[INTRO MUSIC PLAYS]
Ali: Oh, we started our podcast
Kimberly: We did start our podcast, Miss Ali Shaw. Hello, my name is Kimberly. I recently got a new tattoo. For the for the for the podcasters. And here's a portrait of my father and I—I am very cute. He's very cute. And that's--that's what I that's my check in for today.
Ali: I don't want to go next.
Maddy: Don’t everyone look at me. Hi, I'm Maddie. And... oh, boy, what is my thing? Um... I my roommate and I made stuffing for dinner one night. Yes.
Kimberly: Beautiful. Love to hear it. Yes.
Eleanor: I'm Eleanor. Something about me is this week is I've taken on Taylor Swift's version of Red as my whole personality trait.
Ali: Yeah. Absolutely.
Eleanor: And it's all I'm doing and thinking about at all moments of the day.
Kimberly: As you as you should. Yeah, yeah.
Eleanor: That's my big thing.
Kimberly: I really love that for you.
Ali: I'm Ali. And I have also 110% embraced Red Taylor's version as truly my entire life source.
Kimberly: Great.
Ali: And also, I tripped while I was taking out the recycling last night and I skinned my knee. And let me tell you, I haven't done that since I was like, I don't know, I don't remember the last time I skinned my knee. And it hurts so bad. Like I am not having a good time. So...
Eleanor: Every time you straighten your leg.
Ali: Oh my god. I'm like, and I think that I like kind of like lowkey bruised my kneecap not so lightly.
Kimberly: Do you need to see a doctor?
Ali: I mean, maybe, but I'll probably be fine. Mostly my ego is bruised. And like I don't think anybody saw it. But I was just like, there's something that's really humbling about falling down as a semi grown person. Anyway.
Kimberly: As a semi-grown person.
Ali: I feel like I can't claim anything more than that.
Kimberly: That's fair. That's fair. When—before my partner and I started dating, she will always bring this up that one time we had run into each other in the Bannon--in the engineering building. And I was on my way to lab, and she was on her way to class.
Ali: Wait, isn't it all engineering now? Or Bannon?
Kimberly: Is it?
Ali: I think it's all been Bannon.
Kimberly: Okay. Well, so interesting, because it used to be engineering.
Ali: So engineering doesn’t exist. Listeners don't worry.
Kimberly: So sorry. Used to be engineering
Ali: We’re supposed to be giving them advice, and we're telling them about building that literally aren't real.
Kimberly: Yeah, you're right. I'm sorry. I'm just confusing everybody about this episode. But anyway, she had fallen when we had parted ways. And I had when--I had looked back to see if she was like, like, because I heard something. She was like, in the process of getting up. And I was like, “Oh, she's fine.” And then later on, she was like, “Oh, my God, you know, what's so funny is I fell and you left.” And I was like, “Oh, yeah, it's it's so funny, because I saw you getting up and I was like, Oh, she's fine.” And she was like, “You didn't you didn't want to help me?”
Ali: Nope.
Kimberly: And I was like, “Well, you're—you were getting up, I thought you were fine.” And she was like, “So you didn't help me up.” And so she will talk to me about it to this day, just to be like “Hey remember that one time I fell.”
Ali: I really thought that this was going like we were just heading straight towards I was falling for you town.
Kimberly: No, absolutely. But she legit fell.
Ali: I know but like she legit fell for you. And I'm kind of disappointed you didn’t take that comedic opportunity.
Kimberly: I know. I know. I do have it marked in my calendar the date that she did fell good. Okay. It's the day that I ruined Emily's life is the event day. So, I just thought the audience needed to know that. In any case, we are in our season by finale.
Ali: Because we are the people that you want advice from? Clearly, our lives super together.
Kimberly: This is our season five finale and we just wanted to do a cute little Hoot & A as if you will, to answer some of your questions from our form. We also want to give a quick disclaimer that all of these questions will be answered by our own opinions and our own take on it and will not be reflective of SU Writing Center or the Seattle U institution. It is merely here just for fun and giggles and hopefully you can get a smile or some great input out of it. But always be safe and always trust your gut.
Ali: What?
[laughter]
Kimberly: Is that not a thing? There’s just so much advice we're giving here and I just figured that was--that was needed. So...
Maddy: Yeah, number one is be safe
Ali: Our TLDR is if you're going to cancel somebody cancel us, not our employer.
Kimberly: Yeah, basically. Yeah. Except, like some of us are already canceled. But
Ali: Who?
Kimberly: I don't know. I just want to create drama.
Ali: Okay, okay. I--I'm following. Great. Some of us already canceled.
Kimberly: We are canceled. We will find out at the end of the year. Yes.
Ali: Okay. Stay tuned!
Kimberly: Anyway, let's get to questions that we got from you, listeners. Anybody have a favorite laid out for us?
Ali: I want to say thank you to everybody who submitted a question. I don't know how many of you were like actively coerced by members of our hosting team here. But regardless of how you decided to send us something, we appreciate it
Kimberly: Coerced, gently reminded.
Ali: You know, same thing, same. lightly bullied. It's, it's all--it's all in good fun. Great.
Eleanor: I've got a question from Anonymous Number four.
Kimberly: Great.
Eleanor: Number four.
Kimberly: Anonymous Number four, give it to me.
Ali: Can we name them?
Eleanor: Yeah. What's the what's a good name for this anonymous individual.
Ali: Susan Fartlek.
Eleanor: Susan Fartlek asks, I'm going to a destination wedding in Europe this summer. It's so far away. timewise. But I should start saving money for it now. Tips on how to save money and stay on track.
Ali: [laughter] I know I am not in any way shape, or form at all good to be able to contribute anything useful. So...
Kimberly: Not a lot of advice that we can give that is like going to like—it's just, I feel like financial advice is so subjective. Because it depends on the person. Some people are like, don't spend anything at all legit. Only the necessities.
Ali: I literally don't know how people do that.
Kimberly: I don't know either.
Ali: That is like genuinely mind boggling.
Kimberly: Really great, great discipline, I guess. But I don't know. I saw this Tiktok though. That was like, if you let you shouldn't be, like you shouldn't deprive yourself of like wants and stuff that you like, would bring you joy and stuff. And so I think what they had said is if you know the cost of something that you want, that you would like really want and would like you want to invest in, that you should save up twice as much. And spend that half for that. I can't really remember it.
Ali: I'll be honest, I don't know if I'm totally following. I don't know. I don't...
Maddy: The numbers are getting complicated.
Kimberly: Yeah, I don't I don't either. It's just something about like, if you want something you should like, have that amount ready. And then some.
Ali: So if you want to be able to do something, make sure you can afford it. That's how we decided to tell you to save money.
Kimberly: That is essentially what it is. Umm, but what did we name this person? Susan?
Ali: Susan Fartlek.
Kimberly: Fartlek?
Ali: Fartlek.
Kimberly: Fartlek?
Ali: Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's a running term, actually. Fartlek.
Kimberly: Fartlek. Not like...
Ali: Oh, no, I'm sorry. Kimberly. What did you think it meant? That's just like--
Kimberly: I just was so confused. I think you had said fart.
Ali: Fart. Lek. Fartlek
Kimberly: Okay, not like fort lick. Fartlek. Susan Fartlek.
Ali: Glad we got that cleared up.
Kimberly: I just think you--if you're going with somebody it's a great way to like build budgeting. Do a budget with that person because then you can hold each other accountable. I think that is honestly the best thing I can tell you right now because obviously that TikTok video didn't work out in my brain because it was ages ago since I've last seen that video. And I remember liking it and be like, Wow, I should do this and then like didn't save it. Didn't do anything with it. But you know
Ali: My biggest recommendation as someone who is like, very much admittedly Bad with Money TM. That's a Gabby Road podcast, by the way, she's great. Wait, do they use they/them pronouns? I don't know, maybe they're great. Anyway, we can edit that out if you want. But what I would say is that for me my ADHD I talk a lot about that on an episode in the past, but my ADHD manifests like very much. Like it's super hard for me to like do money because it's just so abstract. And I like forget about it. And I get so excited about like, XYZ new shiny thing that I want to purchase immediately. But I think like some like legit advice that I could give is, find what works for you as far as like what helps keep track of things. Like I have to use like an app and then like actual pen and paper, if I am like trying to keep track of something very specific. And those things like help keep me aware of what's happening like in my financial situation. But there are some people, like my mom, for example, like has a meticulously color coded like spreadsheet that, like literally accounts for every cent in or out. And we are just different people in that way. Yeah. So my mom has like a meticulously color coded like excruciatingly precise spreadsheet that keeps track of every cent in or out of our household. And we got into so many arguments. Love you, Mom, you're an angel. But we really had struggles when I was in high school when she was super trying to get me on the spreadsheet game. And that is just not worked my brain so umm, takes a lot of trial and error. But dear Susan it does seem like you have some good, like foresight. As far as having this on your radar. I feel like if I know myself well enough, I would probably be like two months before being like, Oh, no. Oh, what am I supposed to do?
Kimberly: Yeah, we hope that helped you, Susan, and we wish you, Bon voyage, if you will.
Ali: Bon voyage! Have a great time. Yeah. Thrilling that we can travel. Knock on wood kind of question mark. Yeah.
Kimberly: Knock on wood. Knock on wood.
Ali: For real.
Kimberly: I have a next question from Anonymous Two. AKA... We're gonna call them... I'm thinking Daniel Shepherd.
Ali: Daniel Shepherd, the Kirkland brand of Dr. Derek Shepherd, neurosurgeon and saver of many lives. Daniel asks, My sleep schedule has been horrible this year. I don't get enough hours and always wake up late and have to run to class or work. Any tips on how to fix this?
Eleanor: Oh, Daniel, I have the exact same problem
Maddy: I was about to say. Um, honestly, you know what I do is I have tea at night.
[laughter]
Ali: That was not what I was expecting.
Maddy: Wait. Okay, now I might have missed it. Okay. No, no, wait a minute. I don't, no. You have some tea at night. And you just go to sleep, and you wake up feeling better.
Kimberly: Doesn’t tea have caffeine?
Eleanor: Not chamomile.
Ali: Sleepytime tea has a very cute bear on the front.
Kimberly: I apologize.
Maddy: Yeah, I mean, like, there are some teas that have like, like properties that will help you sleep.
Kimberly: Oh, wow.
Maddy: Yeah. So sleepy time. The blue one, sleepy time extra.
Ali: Wow. I'm sorry. Do we have a tea expert in the house?
Maddy: Now I don't want to claim anything. But it is a very good tea and it has like valerian root in it. So that actually like helps you fall asleep. So yeah, I would recommend doing that. And then maybe you just set an alarm. And you try your best
Kimberly: Drink some tea, set an alarm, and you're good to go.
Maddy: Yeah.
Ali: I would also say—well, no, Eleanor, do you have o you have thoughts? Go ahead.
Eleanor: I... so my sleep schedule has been horrible since I was like 16. And I have not found a system that works for me. I've been told by so many people to like, get a routine and I love that. I cannot set a routine for sleep to save my life. I've started though washing my face at night more.
Ali: Yeah, that’s a good one.
Eleanor: It kind of helps a lot. It makes you like get in touch with yourself. You listen to like some music. Maybe some Red Taylor Swift for example.
Ali: Or a podcast. Like this one. Maybe you're washing your face right now listening. Maybe you are and if you are, I really hope that you send us a message or leave a comment. I would love to hear about it. On our Instagram at who's at the WC pod. Oh, yeah.
Kimberly: Anyway, so what we've learned here is you have to wash your face, drink some tea, listen to Red Taylor Swift. Set an alarm.
Ali: Yeah. And like invest in making at least for me, I have to like make things interesting and slash or enticing to do them. So I'm like, okay, like, if you like maybe and like, obviously, like, we don't want to spend a lot of money to like get your sleep acclimated, but also like you spend like a third of your life sleeping. So this is something that will we should probably figure out for this person. For Daniel.
Kimberly: For Daniel Shepherd, PhD.
Ali: Yeah. Well, PhD, or MD.
Kimberly: Sorry. Yeah, I feel like probs MD. Sorry to the medical students out there. Sorry.
Ali: Our apologies. Sincerely. Us liberal arts students are out of our depth. Anyway, what I'm saying is invest in making it like cozy and comfy and like getting ready for bed, like maybe a little earlier. Like, try and like bump your sleep back like 30 minutes. It's like, if you're going to bed super late, like, I went to bed at three last night, maybe tonight I could try for 2:30, You know? It's a, yeah, make it--make it something that you're looking forward to, like a way of taking care of yourself.
Kimberly: Of wanting to sleep. You know? If you're out and about and your friends are like, let's stay until 12am It's okay to say no
Ali: Say no to drugs. Say no to drugs.
Kimberly: I was just gonna say that you can, you can just say no, and you can go to sleep at 9:30pm.
Ali: That's true. But also, if you don't want to like if, like going to sleep is not the issue but like waking up rather, right? I think that my advice stays kind of the same, where it's like, have something that you're excited to, like, wake up for. And that sounds maybe a little deeper than I intended to.
[laughter]
Ali: But what I mean is like, maybe you buy a new mug, and you say, “Oh, I cannot wait to have my morning warm beverage of choice in this new mug.” Or you have Red Taylor's version, but like the hype songs, like message like “Message in a Bottle.” What did she put in that song? Literally, like it has me by my neck anyway. Anyway Have some music queued. Maybe maybe have like a fun citrus candle that you get to light to invigorate your senses.
Kimberly: We will have to do an episode solely to music artists and their impact. And I think we'll have to do with this.
Ali: Oh, I'm so down.
Kimberly: Okay, maybe winter quarter. We'll talk. Absolutely yeah. I want to say to waking up. I don't know if this is an effective technique, but I drink a lot of water the night before and I am forced to wake up if I have to pee.
Ali: Oh
Kimberly: And I cannot go back to bed because my bladder is like let me go. And then I am forced out of bed because...
Ali: I feel like I have like mastered the like half-awake pee and then the immediate diving back into bed.
Eleanor: Sometimes just sets me back like an hour or two. Yeah, I have to sleep for another hour.
Kimberly: That's fair. That's fair. I also just was like different 1520 alarms. Oh, yes. Yeah. And like a like a whole like, I don't know, measurements. Like 24 ounces or something like that.
Ali: That's yeah, that's good. That's good. That's good for your body. Uhh, I saw a TikTok as one does.
Kimberly: In this day and age. You know.
Ali: Speaking of things that have me by my neck that app, oh my god. But I say a TikTok about a thing that is intended for folks who are deaf or who are hard of hearing. It's like an alarm system, but it like shakes your bed. And I like--Did you see the same one?
Eleanor: I actually had one at one point. So I have I'm the worst at waking up. My roommate freshman and sophomore year could tell me that I would snooze for like two hours, I would have an alarm. I would like tap it and be dead asleep. And so some time in high school. I got like that really intense shaky alarm because I just literally could not get out of bed. And it sort of worked. It made me upset when I woke up. But I was I was awake.
Ali: Like early morning, early morning riser. Featuring aggression. Yes.
Eleanor: It does the job.
Ali: But yeah, so maybe I don't know. I also I'm like a chronic snoozer, and everyone in this room can attest, or at least the folks who work in the morning with me, I roll up into work, like, at minimum four minutes late every day, usually more like 14 to 18 minutes, which is not a flattering trait. However, it is something that I've just accepted at this point. So, Daniel... Dr. Daniel Shepherd, MD, not sure what your specialization is.
Kimberly: Let's say...
Eleanor: Sleep medicine.
Maddy: Yeah, sleep medicine, let’s go.
Ali: Well, that just feels like you are more qualified to answer this question than any of us.
Kimberly: Like why are you asking us? Like...
Ali: No judgment. No judgment.
Kimberly: Also this person is definitely anonymous and probably not a doctor.
Ali: Well, no,
Kimberly: No, but in our head.
Ali: You know, like, I'm sure that we have guessed the name and profession of this person. Exactly. Exactly accurate.
Kimberly: I Kimberly who put this all together. It can tell you who each of these individuals are.
Ali: Well don’t because that would be a breach of privacy.
Kimberly: I understand.
Ali: Okay, I am not interested. Anyway, Daniel, we love you, go to bed, and then wake up. Yeah. Says all.
Maddy: That's all there is to it.
Ali: That's all there is to it.
Maddy: You just go to sleep and wake up, and that’s it.
Kimberly: I think we have time for one more question?
Ali: One more One more with our dearest darlingist Kimberly Le. She has to go....
Kimberly: A class. Sorry.
Ali: She has to go to acquire more higher education, which is kind of messed up, but it's fine.
Kimberly: It is for my major. So unfortunately it is required.
Ali: A theater class. Love it. Um, I have a question from anonymous three. No, I have a question from anonymous six. Can I get a name from the crowd?
Kimberly: Maddy?
Maddy: Oh, boy, it's, um, Taylor Drift.
Kimberly: Why did I know that you were going to say that?
Ali: Taylor Drift. Hey, Taylor. What the frick is up? You are your questions are now being answered on the pod. I'm so excited. Uh, the question is... two questions best slash favorite places for coffee in Seattle. And then best slash favorite books that you've read or are reading right now? I feel like we should like we could rapid fire this.
Kimberly: Oh, man.
Ali: I say rapid fire and we all silent in silence.
Kimberly: Okay, I can say my favorite book right now is Blackstar. I wish I can remember the name. I know the last name is Roanhorse. I cannot remember the first name I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry, the author of this book. But it is my current favorite book right now is also the book that I'm reading. Because it is a sort of like sci-fi. Not, I don't want to say dystopian, but it kind of is dystopian, not in like, Hunger Games. Was that other movie?
Ali: Divergent?
Kimberly: Kind of, wait, it's not like that.
Ali: I have such strong opinions about this.
Kimberly: Maddy just gasped but I'm sensing there's a some sort of relationship with Divergent.
Maddy: I really liked Divergent. You know? Is it good? No. It's not. But it's fun.
Ali: But is it good?
Maddy: It's good in a bad way. Yes.
Ali: Yeah. But honestly, I would argue most good things are.
Maddy: Right. Right.
Kimberly: Anyway, that's my favorite book right now.
Ali: Anyway. Okay. What's it called? Black Star?
Kimberly: Black Star Black Star.
Ali: Great by unknown author.
Kimberly: Oh, wait, I'm so sorry. It's not Black Star, its called Black Sun.
Ali: Wow.
Kimberly: I'm so sorry.
Ali: You're just really just setting them up to succeed.
Kimberly: I haven’t read this book in like over a month because I've had not had time to read. I usually make myself time to read and I have not touched it. So I'm so sorry. besties. It is called Black Sun by author first name, Roanhorse.
Ali: Great. If you find it. Let us know. That first name is let us know.
Kimberly: I want to say it's like Rebecca, but I know that's not it.
Ali: All right. All right. Oh, cancel Kimberly. If they're wrong.
Kimberly: Yeah, maybe that's who I that's the person that gets canceled.
Ali: Mystery solved. Case closed. We’re done, thanks for a great season.
Kimberly: All right. All right. Other books or books or coffee?
Ali: Ok Maddy. Books or coffee? Same with Eleanor.
Maddy: You know, okay, as a kid, I never read Harry Potter.
Ali: [gasps]
Maddy: I know. It's shocking to I'm sure many. So what I'm doing now is reading it. So I bought the entire series and I'm reading it and it's it's really good.
Ali: What book are you on?
Maddy: I'm on Chamber of Secrets. I finished Sorcerer’s Stone.
Ali: I was going to say you haven't even gotten to the good ones yet. Yeah, the first two are objectively bad. They are so boring.
Eleanor: They are the worst out of the series.
Ali: We’re so sorry. You said you're enjoying.
Maddy: Well, I think they are good. I mean, obviously, like very famous book series, but yeah, good stuff. Yes.
Kimberly: To ally with Maddy. I've also never read the Harry Potter series.
Ali: What the heck.
Maddy: You know what you should. It's something that you should do. It's for all ages. It really is like it's really good.
Ali: They're really good. I mean, like, we don't stand she who must not be named.
Maddy: Yeah, we really don’t.
Eleanor: But like, it's not her series anymore.
Ali: Exactly. It's ours. And it's been ours for a very long time. Yep.
Kimberly: A woman.
Ali: What?
Kimberly: Like, amen, but a woman.
Ali: Oh, I hated that. But thank you.
Kimberly: Or a them if we want to be really.
Eleanor: Really make JK Rowling very upset.
Ali: Yes.
Kimberly: True. All right, Harry Potter, Black Sun. Eleanor.
Eleanor: So I'm going to give a two parter.
Kimberly: Oh my god.
Eleanor: What I just finished is a memoir poetry book called Jane by Maggie Nelson Roman Argonauts. It's about her aunt who was murdered.
Ali: Yeah.
Eleanor: And it's a true crime book about family trauma.
Ali: True crime, poetry, family trauma is me.
Eleanor: It was the best! I read it in one sitting it was like it was so good. I can't recommend it enough. And then off of the YA talk me and my girlfriend just finished rereading the whole Hunger Game series. And I want to say just how much that series holds up from when I was a child to now. It is more impactful now than it was when I was no way that I was not expecting. It made me cry several times in different places than when I was a child. And I can't recommend rereading it and going back to that place isn't so good.
Kimberly: I love that. I don't love like crying, but I love that it's touched you there.
Eleanor: It was incredible.
Ali: I here's the thing. I literally Okay, so my big project and maybe I'll like put a like picture of this on our social media. My project, probably like a month ago, was I got all of my books from both of my parents as houses, back home in Portland. And I brought them all to Seattle, and I have color coded my bookshelf. And I love it. I know that's like controversial on Book Tok about like, if it's like fine, organized by color, or whatever. And I have the first two I've like The Hunger Games that I have Catching Fire. I have no clue where my Mockingjay book went. So if anyone out there is listening, I lent you that circa 2014. Because that's highly likely that you're listening. Anyway, I want to back because I would love to reread.
Kimberly: Or if you have an extra copy of the Mockingjay?
Ali: No, I would like the original. Okay, I will accept nothing less.
Kimberly: Well, good luck with that.
Ali: Thank you really, yeah, I have a series suggestion that I blew through because I could not put them down. This is the first book and I'm pretty sure it's just like The Ember in the Ashes series or like An Ember in the Ashes series by Sabaa Tahir It is like some of the most beautiful well written like fantasy that I have written. Or no that I am not no, that I have read in a really, really long time. The character development is off the friggin charts like it is so engaging like I seriously could not put these down. I neglected many and assignment because I just like could not get my nose out of these. There's three books? Four books? I'm not totally sure. Either way, you'll be devastated that it's over. Or at least I was. Yeah, they are phenomenal.
Kimberly: I love that.
Ali: And also, Sabaa is like this incredible, like woman of color or like author and she's just like, Oh, my God, I was so she's coming out to new book. Anyway. That's all.
Kimberly: That's great. We will have all of these names listed in the episode description just in case you didn't catch it, and I will definitely have the author's name. Oh. For my book. Are there any coffee places that we like? I don't have a favorite one. I've seen a native here. You know, that's really unfortunate.
Ali: I have so I have too many. I just went to Aida’s Technical Books on 15.
Kimberly: That's a good one.
Ali: So cute. So cute. Also, a troll on 15th is objectively better than the one that's on pike. It's bigger. It's cuter. It's better. Alexandra's Macaroons is on 18th. It's by my house don't dox me. And it's really cute and fun. My friend Talia works there Kimberly knows Talia.
Kimberly: I was also going to say that my friend Talia works there as well.
Ali: Yeah, it's great. And Katie's Corner Cafe in the central district very close to my place. It's good. I don't know everything. Oh, Boona Boona that just opened.
Maddy: I was gonna say that.
Kimberly: I also think it's Boon Boona.
Ali: Oh Boon Boona.
Maddy: Yep, Boon Boona.
Ali: Okay, great. Sorry. I can't read.
Kimberly: No, that's okay. It's yeah, Boon Boona I was gonna say if I was to pick one that would probably be my favorite right now. Just because it's like, RIP Cherry Street Market but like, you know.
Ali: It's okay. I went on the first day with my ex there. I'm not sad that it's gone.
Kimberly: So anyway. What other coffee places do you guys have?
Eleanor: The only one that I've found around my apartment so far is Sugar Bakery. On Madison? And it's so good. Their baked goods are incredible. I got a Moroccan Fog the other day was like, green. It's like a London Fog like with Earl Grey except it has like green tea, green mint tea. And like cream and stuff like that. And it's so good. So good. So good.
Ali: I love Sugar Bakery. Also, the people there are so sweet. That was the first place that I like got a cup of coffee at the first time I ever came to Seattle. To tour Seattle U.
Kimberly: So sentimental. Yeah, I like it there a lot.
Maddy: I umm, Caffe Vita is also good. Why can I not remember the street that it's on?
Eleanor: Pike?
Maddy: Yes. The main one. The main one that's in the Capitol Hill.
Ali: It's on Pike.
Maddy: Yeah, yeah, sure. Yeah. So go there. It's good stuff. Good cold brew. Very strong. Very strong.
Ali: You will start to like see sounds like it. Yeah, yeah.
Kimberly: Yeah. I forgot to mention Claudia Brothers is a great one too. And if you're in West Seattle, go West Seattle. You can go to Uptown Espresso because the one on Delridge if you ever feel like crossing that if you ever feel like, you know, going over the bridge.
Ali: Does anyone?
Kimberly: Some people do.
Ali: Actually some people ie Kimberly, they're the only one
Kimberly: Anyway. If you are ever in West Seattle, I recommend Uptown Espresso on Delridge because they have fun little board games for you to play, and a great coffee.
Ali: Also Eltana does their crossword puzzle that's on the wall, which I love. And I just went to a new place on pike where Cupcake Royale used to be.
Maddy: Oh is that good?
Ali: It's so good. It's called Wonderland and they do mushroom coffee. So its like they use, like mushroom infused or some kind of mushroom situation, in coffee.
Kimberly: I love that!
Ali: It is supposed to improve your focus and all of this. Not hallucinogenic properties. Please know that. But it was so cute, and really good. I mean like I did pay seven dollars for a vanilla latte with oat milk because I am gay, but anyway I thought it was seven dollars well spent.
Kimberly: Yeah, I believe you. I bet it is.
Ali: They also have cute stickers. And I may or may not have gotten one.
Kimberly: Ummm, so I hope that answers your question Taylor Drift.
Ali: Ahhh Taylor, Taylor Drift.
Kimberly: That is possibly the best name you could have, because you can be like hahah not Taylor Swift, Taylor Drift.
Ali: Good one.
Kimberly: Not Taylor Swift.... Taylor Drift.
All: [laughter]
Ali: This is an audio medium, no one is going to see that move.
Kimberly: No one can see what I just did. Ummm unfortunately, this will be the marker for when I am gone, but please enjoy the rest of the wonderful questions that we have gotten from you and to hear the wonderful voices our three lovely podcasters. Also, Sabrina, if you are listening to this, we hope you get better.
Ali: Yeah Sabrina isn’t in the studio with us today, and we miss her. So we are sending you lots of love. Hoping that you feel better soon.
Kimberly: Alright, Kimberly out.
Ali, Maddy, Eleanor: Bye Kimberly!
Ali: Okay now that we unfortunately lost our dearest and sweet sweet Kimberly. Ummm I don’t know we are going to try to go fairly quickly through these few. We are going to leave you with just a couple answers to your questions. So does anybody want to kick off our next round.
Maddy: Sure I can go! Ummm do we want a fancy name.
Ali: Ummm yeah we do. How about... uh... Vincent Vending Machine.
Maddy: Vincent Vending Machine. [laughter]
Ali: I hope you all can hear the exasperated sighs from my cohosts whenever I say anything. Anyway, go ahead.
Maddy: Vincent Vending Machine says or asks, where have you always wanted to visit?
Eleanor: Oh, a travel...
Ali: A travel question.
Eleanor: Hmm, that’s a great question. I want to go to Thailand really bad.
Ali: Mm, it’s beautiful.
Eleanor: I’ve seen pictures, I’ve heard things, it’s been so long since I’ve traveled too. I just want to see everything.
Ali: Yeah I say, oh yeah it’s beautiful as if I’ve ever been there and I have not.
Eleanor: Seen pictures, it’s gorgeous
Ali: Photos are beautiful. Yeah. I like got a passport for the first time in 2019 and I went to Canada. So that’s the extent of my international voyages. I was, RIP, supposed to spend six months in Peru last year, but obviously Miss Covid did not allow that to happen so... Is it a cop out to say like everywhere is my answer?
Eleanor: Honestly, it’s the right one.
Maddy: That’s an answer.
Ali: Yeah, I’m going to spend two months after I graduate in June hiking El Camino de Santiago.
Eleanor: Ohh.
Ali: Which is... like a pilgrimage in Spain. So. That’s the only thing I have like a solid answer about.
Maddy: That’s really cool, my roommate did that in high school.
Ali: Oh my god I’m so excited.
Maddy: It seems really, really cool.
Ali: I’m really excited. It’s going to be so hard, but I’m honestly so excited and I’m really excited that I’m going alone. Like I have like I’m not going with anybody. I’m just going to go and see what happens.
Eleanor: Have you done long trips like that by yourself?
Ali: Nope. Nope.
Eleanor: Oh my goodness.
Ali: Here’s the thing [laughter], uh, preparing for things? Not my strong suit, I’ll be honest. So I'm just, like, we’ll figure it out. I’ve watched a lot of YouTube videos.
Eleanor: That’s all you need.
Ali: Right?
Eleanor: Yeah.
Maddy: You’ll be good, you’ll be good. You got it.
Ali: I’m not worried. Yeah. What about you Maddy? Where do you want to go?
Maddy: Honestly, I’d really like to go to Scotland or Ireland. I’ve been to England before, but I don’t know. I kinda just want to see Ireland, see what’s going on. Seems cool. Always wanted to go.
Ali: Can’t argue with that. Seems cool.
Eleanor: Well, hope that answers your question, Vincent.
Ali: Vincent Vending Machine. Yup. Hope that you’re having a great day.
Eleanor: Lots of travel.
Maddy: Lots of travel advice.
Ali: Yup. Umm, okay, our next question is like a series of questions so I’m going to try and answer these quickly. But... we need a name. For anonymous one.
Eleanor: Denise Dancinghall.
Ali: Denise Dancinghall. What a name. Alright, hey Denise! So, okay, we have a series of like six questions and I’m gonna rapid fire them really quickly. What’s the hardest thing about writing for you? What has been your biggest transition or learning moment from college? What do you do when you feel hopeless? Who are your favorite BIPOC artists—oh my gosh. Who are your favorite BIPOC authors and what do they write about? What’s a favorite poem by a BIPOC writer? And what has been your favorite reading, article, or essay that you’ve written or read this year? That’s a lot. I can’t promise that we’re going to answer all of them, but the things that have immediately risen to the surface for me are BIPOC authors that I like would really kill or die for. Toni Morrison is truly like the greatest literary giant to have ever walked the earth and that’s the hill I’d choose to die on every day. My favorite book is Beloved by her, just, I mean, hands down, my favorite book. I also love Song of Solomon and The Bluest Eye. All, I mean anything she ever wrote... go read her work. You will be a better person over it--because of it. Brit Bennet wrote the Vanishing Half, that was super popular like two summers ago maybe. Umm, that was a freakin’ amazing, it was so good, it was very like quick read that felt, like... I mean like, I still think about that book. So. Yeah. And then, Sabaa Tahir, I mentioned her earlier, Embers and the Ashes, phenomenal writer, she has a new book coming out soon. I don’t remember the title though. Umm and then Ocean Vuong, On Earth Briefly We’re Gorgeous, umm, on that, anything that Ocean writes or does ever, I am like so deeply affected by it. He, his writing is just astonishing. So On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous and Beloved are my two favs of all time. Umm, but yeah. Go check out those authors. Anybody else? Favs?
Maddy: Umm, sure. Umm, I was gonna, well the thing that’s really sticking out to me is one of the hardest things about writing. Because do I have many of papers to write. Yes. And have I started? No. Which is the hardest part. Starting. Umm, I don’t know, advice? Just set out maybe five minutes and start brainstorming. Umm, a topic, anything, get something down. Just do it. Oh my gosh. I was going to say for BIPOC authors, I recently read Little Fires Everywhere,
Ali: So good.
Maddy: Which was also turned into a miniseries. Haven’t watched it yet, so I can’t attest to that, but it’s very good. I recommend that. That's a good one. Umm... and oh gosh... favorite article or reading or essay from this year... Umm, school... Uhh...
Eleanor: I apologize, I have not retained a single article or essay from this year. Don’t listen to this part professors, but oh my goodness.
Maddy: I feel like I have not retained... well I am in this forensic psychology class which is very interesting, and I’ve retained some of that. So yeah, forensic psychology is cool if you’re ever into it.
Ali: Love it. I am like super... I would say like knee-deep, but at this point I am like up to my armpits in writing my honor’s thesis right now. And my research question is centered around what happens within white families when we try to talk to each other about race. Umm So I’ve been doing a lot of reading about like racial formation theories. Umm, and one of my favorite social scientists that is working right now is Eduardo Bonilla-Silva. Umm, he is incredible. He has published, I mean, a ton of work. But specifically, his, I can’t remember if it’s a chapter or if it was an essay or if it was an entire book. I think it might be an entire book, but it’s called Racism Without Racists. Umm, and it unpacks like the way colorblind racism operates. But he writes in a way where it’s very like narrative and story based. Which is like absolutely how I want to pursue doing research in the social sciences. Because like, he unpacks all of these really complex, like mechanisms that are happening as far as like, especially, white folk’s perceptions of like racialized relationships in their lives. Umm, in a way, that doesn’t feel like you’re reading a textbook. It’s like oh I’m learning about this person and this author is helping me understand what’s at play. Anyway, I could talk about it for hours.
Maddy: That sounds really interesting.
Ali: Yeah, he’s, he’s great. I really loved that... I also would agree that Starting is the hardest part of any writing process ever. Uhh, but, you have to do it. Which like, sucks.
Maddy: It just has to be done. You just gotta start. One way or another.
Eleanor: And if you don’t, you start to feel a little hopeless.
Ali: What a transition!
Eleanor: Into that next question, but...
Ali: Did you hear that Denise?
Eleanor: But umm, when it comes to that question. It’s packed in between a lot of like, academic questions.
Ali: I know.
Eleanor: I’m struggling to think ‘cause like, as someone who deals with depression, you feel hopeless kind of a lot.
Ali: Fat mood, baby.
Eleanor: And especially right now, I feel like everyone’s kind of in the dumps a little bit. So, I guess this kind of goes along with something we were talking about earlier with budgeting actually. Like, treating yourself in ways that you can and ways that feel good. Like, I don’t like the idea that there’s a prescribed thing you have to do to make yourself feel good, like it doesn’t have to look like... a bubble bath, or I don’t know, stuff like that. Where it’s like, that’s good stuff for some people, but anything, if it’s like a junk food snack that you really like. Eat that. It doesn’t matter. Just trying to find ways to like feel excited about your day helps me, I know. Especially when I’m struggling writing a paper at the beginning because I avoid that as long as possible.
Ali: Eleanor really just tied that up in a beautiful neat little bow.
Maddy: That was so good. [laughter]
Ali: Umm, yeah, I would say, like very similarly, yeah, again, another person who struggles with depression all year round but especially during this seasonal time we’re in. Yeah, like having things to look forward to. And also for me, having things to take care of. I know that for some folks, depression manifests in a way where like depressive feelings can kind of like paralyze you, so having anything to take care of other than your bare necessities is really overwhelming. So this might not work for you, but for me, I own over 50 houseplants. And that is like a really, that little collection of mine is, it’s like very important to me as far as keeping me okay. I have a routine and I know that I’m watering on Sunday and like, or like I’m checking in on them, seeing how they’re doing. And that, like helps feel like, it helps me feel like I have some kind of purpose.
Eleanor: Yes.
Ali: And something else is relying on me. So I have to like exist. And like, be a participant in the world.
Eleanor: Also, kind of allowing yourself to have days where you don’t want to do anything too. One bad day doesn’t make a bad week or a bad life in general. So it’s like allowing yourself to have days where you can like wallow a bit. Listen to that sad music and...
Ali: “Red Taylor’s Version.”
Eleanor: Listen to the “All Too Well 10 minute” and cry.
Ali: But don’t skip “Message in a Bottle,” because I feel like maybe, I feel like there’s just straight pure serotonin dopamine in that song.
Eleanor: And then it knocks you right back down with “Nothing New” featuring Phoebe Bridgers.
Ali: Phoebe mother freaking Bridgers. So good. Anything to add, Maddy?
Maddy: Yeah, I would add like, just don’t beat yourself up if there’s a day that you don’t want to do anything. Like we’ve all been there. I’ve been there. And it’s fine. You know? You, you just keep going on. Also, what I like to do is if I just tell myself, okay, I have like maybe some assignments. If I just do one super small one now, I’ll feel, you know, like I’ve accomplished something and then maybe I can stop for the day. Or keep going. But at least I’ve done something really small.
Eleanor: Checking one thing off a list helps a lot. Even if that’s all you do that day.
Maddy: For sure.
Ali: And also like, what you were saying Maddy like reminds me of, we are still in a pandemic. And I feel like especially this quarter, it’s felt like everybody has decided that suddenly like this massive global trauma just didn’t happen and that everything’s fine. But that couldn’t be farther from the truth. So it’s okay to let yourself still be, make space for still being deeply affected. Because like, there’s no way in less than three months we have all psychologically and emotionally recovered from almost 20 months of like deep, deep, deep uncertainty and insecurity. So, that is super real. And allow yourself to acknowledge that your body, and your heart, and your brain are in a different place than they normally would, so it might be easier to be sad right now and that’s okay because it’s not just you. [laughter] I promise. I’ll step off my soapbox right here but yeah, just be gentle with yourselves. Please. Alright. One last one? Is there like a fun silly one?
Eleanor: I was wondering about the anonymous person asking if we have any hidden talents or surprising hobbies. Could relate to things you picked up in the pandemic or could be before. What are some things?
Ali: Hidden talents or surprising hobbies. I’m like, this is also like asking me to evaluate how other people perceive me, which is always sticky.
Eleanor: What’s a talent that you’re proud of then at least. It doesn’t have to be hidden. If it’s a hidden thing, that’s chill, but...
Ali: I don’t know if I’ve talked about the fact that I’m a painter on this show. Yeah, I’m an artist. And I really love it. Once upon a time, I had an art Instagram that I have since deactivated because of my unhealthy relationship with social media to navigate that. But yeah, that’s something that’s really important to me. Who knows, I mean, I’ll be honest, there is a piece that’s been sitting on easel for months now that I have not gotten any more close to concluding. Uhh, because I don’t always make time for it. Anyway! That’s my hobby/talent/whatever.
Maddy: Oh boy, umm, recently, I, okay I do have a Nintendo Switch. And recently, I have been kind of getting back into it and I looked on the Nintendo store and I saw that Lego Harry Potter was like really discounted [gasps] So... I bought that and my roommate and I have been playing multiplayer for like a very long time and it’s just super fun. Honestly, is a Switch an investment? Yes. But is it so much fun? Yes. It’s just like your childhood memories with your DS, but it's a Switch.
Ali: I never had a DS, I was not like, I never had a DS. But the way that my little brother and I played through every single level of Lego Harry Potter on our Wii, like our OG Wii system. I’m pretty sure it’s still at my dad’s house, I don’t know if it works, but I love that game. Like I have such vivid memories...
Maddy: All of the Lego games are so good. Like Lego Star Wars.
Ali: Yeah, yeah, yeah, so good.
Maddy: So yeah, that’s a hobby.
Ali: That is a hobby! What about you, Eleanor?
Eleanor: I was trying to think too. Umm, something that I used to, used to be a hobby, I used to play the oboe. You guys know the oboe?
Ali: Yeah, that’s so impressive.
Eleanor: It’s like an instrument thing that I used to play. And I haven’t played in like a year or something. And I used to be okay.
Ali: How long did you play?
Eleanor: I played since sixth grade?
Ali: Like all through high school?
Eleanor: All through high school. Sixth grade through freshman year of college.
Ali: Wait, oh my gosh, so you were playing while you were here too?
Eleanor: Yeah, just barely, but, yeah it was fun. It’s I’d like to get back into again. So that’s...
Ali: I played an aggressively mediocre flute in middle school.
Eleanor: Flutes are the best people though.
Ali: Well, thanks, you heard it here first. Screw the trumpet section in every band every.
Eleanor: Umm, yes.
Ali: Just kidding, if you’re a trumpet player, peace and love, but I hope you’ve chilled out. [laughter]
Eleanor: And they probably haven’t.
Ali: And I always wanted to switch over to the oboe because like the key fingering is kind of the same.
Eleanor: It’s fun. Never too late.
Ali: I mean.
Maddy: It’s never too late.
Ali: I think I’ve lost all ability to read music, but anyway, maybe that’s some advice we can leave you with. Relearn how to read music if that’s something that would float your boat. Umm, I think that’s kind of it for us today. Thank you for sending us your questions, we feel, I don’t know, I feel extremely honored that anyone would want us to talk about anything on here. And thanks for a really great first season back. I know this is technically our fifth, but it feels like our first real season in person. And I've loved every second of it. Closing thoughts, anybody else?
Eleanor: I hope everyone has a nice break. Take some time off. Do something kind.
Ali: Read a book. I have like six books sitting on my nightstand and I’m so excited to do like literally not do anything but read.
Eleanor: It’s gonna be great.
Maddy: Yup, just have a relaxing break. Also, umm, eat good food during the holidays. That’s always super fun. And yeah, just have a good time.
Ali: Yeah, love that, that brings us to the close of another episode of... ready?
Everyone: Hoo- Hoo- Hoo's At The Writing Center.
Ali: Bye y'all!
[Outro music plays]
Ali: Oh, we started our podcast
Kimberly: We did start our podcast, Miss Ali Shaw. Hello, my name is Kimberly. I recently got a new tattoo. For the for the for the podcasters. And here's a portrait of my father and I—I am very cute. He's very cute. And that's--that's what I that's my check in for today.
Ali: I don't want to go next.
Maddy: Don’t everyone look at me. Hi, I'm Maddie. And... oh, boy, what is my thing? Um... I my roommate and I made stuffing for dinner one night. Yes.
Kimberly: Beautiful. Love to hear it. Yes.
Eleanor: I'm Eleanor. Something about me is this week is I've taken on Taylor Swift's version of Red as my whole personality trait.
Ali: Yeah. Absolutely.
Eleanor: And it's all I'm doing and thinking about at all moments of the day.
Kimberly: As you as you should. Yeah, yeah.
Eleanor: That's my big thing.
Kimberly: I really love that for you.
Ali: I'm Ali. And I have also 110% embraced Red Taylor's version as truly my entire life source.
Kimberly: Great.
Ali: And also, I tripped while I was taking out the recycling last night and I skinned my knee. And let me tell you, I haven't done that since I was like, I don't know, I don't remember the last time I skinned my knee. And it hurts so bad. Like I am not having a good time. So...
Eleanor: Every time you straighten your leg.
Ali: Oh my god. I'm like, and I think that I like kind of like lowkey bruised my kneecap not so lightly.
Kimberly: Do you need to see a doctor?
Ali: I mean, maybe, but I'll probably be fine. Mostly my ego is bruised. And like I don't think anybody saw it. But I was just like, there's something that's really humbling about falling down as a semi grown person. Anyway.
Kimberly: As a semi-grown person.
Ali: I feel like I can't claim anything more than that.
Kimberly: That's fair. That's fair. When—before my partner and I started dating, she will always bring this up that one time we had run into each other in the Bannon--in the engineering building. And I was on my way to lab, and she was on her way to class.
Ali: Wait, isn't it all engineering now? Or Bannon?
Kimberly: Is it?
Ali: I think it's all been Bannon.
Kimberly: Okay. Well, so interesting, because it used to be engineering.
Ali: So engineering doesn’t exist. Listeners don't worry.
Kimberly: So sorry. Used to be engineering
Ali: We’re supposed to be giving them advice, and we're telling them about building that literally aren't real.
Kimberly: Yeah, you're right. I'm sorry. I'm just confusing everybody about this episode. But anyway, she had fallen when we had parted ways. And I had when--I had looked back to see if she was like, like, because I heard something. She was like, in the process of getting up. And I was like, “Oh, she's fine.” And then later on, she was like, “Oh, my God, you know, what's so funny is I fell and you left.” And I was like, “Oh, yeah, it's it's so funny, because I saw you getting up and I was like, Oh, she's fine.” And she was like, “You didn't you didn't want to help me?”
Ali: Nope.
Kimberly: And I was like, “Well, you're—you were getting up, I thought you were fine.” And she was like, “So you didn't help me up.” And so she will talk to me about it to this day, just to be like “Hey remember that one time I fell.”
Ali: I really thought that this was going like we were just heading straight towards I was falling for you town.
Kimberly: No, absolutely. But she legit fell.
Ali: I know but like she legit fell for you. And I'm kind of disappointed you didn’t take that comedic opportunity.
Kimberly: I know. I know. I do have it marked in my calendar the date that she did fell good. Okay. It's the day that I ruined Emily's life is the event day. So, I just thought the audience needed to know that. In any case, we are in our season by finale.
Ali: Because we are the people that you want advice from? Clearly, our lives super together.
Kimberly: This is our season five finale and we just wanted to do a cute little Hoot & A as if you will, to answer some of your questions from our form. We also want to give a quick disclaimer that all of these questions will be answered by our own opinions and our own take on it and will not be reflective of SU Writing Center or the Seattle U institution. It is merely here just for fun and giggles and hopefully you can get a smile or some great input out of it. But always be safe and always trust your gut.
Ali: What?
[laughter]
Kimberly: Is that not a thing? There’s just so much advice we're giving here and I just figured that was--that was needed. So...
Maddy: Yeah, number one is be safe
Ali: Our TLDR is if you're going to cancel somebody cancel us, not our employer.
Kimberly: Yeah, basically. Yeah. Except, like some of us are already canceled. But
Ali: Who?
Kimberly: I don't know. I just want to create drama.
Ali: Okay, okay. I--I'm following. Great. Some of us already canceled.
Kimberly: We are canceled. We will find out at the end of the year. Yes.
Ali: Okay. Stay tuned!
Kimberly: Anyway, let's get to questions that we got from you, listeners. Anybody have a favorite laid out for us?
Ali: I want to say thank you to everybody who submitted a question. I don't know how many of you were like actively coerced by members of our hosting team here. But regardless of how you decided to send us something, we appreciate it
Kimberly: Coerced, gently reminded.
Ali: You know, same thing, same. lightly bullied. It's, it's all--it's all in good fun. Great.
Eleanor: I've got a question from Anonymous Number four.
Kimberly: Great.
Eleanor: Number four.
Kimberly: Anonymous Number four, give it to me.
Ali: Can we name them?
Eleanor: Yeah. What's the what's a good name for this anonymous individual.
Ali: Susan Fartlek.
Eleanor: Susan Fartlek asks, I'm going to a destination wedding in Europe this summer. It's so far away. timewise. But I should start saving money for it now. Tips on how to save money and stay on track.
Ali: [laughter] I know I am not in any way shape, or form at all good to be able to contribute anything useful. So...
Kimberly: Not a lot of advice that we can give that is like going to like—it's just, I feel like financial advice is so subjective. Because it depends on the person. Some people are like, don't spend anything at all legit. Only the necessities.
Ali: I literally don't know how people do that.
Kimberly: I don't know either.
Ali: That is like genuinely mind boggling.
Kimberly: Really great, great discipline, I guess. But I don't know. I saw this Tiktok though. That was like, if you let you shouldn't be, like you shouldn't deprive yourself of like wants and stuff that you like, would bring you joy and stuff. And so I think what they had said is if you know the cost of something that you want, that you would like really want and would like you want to invest in, that you should save up twice as much. And spend that half for that. I can't really remember it.
Ali: I'll be honest, I don't know if I'm totally following. I don't know. I don't...
Maddy: The numbers are getting complicated.
Kimberly: Yeah, I don't I don't either. It's just something about like, if you want something you should like, have that amount ready. And then some.
Ali: So if you want to be able to do something, make sure you can afford it. That's how we decided to tell you to save money.
Kimberly: That is essentially what it is. Umm, but what did we name this person? Susan?
Ali: Susan Fartlek.
Kimberly: Fartlek?
Ali: Fartlek.
Kimberly: Fartlek?
Ali: Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's a running term, actually. Fartlek.
Kimberly: Fartlek. Not like...
Ali: Oh, no, I'm sorry. Kimberly. What did you think it meant? That's just like--
Kimberly: I just was so confused. I think you had said fart.
Ali: Fart. Lek. Fartlek
Kimberly: Okay, not like fort lick. Fartlek. Susan Fartlek.
Ali: Glad we got that cleared up.
Kimberly: I just think you--if you're going with somebody it's a great way to like build budgeting. Do a budget with that person because then you can hold each other accountable. I think that is honestly the best thing I can tell you right now because obviously that TikTok video didn't work out in my brain because it was ages ago since I've last seen that video. And I remember liking it and be like, Wow, I should do this and then like didn't save it. Didn't do anything with it. But you know
Ali: My biggest recommendation as someone who is like, very much admittedly Bad with Money TM. That's a Gabby Road podcast, by the way, she's great. Wait, do they use they/them pronouns? I don't know, maybe they're great. Anyway, we can edit that out if you want. But what I would say is that for me my ADHD I talk a lot about that on an episode in the past, but my ADHD manifests like very much. Like it's super hard for me to like do money because it's just so abstract. And I like forget about it. And I get so excited about like, XYZ new shiny thing that I want to purchase immediately. But I think like some like legit advice that I could give is, find what works for you as far as like what helps keep track of things. Like I have to use like an app and then like actual pen and paper, if I am like trying to keep track of something very specific. And those things like help keep me aware of what's happening like in my financial situation. But there are some people, like my mom, for example, like has a meticulously color coded like spreadsheet that, like literally accounts for every cent in or out. And we are just different people in that way. Yeah. So my mom has like a meticulously color coded like excruciatingly precise spreadsheet that keeps track of every cent in or out of our household. And we got into so many arguments. Love you, Mom, you're an angel. But we really had struggles when I was in high school when she was super trying to get me on the spreadsheet game. And that is just not worked my brain so umm, takes a lot of trial and error. But dear Susan it does seem like you have some good, like foresight. As far as having this on your radar. I feel like if I know myself well enough, I would probably be like two months before being like, Oh, no. Oh, what am I supposed to do?
Kimberly: Yeah, we hope that helped you, Susan, and we wish you, Bon voyage, if you will.
Ali: Bon voyage! Have a great time. Yeah. Thrilling that we can travel. Knock on wood kind of question mark. Yeah.
Kimberly: Knock on wood. Knock on wood.
Ali: For real.
Kimberly: I have a next question from Anonymous Two. AKA... We're gonna call them... I'm thinking Daniel Shepherd.
Ali: Daniel Shepherd, the Kirkland brand of Dr. Derek Shepherd, neurosurgeon and saver of many lives. Daniel asks, My sleep schedule has been horrible this year. I don't get enough hours and always wake up late and have to run to class or work. Any tips on how to fix this?
Eleanor: Oh, Daniel, I have the exact same problem
Maddy: I was about to say. Um, honestly, you know what I do is I have tea at night.
[laughter]
Ali: That was not what I was expecting.
Maddy: Wait. Okay, now I might have missed it. Okay. No, no, wait a minute. I don't, no. You have some tea at night. And you just go to sleep, and you wake up feeling better.
Kimberly: Doesn’t tea have caffeine?
Eleanor: Not chamomile.
Ali: Sleepytime tea has a very cute bear on the front.
Kimberly: I apologize.
Maddy: Yeah, I mean, like, there are some teas that have like, like properties that will help you sleep.
Kimberly: Oh, wow.
Maddy: Yeah. So sleepy time. The blue one, sleepy time extra.
Ali: Wow. I'm sorry. Do we have a tea expert in the house?
Maddy: Now I don't want to claim anything. But it is a very good tea and it has like valerian root in it. So that actually like helps you fall asleep. So yeah, I would recommend doing that. And then maybe you just set an alarm. And you try your best
Kimberly: Drink some tea, set an alarm, and you're good to go.
Maddy: Yeah.
Ali: I would also say—well, no, Eleanor, do you have o you have thoughts? Go ahead.
Eleanor: I... so my sleep schedule has been horrible since I was like 16. And I have not found a system that works for me. I've been told by so many people to like, get a routine and I love that. I cannot set a routine for sleep to save my life. I've started though washing my face at night more.
Ali: Yeah, that’s a good one.
Eleanor: It kind of helps a lot. It makes you like get in touch with yourself. You listen to like some music. Maybe some Red Taylor Swift for example.
Ali: Or a podcast. Like this one. Maybe you're washing your face right now listening. Maybe you are and if you are, I really hope that you send us a message or leave a comment. I would love to hear about it. On our Instagram at who's at the WC pod. Oh, yeah.
Kimberly: Anyway, so what we've learned here is you have to wash your face, drink some tea, listen to Red Taylor Swift. Set an alarm.
Ali: Yeah. And like invest in making at least for me, I have to like make things interesting and slash or enticing to do them. So I'm like, okay, like, if you like maybe and like, obviously, like, we don't want to spend a lot of money to like get your sleep acclimated, but also like you spend like a third of your life sleeping. So this is something that will we should probably figure out for this person. For Daniel.
Kimberly: For Daniel Shepherd, PhD.
Ali: Yeah. Well, PhD, or MD.
Kimberly: Sorry. Yeah, I feel like probs MD. Sorry to the medical students out there. Sorry.
Ali: Our apologies. Sincerely. Us liberal arts students are out of our depth. Anyway, what I'm saying is invest in making it like cozy and comfy and like getting ready for bed, like maybe a little earlier. Like, try and like bump your sleep back like 30 minutes. It's like, if you're going to bed super late, like, I went to bed at three last night, maybe tonight I could try for 2:30, You know? It's a, yeah, make it--make it something that you're looking forward to, like a way of taking care of yourself.
Kimberly: Of wanting to sleep. You know? If you're out and about and your friends are like, let's stay until 12am It's okay to say no
Ali: Say no to drugs. Say no to drugs.
Kimberly: I was just gonna say that you can, you can just say no, and you can go to sleep at 9:30pm.
Ali: That's true. But also, if you don't want to like if, like going to sleep is not the issue but like waking up rather, right? I think that my advice stays kind of the same, where it's like, have something that you're excited to, like, wake up for. And that sounds maybe a little deeper than I intended to.
[laughter]
Ali: But what I mean is like, maybe you buy a new mug, and you say, “Oh, I cannot wait to have my morning warm beverage of choice in this new mug.” Or you have Red Taylor's version, but like the hype songs, like message like “Message in a Bottle.” What did she put in that song? Literally, like it has me by my neck anyway. Anyway Have some music queued. Maybe maybe have like a fun citrus candle that you get to light to invigorate your senses.
Kimberly: We will have to do an episode solely to music artists and their impact. And I think we'll have to do with this.
Ali: Oh, I'm so down.
Kimberly: Okay, maybe winter quarter. We'll talk. Absolutely yeah. I want to say to waking up. I don't know if this is an effective technique, but I drink a lot of water the night before and I am forced to wake up if I have to pee.
Ali: Oh
Kimberly: And I cannot go back to bed because my bladder is like let me go. And then I am forced out of bed because...
Ali: I feel like I have like mastered the like half-awake pee and then the immediate diving back into bed.
Eleanor: Sometimes just sets me back like an hour or two. Yeah, I have to sleep for another hour.
Kimberly: That's fair. That's fair. I also just was like different 1520 alarms. Oh, yes. Yeah. And like a like a whole like, I don't know, measurements. Like 24 ounces or something like that.
Ali: That's yeah, that's good. That's good. That's good for your body. Uhh, I saw a TikTok as one does.
Kimberly: In this day and age. You know.
Ali: Speaking of things that have me by my neck that app, oh my god. But I say a TikTok about a thing that is intended for folks who are deaf or who are hard of hearing. It's like an alarm system, but it like shakes your bed. And I like--Did you see the same one?
Eleanor: I actually had one at one point. So I have I'm the worst at waking up. My roommate freshman and sophomore year could tell me that I would snooze for like two hours, I would have an alarm. I would like tap it and be dead asleep. And so some time in high school. I got like that really intense shaky alarm because I just literally could not get out of bed. And it sort of worked. It made me upset when I woke up. But I was I was awake.
Ali: Like early morning, early morning riser. Featuring aggression. Yes.
Eleanor: It does the job.
Ali: But yeah, so maybe I don't know. I also I'm like a chronic snoozer, and everyone in this room can attest, or at least the folks who work in the morning with me, I roll up into work, like, at minimum four minutes late every day, usually more like 14 to 18 minutes, which is not a flattering trait. However, it is something that I've just accepted at this point. So, Daniel... Dr. Daniel Shepherd, MD, not sure what your specialization is.
Kimberly: Let's say...
Eleanor: Sleep medicine.
Maddy: Yeah, sleep medicine, let’s go.
Ali: Well, that just feels like you are more qualified to answer this question than any of us.
Kimberly: Like why are you asking us? Like...
Ali: No judgment. No judgment.
Kimberly: Also this person is definitely anonymous and probably not a doctor.
Ali: Well, no,
Kimberly: No, but in our head.
Ali: You know, like, I'm sure that we have guessed the name and profession of this person. Exactly. Exactly accurate.
Kimberly: I Kimberly who put this all together. It can tell you who each of these individuals are.
Ali: Well don’t because that would be a breach of privacy.
Kimberly: I understand.
Ali: Okay, I am not interested. Anyway, Daniel, we love you, go to bed, and then wake up. Yeah. Says all.
Maddy: That's all there is to it.
Ali: That's all there is to it.
Maddy: You just go to sleep and wake up, and that’s it.
Kimberly: I think we have time for one more question?
Ali: One more One more with our dearest darlingist Kimberly Le. She has to go....
Kimberly: A class. Sorry.
Ali: She has to go to acquire more higher education, which is kind of messed up, but it's fine.
Kimberly: It is for my major. So unfortunately it is required.
Ali: A theater class. Love it. Um, I have a question from anonymous three. No, I have a question from anonymous six. Can I get a name from the crowd?
Kimberly: Maddy?
Maddy: Oh, boy, it's, um, Taylor Drift.
Kimberly: Why did I know that you were going to say that?
Ali: Taylor Drift. Hey, Taylor. What the frick is up? You are your questions are now being answered on the pod. I'm so excited. Uh, the question is... two questions best slash favorite places for coffee in Seattle. And then best slash favorite books that you've read or are reading right now? I feel like we should like we could rapid fire this.
Kimberly: Oh, man.
Ali: I say rapid fire and we all silent in silence.
Kimberly: Okay, I can say my favorite book right now is Blackstar. I wish I can remember the name. I know the last name is Roanhorse. I cannot remember the first name I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry, the author of this book. But it is my current favorite book right now is also the book that I'm reading. Because it is a sort of like sci-fi. Not, I don't want to say dystopian, but it kind of is dystopian, not in like, Hunger Games. Was that other movie?
Ali: Divergent?
Kimberly: Kind of, wait, it's not like that.
Ali: I have such strong opinions about this.
Kimberly: Maddy just gasped but I'm sensing there's a some sort of relationship with Divergent.
Maddy: I really liked Divergent. You know? Is it good? No. It's not. But it's fun.
Ali: But is it good?
Maddy: It's good in a bad way. Yes.
Ali: Yeah. But honestly, I would argue most good things are.
Maddy: Right. Right.
Kimberly: Anyway, that's my favorite book right now.
Ali: Anyway. Okay. What's it called? Black Star?
Kimberly: Black Star Black Star.
Ali: Great by unknown author.
Kimberly: Oh, wait, I'm so sorry. It's not Black Star, its called Black Sun.
Ali: Wow.
Kimberly: I'm so sorry.
Ali: You're just really just setting them up to succeed.
Kimberly: I haven’t read this book in like over a month because I've had not had time to read. I usually make myself time to read and I have not touched it. So I'm so sorry. besties. It is called Black Sun by author first name, Roanhorse.
Ali: Great. If you find it. Let us know. That first name is let us know.
Kimberly: I want to say it's like Rebecca, but I know that's not it.
Ali: All right. All right. Oh, cancel Kimberly. If they're wrong.
Kimberly: Yeah, maybe that's who I that's the person that gets canceled.
Ali: Mystery solved. Case closed. We’re done, thanks for a great season.
Kimberly: All right. All right. Other books or books or coffee?
Ali: Ok Maddy. Books or coffee? Same with Eleanor.
Maddy: You know, okay, as a kid, I never read Harry Potter.
Ali: [gasps]
Maddy: I know. It's shocking to I'm sure many. So what I'm doing now is reading it. So I bought the entire series and I'm reading it and it's it's really good.
Ali: What book are you on?
Maddy: I'm on Chamber of Secrets. I finished Sorcerer’s Stone.
Ali: I was going to say you haven't even gotten to the good ones yet. Yeah, the first two are objectively bad. They are so boring.
Eleanor: They are the worst out of the series.
Ali: We’re so sorry. You said you're enjoying.
Maddy: Well, I think they are good. I mean, obviously, like very famous book series, but yeah, good stuff. Yes.
Kimberly: To ally with Maddy. I've also never read the Harry Potter series.
Ali: What the heck.
Maddy: You know what you should. It's something that you should do. It's for all ages. It really is like it's really good.
Ali: They're really good. I mean, like, we don't stand she who must not be named.
Maddy: Yeah, we really don’t.
Eleanor: But like, it's not her series anymore.
Ali: Exactly. It's ours. And it's been ours for a very long time. Yep.
Kimberly: A woman.
Ali: What?
Kimberly: Like, amen, but a woman.
Ali: Oh, I hated that. But thank you.
Kimberly: Or a them if we want to be really.
Eleanor: Really make JK Rowling very upset.
Ali: Yes.
Kimberly: True. All right, Harry Potter, Black Sun. Eleanor.
Eleanor: So I'm going to give a two parter.
Kimberly: Oh my god.
Eleanor: What I just finished is a memoir poetry book called Jane by Maggie Nelson Roman Argonauts. It's about her aunt who was murdered.
Ali: Yeah.
Eleanor: And it's a true crime book about family trauma.
Ali: True crime, poetry, family trauma is me.
Eleanor: It was the best! I read it in one sitting it was like it was so good. I can't recommend it enough. And then off of the YA talk me and my girlfriend just finished rereading the whole Hunger Game series. And I want to say just how much that series holds up from when I was a child to now. It is more impactful now than it was when I was no way that I was not expecting. It made me cry several times in different places than when I was a child. And I can't recommend rereading it and going back to that place isn't so good.
Kimberly: I love that. I don't love like crying, but I love that it's touched you there.
Eleanor: It was incredible.
Ali: I here's the thing. I literally Okay, so my big project and maybe I'll like put a like picture of this on our social media. My project, probably like a month ago, was I got all of my books from both of my parents as houses, back home in Portland. And I brought them all to Seattle, and I have color coded my bookshelf. And I love it. I know that's like controversial on Book Tok about like, if it's like fine, organized by color, or whatever. And I have the first two I've like The Hunger Games that I have Catching Fire. I have no clue where my Mockingjay book went. So if anyone out there is listening, I lent you that circa 2014. Because that's highly likely that you're listening. Anyway, I want to back because I would love to reread.
Kimberly: Or if you have an extra copy of the Mockingjay?
Ali: No, I would like the original. Okay, I will accept nothing less.
Kimberly: Well, good luck with that.
Ali: Thank you really, yeah, I have a series suggestion that I blew through because I could not put them down. This is the first book and I'm pretty sure it's just like The Ember in the Ashes series or like An Ember in the Ashes series by Sabaa Tahir It is like some of the most beautiful well written like fantasy that I have written. Or no that I am not no, that I have read in a really, really long time. The character development is off the friggin charts like it is so engaging like I seriously could not put these down. I neglected many and assignment because I just like could not get my nose out of these. There's three books? Four books? I'm not totally sure. Either way, you'll be devastated that it's over. Or at least I was. Yeah, they are phenomenal.
Kimberly: I love that.
Ali: And also, Sabaa is like this incredible, like woman of color or like author and she's just like, Oh, my God, I was so she's coming out to new book. Anyway. That's all.
Kimberly: That's great. We will have all of these names listed in the episode description just in case you didn't catch it, and I will definitely have the author's name. Oh. For my book. Are there any coffee places that we like? I don't have a favorite one. I've seen a native here. You know, that's really unfortunate.
Ali: I have so I have too many. I just went to Aida’s Technical Books on 15.
Kimberly: That's a good one.
Ali: So cute. So cute. Also, a troll on 15th is objectively better than the one that's on pike. It's bigger. It's cuter. It's better. Alexandra's Macaroons is on 18th. It's by my house don't dox me. And it's really cute and fun. My friend Talia works there Kimberly knows Talia.
Kimberly: I was also going to say that my friend Talia works there as well.
Ali: Yeah, it's great. And Katie's Corner Cafe in the central district very close to my place. It's good. I don't know everything. Oh, Boona Boona that just opened.
Maddy: I was gonna say that.
Kimberly: I also think it's Boon Boona.
Ali: Oh Boon Boona.
Maddy: Yep, Boon Boona.
Ali: Okay, great. Sorry. I can't read.
Kimberly: No, that's okay. It's yeah, Boon Boona I was gonna say if I was to pick one that would probably be my favorite right now. Just because it's like, RIP Cherry Street Market but like, you know.
Ali: It's okay. I went on the first day with my ex there. I'm not sad that it's gone.
Kimberly: So anyway. What other coffee places do you guys have?
Eleanor: The only one that I've found around my apartment so far is Sugar Bakery. On Madison? And it's so good. Their baked goods are incredible. I got a Moroccan Fog the other day was like, green. It's like a London Fog like with Earl Grey except it has like green tea, green mint tea. And like cream and stuff like that. And it's so good. So good. So good.
Ali: I love Sugar Bakery. Also, the people there are so sweet. That was the first place that I like got a cup of coffee at the first time I ever came to Seattle. To tour Seattle U.
Kimberly: So sentimental. Yeah, I like it there a lot.
Maddy: I umm, Caffe Vita is also good. Why can I not remember the street that it's on?
Eleanor: Pike?
Maddy: Yes. The main one. The main one that's in the Capitol Hill.
Ali: It's on Pike.
Maddy: Yeah, yeah, sure. Yeah. So go there. It's good stuff. Good cold brew. Very strong. Very strong.
Ali: You will start to like see sounds like it. Yeah, yeah.
Kimberly: Yeah. I forgot to mention Claudia Brothers is a great one too. And if you're in West Seattle, go West Seattle. You can go to Uptown Espresso because the one on Delridge if you ever feel like crossing that if you ever feel like, you know, going over the bridge.
Ali: Does anyone?
Kimberly: Some people do.
Ali: Actually some people ie Kimberly, they're the only one
Kimberly: Anyway. If you are ever in West Seattle, I recommend Uptown Espresso on Delridge because they have fun little board games for you to play, and a great coffee.
Ali: Also Eltana does their crossword puzzle that's on the wall, which I love. And I just went to a new place on pike where Cupcake Royale used to be.
Maddy: Oh is that good?
Ali: It's so good. It's called Wonderland and they do mushroom coffee. So its like they use, like mushroom infused or some kind of mushroom situation, in coffee.
Kimberly: I love that!
Ali: It is supposed to improve your focus and all of this. Not hallucinogenic properties. Please know that. But it was so cute, and really good. I mean like I did pay seven dollars for a vanilla latte with oat milk because I am gay, but anyway I thought it was seven dollars well spent.
Kimberly: Yeah, I believe you. I bet it is.
Ali: They also have cute stickers. And I may or may not have gotten one.
Kimberly: Ummm, so I hope that answers your question Taylor Drift.
Ali: Ahhh Taylor, Taylor Drift.
Kimberly: That is possibly the best name you could have, because you can be like hahah not Taylor Swift, Taylor Drift.
Ali: Good one.
Kimberly: Not Taylor Swift.... Taylor Drift.
All: [laughter]
Ali: This is an audio medium, no one is going to see that move.
Kimberly: No one can see what I just did. Ummm unfortunately, this will be the marker for when I am gone, but please enjoy the rest of the wonderful questions that we have gotten from you and to hear the wonderful voices our three lovely podcasters. Also, Sabrina, if you are listening to this, we hope you get better.
Ali: Yeah Sabrina isn’t in the studio with us today, and we miss her. So we are sending you lots of love. Hoping that you feel better soon.
Kimberly: Alright, Kimberly out.
Ali, Maddy, Eleanor: Bye Kimberly!
Ali: Okay now that we unfortunately lost our dearest and sweet sweet Kimberly. Ummm I don’t know we are going to try to go fairly quickly through these few. We are going to leave you with just a couple answers to your questions. So does anybody want to kick off our next round.
Maddy: Sure I can go! Ummm do we want a fancy name.
Ali: Ummm yeah we do. How about... uh... Vincent Vending Machine.
Maddy: Vincent Vending Machine. [laughter]
Ali: I hope you all can hear the exasperated sighs from my cohosts whenever I say anything. Anyway, go ahead.
Maddy: Vincent Vending Machine says or asks, where have you always wanted to visit?
Eleanor: Oh, a travel...
Ali: A travel question.
Eleanor: Hmm, that’s a great question. I want to go to Thailand really bad.
Ali: Mm, it’s beautiful.
Eleanor: I’ve seen pictures, I’ve heard things, it’s been so long since I’ve traveled too. I just want to see everything.
Ali: Yeah I say, oh yeah it’s beautiful as if I’ve ever been there and I have not.
Eleanor: Seen pictures, it’s gorgeous
Ali: Photos are beautiful. Yeah. I like got a passport for the first time in 2019 and I went to Canada. So that’s the extent of my international voyages. I was, RIP, supposed to spend six months in Peru last year, but obviously Miss Covid did not allow that to happen so... Is it a cop out to say like everywhere is my answer?
Eleanor: Honestly, it’s the right one.
Maddy: That’s an answer.
Ali: Yeah, I’m going to spend two months after I graduate in June hiking El Camino de Santiago.
Eleanor: Ohh.
Ali: Which is... like a pilgrimage in Spain. So. That’s the only thing I have like a solid answer about.
Maddy: That’s really cool, my roommate did that in high school.
Ali: Oh my god I’m so excited.
Maddy: It seems really, really cool.
Ali: I’m really excited. It’s going to be so hard, but I’m honestly so excited and I’m really excited that I’m going alone. Like I have like I’m not going with anybody. I’m just going to go and see what happens.
Eleanor: Have you done long trips like that by yourself?
Ali: Nope. Nope.
Eleanor: Oh my goodness.
Ali: Here’s the thing [laughter], uh, preparing for things? Not my strong suit, I’ll be honest. So I'm just, like, we’ll figure it out. I’ve watched a lot of YouTube videos.
Eleanor: That’s all you need.
Ali: Right?
Eleanor: Yeah.
Maddy: You’ll be good, you’ll be good. You got it.
Ali: I’m not worried. Yeah. What about you Maddy? Where do you want to go?
Maddy: Honestly, I’d really like to go to Scotland or Ireland. I’ve been to England before, but I don’t know. I kinda just want to see Ireland, see what’s going on. Seems cool. Always wanted to go.
Ali: Can’t argue with that. Seems cool.
Eleanor: Well, hope that answers your question, Vincent.
Ali: Vincent Vending Machine. Yup. Hope that you’re having a great day.
Eleanor: Lots of travel.
Maddy: Lots of travel advice.
Ali: Yup. Umm, okay, our next question is like a series of questions so I’m going to try and answer these quickly. But... we need a name. For anonymous one.
Eleanor: Denise Dancinghall.
Ali: Denise Dancinghall. What a name. Alright, hey Denise! So, okay, we have a series of like six questions and I’m gonna rapid fire them really quickly. What’s the hardest thing about writing for you? What has been your biggest transition or learning moment from college? What do you do when you feel hopeless? Who are your favorite BIPOC artists—oh my gosh. Who are your favorite BIPOC authors and what do they write about? What’s a favorite poem by a BIPOC writer? And what has been your favorite reading, article, or essay that you’ve written or read this year? That’s a lot. I can’t promise that we’re going to answer all of them, but the things that have immediately risen to the surface for me are BIPOC authors that I like would really kill or die for. Toni Morrison is truly like the greatest literary giant to have ever walked the earth and that’s the hill I’d choose to die on every day. My favorite book is Beloved by her, just, I mean, hands down, my favorite book. I also love Song of Solomon and The Bluest Eye. All, I mean anything she ever wrote... go read her work. You will be a better person over it--because of it. Brit Bennet wrote the Vanishing Half, that was super popular like two summers ago maybe. Umm, that was a freakin’ amazing, it was so good, it was very like quick read that felt, like... I mean like, I still think about that book. So. Yeah. And then, Sabaa Tahir, I mentioned her earlier, Embers and the Ashes, phenomenal writer, she has a new book coming out soon. I don’t remember the title though. Umm and then Ocean Vuong, On Earth Briefly We’re Gorgeous, umm, on that, anything that Ocean writes or does ever, I am like so deeply affected by it. He, his writing is just astonishing. So On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous and Beloved are my two favs of all time. Umm, but yeah. Go check out those authors. Anybody else? Favs?
Maddy: Umm, sure. Umm, I was gonna, well the thing that’s really sticking out to me is one of the hardest things about writing. Because do I have many of papers to write. Yes. And have I started? No. Which is the hardest part. Starting. Umm, I don’t know, advice? Just set out maybe five minutes and start brainstorming. Umm, a topic, anything, get something down. Just do it. Oh my gosh. I was going to say for BIPOC authors, I recently read Little Fires Everywhere,
Ali: So good.
Maddy: Which was also turned into a miniseries. Haven’t watched it yet, so I can’t attest to that, but it’s very good. I recommend that. That's a good one. Umm... and oh gosh... favorite article or reading or essay from this year... Umm, school... Uhh...
Eleanor: I apologize, I have not retained a single article or essay from this year. Don’t listen to this part professors, but oh my goodness.
Maddy: I feel like I have not retained... well I am in this forensic psychology class which is very interesting, and I’ve retained some of that. So yeah, forensic psychology is cool if you’re ever into it.
Ali: Love it. I am like super... I would say like knee-deep, but at this point I am like up to my armpits in writing my honor’s thesis right now. And my research question is centered around what happens within white families when we try to talk to each other about race. Umm So I’ve been doing a lot of reading about like racial formation theories. Umm, and one of my favorite social scientists that is working right now is Eduardo Bonilla-Silva. Umm, he is incredible. He has published, I mean, a ton of work. But specifically, his, I can’t remember if it’s a chapter or if it was an essay or if it was an entire book. I think it might be an entire book, but it’s called Racism Without Racists. Umm, and it unpacks like the way colorblind racism operates. But he writes in a way where it’s very like narrative and story based. Which is like absolutely how I want to pursue doing research in the social sciences. Because like, he unpacks all of these really complex, like mechanisms that are happening as far as like, especially, white folk’s perceptions of like racialized relationships in their lives. Umm, in a way, that doesn’t feel like you’re reading a textbook. It’s like oh I’m learning about this person and this author is helping me understand what’s at play. Anyway, I could talk about it for hours.
Maddy: That sounds really interesting.
Ali: Yeah, he’s, he’s great. I really loved that... I also would agree that Starting is the hardest part of any writing process ever. Uhh, but, you have to do it. Which like, sucks.
Maddy: It just has to be done. You just gotta start. One way or another.
Eleanor: And if you don’t, you start to feel a little hopeless.
Ali: What a transition!
Eleanor: Into that next question, but...
Ali: Did you hear that Denise?
Eleanor: But umm, when it comes to that question. It’s packed in between a lot of like, academic questions.
Ali: I know.
Eleanor: I’m struggling to think ‘cause like, as someone who deals with depression, you feel hopeless kind of a lot.
Ali: Fat mood, baby.
Eleanor: And especially right now, I feel like everyone’s kind of in the dumps a little bit. So, I guess this kind of goes along with something we were talking about earlier with budgeting actually. Like, treating yourself in ways that you can and ways that feel good. Like, I don’t like the idea that there’s a prescribed thing you have to do to make yourself feel good, like it doesn’t have to look like... a bubble bath, or I don’t know, stuff like that. Where it’s like, that’s good stuff for some people, but anything, if it’s like a junk food snack that you really like. Eat that. It doesn’t matter. Just trying to find ways to like feel excited about your day helps me, I know. Especially when I’m struggling writing a paper at the beginning because I avoid that as long as possible.
Ali: Eleanor really just tied that up in a beautiful neat little bow.
Maddy: That was so good. [laughter]
Ali: Umm, yeah, I would say, like very similarly, yeah, again, another person who struggles with depression all year round but especially during this seasonal time we’re in. Yeah, like having things to look forward to. And also for me, having things to take care of. I know that for some folks, depression manifests in a way where like depressive feelings can kind of like paralyze you, so having anything to take care of other than your bare necessities is really overwhelming. So this might not work for you, but for me, I own over 50 houseplants. And that is like a really, that little collection of mine is, it’s like very important to me as far as keeping me okay. I have a routine and I know that I’m watering on Sunday and like, or like I’m checking in on them, seeing how they’re doing. And that, like helps feel like, it helps me feel like I have some kind of purpose.
Eleanor: Yes.
Ali: And something else is relying on me. So I have to like exist. And like, be a participant in the world.
Eleanor: Also, kind of allowing yourself to have days where you don’t want to do anything too. One bad day doesn’t make a bad week or a bad life in general. So it’s like allowing yourself to have days where you can like wallow a bit. Listen to that sad music and...
Ali: “Red Taylor’s Version.”
Eleanor: Listen to the “All Too Well 10 minute” and cry.
Ali: But don’t skip “Message in a Bottle,” because I feel like maybe, I feel like there’s just straight pure serotonin dopamine in that song.
Eleanor: And then it knocks you right back down with “Nothing New” featuring Phoebe Bridgers.
Ali: Phoebe mother freaking Bridgers. So good. Anything to add, Maddy?
Maddy: Yeah, I would add like, just don’t beat yourself up if there’s a day that you don’t want to do anything. Like we’ve all been there. I’ve been there. And it’s fine. You know? You, you just keep going on. Also, what I like to do is if I just tell myself, okay, I have like maybe some assignments. If I just do one super small one now, I’ll feel, you know, like I’ve accomplished something and then maybe I can stop for the day. Or keep going. But at least I’ve done something really small.
Eleanor: Checking one thing off a list helps a lot. Even if that’s all you do that day.
Maddy: For sure.
Ali: And also like, what you were saying Maddy like reminds me of, we are still in a pandemic. And I feel like especially this quarter, it’s felt like everybody has decided that suddenly like this massive global trauma just didn’t happen and that everything’s fine. But that couldn’t be farther from the truth. So it’s okay to let yourself still be, make space for still being deeply affected. Because like, there’s no way in less than three months we have all psychologically and emotionally recovered from almost 20 months of like deep, deep, deep uncertainty and insecurity. So, that is super real. And allow yourself to acknowledge that your body, and your heart, and your brain are in a different place than they normally would, so it might be easier to be sad right now and that’s okay because it’s not just you. [laughter] I promise. I’ll step off my soapbox right here but yeah, just be gentle with yourselves. Please. Alright. One last one? Is there like a fun silly one?
Eleanor: I was wondering about the anonymous person asking if we have any hidden talents or surprising hobbies. Could relate to things you picked up in the pandemic or could be before. What are some things?
Ali: Hidden talents or surprising hobbies. I’m like, this is also like asking me to evaluate how other people perceive me, which is always sticky.
Eleanor: What’s a talent that you’re proud of then at least. It doesn’t have to be hidden. If it’s a hidden thing, that’s chill, but...
Ali: I don’t know if I’ve talked about the fact that I’m a painter on this show. Yeah, I’m an artist. And I really love it. Once upon a time, I had an art Instagram that I have since deactivated because of my unhealthy relationship with social media to navigate that. But yeah, that’s something that’s really important to me. Who knows, I mean, I’ll be honest, there is a piece that’s been sitting on easel for months now that I have not gotten any more close to concluding. Uhh, because I don’t always make time for it. Anyway! That’s my hobby/talent/whatever.
Maddy: Oh boy, umm, recently, I, okay I do have a Nintendo Switch. And recently, I have been kind of getting back into it and I looked on the Nintendo store and I saw that Lego Harry Potter was like really discounted [gasps] So... I bought that and my roommate and I have been playing multiplayer for like a very long time and it’s just super fun. Honestly, is a Switch an investment? Yes. But is it so much fun? Yes. It’s just like your childhood memories with your DS, but it's a Switch.
Ali: I never had a DS, I was not like, I never had a DS. But the way that my little brother and I played through every single level of Lego Harry Potter on our Wii, like our OG Wii system. I’m pretty sure it’s still at my dad’s house, I don’t know if it works, but I love that game. Like I have such vivid memories...
Maddy: All of the Lego games are so good. Like Lego Star Wars.
Ali: Yeah, yeah, yeah, so good.
Maddy: So yeah, that’s a hobby.
Ali: That is a hobby! What about you, Eleanor?
Eleanor: I was trying to think too. Umm, something that I used to, used to be a hobby, I used to play the oboe. You guys know the oboe?
Ali: Yeah, that’s so impressive.
Eleanor: It’s like an instrument thing that I used to play. And I haven’t played in like a year or something. And I used to be okay.
Ali: How long did you play?
Eleanor: I played since sixth grade?
Ali: Like all through high school?
Eleanor: All through high school. Sixth grade through freshman year of college.
Ali: Wait, oh my gosh, so you were playing while you were here too?
Eleanor: Yeah, just barely, but, yeah it was fun. It’s I’d like to get back into again. So that’s...
Ali: I played an aggressively mediocre flute in middle school.
Eleanor: Flutes are the best people though.
Ali: Well, thanks, you heard it here first. Screw the trumpet section in every band every.
Eleanor: Umm, yes.
Ali: Just kidding, if you’re a trumpet player, peace and love, but I hope you’ve chilled out. [laughter]
Eleanor: And they probably haven’t.
Ali: And I always wanted to switch over to the oboe because like the key fingering is kind of the same.
Eleanor: It’s fun. Never too late.
Ali: I mean.
Maddy: It’s never too late.
Ali: I think I’ve lost all ability to read music, but anyway, maybe that’s some advice we can leave you with. Relearn how to read music if that’s something that would float your boat. Umm, I think that’s kind of it for us today. Thank you for sending us your questions, we feel, I don’t know, I feel extremely honored that anyone would want us to talk about anything on here. And thanks for a really great first season back. I know this is technically our fifth, but it feels like our first real season in person. And I've loved every second of it. Closing thoughts, anybody else?
Eleanor: I hope everyone has a nice break. Take some time off. Do something kind.
Ali: Read a book. I have like six books sitting on my nightstand and I’m so excited to do like literally not do anything but read.
Eleanor: It’s gonna be great.
Maddy: Yup, just have a relaxing break. Also, umm, eat good food during the holidays. That’s always super fun. And yeah, just have a good time.
Ali: Yeah, love that, that brings us to the close of another episode of... ready?
Everyone: Hoo- Hoo- Hoo's At The Writing Center.
Ali: Bye y'all!
[Outro music plays]