The Day One Podcast

I am one of the original hosts of this podcasts and I have to say that Kristen has developed it into what I always hoped it would be: a show about the power and benefits of journaling; especially in context of mental health and well-being. I’m really glad it has moved more into that space. I’m still proud of the work we originally put into this show in its grassroots beginning.

Ever since Kristen Webb Wright took the helm, this podcast has suddenly become relevant. Her interviews are wonderful. No more Day One promo-casts, but truly good interviews about journaling, by journalers. Kristen, please don’t ever stop doing this!

I’m already sold on Day One, so for me, the appeal of this show is listening to how people have stuck with journaling, how they’ve gotten back on the wagon after stopping, their systems and rules for themselves, and their enthusiasm for journaling itself. You may hear about dead-simple systems that only use one journal in Day One, or complicated multi-tag systems. It’s all fun to listen to, and Kristen Webb Wright does such a great job as the host, making each guest and topic relatable and approachable. She sounds like a friend, and her love of journaling and the app come through in every episode. Looking forward to next week’s show!

I did not miss this podcast after it stopped releasing episodes in late 2021 and was surprised to see new episodes pop up in my feed in late 2024. I tuned in and have been really delighted by the new version of the podcast. Previously, the podcast always felt very much like a combination of a Day One user forum and app release notes, but the new episodes truly feel like conversations about journaling, for which Day One is one of many possible tools. Day One is certainly mentioned, but it doesn’t feel like a barrage of technical information or sales pitches for the product. The podcast host, Kristen Webb Wright, is herself a journaler and she leads thoughtful discussions with various guests about their journaling practices, how they have benefited from journaling, their suggestions for new journalers, and sometimes how Day One can fit into their arsenal of tools. The host is very generous and vulnerable when discussing her own personal journaling practice and I find those moments are often the highlights of each episode. As with any conversational podcast, the podcast guests come from different backgrounds and their personalities may or may not appeal to every listener — some are more technical and pragmatic, others more woo-woo and spiritual. However, I have found that hearing about peoples’ varying goals and intentions with regard to their journaling has been inspiring and sparked new ideas for myself. I’m excited to listen to future episodes.