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.htmlIt's a CACOPHONY of ideas!Other articles discussed: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/stephaniemcneal/influencers-quitting-instagramhttps://lynzyandco.com/why-i-am-leaving-instagram/

Today, Ruby and I discuss why we prefer The Real World over creating Reels, and why it's been so hard for me to take a break from social media. You can read my Medium article on the same topic here: https://medium.com/the-narrative-arc/i-went-to-thailand-to-take-a-break-from-social-media-816ab0445c74?sk=d908a2ba4236d463eb01f04b47344b22 Single Minded is also having a lil refresh! We hope you like the new format. 

"Junk food has taken over our diets, and it is making millions of people physically sick. A growing body of scientific evidence suggests that something similar is happening with our minds — that they have become dominated by junk values, and this is making us mentally sick, triggering soaring rates of depression and anxiety.”  - Johann HariOn today's episode, Ruby and I discuss our own junk values and compare these to the values we're striving to live by now. We try to understand why it's so hard to do what feels right in a world dominated by success porn (hi LinkedIn), and wonder whether we've set the bar too high - do we need to lower our expectations of life in order to be happier?Links to books & articles discussed: Lost Connections by Johann Hari: https://www.amazon.com.au/Lost-Connections-Uncovering-Depression-Unexpected/dp/163286830XLA TIMES - We know junk food makes us sick. Are ‘junk values’ making us depressed: https://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-hari-kasser-junk-values-20180121-story.html Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport: https://www.amazon.com.au/Digital-Minimalism-Living-Better-Technology/dp/0241453577/THE ATLANTIC - We’re Learning the Wrong Lessons From the World’s Happiest Countries: https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2021/06/worlds-happiest-countries-denmark-finland-norway/619299/ 

A lot happened in today's episode! Here's everything you need to know...  Let's start with Fran & Will's PERFECT First Dates episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EFaUUGxh9INext, we have my FAVE new comedian Jessica Kirson's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JessicaKirsonComedyHannah Zaslawski also joined me to chat all about her TikTok dating experiment. Watch her fifty first dates on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hannahzaslawski

Holly is a modern-day matchmaker and the founder of MATCHSMITH. She joins me today to discuss all things dating apps. She helps clients redesign their dating app profiles to get the right matches for them... And for a select number of clients, she actually does the swiping for them! Holly has reviewed many dating app profiles and knows what works and what doesn't... The questions we answer on today's episode: One of your services is a review of someone's current dating app profile: What are the biggest mistakes you see on dating app profiles?Do you think it's important to design your dating app to attract the right matches as opposed to the most matches?What are your top tips for designing a dating app profile? Is there a formula?You also offer a service where someone can fully outsource their dating app swiping to you - it's like a modern-day matchmaker service! What are you looking for in potential matches? Do your clients disclose to their dates that they haven't done the actual swiping? I'm so interested to hear what you think of dating apps in general: Have they helped or hindered IRL connections?You can find Holly's website here: https://www.matchsmith.com/Her Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/match_smith/

According to Harvard's Happiness study: "Close relationships, more than money or fame, are what keep people happy throughout their lives." But what makes a romantic relationship stand the test of time? What does the research say? I wanted to find out! Here are the secrets to a happy relationship, according to research. I think these will help ANYONE no matter they're relationship status. Let's call these the ultimate green flags: 1. Someone who shares in your triumphs: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-happy-couple-2012-10-23/ 2. A positive mindset & shows gratitude: https://www.happify.com/hd/the-science-behind-a-happy-relationship/3. Healthy shared passions (not obsessive passion): https://www.thecut.com/2018/04/how-to-know-when-healthy-passion-becomes-obsessive-passion.html 4. More positive interactions than negative ones during conflict: https://www.gottman.com/blog/the-magic-relationship-ratio-according-science/5. Someone who believes in you: https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/articles/201901/the-michelangelo-effect 6. Diffusing fights: https://www.happify.com/hd/the-science-behind-a-happy-relationship/7. Friendship: https://www.gottman.com/blog/8-myths-about-relationships/ 8. Kindness: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/06/happily-ever-after/372573/ Harvard study: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/04/over-nearly-80-years-harvard-study-has-been-showing-how-to-live-a-healthy-and-happy-life/

What happens when you don't want to ghost someone after one or two dates?? Linda and I discuss the best way to let someone down if you're not interested. I'm also joined by career coach Leah Lambart to discuss how personality testing can inform your next career change, and how a "portfolio career" might be the best path to more freedom and flexibility. Leah's website: https://www.relaunchme.com.au/Leah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/relaunchmecareerconsulting/

Kate is a Confidence Coach and meditation teacher who helps women build self-belief to find their direction in life. We answer the following questions on today's episode: What is self-compassion? How does someone know if they're being too hard on themselves?How do you cultivate self-compassion? As part of your workshop, you talk about "real" confidence - how would you define this? How does ego differ from real confidence?You talk about confidence being more about "helping you make life choices that feel genuinely right for you" - how does someone define what their path is? What are the first steps for someone to live more in alignment with their values?Kate's website: https://totalbalance.com.au/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/total_balance/Meditations: https://insighttimer.com/katejames