Imagine this as a sunset. Find Us Online - Twitter: @ThisIsGoodPod - Instagram: @ThisIsGoodPod - Merch: thisisgoodpod.com/merch - Patreon: thisisgoodpod.com/patreon - Nichole: @tnwhiskeywoman - Multitude: @MultitudeShows - Email: thisisgoodpod@gmail.com Production - Producer: Eric Silver - Editor: Mischa Stanton - Executive Producers: Amanda McLoughlin and Nichole Perkins - Theme Music: Donwill - Artwork: Jessica E. Boyd About The Show Nichole Perkins wants people to stop feeling bad about feeli...
Jul 29, 2022•5 min
It’s been a while since I got dressed up to schmooze and mingle, but recently I attended a gala. I got nervous about what to wear: I didn’t want to be underdressed and I definitely didn’t want to be overdressed. My guest today, Alex Zaragoza, has plenty of thoughts on the joys of overdressing, including the extra razzle dazzle of blue eyeshadow. I’m so fascinated by this phenomenon and I’m glad I got to talk to Alex all about it. Indulgence Nichole recommends letting the hype settle. Guest...
Jul 22, 2022•47 min•Ep. 35
My four years of college I dated the campus local DJ. I loved watching him practice, not just because of the stars in my eyes, but I also love seeing artists practice their craft and seeing what all goes into it. Good DJing is a skill, it is an actual skill. Just go to YouTube, type in ‘turntablism,’ and just watch magic happen. My guest today is H Drew Blackburn, a writer and yes, a DJ, and he's going to get into all things DJing and how it brings peace into his life. Indulgence Nichole recomme...
Jul 08, 2022•43 min•Ep. 34
I recently took a break from listening to my boo Hozier so much. I had started feeling self-conscious about how often I was listening to him, and how I felt like I knew him even though we had never met. Today’s guest knows all about what happens when fandom can get a little extra, and we got into all the good and bad parts of the parasocial relationship that happens between artists and their audiences. Indulgence Nichole recommends being a digital tourist! Guest Vanessa Willoughby is an editor a...
Jun 10, 2022•46 min•Ep. 33
For a long time, I tried to hide my love of romance novels. They and the readers who loved them were criticized. Any time someone would ask, “What’s your guilty pleasure?” I’d respond sheepishly “romance novels.” Then I realized how fucked up it was to be ashamed of something that brought me such joy. Today’s guest, Sarah MacLean, knows all about that. We’re starting a new series of episodes, _______ Is Not a Guilty Pleasure , to open up the types of episodes that can be on TIGFY. Not mone...
May 27, 2022•43 min•Ep. 32
When my mind tries to protect me from things that cause me pain, I have to redirect my sadness onto something else. I won’t cry about the lack of clarity in my professional life so I’ll listen to my “Sad White Boys” playlist and let a tear go for the ache in Chet Baker’s voice as he sings “My Funny Valentine.” Ashley C. Ford does something similar, and I’m so glad I got to talk to her about the catharsis that happens when you make yourself sad on purpose. Indulgence Nichole recommends a pa...
May 13, 2022•49 min•Ep. 31
As much as birds bother me, there’s something enviable about them. They can just take off when they’re tired of us, and pull up to the wide view of everything. Maybe that’s why folks are so interested in watching them. I put my annoyance with birds aside and ask my guest Grace Bonney what’s so wonderful about following these little creatures of land and air. Indulgence Nichole recommends a cooking class! Guest Grace Bonney founded the blog Design*Sponge, the print magazine, Good Company an...
Apr 29, 2022•39 min•Ep. 30
We’ve been doing this for one year! I can’t believe it. As an anniversary present, producer Eric interviewed me about how I ask questions, reveal truths to guests, and turn the things I like into work. Find Us Online - Twitter: @ThisIsGoodPod - Instagram: @ThisIsGoodPod - Merch: thisisgoodpod.com/merch - Patreon: thisisgoodpod.com/patreon - Nichole: @tnwhiskeywoman - Multitude: @MultitudeShows - Email: thisisgoodpod@gmail.com Production - Producer: Eric Silver - Editor: Mischa Stanton - Executiv...
Apr 15, 2022•42 min•Ep. 29
I’ve been thinking a lot about peace in recent years, and how I eventually want to buy a home and make it a haven, I daydream about having a large entertainment room with a corner with board games. I love word games and two-player games, but not as much the collect-pieces-and-build-worlds ones. So to broad my horizons, I talked to K. Alex Mills and Tracy Clayton to tell me their favorite games and how they make their lives better. Indulgence Tracy recommends Wingspan ! Guests - K. Alex Mills is ...
Apr 01, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 28
I am not someone who just goes for a walk. I’m from a place of strong car culture so if I can’t walk there within 15 minutes, I’m over it. Plus, I can’t separate walking from the years of street harassment I’ve been subjected to. So I don’t just have to figure out my physical energy levels but also… how safe will I be? If there was someone who can talk me into the meditative powers of going for a walk, it would be Isaac Fitzgerald, who’s reworked his life around incredibly long walks. Here is Ga...
Mar 18, 2022•55 min•Ep. 27
I know wrestling has a complicated reputation. Is it a sport? Is it entertainment? If it’s both, does that make it less than? Why do we need wrestling to be “real” but have no problems when soccer players flop on the field or when basketball players hunt for fouls? I have questions that can only be answered by getting in the squared circle. Indulgence Nichole recommends fountain pens (and the incredible resource of jetpens.com ) Guest Eric Parsons is a wrestling enthusiast that lives in Chicago,...
Mar 04, 2022•50 min•Ep. 26
Being a sneakerhead is so foreign to me. I know what I like and what serves a purpose for me, but the mythology and processes of it all are beyond me. There’s so much more beyond the surface of “I like these shoes.” I wanted to find out more about this hobby and why it’s become such an elite moment in fashion history, so I asked Jamal to tell me all about the culture of being a sneakerhead and how it’s changing. Indulgence Nichole recommends sachets! Guest Jamal Smith is a DC area native and co-...
Feb 18, 2022•52 min•Ep. 25
I tend to treat my books both with and without reverence. I dog-ear pages but I don’t lend out my books. Even if I don’t like a book, I won’t give it away. So when my friend Leonor Mamanna told me she recently started painting in books, I was like “Oh yes. You have to come talk about that.” Indulgence Nichole recommends gua sha! Guest Leonor Mamanna is a photo editor by day, passion project pursuer by night. Leonor has a weekly newsletter with recommendations on what to read, watch, listen to, p...
Feb 04, 2022•36 min•Ep. 24
I like watching sports, but I don’t have the dedication to be a diehard fan. To be a fan–especially a body-painting, tailgating kind of fan–you have love any player who joins the team or forgive constant losing and that ain’t my bag. There’s a lot of shit within sports fandoms I don’t understand, so I asked Josh Terry help break down what goes on behind the face paint. Indulgence Nichole recommends Queens of Mystery , available online via AcornTV! Guest Chicago-based writer Josh Terry has ...
Jan 21, 2022•46 min•Ep. 23
When people hear I’m from Nashville, they always ask me about country music. They’re also surprised to hear I’ve never gone honky-tonking: enjoying and dancing to country music in a bar or place full of other people who also love that type of music. But I do have a friend who does it all the time. Today’s guest, Donkey Dover, Jr., tells me all about the honkytonk scene and might even help me get over some preconceived notions about that kind of nightlife. Indulgence Nichole recommends aski...
Jan 07, 2022•41 min•Ep. 22
I know I’m not the only one out there who still has a fondness for VHS tapes of old, so I asked my buddy Tyler Sorensen to come on the show and talk a little bit about his collection of tapes. But Tyler’s VHS collection isn’t what you think; they’re mostly erotic thrillers— those movies that are basically film noir gone cheesy. Yes, I was also quite surprised. Indulgence Nichole recommends the album Catching Leaves by Avi Wisnia . Guest Tyler Sorensen is an audio ad producer who has worked ...
Dec 10, 2021•40 min•Ep. 21
The holidays are hard for me, so I'm constantly looking for things to occupy myself in a way that suits me. Last year, I started buying jigsaw puzzles. Someone on Twitter posted a puzzle that was a collection of erotic pulp fiction and I thought “well, surely that was made for me!” It was great until I adopted my cat, who liked to sit on top of the puzzle and pull at it. But my special guest today may convince me to get back into them! Rachel mentions the NYT Guide to starting crossword puzzles,...
Nov 26, 2021•33 min•Ep. 20
This episode is two things good for you for the price of one from some of my favorite longtime podcasters. Brittany Luse and Eric Eddings started For Colored Nerds , which morphed into The Nod, and now they’re bringing back For Colored Nerds, and I can’t wait for it. But today, we’re talking about what they do when they’re not working: the pleasures of wandering aimlessly and coloring outside the lines. Indulgence Brittany recommends eating by yourself. Eric recommends A Million Litt...
Nov 12, 2021•36 min•Ep. 19
Books are my happy place. When I was younger and read something that moved me or something that I recognized as being superbly crafted, I would sleep with the book under my pillow, hoping to absorb the talent. Even as my job revolved around writing, the act of reading has always felt important and constant. And Traci Thomas, host of The Stacks, feels exactly the same way. Indulgence Nichole recommends saying no. Guests Traci Thomas is the host of The Stacks , a weekly podcast about books and the...
Oct 29, 2021•39 min•Ep. 18
One of the ways I end up stuck inside during the winter is too much comfort tv. I’ll burrow into a cave of old sitcoms from my high school days when all I had to worry about was how not to get caught skipping school. I don’t fool myself into thinking the old days are better. I know they’re simply different, but sometimes the nostalgia does take over. But Tracy Clayton and Josh Gywnn, hosts of Back Issue, love that nostalgia so much they made a podcast examining it. Indulgence Josh recommends big...
Oct 15, 2021•44 min•Ep. 17
Cannabis does what I need it to do and I don’t need much else, but I had to do some research to settle my fears about certain things, including examining who gets to be the cool, funny stoner and who gets to be labeled criminals and degenerates. That is why I’m talking to Laura OG, founder of SMKBRK, who is advocating for equity and diversity within the cannabis industry and hopes to normalize seeing women in all discussions about weed. Indulgence Nichole recommends a return to jewelry! Guest La...
Oct 01, 2021•42 min•Ep. 16
I know so many people who swear by running, but I cannot understand it. I have to run... outside... in front of other people? I just don’t get it. That is why I have writer and journalist Lyz Lenz on the show today to help demystify the whole thing of running and how it has become an essential part of her life. Content Warning: this conversation touches on topics of sexual assault and miscarrage. Indulgence Nichole recommends stepping outside of your comfort pop culture zones, like watching Summ...
Sep 03, 2021•41 min•Ep. 15
I love getting my nails done. I love matching a nail color to my mood or sending out a secret message only I can decode with my nail color. And I’m frequently clicking though nail design hashtags to marvel at manicures from around the world. So when I saw Cate Young posting pictures of her manicures and the polishes she uses, I was like “Here are my people!” Indulgence Nichole recommends dressing up for yourself! Pre-order Nichole’s book Sometimes I Trip on How Happy We Could Be and read her art...
Aug 20, 2021•32 min•Ep. 14
My book, Sometimes I Trip on How Happy We Could Be , is finally out! Listen to an exclusive clip of the book now, and then order a copy (and check out my virtual tour) here . See you on Friday with a brand-new episode! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ....
Aug 17, 2021•6 min
I will admit, I am not fashionable at all. How do people know how to mix colors? And do they avoid their clothes wearing them? So when I saw that Eleanor Kagan, podcaster and fashion expert, was sewing her own clothes, I knew I had to ask how it all came together. Indulgence Nichole recommends microblading! Pre-order Nichole’s book Sometimes I Trip on How Happy We Could Be ! Guest Eleanor Kagan is a producer, audio-maker, and storyteller who strives to build communities with her work, whether it...
Aug 06, 2021•37 min•Ep. 13
Our guest TK Dutes embodies the feelings you have when you pick up something that we talk about on this show: it’s a new experience, but she has the patience and vision to keep working at it until she’s satisfied. And for any of her hobbies, like creating resin crafts or making ice cream, she attacks it with that philosophy. Indulgence Nichole recommends checking on the money in your bank account! Pre-order Nichole’s book Sometimes I Trip on How Happy We Could Be ! Guest Keisha "TK" Dutes is a n...
Jul 23, 2021•38 min•Ep. 12
I can’t carry a tune in a bucket with a lid on it, but I love singing. At home. In private. Where no one but my neighbors can hear how off-key I am. That is not the case for Ed Cunard, a certified karaoke enthusiast. He loves singing in front of scrolling lyrics, strong drinks, and smiling customers. I’m gonna find out why. Indulgence Nichole recommend wearing sexy lingerie just for you ( Love, Vera , Sock Dreams , The Lingerie Addict ) Guest Ed Cunard is the cohost of " The Greatest...
Jul 09, 2021•33 min•Ep. 11
It took me a while to learn to be present and not borrow worry. The universe does not want to punish me, it wants me to be happy and enjoy its gifts. I learned that from Cynthia, one of my good friends from back home. She literally takes what’s around her and turns them into incredible collages. If you’ve got a stack of magazines you keep saying you’ll do something with, maybe this episode is for you. We’re taking a break in place of the next episode, so Episode 11 will come out on July 9th! Ind...
Jun 11, 2021•43 min•Ep. 10
In a previous episode, we learned about the pleasure of submission so it’s only right to learn about dominance as well. My conversation with Venus Cuffs , Domme and BDSM consultant, gets a little heavy as we discuss overcoming challenges like racial trauma and lack of safe mentors to find the best way to connect to your inner dominant. She also highlights some major benefits of being a Domme like always having a clean home, which is something I can totally get with. Indulgence Nichole recommends...
May 28, 2021•38 min•Ep. 9
I’m talking with the fantastic Bim Adewunmi all about her experience of learning how to bake bread. I need you to know: this won’t be your typical conversation about kneading dough. Bim helps me realize that learning this kind of skill is life-affirming in more ways than one. What happens when you decide to follow a trend and find lasting joy? And will this skill help you in a zombie apocalypse? Indulgence Nichole recommends the Canadian ice dancing champions. Bim recommends jigsaw puzzles, like...
May 14, 2021•50 min•Ep. 8
