This week we’re discussing the importance of “picking your hard” and reminding yourself that you often have more choice than you realis. Often decisions are classed as either easy or hard, and we know picking the hard thing is often not all that appealing. But as with so many things, the reality is far les binary; instead even the easiest of things can end up leading to hard decisions down the line. So how do we pick our hard? How do we remind ourselves that whether it’s big decision or just an everyday reaction, we have the opportunity to make a choice and pick which hard thing you’re going to do.

The summer reading list (and so much more) can be found here https://growthinprogresspodcast.substack.com/

Recommendations

Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors

Untammed on Netflix

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

In an era where boundaries are part of everyday conversation and something we are all trying to prioritise, we’re more comfortable than ever setting and maintaining our own boundaries. But part of life is doing things you don’t always want to do, it’s about showing up for the peope around you, so when boundaries are so important how do we actually balance that with staying accountable to ourselves and others? Are we really setting boundaries, or are we just avoiding something?

For more content, including bonus episodes, become a paid member of our substack right here.

Recommendations:

Back In Action on Netflix

Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson

Mel Robbins: Why adult friendship is so hard

Tamara Darden’s Substack Char mentioned

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

We as millenials grew up in an era of hustle culture and we absorbed so much of the girlboss culture but it’s led to our jobs being part of our identity and tying our worth to our job success. We know it’s not a healthy mindset, but how do we go about breaking up with our job and identifying ourselves outside of that when our job makes up so much of our life?

For more content, including bonus episodes, become a paid member of our substack right here.

Recommendations:

Working Hard podcast with Grace Beverley: Fearne Cotton – Why You’re Tying Your Self Worth to your Job and How to Stop It

Trainwreck: The Cult of American Apparel

Also mentioned:

The Rest is Entertainment AI conversation: Mushroom Murders episode

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

We’re chatting books to read this summer (why are there so many meanings for the word canon?) and we’re chatting about one of our favourite things: Nuance. Things in life are rarely black and white, many things in life exist in the grey area but have we lost the ability to involve or consider nuance? And why do we feel the need to caveat EVERYTHING.

For more content, including bonus episodes, become a paid member of our substack right here.

Recommendations:

After You’d Gone by Maggie O’Farrell

Happiness Falls by Angie Kim

Also mentioned:

Munroe Bergdorf’s Loose Women Interview

No Cancellations at the box office – Shameless podcast (Brad Pitt conversation)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

We are back this week with a conversation about the impact of digital burnout, how we’re all affected by it, the overwhelm of the sheer volume of what is online and what is our responsibility when it comes to showing up online – we’re all online, how do we work with it rather than against it?

We’ve also got some rogue conversations about bedbugs, pickles and the kid’s table at family gatherings.

For more content, including bonus episodes, become a paid member of our substack right here.

Recommendations:

I’m Not Ready for a Baby – Call Her Daddy podcast

How 2000s Culture Messed Us Up – Culture Study Podcast

Also mentioned:

Helli’s Bedbugs reel

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

We’re back, we’ve got stories from our latest trips and more than enough recommendations to make up for our (slightly) longer-than-planned break! Reality TV, books that will end a reading slump, podcasts…we’ve got it all. And then we’re chatting about trolling, accountability and the fine line between constructivly criticising people and just piling onto the hate. We are discussing it all and want to hear your thoughts too!

For more content, including bonus episodes, become a paid member of our substack right here.

We will be back in a couple of weeks after our end of season break, if you have any topics you’d like us to cover, send us a message. Or you can join us on Substack where we regularly post content even during our break.

This Family by Kate Sawyer

Sirens on Netflix

Also mentioned: America’s Sweethearts on Netflix, Should I Delete That with Harriet, Shameless “Toddle Off” episode

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Charlotte has got an exciting trip coming up and Helli had a much less exciting weekend involving a blown tyre and flagging down cars on the side of the road. We’re lamenting the clothing sizing issue that women face, especially when shopping for jeans and have a surprisingly long sports chat (unexpected, we know). We’re chatting about how we often feel like we should wait for the “perfect time” to do things and the problems that causes. How do we know when to just start and how do we find the confidence to do something even when it’s outside our comfort zone?

For more content, including bonus episodes, become a paid member of our substack right here.

We will be back in a couple of weeks after our end of season break, if you have any topics you’d like us to cover, send us a message. Or you can join us on Substack where we regularly post content even during our break.

Recommendations:

Drops on Skyscanner App for 20% drops in flight prices

Simone Biles documentary on Netflix

Also mentioned:

Unchained on Netflix

Never Enough on Netflix

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

We all know what we *should* be doing to recover from burnout, but how to do manage that when you’re already in the process of burning out? Plus we’ve got an interesting chat about privacy – is it the ultimate luxury and how do we protect it?

For more content, including bonus episodes, become a paid member of our substack right here.

Here is your 30 day burnout recovery guide, courtesy of chatGPT: https://open.substack.com/pub/growthinprogresspodcast/p/i-asked-chatgpt-for-a-30-day-burnout?r=51hwgi&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Recommendations:

Salaryman on Amazon Prime

Things I do BTS to Protect my Privacy as an Influencer

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

It’s picky tea season in the UK but there’s a rogue revelation that someone doesn’t like picky tea… Helli has only just discovered a British staple podcast and Charlotte is repeating last week’s recommendation… we’re here for the chaos! We’re also chatting about why sharing our ambitions outloud feels so exposing, particularly as women and the tension between going after what you want but not being “too” ambitious and not wanting to be seen to fail.

For more content, including bonus episodes, become a paid member of our substack right here.

Want a taste? Here’s the bonus episode from March where we’re talking about Gwen Stefani, her right wing values and the discourse around that.

Recommendations

Off Menu with James Acaster and Ed Gamble – the episode with Jeff Goldblum

P.Diddy: The Rise and Fall on BBC iPlayer

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Boyzone, cosy murder-mysteries, and all the regular chaos you’ve come to expect from us this week, plus we discuss whether we even enjoy half the things we do, or are we just good at them?

For more content, including bonus episodes, become a paid member of our substack right here.

Want a taste? Here’s the bonus episode from March where we’re talking about Gwen Stefani, her right wing values and the discourse around that.

Recommendations

Boyzone Documentary on Now TV

The Word Is Murder by Anthony Horowitz

Podcast: Play in new window | Download