Rich Chocolaty Goodness
Storytelling Podcasts
In 2014 I was living in Los Angeles. I had just dropped out of a Ph.D. program and was on my way to South Korea to work as an English teacher. Then, I met a French teacher. We fell in love, I dropped everything, and six months later I followed her to Paris with nothing but two suitcases.
As exciting as this new life was, looking for work and struggling with everyday life in a language I didn't speak started to chip away at my confidence. I could see that people back home had been steadily building towards something: finishing Ph.D's and working stable jobs, successfully making the transition to adult life while I had the impression of continually starting over.
This became the perfect excuse to call my friends and catch up. Beautiful people with big dreams whom I've met at different stages of life and who are now researchers, artists, teachers, scientists, parents. It turns out they too are trying to figure life out.
Stay tuned for new episodes every two weeks.
Location:
United States
Genres:
Storytelling Podcasts
Description:
In 2014 I was living in Los Angeles. I had just dropped out of a Ph.D. program and was on my way to South Korea to work as an English teacher. Then, I met a French teacher. We fell in love, I dropped everything, and six months later I followed her to Paris with nothing but two suitcases. As exciting as this new life was, looking for work and struggling with everyday life in a language I didn't speak started to chip away at my confidence. I could see that people back home had been steadily building towards something: finishing Ph.D's and working stable jobs, successfully making the transition to adult life while I had the impression of continually starting over. This became the perfect excuse to call my friends and catch up. Beautiful people with big dreams whom I've met at different stages of life and who are now researchers, artists, teachers, scientists, parents. It turns out they too are trying to figure life out. Stay tuned for new episodes every two weeks.
Language:
English
Episodes
Oedipal Dream or Peppers In Exile
9/11/2022
In this episode I'm catching up with Pedro, a Ph.D. student in Portuguese literature. Join us as we talk about life in academia, his dissertation, therapy, Portuguese cuisine, electric scooters and urinals, among other things. Check out the show notes for extra links to some of the things mentioned in the episode.
Duration:01:30:44
Thanks for the Feedback
4/6/2020
In this episode I’m catching up with my old Community College friend, San Diego-based artist Eddy Miramontes. We start off talking about one of his recent pieces and the conversation slowly turns into an oscillating inspection on the topics of fatherhood and the nature of art. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll want to hang out with this guy.
Check out the notes section of this episode for extra links and goodies.
Duration:01:23:49
Avocado Spread
3/23/2020
In this episode I’m catching up with my old grad school buddy Osiris, Assistant professor of Mexican literature and culture at the University of Minnesota. You’ll hear us speak about Mexican indigenous literatures (his main area of research) and, you guessed it, avocados!
We also talk about the pleasure of writing fiction and the panic of writing a dissertation which, of course, brings up some hilarious memories.
Check out the show notes for bonus material (like that fish photo Osiris...
Duration:01:33:16
What Is Your Definition of Sexy?
3/2/2020
In this episode I’m catching up with my friend Ricardo, a Portuguese language and literature teacher. We talk about Portuguese identity and the myth around the concept of “saudade.” We also talk about the process of writing a Ph.D. dissertation and take some detours to chat about the death of the author, Fernando Pessoa, Herberto Helder, Amalia Rodrigues and even Chavela Vargas. Finally, we compare our respective experiences of leaving our hometowns to study abroad, as well as the benefits...
Duration:01:16:50
Encore: Mucho Maas, Un Poquito Más
2/2/2020
In this episode I’m catching up with Michael Grafals, a Literature professor at Florida International University. Dr. Grafals finally explains the meaning behind the phrase “Rich Chocolaty Goodness” and brings some serious knowledge about Postmodern Literature and literary theory. But there’s more to life than books and Dr. Grafals knows it, you might even get to hear a song or two in this episode… Make sure to visit our site for quotes and additional info, as well as a link to a sweet...
Duration:01:14:13
Schrödinger's Podcast
1/20/2020
In this episode I’m catching up with my grad school friend Andreas who recently left Copenhagen and moved to a comune in Jutland, Denmark, and we talk about leaving the world of academia to work in the tech industry. We also dig deep and try to understand what defines a happy life, what this means in terms of our struggle between curiosity and laziness, and an incident with the Dalai Lama...
Duration:01:21:30
How Do You Feel About Mexican Metalheads?
12/1/2019
In this episode I’m catching up with Diana. We talk about how she got up close and personal with her gender identity issues. We also talk about moving to a new city and the challenges of finding time in your 30s to do the things you want to do, and how this can easily lead down a path to Bon Jovi.
Duration:01:01:53
The Great Iqbal
11/17/2019
In this episode I’m catching up with Nabil, a theoretical physicist and all around great guy. Join us as he explains black holes and the current issues being studied in this field. We also talk about the challenges of making friends in a new city, getting your order right at a French restaurant and, of course, family.
Duration:01:01:10
The Great Iqbal
11/17/2019
In this episode I’m catching up with Nabil, a theoretical physicist and all around great guy. Join us as he explains black holes and the current issues being studied in this field. We also talk about the challenges of making friends in a new city, getting your order right at a French restaurant and, of course, family.
Duration:01:01:10
The Great Iqbal
11/17/2019
In this episode I’m catching up with Nabil, a theoretical physicist and all around great guy. Join us as he explains black holes and the current issues being studied in this field. We also talk about the challenges of making friends in a new city, getting your order right at a French restaurant and, of course, family.
Duration:01:01:10
Cats, Gnats and Dads
11/4/2019
In this episode I’m catching up with Miguel, a Postdoctoral researcher in Neuropsychology at Columbia University. Join us as we talk about transitioning to adult life, living paycheck to paycheck, therapy and mental health, the struggle of going through a graduate program... and of course, dads.
Duration:01:53:49
Cats, Gnats and Dads
11/4/2019
In this episode I’m catching up with Miguel, a Postdoctoral researcher in Neuropsychology at Columbia University. Join us as we talk about transitioning to adult life, living paycheck to paycheck, therapy and mental health, the struggle of going through a graduate program... and of course, dads.
Duration:01:53:49
Cats, Gnats and Dads
11/4/2019
In this episode I’m catching up with Miguel, a Postdoctoral researcher in Neuropsychology at Columbia University. Join us as we talk about transitioning to adult life, living paycheck to paycheck, therapy and mental health, the struggle of going through a graduate program... and of course, dads.
Duration:01:53:49
Oedipal Dream or Peppers In Exile
10/21/2019
In this episode I’m catching up with Pedro, a Ph.D. student in Portuguese literature. Join us as we talk about life in academia, his dissertation, therapy, Portuguese cuisine, electric scooters and urinals, among other things. Check out the show notes for extra links to some of the things mentioned in the episode..
Duration:01:31:53
Oedipal Dream or Peppers In Exile
10/21/2019
In this episode I’m catching up with Pedro, a Ph.D. student in Portuguese literature. Join us as we talk about life in academia, his dissertation, therapy, Portuguese cuisine, electric scooters and urinals, among other things. Check out the show notes for extra links to some of the things mentioned in the episode..
Duration:01:31:53
Oedipal Dream or Peppers In Exile
10/21/2019
In this episode I’m catching up with Pedro, a Ph.D. student in Portuguese literature. Join us as we talk about life in academia, his dissertation, therapy, Portuguese cuisine, electric scooters and urinals, among other things. Check out the show notes for extra links to some of the things mentioned in the episode..
Duration:01:31:53
Tijuana, Mi Amor
10/6/2019
In this episode I’m catching up with Argenis, a concert promoter and event organizer in Tijuana, Mexico. We talk about the ups and downs in his career, the music scene in Tijuana, the importance of persistence and the dangers of flying too close to the sun. Visit our site for links to the bands mentioned in this episode.
Duration:01:17:16
Tijuana, Mi Amor
10/6/2019
In this episode I’m catching up with Argenis, a concert promoter and event organizer in Tijuana, Mexico. We talk about the ups and downs in his career, the music scene in Tijuana, the importance of persistence and the dangers of flying too close to the sun. Visit our site for links to the bands mentioned in this episode.
Duration:01:17:16
Tijuana, Mi Amor
10/6/2019
In this episode I’m catching up with Argenis, a concert promoter and event organizer in Tijuana, Mexico. We talk about the ups and downs in his career, the music scene in Tijuana, the importance of persistence and the dangers of flying too close to the sun. Visit our site for links to the bands mentioned in this episode.
Duration:01:17:16
Dirty Kind Eyes or The Jack Johnson of Rock Climbing
9/22/2019
In this episode I’m catching up with Alex as we talk about his move from Tijuana to Southern California to work as a developer, relationships, therapy, efficiency and that haunting feeling of watching life happen while you’re still trying to make plans. We also talk about the pains and pleasure of finding a happy medium between creative ambition and realistic expectations.
Duration:01:01:00