After a tumultuous first year of college (I almost dropped out after first semester) and a very long and much-needed break from YouTube, I'm back and ready to spill all of the tea on the good, the bad, and the ugly of my first year studying Digital Media & Communications at IE University.

⭑ TIMESTAMPS ⭑

• 0:00 I’m back!
• 2:51 Where I study & my degree program
• 5:45 Why I chose IE University
• 13:28 Reviewing my 1st semester classes
• 26:14 Reviewing my 2nd semester classes
• 32:26 How to push through classes that feel pointless
• 35:00 My classes so far this year
• 35:41 My thoughts about IE University (do I regret studying here?)
• 38:35 Lower academic expectations…
• 42:13 American vs. European college culture
• 45:07 Advice on making friends
• 46:58 Dating advice… (I have none)
• 47:08 My experience living in a residence
• 49:07 Adjusting to life in Spain & missing American workaholic culture

To find links to everything mentioned, and to sign up for weekly podcast shownotes in your inbox, click here. If you'd like to contact me, you can find me @theblissbean on IG, and at hello@theblissbean.com. If you enjoyed the podcast, please consider leaving a review on iTunes or a tip in the tip jar (or both!). I really appreciate it ;)

⭑ FIND ME ELSEWHERE ⭑ Website | www.theblissbean.com YouTube | The Bliss Bean Instagram | @theblissbean

⭑ MUSIC ⭑ Music from Epidemic Sound. Try a 30-day free trial of music for your content: http://share.epidemicsound.com/theblissbean

I’ve finally found a study system that works for me (more or less). Find out what note taking method I settled on (the eternal battle of paper vs. digital), how I’ve been implementing active recall techniques, and my (very) honest ratings of each of my classes.

• how I’ve been taking notes (2:20)
• how I’ve been managing my time (12:18)
• how I’ve been studying (15:21)
• college expectations vs reality (20:03)
• my classes (27:23)

To find links to everything we mentioned, and to sign up for weekly podcast shownotes in your inbox, click here. If you’d like to contribute a comment, question, or suggestion, send me an email or audio file/voice note over at hello@theblissbean.com.

⭑ SUPPORT THE SHOW ⭑

• If you’ve found value in the podcast, please consider leaving a tip! It helps me to continue producing episodes and sharing conversations with cool people, and I really appreciate it. https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/the-bliss-bean
• You can also help out by leaving a review on iTunes! It means the world to me :) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bliss-bean-show/id1533921702

⭑ CONNECT WITH ME ⭑ Website | www.theblissbean.com YouTube | The Bliss Bean Instagram | @theblissbean

⭑ OTHER ⭑ Music from Epidemic Sound. Try a 30-day free trial of music for your content: http://share.epidemicsound.com/theblissbean

The “regular rules” of productivity don’t always apply to creative fields. How do you deal with creative burnout, for example? I had a chat with my friend Christina Mathis about art, creative direction, and organizing photoshoots on a budget.

• how her creative processes / ideas start (3:40)
• photography challenges & how to make something look expensive on a budget (6:50)
• planning vs improvisation (8:03)
• artistic & editing styles (14:57)
• her dream creative direction project (21:13)
• resources & how to network (22:28)
• creative burnout (31:17)
• Christina’s favorite tools & recommendations (42:52)

To find links to everything we mentioned, and to sign up for weekly podcast shownotes in your inbox, click here. If you’d like to contribute a comment, question, or suggestion, send me an email or audio file/voice note over at hello@theblissbean.com.

⭑ SUPPORT THE SHOW ⭑

• If you’ve found value in the podcast, please consider leaving a tip! It helps me to continue producing episodes and sharing conversations with cool people, and I really appreciate it. https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/the-bliss-bean
• You can also help out by leaving a review on iTunes! It means the world to me :) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bliss-bean-show/id1533921702

⭑ CONNECT WITH ME ⭑ Website | www.theblissbean.com YouTube | The Bliss Bean Instagram | @theblissbean

⭑ OTHER ⭑ Music from Epidemic Sound. Try a 30-day free trial of music for your content: http://share.epidemicsound.com/theblissbean

A few weeks into my new life studying at a Spanish University, I'm ready to spill some tea on the cultural differences, struggles of making friends, and why the heck I even decided to go to college if I already have my YouTube channel. Buckle up for a long episode where I answer all of your questions about college life and studying internationally!

faq

• is it difficult to study in another language? (1:40)
• why I chose to study in Segovia (3:05)
• did I ever consider college in Lithuania (where i was born)? (10:43)
• am I paying for college myself? (12:56)

ie university

• my first impressions of IE (14:15)
• how different is the teaching style from high school? (14:58)
• what is my favorite subject this semester? (17:41)
• do I think IE is traditional in terms of the educational system? (18:33)

studying, majors & future plans

• doubting my major & what do I “want “to be”? (20:09)
• why did I go to college if I already have a brand and know a lot about media? (24:33)
• what language classes do I want to take here? (28:08)
• what “clubs” / internships am I getting involved in? (30:58)
• do I plan on doing a study abroad program? (32:54)

studying abroad

• how early should you start sorting out paperwork to study abroad? (33:39)
• what has it been like to study on an international campus? (35:19)
• what lifestyle changes did I have to make while living in Spain? (37:11)

life in university

• what does a busy day look like for me? (39:30)
• what has been better & worse than expected (dorm room, socializing,…)? (40:45)
• how do I deal w/ living so far away from home? (43:13)
• why did I choose to live on campus? (45:22)
• how do I connect w/ my family & friends back home? (46:55)

advice for high schoolers & college students

• how did I manage the stress of applications (48:09)
• my thoughts on prestigious colleges (49:11)
• what would I have done differently in high school to prepare for college? (50:54)
• what is my college prep advice for juniors? (53:02)
• how do I stop procrastinating? (54:18)
• how to use the time commute time “wisely” (55:17)

To find links to everything we mentioned, and to sign up for weekly podcast shownotes in your inbox, click here. If you’d like to contribute a comment, question, or suggestion, send me an email or audio file/voice note over at hello@theblissbean.com.

⭑ SUPPORT THE SHOW ⭑

• If you’ve found value in the podcast, please consider leaving a tip! It helps me to continue producing episodes and sharing conversations with cool people, and I really appreciate it. https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/the-bliss-bean
• You can also help out by leaving a review on iTunes! It means the world to me :) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bliss-bean-show/id1533921702

⭑ CONNECT WITH ME ⭑ Website | www.theblissbean.com YouTube | The Bliss Bean Instagram | @theblissbean

⭑ OTHER ⭑ Music from Epidemic Sound. Try a 30-day free trial of music for your content: http://share.epidemicsound.com/theblissbean

They say that the music of your teens stays with you for life. I traveled back in time to middle school to chart my "musical journey" from SoundCloud EDM music and Twenty One Pilots to BTS and Grimes. In this podcast I talked about:

• Pre-order bonuses for the book (limited time!) (0:21)
• The music of our adolescence (4:47)
• Petit Biscuit & middle school EDM phase (5:51)
• Soundcloud music discoveries & first concert (9:57)
• My Twenty One Pilots phase (20:27)
• Joining the BTS ARMY (28:38)
• My #1 listened-to artist for 2021 (39:10)

To find links to everything we mentioned, and to sign up for weekly podcast shownotes in your inbox, click here. If you’d like to contribute a comment, question, or suggestion, send me an email or audio file/voice note over at hello@theblissbean.com.

⭑ SUPPORT THE SHOW ⭑

• If you’ve found value in the podcast, please consider leaving a tip! It helps me to continue producing episodes and sharing conversations with cool people, and I really appreciate it. https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/the-bliss-bean
• You can also help out by leaving a review on iTunes! It means the world to me :) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bliss-bean-show/id1533921702

⭑ CONNECT WITH ME ⭑ Website | www.theblissbean.com YouTube | The Bliss Bean Instagram | @theblissbean

⭑ OTHER ⭑ Music from Epidemic Sound. Try a 30-day free trial of music for your content: http://share.epidemicsound.com/theblissbean

For those with a menstrual cycle, trying to be equally productive every single day just doesn't work. Today we're discussing a fantastic book called Period Power by Maisie Hill which goes over how your menstrual cycle affects everything from your sleep and exercise routines to your social life and productivity levels. In this podcast I talked about:

• why I lost my period for 1.5 years (4:17)
• how I learned about cycle syncing (8:30)
• the book that changed the game (10:33)
• the "seasons" of the cycle and how to take advantage of them (16:59)
• how to apply cycle syncing to your life (35:36)
• how I use this knowledge to increase my productivity (37:53)
• actual fun facts about periods (40:51)

To find links to everything we mentioned, and to sign up for weekly podcast shownotes in your inbox, click here. If you’d like to contribute a comment, question, or suggestion, send me an email or audio file/voice note over at hello@theblissbean.com.

⭑ SUPPORT THE SHOW ⭑

• If you’ve found value in the podcast, please consider leaving a tip! It helps me to continue producing episodes and sharing conversations with cool people, and I really appreciate it. https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/the-bliss-bean
• You can also help out by leaving a review on iTunes! It means the world to me :) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bliss-bean-show/id1533921702

⭑ CONNECT WITH ME ⭑ Website | www.theblissbean.com YouTube | The Bliss Bean Instagram | @theblissbean

⭑ OTHER ⭑ Music from Epidemic Sound. Try a 30-day free trial of music for your content: http://share.epidemicsound.com/theblissbean

In this episode we're going down memory lane (not that far, just a few years back) to recount my first solo travel experiences. I'm also dishing out my best travel advice for planning a spectacular trip, packing your bags efficiently, and having fun the whole time! This was recorded in an AirBnB in Porto, which fits the topic perfectly! In this episode I covered:

• announcing the dream team! (1:02)
• my travel “background” (2:57)
• my first solo trip (5:25)
• my big gap year trip & how to travel for cheap (6:43)
• how i plan my trips (10:27)
• how i pack for efficiency (15:39)
• how i planned my new york trip (19:24)
• how i manage my habits & routines while traveling (24:12)
• how to meet people in solo travels (29:48)
• how i capture my trip & preserve the memories (35:22)

To find links to everything we mentioned, and to sign up for weekly podcast shownotes in your inbox, click here. If you’d like to contribute a comment, question, or suggestion, send me an email or audio file/voice note over at hello@theblissbean.com.

⭑ SUPPORT THE SHOW ⭑

• If you’ve found value in the podcast, please consider leaving a tip! It helps me to continue producing episodes and sharing conversations with cool people, and I really appreciate it. https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/the-bliss-bean
• You can also help out by leaving a review on iTunes! It means the world to me :) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bliss-bean-show/id1533921702

⭑ CONNECT WITH ME ⭑ Website | www.theblissbean.com YouTube | The Bliss Bean Instagram | @theblissbean

⭑ OTHER ⭑ Music from Epidemic Sound. Try a 30-day free trial of music for your content: http://share.epidemicsound.com/theblissbean

Two months ago, I hired a virtual assistant - the very first addition to the Bliss Bean team. Together, we’re answering all of your questions about the hiring process, our workflow, and all of the behind-the-scenes of running a content creation business. Here's what we talked about:

• why I hired & hiring process (1:37)
• my feelings on outsourcing (9:06)
• tasks Maia works on (11:07)
• working with an agency & BTS of negotiating sponsorships (21:30)
• our workflow together (29:47)
• how our Notion works (35:52)
• what Maia has learned working on The Bliss Bean (41:11)

To find links to everything we mentioned, and to sign up for weekly podcast shownotes in your inbox, click here. If you’d like to contribute a comment, question, or suggestion, send me an email or audio file/voice note over at hello@theblissbean.com.

⭑ SUPPORT THE SHOW ⭑

• If you’ve found value in the podcast, please consider leaving a tip! It helps me to continue producing episodes and sharing conversations with cool people, and I really appreciate it. https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/the-bliss-bean
• You can also help out by leaving a review on iTunes! It means the world to me :) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bliss-bean-show/id1533921702

⭑ CONNECT WITH ME ⭑ Website | www.theblissbean.com YouTube | The Bliss Bean Instagram | @theblissbean

⭑ OTHER ⭑ Music from Epidemic Sound. Try a 30-day free trial of music for your content: http://share.epidemicsound.com/theblissbean