I Suck (at Smalltalk)

About I Suck (at Smalltalk)

Join Janine as she confronts her imposter syndrome through deep conversations and meaningful interactions, all cleverly disguised as a podcast. Let's uncover the secrets to contentment and gather unexpected life lessons from the remarkable humans she's met. If you've ever felt like an oddball in social situations, fear not! Janine's here to laugh off those awkward silences and help you embrace your authentic self. Let's ponder life's mysteries and conquer self-doubt together, one convo at a time. janinayramirez.substack.com (https://janinayramirez.substack.com/s/i-suck-at-smalltalk?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

janinayramirez@substack.com

Category

society & culture · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

25 Aug 2023

Latest episode

21 Aug 2024

Latest episodes

39 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   21 Aug 2024

   I've been writing in secret.🤫

   I confess.🫣 I haven’t been sharing my articles with you lately. 😅 I’ve been feeling shy about popping into your inbox, worried my updates might be boring. 😆 What a drama queen!!! 😂 I’ve been writing, though! A LOT. I’m officially a writer now. (NOW?! Yep. Now lang.) Honestly, it’s the first time I’m really seeing myself as a writer. Even though my CV has: copywriter, speechwriter, ghostwriter… Now’s the first time I have the nerve to call myself a writer. (Imposter Syndrome is my bestie.) I’ve always dreamed of starting a travel blog.✈️ In facttt, I did once: https://findingmyjaninay.wordpress.com/ But now, I probably never will… … Because I’m way too busy contributing awesome food and culture articles to Devour Tours! Woot woot! 🎉 It’s the same company I do these pintxos tours (https://devourtours.com/tours/san-sebastian-ultimate-pintxos-wine-tour/?tap_a=108657-c78718&tap_s=5004963-4a2e53) for. Here’s a taste of what I’ve been working on: * Semana Grande (https://devourtours.com/blog/semana-grande-in-san-sebastian/): The grand festival that we just celebrated last week. (https://devourtours.com/blog/semana-grande-in-san-sebastian/) * Euskal Jaiak (https://devourtours.com/blog/euskal-jaiak/): The fiesta we’re celebrating next week. (https://devourtours.com/blog/euskal-jaiak/) (It’s summer, ok? Give us a break! Haha!) * Spanish Piquillo Peppers (https://devourtours.com/blog/spanish-piquillo-peppers/): Everything you need to know. (https://devourtours.com/blog/spanish-piquillo-peppers/) * Denominación de Origen Seal: This one isn’t posted yet! I’m an actual paid freelance travel writer now. WHAT?! 🙌 And while it does mean less time for my own travel articles, it’s a dream come true. A Freelance UX and SEO Writer 🤓 I also have other UX and SEO website writing projects for tech brands. So if you know anyone needing a strategic writer, my hand is up! 🙋♀️ Jumping into the freelance life was a reluctant leap. I started as a burnt out community cheerleader (https://janinayramirez.substack.com/p/reflections-of-a-community-manager). Buttt, things are looking up! Projects are coming in from past colleagues, and I haven’t even started actively selling myself yet.😮💨 It feels good, even though I have my freak-out moments. Your Prize for Reading This Far Thank you for sticking with me through this update. Here’s your reward: I’m heading to Manila! 🇵🇭 Are you readyyy (for karaokeee)? I’ll be there in October and might stick around until December. So let’s meet up! I’m planning to spend more time outside Manila, though, in quieter spots like Baguio and Taal. Big cities scare me now (lol), so if you’re up for a visit, I’d love to see you.♥️ Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support Janine’s work. Dayummm I’ve officially had this blog for over a year. Dayummm. Thanks for being here, still. It has been quite a year for me and this has been a healthy outlet. I appreciate you and your support.😘 👀 Here’s one of the articles I wrote here in secret: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit janinayramirez.substack.com (https://janinayramirez.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

2. 

   21 Jul 2024

   Stories from the Road

   Writing about these life adventures on the eve of Mikel’s birthday. Fitting! He’s a big source of motivation to move my ass and make memories. We only live once. He turns 36 this Monday, June 22.💕 My First Van Adventure Even before the surf-obsessed Basque stranger I met in Siargao (https://janinayramirez.substack.com/i/139698772/a-night-a-chance-encounter-in-siargao) invited me to go on a trip on his van, I was already eyeing the tiny house movement (https://www.tinyhomebuilders.com/help/tiny-house-movement). My interest in small-space living began during a three-month stint in Tokyo, where I lived in a shoebox of about sixteen square meters. My bathroom was so tiny that I had one shared faucet—swing left to use it for the sink or right to fill the bathtub.😅 The Japanese are masters at maximizing limited space, and I loved exploring stores (like the huge Muji in Ginza!) to amuse myself with adorable space-saving household items. Kawaii! Tiny Homes and Dreams Even after Japan, I would binge-watch shows like Tiny House Nation, where talented builders crafted small homes and dual-purpose furniture. I would also watch Marie Kondo’s Tidying Up, which inspired me to let go of anything that doesn’t spark joy and to defeat the hoarder within.👹 So when Mikel sent me a video of him renovating an old vegetable delivery van and inviting me to go on a road trip through Northern Spain, I felt a mix of curiosity and WTF.😆 Rollin’ into Cantabria After stuffing myself with amazing San Sebastian grub and going on a day trip along the French coast, Mikel (and his limited vacation days) decided it was time for our first “van life” adventure together. Our first stop was Cantabria, a province about an hour and a half away. Mikel has friends who own the cleanest, coziest hostel and surf school in Langre (https://haveanicedaysurfhostel.com/), who graciously allowed us to use their toilet and shower.😬 (Thank goodness!) Sleeping in the van turned out to be quite comfortable. I even got used to brushing my teeth without running water.🦷 We were constantly surrounded by fields, cows, and stunning sea views. Living in the van requires efficiency, even when you’re traveling for just a few days. Everything has its place. Cooking has to be quick and mess-free. And it’s a must to find a flat parking spot when it’s time to sleep. You’ll feel the discomfort even with the smallest incline! I discovered a brand new way to explore the world. And I liked it.😊 Language Barriers and Alone Time The language barrier was a challenge. Mikel spoke some English, but not fluidly, and my Spanish was muy, muyyy poquito. I’d space out and get lost in my own thoughts when having lunch with friends. It might have been what I needed: alone time in an uncomplicated alien world to process my thoughts and recharge. I was still recovering from the heartbreaking loss of our political campaign for Bam Aquino (https://janinayramirez.substack.com/i/137074567/career-challenge-lead-a-team-to-shape-a-senators-voice-for-former-senator-bam-aquino). The solitude allowed me to disconnect and reflect on past, present, and future. Do I go back home and accept a great job offer? Or do I step out of my comfort zone and try to make it in the big, wide world? The decision can wait. I can chill and explore Asturias first. After a few days in Cantabria, Mikel decided to cut his surf time short and head to Asturias. He was thoughtful enough to realize that 5 days in a van + going back and forth the same surf spots + rainy weather ≠ the best way to spend my vacation… Off to explore Asturias! We visited the romantic city of Oviedo, which was featured in the movie "Vicky Cristina Barcelona".😜 Driving down the Asturian highway, I kept seeing signs to Covadonga, a place I heard a whole lot about in my high school. (If you’re a Povedan like me, you know what I’m talkin’ ‘bout!) I told Mikel about it and he immediately swerved to catch the exit. To this day, I appreciate how open he is to spontaneous travel stops that take us wayyy too far off our calculated route.🤣 We miss van trips. We went on countless more van trips. We hiked up and rolled down Dune du Pilat (https://ladunedupilat.com/). We sipped fancy wine by the forest and played cards with headlamps on. We escaped to beaches and prayed for the closest bar to open so we could go to the toilet…🤣 Our longest van trip was 10 days, driving all the way to Portugal then dotting through the coast up to Galicia, where we dipped into hot springs and dined in one of the most affordable Michelin starred restaurants in Europe. The one I look back on with the most cariño was the Pyrenees.❤️ I think it’s ‘cause it was the trip with the most number of friends joining in the fun, the barbecues, the hikes, the views (and maybe even some shrooms). The Road Ahead The disconnection from modern comforts, sleeping in nature, and exploring off-the-beaten-path locations are just a few lines from the long list of things I love about escaping in a mobile home. I don’t at all regret swapping it for a car. But the sea breeze says it’s time for a change once again. Mikel has begun the search and shitload of YouTube research to find the perfect van for the next phase. I’m so excited! Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support Janine’s writing. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit janinayramirez.substack.com (https://janinayramirez.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

3. 

   19 Jun 2024

   GIFs. Barok-Shaming. Breaking Up with Perfection. And then some!

   So… After writing this article, I watched a documentary on child labor in Philippine gold mining (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpBIgkfvZw0). It put things in perspective and my problems now feel so puny. If you can, please take the time to watch it. 💕 Public speaking has always been a gut-twisting source of cringe. Around strangers, self-consciousness and the pressure to sound articulate bubble up to a boil then leave me and my nerves in shambles. The aftereffects include a wealth of new “why’d I say that” memories that make me go “D’oh!” at random times—while washing dishes, crossing the street, drinking with friends…😖 “D’oh! Why’d I say thaaat?!” It’s why I started the podcast I Suck at Smalltalk (https://janinayramirez.substack.com/s/i-suck-at-smalltalk). It's also one of the darker reasons for turning to writing, which serves as a comfort zone because it allows me the time to find the perfect words. Strangely enough, I’m less self-conscious speaking broken Spanish than fluent English. Not being a native Spanish speaker is the perfect excuse for my lack of eloquence—a card I can’t pull in English. I'm a writer, for crying out loud!😩 ICYDK, the two official languages of the Philippines are Filipino and English. Shutting Down My Inner Critic “Just shut up, Janine.” This ultra-annoying and mababaw (meaning shallow) rant about my long and winding public speaking struggle is brought to you by my recent new side hustle: being a legitimate tour guide in San Sebastian. (I've only completed 2.5 official tours for an agency and I’ve already spiraled into self-loathing. WTF?!) My first tour solo was a tough one. Everything seemed to go wrong, from bars closing at odd times to my brain short-circuiting. I regretted words as soon as they spilled out of my mouth. Geez! I’m getting flashbacks of the tour followed by awkward moments as a Myx VJ and events host (https://janinayramirez.substack.com/i/137074567/career-challenge-find-the-confidence-to-speak-as-a-myx-vj).🤪 Time to whack myself with the cringe-stick! I also remember working in sales, interviewing and pitching to executives. And the time I had to take the microphone in a radio show with former senator Bam Aquino because his usual co-host was out… My goodness! There are too many embarrassing public speaking moments haunting me from my memory bank. 👻 Social anxiety is real. 😮💨 I cling ever-so-tightly to the kind words of those who believe in me and see my potential. 🥰 Eskerrikasko to Tita Bettina and Tito Jojo, who cheered for my touring skills when they came to Donostia to get hitched. Gracias to former boss-man Bobby and his lively expat crew who braved the rain to pintxo-hop around the Old Town with me. Special thanks to Osane from Devour Tours for taking a chance on this wannabe-extrovert… I will also cling on to my day job as a content writer. Ha!😅 So what kung barok?! Barok. It's a Filipino word that means "broken" or "unrefined" in the context of speaking. Basically, it's speaking with grammatical errors. 🙊 It doesn’t just describe a sentence, but a person. Not just: “You speak barok-ly.” But: “You are barok.” I've been guilty of judging people based on how they speak and write, which is probably why I punish myself for every grammatical error. But learning a new language has taught me that the manner and form in which someone speaks (grammar, accent, words chosen, etc.) should come a distant second to the ideas they're communicating. There have been companies, teams, and amazing people that have looked passed my lack of eloquence, even my barok-ness, to see the value of my ideas and stories. Why shouldn’t I do the same? Not to say that I’ll stop trying to perfectly shape a message for its audience. It’s what I do; and it’s important work! But in my day-to-day conversations, I hope to consciously look past the manner in which people speak and seek to understand what they are trying to relay. And if you ever think I'm not following through, I'd appreciate you kindly calling me out on it. 🤗 Keep me accountable! Embracing Imperfectionism I didn't realize how many thoughts I had about writing and the struggle to find the perfect words. 👈 That perfectionism has become a debilitating barrier to me putting myself out there. I tend to hide away when I feel like I’m not at my best. But perfectionism can hold us back from evolution. So it’s something I should work on. There are too many amazing stories that need to be told and smile-inducing ideas to share! So here I am kickstarting this blog again. Thanks for your patience, support, subscription, attention, and acceptance of my imperfections.❤️ Whew! Developing a growth mindset (https://janinayramirez.substack.com/i/141760000/lesson-were-all-in-a-process-of-growth-always) is far easier said than done.🌻 Other Random Updates * I’ve been freelancing since February this year. Currently working with a few clients and my agenda is full (Yay!), but if you know anyone needing a content writer, connect me puh-lease.🙏 * Wrote two articles that I didn’t email to you ‘coz I’ve been in my lonesome cave for the past months (reach out with virtual hugs please kthxbye). Will leave a link below! * Recorded some new short eps for I Suck At Smalltalk, but I’ve no time to upload ‘em! If you haven’t seen or heard these ones yet, I’d appreciate your listen!👇👇👇 Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support Janine’s work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit janinayramirez.substack.com (https://janinayramirez.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

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