Prologues

Latest Episodes:

Freewrite: What Are We Going To Do About The Kids? Brain Rot, AI, and Empathy Apr 14, 2025

Show notes

Elon Musk recently went on the Joe Rogan Experience and said, "The fundamental weakness of Western civilization is empathy." And I thought, f*ck that.

In a world increasingly plagued by irresponsible AI usage, unbridled exposure to dangers online, and mind-numbing brain rot content, I think empathy will actually be our savior - empathy is what connects us to the shared human experience, empathy is what drives us to consider other people, and empathy is what keeps our souls intact.

Or something. This is a freewrite, after all.

Embracing the Single Girl Mindset (even if you're taken) Apr 07, 2025

Show notes

The single girl mindset is all about prioritizing yourself, maintaining your independence, and being unafraid and unashamed to pursue your interests. I'm a firm believer that valuing your independence helps you show up as your best self in that relationship, and that the most important relationship you can ever have is with yourself.

If you're enjoying Prologues, please consider giving the podcast a 5 star review wherever you get your podcasts <3

Find me:

Instagram: @mary.cj.skinner & @theprologuespodcast

Tiktok: @mary_skinner

Email: theprologuespodcast@gmail.com

I’m Changing My Life in 4 Months | Road to 27 Mar 31, 2025

Show notes

I will turn 27 in four months, and I don’t want to turn one more year older without doing some of the things I’ve always assumed I’ll just get around to eventually. So I’m focusing hard and committing to making some serious lifestyle changes between now and 27, and I’m bringing you along for every step of the way.

EDIT: there appears to be a a gap of about 10 seconds of silence towards the end of the episode - not sure how that got there, but it doesn't appear to have affected the rest of the ep <3

Spring Reset: The Seasonal Productivity Wake-Up Call Mar 24, 2025

Show notes

The spring equinox marks the pivot from the dark to the light half of the year. March means Daylight Saving’s Time, cherry blossoms, more plans with friends, new inspiration at work, and an increase in energy as our bodies naturally align with the rhythm of the seasons. If nature waits until the spring equinox to start waking up and taking action, I think we should too. That’s why I planned my 2025 goals to kick in only after a cozy, slow start to the year. It simply feels more natural to increase productivity only after the natural world does.

This episode is sponsored by LMNT.

DrinkLMNT.com/MarySkinner

Spring 2025 Trend Report Mar 17, 2025

Show notes

I don't think I've ever been this excited for spring. It's just me and my antihistamines against the world right now.

Anti-algorithmic fashion, flip flops, pistachio green, and CBK - welcome to a round-up of all the predicted trends for S/S 25, as told by the hours of fashion articles, videos, and pinterest scrolls that I consumed so you don't have to. Are you interested in any of the trends or are you skipping out this season?

Dialogues: Age Gaps, Is He Cheating, Honesty With Therapists Mar 10, 2025

Show notes

Another new (old) (renamed) series! Welcome to Dialogues, the segment where you send in your queries, questions, and scenarios, and I respond with my personal, and sometimes dubious, advice.

The name Dialogues was a collaborative effort between the Prologues instagram community, with listener Emily Searth suggesting the name, and the community as a whole voting for it (the other option was Letter to the Editor, which I fear is too good to not use for something....need a segment for that).

New Segment: Freewrite (a brain dump episode about guilt and witnessing divorce) Mar 03, 2025

Show notes

Introducing a new segment on Prologues: the Freewrite. We love book/writing-related puns around here. Freewriting is a writing technique that calls for stream-of-consciousness-style writing for a predetermined amount of pages or time. The goal is to kickstart your brain's creative juices by demanding that it produce words - any words, even nonsensical words, just as long as you don't stop physically writing until you hit the goal. Freewriting is effective because it helps you bypass your mental blocks and tap into deeper ideas.

Sometimes, I have several episode ideas rolling around in my head, but I can't record them because I have a block. I have something else occupying space in my head and I can't talk about anything else until I talk about That Thing. Freewrite episodes are brain dumps of anything and everything that is taking up space in my head, so that I can get it out of the way and keep moving forward.

This is the first of what I'm sure will be a frequent series on the podcast.

Sierra Boudreaux on Mental Wellness, Authenticity, & Healing Feb 24, 2025

Show notes

This week on Prologues, my friend Sierra is here to share her experience getting re-diagnosed as an adult and the importance of staying open in your healing journey. We also dug into our childhoods to reflect on the experience of growing up mentally ill, and what that means for the rest of our lives still to come. Honest conversations like this one help us all feel less alone in our own journeys - thank you, Sierra, for your vulnerability!

FIND SIERRA:

https://www.instagram.com/sierrainphotos?igsh=MXg2aGlmZG1ncG1lNg==

https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/sierra-brittany-boudreaux9

https://www.tiktok.com/@averagesisi?_t=ZT-8uAs3P42CLL&_r=1

Everyday Luxuries Feb 17, 2025

Show notes

One of the keys to romanticizing your life, in my view, is developing an appreciation for everyday moments that make life more special. Although I love the big luxuries, it's the small ones that give me moments to look forward to each day