After following Ella’s work for years, I was delighted when we struck up an online friendship after I reviewed an advance copy of her (fantastic) debut novel, But How Are You, Really. Since then, Ella has spoken to my college students twice, chatted with me about burnout and boundaries for my business blog, and now joined me on my podcast, It’s a Lot. In this episode, we talk about the mental health impact of the post-publication adrenaline crash, coping with feelings of disappointment through finding community and having honest conversations, and the joys of interviewing other progress romance writers for Ella’s podcast, Rebel Ever After.

In the second half of the episode, we explore how techno-optimists have ruined social media (and possibly the world) by never considering the consequences of their actions, and discuss how Ella has learned to use her privilege to speak up and uplift others’ voices.