Linda tells me about a strange encounter at a dinner party, and I tell her about my even stranger dream.

If you want to listen to the Rich Roll episode, here it is:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jonathan-haidt-on-how-social-media-is-rewiring-childhood/id582272991?i=1000653186945

We will do ANYTHING except sit with ourselves in silence. But surely there are alternatives to meditation that can give us some peace?!

Read The Cut article here: https://www.thecut.com/2020/01/giving-up-meditating.html

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

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

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

The Brian Cox videos:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/b4sSw9MC-zY 
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/KSgNly0bSug

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

Here's the Ben Affleck video I talked about in the episode: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/LrJPTSCSNwI 

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

This is probably the most requested topic from listeners... and it's finally here!! There's a Thailand trip for EVERYONE in this episode. The spiritual seeker, the adventurer, the party gal... and more! I hope you love Thailand as much as I do x

Poo photo link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/iaaf4odpl75dctmg0dlpj/PHOTO-2023-12-07-10-44-16.jpg?rlkey=xjfhq1ce6ykc330nztiwxjlem&dl=0

The itineraries below...

The spiritual seeker:

• The Tri Bay @ Koh Phangan, which is made up of Haad Tien, Haad Yuan & Why Nam Beach
• The Sanctuary Thailand is the main resort on Haad Tien
• The quickest way to get there from Melbourne: Flight to Koh Samui via Singapore, then a boat to Koh Phangan
• The backpacker route: Flight to Bangkok, then fly to Surat Thani, then bus & boat to Koh Phangan 
• Once you're there, you can get a taxi to Haad Rin beach and take a long-tail boat to Haad Tien

The wellness reset:

• Koh Samui or Phuket 
• Mum's recco: Phuket Cleanse 
• My recco: Lamai Fitness 

The adventurer

• Fly from Bangkok to Chiang Mai (3 nights)
• Bus to Pai (2 nights)
• Bus to Chiang Rai (2 nights)
• Fly from Chiang Mai to Koh Samui (3-4 nights)
• Then boat to Koh Phangan (3-4 nights)
• Boat to Koh Tao (2 nights)
• You can travel over to the other side and do Phuket, Krabi and Phi Phi if you have time
• You can fly out of Phuket back to Australia 

The party gal:

• Koh Phangan: Srithanu, The Tri Bay or Haad Rin for the Full Moon Party

The backpacker route: 

• 2-3 month loop around Southeast Asia 
• Cambodia: Phnom Penh, Siam Reap, Kampot, Koh Rong islands
• Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi 
• Laos, then you can cross the border to Chiang Mai and make your way down south 

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

Today, Ruby and I discuss the article I Used To Be A Human Being by Andrew Sullivan. You can read the article here:
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2016/09/andrew-sullivan-my-distraction-sickness-and-yours.html

It's a CACOPHONY of ideas!

Other articles discussed:
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/stephaniemcneal/influencers-quitting-instagram
https://lynzyandco.com/why-i-am-leaving-instagram/