Getting into new things: Podcasts

A while ago I finally got on the podcast train. My flatmate listens to them regularly and even in class we have been discussing them, so there is no escaping now. I really wanted to see what the fuss was about, but I was also a bit indifferent to them. Storytelling via simple audio has never really interested me that much, and on the bus I often listen to music or just play around on my phone. But there is one thing that really becomes so much less boring- walking somewhere. Yes, you might look a little weird just staring into oblivion, being in your own bubble while walking around town, but listening to an exciting podcast gets you places really fast haha. I find walking to the gym really annoying, so this really helps with that.

So here are a few of my current listening choices.


 Serial

Serial has been so popular and seriously hyped, but for a reason. Sarah Koenig has a really nice voice (so important for these things) and tells the story in a great way.  and has been my favorite podcast so far.She retells and explores the case of Hae Min Lee's murder in 1999. Adnan Syed, her ex boyfriend, has been in jail ever since being charged with first-degree murder. He claims and has done so for the past 15 years, so Koenig explores both the evidence and also Adnan's side of things. I don't wanna tell more, just go ahead and check it out!

Stuff Mom Never Told You

The next podcast is completely different. It's called 'Stuff Mom Never Told You'. Hosts Caroline and Cristen explore topical things surrounding gender roles, feminism and other issues. I like the two hosts, their podcasts are flawless, they never trip over their tongues or talk over each other. Their ideas are inspiring and their topics are quite fun. I really enjoyed their podcast about the word bitch, character crushes and Taylor Swift. You can listen to it here: x

Criminal

After I finished Serial, I was looking for something just as good. I stumbled upon this and I am still not sure what this podcast really is about, but I like it. The Internet describes it as 'Stories of people who’ve done wrong, been wronged, or gotten caught somewhere in the middle.' Some of them are not so interesting, but some of them are quite good. For example, there was an episode about animal trials: There was a time when animals were being given trials, whenever they did something illegal. The idea of a pig being charged with murder still makes me giggle, and that episode convinced me that 'Criminal' was definitely worth listening to.

If you already know Serial, then you should go and check out 'Undisclosed'. It explores the case of Adnan Syed even more and this time it is attorneys who are doing it. I love it, it is different than Serial but still pretty good in it's own way. It's weird how you can get so interested in a kind of hopeless murder investigation...Anyways, check it out!

If you want to listen to these podcasts, you can either listen to them on the websites, if you have an Iphone you can download them through the iTunes store, and I listen to them via the app 'Podcast Addict'.


 

YouTube catch up

In these past weeks, I have watched all five seasons of Pretty Little Liars. Now I have to wait 9 days for the next season to start and I am not looking forward to waiting a whole week for the next episode. Urgh. In the meanwhile, I am exploring all the fun things that YouTube has to offer and that I have missed during my PLL binge watching (cause I seriously did nothing else).

Here are my favorites:

Everyone has probably already seen this, but I just can't get over how funny the editing is. I love it.

I mean really anything out of this series (guys acting like...) is hilarious and so awkward cause its true. There, I said it.

I know this film came out ages ago, but it really was bad (sorry Channing) and these honest trailers just nail it. Also I finally understand the plot, thanks to this video.

Aaaah I love the original and this cover is amazing too. 

Croatia dreaming

Aw summer. I have mentioned a few months ago that my friend and I are gonna go to Croatia this summer and spend a week on a yacht. Excited doesn't cover it, and I can't stop looking at cute summer clothes and fun things to take with me. Also we need waterproof everything, nice towels, boat shoes and all of that stuff. Ah!

 Anyway, here are some things I already bought on Ebay- you gotta love it all those bargains! How beautiful is this two piece? I love the porcelain look!

two piece x, sunglasses x, tattoos x

I cannot wait to be tanned and feel the sun on my skin. Scotland really makes you forget what real summer feels like.

Why I am excited to move to Birmingham

Now that I got in to BCU and will actually seriously move to Birmingham in the fall, it is terrifying to think about all the things I need to do. Figure out storage over the summer, finding a new flat (!!!!!!), getting all my stuff there, settling down once again. Every new place obviously also has its perks, and here are some about Birmingham. First of all, the train to London only takes about two hours, so that is really exciting! Seeing some of my English friends on a more regular basis is something I really look forward to.

A big part is obviously discovering fun new restaurants, bars and pubs. Buzzfeed is a surprisingly good guide for new and exciting things, such as 18 Cocktails Every Brummie Must Try, 19 Birmingham Brunches You Must Try Before You Die and this one about street food.

How yummy does all of this look? I wanna eat everything.right.meow.

And as much as I will be missing the Highlands and the beautiful Scottish landscape, there are other pretty places in the UK. Birmingham is not really that close to a coast, but not too far away from beautiful Welsh beaches.

And one of my favorite areas that is quite close to Birmingham is the Cotswolds. I mean, look at this! Cannot wait to go and see this for myself.

How beautiful is this?

So yes, I am also a little excited to move there.

Favorite Documentaries

It's a bit strange, I would not consider myself an avid documentary watcher, but whenever I do come across a (good) film, I tell myself that I need to watch more of them. When I was in Texas, I took a media communication class in which we had to watch quite a lot of documentaries, that were all really fascinating. Since then I have watched quite a few, so here are some of my favorites.

1. Blackfish

This film has actually inspired me to write this post. I watched this just recently after hearing so much about it. This documentary is looking in to the whales and their lives at SeaWorld. The situation with these animals is really heartbreaking and I have had mixed feelings about SeaWorld for a long time, but now I will definitely never visit any of their parks ever again. 

2. Misrepresentation

This is a documentary that is similar to one I have watched in class. Talking about representation of gender (and race etc etc) in the media has been a fundamental part of almost every class I have taken at university, and this documentary sums a lot of things up quite nicely. Terrifying and depressing, but really informative.

3. Dreamworlds

Phew, this film is a really tough watch. I have watched this over a year ago and it feels like it was yesterday, that's how much the film has stayed with me. It just shows how messed up parts of our culture really are.  

4. The September Issue

This is one I have recently watched on Netflix and I was surprised by how interesting it was! Sure, fashion is interesting and everyone needs to wear something, but designers were never my thing and I never read Vogue either. Nevertheless, it was fun and interesting to watch.

Current obsessions

1. Snapchat

I have always been slightly confused by Snapchat, but I guess it just takes some tutorials by obsessed friends and some fun people to follow, and I cannot stop using it. Not so much creating stories, but stalking others and following the live city stories and events!


2. Zoella

This girl is seriously everywhere in the UK- she's a YouTube vlogger that has over  8 (EIGHT!!!) million (MILLION!!!) followers, released her first novel, has her own beauty line, and she was in the Band Aid 30 track of this year..- oh and she is going to be made in to a wax figure at Madame Tussaud!!! She has two channels and I really prefer her 'More Zoella' one, where she just films her days and you follow her along.. One Sunday not too long ago I got stuck and watched almost every video. She has been quite open about her anxiety and her flaws and of course she still has a lot of haters (cause the internet is also full of mean people), but really it is hard to dislike her. She seems to give a lot of people inspiration and support, which is nice.

3.  Pretty Little Liars

I have been following Lucy Hale on Instagram for a while now, mostly because of her amazing hair- so I couldn't escape the PLL references. I started watching it just to see what it was like,and afterwards I skimmed through wikis to find out who A is and read a ton of spoilers. And guess what, I still couldn't stop watching. So here I am, 40hours later and halfway in to season 3.

4. Honey roasted chickpeas 

via x

 This is a staple that one of us makes almost every day. Ridiculously easy and SO GOOD.