Raise your hand if you’ve been having a hard time refraining from doomscrolling. The urge to just flick up and down on social media and news sites really has become almost automatic for most of us now. It definitely has for me! But I’m trying to change that by exploring more “content” like these worthwhile discoveries.
The Dream Podcast
I’ve always enjoyed reading Jane Marie, so I was quite happy to learn in March that she’s taken her writing to the realm of podcasting. The Dream has already finished two seasons, so you have a chockfull of episodes to indulge in. It’s a treasure trove of information about industries that promise you “the dream”.
The first season tackled the deep dark world of MLMs (multi-level marketing companies a.k.a. networking here in the Philippines). I’ve always had an aversion to these things because the scheme just seems to be too good to be true and exploitative, so the first season fortified my negative feelings albeit made me understand why they exist and how they came to be. Still not my cup of tea! In the end, I just really, truly wish those who engage in it here have a better story to tell than those whose journeys were shared on the podcast.
The second season was all about the wellness industry. This one’s just as eye-opening but also nerve-wracking as the first. Is the wellness industry (which is supposedly worth $4 trillion in the US) a scam? If we’re talking jade eggs you put inside your vagina and powders that brighten up your mood, I’m inclined to say yes.
Of course, wellness means different things to different people. But the type of wellness peddled as ~the dream~ — a supplement that cures cancer, an essential oil that will instantly treat your migraine — is just plain… suspect to me. If you’re on the same boat — or not but are curious — the second season is something to listen to and learn from.
The 80%
This one wasn’t really a discovery but a recommendation from a friend. Hosted by financial planner Fitz Villafuerte, The 80% focuses on the mindset and habits you need in order to fulfill your financial goals. While he does share some insights into investments and saving, the focus on working on your mindset first is what really makes this podcast worthwhile.
I also like that the host is not the typical financial planner who asks you to forego all your favorite things in favor of saving. Drink that Starbucks drink, if it helps your sanity! You can still save and enjoy things. Overall, I like that his tips don’t feel like he means to punish you or guilt you into how you’ve been spending your money. He voices his tips in such a way that you notice your bad habits but get encouraged to actually try to change them.
Millennial Therapist
Aside from podcasts, I’ve also discovered quite a few worthwhile IG accounts. One of the few things I’m happy to have discovered through scrolling mindlessly on Instagram is @millennial.therapist. As their username suggests, they’re a psychotherapist who’s from my generation — so the approach is quite relatable. The posts are straightforward and incredibly insightful. I haven’t been journaling in a while, but I might go back to it just because I want to take note of so many things I see from this account.
The Holistic Psychologist
This Instagram account’s a bit more “self-help-y” than the one above, but I feel like I need mental “content” that speaks to my soul too. The Holistic Psychologist is big on healing and seeing growth as a journey towards becoming an awakened being. The main belief in their practice is that whatever we’re going through at the moment or who we are as people at present is because of how we were reared as children. So they’ve devised a strategy to solve personal and relational issues through “reparenting”. I have not explored it yet, but I’m quite interested. Dr. Nicole also now has a podcast, though I haven’t checked it out yet.
I’ve already unfollowed so many accounts that don’t really contribute anything good to my well-being, and I’m looking forward to discovering more of these types of “content creators.”
What are your favorite quarantine discoveries?
