Riding into the unknown
By Mónica and Cristina Espinosa
Riding into the unknownApr 27, 2022
61. Reviewing the 'Riding into the unknown' podcast so far
60. How you can find yourself through solo travel with Caitlin Reid
Hey Everyone!
I hope you all had a good Easter break and are excited for today's episode! Caitlin Reid joins us this week to talk about her experiences travelling around the world- she's absolutely fascinating and a great inspiration to all of us. She shares with us her spontaneous trips, spiritual adventures and crazy experiences around the world. Caitlin fell in love with travel at an early age and later discovered her love for solo travel and the growth that came with it.
59. The 4 pillars of personal finance
58. Appreciating life and overcoming obstacles with Carolina Hidalgo
In this week's episode, Carolina Hidalgo joins us to talk about her journey in becoming braver, appreciating life's small precious moments & the importance of feeling a sense of community to overcome life's most challenging obstacles.
57. Steps to Healthy Living- Food, Fitness and Mindset
Keys steps to leading a more healthy lifestyle.
56. Year abroad and learning to love your own company with Nora Benhach
In today’s podcast, we’ll be talking about her experience living in Sweden, how to learn to be comfortable with your own company and a bit more into her career and university life.
55. Why Cultural Diversity Matters & How To Become More Culturally Aware
Welcome back!
54. A journey to Google with Stephanie Anani
53. Catch-Ups & Solving Hypothetical Dilemmas
Hi dear listeners! On this episode, we have a catch up as we review the past month of February. And answer some "Would you rather..?" questions!
52. The reality of social media, societal pressures and modern dating with Engil John
In today’s podcast, we welcome Engil John, Monica’s best friend. Engil is an engineering student at the University of Glasgow and is currently working in a leading banking firm and alongside this she manages her own business.
In today's podcast we discuss: Social media toxicity, Societal pressures, Modern dating struggles
In today's episode, we discuss the good, the bad and the evolution of social media platforms. What do we use social media for nowadays? Does it still have the same intent that it used to? Are we on Instagram to keep in contact with our friends or are being sucked in by the algorithm to scroll and scroll through a marketplace of latest trends?
We dive into the reality of Instagram and how misleading social media can be. The flashy IG posts, the highlight reels and the curated feed- they are not an accurate representation of people's lives and we seem to forget that when we open up the app and scroll and scroll. This can even lead us into fooling ourselves by looking at our own picture perfect IGs, we cannot compare our mundane daily lives to those pictures on IG. This has led us into detrimental comparison with ourselves and others, into thinking we need to be more fun, more outgoing, more active, more put together, travel more but those 'boring' days where we simply don't do anything out of the ordinary ARE part of our life and they're meant to be there.
Following on from the topic on social media toxicity we discuss the ongoing societal pressures we face and the struggles of modern dating.
Modern dating can be complicated- are you looking for fun, experience or a committed lifetime partner? In today's society, we have more options than ever, back in the day people from the same town would get together, get married and build a future together. Nowadays, we have dating apps, we can date someone from another city, another country or even another continent. It can be overwhelming with the amount of options we have, so have we increased our pool for potential candidates or are we becoming dissatisfied with not choosing the right 'one'? We dive into modern dating struggles, our thoughts and our solutions. We discuss the importance of knowing oneself, one's values and core principles as the first step to finding a potential compatible partner. Stay tuned to learn more!
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Facebook: @ridingintotheunknown
YouTube: Riding into the Unknown podcast
Email us:
ridingintotheunknown@gmail.com
51. How learning a new language widens your horizons- advantages, cognitive effects & tips
Hey everyone, welcome to episode 51! We've officially passed the 50 episode mark, whoop!
In today's episode we discuss everything about language learning from:
- Our own experiences and how we learnt multiple languages
- The advantages of being multilingual
- The cognitive effects that bilingualism has on our brain
- Why do we learn a new language?
- Effective language learning tips
We want to share a quote that stuck with us: 'If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.' - Language is a tool that allows you to create a deeper connection with individuals from different parts of the world.
50. Family with Tom Butt
Today’s podcast is super wholesome, Tom Butt takes us on a journey through his childhood and explains to us how his parent’s careers, as police officers, played a big role in him growing up.
We discuss the importance of family relationships, parenting styles and dynamics and how they can all shape our adulthood.
Tom is a cycling enthusiast and has cycled across Europe and the UK. This year he is taking on a new challenge, cycling the North Coast 500, NC500.
49. Reevaluating your priorities
It's the start of a New Year, for many it's a time where we set New Years resolutions and come up with new goals and for others it's a time where we keep the same habits and nothing major changes.
In today's episode, we will be discussing the latter, why you don't necessarily need to be a 'new version of you' or change the way you are just because it's January. New Years Resolutions are amazing because they are almost like a fresh start, a new beginning and a time for transformation. However, according to a study done by the University of Scranton only 8% of people achieve their New Years resolutions (because they're often unrealistic) and you are basically telling yourself to be a completely different person because it's a New Year and not because you've set to achieve this goal for years. Goals take time, they take consistency, they take determination, you can start them in January but you shouldn't give up by the end of the month. If you're setting yourself a new goal it shouldn't be because 'it's January and I'm supposed to' it should be because you want to grow and step up and move forward (if you really want to keep at it).
This episode isn’t about setting new year resolutions or changing the way we are. We will be examining the ways in which we can improve and continue with our previous habits or goals that we’ve set ourselves.
Today we discuss:
Boundary and priority setting, and recognising our ‘negotiables’ and ‘non-negotiables’
If you quit you’ll never reach your goal but you can’t reach a goal without consistency.
Purpose and meaning are core if you want to persist with something for a very long time.
Motivation is temporary. Purpose is ongoing.
Our socials:
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If you enjoy our podcasts, share them with your friends and tag us at #Ridingintotheunknown
48. A recollection of 2021 memories + lessons learned
Hi lovely listeners! This week, we review our past year as we scroll through our camera roll. We highlight our most precious memories, our biggest challenges, as well as our most valuable lessons.
We take you on our 2021 journey with us from experimenting with new recipes and our early days with running in January, month by month we share some of our best and happy moments and our biggest struggles and challenges. Tune in to hear more about key moments, fun anecdotes and special stories!
Share with us how your year has been by tagging us on Instagram at @ridingintotheunknown and using #Ridingoutof2021
Our socials:
Instagram: @ridingintotheunknown
Facebook: Riding Into the Unknown
YouTube: Riding Into the Unknown
47. How to plan a trip + travelling together
How to plan a trip 101
46. Book review: Alonement by Francesca Specter
Reviewing the book: "Alonement: How to be Alone and Absolutely Own it" by Francesca Specter.
As always, feel free to email us at ridingintotheunknown@gmail.com with any questions or feedback.
Follow us on our socials!
Instagram: @ridingintotheunknown
Facebook: @ridingintotheunknown
YouTube: Riding into the unknown podcast
45. COP26- a greenwashing strategy or a time for change?
COP26 has been a huge event at the centre of the world's attention and proudly hosted in Glasgow. It has brought together thousands of global leaders, change makers, activists and volunteers- however has this been another excuse for greenwashing or has it allowed for meaningful change to take place?
In this episode we talk all things climate change, COP26, what it means for Glasgow and for humanity as a whole. What do we deem to be a successful conference and what objectives do we aim to achieve? We briefly touch on the climate agenda during COP26 and what agreements have been made in the final negotiations.
We discuss Monica's involvement with schools during COP and what she planned ahead of the conference. Education is a core part of moving forward and making sure that we as a collective are well informed of the issues that affect our society and planet, this is why having a positive influence on the younger generations is crucial. By changing our actions we can change the behaviours of others, how we decide to live will impact those around us.
So, is climate change an issue we can tackle at a personal level or can it only be tackled at a governmental level?
Leave us your thoughts over on Instagram or send us an email with any further discussions you'd like to open up.
Follow our socials:
Instagram- @ridingintotheunknown
Facebook- Riding Into the Unknown
Email- ridingintotheunknown@gmail.com
Useful resources:
BBC- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-56901261
GOV.UK- https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cop-26-ends-with-global-agreement-to-speed-up-action-on-climate-change
WWF for schools- https://www.wwf.org.uk/get-involved/schools/resources/climate-change-resources
WWF- https://www.wwf.org.uk/what-we-do/climate-change-and-energy
Seat at the table, Jack Harries' documentary trailer- https://youtu.be/fbB1gycugks
One Young World- https://www.oneyoungworld.com/our-planet
G7 Summit- https://www.g7uk.org/
44. Overcoming a Faith Crisis: Finding Oneself & Being on a Journey of Self-Discovery w/ Irene Kibuika.
Hello dear listeners!
On the podcast today, we are joined by Irene Kibuika, Cristina's friend from work. Monica is feeling unwell - we wish her a speedy recovery! - so Irene kindly agreed to be a guest for episode 44. Rather spontaneously!
Delivering a very powerful and inspiring message following her journey of self-discovery, Irene shares the story of her relationship with her religion. The faith crises she endured, and the struggles with identity that stemmed from them. She brings awareness to mental health illnesses and her fight to regain control of her life by embracing the unknown.
Book recommended: "Untamed" by Glennon Doyle.
Follow us:
Instagram: @ridingintotheunknown
Facebook: @ridingintotheunknown
YouTube: Riding into the Unknown podcast
Email us:
ridingintotheunknown@gmail.com
43. What can personality types tell us about ourselves?
42. Book review: Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall
For our Book Club this month, we read (or attempted to read) "Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Tell You Everything You Need To Know About Global Politics" by Tim Marshall. A book about geopolitics that aims to understand how countries differ in progress, co-operation and political behaviour due to their geographical location. The book is sub-divided into 10 different chapters each looking at past, present and future of 10 distinct regions.
We have a mystery guest in today's episode, so listen in to find out who joins us today!
As always, feel free to email us at ridingintotheunknown@gmail.com with any questions or feedback.
Follow us on our socials!
Instagram: @ridingintotheunknown
Facebook: @ridingintotheunknown
YouTube: Riding into the unknown podcast
41. Balancing a 9-5 job and staying out of 'auto-pilot' mode
Join us today, where we discuss how to stop being on “auto-pilot” and be more aware and intentional to what you say “yes” to. We focus on prioritisation, helping you choose what should come first in your to-do list.
“Auto-pilot” can happen if you’re filling unfilled at work, and just going through the motions of life. This is why we also touch on how to balance a 9-5 job and what you can do outside of work to maintain a good life/work balance.
It’s hard to juggle all things at once. You’re tired after work and all you want to do is watch netflix. That’s why having activities that you go to (sports, meditation, journalling, catch up with friends etc) on a weekly basis can help you get out of the rut of work-sleep-eat-repeat. It also gives you time off your screen and evaluate what you’re doing on your day to day basis.
The article we referenced on “auto-pilot” is here: stephsocial.com/2020/01/26/mindfulness-activities-to-love-your-life-again/
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Instagram: @ridingintotheunknown
Email: ridingintotheunknown@gmail.com
40. How to turn grit into a life long habit
Welcome back for our 40th episode! By reaching this little milestone, we wanted to talk about the importance of consistency in achieving our goals. We discuss the grit and resilience and how these two attributes go hand in hand in paving the road to success.
39. Book Club- The Defining Decade by Meg Jay
This book talks about how you can navigate your twenties diving into work, love and the body and brain. It’s a book for everyone, whether you’re in your twenties or more ahead in life we think you can take some valuable lessons in these chapters.
Whether you’re confused about your career, overwhelmed by choices or lack of, lost in the dating world, or anxious about the future, Meg Jay has something for you.
We hope you enjoy our discussions and let us know what books you want us to include in our book club.
Join our book club by following us on:
Instagram- @ridingintotheunknown
Facebook- Riding Into the Unknown
To find out more.
38. Can we control our brain?- we have a habitus, the power of introspection and healing traumas
Hey everyone,
Today we're getting real, deep and introspective talking about the importance of acknowledging your thoughts. Thoughts are complicated, oftentimes they can make us feel happy, sad, stressed, confused and the list goes on. How about if we just sat with our thoughts without judgement and observed them from a third person perspective? Through observing our own thoughts we become more introspective and gain a better understanding of our recurring thought patterns.
Through this process, we slowly peel the layers that are deep within us like unhealed traumas from the past. We can approach these uncured wounds by asking ourselves 'what happened to me?' as opposed to 'why did this happen to me?'. The book 'What happened to you? Conversations on trauma, resilience and healing by Bruce D. Perry and Oprah Winfrey goes into more depth about this topic.
Let's talk habitus. Most of us live in a bubble, and sometimes it's important to pop it and see what's out there. We as a human species love comfort and that's completely normal. How many times do we actively seek to be in uncomfortable situations? We like to be surrounded by people who look like us or who are similar to us in their social class, religion, ethnicity or background because it provides comfort. This is very good for our wellbeing so we can feel as part of a group but it also doesn't challenge us to learn about those who are different to us. This means that the way we experience life, how we act, dress, speak, think, feel, will be influenced by our habitus and will guide our lives.
More from us on:
Instagram: @ridingintotheunknown
Facebook: @ridingintotheunknown
YouTube: Riding into the unknown podcast
37. The fashion industry + greenwashing + current trends
Hey everyone,
Today we are talking about the fashion industry and how we can become more conscious about our buying decisions. We offer some tips and advice on ways that you can reduce, reuse and recycle your clothing.
We also discuss how fashion trends have changed over the years and our thoughts on them.
'Fashion doesn't have to be boring you can re-style, and if you can, invest in quality items that are going to last for a longer period of time- rather than cheaper trendier clothes that will go out of style in a season.'
Apps mentioned:
Good on you- https://goodonyou.eco/
Depop, eBay, Vinted, Facebook marketplace
More from us on:
Istagram: @ridingintotheunknown
Facebook: @ridingintotheunknown
YouTube: Riding into the unknown podcast
36. Big life update- quitting our job, leaving uni + the labour market
In this episode, Ep. 36, we share major life-altering plans, as we both venture into new jobs, diverting from our original career plans.
We cover not being afraid to change course, the expectations associated with doing something out of the ordinary, building confidence as a new start and the current job market.
We also have a very special announcement at the end of this week’s episode so make sure to listen until the end to find out!! 😍
35. Mid-year reviews, reflections + Q&A
34. Doing a PhD, discussing racial issues + long distance relationships w/Diana Githwe
In today’s episode we are joined by the amazing Diana Githwe. Diana is Cristina’s friend from university and is now a PhD candidate at the Newcastle University. As well as pursuing her doctorate in the field of microbiology, she has a blog called “An Abundance of Melanin.” Her blog focuses on social issues, science, lifestyle, travel and so much more. She joins us on the podcast to talk about her experience moving away from home to a new city, her field of research, being a black woman in STEM, racial issues and her long distance relationship.
Diana’s favourite podcasts:
- To my sisters
- Black gals living
- Receipts podcast
You can contact/find us here:
Instagram: @ridingintotheunknown
Facebook: @ridingintotheunknown
YouTube: Riding into the unknown podcast
Email: ridingintotheunknown@gmail.com
33. Does your degree matter?- Exam result stress, pressures to perform & facing rejection
Today we're getting real, discussing Monica's thoughts on her third year results and her internship rejections. I'm sure many of you will be able to relate to the stress surrounding results day and the external pressure we get to well perform. It can be hard to deal with comparison when we see post after post on LinkedIn of people graduating with a First Class degree and we look down at our computer to realise that we didn't get the grades we needed to get into our dream job. If you have achieved the grades you wanted, we would like to massively congratulate you! And if you haven't then don't panic because life goes on and we hope that by listening to this episode we can bring you some comfort and hope for the future!
Huge congratulations to everyone who has graduated University for all of their hard work and perseverance!!
Get in touch here:
Instagram: @ridingintotheunknown
Facebook: Riding Into the Unknown
Email: @ridingintotheunknown
32. Post-graduation experience, creative release & reverse culture shock w/ Aisha Alzidi
Today, we welcome Aisha Alzidi to the podcast! One of Cristina’s best friends from university, Aisha joins the ‘Riding into the unknown’ hosts to chat about what she’s been up to since graduating with a Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering. She shares her experience as an intern in the Middle East Desalination Research Center. Through her accounts, we learn the importance of perseverance and how endless opportunities can be after university.
In addition, Aisha talks about her newly found creative outlet and how she worked as a trainee at Makers Oman. She also discusses how she had to adapt her mindset when returning back home to Oman after having studied at the University of Strathclyde in the UK.
Instagram: @ridingintotheunknown
YouTube: Riding into the unknown podcast
Email: ridingintotheunknown@gmail.com
31. Women empowerment: Feminism, women in media, modesty & body politics.
In today's podcast we sit to discuss:
• Growing up and our view on feminism
• Equality vs fairness
• Gender equality
• Female media representation- our favourite tv shows, films, Disney movies
• Today's media influence on beauty standards
• The male gaze
• Women's Fashion
• Female vs male attributes
More from us on:
Instagram: @ridingintotheunknown
Facebook: @ridingintotheunknown
YouTube: Riding into the unknown podcast
Email: ridingintotheunknown@gmail.com
Bibliography:
asia.nikkei.com/NAR/Articles/The-complex-culture-and-history-behind-K-beauty
ebonythekoreanteacher.blogspot.com/2010/04/korean-must-save-face-chae-myeon.html
thevarsity.ca/2017/03/05/for-many-south-koreans-beauty-standards-represent-a-cultural-struggle/
30. University life: work-life balance, living at home vs on campus, promoting STEM & internship experience w/ Stuthi Hegde
Hello dear listeners!
Welcome back to another episode of 'Riding Into the Unknown.' We are joined today by Stuthi Hegde, a computer science student at the University of St Andrews, a STEM ambassador, an Amazon intern and Monica's best friend. In this episode, we dive into Stuthi's university experience and how the pandemic has affected her. We offer tips on how to maintain a balanced life whilst at university and how working for hours on end does not equal effective studying. Stay tuned until the end to hear about Stuthi's adorable lockdown surprise!
Follow Future Me on socials:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/for.futureme/
Twitter: twitter.com/forfuture_me
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/for-futureme/
Website: www.forfutureme.com/
29. Life after formal education: purpose & direction w/ Jack Mahoney & Kieran Martin
Welcome to Season 3 of 'Riding into the unknown'! In this episode, Cristina is joined by her housemates: Jack Mahoney and Kieran Martin. The three of them discuss what it has been like to have finished university, starting out in the world of work as young professionals and their thoughts around self-learning post-university. They delve into topics such as experiencing quarter life crises and the importance of life-long learning.
Follow Jack's podcast 'What Is Going On?' here: https://open.spotify.com/show/3dI37CYTMCdE4HVle4W7y0
As always, email us on ridingintotheunknown@gmail.com with any questions or feedback. You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram under @ridingintotheunknown.
28. Let’s talk finance: Investing, trading & saving w/ Scherzo Naiborhu
For the last episode of the season we have a special guest, Scherzo Wahid Naiborhu, a University of Glasgow alumn and financial adviser for a sustainable and renewable company that focuses on infrastructure projects.
We dive into topics surrounding investing for beginners, offer financial advice and give tips on where you can start.
We discuss:
-When is the best time to start investing?
-Where can you begin investing?
-The hype around GameStop
-Timing the market and is it possible?
-Scherzo's personal journey into finance
Book recommendations:
-Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham
-Game Theory by E. N. Barron
-Swimming with sharks by Joris Luyendijk
27. Life-long learning, memorisation & work and play are not opposites
In this episode we discuss ways in which the information that you consume on a daily basis can be stored long-term. We talk about why building a second brain is really important to your life long learning. Additionally, we offer advice on how to let information actually sink in as well as discuss different learning techniques such as active recall and spaced repetition. We also touch on the fact that work and play are not two opposite things but rather that play and depression are the opposite as expressed by Naval Ravikant. We often hear the words 'Work Hard to Play Hard' which assumes that you can't be doing both at the same time. It's important for us to define what work means to us and where it is within that spectrum.
Check out Ali Abdaal's video: youtu.be/OP3dA2GcAh8
Check out Elizabeth Filips' video: youtu.be/4bxpsvcW2mc and youtu.be/96pSnIo4nDg
26. Being an expat kid and starting a podcast with Jack Mahoney
25. Why are we scared? - how do we overcome fear & live more freely
Today we discuss FEAR. Why are we scared? How can we overcome our fears? Are our fears rational or irrational?
We discuss common fears that people have and where these might stem from. We also share a story of what it is like to live without fear and if this as good as you might think? There are many things that we're scared of: fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of abandonment, fear of loss of freedom, fear of uncertainty and the list goes on. So how do we overcome these fears? Listen to the full episode to find out how ;)
We hope you really enjoyed this lengthy episode talking about our own experiences with fear and what we can learn from them.
24. Online university, launching a side business & cohabitation with Andrea Carolina Davila
In today's episode, we introduce you to Andrea Carolina Davila! A third year civil engineering student, with a passion for the environment and sustainable fashion. Andrea has launched her first brand, pure swim, a swimwear brand that recycles nylon from the sea and uses it to create gorgeous timeless pieces that anyone can wear. We discuss the struggles, highs and lows of our degree and what it's been like for Andrea doing online exams from Panama at 4am. Moreover, we dive into the lessons that Andrea has learnt being in a long distance relationship to living with her boyfriend for 6 months during lockdown. Fortunately, this year has brought them so much closer together and it's been wonderful for them both! Andrea takes us on her island hopping journey through San Andres and tells us about her next stops on her wish list.
Andrea's Instagram: @andrecarodav
Brand Instagram: @pu.reswim
Website: Pureswimwear.shop
Other resources mentioned:
Swap Family Facebook Group
Too Good To Go
Good on You
23. Friendships- without social media, long distance & in the digital age.
22. Where is the future of Engineering headed?- sustainability & ethics with Matthew Tallents
21. Internships- interviews, applications and unpaid experience
20. Cultural shifts, spirituality & religion with Diba Bazargani
19. Putting your work out there, overcoming crippling perfectionism & how to get started
In this episode, Cristina and Mónica talk about some of the reasons why it may be difficult to get started in a new project and what holds us back. They share their experiences dealing with perfectionism. And offer advice on how to begin putting your work out there to create the content that is true to you. If you want to get in touch or join our community group, send us a message at: @ridingintotheunknown@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram: @ridingintotheunknown
18. Finding your passion, following your intuition & the world of chess with Diana Mirza
17. Are we living to work or working to live?- Stillness, boredom & hustle culture
Follow us on instagram: @ridingintotheunknown
If you want to get in touch or join our community group, send us a message at: @ridingintotheunknown@gmail.com
16. Pushing outside of your boundaries and growing up with Omar Mshihadani
Follow us on instagram: @ridingintotheunknown
If you want to get in touch or join our community group, send us a message at: @ridingintotheunknown@gmail.com
15. New Year's Resolutions & Past Year Reviews
We’re excited to return to our weekly podcasting sessions by bringing you a fresh new season this 2021. In episode 15, we talk about New Year resolutions and end-of-year reviews. We reflect on the lessons learned in 2020 and what we’re taking forward into 2021.
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook at @ridingintotheunknown to hear the podcast’s latest news. You can also email us at ridingintotheunknown@gmail.con with any questions!
14. Identity, racism and not fitting in with Joanna Korhonen
13. Coping with stress, exams & surviving lockdown
12. Building and maintaining healthier relationships
In this episode, we talk about the importance of being there for one another while respecting each other’s space, recognising when and how to offer help. All while considering that we’re not overstepping existing boundaries. We also discuss topics such as “victim mentality” and “people pleasing” so if this is something you’d want to learn more about, go give this episode a listen!
Instagram: @ridingintotheunknown