The Day One Podcast

Journaling guide and storyteller Antoinette McDonald joins the Day One Podcast for a conversation about slowing down, paying attention, and using journaling to orient through the year ahead. Antoinette shares insights from more than a decade of teaching journaling workshops and retreats, including the metaphors and practices that help people feel more grounded, connected, and honest with themselve...

As we step into a new year, this episode offers a moment to pause, reflect, and look back. Over the past year, the Day One Podcast has been a space for thoughtful conversations about journaling: how it helps us pay attention to our lives, process what's hard, create space in a full world, and understand ourselves more deeply over time. In this special New Year's episode, Kristen looks back on the...

In this episode of the Day One Podcast, Kristen sits down with Katie Swanson, a yoga instructor and journaling guide who brings together movement, mindfulness, and writing in her in-person journaling workshops. Katie shares how her journaling practice began during extended travel, why yoga taught her how to face a blank page, and how slowing down can create space for insight and growth. The conver...

In this episode, Kristen sits down with Dr. Kyra Bobinet—physician, public health leader, behavior change designer, and author of Unstoppable Brain —for a fascinating look at the neuroscience of motivation, failure, and change. Dr. Kyra explains the role of the habenula, the small but powerful brain structure that shapes our moods, our habits, and the moments we suddenly lose motivation—even with...

Engineer-turned-homeschool mom and photographer Kt Anderson has kept a daily journal for more than five years, documenting the small details that make up her life. In this conversation, Kt shares how her These Are the Days journal reminds her to stay present and record moments she might otherwise forget. From her 365 photo project to her shelves of colorful printed Day One books, Kt reflects on ho...

Vocalist, composer, and multimedia artist Misha Penton brings her creative world to her journal each day. In this conversation, she shares how her daily template— My Wonderful Day —helps her stay grounded, connected, and inspired. From morning affirmations to her Atelier section for studio work, Misha reveals how structure can become a form of self-expression. We also explore the quiet rituals tha...

Bestselling author Kristy Cambron joins the podcast to talk about her newest novel The French Kitchen and the role journaling plays in her daily life. Kristy shares how Day One helps her track runs and health goals, capture family memories, and even keep a book journal. The conversation also explores why she sees writing as "painting with words," and how journaling preserves the fleeting moments a...

Executive coach Akshay Kapur shares how journaling supports both his family life and his work with leaders navigating uncertainty. He explains how photo journaling in Day One became a daily practice during the pandemic, why the On This Day feature helps him preserve memories, and how reflective questions from his coaching often become prompts for his own writing. The conversation also explores the...

In this episode, Emily Silva Hockstra, author of  Sunrise Gratitude , Moonlight Gratitude , and Sunset Gratitude, shares how gratitude journaling can shape the way we experience life. A longtime journaler and spiritual life coach, Emily talks about the practice of noticing small, meaningful details, how journaling deepens presence, and why writing down what we're thankful for can change our perspe...

In this episode, Pam Roy—writer, philanthropist, filmmaker, and cofounder of the Viktor E. Frankl Institute of America—shares insights from her new book, Viktor E. Frankl and the Search for Meaning: 21 Reflections on Living Life with Purpose . She talks about how Viktor Frankl's philosophy has shaped her life, how the book encourages deep personal reflection through writing, and why his ideas rema...

In this episode, we dive deep into the practice of shadow work journaling with Oliver Mann—journaling mentor, teacher, and co-founder of the Barcelona Journaling Festival. Oliver shares how shadow journaling became a turning point in his life and offers a practical, compassionate path for others to begin exploring the parts of themselves they've learned to hide. We talk about the psychology behind...

What happens when you approach your everyday life like a traveler—with curiosity, openness, and a willingness to be changed? In this conversation, journaling guide and writer Marusha Mozolevskaya shares how journaling helps us move past small talk, capture the beauty of fleeting moments, and connect with others in unexpectedly deep ways. We talk about her early days as a travel writer, her work le...

Kevin Anderson has journaled every day since 2020, and he thinks of the habit as a real-life video game. In this inspiring conversation, Kevin shares how journaling helps him track emotions, celebrate wins, and evolve through life's challenges. He opens up about printing his entries into a growing bookshelf of colorful Day One books, the joy of documenting the things that make him laugh, and how h...

C.J. Chilvers has journaled every night since 2010, treating the practice as a form of quiet reflection—part habit, part meditation. In this episode, C.J. shares how a simple routine became a sustaining creative force in his life, why giving himself permission to complain was an early breakthrough, and how journaling helps him clear his head at the end of each day. We also talk about the value of...

What if anxiety isn't something we need to get rid of, but something we can learn to thrive with ? In this episode, Dr. David Rosmarin—associate professor at Harvard Medical School, program director at McLean Hospital, and author of  Thriving with Anxiety —offers a hopeful and practical reframe of how we understand and respond to anxiety. Dr. Rosmarin shares his four-step approach for dealing with...

Entrepreneur and adventurer Dale Majors has kept a daily journal for more than 4,000 consecutive days (that's nearly 11 years!) using Day One. In this episode, he shares how a simple streak turned into a life-changing habit—one that brings clarity, presence, and intention to everything from running a business to raising six kids. Dale opens up about the prompts that guide his mornings, why he jour...

In this episode, ICF certified coach Kelly Gallagher joins the podcast for a thoughtful conversation about how coaching and journaling complement one another to deepen self-awareness and accelerate growth. We explore the layered nature of personal insight, how reflection between coaching sessions amplifies progress, and why journaling can serve as both mirror and guide. Kelly shares the value of a...

Wellness expert Dr. Hava Rose joins the podcast for a candid and insightful conversation about journaling as a tool for emotional processing, pattern recognition, and inner healing. She reflects on how journaling became a lifeline in her teen years and how it continues to support her through grief and seasons of personal transformation. Together, we explore the importance of emotional vocabulary,...

Licensed therapist and avid journaler Annie Tormos joins the podcast to explore how journaling can move from a passive habit to an active practice for growth, healing, and self-discovery. In this episode, Annie shares how journaling has supported her personally and professionally—and how Day One's new Go Deeper feature helped her uncover meaningful insight in just one session. She reflects on the...

In this episode, we sit down with Day One founder Paul Mayne to walk through the newly redesigned navigation—now live in version 2025.6 for iOS. (To see the full walkthrough, watch the episode on YouTube .) Paul shares the thinking behind the update, a full demo of the new journal picker and tab layout, and a look at the redesigned "More" tab with refreshed features like On This Day, Daily Prompts...

Want to make journaling even easier? Josh Kincaid, a longtime Day One user, shares how iOS Shortcuts have transformed his journaling routine. From saving daily newspaper front pages to logging moods with colors, this episode explores creative ways to streamline journal entries. The discussion covers making journaling more consistent, the impact of looking back on past entries, and how small automa...

Mindfulness teacher and coach Katie Seaman joins Kristen Webb Wright on the podcast to explore how journaling can help us tune into the present moment with greater awareness, curiosity, and self-compassion. In this episode, Katie shares how journaling and mindfulness work together to bring clarity and deepen self-understanding. She discusses the importance of noticing both our external and interna...

In this episode of the Day One podcast, Kristen Wright sits down with Ashley Looker, an empowerment and journaling coach who helps ambitious individuals detach their productivity from their worth and find joy in the present moment. Ashley shares her personal journey from burnout to healing, how journaling played a pivotal role in redefining her definition of success, and her unique concept of "emo...

What if your journal could be a thriving digital garden, capturing every moment, big and small? In this episode, we sit down with Day One power user Margot Olson, who has logged over 96,000 journal entries and maintained an incredible streak of nearly 6,000 days. Margot shares her journey—from early influences in record-keeping to building a vast, meticulously organized digital journal. We discuss...

Day One is more than just a journaling app—it's a canvas for your thoughts, memories, and everyday moments. In this episode of the Day One podcast, we're joined by former podcast host and long-time Day One team member Adam Daly to explore some of the most unique and inspiring ways people use the Day One app. From cataloging vinyl records and preserving family history to creating a digital gallery...