cream/883140024705.html

I've always wanted to ask Mum how she'd date in the modern world. Would she be on dating apps? Would she pay for the first date? Would she abide by any dating "rules"? When she was single (like, 40 years ago lol), there were no dating apps. There weren't even mobile phones! You couldn't stalk someone's LinkedIn before agreeing to a date. You couldn't even screen their calls. As Mum says, "You just had to make do." Not sure if "making do" is great relationship advice, but there are some (hilarious) little nuggets of wisdom in this episode.

Janelle is a listener (and fellow podcaster) who sent in a voice note for the loneliness episode, and I felt like her story deserved a whole episode. Janelle has been single for 10 years and recently decided that becoming a mum was more important than trying to meet someone. So she's going it alone! We discuss her endo & egg-freezing, her IVF journey, how she chose her sperm donor, how she'll take her bins out as a single mama and what she's most excited/scared about. Janelle is also documenting her whole journey on a new podcast, Wild Ride. Janelle's podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/its-a-wild-ride/id1690137413 Wild Ride Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildridepod/