Eight Great Podcasts

About 6 months ago, I fell in love with podcasts again. I'd cut back a lot in the last few years, with my iPod getting older and iTunes becoming increasingly difficult to work with. One day the battery in my iPod had run down, so I decided to try downloading one of the podcast apps I'd been hearing about recently. (I ended up choosing Stitcher, but there are several others out there.)

To my pleasant surprise, I found that there's been a resurgence in the popularity of podcasts in the last few years. Some of my old favourites were on Stitcher, and I discovered many more podcasts that I love. More than I could ever possibly have time to listen to! Skip to the end for two BONUS podcasts that I just had to include, and have a look at my other blog for Eight Great Spiritual Podcasts. I might have to do a second list soon because there are just so many!

Here's the list, not in any kind of order:


1. She's All Fat
A podcast for all people and all bodies. April and Sophie chat about all things body positivity, self-love, issues that fat people and allies face, tips and advice, and their favourite music, TV shows and Instagrams. While some of the topics are pretty intense and potentially triggering, their policy of "chill vibes only" helps to keep the chat light and fun. After 3 seasons, I feel like I'm listening to friends, and that I'm part of the "fatmily".
Website | Patreon | Instagram

2. Against Everyone with Conner Habib
Conner interviews counter-cultural figures on such topics as culture, politics, patriarchy, body positivity, spirituality, creativity, the occult and more. Many of the topics are ones that I hadn't thought much about previously, and I always come away wiser than I was before. Plus, Conner is so inclusive and friendly, and seems like a real sweetie.
Website | Patreon

3. Le Show
Hosted by Harry Shearer of The Simpsons fame, Le Show has been running weekly for 35 years in various formats. He focuses his acerbic wit on such topics as current news, politics, and the environment. My favourite segment is Apologies of the Week. There are occasional interviews, but most of the shows are hosted by Harry on his own, with satirical skits and songs. It's just about the only way that I keep up with current events now that I can't bear to watch the news anymore.
Website

4. Tokyo Tales
Simon and Martina, a Canadian foodie couple living in Japan, are already well-known for their YouTube videos on life in Japan. Their podcast delves deeper into their lives with small observations, funny stories, tips and advice. It also looks at Martina's chronic illness and her strategies for getting through life as happily as she can. This is an audio-visual podcast on YouTube.
YouTube

5. The Teacher's Pet
UPDATE: This podcast is has been made unavailable in Australia due to currently occurring trial. It will be made available again as soon as practicable after the trial is over.
There are many, many true crime podcasts, but this was one of the most compelling for me. It covers a crime committed in Sydney 35 years ago -- the disappearance and probable murder of Lyn Dawson. Her husband was a famous rugby player and school teacher, and she had 2 small children. When she disappeared, everyone believed her husband's story. The crime is being investigated by Hedley Thompson, a journalist for the Australian. As the first few episodes of the podcast came out, witnesses approached him to add new information to the case. This led to the police investigation being re-opened. It is essential to listen to this podcast chronologically from the beginning.
Website

6. Manuscripting
Out of the (again) many, many writing podcasts out there, I've chosen Manuscripting because I think it deserves more love. A podcast doesn't have to be professionally produced (or have ads in it!) to be worthwhile. The episodes are quite short and feature Leslie just talking about her experiences and tips with writing. Leslie is also an artist and pen nerd, so those topics sometimes creep in too. It's an audio-only podcast on YouTube.
YouTube

7. The History of Vikings
There are hundreds of history podcasts to choose from, from the BBC through to the Stuff You Should Know stable of offerings, but I chose The History of Vikings because it's independently produced, and has varied and interesting guests. Topics range from the broad to the everyday, such as food or music, and guests include scientists, historians and re-enactors.
Website

8. History of Witchcraft
Okay, here's another history podcast! Again, it's independently produced, and well-researched with a splash of humour. Many original texts as well as scholarly sources are referred to. It covers the witch trials of the 16th century, as well as the cultural history of and attitudes to witchcraft in ancient Greece, Persia and other topics.
Website


BONUS! 9. Dead and Buried
Another history podcast, Dead and Buried focuses on historical crimes in Melbourne. As a Melbournian history nerd, it's right up my alley! I came across it by accident a few weeks ago, and have been bingeing on it ever since. The hosts work at the Public Record Office, and use its resources to come up with stories that have comprehensive historical context and are also interesting and varied. There are murders, but there are also love affairs, ghosts, riots, and activities that are no longer crimes today, such as cross-dressing. The website has supporting material with some wonderful period photos and illustrations. I know it's a niche podcast, but I'd really like to see it get more love!
Website

BONUS! 10. Kākāpō Files
Kākāpō are a flightless parrot native to New Zealand. They are adorable and also critically endangered -- there are less than 150 left in the world. There is however, a dedicated breeding programme and fans around the world focused on their recovery. I only discovered this podcast a few days ago and haven't listened to a full episode yet, but I'm including it on the list because the kākāpō is my favourite animal!
TIP: you need to put the accents above the vowels when searching in Stitcher (and presumably other apps) to find the podcast.
Website

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Eight Great ... Spring Vegetables

It's high time I did another post in my Eight Great series! And seeing as a) I'm doing the healthy thing at the moment and b) I firmly believe that cooking is an art as well as a craft, I thought I'd do one on seasonal produce. So I fondly present:

Eight Great Spring Vegetables! (And Some Fruits Too)

1. asparagus

Mmmm, asparagus! When I was a kid, I hated it! Blech! I can't remember the first time I tried it again, but now I'm quite enamoured of it. To be honest, it probably came about because I was looking for excuses to eat Hollandaise Sauce, which is my favourite food. Now I like asparagus for what it is. The crisp taste and long, upright stalks epitomise Spring for me.
I would probably have it in:
Asparagus and Hollandaise Tart or Asparagus and Goat's Cheese Frittata

2. corn

Biting freshly cooked corn straight off the cob is one of the simple pleasures in life. Its origins being South America, it evokes the exotic - chilli, salsas and Mexican tortillas. It's also found in Asian food such as chicken and sweet corn soup, and more homely foods like fritters and breads. I love how the kernels burst between my teeth and the flavour just sings of sunshine and the colour yellow.
Some o' the good corn:
Corn, Cauliflower and Chicken Pies or Chilli Corn Muffins

3. zucchini

The fresh, green taste of zucchini fits well in Mediterranean dishes as well as stir fries. They do just as well as corn grated into muffins or breads. I like to add long strips to a pan of roasted vegetables, about half an hour before the bell goes off so they're cooked at the same time as the potatoes and pumpkin. The strips are also great brushed with a little extra virgin olive oil and given the once-over on my George Foreman.
Zucchini lovin':
Zucchini, Chorizo and Fetta Pasta or Zucchini and Haloumi Fritters

4. tomatoes

Now, I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with tomatoes. I hate raw tomatoes! I'm not ashamed to pick them out of sandwiches and burgers in any kind of social situation. However, I just adore a good tomato-based pasta sauce or a sprinkling of roasted cherry tomatoes in my salad - just as long as they've been cooked to within an inch of their lives. It's hard to believe now that tomatoes originated in South America and have only been known in Europe for the last 500 years. They seem like they just belong in Spanish and Italian cooking. The cheeky little boogers!
They've wended their way into:
Spicy Tomato, Ricotta and Thyme Pasta or Tomato Curried Sausages

5. mandarines

I know that many people spell it 'mandarin'. But Wikipedia says both spellings are OK and we all know the interwubs never lies, right? *cough* Mandarines have a sunny look and feel that reminds you that summer is coming. The main reason I like them is because they're easier to peel than oranges ... and they're sweeter. They're great just on their own, but sometimes you want something a little more sophisticated from your fruit.
So I would make:
Mandarine Filo Rolls with Cardamom Clove Syrup or Chilli, Chicken and Mandarine Stir Fry

6. snow peas

When I was a kid, I hated peas and beans of any kind. Snowpeas brought me around with their crunchy texture and exotic flavour. With snowpeas in the mix, you don't need to put much more into a stir fry or salad to feel that you've had a satisfying culinary experience. They're the perfect foil to the heaviness of a black bean sauce or the dense sweetness of pumpkin. In France they're known as mangetout which means "eat all", which is appropriate, I think!
I'm ready to whip up:
Singapore Noodles with Lamb and Snow Peas or Chicken and Snow Pea Chinese-Style Pancakes

7. strawberries

Strawberries are summer! But they first appear in spring, and remind me that warmer weather is on the way. Actually, different varieties ripen at different times, so we can enjoy strawberries most of the year. Personally I find strawberries are often too tart for my taste, but with that bright red colour and shaped like a love-heart, I just have to forgive them! Being a sweet-tooth, my favourite ways to eat strawberries are in jams, syrups and chocolate fondue. Strawberry yoghurt and ice cream are also fab. I went for some classic recipes with this one.
Some "berry" good desserts : [sorry, I just had to!]
Strawberry Jelly with Rosewater Cream or Strawberry Shortcake

8.broad beans

Broad beans, also known as Fava beans, are another food that I couldn't stand until just recently. I remember tasting them when I was a little kid and having to exert all of my self control not to spit them out! Then at Easter this year I was having lunch at a winery. The first course of the set menu included a Fava bean salad. It slipped my mind that they were the same thing as the hated broad bean, just in disguise. When the salad arrived at the table, I was quite perturbed. Perhaps it was just the wine talking, but I decided to try one. It was delicious! I was amazed at how my tastes could have changed so completely over the years. Ever since then I've been busting for them to come back into season so I can try cooking with them for myself.
As soon as I see them at the grocery, I'm going to make:
Broad Bean, Bacon and Spinach Risotto or Broad Bean Dip with Rosemary Crisps

Eat and enjoy!

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Previous Eight Greats...	More Food...
... Blogs I Just Found	In The Kitchen: Muffin Tops
... Products I'd Like To Get My Hands On	Easter Baking: Greek Tsoureki Bread

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Writing is Boring .. To Watch, Anyway.

A lot of my spare time lately has been taken up with writing - writing exercises and experiments, writing lists of things to do, writing in my art journal, writing emails to friends for their or my succour, signing up for an online writing course that I haven't had time to start yet, trying to finish a book about writing that's due back at the library soon, reading about writing, talking about writing, thinking about writing ... and even selling my writing! Unfortunately, all that activity doesn't tend to add up to blog posts with pretty images, and unless I'm willing to post what I've written, not much content either. So, I'll show you what isn't too boring or too personal, and what I've been able to take half-decent photos of, and if I fill in the gaps with images of things that I like from Etsy or Flickr, I hope you forgive me. Besides, it's my blog and I'll post whatever I want!

Today I'd like to share some of the new and inspiring blogs I've started reading recently, in:

EIGHT GREAT BLOGS I JUST FOUND

1. Fawa - I love her cutesy-kitsch yet slightly creepy illustrations, and I just ordered some hand-carved rubber stamps from her Etsy shop. Her little monster pouches are adorable too. I love the way she works in different media, a bit like me. The fact that she's in Mexico got me excited too.

2. Sara Wears Clothes - [No longer available as of Jan 2010] - This new fashion blog is one of those a-post-a-day, this-is-what-I-wore-today blogs. But unlike any other I've seen, this girl has a dress size in the double-figures, and actual cleavage. So empowering!

3.Go Fug Yourself - Another fashion blog, this is one of my few celebrity-watching indulgences. A plethora of fugly outfits with laugh-out-loud commentary.

4.The Argyle Academy - by Mike Lowery. His illustrations are cute and whimsical and everyday and magical and witty. And he's just gotten back from Japan.

5. ii-ne-kore and jollygoo - Two blogs dedicated to Japanese design, aesthetics and food. One is by an ex-pat Japanese girl living in Melbourne. Both of them regularly make my mouth go 'O'. I couldn't stop at just one!

6. Spiritual Evolution of the Bean - Biffy Beans is a former heavy-metal fan who's obsessed with ink, pens and paper and uses them to make beautiful mandalas. She's on my reader because: a) she's even more obsessed with art supplies than I am, and b) she demonstrates what amazing art can be made from the most simple materials.

7. Capybara Madness - I've recently branched out from reading craft blogs only, and I think I'm the better for it. This one about (and by?) Caplin Rous, a pet capybara living in the U. S. but who has his little paw on the world-wide capybara pulse.

8. A Lovely Dream - by Suzi Blu. A mixed media artist who does tutorial videos on art, journalling and all round just loving yourself. Her dog Gigi is adorable. I think I have a bit of a lady crush on her. And I'm OK with that.

Eight Great Things to do on Your Lunchbreak

This post stems mainly from the fact that now I'm on contract instead of a casual worker, I have to have an hour for lunch and finish at a set time instead of taking half an hour and finishing earlier - or whenever I like. *pouts*

* Go for a walk.
My new book Walk off Weight has you walking every day at different speeds and duration until, 8 weeks later, you are fitter and healthier than before. (Then you start over at Advanced Level). This has the added advantage that I won't have to do cardio exercise after work, and I will have more time to do my Susan Powter strength training video or my yoga DVD when I get home.

* Do online drawing course.
I have been wanting to take a drawing course for a few years now, but didn't have the money, time or courage. Perhaps this one?

* Do shopping chores.
Need to go to the chemist, or Lincraft, or the art supplies shop? Why wait til after work when you can get it out of the way in your lunchbreak?

* Maintain shop / post in blog.
Yes folks, you may be hearing from me a lot more often from now on!

* Do craft in the park.
How relaxing and lovely would that be? I'm lucky enough to have 2 fabbo parks just next door to my building! Just one of the few perks of working for the government. I could also listen to educational podcasts while I'm crafting and kill two birds with one stone.

* Catch up on reading blogs.
Let's face it - I have so many blogs on my reader that this is never going to happen! But it's fun trying.

* Visit art galleries.
How many art galleries are within 2 blocks of my building? At least 3 I can think of off the top of my head. There must be more. Get some culcha up ya and go to some galleries!

* Cook a hot lunch - using the microwave and toaster oven!
I love cooking and I love a challenge!

Eight Great Products

I've decided to make like a poor person in the interests of my trip that's coming up in about 5 weeks now. However, this has made me even more excited about all the wonderful crafting equipment that's out there. Here's a summary:

Eight Great Products I'd Like to Get my Hands On

1. Padding Compound - This is the stuff that's used to glue notepads together. All you have to do is clamp some pages together, paint it along the edge and Voila!, you've made your very own note pad. For a compulsive list maker and increasingly enthusiastic re-user like me, it would be very handy. You could probably apply it to lots of other craft projects as well.

2. Diamond Glaze - It's a varnish that pours on thick, like a layer of resin, and it can be used on bottle caps, fridge magnets, paper, fabric, just about anything. You just pour it on, without the time consuming mess, faffing around with moulds and noxious fumes of resin. Well, probably not quite as many noxious fumes, relatively speaking.

3. Gel Medium - This medium is used with acrylic paints to change their properties. It can slow down the drying time and other stuff. I found out from the interwubs (bless it!) that you can also use it to transfer images. Paint it on the image, lay it on down face down onto your surface, and rub hard. Peel the paper off and whammo! The image is now on something else! I know this one is freely available, and less than a 15-minute walk away too, it's just that I don't think my credit card can take much more of a beating right now. But I want it!

4. Glitter - Oh sure, it's readily available in Australia, but have you seen how expensive it is? Why is that?? I wonder if I can make my own.... hmmm....

5. Temporary Marker - It's a fabric marking pen that magically disappears 48 hours after it's applied. How wondrous! I really need that cos I tend to go a bit overboard with the dressmaker's chalk and everything ends up with orange marks on it. You'd want to make sure you can finish your project in one go though. Often that's not possible for me!

6. Double-Sided Interfacing - I'm not sure what the official name for this stuff, but it's iron-on interfacing that's sticky on both sides. You'd think it would be easy to get a hold of, but no. The fact that Spotlight doesn't label anything properly and when it does, it doesn't specify one side or both, makes it quite difficult. Grrrr! (*busts a vein*) Boy and I were there just last Sunday, and we had a very stimulating conversation about why less people are shopping at big chain craft stores and how shopping online is much easier and more convenient. On that particular occasion, I would have much rather have spent a little extra on postage than spend money on petrol and parking, waste time wandering around the shop to find what I was looking for, paw through heavy bolts of fabric that were improperly labelled, spend more time in line waiting to pay, and finally leave with only one of the three things I was looking for.
Okay, rant over now!

7. Stencil Set - I never thought I'd hear myself saying that I want a tool that's used in quilting, but there you go! I can't for the life of me cut fabric into even squares or rectangles. They always end up looking really hinky and thus the end product does also! I'd really love one that can do circles and ovals of different sizes for both fabric and paper projects. There are times when I want my work to look handmade not homemade - and trust me there is a difference! I don't mind if a sewn fabric pouch that I'm just using myself is a little wonky, but if I'm putting them out there for public perusal, I don't want them to be too embarrassing. Not that I would try and sell pouches anyway, probably. There's about 3 trillion of them on Etsy already anyway. It must be a Thing. Anyway, I digress.

8. A photocopier - Colour, of course! Well, a girl can dream, can't she?

Eight Great Blogs!

I've decided to start an occasional series where I list things I like, just cause I feel like it. I've started with my favourite blogs. Well, a few of them. The list on my reader currently runs to 141, and it was quite difficult to choose just 8. Perhaps I should call this Eight Great Blogs, Part 1!

* Meet Me At Mikes - The blog of the shop of the same name in Fitzroy. Mostly art, craft and vintage wares. Full of kitsch, funny, sweet, personal content. Updated frequently. The recent story about how the author helped a drag queen home late one night was absolutely adorable and typical of her generous spirit. I've got this one at the top of my reader!

* Crazy Aunt Purl - Used to be all about knitting, now it's more about the author's quirky life as a Southern gal living in Los Angeles. She posts once every 2 or 3 days, so you get regular updates without it being overwhelming. Her four cats, her commute to work, her out-of-control garden and her wine-laced knitting jaunts are a source of endless amusing stories. She also chronicles her attempts to improve her life by, among other things, deciding that she won't buy anything (unneccessary) for 6 months. I always click onto her blog when I need a pick-me-up.

* Plush You! - These guys just love plush! It's the blog for the Schmancy Shop and annual exhibition in Seattle. All kinds of handmade soft toys are featured, from the amazingly adorable to the truly creepy. The annual Plush You exhibition is on in October, and it makes me want to impulsively buy a plane ticket! I get lots of inspiration from this blog, though I haven't done anything about it yet!

* Crafty Pod - Home of the Craftypod podcast and so much more. Sister Diane is the doyen of all that is crafty, kitschy and fabulous. Her wry sense of humour and childlike glee in discovering new items makes both the blog and the podcast very consumable. (I actually get excited whenever I see a new podcast coming out.) I especially love her regular presentations of vintage booklets with the wierdest crafts you have ever seen. I'm not sure how often she posts as my reader doesn't pick her up properly (*pouts*) but its always a joy to read.
NOTE: This website is now offline. Here is the Craftypod Instagram.

* Joyful Abode - Mostly about cooking, this blog also touches on house-y stuff generally and the author's personal life. (Just recently she held a raffle to help raise money for the vets bills for a stray dog she found recently. She often shares kind gestures such as this.) The recipes are always easy and slip right into just about anyone's life, and she loves sharing tutorials of how she figured out different techniques. She has an online shop selling aprons, stationery, etc, but she doesn't annoyingly drop it into every post like some. This blog always makes me feel like I too, can be a 21st-century Betty Crocker. Posts about 3-4 times a week.

* The Tiny Fig - The blog of Connie, an Etsy seller from Canada. She makes the most adorable kawaii-inspired jewellery and more recently fabric pouches. She occasionally posts about personal topics, but it's mostly about the development of her range and her experiences with new equipment, materials and techniques. Despite the frequent mentions of her shop, she only talks about her experiences, not 'go buy my stuff' type plugs, so it's interesting to read. She is happy to share the lessons she's learned about running an independent craft business, and even hosts a second blog called Sweet Figments, which highlights other sellers. I feel I can really relate to this blog as I have similar experiences and problems as an Etsy seller. I love clicking on and finding out what she's up to!
NOTE: While the shop is still running, the blogs mentioned in this point are offline.

* Accidental Hedonist - This one's all about food, baby! And drink! It includes everything from summaries of current issues (e.g. a spinach recall (?!)) to reviews of kitchen equipment to articles about the history of whiskey and other spirits. The tone is down-to-earth yet knowledgeable. It's a fascinating read from a true gourmand, but it updates a bit too often for me to keep up properly. Still, I try my best!

* D'Blogala - I have only just discovered this blog, but it looks wonderful. It's written by Dawn Sokol, who runs classes and has now written a book about art journals. It's full of techniques, materials and ideas, and she seems very happy to answer reader's questions and provide encouragement. I will definitely have to go through the old posts on this one and I'm sure I'll be painting up a storm in no time! I've already visited Riot Art n Craft for a few supplies.