Kristina Ten on folklore from a 90s childhood, retaining our critical thinking skills in the AI era, & battling impostor syndrome

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Kristina Ten on folklore from a 90s childhood, retaining our critical thinking skills in the AI era, & battling impostor syndrome

On the latest episode of my podcast It’s a Lot, I spoke to Kristina Ten, author of Tell Me Yours, I’ll Tell You Mine, about everything from fighting impostor syndrome to why she chose to go back to school for an MFA, from what it was like teaching undergrads during COVID to the importance of writing unlikable queer characters.

During the second half of our conversation, we shared some love for Rochester’s awesome indie bookstores, discussed how moving around so much has impacted Kristina and her writing, and our fears about the age of AI and how it’s impacting our brains. Kristina is a delight to talk to! I hope you enjoy listening.

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Mad friendship & writing funny with author Leanne Toshiko Simpson

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Mad friendship & writing funny with author Leanne Toshiko Simpson

On the latest episode of It’s a Lot, I spoke with fellow toddler mom Leanne Toshiko Simpson about figuring out when you’re ready to have kids, the joys of slow walks with curious toddlers, and the insidious productivity culture depicted in Thomas the Tank Engine. Leanne is also a writer, mental health advocate, and educator, so in the first half of the show, we dive into her bipolar diagnosis, navigating the mental health system, writing characters with mental illness, the joys of mad friendship, and how to write funny. It was a fun conversation and I learned a lot from Leanne’s insights on mental illness and mad community!

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A Conversation with Ella Dawson: Burnout, Boundaries, & Being a Person Online

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A Conversation with Ella Dawson: Burnout, Boundaries, & Being a Person Online

This post is a continuation of the “A Conversation With” series, where I interview smart humans about their experiences in social media and content creation. You can read past features here.

This month, I interviewed Ella Dawson, an author, digital strategist, and sex & culture critic who has an abundance of experience in social media, both personally and professionally. In this blog post, we explore personal brand, the evolving social media landscape, burnout, boundaries, and how to make money and be a person online. 

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