Prologues

Thank you so, so, so, so much for the community we’ve built through this podcast over the last two and a half years. I have truly loved making this show for you. Not goodbye forever!! Just a see you later 🫶🏼

Special shoutout to the girls on the From Start To Finish chat for sending in these delightful suggestions!!

"You'll change your mind when you're older" "Who will take care of you when you're older?" "Not wanting kids is selfish" If you are also intentionally childfree, I know you've heard all of these not-so-subtle criticisms and digs. Society really hates a woman who doesn't want children, unfortunately. I don't have kids and don't have plans to have kids at this time, and I frequently get hate comments when I discuss it online. So I'm discussing it again!!! Because not wanting children is perfectly normal and more women should feel comfortable talking about it.

Happy first week of fall girlies xx

Personal syllabus, personal curriculum, etc - you've probably seen this trend dominating your fyp as schools and universities gear up for the next semester. The personal syllabus trend is all about coming up with your own list of "required readings," topics you'd like to know more about, skills you'd like to acquire, or really anything you want to assign yourself to learn. I love anything that makes curiosity and learning seem fun, so I'm all over this trend.

If your attempts at resting are filled with anxiety, comparison, or shame, this is the episode for you. As a dedicated do-nothing-er, I'm here to encourage you to unpack the inner critical voice telling you that you can't be still. Sure, rest can be productive, but it doesn't have to be, and you don't have to earn or justify it. xx Mary

I've got some boots-on-the-ground fashion reporting for you today - I just got home from Copenhagen Fashion Week, and the street style outside of the runway shows left me so inspired for my own fall outfits. Here are all the trends the coolest girls you can think of are wearing this season.

Today I'm joined by Dr Ben Taylor-Davies from The Stockbridge Clinic to discuss some of the deeper issues threading through the aesthetics industry. From the lack of regulation and licensing for injectors in the UK (which leads to improper treatment and "Love Island face"), to the relationship between beauty treatments and the beauty standard, to the concerning rise of anti-sunscreen rhetoric online, Dr Ben is here to answer all of our questions and give an inside look into the aesthetics industry. *note* Mercury Retrograde struck me again during the recording and I lost a few minutes of footage at the beginning of our conversation. You shouldn't have an issue keeping up, but the first discussion of the episode centers around the lack of proper licensing and training for injectors in the UK.

It's been too long since Dialogues hit the Prologues airwaves, so I'm back this week with another listener-led chat. We're discussing how to choose the best out of two guys, how to deal with long distance, and what to do when your hangxiety has you convinced that you're an evil little gremlin that no one likes to be around... anyway I also recap my birthday in Ibiza! This episode is sponsored by LMNT. Get a free flavour sample pack with purchase at DrinkLMNT.com/MarySkinner Inquiries: hellomaryskinner@gmail.com

It's been too long since Dialogues hit the Prologues airwaves, so I'm back this week with another listener-led chat. We're discussing how to choose the best out of two guys, how to deal with long distance, and what to do when your hangxiety has you convinced that you're an evil little gremlin that no one likes to be around... anyway I also recap my birthday in Ibiza! This episode is sponsored by LMNT. Get a free flavour sample pack with purchase at DrinkLMNT.com/MarySkinner Inquiries: hellomaryskinner@gmail.com

In keeping with Prologues tradition, here is the birthday episode!! This week I'm recapping all the biggest moments of 26 and laying out some hopes for 27. Thank you for listening and supporting, love you forever xx

A few substack newsletters to follow if you want to start fixing your attention span: Postcards by Elle Learning Loving and Meaning Making Mind box  The Love List Long Live Back Row Angel Cake Rich Text As Seen On Internet Princess Outlaws and Highways Steph :)  Empty Calories Liminal Space Tommy Dixon Catherine Shannon Culture Study

Why is it that I always feel the most motivated to change my life when I'm not in the position to do anything about it? This week I explore the fact that, actually, I am just afraid! Other topics include my childhood relationship with food and giving my husband a film education to prove to him that women are funnier than men. Obviously.

On this week's episode of Prologues I'm discussing the difference between old friendships and new friendships, my trouble finding a passion, a potentially changing mental health diagnosis, and my fear of peaking in my 20s / over-romanticizing my 30s <3

I've been here, there, and everywhere lately, and it's been weeks since I've sat behind the mic and given a proper catch up!!

If you've ever wondered what it's like being married to a full time influencer, my husband is here for the second part of his Prologues feature to spill it all. We also tell the story of how we met and answer questions related to our journey. Matthew is more of a behind-the-scenes man, so it's very special that he's joined us again!!

One year after making his Prologues debut during My United States Exit Interview, Matthew is back to follow up on how the first year in the UK went for both of us. Did reality meet our expectations?

I've officially lived in Scotland for one entire year, which feels extraordinary, fake, joyful, and sudden all at once.

Women aren't really taught to feel sexy - to sexualize ourselves, sure, but to feel sexy for our own empowerment? Not really. Due to my upbringing in high-control religion, my relationship with my sexuality and confidence has always been layered. I feel I've swung to both extremes of the spectrum at times, before finally landing where I am now.

We're so back!!! Back with another Dialogues episode, the part of Prologues where you talk and I talk back x