The Day One Podcast

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 first year of the podcast, sharing meaningful excerpts from conversations with writers, researchers, coaches, and everyday journalers. Together, these voices offer gentle reminders about why journaling matters, and how it can support us as we begin again. Visit dayoneapp.com/podcast/episode-81 for more resources and links from this episode.

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 conversation explores journaling as a companion through uncertainty, the role of breath and ritual in writing, and why community can transform a deeply personal practice. From restorative yoga and seasonal rhythms to creative blocks and returning to the page, Katie offers a grounded, compassionate perspective on what it means to show up—again and again—for yourself. Visit dayoneapp.com/podcast/episode-80-katie-swanson for more resources and links from this episode.

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 practices we care deeply about. Together, they explore how subtle expectations, perfectionism, and everyday "micro-failures" can shut down our desire to keep going, and why adopting an iterative mindset can transform the way we grow, learn, and navigate our lives. They also talk openly about journaling as a tool for self-awareness and sovereignty, and how it helps us understand our inner narratives, track our patterns, and gently re-enter habits that once felt overwhelming. Visit dayoneapp.com/podcast/episode-79-kyra-bobinet for more resources and links from this episode.

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 how journaling helps her preserve memories, find gratitude in the ordinary, and create a lasting record of her life story. Visit dayoneapp.com/podcast/episode-78-kt-anderson for more resources and links from this episode.

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 that shape her day, and how consistency fuels creativity.  Visit dayoneapp.com/podcast/episode-77-misha-penton for more resources and links from this episode.