Keianna

Swapping out my constantly playing “background music” playlist for podcasts was the best decision I’ve made this week. The second-best decision I made was buying a box of sugar cookies, but that’s not what I wanted to talk about.

Recently, I’ve noticed a trend in my writing. It seems like every time I take a pencil to paper—or thumb to phone screen—I begin to write about how lonely I’ve been feeling. In an attempt to get some insight about when and why this started, I looked back into my journals, sketchbooks, and diaries from over the summer. I remembered how upset I was with the world that I lived in, so far from all my friends. I also found a list entitled “Things That Are Keeping Me Happy.” At the top of that list was Sophia Amoruso‘s Girl Boss podcast and not much was listed under it. It’s sad to say, but hearing people who don’t live in my house talk has been comforting. Not to mention all the really cool women who’ve come to my attention.

On Sunday night, I decided that having another podcast to listen to wouldn’t be a bad idea. It might even pull me out of my “writing roadblock.” With an extensive internet search and the help of some friends I came across Gaby Dunn’s Bad With Money. At first I was a little offended because hey! I’m not bad with money, am I? What do you mean I don’t NEED three umbrellas shaped like Disney characters? Yeah, OK. What’s that podcast again?

I strongly believe that Gaby Dunn is one of the only people who can talk about money without making it awkward. She’s extremely funny and completely honest and open. She starts a lot of her podcasts with recordings of her phone calls with the bank. That’s unheard of in mainstream media. I’ve never heard about a lot of stuff that she discusses, and that’s prompted me to take control of my financial future. I wish they taught stuff like this in school, but since they don’t I’m very grateful that Gaby is letting me learn from her mistakes. ♦