the matcha diaries

cara and leo
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Mental Health
  • Weekly

Welcome to the matcha diaries - our spoken diary on how to survive your twenties (semi) sane. Each week we'll be discussing different topics that are close to our hearts. From finding self-love, navigating relationships, to all things mental health. So pour yourself a matcha and hang out with us as we get deep and motivate each other to be the best versions of ourselves. ☕

  1. 3d ago

    how to unlearn your negative body image narrative (part 2)

    trigger warning: just a quick heads up before we dive in, this episode includes candid discussions about body image struggles, weight, and negative self-talk, so please prioritise your peace and skip this one if those topics are triggering for you! in this week’s episode, we are back with part 2 of our vulnerable chat about navigating body image, but this time we are zooming out to look at the current narrative and the intense societal pressure we face in our late twenties. we pick up right where we left off, diving into the triggering return of "low-rise" fashion trends and the reality of toxic algorithms pushing extreme weight loss transformations. we also open up about the surprising societal pressure that comes with wedding dress shopping, our fears around how pregnancy changes our bodies, and the unrealistic "bounce back" culture surrounding motherhood. ultimately, we talk about how we are actively untangling our self-worth from this toxic online narrative and retraining our brains to focus on gratitude for what our bodies can do. to stay up to date on our lives, contribute to future episodes and share any of your thoughts - pls do follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tiktok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or subscribe to us on youtube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠ (leo's booktube) ! ☕ also, if you want to join our BOOK CLUB... you can join us ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠ - current book of the month is 'Salem's Lot' by Stephen King). if you don't have any social media and want to chat (or for advertising opportunities), please email us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thematchadiariespod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠

  2. Oct 25

    body image in our late 20s: honest thoughts (part 1)

    trigger warning: just a quick heads up before we dive in, this episode includes candid discussions about body image struggles, weight, and negative self-talk, so please prioritise your peace and skip this one if those topics are triggering for you! in this week’s episode (part 1), we are getting super vulnerable about navigating insecurities and untangling our self-worth from our appearance in our late twenties. we share our current thoughts about our relationship with our bodies, some recent experiences of obsessive/toxic behaviour, and some of our recent struggles. we do our usual highs and lows at the beginning of the episode, but if you want to skip the catch-up and get straight to the main body image chat, jump ahead to 25:00. to stay up to date on our lives, contribute to future episodes and share any of your thoughts - pls do follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠tiktok⁠⁠⁠⁠ or subscribe to us on youtube ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ (leo's booktube) ! ☕ also, if you want to join our BOOK CLUB... you can join us ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ - current book of the month is 'Salem's Lot' by Stephen King). if you don't have any social media and want to chat (or for advertising opportunities), please email us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠thematchadiariespod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠

  3. Oct 14

    autumn vibes, travel chaos & defeating the post-trip blues 🍂☕️

    we are back after a much needed (unintentional) break! this week, cara gives us all the cozy details of her two-week trip home to jordan, from eating endless kanafeh to celebrating her dad's birthday. on the complete opposite end of the spectrum, leo recounts a chaotic three city work trip in germany that involved lost luggage, a burst appendix, and crying on a train next to drunk backstreet boys fans. this is very much just a catch up episode to say hello and give you guys our little life updates 3 to stay up to date on our lives, contribute to future episodes and share any of your thoughts - pls do follow us on ⁠⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠tiktok⁠⁠⁠ or subscribe to us on youtube ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ (leo's booktube) ! ☕ also, if you want to join our BOOK CLUB... you can join us ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ - current book of the month is 'Salem's Lot' by Stephen King). if you don't have any social media and want to chat (or for advertising opportunities), please email us at: ⁠⁠⁠thematchadiariespod@gmail.com⁠⁠

  4. Oct 9

    autumn diaries #2: our (unrealistic) tbr

    we're back with another jampacked autumnal BOOK EPISODE!!! this one is all about our tbr & hopefully it can inspire some of you at the same time. 3 all the books we speak about: Classics Rebecca — Daphne du MaurierThe Count of Monte Cristo — Alexandre DumasDracula — Bram StokerThe Girl in White — Lindsay CurrieHallowe’en Party — Agatha ChristieDead Poets Society — N. H. KleinbaumJane Eyre — Charlotte Brontë Fantasy/Witchy The Once and Future Witches — Alix E. HarrowRewitched — Lucy Jane WoodOne Dark Window — Rachel Gilligthe new ACOTAR !! — Sarah J. MaasPhantasma — Kaylie SmithA Sorceress Comes to Call — T. KingfisherA Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking — T. KingfisherA Discovery of Witches — Deborah HarknessA Dark and Secret Magic — Wallis KinneyThe Witches of Cambridge — Menna van PraagOne Dark Window — Rachel GilligA Natural History of Dragons — Marie Brennan Romance/Romantasy Assistant to the Villain — Hannah Nicole MaehrerImmortal Consequences — I. V. MarieArcana Academy — Elise KovaThe Undertaking of Hart and Mercy — Megan Bannen Dark Academia / Mystery / Thriller London Falling — Paul CornellNot Quite Dead Yet — Holly JacksonMurder at the Pumpkin Pageant — Darci HannahIn the Company of Witches — Auralee WallaceThe It Girl — Ruth WareThe Goldfinch — Donna TarttThe Thirteenth Tale — Diane SetterfieldIf We Were Villains — M. L. Rio Horror ‘Salem’s Lot — Stephen KingBunny — Mona AwadCoraline — Neil GaimanAlchemised — SenLinYuSlewfoot — Brom Other Falling for Peachtree Bluff — Kristy Woodson Harvey to stay up to date on our lives, contribute to future episodes and share any of your thoughts - pls do follow us on ⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠tiktok⁠⁠ or subscribe to us on youtube ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ or ⁠here⁠ (leo's booktube) ! ☕ also, if you want to join our BOOK CLUB... you can join us ⁠here⁠ - current book of the month is 'Salem's Lot' by Stephen King). if you don't have any social media and want to chat (or for advertising opportunities), please email us at: ⁠⁠thematchadiariespod@gmail.com⁠⁠

  5. Sep 22

    autumn diaries #1: our must read books for autumn ☕🍂

    it is finally time for the autumn diaries and we couldn't be MOREE excited eep!! If you’re looking to build the ultimate autumn tbr, we’ve got you covered. from cozy, low-stakes fantasy and small-town witchy romances to moody dark academia and gothic classics, we are breaking down our absolute must reads for the season. we’re sharing our personal favourites, our latest additions, and the stories we can’t stop thinking about. Books Mentioned in This Episode: Witchy Vibes & Everyday Magic The Ex Hex (Series) by Erin Sterling The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna Weyward by Emilia Hart Heartless Hunter & Rebel Witch by Kristen Ciccarelli Cozy & Enchanting Fantasy The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Fairies by Heather Fawcett The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig Silver Elite (Series) Twilight & ACOTAR (Our cozy re-reads!) Dark Academia & Secret Societies The Secret History by Donna Tartt Babel by R.F. Kuang If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio Bunny by Mona Awad Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang The Academy by Erin Hildebrand The Exorcism of Faeries by J.L. Vampa Gothic Classics Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde Mysteries, Thrillers & Sleuths Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy Murder at the Bookstore by Sue Minix A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie Romance & Heartwarming The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia You, Again by Kate Goldbeck My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi Graphic Novels Witches of Brooklyn by Sophie Escabasse p.s we know that cara's video and audio are slightly out of sync at times and will try to work on a solution for the future on this as we are not 100 percent sure whyy this kept happening! Sorry if this gets a bit annoying to watch!! to stay up to date on our lives, contribute to future episodes and share any of your thoughts - pls do follow us on ⁠⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠tiktok⁠⁠⁠ or subscribe to us on youtube ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ (leo's booktube) ! ☕ also, if you want to join our BOOK CLUB... you can join us ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ - current book of the month is 'rebecca' by daphne du maurier). if you don't have any social media and want to chat (or for advertising opportunities), please email us at: ⁠⁠⁠thematchadiariespod@gmail.com⁠⁠

  6. Sep 12

    our personal curriculum - autumnal edition

    guys what can we say, this episode is objectively, kinda, really, a little bit *weird*... please see this as one big mind map being actively created ft. audio cut outs, real time realisations & autumnal themed tangents... aka WELCOME TO OUR BRAINS!!! some resources to create your own (much better planned) personal curriculum: Online courses: Coursera, edX, Udemy, MIT OpenCourseWare, Khan Academy, Class Central, LinkedinLearning, Skillshare, great coursesYouTube: CrashCourse, TedED, Great Art Explained, The Life Guide, OverSimplified, freeCodeCamp, KurzgesagtBooks and articles: Google eBookstore, Project Gutenberg, Open Library, Internet Archive, Libby, Medium, SubstackCommunities: Subreddits, Discord, Facebook, Amino, Skool you can find the personal curriculum notion template we mention here 3 to stay up to date on our lives, contribute to future episodes and share any of your thoughts - pls do follow us on ⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠tiktok⁠⁠ or subscribe to us on youtube ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ or ⁠here⁠ (leo's booktube) ! ☕ also, if you want to join our BOOK CLUB... you can join us ⁠here⁠ - current book of the month is 'rebecca' by daphne du maurier). if you don't have any social media and want to chat (or for advertising opportunities), please email us at: ⁠⁠thematchadiariespod@gmail.com⁠⁠

  7. Sep 4

    why nostalgia feels like a warm hug (and why we crave it)

    dare we say.. grab a pumpkin spice latte, light a candle & get cosy with us for this week’s big yap ☕️🍂 in today’s episode, cara shares the huge life update of finally going wedding dress shopping (and unexpectedly finding the one!!), while leo debriefs her week of unplugging from media, silent walks, and romanticising everyday routines. then, we dive deep into the psychology of nostalgia: why rewatching our favourite comfort shows (hello, gilmore girls season) feels so safe, the science of remembering things through rose-tinted glasses, and finding peace in who we used to be.  (p.s. if you want to skip our weekly yap about cara unexpectedly buying her wedding dress and leo’s week of silent walks, skip straight to 33:40 for the nostalgia chat! 🤍) to stay up to date on our lives, contribute to future episodes and share any of your thoughts - pls do Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠tiktok⁠⁠⁠ or subscribe to us on youtube ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠! ☕ Thinking of joining our BOOK CLUB? We’d love to have you! Check it out  ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠! for advertising opportunities, or you don't have any social media and want to chat, please email us at: ⁠⁠⁠thematchadiariespod@gmail.com⁠⁠

  8. Aug 27

    what is the price we pay for constant distraction

    are you also constantly playing music, podcasts, youtube videos and even series in the background?? have we lost the ability to be in silence with our thoughts? and maybe most importantly, what impact is that having on our brains? these questions (& more) are the ones that prompted us to go on a good old fashioned research DEEP DIVE this episode. we cover: what impact does silence have on our brain (creativity & emotional processing)? is constant stimulation actually making our overthinking tendencies worse? can music ever have a positive impact on productivity?what impact does being an extrovert or introvert have on your tolerance for environmental stimulation? social silence and how we can apply this to ourselves as always, grab yourself a hot drink & enjoy this episode! 3 FYI: the main topic starts 14:53 mins in to stay up to date on our lives, contribute to future episodes and share any of your thoughts - pls do follow us on ⁠⁠instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠tiktok⁠⁠ or subscribe to us on youtube ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ or ⁠here⁠ (leo's booktube) ! ☕ also, if you want to join our BOOK CLUB... you can join us ⁠here⁠. if you don't have any social media and want to chat (or for advertising opportunities), please email us at: ⁠⁠thematchadiariespod@gmail.com⁠⁠ YT video mentioned: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quroaZV0YBc References: https://medium.com/@thewhimsicalshots/why-your-brain-needs-silence-more-than-music-5d46f442bfe8 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12109699/#B45-brainsci-15-00482 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/jun/19/usa.guantanamo  https://newhumanist.org.uk/articles/why-your-brain-needs-silence/ https://quietquality.nl/en/blog/what-silence-does-your-brain/  https://neurosity.co/guides/silence-vs-music-deep-work  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12109699/#B45-brainsci-15-00482

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About

Welcome to the matcha diaries - our spoken diary on how to survive your twenties (semi) sane. Each week we'll be discussing different topics that are close to our hearts. From finding self-love, navigating relationships, to all things mental health. So pour yourself a matcha and hang out with us as we get deep and motivate each other to be the best versions of ourselves. ☕

Information

  • Creator
    cara and leo
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    282
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 0
  • Show Website
    the matcha diaries

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