Headtime Stories with Mikli: What’s it Like in Your Brain?

6. What's it like in your brain at the start of the new year?

What if resolutions could be fun meets any excuse for a new notebook meets HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
 
In this first episode of 2025:
We explore: is the new year’s hype-to-failed-resolution cycle inevitable?
We experiment: what if we reframed resolutions this year, and instead declaredthought thoigjtthink  what we want more of? ain!!!, mother naturmorfeiendships
We learn: how can we get around the fear of Page 1?
We find out: What’s! On! My Bookshelf! (A love letter to my fellow pen and notebook enthusiasts)
And for good measure, we: give props to my girl, The Present
 
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My "More" Resolutions:
More Getting Together with Friends
More Nature Getaways
More Trusting Myself
 
Notebooks Mentioned:
Midori A6 grid
Muji View-At-Once B5 planner
Hobonichi A6 grid notebook
Midori A5 dot grid
Muji A6 dot grid
Hobonichi A5 grid notebook
Muji A5 dot grid
 
Pens Mentioned:
Sarasa Grand Gel Pens
Pilot Prera Fountain Pen
Platinum Century 3776 Fountain Pen
 
Episodes Mentioned:
2. What’s it like in your brain when you’re almost done with something? (Spotify | Apple)
3. What’s it like in your brain when you get creative? (Spotify | Apple)
4. What’s it like in my brain when I design tech and automations? (Spotify | Apple)
5. What’s it like in your brain when Santa Claus is coming to town? (Spotify | Apple)
 
What are your “mores” for this year?
Tell me all about it! If you’re on Spotify, leave a comment below. Or jump into the conversation on Instagram @headtimestories.pod! If you wanna say hey to me directly, it’s @heymikli everywhere.

5. What's it like in your brain when Santa Claus is coming to town?

Santa Claus: fond childhood memory? Or trust issues origin story? In this holiday special (holiday special???) of Headtime Stories, we turn back the clock and explore Baby Mikli’s fraught relationship with Jolly Old St. Nick himself.
 
Inside this episode we take a closer look at how skeptical I was of him growing up:
Exhibit A: The Cookie Test (0:53)
Exhibit B: Detective Mikli Holmes (2:45)
 
And two theories as to why:
Theory 1: I don’t like being bamboozled (4:27)
Theory 2: I want it to be true, actually (8:55)
 
Then we zip back from the flashback and into the present day:
Magic vs. Truth as an Adult (9:54)
Oh, Now I’M the Grownup! (11:31)
 
But Santa or no, maybe there’s some magic and joy left in this season yet.
 
HAPPY HOLIDAAAAYS <3
 
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Share what it's like in your brain!
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4. What's it like in my brain when I create automations?

Just in time for the holiday season, I interview *myself* on the creative process and what it’s like inside my own brain when I design and create automations. This way maybe I can finally answer the inevitable family reunion question of, “So Mik… what do you do?
 
Fam, this one’s for you!! Hahaha
 
Inside the episode are the many versions of my brain:
 
Constellations, not stars: How I gather info so I can see the vision before building anything. (3:00)
Putting my hyper-awareness to good use: How I design automations that work the way your brain does. (11:00)
The Rolodex Method of Problem Solving: thank u, next! (16:31)
An algorithm I actually like: AKA the most fun automation I’ve built (22:40)
I bet you must be super organized, huh: oh sheesh not at all (25:32)
 
And why all this high-tech shenanigans are one of the most deeply human aspects of my life.
 
This episode is perfect for:
 
Curious clients who want to understand my approach to tech and automation.
Aspiring techies and automation enthusiasts eager to learn from my experience.
Anyone who loves a good behind-the-scenes look at real-life examples (and the brains behind them).
And let's be real, anyone who's just a little bit nosy. (‘Cause same, I’m chismosa too!)
P.S. You don’t need to be a techie to enjoy this episode! ‘Cause it’s not about the automations… it’s about the people. Uyyyy
 
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Share what it's like in your brain!
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Learn more about my tech and automation work at heymikli.com or @heymikli
 
Join the waitlist for Think Outside the Bots, my 1:1 mentorship on experience-based automation design: https://heymikli.com/ep4-totb

3. What's it like in your brain when you get creative?

Creative flow, creative blocks… Venus flytraps? I interview extra special guest husband, Mon San Sebastian, on creativity!
 
This episode was recorded from the balcony of a Tagaytay bed and breakfast.
 
So aside from discussions on:
How creativity is like a venus flytrap
Trying to make sure said venus flytraps don’t run out of… creativity flies? feat. Mario Kart
What creativity looks like outside of artistic fields, and playing a game of how-would-you-connect-these-random-things (Mon’s was a dog, a water bottle and harm reduction; mine was a motorcycle, a towel, and the concept of bidets)
 
You’ll also hear the sweet sweet sounds of Mother Nature herself! The breeze, the birds, and the intermission because we had to stop to admire and watch the sunset, whew
 
Join us as we explore:
If your creativity were a creature, what would it look like? — On venus flytraps and making sure you don't go hungry  (0:32)
What is creativity to you? — Maybe she’s born with it, maybe she just does it (2:50)
How does creativity look like to you outside artistic fields? — On connecting the dots (4:56)
Let's play a game [of connect-the-two-unrelated-concepts]! — Dogs, water, and harm reduction; motorcycles, towels, and bidets (5:46)
What does your creative process look like? — On leaving room for uncertainty (12:16)
What does it look like in your brain when you're in the middle of a creative flow? — On the flow state and putting the hyper in hyperfocus  (15:54)
How do you handle creative blocks? — On piranha plants, quick capture, and designing for how your brain works (19:25)
What advice would you give your younger self about creativity?  — On failure (23:53)
Share what it's like in your brain!
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Keywords: creativity, creative process, creative blocks, inspiration, flow state, thought processes, human behavior, storytelling, humor

2. What's it like in your brain when you're almost done with something?

You know what I had to do to get this podcast launched? Shut. My. Mouth. Because otherwise I’d end up stuck in 80%-done purgatory with the rest of my unfinished projects !!! :)
 
Metaphors in this episode include the Beauty and the Beast library (with… something missing), scratch-off lotto tickets, and (ok, not a metaphor but) the people-pleasing loophole you should probably forget as soon as you hear it tbh
 
Other notes:
 
Here’s a Filipino word I say a couple times in this podcast:
GIGIL.
Approximately “cute aggression” (remember Agnes from Despicable Me, and she was like IT’S SO FLUFFYYYYY??? That), but you can get that way about things that aren’t cute, too.
 
And here's the link to that Threads post: https://www.threads.net/@heymikli/post/DCQiHOJzs4W
 
Share what it's like in your brain!
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1. What's it like in your brain when you don't know what to say?

This one is dedicated to all the times our words just don’t word wordily. I have no tips on how to word better, but may I offer you a 30-year-old beef with a preschooler, a jar of sesame dressing, and marbles?
Share what it's like in your brain!
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