Shows
Heal Squad x Maria MenounosHeal in 10: The Gene That Fixes Your Focus, Calms Your Mind, Fuels Your Brain w/ Dr. Drew RamseyHey, Heal Squad! We are back with another 10-minute healing session, all about brain health and the gene that can actually make you heal?! Dr. Drew Ramsey breaks down the brain’s incredible ability to grow, repair, and rewire itself—and how YOU can support that process through everyday choices.
We dive into the power of BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor), what Dr. Ramsey calls the “molecule of hope”, and how you can naturally increase it through food, lifestyle, and emotional well-being. From nutritional psychiatry to simple brain-boosting foods like nuts, seafood, and dark chocolate, this episode gives you prac...
2025-06-2213 minHeal Squad x Maria Menounos1097. EAT to BEAT Anxiety: Fix Brain Fog, Boost Energy & Heal Your Brain Through Food w/ Dr. Drew RamseyHey Heal Squad! We’re diving into the delicious side of healing this week with psychiatrist and nutritional wellness pioneer Dr. Drew Ramsey! Let’s just say, this convo might completely change how you think about food and your brain…
Dr. Ramsey breaks down how what we eat directly impacts anxiety, depression, and brain fog—and how simple nutrient upgrades can supercharge your mental health. We talk about dopamine, gut-brain connection, why your serotonin might be stuck, and what to do when anxiety makes you feel like you’re spiraling.
Plus, we get into “brain food swaps”...
2025-06-1743 min
The Ramsey Asphalt PodcastGiving / Psychology of the Customer | EP 13Welcome to Ramsey’s Rock’N Roads Podcast!IN TODAY’S EPISODE (S1E13) WE DISCUSS:• Giving• Psychology of the Customer• Positive Mental Attitude• How Does Giving WorkSpecial thanks to beautiful Waller Park in Santa Maria, California.HOSTED BY:Scott RamseyRamsey Asphalt Construction805-928-9583https://ramseyasphalt.comCA Lic# 881030 A/C12/C32HAVE QUESTIONS OR WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE PODCAST...
2024-10-3131 minThe Ramsey Asphalt PodcastBuilding Your Career / Business | EP 12Welcome to Ramsey’s Rock’N Roads Podcast!IN TODAY’S EPISODE (S1E12) WE DISCUSS:• What does my career/business look like when you’re done?• Self help• Business Growth• Personal GrowthSpecial thanks to beautiful Waller Park in Santa Maria, California.HOSTED BY:Scott RamseyRamsey Asphalt Construction805-928-9583https://ramseyasphalt.comCA Lic# 881030 A/C12/C32HAVE QUESTIONS OR WANT TO BE A GUE...
2024-09-2921 min
If You're ListeningRainer Maria "Look Now Look Again"This week, our Patrons voted to help us fill in a blind spot of Midwest emo. Join us as we both experience Rainer Maria's 1999 album "Look Now Look Again" for the very first time! Discover bonus eps, merch and more on our Patreon! This week: Celebrity ice cream! A modicum of pet talk! And we break news from Hollywood and the music industry several months too late! All this and so much MORE! Wanna get a shout-out on a future episode? Give us a rating on iTunes! It helps us, and it helps...
2024-07-291h 00The Ramsey Asphalt PodcastComplacency & The 4 Levels of Learning | EP 11Welcome to Ramsey’s Rock’N Roads Podcast!IN TODAY’S EPISODE (S1E11) WE DISCUSS:• Complacency• Opportunity• Crafco Crackfiller• 4 Levels of Learning• Truncated Domes• Crackfilling Machines• EmulsionsSpecial thanks to beautiful Waller Park in Santa Maria, California.HOSTED BY:Scott RamseyRamsey Asphalt Construction805-928-9583https://ramseyasphalt.comCA Lic# 881030 A/C12/C32HAVE QUESTIONS OR WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE PODCAST...
2024-05-3122 min
Creativity Found: Finding Creativity Later in LifeMaria Ramsey – a creative transitionI've caught Maria Ramsey at a reinvention stage, having made the decision to stop teaching music and to explore other avenues that feel more creatively fulfilling. Maria is a multi-talented artist who has explored various creative outlets including visual art, poetry, and floral design. Growing up in a family that valued creativity and the arts, Maria was encouraged to pursue music, taking lessons in violin, piano, and singing. Despite having aspirations to study art, Maria eventually majored in music, and fell into teaching after college. However, she has since realized that teaching classical music does not f...
2023-05-0732 minThe Ramsey Asphalt PodcastSpecial Guest - Tim Claborn: Owner of Apostle Asphalt Maintenance | EP 5Welcome to Ramsey’s Rockin’ Roads Podcast!
IN TODAY’S EPISODE (S1E5) WE DISCUSS:
• Special Guest: Tim Claborn
• Apostle Asphalt Maintenance
• Q&A
A special thank you to the Santa Maria Public Library for allowing us to film our first podcast
HOSTED BY:
Scott Ramsey
Ramsey Asphalt Construction
https://ramseyasphalt.com
CA Lic# 881030 A/C12/C32
HAVE QUESTIONS OR WANT TO BE A GUEST ON THE PODCA...
2023-03-0846 minThe Ramsey Asphalt PodcastContinued Growth for Ramsey Asphalt...2008-2013 | EP 4Welcome to Ramsey’s Rockin’ Roads Podcast!
IN TODAY’S EPISODE (S1E4) WE DISCUSS:
• The Pivotal Years 2008 - 2013
• Ramsey Asphalt: The Paving & Maintenance Specialist
• Managing the Company Growth
• Importance of Quickbooks
A special thank you to the Santa Maria Public Library for allowing us to film our first podcast
HOSTED BY:
Scott Ramsey
Ramsey Asphalt Construction
https://ramseyasphalt.com
CA Lic# 881030 A/C12/C32
HAVE QUES...
2023-02-0930 minThe Ramsey Asphalt PodcastQ&A: Early Challenges of Ramsey Asphalt | EP 3Welcome to Ramsey’s Rockin’ Roads Podcast!
IN TODAY’S EPISODE (S1E3) WE DISCUSS:
• What Were Some Challenges During 2013?
• Hiring RACC First Employees
• Managing Employees & Expectations
• Estimating/Proposals In-House
• Office Personnel
• Maintaining Collection & Payables
• Transitioning into 2008 / Market Crash
• Implementing Systems to Relieve Stress
• Repo Process
A special thank you to the Santa Maria Public Library for allowing us to film our first podcast
HOSTED BY:
Scott Ramsey
2023-01-1833 minThe Ramsey Asphalt PodcastQ&A: The Growth Period for Ramsey Asphalt | EP 2Welcome to Ramsey’s Rock'n Roads Podcast!
IN TODAY’S EPISODE (S1E2) WE DISCUSS:
• The Growth Period
• Struggles
• Pricing of Services
• Overhead Costs: Percentage
• Hiring Our First Sales Person?
• Branching Out Into Sales
• Managing & Trusting Your Crew
• Crossroad of Not Being Able to Do It All On Your Own
A special thank you to the Santa Maria Public Library for allowing us to film our first podcast
HOSTED BY:
Sc...
2023-01-0530 min
The Ramsey Asphalt PodcastThe Beginning: How Ramsey Asphalt Was Started | EP 1Welcome to Ramsey’s Rock'n Roads Podcast!
IN TODAY’S EPISODE (S1E1) WE DISCUSS:
• The New Podcast
• How Scott Ramsey got started in the paving business?
• What was the thought process to start Ramsey Asphalt without a business plan?
• How many people did Scott start with on his crew?
• Did Scott have an office staff/support?
• Is there anything Scott wishes he did differently or regrets during the first 3 years of business?
A special thank you to the Santa Mar...
2022-12-1727 min
Never Wear Boring Socks087 | How Self-Trust Helps Me Live a Creative LifeI had a bit of an epiphany recently about what creativity means to me...and since creativity is the #1 thing we talk about here on Never Wear Boring Socks, I wanted to share it with you! In this episode, I'm talking about my current definition of creativity, and how trusting myself has helped me to live a more creative life both inside and outside the studio.
Schedule an Awaken Your Artist call
Get access to my free creativity resources
Work with me
Website: thephilosophersstem.com
Instagram: @thephilosophersstem
E...
2022-04-2711 minNever Wear Boring Socks086 | Is Your Inner Artist Sleeping? (+ how to wake them up!)We all have an artist inside of us. If you don't believe me, it's possible your artist has gotten a bit bored and fallen asleep... In this episode, I'm sharing some other signs that your inner artist might be sleeping, and how you can start to wake them up.
Schedule an Awaken Your Artist call
Get access to my free creativity resources
Work with me
Website: thephilosophersstem.com
Instagram: @thephilosophersstem
Email hello(at)thephilosophersstem.com
Episode transcript
2022-04-1513 minNever Wear Boring Socks085 | Why Creativity MattersHow many times have you put off a creative project because something more "important" came up? If you've done this more times than you can count, you're most certainly not alone. Art often gets put on the back burner in favor of more pressing tasks, but in this episode Maria is making the case that it is actually a very important and worthy pursuit. She's sharing why creativity matters, how expressing your creativity benefits yourself as well as the people around you, and why you should start prioritizing your creative practice now.
Schedule a FREE coaching call
2022-03-3010 min
Arts For The Health Of ItReawakening Your Sense Of Fun And Play with Creativity Guide Maria Ramsey S1E50Maria Katharine Ramsey is a visual artist, poet, musician, herbalist, certified feng shui practitioner, and creativity guide. Her mission is to uncover more beauty, creativity, and magic in the world. She does this by creating her own art as well as helping artistic beings to craft supportive creative practices.
PLUS Maria teaches us how to set up a creative space at home that doesn't have to take up much space, time, or money!
Connect with Maria at www.thephilosophersstem.com
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2022-03-3036 min
You're Such A CatchLA Fashion Week On Location with Maria HildrethLive from Los Angeles Fashion Week, Designer Maria Hildreth shares her story of growing up in poverty. At the age of 12, Maria took to the Yellow Pages, searching for a way to give her family a better life. She thought if she could learn to model, it'd be the answer to her prayers. Her journey evolved from modeling to acting to securing a small loan right before the world shut down for the pandemic. As scary as it was to start a business amidst the rest of the world putting their companies on hold, Maria used the money to...
2022-03-2832 minNever Wear Boring Socks084 | Which Version of Yourself Do You Want to Be?Do you ever get tired of the advice to just "be yourself?" Of course we want to be authentically ourselves as creatives, but what does this really mean? In this episode, Maria is sharing a new way of thinking about this concept that has the potential to be way more actionable and helpful. We discuss inner critics, inner wisdom, outer socks, and the mopey Eeyores lurking inside our brains. Maria also shares some of her favorite tools for tapping into the most wise, confident, fully expressed version of yourself, and why this is important for artists.
Get a...
2022-03-1613 minNever Wear Boring Socks083 | You Already Have Everything You Need to Be an ArtistHave you ever felt yourself putting off your creative projects until "someday"- some magical time when you have more time, more space, more support? In this episode, Maria is sharing why you DO in fact have everything you need to get started right now, why it's important that you get started right now, and one of the most underrated ingredients to be a successful, confident artist.
Get access to *free* creativity resources
Learn more about working with Maria
Website: thephilosophersstem.com
Instagram: @thephilosophersstem
Email hello(at)thephilosophersstem.com
2022-03-0216 minNever Wear Boring Socks082 | What to Do When Creativity Feels ForcedHave you ever sat down to create your art and it just feels forced? Like you have to push and will yourself to write words on the page, and you just can't get into that flow state where things feel easy and inspired? In this episode, Maria is sharing her tips for how to move from trying to will creativity to happen into allowing creativity to happen.
Get the free workshop on how to set up a creative workspace
Learn more about creativity coaching with Maria
Website: thephilosophersstem.com
Instagram: @thephilosophersstem
2022-02-1612 minNever Wear Boring Socks081 | What's REALLY Blocking Your CreativityHave you ever felt like you're just not creative, or like you're just not that good at art or music or writing (or any other creative medium)? In this episode, Maria is sharing why you are in fact a creative and talented person, and the real reason you feel stuck.
Join me in the Secret Garden of Creativity (free resource library!)
Learn more about creativity coaching with Maria
Website: thephilosophersstem.com
Instagram: @thephilosophersstem
Email hello(at)thephilosophersstem.com
Episode transcript
2022-02-0910 minNever Wear Boring Socks080 | Why You Should Be Making Bad ArtDo you ever feel frustrated with your creative practice? Like you don't have enough ideas or talent? Do you ever feel like you're just not a creative person? In this episode, Maria is sharing her solution: make bad art. Listen in to learn how embracing "bad" art can help you break through your creative blocks.
Creativity coaching
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Episode transcript
2022-01-2613 minNever Wear Boring Socks079 | What Rose (the plant) Taught Me About BoundariesToday we are talking about boundaries! A lot of us struggle with them, but strong boundaries are so important when it comes to making creative work consistently. In this episode, Maria shares what she has learned about boundaries from one of her favorite flowers, and how better boundaries helped her make more art.
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Website: thephilosophersstem.com
Instagram: @thephilosophersstem
Email hello(at)thephilosophersstem.com
Episode transcript
2022-01-0513 minNever Wear Boring Socks078 | How to Have More Creative IdeasIn this episode, we're discussing a very popular topic: How do you have more creative ideas? Whether you're a visual artist, a writer, a musician, or you just know you want to make something, you first need ideas. But where do they come from? Today Maria is sharing her experience and perspective on how to invite more creativity and better ideas into your art practice and your life.
Learn about creativity coaching
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Website: thephilosophersstem.com
Instagram: @thephilosophersstem
Email hello(at)thephilosophersstem.com
Episode transcript
2021-12-1510 minNever Wear Boring Socks077 | How My Creative Practice Helped Me Connect to My IntuitionToday, Maria is sharing one of the most valuable things she's gained from a regular creative practice: a deeper connection to her intuition. In this episode, she shares how she used to be a super indecisive kid, how making more art connected her to her intuition, how intuition is related to confidence and self-trust, and some questions to help you connect to your inner wisdom as well.
Sign up for a free coaching call.
Join the creative space workshop on Dec 14.
Join the newsletter.
Website: thephilosophersstem.com
Instagram: @thephilosophersstem
2021-12-0809 minNever Wear Boring Socks076 | How to Stay Inspired as a CreativeIn this episode, Maria is sharing some of her tips for staying inspired as a creative. Often, we think of looking to other artists, writers, and musicians, but that's not the only place to look for inspiration. Maria talks about the importance of venturing outside your medium and genre for inspiration, as well as play and "pointless" activities as ways to nurture your inner artist.
Sign up for a free coaching call.
Join the creative space workshop on Dec 14.
Join the newsletter.
Website: thephilosophersstem.com
Instagram: @thephilosophersstem
E...
2021-11-2909 minNever Wear Boring Socks075 | How Making the Bed Makes Room for CreativityWhat does making your bed have to do with creativity? Listen to this episode to find out! Maria shares her philosophy on "making the bed" (both literally and metaphorically), how our daily rituals support creativity, and how creativity is like a plant.
Sign up for a free coaching call.
Join the creative space workshop on Nov 18.
Join the newsletter.
thephilosophersstem.com
Email maria(at)mariakatharine.com to say hello or request a transcript of this episode.
2021-11-0311 minNever Wear Boring Socks074 | Why Structure is Essential for CreativityA lot of creatives are resistant to structure because it feels restrictive. However, as Maria shares in this episode, structure can be incredibly supportive - even an essential ingredient - in allowing creativity to flow.
Sign up for a free coaching call.
Join the creative space workshop on Nov 18.
Join the newsletter.
thephilosophersstem.com
Email maria(at)mariakatharine.com to say hello or request a transcript of this episode.
2021-10-2711 minNever Wear Boring Socks073 | Creating Space for Creativity: Part 3 - Energetic SpaceThis is the last in a three-part series about making space for creativity. In this episode, we're focusing on ENERGETIC space. Now that you've carved out space in your physical environment and your schedule to work on your art, it's time to look at whether or not you are energetically available for a satisfying creative practice. Maria is sharing a few things that have helped her become more available to creativity, and some reflection questions for you to ponder.
Get in touch: @mariakatharine
Email maria(at)mariakatharine.com to say hello or request a transcript o...
2021-10-2014 minNever Wear Boring Socks072 | Creating Space for Creativity: Part 2 - Time SpaceThis is the second in a three-part series about making space for creativity. In this episode, we're focusing on TIME space. It can be hard to find the time to work on your art. In this episode, Maria is sharing a few of the things that have helped her prioritize creativity in her schedule, and some prompts to help you do the same!
Get in touch: @mariakatharine
Email maria(at)mariakatharine.com to say hello or request a transcript of this episode.
2021-10-1316 minNever Wear Boring Socks071 | Making Space for Creativity: Part 1 - Physical SpaceThis is the first in a three-part series about making space for creativity. In this episode, we're focusing on PHYSICAL space. As creatives, we require some sort of physical space to do our creative work. Today, we're exploring how to carve out that space, even if you live in a smaller home and don't have the luxury of a separate creative studio.
Get in touch: @mariakatharine
Email maria(at)mariakatharine.com to say hello or request a transcript of this episode.
2021-10-0613 minNever Wear Boring Socks070 | Revisiting InspirationNever Wear Boring Socks is back! In this episode, Maria shares her perspective on creative inspiration and what inspired her to get back into podcasting. Then, she shares a few reflection questions for anyone wanting to invite more inspiration into their life.
Get in touch: @mariakatharine
Email maria(at)mariakatharine.com to say hello or request a transcript of this episode.
2021-09-2911 min
Never Wear Boring Socks069 | The Seriousness of SillinessThings can often seem very serious in the art world, and also in the health and wellness world. But we’re here, for ONE LAST EPISODE OF SEASON 2, to make the argument that silliness and humor are just as important as their more serious friends. From the mind-body connection, to judgement, to the power we have to affect and uplift each other, we’re talking all about embracing joy, humor, and goofiness! …after all, what else would you expect from a podcast with “socks” in the title??
2019-12-2651 min
Never Wear Boring Socks068 | Creativity & Growth on Both Sides of the AtlanticIn the second to last episode of season 2, Anna and Maria give some updates on their lives on opposite sides of the Atlantic. Some common themes between their experience: growth, discomfort, creativity….AND an upcoming cousin reunion!
2019-12-1119 min
Never Wear Boring Socks067 | Giving Thanks (and Gifts!)The holiday season is fast approaching, which means it’s time for the third annual Never Wear Boring Socks gift guide! In this episode, Maria and Anna share their thoughts on the importance of gratitude and how to develop a gratitude practice, and then describe some of their favorite items to gift to others. Whether your preferred type of gift is a product you buy, a food you make, or an experience you share, our co-hosts are sure to offer ideas that will suit everyone on your list.
2019-11-2642 min
Never Wear Boring Socks066 | Growing our Perspectives with PermacultureThis week, Anna and Maria discuss a new and exciting topic: permaculture! Permaculture is a form of agriculture that is based on a holistic system of people care, earth care, and future care. Our hosts talk about how permaculture works and why it’s important, how it relates to environmentalism, and its influence on—you guessed it—creativity and wellness. They wrap up with some wisdom from one of Maria’s own mentors.
2019-11-1952 min
Never Wear Boring Socks065 | Writing, Music, & Creative Motivation with Heather SommerladOur co-hosts are joined this week by guest Heather Sommerlad. A musician and writer, Heather knows her way around the creative process—though isn’t afraid of admitting how difficult it is to create. In this episode, Heather shares her thoughts on the creative motivation and instinct, sharing your creative work, and managing multiple creative pursuits.
2019-10-2858 min
Never Wear Boring Socks063 | Transitions & TravelDue to Anna’s recent departure from the U.S., our co-hosts are doing something a little different for this episode. Anna shares a voice memo about her first couple weeks of her abroad adventure, and Maria responds with her own updates and advice. Big takeaway this week: give yourself space and do what you need to do to take care of yourself during difficult transitions!
2019-09-2726 min
Never Wear Boring Socks062 | Structuring CreativityIn this episode, Anna and Maria dive into the topic of structure as it relates to creativity. As creatives, many of us are resistant to structure; but as ambitious creatives, our desire to follow through and finish projects often requires some element of structure. Maria and Anna have been leaning into this idea in their own lives, so they’re sharing what’s worked for them. As usual, the specifics of what works best will depend on your circumstances, but they offer some suggestions for structuring space as well as time, with ideas for day-to-day time management as well as long...
2019-09-1355 min
Never Wear Boring Socks061 | A Few of Our Favorite ThingsThis week, Anna and Maria are back from vacation (#cousinreunion), so to keep the vacation vibes going a little longer, they enjoy a summer vacation variety episode! With updates on creative and wellness pursuits, some interesting questions, and a lot of recommendations, our co-hosts keep things light this week to help you enjoy the last few weeks of summer, and to stay creative and well along the way.
2019-08-2953 min
Never Wear Boring Socks060 | Intersectional Wholeness, Adulthood, and Self Care with Kris MereighWe’re SO excited to have wellness director, wholeness lifestyle consultant, writer, and podcaster Kris Mereigh joining us on the podcast this week! We talk about:
- what it means to be an adult and Kris’ inspiration to start her podcast
- intersectionality and wellness
- what Kris discovered about the word “wellness” through her work
- considering all parts of your identity and what each part needs for self care
- community, ancestry, systems, and your environment as another ingredient of wellness
- the importance of finding self care that works for you
- Kris’ writing practice
- the importance...
2019-07-291h 02
Never Wear Boring Socks059 | Following Your Own AdviceHere at Never Wear Boring Socks, we give out quite a bit of advice. Not because we are experts at life, but because we believe that everyone has valuable insight to share and we can learn a lot from each other’s experiences (and missteps). However, we often have a hard time following the advice we give ourselves. For some reason (and we attempt to shed some light on what this reason might be in this episode), it’s often a lot easier to follow through on things when other people say you should. BUT, given that we believe in the...
2019-07-2256 min
Never Wear Boring Socks058 | Is Self Care Just a Fad?Anna and Maria have talked about self-care before, but there’s still so much more to cover… and this week, they’re addressing the trendiness of self-care. Is self-care really beneficial, or just another consumer fad? Our fearless hosts dive into the complexities regarding self-care as they examine its role in the marketplace, social media, and our personal lives. They also provide an evaluation of trendy self-care practices as well as ideas for some not-so-trendy ones.
2019-07-0953 min
Never Wear Boring Socks057 | Navigating ChangeThis week, Anna and Maria talk about how we can best navigate the changes in our lives, and how change affects our creative endeavors and wellness practices. Changes of all kinds are inevitable for all of us: living situations, health circumstances, jobs, schedules, relationships...and perhaps especially for those of us in the realm of young adulthood, when so many things seem to be up in the air a lot of the time. So, how can we work with these transitions to mindfully make shifts in our creative lives and our health? How can we make sure our current practices...
2019-06-2451 min
Never Wear Boring Socks056 | The Well-Fed ArtistHere at Never Wear Boring Socks, we aim to be healthy and creative. Can we do both at the same time? This week, Anna and Maria talk about healthy ways to create. From getting enough sleep to finding the sweet spot between inspiration and hard work, they discuss how we as creative people can pursue our work in healthy ways, and how this in turn makes our work more authentic and effective. Trust us, you don’t have to be a starving artist to create good art.
2019-05-2948 min
Never Wear Boring Socks055 | Music Careers, Anxiety, and Cat Snuggles with Ella MiddletonThis week Anna and Maria are joined by the fabulous soprano and cat lover, Ella Middleton! The three of them discuss pressure surrounding art and career, how making music can be both a trigger and a relief for anxiety, and the importance of embracing your own definition of self care (whether it involves cats or not).
2019-05-1950 min
Never Wear Boring Socks054 | An Artist with Many Art FormsDo you ever feel simultaneously excited and overwhelmed by all the creative ideas you have? Do you worry that you neglect some creative pursuits when working on others? Do you want to maximize your creative potential by working with different media? Yeah, so do we. So we talk about all these questions and more on the pod this week! Check it out for insights into pursuing multiple creative projects in different artistic areas.
2019-04-2744 min
Never Wear Boring Socks053 | Out with the Old, In with the PMA!Anna and Maria are taking a break from recording episodes until February due to Anna’s upcoming international adventure, so they decide to wrap things up with an end of year reflection episode. They discuss what they’ve accomplished and learned in 2018, both as individuals and with the podcast, as well as disappointments. They then share their hopes for 2019, which include better conversations and community, and more PMA! And before they finish things up, they leave listeners with some recommendations to look into over the holidays, and ponder some poetic musings from T.S. Eliot to lead them into the new...
2018-12-2142 min
Never Wear Boring Socks052 | AnxietyWe don’t always talk about anxiety, but the truth is a lot of us experience it a lot of the time, and talking about it can help us feel less alone in dealing with it. In this week’s episode, Anna and Maria discuss some different ways anxiety has shown up in their lives, including anxiety caused by obvious triggers as well as the kind of anxiety that shows up for a surprise visit with no explanation. Because it can be helpful to hear what has helped other people struggling with similar things, our hosts also talk about the rang...
2018-12-1859 min
Never Wear Boring Socks051 | Never Give Boring GiftsThe holidays are quickly approaching, so Maria and Anna continue their tradition of discussing all things gift giving! They begin with some insight into how to approach gift giving, some things to keep in mind when trying to surprise others with gifts, and how to be mindful during the hectic holiday season. They then dive into their holiday gift guide, which covers everything from fair trade clothing and jewelry to self-care products to books and crafts, and much more! All with a special focus on small, independent businesses. And, of course, our hosts end with a reminder of what gift-giving...
2018-12-0945 min
Never Wear Boring Socks050 | Holistic Health, Periods, Self Compassion, & Creativity with Nina BoyceThis week, Anna and Maria talk to holistic health coach and podcaster Nina Boyce, to discuss some of our favorite things here at Never Wear Boring Socks: periods, creativity, self compassion, and, of course, socks (get ready for some wild sock situations in this one!) Nina shares her perspective on why it’s helpful to understand the different phases of our menstrual cycle, and some ways we can give ourselves compassion and care even during the parts of our cycle that we may not be so fond of. She also shares her knowledge about the mind-body connection, and particularly the re...
2018-12-011h 01
Never Wear Boring Socks049 | Beauty and the PMATale as old as time, socks as old as rhyme…but don’t worry, we did wash our socks before sharing them with you today. The topic of beauty has come up so many times over the course of Never Wear Boring Socks that Anna and Maria decided to dedicate an entire episode to it this week. They both feel pretty strongly that beauty is a topic worth discussing, because it’s not as superficial as we sometimes think; this has a lot to do with the language we use, and in what contexts we use the word “beauty.” As artists, o...
2018-11-2442 min
Never Wear Boring Socks048 | Home (and foot) DecorAnna and Maria discuss decor this week, and how decorating our spaces can help us encourage creativity and wellness. They consider decorating as a creative act and project; a tool to promote mental health; a method through which we can curate body positivity; and much more! They also cover how decorating may be different for a young adult without much space of their own than for a homeowner, and how those of us with limited space can still maximize our spaces for different purposes. Anna and Maria also bring in some connections to past episodes on space, seasons, and values...
2018-11-1548 min
Never Wear Boring Socks047 | Know Your ValuesThis week’s episode is all about values: how we can identify what they are, why we might want to, and what impact they have on our wellbeing and our creative lives. Anna and Maria discuss how values can help us in our decision-making process and understand the WHY behind what we do. They also explore the ways ego, judgment, and comparison can get in the way of determining our true values, what happens when our values differ from those around us, and whether some values are better than others. And, because our hosts are detail-oriented language nerds, they discuss ch...
2018-11-0546 min
Never Wear Boring Socks046 | Seizing the SeasonAs the fall colors start to hit their stride, Maria and Anna delve into the topic of living seasonally. They discuss how seasons can be opportunities for change and reflection, as well as sources of difficult transition, and how we can better adapt to these changes. They also dive into the cyclical nature of seasons, and how different types of seasons often mirror what is going on in nature. And of course, it wouldn’t be a Never Wear Boring Socks episode without diving into wellness and creativity… so Anna and Maria make sure to cover seasonal self care, as well...
2018-10-2145 min
Never Wear Boring Socks045 | Getting Creative, Staying Inspired, & Appreciating Beauty with Jackie RandallThis week, Anna and Maria talk to graphic designer and wellness enthusiast Jackie Randall. They get into many aspects of creativity, including creative collaboration, the importance of beauty, and the emotional impact of art. Jackie also talks about how she got into graphic design, her experiences in art school and working in a creative field, finding creative community, and her many sources of inspiration. Plus, a Hamilton tangent and lots of recommendations for things to check out!
2018-10-101h 00
Never Wear Boring Socks044 | Style & Substance (& Socks)On the podcast this week, Anna and Maria talk about style. (Considering we have a podcast dedicated to unboring socks, this may be long overdue...but oh well.) They discuss how the clothes we wear can affect how we feel, and how we can use clothes as a tool for body acceptance. They also delve into the necessary evil of cleaning out your closet, and how it really can make a difference in decluttering not just our wardrobe, but our lives. As you might guess based on that idea, they end the episode by proposing a particularly challenging call to...
2018-10-0350 min
Never Wear Boring Socks043 | Spiritual MaterialIn this week’s episode, Anna and Maria dive into the very complex topic of spirituality. Some of the questions they attempt to answer: How does spirituality play into wellness, and specifically the mind-body connection? Do we have to separate ourselves from our physical experience in order to have a spiritual one? What is the relationship between spirituality, art, and creative inspiration? Is there a difference between spirituality and religion? Our hosts discuss how their relationships to spirituality have changed over time, how the language we use impacts our relationship to spirituality, and the importance of empathy, community, and compassion.
2018-09-2643 min
Never Wear Boring Socks042 | Food is Not a Moral IssueOn this week’s episode, Anna and Maria assert that food is not a moral issue—what kind of food you eat does not make you a good or bad person! Societal norms have made us think this way, however, and our fearless hosts explore the roots of this deeply ingrained misconception. From diet culture to fatphobia to vicious comparison, Anna and Maria discuss the many forces that have contributed to the ways in which we develop relationships with our food. They dive into the mind-body connection and how it can affect the way we consume food, as well as pond...
2018-09-1748 min
Never Wear Boring Socks041 | Creativity: Wellness for the WorldHow can creativity make a positive impact in the world? What is our responsibility as artists, musicians, writers, and people who are making things and sharing them with the world? From choices we make about our supplies, to carefully considering the content of what we share, to the added opportunities for impact if and when we decide to turn our creative pursuits into a creative business, Anna and Maria discuss a few of the many layers of this complex topic. Also discussed: how does this all fit into the topic of wellness?
2018-09-1147 min
Never Wear Boring Socks040 | Ayurveda, Herbs, Craniosacral Therapy, & More with Alicia HunterThis week, Anna and Maria are joined by Alicia Hunter, wellness wonder woman! Alicia is a massage and craniosacral therapist, Ayurvedic practitioner, yoga instructor, and herbalist, and we talked to her about many of these fascinating practices! Have you been wanting to learn more about Ayurveda? We cover doshas, dinacharya, and some of the other things that Ayurveda encompasses as the “science of life.” Been wondering what herbs to use in order to spice up your slice of pizza? We’ve got you covered. Alicia also discusses how creativity fits into her view of wellness, and we how we can best s...
2018-09-0456 min
Never Wear Boring Socks039 | Making Life Spicy with RoutinesOne important factor in the realms of creative work and wellness is routine. Morning routines, evening routines, in-between routines...Anna and Maria discuss their value, and some of the things they personally do each day to set themselves up for success. They also talk about finding balance between the structure of routine and the joy of spontaneity, as well as allowing our routines and habits to change as we experience change in things like our life situations, seasons, and hormones. Plus, our hosts discuss ways in which wellness routines and creativity can sometimes be in conflict, and share some of...
2018-08-271h 02
Never Wear Boring Socks038 | Stealing a Diamond is Hard...and so is knowing yourself. On this week’s episode, Anna and Maria talk all about self knowledge: how it benefits our creativity and wellbeing, tools we can use to discover self knowledge, what your star sign is… Yep, our hosts get into everything from the Enneagram to astrology, and they’ve got a lot to say about it. Most importantly, they recognize that these tools are helpful because of the potential they have for various interpretations, and that we should use them in order to be compassionate and accepting of ourselves. Getting to know ourselves is hard--but it’s worth it
2018-08-1353 min
Never Wear Boring Socks037 | What's Good for Me? Creativity!A fitting follow-up to last week’s episode, Anna and Maria dive deeper into the intersection between creativity and wellness. This time they focus on how we can view wellness with a creative and intuitive lens, rather than a rigid and dogmatic one. Our hosts discuss some of their favorite outside-the-box “wellness” practices, how to get more creative with the inside-the-box ones, and talk about what specific actions they’ll be taking to infuse their wellness routines with a bit of fresh creative energy. Plus, some discussion of delicious Ayurvedic dishes, wisdom from Amy Poehler, and another listener challenge!
2018-08-0649 min
Never Wear Boring Socks036 | Getting Rid of the GunkHow do self-care and wellness help us cultivate more creative lives? Following a discussion on the symbolism of watermelon and Harry Potter socks, as well as Maria’s coining of our listeners as “creative soles” (the more sock puns, the better, yes?), Anna and Maria delve into this question on the podcast this week. They cover a range of topics from the complicated issue of the tortured artist archetype, to how nourishing our mental well-being can help us share our creative work. They also take time to appreciate the benefits of food and sleep (is there ever enough time to devote...
2018-07-3054 min
Never Wear Boring Socks035 | Integrative Medicine with Dr. Nancy Van SlounYour favorite sock-loving, podcasting cousins are back! To kick off Season 2 of Never Wear Boring Socks, Anna and Maria are joined by Dr. Nancy Van Sloun for a conversation about integrative and holistic medicine, the importance of mind-body practices, and more. Our hosts also share some updates about what to expect in the new season, and the new direction they’re taking with future episodes of the podcast.
2018-07-2457 min
Never Wear Boring Socks034 | Updates & End-of-Season ReflectionsAs Season 1 wraps up, Anna and Maria give some updates on the podcast and on their lives as a whole. Maria starts things off with yet another PMA story involving an airport (is it fate?). Our two co-hosts then discuss where they’re at in their college and post-college lives, and the insights they’ve gained in the past year. They also reflect on their experience with Never Wear Boring Socks thus far. Finally, this week’s episode wraps up with some quick co-host questions and some favorites.
2018-05-0748 min
Never Wear Boring Socks033 | Envy, Comparison, & CreativityThis week’s episode is all about envy and comparison. In particular, Anna and Maria delve into what it’s like to experience these feelings in the realm of our creative outlets. We regularly compare ourselves to others in all sorts of ways, but as creatives, we can get particularly obsessed with comparison when it comes to our craft. Our hosts talk about their own experiences being both inspired and discouraged by others’ creative output, and explore the ways in which comparison can get in our way when we’re trying to produce original work. Ultimately, they apply PMA to the situ...
2018-04-3044 min
Never Wear Boring Socks032 | Self CareAnna and Maria delve into the diverse topic of self care this week. Self care is pretty trendy right now, but what is it exactly? Our co-hosts discuss what it means to take care of ourselves and how this fits into the traditional perceptions of self care, and why self care is so important (especially within our current busy lifestyles). They talk about some of their favorite self care practices and the individualized nature of self care, as well as the need to evolve our self care routines. Ultimately, self care is about being in touch with our bodies and...
2018-04-2152 min
Never Wear Boring Socks031 | Creative InspirationAs creative people, we love inspiration. It feels great...that is, when you have it. So how do we go about getting inspired? What is inspiration, anyway? Our hosts discuss a wide range of inspiration-related topics, including the inspiration we find in other people’s work, and the mysterious and ineffable qualities of this elusive force. Is inspiration something we take in from the world around us, or is it something that already exists inside each of us? Is it a unique entity with a mind of its own? Is it, perhaps, all of the above? We hope you enjoy th...
2018-04-0650 min
Never Wear Boring Socks030 | Crafting & Writing with Alanna OkunThis week Anna and Maria welcome a very special guest, Alanna Okun. Alanna is a writer, editor, and crafter...in other words, a very appropriate guest for Never Wear Boring Socks. An avid knitter, she even makes her own un-boring socks. Alanna’s work can be found on Racked, Buzzfeed, NPR, Apartment Therapy, The Hairpin, and The Billfold, and she’s appeared on Good Morning America and The Today Show. Our hosts talk to Alanna about crafting, writing, and her recent project that merges the two: her first book, The Curse of the Boyfriend Sweater. Alanna also talks about paid crea...
2018-03-3158 min
Never Wear Boring Socks029 | HappinessAnna and Maria discuss happiness this week, which is not quite as straightforward as it seems… They consider typical conceptions of a happy life, what it really means to be happy (and how this can be different in the long- and short-term scheme of things), and some ways we can cultivate happiness in our own lives in realistic ways. They agree that happiness is all about an internal appreciation of your life, and that PMA can help make happiness a more regular occurrence.
2018-03-2342 min
Never Wear Boring Socks028 | Body ImageThis week, Anna and Maria tackle the topic of body image. First, they discuss their own experiences with body image, and offer some reasons for why it’s such a painful issue for so many people. They also offer some ideas for how we can improve our own relationships to our bodies, as well as move things in the right direction on a larger scale. Our hosts bring in some supporting voices: first from the field of science showing us that health is WAY more than weights and BMIs, then an essay with a really important message, and finally a po...
2018-03-1547 min
Never Wear Boring Socks027 | StressThis week, Anna and Maria discuss stress. We all experience it… but we each experience stress in different ways and manage it differently. Our co-hosts delve into the causes and types of stress, how stress is different for both young adults and for creative people, and the mind-body connection in regards to stress. They ultimately provide some possible ways to develop a better relationship with stress, and recognizing that managing stress is a question of changing our perspective on time.
2018-03-1053 min
Never Wear Boring Socks026 | PeriodsThis week Anna and Maria talk periods! It’s a topic that doesn’t get discussed enough (which is silly, because periods affect half of the population on a very regular basis). Our co-hosts consider why periods aren’t talked about more, discuss their own experiences with periods, what’s so AMAZING about menstruation, and some cool new period products and organizations. Remember: your period is a cycle that regulates your body and lets you know how you’re doing. Get to know your period!
2018-03-0252 min
Never Wear Boring Socks025 | Intuition, Creativity, & Travel with Eva PetersonThis week, Anna and Maria interview special guest Eva Peterson! Eva is an artist, illustrator, vlogger, world traveler, and a fellow journaler and meditator. We talked to Eva about listening to your intuition and how Eva’s led hers to quit her job and travel, what she’s experienced so far in her travels, drawing, creativity, what it’s like to do a 10-day silent meditation retreat, editing videos, and more!
2018-02-221h 03
Never Wear Boring Socks024 | PerfectionismOn this week’s episode, Maria and Anna discuss perfectionism. They offer answers as to why some of us are perfectionists, what areas of life we apply perfectionism to, and how it both hinders and helps us. They also discuss how perfectionism relates to control, how it affects collaboration with others, and ultimately how we can change our views on perfectionism in order to benefit us. And, they round out the discussion with some classic wisdom from Voltaire.
2018-02-1647 min
Never Wear Boring Socks023 | Sock Talk: Updates & ReflectionsA lot has happened since Never Wear Boring Socks was born, so our hosts took the opportunity to reflect on their experiences and share a few updates. Topics include charitable donations, a newly released EP from a past podcast guest, the PMA award of the year (yes, of the year, even though it is only February. This was a very impressive display of PMA), the statuses of Anna’s and Maria’s New Year’s resolutions, current creative projects, some general life updates, and a discussion of what Anna and Maria have gained from the podcast over the course of the fi...
2018-02-0841 min
Never Wear Boring Socks022 | Sharing Creative WorkAnna and Maria return to the topic of creativity this week, specifically addressing the process of sharing creative work. They tackle the various fears that might preclude us from sharing work, discuss the benefits of sharing our products with others, and some things to keep in mind along the way. Ultimately, they decide that although sharing work is scary, it helps us become better and more confident artists. And it makes us want to share more!
2018-02-021h 03
Never Wear Boring Socks021 | HabitsThis week, Maria and Anna talk about habits (and struggle to correctly say “habit” throughout the episode… what is up with this word?). Our fearless co-hosts attempt to answer some elusive questions: What makes an action a habit? Why do we label habits as good and bad? How do we keep the positive habits in our lives? They also talk about how habits relate to creativity, time, decision-making, and more. We hope you find some of our suggestions helpful as you continue your resolutions for the new year—habits are a good way to follow through on your goals!
2018-01-2652 min
Never Wear Boring Socks020 | Letting it Out with Katie DaleboutAnna and Maria are joined this week by a very special guest, Katie Dalebout! Katie is the host of the podcast Let It Out and author of the book Let It Out: A Journey Through Journaling. She’s also a speaker, mentor, eating disorder recovery advocate, and an enthusiast of many things. Her work has been featured in places like Refinery29, The Huffington Post, MindBodyGreen, Teen Vogue, Women’s Health, The Telegraph, and many more. Since Katie’s an advocate for journaling and creativity, of course we had to invite her to join us on Never Wear Boring Socks! Our hosts...
2018-01-201h 00
Never Wear Boring Socks019 | TraditionsAnna and Maria have traditions on the mind coming out of the holiday season, so for this week’s episode they dive into the topic and explore their own relationships with tradition. Some of the questions they ask, and attempt to answer: What makes a tradition a tradition, and in what ways do traditions add value to our lives? How do our traditions evolve with us as we change and grow, and when is it time to let them go? Why did Maria wear plaid on the same day every year until she was 18? They also discuss why traditions may be...
2018-01-1153 min
Never Wear Boring Socks018 | ResolutionsThis week, Maria and Anna welcome in 2018 with a conversation about resolutions. They tackle the conundrum of why New Year’s resolutions often don't result in the way we want them to, and discuss what provides for an optimal environment and plan for fulfilling your goals. They end this week's episode with some concrete tips for creating your resolutions this year, as well as with some wisdom from Henry David Thoreau.
2018-01-0448 min
Never Wear Boring Socks017 | NostalgiaWhat feelings do you associate with nostalgia? Is nostalgia positive or negative? These are some of the questions Maria and Anna ask this week in their discussion about nostalgia and all its complexities. They begin by sharing their experiences with nostalgia, then explore some recent research which argues that nostalgia is actually good for us. They discuss how we can use nostalgia to our own advantage and in order to make meaning out of our lives, and how, ultimately, utilizing nostalgia is just all about PMA.
2017-12-1449 min
Never Wear Boring Socks016 | Holiday Gift IdeasThe holidays are upon us! For many people, the holiday season means gift-giving, so Maria and Anna set out to compile some gift-giving approaches and ideas. They discuss the five different love languages and how these can inform our methods of gift-giving, and the importance of giving something that will make the recipient feel loved and appreciated. They then share some of their favorite small businesses and artisans that create wonderful products and gifts, because supporting independent artists means supporting creativity. Gift giving doesn’t always have to be about purchasing items, however, so Maria and Anna give some gift id...
2017-12-0851 min
Never Wear Boring Socks015 | Four Weirdos with a PodcastThis is a very special episode because Anna and Maria are joined by not one, but TWO special guests: their siblings, Martha Barnard and Ben Ramsey! Because it’s the holiday season, our hosts decided it would be fitting to invite family to join them...and it’s a party! The four cousins discuss long distance cousinhood and staying in touch, music, favorite colors, spirit animals, life cakes, and more.
Reminder: For the rest of 2017, we're donating a dollar to the Hispanic Federation's Unidos hurricane relief fund for every review we receive. So please leave a review if you've been enjo...
2017-12-0250 min
Never Wear Boring Socks014 | Creative & Productive SpacesThis week, Maria and Anna talk about the way we interact with our spaces. Based on their own experience, they focus on how physical space can affect creativity and productivity, as well as some of the space-related challenges common to young adults (like living in a dorm room or other shared or small space). They discuss a variety of topics that can affect how we perceive a space, including color, layout, size, lighting, decor, clutter, and feng shui. They also talk about some of the helpful changes they’ve made to their own spaces, and how they’ve tackled the chal...
2017-11-231h 01
Never Wear Boring Socks013 | Making DecisionsThis week, Anna and Maria ponder the decision-making process, something they’ve both continually struggled with. They reflect on some of the big decisions they’ve had to make in their own lives, highlighting choices they’ve had to make in college and decisions regarding the activities they have participated in. In addition, they discuss what makes decisions so complex and difficult, and the differences between “big” and “small” decisions (apparently, small decisions can be deceiving in their smallness). Finally, they brainstorm some ways to make decision-making a little easier.
2017-11-091h 02
Never Wear Boring Socks012 | FearThis week, Anna and Maria tackle the topic of fear. They talk about fear’s relationship to other emotions, notably excitement and love, and why thinking about these relationships can be helpful. They also discuss some of the different feelings that we lump together under the English word “fear,” and their thoughts on how our language affects our perceptions of situations. They also talk about some tools we can use to confront and let go of fear, while acknowledging that the goal is not to eliminate fear altogether, but rather to focus more on how we can cultivate other feelings, like l...
2017-11-021h 00
Never Wear Boring Socks011 | Variety is the Spice of Life!This week, Maria and Anna switch things up a bit (because, after all, variety is the spice of life). To remind themselves (and listeners) of the inner childlike wonder and creativity that is always somewhere inside them, they transform the Never Wear Boring Socks podcast to the Never Wear Boring Socks theatre company, and read from a play they wrote, directed, and acted in along with their siblings when they were younger. Following this reading, our hosts put each other on the spot and ask one another some thought-provoking questions. Finally, they finish up the episode with their recent favorites...
2017-10-2636 min
Never Wear Boring Socks010 | Getting to Know Yourself with Rebecca CooperIn this week’s episode, Anna and Maria are joined by special guest Rebecca Cooper. The three of them chat about a few topics that fall under the umbrella of getting to know yourself better, including introversion vs. extroversion, quitting before you burn out, and Gretchen Rubin’s Four Tendencies framework (a way of understanding how people respond to inner and outer expectations). They discuss similarities and differences between the ways each of them interacts with the world and consider how the self-knowledge they’ve gained can be applied in their work, social lives, and creative pursuits. Also discussed: the merits...
2017-10-191h 11
Never Wear Boring Socks009 | IdentityOn this week’s episode, Maria and Anna discuss the complex topic of identity. They share what terms and phrases they use to identify themselves, and delve into the ideas of self-image, having multiple or conflicting identities, and how others’ perceptions of us affect our identities. How do stereotypes play in with identity? Do we need to be sure of our identity or identities? Can our identities evolve? Should they evolve? The cousins offer possible (and maybe somewhat questionable) answers to all these questions. Some fun tidbits from this episode include thoughts on Kesha’s awesomeness, analysis of the phrase “be yours...
2017-10-121h 01
Never Wear Boring Socks008 | The Post-College PeriodIn this episode, Anna and Maria discuss the transition from college into the somewhat murky yet very exciting post-college period. Maria talks about her experience finding community out in the Real World, how it’s different from finding community in college, and what has worked well for her. The cousins also dive into the topic of career: the pressures we put on ourselves to find the perfect career and start pursuing it right out of school and why this isn’t helpful. They offer what they believe to be a better option (at least for those of us who haven’t know...
2017-10-0554 min
Never Wear Boring Socks007 | ProductivityOn this week’s episode, Maria and Anna attempt to tackle the topic of productivity. They discuss its complexity and how it has taken shape differently throughout their lives, and how focus, prioritization, and procrastination come into play. And, they decide that productivity is basically just another form of mindfulness (it’s everywhere!). At the end of the episode, following all their musings, our two hosts come up with some practical ways to find motivation and maximize productivity on a regular basis (hint: it includes some PMA).
2017-09-291h 01
Never Wear Boring Socks006 | CreativityThis week Anna and Maria talk about creativity, and they both have a quite a lot to say about it...so much, in fact, that it was agreed there will definitely be more episodes on this topic in the future. The cousins discuss the benefits of creativity, what counts as creativity (hint: it doesn’t have to be painting or writing a novel!), what it means to identify as a creative person, dealing with judgment from yourself and others, doing creative work as a career, and how Anna and Maria’s relationships to their creative outlets have changed over time. Also...
2017-09-211h 05
Never Wear Boring Socks005 | Music, Travel, and the Creative Process with Monica Hunter-HartIn this episode, we're thrilled to welcome our very first guest, Monica Hunter-Hart! Monica is a talented musician and a truly wonderful person, and Anna and Maria had a great time talking to her. There's a lot of discussion about music, songwriting, and the creative process, and Monica also talks a bit about her travels and how her experience in Turkey influenced the way she thinks about music.
2017-09-141h 04
Never Wear Boring Socks004 | MindfulnessOn this week's episode, Maria and Anna discuss the ever important and elusive idea of mindfulness, which Anna admits she's not very adept at practicing (but vows to make an effort to improve!). They ponder mindfulness’s role in eating, meditation, and relationships, as well as its purpose and practice.
2017-09-0753 min