for the first time, again

why are we constantly chasing that specific, addictive psychological thriller that keeps us up until 3am? tonight i’m throwing it all the way back to the beginning… an exploration of where the obsession actually started. looking at how i went from wholesome childhood stories straight to the exact sidney sheldon books that ruined regular fiction for me forever (and a necessary rant about the sequel...

no book/film reviews this week. just a little life update… i talk about missing trains, quiet seasons, rainy days, finding a new favourite artist, trying to build better habits without becoming obsessed with productivity, and what it feels like when life isn’t bad…just a little quieter than you would like. grab a cup of tea and come hang out for a bit🤎

what do you do with a loss that never had a name? not a breakup. not a death you can explain at a funeral. just…someone who was everything, and a connection that didn’t come with a label. so you folded it up, put it somewhere inside you, and kept going. this episode, i’m sitting with loved one by aisha muharrar: the funniest, most quietly devastating book about grief, love, and the blurry line bet...

hi guys, i’m back at the mic and my brain is completely, utterly fried. today we are unpacking the drama (yes, the one with zendaya and rob that has been all over your timelines). i went in completely blind and honestly... how bad is too bad? where is the line where we stop rooting for people? no spoilers per usual, just my raw, unfiltered thoughts on the chaotic pacing, those unhinged fast cuts,...

off Campus, my kindle era, and a season two that feels completely different. a lot happened over the break..traveling, time with family, an embarrassing amount of media consumed, and feelings i genuinely could not keep to myself anymore. first up we’re talking off campus. i wasn’t expecting to enjoy this show as much as i did. i watched it twice. that tells you everything. plus, teases of what’s c...

twelve episodes ago, this was just an experiment in rediscovery. today, it’s a community. as i close this first chapter, i’m looking back at the stories we have found together and teasing the new world we’re building for volume II🫶 tiktok: firsttimeagainpod IG:adenasphere 💌: thefirsttimeagainpod@gmail.com

a special collection of "firsts." because whether you're celebrating with someone or choosing yourself this year, every love story starts with a single, brave moment. featuring wisdom from a 56-year love journey and my darling friends and book besties who made this episode possible. thank you so much! a very special thank you to dav for the one-take that spoke volumes. this one is very dear to my...

we’re officially 8 days out from Valentine’s and I’m making an executive decision: january was enough stress for the year. this is why i’m only hunting for black joy this month, and why we need to stop centering black stories on pain. also... stay until the end. i’m teasing a secret project for next week that is going to be quite different from our usual vibe. that’s all i’m saying🤭 go listen🫶✨

episode 9. i talk about the "whoosh," that 3am feeling only a good thriller can give you, and why we gatekeep the books we love. i also feature a few of my book besties and read out their "secret" book recommendations while planning to pivot to softer energy for February. settle in and enjoy🫶

i’m being completely honest: i was ready to give up on thrillers this month!! after a string of overhyped, mediocre reads, i was stuck in a massive slump, until i picked up Kill for Me, Kill for You by Steve Cavanagh. in today's episode, i break down the "Strangers on a Train" swap, the ethics of unprocessed justice, and why this book finally broke my streak of recent mid reads. i also get a littl...

happy new year🥹 the algorithm now thinks i’m non existent, but i’ve actually just been home having a crisis over fictional characters and dealing with life stuff. this week: admitting the evelyn hugo hype was real (i'm late, i know), plus the thrillers that actually ruined my sleep: kill for me, kill for you, netflix’s adaptation of “his and hers” also, a 40% check-in on “next of kin” (the anxiet...

It’s December 19th, and the holiday movie delusion is at an all time high so i’m doing a holiday audit of the Christmas movie tropes we keep romanticizing every year, from the big city girl who “finds herself” in a small town to the unrealistic miracles that only exist in fake snow. We’re talking classics like Home Alone, staples like The Holiday, and the newer Netflix gems that somehow recycle th...

The Zero~Effort Escape is finally here! I'm officially too tired to discover new things this December, so I'm leaning into the chaos and celebrating the Accidental Aesthetic of being cozy and lazy. This episode is your permission slip to stop stressing and reembrace familiar comfort media that requires exactly zero brain cells. Join me for the ultimate soft escape and quietest comforts this week....

This episode is me slowly gliding into December. Not quite a Christmas episode yet, but the energy is creeping in. Today, I am sharing some of the stories that shaped me. The childhood books and movies that built my imagination and raised me more than I will ever admit. Enid Blyton. Babysitters Club. Goosebumps. Parent Trap. Home Alone. All the fun stuff that take me back to cozy memories. Think o...

I reread Sweet Valley High book 7 “Dear Sister” and let me tell you; this book is pure mayhem from start to finish. I talk about the characters, the drama, the unhinged moments and why this story hits very different as an adult. If you grew up on Sweet Valley or you love classic teen books this episode will feel like a throwback and a reality check at the same time. New listeners this one is a per...

Diving back into Sweet Valley High book three “Playing With Fire” with adult brain commentary, because apparently I can’t stay away. We talk about teenage drama, retro romance, and how the 1980s YA culture still resonates in 2025. Whether you're here for book discussions, revisiting your childhood favorites, or you just love storytelling podcasts, this one is for you. Let's explore the hilarious c...

In this episode, we revisit Sweet Valley High: Double Love, the book that introduced many of us to high-school drama, identical blonde twins, and the wild chaos of the Wakefield universe. I reread this iconic Y2K-era classic with adult eyes and wow… too many things hit different. I talk nostalgia, a misjudged affair, teen drama, twists, character tropes, and whether this book still holds up today....