the matcha diaries

This episode we start off with a little life catch up, finally sharing Cara’s nightmare airbnb story… our favourite shows/movies and recent book reads!! 

After our usual rambleee we decide that it is the perfect time to have a little spring refresh session (aka we answer a few spring themed journalling prompts) 🤪 We discuss the following:

• Reflection and Intention Setting: What lessons did you learn over the winter that you want to carry with you into spring?

• New Beginnings: Reflect on the idea of spring as a time of renewal and fresh starts. What new beginnings are you hoping for in your life right now?

listen from 30:40 mins in if you want to skip the catch up and jump straight ahead to the burnout convo!!

this episode we start with a big OL life catch up - highs & lows (u already know the drill) and leo recaps her time in LA (the good, the bad & the ugly 🤪).

then we dive into burnout: what are the symptoms, our recent experiences with it & what we're trying to do to combat this grizzly feeling when it does arise...

felt vulnerable, might delete later 🤪

not our usual type of episode, and more just a voicenote from me (hey, leo here) to you. definitely a little more emotional/vulnerable than i've been for a HOT minute now on the interwebs, so defo was overthinking even posting this (in fact my boyfriend strongly discouraged me from doing so lol).. in the end i thought it might be good to give you guys a snippet of my overthinking, hormonal brain just to be totally honest of what sometimes is going on in there. if you're feeling similar atm, i'm here & let's chat!!

pov: you’re catching up with your bestieee on a FaceTime call

in this cosy life catch up.. grab a cup of coffee or tea and join us as we press record and just talk about everything that is on our mind (a little ramble as we call it) we recap the shows we’ve been watching recently. specifically we chat through love is blind and our thoughts on everything that has happened. cara shares how she felt after being alone for the first time in a long time. we share some recent life updates like moving apartments and also share a general update on how we are feeling and realisations of how its been moving countries & romanticising your life. we end the episode sharing a quote that resonated with leo

TW: This episode includes mentions of self-harm, sexual assault and suicide, as well as references to violence, so if any of these topics are even remotely triggering to you, definitely skip this ep & join us for one of our future ones

In our new 'researchy' series… we dig into a topic we want to know more about and share with you what we learn! and as the title says this is part two of our research into female RAGE. we discuss the actual expression of female rage in the creative industry (movies & past literature). We also question the expression of female “anger” and what that can actually look like. We dive specifically into Elena ferantte, her work and how it positions female rage as a disruptive force but also an empowering one. 

pour yourself a cup of scalding hot tea/red wine (really any beverage that makes you feel powerfully vengeful will do hehe) & join us in this discussion 🍷😤

TW: This episode includes mentions of self-harm, sexual assault and suicide, as well as references to violence, so if any of these topics are even remotely triggering to you, definitely skip this ep & join us for one of our future ones

this episode is the first in our 'researchy' series where we dig into a topic we want to know more about and share with you what we learn! and as the title says we dug into our female RAGE this week. we discuss the definition of the term, why it's become popular, mentions of female rage in the media and also some of the limitations the discourse on this topics have (i.e. lack of intersectionality and very binary way of viewing the world).

pour yourself a cup of scalding hot tea/red wine (really any beverage that makes you feel powerfully vengeful will do hehe) & join us in this discussion 🍷😤

in this quick episode, we have a quick catch up with you guys sharing how we are, our recent film/series favourites, and also go into a little ramble about how we have been feeling recently about online negativity.

happy valentine's day ❤️ in this episode we share some of your anonymous dating stories (some happy endings and others not so happy - but all the more juicyy). we also answer some of your advice questions regarding breakups, being ready to date & dating without experience.

we hope you feel special today (and every other day) whether you are spending it with friends, with your partner, or even with yourself. LOVE YOURSELF a little extra today heheeh.

in this episode we asked the wonderful author Rachel Greenlaw.. all the question we selfishly wanted to know about what it is like being an author (especially a fantasy & romantasy author) !! 

Rachel Greenlaw, the author of “One Christmas Morning” and the upcoming book “Compass and Blade” (which comes out on the 29th of February), dives into her journey as an author. She shares her writing process and inspirations, specifically when it comes to world building & the romantic arcs of her characters. Rachel also very honestly discusses what it is like getting feedback, criticism and also touches on the online spaces of ‘booktokers’. we absolutely loved talking to her and hope you enjoy getting an insight into her mind as much as we did

we just want to say SORRY IN ADVANCE for this whole episode bc we're not lying when we say this might be our most chaotic and unhinged episode yet. (and ngl we couldn't even muster up the courage to listen to it again all the way through, so best of luck to you listeners bc who knows what we say in this episode)

we do answer some fun advice q's in this ep, from how to deal with feeling low on your period, how to let go of someone you still have love for & many moreeee!!

In this episode, cara dives into the topic of struggling to make genuine connections:

1. self-discovery: she unpacks the challenges faced when leaving familiar surroundings and entering new social circles. the importance of staying true to oneself, even in the face of cultural differences and societal expectations.

2. instant connections vs. effortful relationships: the gut feeling of instant connections and the pondering of why some relationships require more effort. cara emphasises the value of getting to know people beyond first impressions.

3. quality over quantity: cara discusses the misconception of needing to connect with everyone and the significance of cherishing authentic connections. exploring the idea that different friendships serve different purposes.

4. friendship realities vs. social media fantasies: she addresses the influence of social media in shaping unrealistic expectations of friendships. recognising that true connections involve effort (highs&lows).

join our morning thoughts as we dive deep into our nuanced experiences on entering our mid-late twenties. After just turning 25 and 26, we unpack themes of internalised misogyny, beauty standards, existentialism, and the evolving perspectives on aging. in this episode we reflect on our awareness of internalised misogyny and discuss the representation of 'older' women in media. we share the complexities of growing up and all that comes with it.

EEPPP how is it already time for our first episode of 2024 and in our opinion its ICONIC.  2024… we feel excited, nervous, scared, and grateful for everything that is to come. join us as we continue with our tradition and take this time to set our intentions for the upcoming year…new habits we want to introduce, patterns we want to break and goals we want to achieve. We also discuss the ways in which we want to push ourselves out of our comfort zone this year!  If you would like to join us in this tradition here are the questions that we answer (it honestly is such a fun journaling exercise to do and one to look back on at the end of the year)  What is one overarching intention you would like to set for this coming year? (Potentially choose one word that reflects this - our ‘word of the year’) What are three ways you will push yourself out of your comfort zone in 2024? What do you want to do more of in 2024? What do you want to do less of in 2024? What are three things you want to accomplish in 2024 (can be small/big) Thanks again for all of you that have listened to us in 2023 and we are truly excited to continue to make content (that is hopefully better for all of you)

✨ skip to 01:08 to listen to all of your voice notes! ✨

if you've been following our podcast for a while (aka for more than a year), you already know the drill with our end of year episodes!!! every year (this is our third year doing this now ... wth!!), we answer the same journal prompts and, most importantly, ask YOU GUYS what's one thing you've learnt this year. listen out for some familiar voices & even a musical reflection on the year from one of you. thank you from the bottom of our hearts to each of you who have listened along to us this year, and especially to those of you who've submitted your own voice notes!

see below the journal prompts we answer:

• If the energy of your past year could be encapsulated by one word, what would that word be?
• What were your big wins this year?
• What were your small wins this year?
• What were your challenges this year? (and what did you learn from them?)
• What are 3 things you learnt?
• What do you want to leave behind from this past year?

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE !

we can't believe this is our final podmas episode EEP!!! In this q&a styled episode we answer some of your questions around:

• living in the moment and living intentionally
• how our friendship has changed now that we are long distance girlies
• our all time favourite book
• our advice on how to keep spirits up when feeling down during the christmas season

we honestly loved doing this podmas series and we hope you enjoyed it just as much

In this solo episode I share all the things I am going to try do to find balance and stillness in the winter/festive season. From setting boundaries and saying ‘NO’, digital detoxes, setting intentions & removing guilt. 

this episode we're joined by my friend isabella to talk all about being single in your twenties during the holiday season.. but also beyond! we chat about:

• how to not feel 'behind' about your dating experience
• learning to appreciate being single
• how to stop seeking male validation
• learning about romantic love from platonic love
• solo date ideas

this episode is for those of you who maybe haven't been as organised as you would have liked to be and still are SCRAMBLING for some last minute present ideas for christmas! we share sooo many gift ideas we have for this year, as well as our favourite gifts we've given & received.. 99.999% guarantee that there'll be something in this list which someone in your life will love hehe

and even if it should be too late for christmas this year, then these still apply for any gift giving occasions.

get to know what christmas is really like for cara&leo's family in this personal cosy podmas episode. We share some of the routines, traditions (some are way over the top), and our favourite memories!x

have you ever wondered how christmas traditions differed across the globe? in this episode we share some of the traditions that we found out (from book sharing in Iceland, KFC in Japan, to camels in Syria) we cover lots... we also share some insight into christmas origins, christmas markets, the origins of santa being red...and most importantly share YOUR christmas traditions!!

TW: we talk about disordered eating and ED's in this episode! if you think this might even be slightly triggering to you, please don't listen and just skip to one of our other podmas episodes

as we've talked about in some of our previous episodes, we both had our fair share of experiences with this topic (unfortunately!) - so upon listener request we thought this would be an important one to talk about. in this episode we dive into our own experience, current mindset, advice and food for thought (pardon the pun) for those of you who are going through this right now.

this podmas episode is a bit more of a serious topic but one we really enjoyed talking about! it can be way too easy to compare ourselves or feel like we're missing out on something at any point in the year... but the christmas season really intensifies it.

that's why in this ep we dive into our thoughts, personal experience over the years & some (hopefully semi helpful) advice

Have you ever taken a HORRIBLE photo of yourself and It ruins your day?? Been there.. done that…

In this episode we share a recent experience that cara had with a “bad” photo and all the thoughts that came up after that. We discuss why things like that should not matter and check in on how we are feeling overall with our confidence & self-esteem, and sharing some advice that we have learnt along the way.

you asked & we responded!! in this ep, i'm joined by my girlfriends to chat all about what's going on in YOUR lives & the love/friendship dilemmas that are taking up your brain space rn. amongst other things, we address:

• how to deal with income differences (aka how to date a broke man)
• how to know if you like someone, or just the idea of them
• how to meet people organically (not on dating apps)
• how to open up to people, especially if you've been hurt in the past
• how to know when to cut a friend out of your life
• dealing with home friendships/important events happening, after you've moved away

also, please excuse the 'bleeps', there were simply too many JUICY personal stories told in this episode. 🤫

In this week's episode we are so excited to share our experiences living with our current boyfriends (cara who has practically been living with her bf since the beginning, and Leo who shares her recent experiences after moving in for two months now!)

• what are the things that make it work?
• what are some challenges?
• how to know if you are ready to move in with your partner?
• what if it doesn't work?

in this episode we discuss it all and share some pieces of advice that we have learnt along the way

in this very thought provoking episode (at least we thought so!) we discuss the notion of 'the right path' and discuss the following...

-is there such thing as a right path?

-what are the things to look out for when questioning this? (values, morals, happiness)

-being complacent/comfortable even if things don't feel 'right'

-the instability of life means that 'paths' are always changing

we discuss the privilege of being able to make changes in your life to better yourself and those around you.. and why its important to be grateful for that

we end on a personal note and ask ourselves if we feel like we are where we should/want to be..

join us this november morning for a cosy chat about life lately, highs & lows anddddd a big ol` book chat! we talk current favourites, book club and our november tbr. let us know yours!! 🧸 (also pls excuse leo's dryer that is popping off in the first 2 mins - promise it goes away after that!!)

let's be honest... what do we actually know about our own cycles and periods?? for me the answer is, shockingly little which is why i was so excited to record this episode!!

this (VIDEO!!) episode we're joined by the amazing siera and clara co-founders of 'girl you need to know this', an amazing women's health community with the purpose of making women's health actually UNDERSTANDABLE and easily accessible (i know it's great right??).

we talk about our personal experiences with understanding our own bodies/periods/contraception, as well as answer (aka i ask, they answer) lots of your questions around:

• understanding hormones
• periods
• PMDD
• menopause
• contraception & what options are out there
• how to educate yourself & be respected when you're at a doctor's office

grab yourself a hot drink of your choice & hope you enjoy listening!! (p.s. as you'll be able to tell this episode was filmed back some months ago - when cara was still on podcast break, leo was still living in london etc. so don't be confused about the apparent jump back in time tehe)

if you want to check out GYNTK (which you absolutely should!) - here are their links:

In this weeks super cute and wholesome episode ( editing cara thinks so atleast ) leo's not so little brother joins the podcast to answering YOUR questions in a very throwback style siblings q&a way! leo and goya share what it was like growing up together, their experiences with comparison, handling conflict, and how their relationship has changed through the years.

leo then reflects on her highschool experience whilst goya shares how he feels about it in the midst of it all.

as promised in the episode, here are some time stamps:

11:45 minutes - sibling q&a

46 minutes - highschool q&a

In this weeks episode, join me (cara) as I have an 'unplanned' cosy introverted week where I share the things that I did to reset, unwind, and get ready for the autumn season. I also share my september favourites including books, series, movies and songs

I also chat through how I'm feeling with loneliness, social anxiety & pushing myself out of my comfort zone.

this weeks episode we are together in person IN JORDAN!! we spent our morning talking about how we’ve been feeling, a little catch up on what we’ve been up to & answering some of your questions including how we plan on maintaining our friendship long distance ❤️‍🩹

In this episode, I (cara) am back to share what i have been going through the past month x this episode was really hard for me to record and anxiety inducing but i knew i wanted to share with you what my life has been like the last month or so. thank you all for your patience and kind words and also a big thank you to leo for being the best co-host and best friend i could have asked for

new chapter is ... loading!!! in this episode i give you guys an update on a BIG life change to come and how I'm honestly feeling about it. i also talk more generally about starting a "new chapter" and the fears, anxieties but also potential and beauty that come with it. could be a new job, starting university, relationship status update, location change, or even an internal shift - you NAME it, it's all a new chapter and we're in this thing together. 💌

just a ramble on female friendships, and some of my thoughts on the topic 💌. PSA: skip to 13:40 mins if you want to dive straight in, because the beginning is a debrief on paris & a lil life catch up!

this episode we are throwing it back to the youtube days and diving into my all-time favourites - from books, tv shows, songs, podcasts, scents, time of day, season to memories, accomplishments and physical/psychological traits of myself, all of it is covered hehe.

this was such a fun episode to record & i hope you enjoy it and maybe get some new recs from it, or at least just get to know me a little bit better!

the girlies are here to give you their thoughts on YOUR romantic dilemmas, situationships and questions. this week i'm joined by my two amazing house mates and besties ale and vaish, and we give you our honest (and sometimes opposing) thoughts...

from unrequited love, a boyfriend pulling back, moving to a new city and dating there to religious differences keeping you apart...we cover it all. so, pour yourself a matcha and enjoy the episode!! 🍵

hi everyone! welcome to an episode about stress... i don't know about you guys, but for me this has been VERY present in my recent life and has started to have real physical effects on me. so it's time to debrief about it, tackle it and stop the cycle! with the help of you lovely people who contributed on our instagram, this episode talks about:

• how stress is currently impacting me
• what you guys think about stress and wanting to "have it all"
• stress management tips!!

remember that it's okay to eliminate certain stress inducing factors from your life, you're allowed to not do everything, all the time... !

(p.s. for those of you in want of some summer book recs, i also discuss my latest summer reads & summer reading list at the very beginning)

as mentioned in the episode, content might be a little different over the next coming weeks as cara is dealing with something in her personal life (which she'll talk about on the pod when she's ready

as promised we have an EXCITING guest on today’s episode… none other than marco (1/2 of the matcha boyfriends) himself. we chat all things (long distance) relationships and answer the following questions:

• how/when did we talk about who will move?
• what was our experience in the beginning of our relationship vs ou experience now?
• how have, and do, cultural differences affect our relationship?
• tips on long distance friendships & ld relationships

psa: we recorded this on my phone and noticed during editing that there was quite a bit of background noise…so sorry and hope you can still enjoy the listening experience!

some info on our wonderful sponsor ‘Be Wholesome’ below. 💖

• created by Bella, who drew from her real mental health experiences, Be Wholesome is a wellness-focused brand that offers eco-friendly and sustainably made products to help individuals feel better.
• her journal with daily prompts is designed to be non-triggering and genuinely supportive, made from recycled music sheet paper.
• 10% of profits are donated to Mind.
• as a brand proudly manufactured in the UK using sustainable sources, Be Wholesome perfectly aligns with our values!

pov: you are in the garden with us drinking smoothies and talking about summer, body confidence, bucket lists, hot girl summer, soft girl summer, and ways to get over someone

In this chatty episode we discuss:

• our recent experiences and honest struggles with body image. We share personal stories, thoughts, and feelings around this topic and try share some tips on how to embrace our bodies and have more confidence
• we tackle the tough topic of getting over someone, having crushes, flirting (all that juicy stuff hehe)
• we share our summer bucket lists. We'll explore the adventures, experiences, and memories you can create by making a list of things you've always wanted to do
• and of course, we can't forget about the popular trends of hot girl summer and soft girl summer. We'll discuss what they mean but also how to embrace your authentic self and have a summer that YOU truly want!

p.s we know the audio isn't great this episode (and we are SO sorry for that!!)

some info on our wonderful sponsor ‘Be Wholesome’ below. 💖

• created by Bella, who drew from her real mental health experiences, Be Wholesome is a wellness-focused brand that offers eco-friendly and sustainably made products to help individuals feel better.
• her journal with daily prompts is designed to be non-triggering and genuinely supportive, made from recycled music sheet paper.
• 10% of profits are donated to Mind.
• as a brand proudly manufactured in the UK using sustainable sources, Be Wholesome perfectly aligns with our values!

this episode goes deep and unfiltered about all things LDR’s!! i answer the following q’s you guys asked over on our instagram.

• was i entertaining anyone else besides marco, and if so, what made him stand out?
• how to deal with trust issues in a long-distance relationship?
• how to manage your insecurities in a long-distance relationship?
• do you have any regrets about entering a long distance relationship - what are some pros and cons?

psa: if you already know about marco & my meeting story and how we got together, feel free to skip from minutes 10:58-17:05 !

for my episode on failures that i refer to in this episode, u can listen to our episode called "do our failures define us".

some info on our wonderful sponsor ‘Be Wholesome’ below. 💖

• created by Bella, who drew from her real mental health experiences, Be Wholesome is a wellness-focused brand that offers eco-friendly and sustainably made products to help individuals feel better.
• her journal with daily prompts is designed to be non-triggering and genuinely supportive, made from recycled music sheet paper.
• 10% of profits are donated to Mind.
• as a brand proudly manufactured in the UK using sustainable sources, Be Wholesome perfectly aligns with our values!

why can making connections feel so HARD?

in this episode, we discuss the fear of missing out on meaningful connections (FOMO) in friendships, the challenges of making connections as we age, and the power of knowing your worth and embracing authenticity and how important it is for fostering meaningful connections with others.

we delve into the anxieties that can arise when we feel excluded or disconnected from our social circles, discussing how it can affect our perception of meaningful connections. Cara also shares some recent thoughts she's had on the difficulties of forging new relationships as we get older, addressing the possible reasons for it. we finally discuss the power of self-awareness, authenticity and knowing one's worth in building meaningful connections.

we are also so excited to introduce our sponsorship with Be Wholesome 💖

• created by Bella, who drew from her real mental health experiences, Be Wholesome is a wellness-focused brand that offers eco-friendly and sustainably made products to help individuals feel better.
• her journal with daily prompts is designed to be non-triggering and genuinely supportive, made from recycled music sheet paper.
• 10% of profits are donated to Mind.
• as a brand proudly manufactured in the UK using sustainable sources, Be Wholesome perfectly aligns with our values!