the matcha diaries

welcome to another episode of the matcha diaries! this week is a little different to our usual episodes, as cara couldn't make it due to some scheduling chaos, so it will just be a solo chat with me, leo! <3 in today's episode, we are going on a total deep dive into a recent passion interest of mine: the history and evolution of vampires.. aka have you ever wondered how we got from terr...

trigger warning: just a quick heads up before we dive in, this episode includes candid discussions about body image struggles, weight, and negative self-talk, so please prioritise your peace and skip this one if those topics are triggering for you! in this week’s episode, we are back with part 2 of our vulnerable chat about navigating body image, but this time we are zooming out to look at the cur...

trigger warning: just a quick heads up before we dive in, this episode includes candid discussions about body image struggles, weight, and negative self-talk, so please prioritise your peace and skip this one if those topics are triggering for you! in this week’s episode (part 1), we are getting super vulnerable about navigating insecurities and untangling our self-worth from our appearance in our...

we are back after a much needed (unintentional) break! this week, cara gives us all the cozy details of her two-week trip home to jordan, from eating endless kanafeh to celebrating her dad's birthday. on the complete opposite end of the spectrum, leo recounts a chaotic three city work trip in germany that involved lost luggage, a burst appendix, and crying on a train next to drunk backstreet b...

we're back with another jampacked autumnal BOOK EPISODE!!! this one is all about our tbr & hopefully it can inspire some of you at the same time. <3 all the books we speak about: Classics Rebecca — Daphne du Maurier The Count of Monte Cristo — Alexandre Dumas Dracula — Bram Stoker The Girl in White — Lindsay Currie Hallowe’en Party — Agatha Christie Dead Poets Society — N. H. Kleinbaum...

it is finally time for the autumn diaries and we couldn't be MOREE excited eep!! If you’re looking to build the ultimate autumn tbr, we’ve got you covered. from cozy, low-stakes fantasy and small-town witchy romances to moody dark academia and gothic classics, we are breaking down our absolute must reads for the season. we’re sharing our personal favourites, our latest additions, and the stori...

guys what can we say, this episode is objectively, kinda, really, a little bit *weird*... please see this as one big mind map being actively created ft. audio cut outs, real time realisations & autumnal themed tangents... aka WELCOME TO OUR BRAINS!!! some resources to create your own (much better planned) personal curriculum: Online courses: Coursera, edX, Udemy, MIT OpenCourseWare, Khan Acade...

dare we say.. grab a pumpkin spice latte, light a candle & get cosy with us for this week’s big yap ☕️🍂 in today’s episode, cara shares the huge life update of finally going wedding dress shopping (and unexpectedly finding the one!!), while leo debriefs her week of unplugging from media, silent walks, and romanticising everyday routines. then, we dive deep into the psychology of nostalgia: w...

are you also constantly playing music, podcasts, youtube videos and even series in the background?? have we lost the ability to be in silence with our thoughts? and maybe most importantly, what impact is that having on our brains? these questions (& more) are the ones that prompted us to go on a good old fashioned research DEEP DIVE this episode. we cover: what impact does silence have on our...

join us this week for the long awaited guest episode where ed & i (cara) are joined by our lovely neighbours... who are also called cara and ed! (confusing I KNOWW)  we asked you guys to send in your relationship/COUPLE questions, and we had a big chat answering them from both of our couples' perspectives. we got into so many juicy themes, including: maintaining independence & social l...

in this week's episode, we have a big yap and end up unpacking a few big conversations around self-image, getting older, and modern influencer culture we talk about: growing up, aging, & acceptance: shifting from fearing the milestone of turning 30 to finding quiet gratitude in aging naturally (and spotting our first forehead lines in the mirror). beauty standards & self-perception: ho...

TRIGGER WARNING: this episode discusses eating disorders, disordered eating, body image, weight loss, body comparison, celebrity bodies and potentially triggering content around food and appearance. Please take care of yourself while listening. if you’d prefer to skip our highs and lows, our main conversation starts at 19:30 . in this episode we address the recent conversation surrounding Ariana G...

this episode we're looking back at the goals & intentions we set for ourselves at the beginning of the year and reflect on how they're going so far & how we're (honestly) feeling. prompts we answer (for you to follow along): what is one overarching intention you would like to set for this coming year? what are three ways you will push yourself out of your comfort zone in 2026?...

grab a cup of coffee or matcha and join us in our pajamas for a cozy sunday morning recs & life catch-up this week, we’re sharing all our current favourites. from nostalgic TV and playlists, to our favourite recent reads and board games. We also have an honest chat about navigating busy seasons and learning to feel multiple emotions at the same time. here is everything we cover & recommend...

in this cosy catch up, we're chatting about whether we're introverts or extroverts, the environments that bring out different sides of us, leo's jam-packed month ahead, and cara shares an honest update on navigating grief and the guilt that can come with moving forward. to stay up to date on our lives, contribute to future episodes and share any of your thoughts - pls do Follow us on ...

leo spent the week back home in germany celebrating her little brother’s high school graduation, which sparked a conversation about one of life’s biggest turning points. this week, we’re reminiscing on fresh starts, gap years, finding independence, and sharing everything we wish we’d known before starting university. We end the episode sharing the advice we’d give our 18-year-old selves if we coul...

this episode is dedicated to LISTS !! a) a list of all the little things that have made my (yes "my" because today's ep is a solo one with just leo) life better b) a list of my favourite summer book recs that i simply HAD to share with everyone!! silver elite, dani francis emily wilde's encyclopedia of faeries, heather fawcett the spellshop & the faraway inn by sarah beth dur...

in this episode cara shares her recent mindset coming back from holiday: embracing summer slowness, reflecting on what “living” actually looks means to us and a promise to make efforts to avoid burnout! We then share our recent critiques on every year after & yesteryear (we keep it quite topline so not to many spoilers - but if you don’t want ANY inkling into what the book is about then don’t list...

WE'RE REUNITED and what better way to do that with than a BIG JUICY CATCH UP!! we yappadoodle about the big & small life events that happened in these last 2 weeks ... aka cara's sister got married, leo got her driving license, cara booked a spontaneous (aka 24 hrs before!!) france trip & lots more!! we also chat about our recent (least) favourite reads that you should (n't) pu...

do you ever wonder what it would be to be a confident, not-overthinking (italian) man? ...well you're in luck because in today's episode our special guest (aka my boyfriend) marco let's you into his brain for one hour. we answer some of your questions on: how to tell if a guy is interested in you vulnerability in male friendships navigating long distance with contrasting personalities...

in true tmd fashion this episode is part catch up part oversharing and emotional realisations ... we chat about: recent body image thoughts the importance of being vulnerable and sharing especially when it might feel difficult the healing power of female friendships ... and as per usual lots more!! so grab a beverage of your choice, get cosy & CHAT WITH US!! to stay up to date on our lives, co...

this week, we’re diving into a big sis advice episode all about careers, purpose, overthinking & figuring life out in your 20s 💌 PS WE WERE TOGETHER IN REAL LIFE WHILE RECORDING THISS EEEP! we answer your advice questions on how to know what your purpose is, having a better work life balance, moving to a new city, learning how to stop overthinking everything, and navigating the pressure of no...

spoiler alert: tears were shed in the making of this episode hii everyone!! grab a coffee or beverage of your choice and get comfy because we cover a LOT in this episode... we start off with a life update & a semi-juicy storytime (let's just say an ex is involved...) then we get into something a little more vulnerable... cara opens up about a recent friendship confrontation and the unexpec...

this week’s episode is exactly what it sounds like... a proper catch up. leo fills you in on her two-week work trip (the highs, the lows) & also shares her recent reads and recommendations, while cara shares a slightly chaotic life update… including a recent fainting experience lol. we also chat about recent weekends , from hiking in the lake district to a wholesome (shrek themed) hen do in th...

another week... another cosy catch up ❤️ we chat about a slightly unhinged recording day (including no sleep, work stress, and last-minute schedule changes), before slipping into a long, rambling bookish conversation. leo shares her experience reading Project Hail Mary, her first ever sci-fi (apparently lolsie) and why it completely surprised her, while cara gives a reading update on I Who Have Ne...