4 Podcasts to Spark Your Creativity

Happy Monday!

Podcasts are a great way to learn about new things or get motivated, which is why now is the perfect time to share four of my favourite podcasts that can spark your creativity during these somber times.

Personally, I love to listen to podcasts while cleaning or going on a walk, but occasionally, I will sit down and soak in all their wisdom. They help me unwind and pass the time, which are two things I look for daily. Hopefully, the podcasts listed below can do the same for you!

These podcasts that I am sharing are for the creative mind (entrepreneurs, writers, artists, etc), but I think they would be beneficial to anyone who listened to them. When I need a pick me up, these are the podcasters I turn to.

1. Gals on the Go

PodcastOne: Gals on the Go

I only recently started listening to this podcast hosted by Danielle Carolan and Brooke Miccio, two lifestyle YouTubers who I enjoy watching. They talk about their lives, social media, relationships, college, and life on the internet. They are honest and open about their struggles, especially during quarantine, which is inspiring to hear. It sparks creativity because these are two young but very successful people who are, as they say, “gals on the go.” Hearing their start-up stories and also about the type of social media work they do inspires me to be productive in my own work.

Their podcasts are more laid back so I find they are better background noise for when I am cleaning or doing housekeeping tasks on my laptop like answering emails. It just feels like two friends chatting and catching up with the occasional tip on how to stay positive and motivated when life has you down.

FAVOURITE EPISODES:

  • Our Quarantine Morning Routines
  • Chat with Maggie MacDonald: Social Media, College, Confidence + Being Yourself

2. That Smart Hustle

That Smart Hustle Podcast's stream on SoundCloud - Hear the ...

This is another podcast that is hosted by a YouTuber, and her name is Kristen Martin. She is a creative entrepreneur who posts vlogs related to writing, business, and lifestyle which she has expanded onto her podcast as well. She also posts about astrology and energy, which I am not into but if you are, then you should definitely check her out! She touches a lot on failing and accepting failure, as well as believing in yourself and your plan in order to succeed. I really like it when podcasts, especially podcasts for entrepreneurs, include this message because we all need that reminder every once and a while. 

I like to take walks and listen to this podcast because there are always a lot of gold nuggets of information that I don’t want to miss. These podcast episodes are short, ranging from 10-30 minutes usually, which is a nice break from the 40-60 minute ones! But keep in mind, you might want to download a few of these before taking a walk.

FAVOURITE EPISODES:

  • The One Thing I Wish I’d Known Before Starting a Business
  • The Danger of Consuming More Than You’re Creating
  • When the Motivation Just Isn’t There

3. 88 Cups of Tea with Yin Chang

88 Cups of Tea | Listen via Stitcher for Podcasts

In the past, I have talked about this writing podcast and how much I loved it, and I still do! I highly recommend this one not only to writers but to creatives overall. Yin brings on artists of all sorts onto this podcast, and all the content is just so inspiring. I never finish an episode not ready to hop on my laptop and get writing. That is why if you are feeling in a rut, listen to this ASAP.

This podcast is one of those ones that you want to sit down and enjoy every minute of it. I recommend siting down somewhere comfy with a snack and a drink before pressing play because you won’t want to miss any info spilling out. It wouldn’t hurt to have a notebook too to jot down some notes. However, it is also great to listen to while on a walk. When I was younger, I would listen to it every day on my walk to and from school.

It also helps that Yin brings on so many of my favourite authors, making me jump on each episode as soon as it releases.

FAVOURITE EPISODES:

  • MAGGIE STIEFVATER: Staying Motivated During Challenging Times
  • VICTORIA ‘V.E.’ SCHWAB: Cultivating Stubborn Hope & Earning Your Way Into the Tribe
  • SARAH J MAAS: Championing Heroines & Writing with Relentless Determination

4. The Goal Digger

The Goal Digger Podcast | Listen via Stitcher for Podcasts

This is a new podcast for me, but all the episodes I’ve listened to, I’ve loved. This an entrepreneur podcast all about getting your dream job and cultivating the life you want to live. It is about hustling and growing your online platforms in order to achieve the dreams you set out to reach. Every episode is a nice 20-45 minute length, which makes it a great walking podcast. Like 88 Cups of Tea though, I prefer to snuggle up for this one or at least sit at my desk with my notebook out. This is a gold mine if you are interested in success on social media and building a brand/business on platforms such as Instagram, Pinterest, etc.

The Goal Digger has a lot of amazing interviews with professional entrepreneurs who share their own tips and tricks to success, along with the host’s own experiences and advice. It also includes a lot of episodes on topics you wouldn’t necessarily think about asking yourself when creating a business which is so incredibly helpful. Some examples are “An Action Plan to Manage Financial Fear and Anxiety Right Now” and “The Checklist I Use to Choose My Mentors.”

FAVOURITE EPISODES:

  • These 5 Things Will Make or Break Your Biz

Those are four podcasts that will spark your creativity and I hope you will give them a try if you haven’t already. Let me know down below some of your favourite podcasts because I am always on the hunt for more.

Don’t forget to check out my last blog post as well as my social media accounts which are linked down below.

Thanks for reading 🙂

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College Reading Recommendations!

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Happy Monday!

Tomorrow is my orientation day before I start my first year of university full swing, and because of that, I thought it would be ideal to share some of my favourite college-related books.

I think it is a lot of fun to read about people in college because it is such a messy stage of life. You are emerging into young adulthood and trying to juggle school, relationships, possibly a job, and then coping with the idea that “real life” is getting terrifyingly near.

Anyways, here are four recommendations for you to check out and I hope you enjoy!

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

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I am getting the obvious one out of the way, but really, Fangirl is a great college read! It is fun, easy, and fast-paced – the perfect recipe for when you’re feeling stressed with life and school. Fangirl follows Cath who is starting her first year of college with her twin sister, Wren. While Wren wants to go out partying and diving into the social life of the college, Cath would rather retreat into her room with her Simon Snow fanfic. Eventually, her roommate, Raegan and her friend, Levi, befriend Cath and slowly, Cath steps further out of her comfort zone even while dealing with social anxiety. I think social anxiety is something a lot of people deal with, myself included, and it’s always nice to see that represented. Especially in a school setting.

American Panda by Gloria Chao

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While I’ve never finished this book, it is another great college-related book. It follows a Taiwanese main character who not only has to juggle starting her first year of college but the constant approval of her parents regarding a major that she isn’t passionate about. I don’t know why I’ve never been able to finish this book, other than because I haven’t been in the mood for contemporaries lately, but I am determined to give it another chance in the near future. I’ve gotten pretty far into it, and it would be a shame not to figure out how it ends!

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

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This book doesn’t technically have main characters in college, but they are at a college taking a summer program before starting their first year of college…so it counts. When Dimple Met Rishi follows the two POVs of Dimple and Rishi who are both participating in a summer program for aspiring web developers. At first, Dimple is surprised at her parents’ enthusiasm for attending this expensive program when they dream of her just finding the “Ideal Indian Husband”, but soon after arriving there, she discovers that them letting her go has everything to do with that dream she so desperately is trying to avoid.

Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

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This is another book that doesn’t have college-aged characters, but it takes place at a unique type of boarding school called Ellingham Academy that accepts only the most gifted of students. Stevie is one of those students, accepted in for her passion for mysteries, specifically, the Ellingham mystery. However, when her passion for crime TV shows and books becomes a little too realistic, her skills that got her into Ellingham are truly put to the test. Honestly, I love this book. Stevie is a great main character and the plot keeps you at the edge of your seat for the entire book. I wasn’t expecting to adore this YA mystery so much, but I completely fell for it as many others have. Again, it is another fast-paced book that makes it the ideal book to slip in between homework sessions.

 

Those are my four back-to-school, college-related reading recommendations and I hope you found enjoyed! Don’t forget to check out my last blog post as well as my social media accounts which are all linked down below. Thanks for reading 🙂

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Fall Reading Recommendations!

Happy Monday!

It is almost that time of the year. The time when the leaves change from green to red, orange, yellow, and brown and the weather gets cooler. Also, known as the perfect time to snuggle up inside with a new book!

Here are five fall reading recommendations from me to you. Enjoy!

Vicious by V.E. Schwab

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When I read this book a few months ago, I marvelled at how its dark plot suddenly made me wish that the outside reflected it. It is one of the most perfect reads for the fall or winter time because it sucks you in and doesn’t let you go, which is ideal for when it is a rainy day and you have no other plans. Vicious is an adult fantasy/sci-fi style of book that follows Victor, a college student who with the help of his best friend, Eli, learn to give people superhuman abilities. The story is unique and refreshing, and like it did from me, leave you wanting the sequel ASAP!

Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

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Truly Devious is another book with a dark atmosphere that reels you in immediately. It is a YA mystery that takes place at a private, boarding school in the mountains of Vermont called Ellingham Academy. Our main character, Stevie, is brought to this school for gifted kids because of her passion for the Ellingham mystery, the murder and disappearance of the founder of Ellingham’s wife and daughter. But when the murder of a current student shocks the entire school, Stevie realizes she may be getting more than she bartered for. This book is fast-paced and entertaining, and I could read it over and over again, its that good!

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

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Again, a mystery is the perfect book for the fall time. Especially a mystery novel from the Queen of Mystery herself, Agatha Christie. This is the only Agatha Christie book I’ve read, but my mother is a HUGE fan and that really encourages me to seek out more from Christie. I really enjoyed my time reading Murder on the Orient Express, a mystery that takes place on a train where a murder has suddenly shocked the passengers on it and must be solved by the detective, Hercule Poirot. I am really looking forward to reading more from Agatha Christie during the fall!

Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Black

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This fantasy book is super dark, following three sisters who once they reach the age of 16 (I think), fight against each other in a series of trials to the death, for the final prize of the throne. This entire concept initially intrigued me, and I also really enjoyed reading deeper about each of the sisters’, how their people perceive them, and then how they actually are. I enjoyed my time reading the first two books, but I will be honest and say I DNFed the third book…don’t let that be a reason to turn you away from the series though! You might end up liking all of it more than I did.

Traplines by Eden Robinson

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Traplines is a short story collection by Canadian author, Eden Robinson, and discusses a lot of important topics in Canadian history and culture that many people don’t know about. It shows the rippling trauma passed through Indigenous families from the traumatic impacts of residential schools, and Eden Robinson does a fantastic job portraying these kinds of difficulties in realistic literature. Her writing is also so captivating and raw that it draws me in. I cannot wait to read one of her novels, Monkey Beach for my English class this year!

 

Those are five books I recommend you all to give a chance this fall and I hope you enjoyed! Don’t forget to check out my last blog post as well as my social media accounts linked down below. Also, if you want to support me and my blog, buy me a coffee by clicking the link below! Thanks for reading 🙂

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Fall Reading Recommendations

While autumn is technically about a month away, once school starts for me I kind of register that as the beginning of fall. Regardless, here are a few books to get you in the mood for fall or the back to school season and I hope you enjoy!

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

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To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han is a quirky, adorable YA contemporary that follows 16 year-old Lara Jean whose secret love letters get sent out to every boy she has ever loved before. Now she has to fake date the most popular guy in school to keep her sister’s ex-boyfriend from finding out her true feelings for him and it becomes a whirlwind of drama and trying to become your true self.  This book will suck you in with its charismatic characters and heartwarming plot line, making you unable to put it down. Trust me. This book is also perfect for the back to school season because this book stars teenagers who yes, go to school. You also get all the cozy vibes from the story, making it great for the fall and winter months!

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

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Another book that takes place at school and follows Cath who is entering her freshman year at college with her twin sister, Wren, as a writing major. Cath is shy and socially awkward but when she meets the best friend of her roommate, Levi, she starts coming out of her shell a little bit more. This book is cute and fun and something I always fly through. I am also able to relate to Cath because I can be a little shy at times and also love to write, and I am sure a lot of other people can relate to her too.

Scythe by Neal Shusterman

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Scythe is a dark and thrilling YA dystopian that sucks you in from the first page. The premise is so intriguing and unique, something that slightly terrifies me yet it doesn’t make me want to stop. It follows two characters, Citra and Rowan who live in a world where humans have conquered everything, even death. However there are scythes who choose people to kill to restore the world to equal balance and our main characters are chosen as apprentices for a scythe but neither of them want this. This is the perfect book to binge on a rainy day and you’ll find yourself jumping right into the next one.

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

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Another dark book with more of a mystical twist to it that completely entrances you with its charm. I love the characters in this book. Blue, Gansey, Ronan, Adam, Noah, Maura, Persephone, etc, etc, all of them. They really take control of the plot and it makes for an amazing four book story. The Raven Boys takes place in a small town in Virginia and follows a cast of characters whose paths get intertwined by magic. Blue Sargent is part of a family of psychics minus any psychic powers of her own, only a supposed curse that states if she kisses her true love, he will die. But one day she sees a spirit of a boy who will die in the next year while calling spirits at a church with her aunt, the spirit of a boy who could supposedly be Blue’s true love and from then the story begins.

The Light Between Worlds by Laura E. Weymouth

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While this book won’t be out until late October, I had to put it on my list because it is the most PERFECT fall read ever. It tells a haunting and whimsical story with a strong atmosphere that pulls you in. It follows the lives of two sisters, Evelyn and Phillipa after they return from years in a magical kingdom and readjust to the normal world. While Phillipa is ready to start over in the real world and let go of the past, Evelyn refuses to forget and spirals until one day she disappears. Now Phillipa must search for her sister and along the way learn the hard truths of why her sister disappeared. Love, love, love this book and cannot wait to give it a re read once the weather gets cooler and the days get darker.

Those are five of my fall reading recommendations and I hope you enjoyed! Don’t forget to check out my last blog post and follow all my social media linked below. Thanks 🙂

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Top 5 Books to Distract You

Sometimes we just need to escape the world and dive into a good book that makes us forget about everything around us. Recently I have been needing books like this a lot, which means I have been looking back at my shelf trying to find the right books to do so. So here is a list of my top 5 books I turn to when I need a distraction, and hopefully they will work for you too!

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

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This book is inspired by the Arabian story One Thousand and One Nights where every night the king of this land takes in a new wife and when the sun comes up the next day they are dead. After our main character’s best friend becomes the next victim of this king, our main character, Shahrzad, volunteers to become the king’s new wife in hopes of killing him. However, she manages to survive through the night and then the night after that, and realizes the king may not be the monster she thought him to be.

I had high hopes when I first read this book because of all the great hype it has surrounding it, but I was not expecting to be as captivated by it as I was. The writing is beautiful and rich, and the setting is so vivid that I felt as if I was actually there. From page one I was in love, and it only took me a day or two to finish so if you are looking for a good book to distract you, this is definitely the one!

Obsidian by Jennifer L Armentrout

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Obsidian is a genre blend (in my opinion) of contemporary and sci-fi, following a girl named Katy who has just moved to this tiny town in Virginia with her mother after the death of her father. They move next door to two, strange twins, Dee and Damon, and after Katy becomes close with both of them, she realizes they are harboring a dark secret and suddenly is pulled into their crazy world.

This might be one of my favourite feel-good books because it is just a fun and easy read. I always fly through it super fast and I get lost in the thrilling lives of these characters. Of course I have some problems with it, but it never fails to take me into its world with open arms which is what I turn to it for!

Me Before You by JoJo Moyes

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Me Before You is an adult contemporary following Lou, a young , twenty-something year old woman who has recently been let go from her job and ends up becoming the caretaker for a man with quadriplegic. He is cold and rude at first, but they soon warm up to each other as the book continues and their friendship blossoms to something more.

This book has all the feels and I read it in one night! I remember finishing it and finally coming up for air, not even realizing it was already the next day. The great thing about this book too is that there is a movie as well that you can watch right after you finish the book. It is really good and stars Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin so yes, pick it up!

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

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Another contemporary recommendation, but this one is a young adult contemporary which is told from two perspectives: Dimple, who is into the sciences and is a practical girl, and Rishi who is a hopeless romantic. When Dimple’s parents let her go to summer program for web programming, she is ecstatic, but what she doesn’t realize is that it is a ploy for her to meet Rishi in their hopes of him being her “ideal Indian husband”.

Since summer is approaching it is the perfect time to pick this book up and give it a read. It is hilarious and adorable, filled with quirky characters and quirky scenes that you can’t help but love. I found this book really realistic in terms of teenage relationships and appreciated it a lot more because of that!

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

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Lucky for you, this book is part of a six book series! It takes place in a world where three different types of vampires exist: strigoi, the evil vampires, dhampirs, the half-human and half-vampire protectors, and the moroi, the peaceful and mortal vampires. Our main character Rose is a dhampir, born to protect her best friend Lisa who is a moroi. Exactly one year after the two of them escaped their school, they are found and brought back, forced to always be watching their backs because they don’t know who they can trust anymore at a school where they are supposed to be safe.

These books are filled with action, adventure, and romance and I promise you will have a blast marathoning this series. I remember reading these books a few years back and being totally consumed by the world and characters for a good week or two. This one also has a movie for the first book, and while it isn’t the best book-to-movie adaptation, it is still a lot of fun!

Those are 5 books to distract you whether you just need a break from the world, or are in search of a good book. I hope you enjoyed and don’t forget to check out my last blog post from Monday and my social media accounts, which is all linked below 🙂

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